Stress fracture of the second proximal phalanx of the foot in teenage athletes: Unrecognized location of stress fracture.

BACKGROUND: Adolescent athletes are a high-risk population for stress fractures. We report four cases of stress fractures of the second proximal phalanx, which had not been previously diagnosed as the location of the stress fracture of the foot, in teenage athletes. CASE REPORT: All fractures were on the plantar side of the proximal phalangeal base, and the oblique images of the plain radiograph clearly depicted the fractures. Notably, three out of the four patients had histories of stress fracture of other locations. While three athletes with acute cases were able to make an early return to play with simple conservative management, the chronic case required surgical treatment for this rare injury. CONCLUSION: Although a rare injury, it is important that clinicians be aware of this type of stress fracture, as a timely diagnosis can avoid the need for surgical treatment and allow an early return to play.

ACL/MCL transection affects knee ligament insertion distance of healing and intact ligaments during gait in the Ovine model.

The objective of this study was to assess the impact of combined transection of the anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments on the intact and healing ligaments in the ovine stifle joint. In vivo 3D stifle joint kinematics were measured in eight sheep during treadmill walking (accuracy: 0.4+/-0.4mm, 0.4+/-0.4 degrees ). Kinematics were measured with the joint intact and at 2, 4, 8, 12, 16 and 20 weeks after either surgical ligament transection (n=5) or sham surgery without transection (n=3). After sacrifice at 20 weeks, the 3D subject-specific bone and ligament geometry were digitized, and the 3D distances between insertions (DBI) of ligaments during the dynamic in vivo motion were calculated. Anterior cruciate ligament/medial collateral ligament (ACL/MCL) transection resulted in changes in the DBI of not only the transected ACL, but also the intact lateral collateral ligament (LCL) and posterior cruciate ligament (PCL), while the DBI of the transected MCL was not significantly changed. Increases in the maximal ACL DBI (2 week: +4.2mm, 20 week: +5.7mm) caused increases in the range of ACL DBI (2 week: 3.6mm, 20 week: +3.8mm) and the ACL apparent strain (2 week: +18.9%, 20 week: +24.0%). Decreases in the minimal PCL DBI (2 week: -3.2mm, 20 week: -4.3mm) resulted in increases in the range of PCL DBI (2 week: +2.7mm, 20 week: +3.2mm). Decreases in the maximal LCL DBI (2 week: -1.0mm, 20 week: -2.0mm) caused decreased LCL apparent strain (2 week: -3.4%, 20 week: -6.9%). Changes in the mechanical environment of these ligaments may play a significant role in the biological changes observed in these ligaments.

Periarticular ligament changes following ACL/MCL transection in an ovine stifle joint model of osteoarthritis.

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries often lead to significant functional impairment, and are associated with increased risk for induction of degenerative joint disease. However, few studies have described the effect of ligament transection on the remaining intact knee ligaments. This study sought to determine specifically what impact combined ACL/medial collateral ligament (MCL) transection had on the remaining intact knee ligaments, particularly from the histological, biochemical, and molecular perspectives. Twenty weeks post-ACL/MCL transection, the cut ends of sheep MCLs were bridged by scar, while the posterior cruciate ligaments (PCLs) and lateral collateral ligaments (LCLs) seemed gross morphologically normal. Water content and cell density increased significantly in the MCL scars and the intact PCLs but were unchanged in the LCLs. Collagen fibril diameter distribution was significantly altered in both MCL scar tissue and uninjured PCLs from transected joints. MMP-13 mRNA levels in MCL scars and PCLs from ligament transected joints were increased, while TIMP-1 mRNA levels were significantly decreased in the PCLs only. This study has shown that some intact ligaments in injured joints are impacted by the injury. The joint appears to behave like an integrated organ system, with injury to one component affecting the other components as the "organ" attempts to adapt to the loss of integrity.

Ocular findings of Beals syndrome.

BACKGROUND: In this report of two Okinawan patients with Beals syndrome and accompanying ocular complications, the symptoms of Beals syndrome and Marfan syndrome are compared. The etiology of these two syndromes is considered in relation to fibrillin. CASES: Case 1 was a 5-year-old boy who showed blue sclera and bilateral enlargement of optic disc cupping. Case 2 was a 24-year-old man who had partial coloboma of the lens, mild cataract, and bilateral glaucomatous disc cupping. OBSERVATIONS: Beals syndrome was diagnosed in these two patients based on the initial examination. In further investigations, while the patients were being observed without treatment, the intra ocular pressure of both patients remained within normal range. Funduscopy showed that the cup-to-disc ratio was 0.8 bilaterally in both patients. Case 1 was followed up for 6 years with no changes. Ultrasound biomicroscopy examination in case 2 revealed hypoplasia of the ciliary body, leading to a diagnosis of glaucoma. This patient remains under observation. CONCLUSIONS: Two cases of Beals syndrome with ocular complications including glaucomatous optic disc cupping are reported. Ophthalmic examinations are recommended to identify the ocular complications of Beals syndrome. Further studies are needed to elucidate the relation between fibrillin abnormality and ocular complications in Beals syndrome.