Intraoperative ultrasound assistance for percutaneous repair of the acute Achilles tendon rupture.

Various methods have been used to treat the acute Achilles tendon rupture. Traditional open repair is associated with a higher rate of complications. Percutaneous methods avoid most of the disadvantages of open surgical treatment, but the degree of tendon regeneration cannot be ensured. The authors prospectively followed 40 patients with acute Achilles tendon rupture who underwent percutaneous repair with intraoperative ultrasound assistance an average of 13 months after the injury. No surgery-related complications, such as wounds or deep infections, sural nerve injury, or re-rupture, were detected at follow-up. This technique avoids injury to the sural nerve, minimizes wound complications, and provides a strong repair.

Neglected synovial osteochondromatosis of the elbow: a rare case.

BACKGROUND: Synovial osteochondromatosis is a benign metaplastic proliferative disorder of the synovium characterised by the formation of multiple cartilaginous nodules in the synovium, many of which detach and become loose bodies. The disease is characteristically monoarticular, most commonly involving the knee. A site in the elbow was first reported in 1918 by Henderson, but any joint may be involved. Very few cases of synovial osteochondromatosis of the elbow have been reported in the literature. The presenting symptoms are usually diffuse discomfort in the affected joint and decreased range of motion with an accompanying gritty or locking sensation. The treatment of choice is excision of the synovium and removal of the loose bodies. CASE PRESENTATION: We report a rare neglected case covering a 32-year period of a locally aggressive synovial osteochondromatosis of the elbow in a 47-year-old man. Clinical examination revealed a significant increase in size of the left elbow compared to the contralateral one. The simple radiographs and the computed tomography showed multiple rounded, calcified bodies widespread throughout the elbow joint. At surgery we removed and counted a total of 312 loose bodies, varying in size from a few millimeters to 3 cm. The evaluation at 6 months postoperatively showed marked reduction in the volume of the elbow, improvement of extension and flexion and an increase of the Mayo elbow performance score from 50 points before surgery to 80 points at 6 months postoperative. CONCLUSION: Synovial osteochondromatosis is an uncommon condition characterized by the formation of multiple nodules of hyaline cartilage within the sub-synovial connective tissue. The differential diagnosis includes chronic articular infection, osteoarthritis, pigmented villonodular synovitis, mono-articular inflammatory arthritis and periarticular neoplasms like synovial sarcoma. The treatment of choice is excision of the synovium and removal of the loose bodies. The prognosis is good, but recurrences may occur if the removal is incomplete.

Long-term results of lateral retinacular release.

PURPOSE: We evaluated the outcomes of lateral retinacular release (LRR) after a long-term follow-up period of 5 to 12 years. TYPE OF STUDY: Long-term retrospective clinical follow-up study. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between 1986 and 1994, 120 LRRs were performed in the Orthopaedic Department of the Catholic University of Rome. A total of 100 patients were evaluated. We divided the patients into 2 groups: group I contained 50 patients with patellar pain and no signs of instability; the remaining 50 patients, with clear signs of patellar instability, made up group II. Standard weight-bearing radiographs, axial views of the knee at 45 degrees , and dynamic computed tomography scans were performed in all patients preoperatively and at follow-up evaluation. Chondral damage was classified at the time of lateral release according to the criteria of Outerbridge and Dunlop. We used the Lysholm II score, which was modified for patellofemoral pathology and a clinical grading system of Busch and de Haven, to evaluate clinical outcomes at follow-up evaluation. RESULTS: In group I (pain), 70% reported satisfactory outcomes at follow-up evaluation compared with 50% in group II (P < .05) (instability). Compared with a previously published analysis of 3-year outcomes in this same patient population, there was very little change in group I patients, whereas group II showed a significant decrease in good outcomes over time. The worst results were obtained in cases with serious cartilage damage and exposure of the subchondral bone at the time of lateral release. CONCLUSIONS: LRR is a procedure offering a good percentage of success in the management of a stable patella with excessive lateral pressure and elective location of pain on the lateral retinaculum. In patellar instability the results are less favorable in long-term follow-up evaluation. The presence of high-grade joint surface injury is a poor prognostic indicator for lateral release. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV.