Rare presentation of granulomatosis with polyangiitis.

A 62-year-old man with no pertinent medical history presented with lower extremity weakness and worsening distal fingertips and toe cyanosis/gangrene. In the outpatient setting, he was initially being treated for Raynaud's phenomenon with a calcium channel blocker. On presentation, the patient had elevated inflammatory markers and white blood cell count. Serum vasculitis panel (proteinase-3 antibody) supported the diagnosis of granulomatosis with polyangiitis. His hospital course was complicated by ischaemic stroke and a diagnosis of mononeuritis multiplex in his lower extremities. After initiating therapy with intravenous steroid and rituximab, his symptoms overall improved including cyanotic fingertips/toes. His inflammatory markers and leucocytosis also improved. Outpatient follow-up consisted of further rituximab infusions and unrelated umbilical hernia incarceration which required surgery. He was found incidentally to have subsegmental pulmonary emboli which most likely occurred during the initial presentation prior to his diagnosis. The patient moved out of state and was lost to follow-up.

FARES method for reduction without medication of first episode of traumatic anterior shoulder dislocation.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to demonstrate the efficiency of (FARES) method for reduction of first-episode anterior shoulder dislocation, as well as its safety, reliability, and quick easy reproducibility by inexperienced physicians without any use of medications. METHODS: This was a prospective study of 28 patients with first episode of anterior shoulder dislocation that underwent closed reduction using FARES method by junior orthopaedic residents without use of any analgesic, muscle relaxant, or anesthesia. Only two attempts of reduction were allowed for each patient. The time needed for reduction was recorded, and the patients were asked to grade their pain according to a visual analog scale from 0 to 10. RESULTS: Reduction was achieved after one attempt in 21 patients (75%) and after two attempts in three additional patients (total 85.7%). The mean time needed for reduction was 62.66 seconds, and the mean visual analog scale for pain evaluation was 5.29. CONCLUSION: FARES method is a fast, reliable, and safe method for reduction of a first episode of anterior shoulder dislocation and can be easily performed by inexperienced physicians and junior residents.

Transfracture medial transposition of the radial nerve associated with plate fixation of the humerus.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to illustrate safety, feasibility and advantages of transfracture medial transposition of the radial nerve during the lateral approach and lateral plating of humeral fractures located in the mid and distal shaft. METHODS: This was a retrospective review and analysis of medical records and radiographs of 19 patients who underwent a transfracture medial transposition of the radial nerve. Fifteen patients were treated for fresh fracture and four for nonunion. All patients were followed up clinically and radiographically for a minimum of 12 months. RESULTS: Pre-operative radial nerve paralysis was present in four patients in the fresh fractures group; post-operative paralysis occurred in two. All patients completely recovered a few months after the index procedure. Except for two, all patients achieved bone healing. One patient from the fresh-fracture group developed nonunion, and one from the nonunion group experienced persistent nonunion; both underwent successful revision surgeries. In addition, four patients with a fresh fracture underwent revision surgery for hardware removal. All but two patients showed no restricted elbow or shoulder joint motion compared with the opposite side. CONCLUSION: Transfracture transposition of the radial nerve during open reduction and internal fixation of humeral shaft fractures is a safe, harmless and feasible procedure when applied for fractures of the middle and distal humeral shaft; it removes the nerve from the surgical field during fracture manipulation and fixation, with a gain in length of the nerve by transforming its course from spiral to straight. Following radial nerve transposition across the fracture, a repeat surgical approach to the humerus for hardware removal or treatment of nonunion transforms the procedure into a simple one; the skin incision is carried straight down to the bone without the need to identify or dissect the nerve that was previously transposed to the medial compartment of the arm.

KAPANDJI TECHNIQUE AS AMINIMALLY INVASIVE PROCEDURE FOR SELECTED PATIENTS WITH TWO- AND THREE-PART FRACTURES OF THE PROXIMAL HUMERUS.

Current algorithms for decision making in proximal humerus fractures consider the fracture pattern along with the patient characteristics and surgeon's experience. Minimally invasive techniques for reduction and internal fixation of many types of these fractures have recently been widely promoted, especially with the use of the newly developed locking plate systems. Intramedullary flexible nailing is one of the oldest techniques using minimally invasive reduction and fixation of proximal humerus fractures. Kapandji technique uses the "Deltoid V" landmark as entry point for intramedullary insertion of the flexible nails into the humeral head. The authors report their experience with this procedure in twenty-six, relatively young patients with good bone quality, presenting with displaced 2- or 3-part extra-articular fracture of the proximal humerus, treated with percutaneous reduction and intramedullary flexible nailing as described by Kapandji. Nineteen medical records were available for this retrospective review, with 9 to 12 months follow-up. There were 15 excellent and 1 good results when patients were assessed for pain, function and range of motion of the shoulder. The authors submit that Kapandji technique is a valuable procedure for management of extra-articular displaced 2- and 3- part proximal humerus fractures in young patients with good bone quality.

Trans-fracture transposition of the radial nerve during the open approach of humeral shaft fractures.

The radial nerve constitutes a major problem in humeral shaft fractures; it may be injured immediately or during closed reduction or open reduction and internal fixation with plate and screws. After fixation, the nerve always runs directly over the plate without any interposed structure. If a revision surgery is indicated, the nerve is at high risk as it is usually difficult to dissect from surrounding fibrotic scar tissue or callus formation. To avoid these complications, some authors reported transposition of the radial nerve through the fracture line. We present herein the surgical technique of the trans-fracture transposition of the radial nerve during open reduction and internal fixation of humeral shaft fractures, along with our preliminary results in 6 cases and a review of the literature.

Spontaneous simultaneous bilateral femoral neck fractures secondary to osteomalacia: a case report and review of the literature.

We present a case of spontaneous simultaneous bilateral hip fracture in an elderly female patient suffering undiagnosed osteomalacia. She underwent staged bilateral cemented bipolar hemiarthroplasty and received long-term medical treatment for osteomalacia. Our aim is to stress on the clinical value of unexplained chronic bilateral groin pain predicting the occurrence of these fractures and on the importance of evaluating serum levels of vitamin D, calcium and parathyroid hormone especially in elderly sedentary patients with lack of exposure to sunlight.