Great imitator: an unusual presentation of osteoarticular tuberculosis of the knee with gram-negative bacterial arthritis.

A 33-year-old man presented with a 2-year history of right knee swelling with fungating masses and white-yellow discharge. Severe pain, limited movement and signs of sepsis were absent. Debridement, partial synovectomy and arthrotomy were done for the multiple sinuses that developed over the knee. Synovial tissue analysis yielded a positive acid-fast bacillus smear and Mycobacterium tuberculosis PCR test, while aerobic culture studies grew Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii Chronic granulomatous inflammation was seen on histopathology. Alongside antibiotic therapy, multiple debridements of the right knee were required to eradicate the infection and allow wound repair. A flap coverage with split-thickness skin graft was performed after the bacterial infection resolved, and the patient was discharged ambulatory with minimal pain. Such atypical presentations of monarthritis require immediate workup and a prompt referral to a multidisciplinary team to establish the diagnosis and initiate appropriate management before irreversible joint destruction and disability ensues.

Neurological recovery after surgical intervention of a complete spinal cord injury secondary to a chronic untreated odontoid neck fracture: a lesson in patient prognostication.

Odontoid fractures are injuries that can either be benign or devastatingly progress to quadriplegia and significant morbidity and mortality. Management is not clear cut for patients who already present late and with severe neurological deficits. We present a case of a type 2 odontoid fracture with associated complete spinal cord injury (American Spinal Injury Association A) initially untreated for 3 months but was subsequently managed with posterior decompression, instrumentation and occipitocervical fusion. The patient fully recovered all deficits and is independent of activities of daily living.

Delayed onset bioabsorbable screw reaction, intact screw extrusion and Pseudomonas aeruginosa tibial tunnel osteomyelitis years after arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using hamstring graft.

Postoperative reaction and infection after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction is a rare complication. We report two cases of bioabsorbable screw extrusion and Pseudomonas aeruginosa tibial tunnel infection in 17/18-year-old men, 2 and 4 years after ACL reconstruction, respectively. They underwent tibial tunnel debridement, removal of the still intact poly-L-D-lactic acid bioabsorbable screw and subsequent wound closure. Physical examination findings confirmed patency of the hamstring graft. Culture guided antibiotics were completed, and wounds healed unremarkably. Both returned to previous level of activity. Successful treatment is achieved through a logical sequence of management, as well as a multidisciplinary approach to prevent unnecessary secondary procedures and morbidity.

Open reduction capsular arthroplasty using a modified Codivilla-Hey Groves-Colonna procedure augmented with tensor fascia lata graft, supported by Ilizarov hinged external fixator in a patient with chronic traumatic posterior hip dislocation.

Untreated traumatic hip dislocation is a rare condition in children. Capsular arthroplasty is a previously abandoned surgical technique in dealing with developmental dysplasia of the hips but not described in traumatic dislocations. We present a 2-year follow-up of a 7-year-old boy who sustained chronic traumatic posterior hip dislocation treated as a first case in published literature combining a modified version of the Codivilla-Hey Groves-Colonna procedure, using tensor fascia lata graft and application of a hinged Ilizarov frame. The patient is currently independent on all activities of daily living.