A geometric method of calculating tendo Achillis lengthening.

Twenty-six open "Z-type" tendo Achillis lengthenings were performed on 20 children with equinus contractures secondary to spastic cerebral palsy. The patients' average age was 8.6 years (range 4.0-17.5 years). A preoperative calculation of the amount of lengthening needed to accomplish a satisfactory correction of equinus was used before all procedures in the hope of avoiding iatrogenic overlengthening. This calculation was done with simple clinical measurements on the foot and ankle and is based on elementary lever arm and geometric principles. After an average follow-up of 3.1 years (range 6 months to 7 years), there were no instances of overlengthening, nor was there residual equinus.

Muscle biopsy: proper surgical technique.

Muscle biopsy is often incorrectly performed despite the fact that it is a relatively simple procedure. A consistently reproducible surgical technique in 93 open vastus lateralis muscle biopsies implemented in conjunction with neuromuscular and malignant hyperthermia research demonstrated 14 cases of malignant hyperthermia and a variety of forms of neuromuscular pathology. No wound complications or disabilities have resulted from this procedure. The procedure includes careful selection of biopsy site, regional anesthesia, atraumatic dissection, and immediate processing of the biopsy sample. A new muscle biopsy clamp is described. The authors recommend the vastus lateralis for the biopsy site unless another area of involvement is specifically indicated. Careful attention to technical details is required for optimal results.

Congenital diastasis of the inferior tibiofibular joint: a review of the literature and report of two cases.

Congenital inferior tibiofibular diastasis is a rare condition of unknown etiology, possibly a form of tibial hypoplasia, marked by a clinical triad of talipes equinovarus, ankle diastasis, and limb length inequality. An analysis of 10 cases reported previously is given with two additional examples. Ankle mortise reconstitution and clubfoot correction by surgery have been the basis of treatment. We present two cases in which no ankle reconstruction was done with good results. Syme amputation is considered for cases with severe tibial shortening. Prognosis for a plantigrade foot is encouraging if limb length inequality is corrected operatively or non-operatively as indicated.

A comparison of CT scanning and myelography in the diagnosis of lumbar disc herniation.

Computerized tomographic (CT) scanning of the fourth and fifth lumbar disc spaces with the GE CT/T8800 scanner followed by metrizamide myelography was obtained for 134 consecutive patients with suspected lumbar disc disease. There was an overall concordance rate of 85% between CT scanning and myelography. In those 52 patients treated by surgery, concordance between the CT and the myelogram was similar at 86.5%. Myelography and surgical findings were in agreement in 94.2% of cases, while CT findings and surgical finding agreed in 92.3% of cases. The authors' data indicate that the CT scan is as accurate as myelography in the diagnosis of lumbar disc disease. When the CT scan interpretation is supported by clinical findings, the myelogram may be eliminated in the preoperative patient. Myelography may be reserved for equivocal cases.

The effects of epidural injection of local anesthetics and corticosteroids on patients with lumbosciatic pain.

Although epidural cortisone injections are commonly used for treatment of lumbosciatic pain, insufficient critical analysis of the end result can be found in the literature. The present study is a retrospective critical analysis of 367 patients with leg pain who were engaged for a minimum of two weeks or an average of two months in multifaceted conservative management without relief of pain. Injections of 10 cm3 of 0.5% bupivacaine and 100 mg of methylprednisolone were given to inpatients treated by the same anesthesiologist. The average follow-up period was 21.4 months (range, 6-36 months). Results were analyzed according to duration of pain and history of prior lumbar spine surgery. The most favorable results (approaching 70% offd-excellent) were observed in patients with subacute radicular leg pain (of less than three months' duration) and chronic leg pain (of greater than three months' duration) with no prior surgery. Negative myelograms and electromyograms (EMGs), in the absence of reflex or motor deficits on physical examination, also pointed toward optimal results. Those patients with chronic pain who had had prior lumbar spine surgery had the least satisfactory results.