Compartments of the crural fascia: clinically relevant ultrasound, anatomical and histological findings.

PURPOSE: Compartment syndrome is a surgical emergency that can occur in any part of the body and can cause cell necrosis when maintained over time. The resulting defects can affect the nerves, muscle cells, bone tissue, and other connective tissues inside the compartment, and fasciotomy has to be performed. The anatomical and histological characteristics of the leg make acute, chronic, and exertional compartment syndrome more likely in this limb. For these reasons, knowledge of the ultrasound, anatomical, and histological features of the crural fascia can help in the treatment of leg compartment syndrome. METHODS: Twenty-one cryopreserved lower limbs from adult cadavers and from one 29-week-old fetus were obtained from the dissection room. They were examined by ultrasound and a subsequent anatomical dissection and microscopy to study the crural fascia and its relationship with the different muscles. Anthropometric measurements were taken of the distances from the head of the fibula and lateral malleolus to the origin of the tibialis anterior muscle in the crural fascia, the exit of the superficial fibular nerve, and the fascia covering the deep posterior muscles of the leg. RESULTS: The crural fascia has very important clinical relationships, which can be identified by ultrasound, as the origin of the tibialis anterior muscle at 16.25 cm from the head of the fibula and the exit of the superficial fibular nerve that crosses this fascia at 21.25 cm from the head of the fibula. Furthermore, the presence of a septum that fixes the deep posterior muscles of the leg and the vessels and nerve can be seen by ultrasound and can explain the possible development of a posterior compartmental syndrome of the leg. Awareness of these features will help to keep these structures safe during the surgical treatment of compartment syndrome. CONCLUSION: The ultrasound study allows identification of anatomical structures in the leg and, thus, avoids damage to them during surgery for compartmental syndromes.

Compartments of the antebrachial fascia of the forearm: clinically relevant ultrasound, anatomical and histological findings.

PURPOSE: Acute compartment syndrome is defined as a limb-threatening condition caused by bleeding or oedema in a closed muscle compartment surrounded by fascia or bone. It is most commonly encountered in the forearm, which has three compartments: posterior, anterior and lateral. These are surrounded and closed in by the antebrachial fascia, formed by dense connective tissue that facilities their study on ultrasound and is key to fasciotomy treatment. The purpose of this study was to broaden existing ultrasound, anatomical and histological knowledge of the fascia of the forearm to facilitate their identification on ultrasound, with possible clinical and therapeutic applications. METHODS: The study was performed in 50 cryopreserved upper limbs from adult cadavers from the dissection room of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. They were examined on ultrasound and subsequent anatomical dissection and microscopy to study the fascia and its relationship with different muscles of the forearm compartments. RESULTS: Distinct anatomical relationships were observed on ultrasound and dissection between the fascia and the extensor carpi ulnaris, extensor digiti minimi, and anconeus muscle in the posterior compartment, and the flexor carpi radialis and flexor carpi ulnaris in the anterior compartment. They were isolated by the antebrachial fascia and had distinct relationships with the neurovascular structures. CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate that high-definition ultrasound enables us to locate the antebrachial fascia and particular muscles with a distinct relationship with neurovascular structures. This helps better identify these structures, facilitating diagnosis of any pathology in the area, with potential therapeutic and clinical applications.

Clinical and microbiological findings in prosthetic joint replacement due to aseptic loosening.

OBJECTIVES: A role for microorganisms in aseptic prosthetic loosening (AL) is postulated. We analyse the microbiological and clinical findings of patients with suspected AL, and compare them with patients with chronic prosthetic joint infection (PJI). METHODS: Prospective study (2011-2012) of patients with presumed AL. Evaluation of tissue samples (≥5; TS) at the time of surgery and sonication fluid (SF) of prosthesis. RESULTS: According to positive culture in TS/SF, 89 patients were divided into: Group1: (≥2 positive-TS; n = 12); Group2: single positive-TS and concordant SF (n = 10); Group3: one positive or non-concordant TS or SF (n = 38); and Group4: cultures negative (n = 29). Positive-SF was always concordant with TS in Group 1 (75%); it was positive in 74% in Group 3. Median months (prosthesis-age: implantation to revision arthroplasty) for PJI and Group 1-4 was 21, 46, 65, 63 and 81, respectively (P < 0.001); they also had a different dynamic trend in prosthesis failure (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Several patients with suspected AL are misdiagnosed PJI. Results from SF correlated well with TS in Group 1, led us to consider single positive-TS as significant (Group 2) and to suggest that microorganisms were on the prosthesis (Group 3). We observed a correlation between microbiology and prosthesis-age, which supports that early loosening is more often caused by hidden PJI than late loosening.

¿Qué necesitan saber los cirujanos ortopédicos del radiólogo? / What do orthopedic surgeons need to know from radiologists?

El diagnóstico de las lesiones tumorales y pseudotumorales se asienta en un trípode formado por el clínico, el radiólogo y el anatomopatólogo. Los 2 primeros son los que podrán establecer un diagnóstico de presunción con la clínica y las pruebas complementarias realizadas, mientras que el patólogo será el que nos deberá dar el diagnóstico definitivo, una vez analizadas las muestras obtenidas mediante la biopsia. Es evidente que la orientación diagnóstica deber ser consensuada entre el clínico y el radiólogo, pero para que esto sea una realidad se precisa que exista una relación entre ambos y se trabaje de forma interdisciplinaria, en beneficio del paciente. Al cirujano ortopédico, como a cualquier otro especialista, le gustaría disponer en su centro de trabajo de especialistas en radiología dedicados a la patología del aparato locomotor y que fueran estos los que le dieran su opinión en la interpretación de las distintas imágenes obtenidas. Este punto es muy importante en especial en patología tumoral, ya que es poco frecuente y que son pocos los especialistas dedicados a ella. Por esto, al cirujano ortopédico ante una lesión de características tumorales le gustaría que hiciera una descripción lo más precisa posible de las imágenes y definiera las características de benignidad o malignidad del proceso y también que nos indicara el riesgo de fractura en una lesión metastásica. Por otro lado, le pediríamos una descripción clara y comprensible de las imágenes obtenidas en las pruebas complementarias, ya que es un tipo de exploraciones en la que el cirujano ortopédico tiene menos experiencia y muchas veces son difíciles de interpretar. Otro aspecto que se menciona en nuestro trabajo es el referente a la importancia de que un centro hospitalario disponga de un servicio de Radiología con vocación intervencionista ya que ello puede facilitar mucho la labor del cirujano ortopédico, tanto desde el punto de vista diagnóstico como en el tratamiento de determinados tumores óseos. Finalmente, queremos manifestar la importancia que tiene para un cirujano ortopédico disponer de un radiólogo colaborador e interesado en el tema, haciendo hincapié, sin ánimo de crítica, en la importancia que tiene para mantener una buena relación médico-paciente, que el radiólogo, como todo profesional, sea conocedor de su responsabilidad y limitaciones en aspectos relacionados con el intervencionismo y en la elaboración de los informes correspondientes (AU)

The diagnosis of tumors and pseudotumors depends on three pillars: the clinician, the radiologist, and the pathologist. The first two can establish a presumptive diagnosis on the basis of the clinical presentation and findings on complementary tests, whereas the pathologist will have to reach the definitive diagnosis after analyzing the biopsy specimens. Obviously, the clinician and radiologist should reach a consensus regarding the diagnostic orientation; however, for this to happen there must be a relationship between the two professionals and they must work together for the benefit of the patient. Orthopedic surgeons, like any other group of specialists, would like to have radiologists working in their own center who are dedicated to the organ/system they treat, in this case the locomotor apparatus, and who can provide them with their opinion about the different images obtained. This point is very important and especially so for tumors, because this type of disease is uncommon and few specialists are dedicated to it. For this reason, when faced with a lesion that has the characteristics of a tumor, orthopedic surgeons would like radiologists to give the most accurate description of the images as possible, defining the characteristics of benignity or malignancy of the process as well as indicating the risk of fracture in a metastatic lesion. On the other hand, orthopedic surgeons would ask for a clear and comprehensible description of the images obtained in complementary tests, because orthopedic surgeons have less experience in this type of images and they are often difficult to interpret. Another aspect that is often mentioned in discussions among orthopedic surgeons is the importance of having a radiology department that performs interventional procedures. Radiologists that perform interventional procedures can facilitate our work very much, both in the diagnosis and in the treatment of certain bone tumors. Finally, we would like to stress the importance of having a radiologist who collaborates with us and is interested in our work, supporting us without being overly critical. This is also important for our relations with patients; radiologists, like all professionals, must know their responsibilities and limitations in aspects related to intervention and in elaborating the corresponding reports (AU)

[What do orthopedic surgeons need to know from radiologists?]. / ¿Qué necesitan saber los cirujanos ortopédicos del radiólogo?

The diagnosis of tumors and pseudotumors depends on three pillars: the clinician, the radiologist, and the pathologist. The first two can establish a presumptive diagnosis on the basis of the clinical presentation and findings on complementary tests, whereas the pathologist will have to reach the definitive diagnosis after analyzing the biopsy specimens. Obviously, the clinician and radiologist should reach a consensus regarding the diagnostic orientation; however, for this to happen there must be a relationship between the two professionals and they must work together for the benefit of the patient. Orthopedic surgeons, like any other group of specialists, would like to have radiologists working in their own center who are dedicated to the organ/system they treat, in this case the locomotor apparatus, and who can provide them with their opinion about the different images obtained. This point is very important and especially so for tumors, because this type of disease is uncommon and few specialists are dedicated to it. For this reason, when faced with a lesion that has the characteristics of a tumor, orthopedic surgeons would like radiologists to give the most accurate description of the images as possible, defining the characteristics of benignity or malignancy of the process as well as indicating the risk of fracture in a metastatic lesion. On the other hand, orthopedic surgeons would ask for a clear and comprehensible description of the images obtained in complementary tests, because orthopedic surgeons have less experience in this type of images and they are often difficult to interpret. Another aspect that is often mentioned in discussions among orthopedic surgeons is the importance of having a radiology department that performs interventional procedures. Radiologists that perform interventional procedures can facilitate our work very much, both in the diagnosis and in the treatment of certain bone tumors. Finally, we would like to stress the importance of having a radiologist who collaborates with us and is interested in our work, supporting us without being overly critical. This is also important for our relations with patients; radiologists, like all professionals, must know their responsibilities and limitations in aspects related to intervention and in elaborating the corresponding reports.

Dolor abdominal y síndrome de secreción inadecuada de hormona antidiurética (SIADH) en un paciente diagnosticado de porfiria aguda intermitente / No disponible

No disponible

Divertículo de Zenker: diagnóstico mediante radiografía simple / Zenker's diverticulum: diagnosis by plain radiographic examination

No disponible

[HFE gene mutations, hepatic iron content, and histological severity in hepatitis C virus-induced chronic hepatitis].

OBJECTIVE: To study whether any relationship exists between the C282Y and H63D mutations of the HFE gene, iron liver content, and the severity of histological damage in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV)-induced chronic hepatitis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In 72 patients diagnosed with HCV-chronic infection, naïve for antiviral therapy, and undergoing liver biopsy, the Knodell index was established, a morphometric evaluation of hepatic hemosiderin deposits was performed by using a semiautomatic method of image analysis, and mutations of the HFE gene were identified through a polymerase chain reaction on leukocyte genomic DNA by using specific restriction enzymes. The control group for the distribution of HFE genetic variants was composed of 181 healthy individuals with the same ethnic and geographical (white Spaniards) origin. RESULTS: (Cases/controls): 1. Genotype distribution: a) mutation C282Y: no homozygotes, 6/23 heterozygotes, 66/158 without the mutation (not significant, n.s.); b) mutation H63D: 2/5 homozygotes, 26/52 heterozygotes, 44/124 without the mutation (n.s.). compound heterozygotes 2/6. 2. Allele frequencies: a) mutation C282Y: 0.042/0.064 (n.s.); b) mutation H63D: 0.208/0.171 (n.s.). Four C282Y heterozygous patients had stainable liver iron (p=0.015 vs patients without mutations). Sixty-six patients were not carriers of the C282Y mutation; among them, 26.9% of 26 carriers and 15% of 40 non-carriers of the H63D mutation had liver stainable iron (n.s.). Knodell index score, gender, age at diagnosis, mode of transmission, and serum and liver iron values were not related to the HFE genotype. CONCLUSIONS: our results suggest that the C282Y mutation, but not the H63D mutation, of the HFE gene is frequently associated with stainable iron in the liver in HCV-related chronic hepatitis. The HFE genotype is not related to the histological severity of the disease.

Interferon-alpha induced transient thyroid dysfunction in hepatitis C.

We report the case of thyroid dysfunction that developed in a 36-year-old female patient who required combination therapy with interferon and ribavirine for chronic hepatitis C. Firstly, she suffered a hyperthyroidism followed by a hypothyroidism stage requiring thyroxine replacement therapy. Nevertheless, combination treatment was not discontinued, reaching a sustained biochemical and virological response. The pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases in patients with Hepatitis C virus infection and interferon therapy is not clear, but usually these disorders are reversible and only require supervision and treatment if clinical or laboratory abnormalities are present.

Alteración transitoria de la función tiroidea en la hepatitis C inducida por interferón-alfa / Interferon-alpha induced transient thyroid dysfunction in hepatitis C

Describimos un caso de alteración de la función tiroidea que se presentó en una mujer de 36 años que requirió tratamiento combinado con interferón y ribavirina para su hepatitis crónica C. En primer lugar, presentó un hipertiroidismo seguido por un hipotiroidismo que requirió tratamiento con tiroxina. Sin embargo, el tratamiento combinado no fue suspendido, alcanzando una respuesta mantenida bioquímica y virológica. La patogenia de las enfermedades autoinmunes en pacientes con infección por el virus C de la hepatitis tratados con interferón no está clara, pero generalmente estos trastornos son reversibles y sólo requiere supervisión y tratamiento si se presentaran anormalidades clínicas o bioquímicas (AU)

Factores predictivos de la eficacia del tratamiento con interferón de la hepatitis crónica C / Predicting factors in the efficacy of interferon treatment in chronic hepatitis C

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Hepatitis G virus infection in Spanish patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

AIMS/BACKGROUND: To establish the rate of infection with a newly discovered Flaviviridae family member hepatitis G virus (HGV) -- in Spanish patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), chronic alcoholic liver disease (CALD) with cirrhosis, or hepatitis C virus (HCV)-induced chronic hepatitis (CH). METHODS: The presence of HGV-RNA was assessed in sera of 117 patients divided in three groups: group 1: 40 patients with HCC (35 men, mean age 62.7 years, SD 10.9 years); group 2: 41 patients with chronic alcoholic liver disease (CALD) (36 men, mean age 52.5 years, SD 9.8 years); group 3: 36 patients with HCV-induced CH (27 men, mean age 35.8 years, SD 8.5 years). Serum samples were tested for HGV-RNA by specific reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Serological markers of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and HCV were investigated in all patients and were negative in CALD patients, as a prerequisite for their inclusion in the study. All patients in group 1 were also tested for HBV-DNA. RESULTS: Rates of HGV-RNA positivity were, respectively, 47%, 10% and 28% in groups 1, 2 and 3. Differences were significant between groups 1 and 2 (p=0.00017) and groups 2 and 3 (p= 0.042), but not between groups 1 and 3 (p=0.079). CONCLUSIONS: HGV infection is common in HCC patients, but usually in association with HCV, indicating that both agents share common routes of infection. HGV was the only hepatitis virus detected in 12% of HCC patients, but its possible role in the pathogenesis of HCC remains unclear.