Educational impact of a clinical anatomy workshop on 1st-year orthopedic and rheumatology fellows in Mexico City.

We aim to study the educational impact of a clinical anatomy workshop in 1st-year orthopedic and rheumatology fellows. First-year rheumatology fellows (N = 17) and a convenience sample of 1st-year orthopedic fellows (N = 14) from Mexico City in the 9th month of training participated in the study. The pre- and the post- workshop tests included the same 20 questions that had to be answered by identification or demonstration of relevant anatomical items. The questions, arranged by anatomical regions, were asked in five dynamic stations. Overall, the 31 participants showed an increase of correct answers, from a median of 6 (range 1 to 12) in the pre-workshop test, to a median of 14 (range 7 to 19) in the post-workshop test. In the pre-workshop test, the correct median answers were 7 (range 2 to 12) in the orthopedic fellows and 5 (range 1 to 10) in the rheumatology fellows (p = 0.297). Corresponding scores in the post-workshop were 15 (range 10 to 19) and 12 (range 7 to 18) (p = 0.026) showing a significant difference favoring the orthopedic group. Our clinical anatomy workshop was efficacious, in the short term, as a teaching instrument for 1st-year orthopedic and rheumatology fellows. The post-workshop scores, although significantly improved in both groups, particularly in the orthopedic fellows, were still suboptimal. Further refinements of our workshop might yield better results.

¿Arteritis de Takayasu asociada a salmonelosis? / Takayasu's arteritis associated with salmonellosis?

Se trata de una mujer de 18 años con padecimiento actual de dos meses de evolución cracterizado por claudicación de ambos miembros superiores con mayor intensidad del derecho. Con base en la sintomatología, se realizó arteriografía, la cual evidenció estenosis a nivel de la subclavia derecha y fundamantó el diagnóstico de arteritis de Takayasu. En los estudios de laboratorios se encontró reacción de Widal posotiva (tífico O 1:640). La paciente tenía como antecedente el haber padecido fiebre tifoidea hacía tres meses; así lo indicaba la prueba serológica (tífico O 1:320) y la respuesta al tratamiento con ciproxima a dosis convencionales. La paciente también presentó lesiones en miembros inferiores compatibles clínicamente con eritema nodoso. Se ha sugerido una asociación entre varios procesos infecciosos y arteritis de Takayasu. Nosotros presentamos el primer caso de probable asociación entre arteritis de Takayasu e infección por Salmonella tiphy

Soft tissue infections.

Several infectious processes ranging in severity from mild to overwhelming that affect the soft tissues are reviewed. Superficial infections such as impetigo, erysipelas, cellulitis, and subcutaneous bursitis are common and, for the most part, can be easily treated. Because suppurative tenosynovitis has the potential to destroy tendons, consultation with a hand surgeon should be obtained immediately. Mycobacterial and fungal tenosynovitis is usually chronic and patients present with a mass which, when excised and examined with appropriate stain and culture, reveals the unexpected diagnosis. Tropical myositis (muscle abscesses) is seen in temperate climates, primarily as a complication of AIDS. Necrotizing fasciitis and gas gangrene represent the hyperacute end of the spectrum of soft tissue restrictions. Although in most cases a history of trauma is present, spontaneous gas gangrene may arise from occult and colonic cancer. Patients do poorly unless immediate and extensive surgery is performed and appropriate antibiotics are given.

Tumors of soft tissues and bone.

The recent literature pertaining to tumors of articular structures and bone is reviewed. In pigmented villonodular synovitis, the bone resorptive cell is a macrophage polykaryon rather than an osteoclast. Complete arthroscopic synovectomy was successful in most diffuse articular forms of the disease. The early synovial changes in synovial chondromatosis were described; the lesion may be difficult to distinguish from synovial chondrosarcoma. Free body removal may be sufficient to treat synovial chondromatosis. Magnetic resonance imaging has been found useful in association with plain radiographs in the diagnosis of hemangioma and synovial sarcoma. Intracapsular osteoid osteoma, a benign neoplasm, may cause chronic monoarthritis. Computed tomography is essential in the diagnosis of this lesion. Aneurysmal bone cysts frequently show fluid-fluid levels on magnetic resonance imaging. Osteosarcoma, predominantly a tumor of childhood or adolescence, may occur in individuals over age 40 with underlying bone conditions. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging are complementary in defining the extent of this lesion.

Subcutaneous bursitis in scleroderma.

We encountered 3 types of subcutaneous bursitis in our patients with scleroderma: dry bursitis characterized by a rub, sterile bursitis characterized by inflammatory effusions without crystals by polarizing microscopy, and septic (staphylococcal) subcutaneous bursitis. The latter, which occurred in 6 of 40 consecutive patients, had a protracted course, was often complicated by fistulas, and tended to involve several bursae particularly in patients with extensive calcinosis.

Lupus-like presentation of human parvovirus B19 infection.

The diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) was a leading initial consideration in 2 patients with rash, arthritis and hypocomplementemia. One patient also had leukopenia and thrombocytopenia. Spontaneous regression occurred. In both patients antinuclear antibodies were negative. Serologic studies indicated recent human parvovirus B19 infection. We propose adding human parvovirus B19 infection to the list of conditions that may masquerade as SLE.

Remitting, seronegative (A) symmetrical synovitis with pitting edema--two cases of RS3PE syndrome.

The sparing effect of neurological damage on the development and progression of several arthritic conditions has been documented. We describe the first 2 cases of unilateral remitting seronegative symmetrical synovitis with pitting edema (RS3PE) syndrome in individuals with neurologic disorders. Case 1 suffered from birth trauma resulting in paresis of the right upper extremity and developed RS3PE syndrome in the nonaffected extremities. Case 2 developed RS3PE syndrome on the nonparetic side 7 years after a cerebrovascular accident resulting in hemiparesis.

Hemorrhagic subcutaneous bursitis.

Hemarthrosis is a well recognized complication of a number of conditions. Hemorrhagic subcutaneous bursitis is less understood. We encountered a patient with a myeloproliferative disease who developed hemorrhagic olecranon bursitis. Upon reviewing other patients with subcutaneous bursitis, we found that hemorrhagic bursitis also occurs in the setting of traumatic or idiopathic bursitis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, and septic bursitis.

Arthralgias as a presenting manifestation of primary biliary cirrhosis.

Two patients presenting with arthralgias had associated minor elevations in liver enzymes. Each patient's serum had a cytoplasmic pattern of fluorescence on HEp-2 cells which led to the detection of antimitochondrial antibodies. Liver biopsy in both patients revealed primary biliary cirrhosis. Awareness of this limited, articular presentation of primary biliary cirrhosis may result in early treatment and the potential to arrest liver damage in some patients.

Physiology of the retrocalcaneal bursa.

To clarify the function of the retrocalcaneal bursa the hindfoot was studied by magnetic resonance imaging at various positions of the ankle joint. In normal individuals a tongue-like extension of the retromalleolar fat pad entered the bursa during plantar flexion as the angle between Achilles tendon and calcaneus widened. The reverse occurred in dorsiflexion. In contrast, in a patient with spondyloarthritis and retrocalcaneal bursitis excessive cavitary fluid prevented the intrusion of the fat pad. The sliding motion of the fat pad in and out of the bursa during ankle motion allows a more caudal, advantageous insertion of the Achilles tendon into the calcaneus.

The acute phase response in gout.

We studied the acute phase response in gout. Oral temperature, white blood cell count and differential, platelet count, Westergren erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and serum levels of the acute phase reactants serum amyloid A protein (SAA) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were all elevated. The number of involved joints correlated with levels of ESR, SAA and CRP. CRP correlated with temperature, differential count, ESR and SAA. The acute phase response resolved rapidly with treatment.

Foucher's sign of the Baker's cyst.

We investigated the mechanism of Foucher's sign, the change in pressure in the Baker's cyst with extension and flexion of the knee, by echography, arthrography, and computed tomography. With extension the gastrocnemius and the semimembranosus muscles approximate each other and the joint capsule compressing the cyst against the deep fascia. Opposite effects in flexion allow the cyst to relax.