Bilateral simultaneous tibial tubercle avulsion fractures in an adolescent baseball player: Case report and literature review.

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: Fractures in the proximal tibial tuberosity are rare injuries. Even more uncommon are bilateral simultaneous fractures. Due to the few cases reported in the literature, we aimed to present a case which may contribute to the diagnosis and treatment of bilateral simultaneous tibial tubercle fractures. CASE PRESENTATION: A 13-year-old Hispanic male presented to the emergency department after experiencing sudden knee buckling while running after standing up from the catcher's position (squatted) during a baseball game, causing him to collapse to the ground. Plain radiographs revealed displaced tibial tubercle avulsion fractures in both knees. He underwent bilateral open reduction and internal fixation. Fracture healing was completed without complications. DISCUSSION: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first documented case of a Hispanic pediatric baseball player, adding to the small number of reported cases of bilateral tibial tubercle fractures. The presented case is rare in terms of the mechanism of injury, which has been scantly reported in the literature. CONCLUSION: Due to the rarity of atraumatic bilateral tibial tubercle fractures we believe this documentation may be of clinical relevance.

Effect of surgical timing in outcomes in Hispanic patients after arthroscopic capsular release in diabetic and idiopathic adhesive capsulitis.

Background: Adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder is a painful and debilitating condition. While the majority of patients improve with conservative treatment, those who do not improve require surgery such as arthroscopic capsular release (ACR) for symptom relief. However, there is limited literature regarding the optimal timeframe to proceed with surgery. Methods: This retrospective cohort evaluated 134 Hispanic patients who underwent ACR for the treatment of adhesive capsulitis. Patients were divided into an early and a delayed treatment group that included all patients. Patients were then divided into diabetic and idiopathic subgroups. Early vs. delayed treatment outcomes (forward flexion, external rotation, Visual Analog Scale pain scores, and recurrence requiring reoperation) were assessed in all patients and in each subgroup. Results: No statistically significant differences were found between the early and delayed release groups in postoperative forward flexion, external rotation, pain intensity scores, and recurrence requiring reoperation at 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months of follow-up in the all-patient group. In the idiopathic frozen shoulder subgroup, no significant differences were observed in postoperative forward flexion, external rotation, pain intensity scores, and recurrence requiring reoperation at 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months of follow-up. In the diabetic frozen shoulder subgroup, no significant differences were observed in postoperative forward flexion, external rotation, pain intensity scores, and recurrence requiring reoperation at 1 month and 6 months of follow-up visits. Conclusions: There was no difference in outcomes following ACR for adhesive capsulitis between patients who underwent early release vs. delayed release. There were no significant differences in outcomes between early and delayed arthroscopic release in patients with a history of diabetes mellitus.

Is the whole-day use of surgical masks during the coronavirus pandemic increasing the contamination of surgeons' masks?

Evaluating the impact of surgical masks' conservation practices during the Coronavirus Disease pandemic in the bioburden of the operating room seems imperative, as they play a critical role against this pandemic. We demonstrate that surgeons' masks tend to be contaminated due to the conservation techniques to maximize protection equipment during the pandemic. Health institutions should highlight the importance of surgical mask exchange to avoid increments in surgical mask contamination.

Myoepithelial tumor in the popliteal area: A diagnostic dilemma.

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: Myoepithelial tumors are under-recognized neoplasms that could be difficult to identify due to their rarity and limited comprehension. Their diverse morphology, varied cytologic features and heterogenous immunohistochemical characteristics create a significant diagnostic challenge. CASE PRESENTATION: We report the case of a 72-year-old-male patient who received conservative treatment during one year for a popliteal mass on the right knee that showed synovial hyperplasia (benign findings) at initial open tissue biopsy. New symptoms of popliteal area enlargement and discomfort required a second incisional biopsy to reach the diagnosis of a soft tissue myoepithelial tumor through tissue analysis and immunohistochemical staining. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: The myoepithelial tumors represent a medical dilemma due to their heterogenic features requiring high level of suspicion and adequate immunohistochemical markers for their diagnosis. CONCLUSION: Orthopaedic surgeons should be aware of the atypical presentation of these rare neoplasms to provide an early diagnosis and adequate management.

Primary leiomyosarcoma of the great saphenous vein: A case report.

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: Vascular smooth muscle sarcomas are rare neoplasms that comprise less than 2% of all leiomyosarcomas. These malignancies usually originate in the inferior vena cava, with a limited number of cases affecting the great saphenous vein. Due to the limited reports on these sarcomas, epidemiologic data remains insufficient. CASE PRESENTATION: We report the case of a 67-year-old Hispanic female that presented with an asymptomatic growing mass in her right thigh. She was managed with an En bloc resection under the impression of a smooth muscle vascular sarcoma. The diagnosis was confirmed after histopathologic evaluation. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: Vascular leiomyosarcomas remain a rare and challenging diagnosis. They usually present as a slowly growing mass that is initially asymptomatic. High clinical suspicion and a comprehensive radiologic evaluation, including magnetic resonance imaging, are crucial. Histopathological evaluation is essential for diagnostic confirmation. Surgical excision remains the treatment of choice, with radiation therapy mostly considered for local disease control. Postsurgical surveillance is necessary every three months to monitor for signs of recurrence. CONCLUSION: Physicians should remain aware of the nonspecific presentation of leiomyosarcomas and the importance of a comprehensive diagnostic approach. Early diagnosis and adequate management are fundamental elements in the treatment of these aggressive tumors.

Effect of Nonsurgical Versus Surgical Management on Geriatric Hip Fracture Mortality of Hispanic-American Male Veterans.

INTRODUCTION: The effect of surgical vs nonsurgical management on hip fracture mortality of Hispanic-American male veterans has not been rigorously studied. Hence, we examined the mortality and life expectancy effect of nonsurgical vs surgical management after hip fracture in a geriatric Hispanic-American male veterans' population. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study of Hispanic-American male veterans who were 65 years of age or older and suffered a femoral neck or intertrochanteric fracture from January 2008 to December 2015. Analysis between a surgical cohort (cannulated screw fixation, hemiarthroplasty, total hip arthroplasty, or cephalomedullary nail) and a non-surgical cohort was performed. In-hospital, 30-day, one-year, and two-year mortality were compared between both groups. RESULTS: Out of 268 patients with hip fracture, 159 (59.2%) were treated surgically and 109 (40.8%) non-surgically. The overall in-hospital (9.2% vs 1.9%, P = .009), 30-day (17.4% vs 5.0%, P = .002), one-year (48.6% vs 23.3%, P < .001), and two-year (63.3% vs 36.5%, P < .001) mortality rate was found to be higher for the nonoperative group. The average life expectancy of the nonoperative cohort was significantly shorter than those who were managed surgically (216 days vs 260 days, P < .001). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: This study shows a higher mortality rate and lower life expectancy in geriatric male patients who were treated nonsurgically in a Veterans Health Affair hospital facility that mostly serves Hispanic-American veterans. Our results provide an expansion to the findings of other geriatric studies on hip fracture with focus in a Hispanic-American veteran male population.