A simple method for percutaneous resection of osteoid osteoma.

OBJECTIVE: To introduce a method that can be performed with minimal equipments available to most orthopedic surgeons and precludes the extensive anesthetic and ablative requirements. METHODS: A percutaneous lead tunnel was first established in the cortex next to the nidus under computerized tomography guidance with local anesthesia; then the nidus was curetted in the operating room through the lead tunnel. The study was performed in Shariati Hospital in Tehran, Iran, from September 2002 to December 2005. RESULTS: Nineteen patients were treated with this method with 94.7% cure rate. The diagnosis was histologically confirmed in 16 cases (84.2%). Failure occurred in one patient. The patients had a mean follow-up of 13.5 months with no recurrence of symptoms with mean hospitalization time of 1.6 days. CONCLUSION: This technique is simple, minimally invasive and effective. It needs no especial equipments and provides the material for tissue diagnosis.

Musculoskeletal injuries associated with earthquake. A report of injuries of Iran's December 26, 2003 Bam earthquake casualties managed in tertiary referral centers.

This is a descriptive analysis, performed on victims of Iran's December 26, 2003 Bam earthquake that were referred to tertiary referral trauma management centre in Tehran. Two hundred and ten patients were included in this study. Associated musculoskeletal injuries and renal function of the patients were recorded. The mean time under rubble was 1.9 h in our patients with a mean rescue to first medical aid time of 13.5 h. We had 19 cases of compartment syndrome and 6.7% of patients had impaired renal function. The incidence of compartment syndrome had a direct relation to the time under rubble and the incidence of renal failure was directly related to rescue to first medical aid time. Axial skeleton fractures, amongst them the lateral compression type pelvic fractures, were particularly common. Fracture associated neural injuries were also common. Institution of renal protective protocols from the very first hours after injury more conservative approaches to treatment of fractures in these crush trauma patients are strongly recommended.