Duplication of spine with hemi-lipomyelomeningocele.

BACKGROUND: Duplication of the spine is very rare, and this malformation is generally considered as a severe form of type I split cord malformations. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of spine duplication associated with lipomyelomeningocele. CASE: We report an exceptional case of 14-year-old, asymptomatic and neurologically intact girl with duplication of the spine and marked separation of bony elements at thoraco-lumbar region. One of the split thecal sacs includes a tethered spinal cord whereas other thecal sac has no visible neural content, and there is a neighbor lipomyelomeningocele located in the midline. CONCLUSION: A surgical operation was planned to release the tethered cord and instrumentation and fusion for scoliosis; however, the operation was declined by the patient.

Closed traumatic avulsion of both flexor tendons in the ring finger.

Traumatic rupture of the deep flexor tendon is a well-recognized entity known as "jersey finger". However, simultaneous traumatic rupture or avulsion of both flexor tendons in a finger without pre-existing disease is extremely rare. Such an injury is presented and discussed here, with regards to the mechanism, location, and treatment in comparison with similar reports in the literature.

[Posttraumatic Chance fracture of the cervical spine in a case with ankylosing spondylitis: a case report]. / Ankilozan spondilitli bir olguda travma sonrasi servikal Chance kirigi: Olgu sunumu.

Spinal fractures can occur after minor traumas due to the fragility of osseous or ligamentous structures of the spine in patients with ankylosing spondylitis. They are usually seen in the thoracolumbar region of the spine. However, the cervical region is an extremely rare location for these fractures. We present a 52-year-old male with ankylosing spondilitis who had complaints of weakness in the lower extremities and difficulty with walking after a fall from height. Neurologic examination revealed a progressive loss of motor function. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a Chance fracture at the fifth and sixth cervical vertebrae. We performed a one-stage anterior cervical fusion and stabilization with posterior decompression. Postoperatively, there was a progressive neurologic improvement. However, the patient died due to pulmonary failure at the seventh day postoperatively.

Enoxaparin and heparin comparison of deep vein thrombosis prophylaxis in total hip replacement patients.

INTRODUCTION: We compared the efficacy and safety of standard heparin to that of low molecular weight heparin (Enoxaparin) in 100 hip replacement patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 100 patients who underwent total hip replacement surgery were randomised to receive a study medication. Enoxaparin was administered to 50 patients (prophylaxis with subcutaneous injection of 40 mg of Enoxaparin daily was initiated 12 h preoperatively), and heparin (subcutaneous standard heparin initiated 8 h preoperatively on a dose of 5,000 IU and continued to 15,000 IU per day in three equal dosages every 8 h) was given to 50 patients. Each treatment was continued until the patients were discharged from the hospital. They were made to undergo lower extremity duplex ultrasonography for deep vein thrombosis before discharge and discontinued from medication if no pathology was found. The primary parameter to determine the efficacy was the prevalence of venous thromboembolic disease. The primary parameter to determine safety was the prevalence of major bleeding. RESULTS: Two patients in the heparin group developed DVT, which was detected by routine duplex ultrasonography at the end of hospitalisation, and two patients in the exoparine group were detected with late DVT during the postoperative period of 6 weeks. Seven patients had minor and major bleeding in both the groups. Six patients in the heparin group discontinued from medication because of hepatic, renal dysfunctions, and serious discharges from the wound. CONCLUSION: Enoxaparin is as safe and as effective as standard heparin in total hip replacement surgery.

Arthrodesis for tuberculous coxarthritis: good outcome in 32 adolescents.

BACKGROUND: There is no consensus on best treatment of advanced tuberculous coxarthritis in young patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We report our results concerning hip arthrodesis for advanced tuberculous arthritis of the hip in 32 adolescents. The operation was preceded by standard antituberculous chemotherapy for 4 weeks, which was continued for 12 months after surgery. At the last follow-up, clinical and radiographic examinations of the ipsilateral knee, contralateral hip and lower back were done. We evaluated function, limitations, and presence of pain with our usual questions. RESULTS: Their average age at the time of operation was 16 (12-18) years and the average duration of followup 12 (10-18) years. Solid bony fusion occurred in all patients after mean 5 months and no complications developed in the postoperative period. 28 patients were satisfied with the fused hip. No patients had reactivation of tuberculosis in any part of their body. The results were comparable to those of arthrodesis performed for other causes. INTERPRETATION: Hip arthrodesis is an alternative method of treatment for advanced stages of tuberculous coxarthritis in the adolescent.

Value of limited hip abduction in developmental dysplasia of the hip.

BACKGROUND: Developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) continues to be missed by routine physical examination in up to 50% of cases. Ultrasound (US) supplementation is the best method of screening for DDH, but the resources required should not be underestimated. Limited abduction of the hip (LHA) in an infant triggers suspicion, and often an urge to treat, in most orthopaedic surgeons and pediatricians alike. This study aimed to document the value of unilateral LHA in the diagnosis and decision making of DDH, and the correlation between LHA and US. METHODS: In total, 464 infants referred from the pediatrics clinic with LHA, aged between 30 and 120 days, were included in the study. RESULTS: Physical examination revealed LHA in 186 (41%) infants, 26 of which were unilateral and 160 were bilateral. US examination showed that 13 (8.1%) patients in the bilateral LHA group and 18 (69.2) patients in the unilateral LHA group, had DDH (total number 31, 7%). CONCLUSION: Unilateral limitation of hip abduction was found to be a sensitive sign for developmental hip dysplasia, but US could be defined once again as the best golden standard before initiating treatment.

Sacral insufficiency fracture surgically treated by fibular allograft.

Sacral insufficiency fractures have been known to occur distally after long instrumentation to the sacrum. Most such fractures are treated nonoperatively, but surgery is indicated for patients who have nonunions, persistent pain, neurologic deficits, or gross displacement. The current report elucidates the potential complication of sacral fracture after long lumbar arthrodesis, reviews the pertinent literature, presents three patients with sacral fractures after long instrumented lumbar spinal arthrodesis to the sacrum, and describes a new surgical technique for stabilizing such fractures. One patient was treated nonoperatively, and two patients were treated with arthrodesis from a posterior approach and augmentation with a strut fibular allograft. All three patients were followed to radiographic and clinical union. The authors conclude that sacral fracture is a potential complication after a long lumbar arthrodesis. Nonoperative techniques are often successful, but when they are not, a new technique using fibular allografts can be successful.

Intracortical epidermoid cyst of the tibia.

Epidermoid cyst in a long bone is an extremely rare condition. The authors describe such a tumor located in the cortex of the tibia in a 21-year-old woman. She was successfully treated with curettage and autogenous bone grafting.

[The results of nerve repair in combined nerve-tendon injuries of the forearm]. / Onkol kombine sinir-tendon yaralanmalarinda sinir tamiri sonuçlarimiz.

BACKGROUND: We evaluated the clinical and functional results of nerve repair in patients with combined tendon-nerve injuries of the forearm. METHODS: The study included 68 patients (58 males, 10 females; mean age 33.5 years; range 5 to 48 years) with combined tendon-nerve injuries of the forearm. A total of 96 nerves were repaired. Patients with nerve defects were excluded. Both median and ulnar nerves were injured in 17 patients; median and ulnar nerve injuries were detected in 17 patients and 34 patients, respectively. The mean time to operation was four hours (range 20 min to 24 h). Primary nerve repair was performed in 60 patients, and secondary repair was performed in eight patients. The interfascicular technique was employed in 18 patients, and epiperineural suture in 50 patients. Rehabilitation included early motion using the Washington regimen. A modified MRC (Medical Research Council) motor and sensory classification system was used for postoperative evaluation. The mean follow-up was at least two years. RESULTS: The modified MRC results were as follows: of 17 patients with median nerve injuries, 10 had excellent, seven had good results. Of 34 patients with ulnar nerve injuries, the results were excellent in nine, very good in 10, good in 10, and fair in five patients. Of those with median and ulnar nerve injuries, four, seven, and six patients had excellent, very good, and good results, respectively. Overall, 61 patients (89.7%) had satisfactory results. A significant correlation was found between age and the MRC results (p=0.016). CONCLUSION: Primary nerve repair followed by early motion results in substantial rates of excellent and satisfactory results in patients with combined nerve-tendon injuries.

Immediate percutaneous intramedullary fixation and functional bracing for the treatment of pediatric femoral shaft fracture.

Fifty-three consecutive children ages 6 to 14 with femur fractures treated with early percutaneous intramedullary fixation were evaluated retrospectively. The operation was performed within 24 hours in 50 patients and in the remainder after 48 hours. All patients were mobilized and allowed full weight-bearing in a functional brace in the early postoperative period. The average hospital stay was 4 days. The average follow-up was 24 months. There were no significant intra- or postoperative complications. An average overgrowth of 1.8 mm was measured using scanogram 24 months after surgery. In the authors' experience, this technique is highly effective for the treatment of children 6 to 14 years old with femur fractures. The main advantages of this method are early weight-bearing, immediate mobilization, short hospitalization, and fewer complications.

The role of anterior spinal instrumentation and allograft fibula for the treatment of pott disease.

STUDY DESIGN: The authors retrospectively reviewed 28 patients with multilevel Pott disease who underwent anterior radical débridement, decompression, and fusion with anterior spinal instrumentation and fibular allograft replacement. OBJECTIVES: To assess the efficacy of allograft fibular fusion and anterior spinal stabilization as an alternative treatment of spinal tuberculosis. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: The results of anterior surgery in preventing late or early spinal deformity from Pott disease have been closely related to the status of the segmental stability and graft materials, especially in cases of multisegmental involvement. The use of allograft and anterior spinal instrumentation in tuberculous spondylitis remains controversial because of the risk of persistence and recurrence of infection in the presence of devitalized bone graft, which may also be prone to poor incorporation. METHODS: Between 1993 and 1998, a total of 28 patients with Pott disease (two or more segments involved) underwent anterior débridement, allograft fusion, and stabilization. The patients were given antituberculosis treatment in the postoperative period according to a standardized protocol. The authors retrospectively analyzed their experience in tuberculous spondylitis, with particular attention to method, allograft incorporation, and anterior spinal instrumentation. Incorporation of the allograft was evaluated by either static or dynamic (flexion/extension) radiographs. RESULTS: None of the patients used external support in the postoperative period. A minimum of 3 years' follow-up was achieved in 26 patients. The overall fusion rate was 96%. There were no graft problems. Two patients died in the early postoperative period as a result of multiorgan failure. One patient suffered from an instrumentation failure. No other complications were observed. The segmental correction was maintained successfully in all of the patients. The mean correction loss was 6 degrees. CONCLUSION: The use of anterior spinal stabilization accompanied with a structural allograft fibula is effective after proper radical débridement for interbody fusion, deformity correction, and maintenance in cases of multisegment-involved Pott disease.