Acute Shortening and Re-Lengthening (ASRL) in Infected Non-union of Tibia - Advantages Revisited.

INTRODUCTION: A gap non-union in various conditions has been treated successfully by the Ilizarov method. The gap can be filled up either by an acute shortening and re-lengthening (ASRL) procedure or by an internal bone transport (IBT). We compared the functional and clinical outcome of ASRL and IBT in gap non-unions of the infected tibia. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted in our department from the data collected in the period between 1997 and 2010. There were 86 cases of infected non-union of the tibia, in patients of the age group 18 to 65 years, with a minimum two-year follow-up. Group A consisted of cases treated by ASRL (n=46), and Group B, of cases by IBT (n=40). The non-union following both open and closed fractures had been treated by plate osteosynthesis, intra-medullary nails and primary Ilizarov fixators. Radical debridement was done and fragments stabilised with ring fixators. The actual bone gap and limb length discrepancy were measured on the operating table after debridement. In ASRL acute docking was done for defects up to 3cm, and subacute docking for bigger gaps. Corticotomy was done once there was no infection and distraction started after a latency of seven days. Dynamisation was followed by the application of a patellar tendon bearing cast for one month after removal of the ring with the clinico-radiological union. RESULTS: The bone loss was 3 to 8cm (4.77±1.43) in Group A and 3 to 9cm (5.31± 1.28) in Group B after thorough debridement. Bony union, eradication of infection and primary soft- tissue healing was 100%, 85% and 78% in Group A and 95%, 60%, 36% in Group B respectively. Nonunion at docking site, equinus deformity, false aneurysm, interposition of soft-tissue, transient nerve palsies were seen only in cases treated by IBT. CONCLUSION: IBT is an established method to manage gap non-union of the tibia. In our study, complications were significantly higher in cases where IBT was employed. We, therefore, recommend ASRL with an established protocol for better results in terms of significantly less lengthening index, eradication of infection, and primary soft tissue healing. ASRL is a useful method to bridge the bone gap by making soft tissue and bone reconstruction easier, eliminating the disadvantages of IBT.

Developmental pattern of tibiofemoral angle in healthy north-east Indian children.

PURPOSE: Physiological range of tibiofemoral angle (TFA) is poorly defined and may lead to unnecessary therapeutic interventions. Studies on TFA developmental pattern suggest that racial and ethnic differences are present; children in north-east India who have not yet been studied need to be evaluated. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Cross-sectional study of clinical TFA, intermalleolar distance and intercondylar distance in 1020 healthy north-east Indian children aged from 2 to 18 years was done. Height, weight and body mass index were also recorded. RESULTS: At two years of age the mean TFA was valgus. The values reached a peak of 8.55° (standard deviation (SD) 1.01) valgus at seven years of age. The TFA then gradually stabilised to 3.18° (SD 1.18) valgus by 18 years of age. There was no significant difference in TFA between male and female patients. DISCUSSION: The present study is the largest and only the third such study on Indian children and the first on healthy northeast Indian children. By the end of two years most children had valgus angulation. This, along with the peak angulation observed, was similar to most of the other studies. The age at peak angulation and subsequent stabilisation of valgus angulation varied greatly among children of different origins, especially non-Indian children. CONCLUSIONS: Data can be used to identify children who require further follow-up/evaluation and can serve as guidelines during deformity correction and future studies. The development of TFA in this cohort is not different from other children of India but differs from children of other ethnic origins.

Primary intratesticular sarcoma.

Primary intratesticular sarcoma that is neither associated with germ cell elements nor paratesticular elements is a unique subset of intrascrotal sarcoma. It is a rare indolent tumor with potential for distant metastases. Although few data are available it is generally assumed to be quite uncommon. The definitive treatment recommendation are yet to be laid down. Four cases are reported.

Prognostic significance of Bcl-2 and p53 protein expression in stage IIB and IIIB squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix.

Cervical cancer is the most common cancer among women in South India. More than 70% of the cases present in stage IIB and IIIB and of these more than 50% fail conventional treatment. The purpose of the present study was to determine the prognostic significance of Bcl-2 and p53 expression in squamous cell carcinomas of the cervix. Using immunohistochemistry, 40 cases of stage IIB and IIIB squamous cell carcinomas of the cervix treated with radiotherapy were studied for the expression of Bcl-2 and p53 protein and their prognostic value ascertained. Bcl-2 was expressed in 65% (n=26) of the tumours. There was a statistically significant association (p=<0.025) between Bcl-2 expression and poorer DFS and OS in stage IIB cases. In stage IIIB, these associations were not obvious probably due to additional genetic events overshadowing the significance of Bcl-2 expression. Only 4/40 (10%) of the cases were positive for p53 protein expression and there was an inverse correlation between p53 expression and Bcl-2 expression. This study suggests that Bcl-2 can be a useful marker to identify the poor prognostic group in stage IIB cases and needs to be confirmed in a larger series.