Avulsion of the hamstring muscle group: a follow-up of 6 adult non-athletes with early operative treatment: a brief report.

BACKGROUND: Complete proximal avulsions of the hamstring muscle group may cause significant morbidity and loss of function. These pelvis-near musculoskeletal injuries are mostly acquired during sports activities in a hip flexion and knee extension. Here we present a study group of 6 middle-aged to elderly patients suffering a complete proximal hamstring avulsion and following early surgical refixation. Early surgical refixation leads to complete resumption of the activities of daily life without loss of function. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The 6 patients (3 men and 3 women) included in this study had an average age of 59.07 +/- 4.47 years at the time of injury. All of them suffered a complete avulsion of the hamstring muscle group. Surgical refixation was accomplished with the corkscrew anchor refixation system (Arthrex Manufacturing, Inc., Naples, FL). The cases were retrospectively analyzed using a hip joint evaluation system, the Harris Hip Score, and radiological follow-up by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Data are given as mean +/- SEM. Student's t-test was used for normal distribution of the data. RESULTS: The mean follow-up time was 31.83 +/- 18.9 months (range: 10-118 months). All patients were rated not to have a significant difference in function compared with the uninjured side. None of the patients suffered any handicaps resulting from surgery or the injury. A complete consolidation in all patients was observed in the follow-up MRI. CONCLUSIONS: Early surgical intervention and subsequent therapy in a complete hamstring avulsion injury may prevent loss of hip-joint stability and prevent the sequelae of degradative hip or vertebral events.

Septic polyarthritis caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae: primary pneumococcal pneumonia as a risk factor in older patients? A case report.

Septic polyarthritis associated to Streptococcus pneumoniae pneumonia is rarely seen and deserves description. In the present report, the case of a 77-year-old man with a 3-day clinical history of arthritis lacking anamnesis of trauma is discussed. Physical examination showed inflammatory signs and elevated inflammatory parameters in blood samples. The patient experienced pneumonia with blood cultures positive for S pneumoniae simultaneously. Arthrotomy revealed putride arthritis with S pneumoniae in culture. Therapy was initiated with intravenous benzylpenicillin. Surgical drainage and frequent retesting managed the local infection. Antibiotics had to be changed according to the specific sensitivity to ceftriaxone. Antimicrobial therapy was given intravenously for a total of 6 weeks.On follow-up no inflammatory signs were observed after 4 and 9 months. A bistrategical approach with surgical drainage and frequent retesting and antimicrobial chemotherapy may lead to a good result in the treatment of pneumococcal septic arthritis.