Spontaneous bilateral compartment syndrome of the legs: A case report and review of the literature.

INTRODUCTION: Bilateral acute compartment syndrome of the legs is a rare presentation requiring emergent surgical intervention. PRESENTATION OF CASE: We report the case of 41-year-old woman who presented with acute bilateral compartment syndrome of the legs, complicated by rhabdomyolysis and acute renal failure. DISCUSSION: There are very few previously reported cases of bilateral compartment syndrome of the legs. In the present case, despite any clear causative factor, we suggest that the aetiology is related to inadvertent posture during sleep. CONCLUSION: The diagnosis of acute bilateral compartment syndrome of the legs requires a high index of suspicion, particularly in the absence of obvious aetiology. A successful outcome can be achieved with early diagnosis, prompt surgical intervention and a multidisciplinary approach.

Ilizarov external fixator: acute shortening and lengthening versus bone transport in the management of tibial non-unions.

Eighteen patients with tibial shaft non-unions were treated by the Ilizarov method between March 1995 and September 2001 by the senior author. Three subgroups of six patients each were treated by either acute shortening and lengthening, bone transport or simple stabilisation with a frame. All aspects of non-union, infection, shortening, deformity and bone loss were addressed by using Ilizarov principles. There were 10 cases of infected non-unions in the entire series. Bone resection in the shortening group was between 3 and 6 cm (median 4.6) compared to 3-7.5 cm (median 5.9) in the bone transport group. Union was achieved in all the patients with the average time to union at 12.1 months, 17.2 months and 8.0 months, respectively. The bone transport group required additional bone grafting in five patients (83.3%) prior to union compared to one (16.7%) in the acute shortening group.

The effect of surgeon experience on component positioning in 673 Press Fit Condylar posterior cruciate-sacrificing total knee arthroplasties.

Component angles of 673 Press Fit Condylar (PFC) total knee arthroplasties were measured from standard short-leg radiographs. The femoral and tibial resections were performed with intramedullary and extramedullary instrumentation. The mean coronal tibial component angle was 88.59 degrees (SD, 2.28 degrees; range, 78-98 degrees ), with 17.1% having values <87 degrees and 1.9% having values >93 degrees. The mean coronal femoral component angle was 97.43 degrees (SD, 3.44 degrees; range, 84-115 degrees ), with 9.1% having values <94 degrees and 13.1% having values >100 degrees. An ideal tibiofemoral angle of 4 degrees to 10 degrees of valgus was achieved in 75.3% of patients, being <4 degrees in 18.6% and >10 degrees in 6.1%. Alignment was not significantly different between consultant and trainee surgeons. Although varus positioning of the tibial component was the commonest error, the wide range of femoral component angles signifies problems with standard intramedullary femoral guides.