Hips with synovial chondromatosis may display the features of femoroacetabular impingement.

BACKGROUND: Both synovial chondromatosis and femoroacetabular impingement present with hip pain and may lead to hip osteoarthritis. We present a small case series and describe the clinical presentation, investigation, and treatment of patients with synovial chondromatosis who also had cam-type femoroacetabular impingement involving the same hip. METHODS: Five patients (four men and one woman with a mean age of thirty-four years [range, thirty to thirty-seven years]) with unilateral synovial chondromatosis of the hip presented with clinical and radiographic features of ipsilateral cam-type femoroacetabular impingement. The diagnosis of associated synovial chondromatosis was made on the basis of preoperative imaging in four of the cases. All patients were treated with surgical hip dislocation, excision of the synovial chondromatosis loose bodies, and reshaping of the femoral head-neck junction. RESULTS: These hips exhibited radiographic features that are not typically seen with idiopathic cam-type femoroacetabular impingement, including femoral head hypertrophy, lateralization of the femoral head, and haziness in the acetabular fossa. None of the hips showed signs of advanced osteoarthritis intraoperatively. The alpha angle improved from a mean of 72.4° preoperatively to 42.6° postoperatively. At a mean of twenty-two months of follow-up, the patients had a mean Harris hip score of 80.6, substantially improved from the preoperative value of 39. CONCLUSIONS: Hips with synovial chondromatosis may present with clinical and radiographic features resembling those of cam-type femoroacetabular impingement. As simultaneous treatment of both conditions is best accomplished with surgical hip dislocation rather than other, less-extensive surgical approaches, we recommend preoperative consideration of synovial chondromatosis in patients presenting with unilateral cam-type femoroacetabular impingement.

Reconstruction of distal fibula with osteoarticular allograft after tumor resection.

BACKGROUND: Involvement of distal fibula by benign aggressive and malignant tumors usually necessitates resection of the involved segment of fibula. Numerous techniques have been proposed to reconstruct the ankle joint after this procedure, which can result in complications. We introduce reconstruction of ankle joint by fibular osteoarticular allograft. METHODS: Reconstruction of the distal fibula after wide resection of tumor was carried out in four patients. There were two cases of Ewing sarcoma, one case of osteosarcoma and one giant cell tumor. After wide resection of tumor, we reconstructed the lateral side of the ankle joint by osteoarticular fibular allograft, which was applied and internally fixed with semitubular plate and screws. In the follow up period, we did assessment of complications, pain and ankle joint instability. RESULTS: The mean age of our patients was 24.2 years (12-31). The mean follow-up was 3.2 years (1.5-6.7). In follow up visits there were no signs of infection or wound healing problems. Union was achieved in all patients. CONCLUSION: In cases of benign aggressive and malignant tumors involving the distal fibula, we can recommend resection of the distal fibula and reconstruction of the ankle with osteoarticular allograft of the distal fibula. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Case series level IV.

Fulminant spread of a femur anaerobic osteomyelitis to abdomen in a 17-year-old boy.

To our knowledge, distant spread of infection in anaerobic osteomyelitis has not been described before. In this article, we report a case of anaerobic osteomyelitis of femur with fulminant spread of infection to the abdomen in a 17-year-old boy with no predisposing medical factors and minimal bone involvement.

Evaluation of relationship between the serum levels of inflammatory mediators and ocular injuries induced by sulfur mustard: Sardasht-Iran Cohort Study.

Ocular damages induced by sulfur mustard (SM) are the important problems in exposed patients. The damaging mechanisms are not clearly understood. In the present study the relationship between the serum levels of inflammatory mediators and ocular injuries induced by SM was evaluated. Bulbar conjunctiva and limbal tissue abnormalities were significantly more frequent in the expose versus control group (P=0.004 and 0.048 respectively). The serum levels of IL-1alpha and TNF-alpha in the exposed group with and without Slit lamp findings were significantly lower than their counterpart in the control group. The serum levels of IL-1beta in the exposed group with Slit lamp findings were significantly lower than their counterpart in the control group. The serum levels of IL-1beta in the controls with Slit lamp findings were significantly higher than the controls without Slit lamp findings. The serum levels of IL-1Ra and MMP-9 in the exposed group with and without Slit lamp findings do not display any significant differences as compared to the similar controls. The serum levels of IL-6 in the exposed group with or without Slit lamp findings were significantly lower than their counterpart in the control group (P=0.048 and 0.008 respectively). The serum titers of the CRP and RF in the exposed group without Slit lamp findings were significantly elevated versus their counterpart in the control group (P=0.004 and 0.011 respectively). The serum levels of these inflammatory cytokines except for IL-1Ra and MMP-9, decreased in SM exposed subject independent of ocular problems. More local studies on the eyes are needed to clarify the exact role of this cytokines in ocular problems of chemical.