Minimally invasive poly-axial screw plating for three-part fractures of the proximal humerus.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the poly-axial locked plating system inserted through a minimally invasive approach for the treatment of three-part fractures of the proximal humerus. Twenty-three patients with a three-part fracture of the proximal humerus treated with a poly-axial locking plate through a percutaneous approach were available for clinical and radiological analysis at a minimum of 2 years follow up (average 36 months; range, 24-54 months). To assess objective and subjective outcomes the Constant Score (CS) and the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) score were obtained. All complications were recorded. There were 17 women and 6 men, with a mean age of 62 years (range, 18-86). All fractures healed. At final follow up, the mean forward flexion, external rotation and internal rotation were 126°, 44° and L1, respectively; the mean CS was 64 and the mean DASH score was 23. Twelve patients (52%) had a postoperative complication, which included screw cut-out, stiffness and infection. The poly-axial locked plating system through a minimally-invasive approach may be an appropriate treatment for three-part fractures of the proximal humerus and may reduce the biological aggression of conventional plate fixation.

Glenoid revision surgery after total shoulder arthroplasty.

Forty-eight shoulders that underwent glenoid component revision surgery were reviewed at a mean of 4.9 years (range, 2 to 12 years). The indications for surgery were glenoid component loosening in 29 shoulders, glenoid implant failure in 14 shoulders, and glenoid component malposition or wear leading to instability in 5 shoulders. Seventeen shoulders had associated instability. Thirty shoulders underwent implantation of a new glenoid component and 18 underwent removal of the component and bone grafting for bone deficiencies. There was significant pain relief, improvement in active elevation and external rotation, and satisfaction with revision glenoid surgery (P <.05). Patients without a glenoid component were significantly less satisfied with the procedure than those patients who underwent reimplantation of a glenoid component (P =.01). Satisfactory pain relief was achieved in 86% of patients with a new glenoid component and 66% of patients who underwent glenoid component removal. Seven shoulders with a new glenoid component (2 for glenoid loosening) and 5 who underwent removal without reimplantation (3 for painful glenoid arthritis) required re-revision surgery. Eleven of the 17 patients with instability were stable at the most recent follow-up. The data from this study suggest that at the time of revision glenoid surgery, patients who have placement of a glenoid component have a higher degree of satisfaction than those undergoing glenoid component removal. Patients who continue to have pain after bone grafting without placement of a component may be candidates for glenoid component placement after graft consolidation.

Snapping plicae associated with radiocapitellar chondromalacia.

PURPOSE: Painful snapping of the elbow joint is usually attributed to intra-articular loose bodies, instability, or medial dislocation of the triceps muscle over the medial epicondyle. We report our experience with 14 patients who were treated arthroscopically for snapping elbow that was found to be caused by hypertrophic synovial folds associated with radiocapitellar chondromalacia. TYPE OF STUDY: Case series. METHODS: The records of 14 patients who were treated arthroscopically for painful snapping elbows caused by intra-articular plicae were reviewed. There were 6 women and 8 men with an average age of 36 years (range, 27 to 48 years). Nine patients had had some type of trauma to the joint. Four patients had been previously diagnosed with lateral epicondylitis and 5 with intra-articular loose bodies. The average time from initial onset of symptoms to treatment was 13 months (range, 8 to 36 months). Average follow-up was 24 months (range, 6 to 66 months). RESULTS: All patients complained of painful snapping in the posterolateral or anterolateral aspect of the elbow. The snapping occurred between 90 degrees and 110 degrees of flexion with the forearm in pronation. In 7 patients, the snapping was reproducible by passively flexing the pronated elbow, which we refer to as the flexion-pronation test. At the time of arthroscopic surgery, all patients had a thickened synovial plica that would snap back and forward over the radial head, usually associated with a chondromalacic area on the radial head. Twelve patients had complete relief of their snapping after surgery. One patient in whom there was associated posterolateral rotatory elbow instability did not improve. One patient became asymptomatic for 4 years but then had recurrence of her symptoms, which persisted despite 2 subsequent arthroscopies. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of synovial plicae in the radiocapitellar joint must be considered in the differential diagnosis of painful snapping elbow. Arthroscopy confirms the diagnosis and allows excision of the plica.

Cotrel-Dubousset instrumentation in idiopathic scoliosis a 5-year follow-up.

The results of Cotrel-Dubousset instrumentation in 50 patients with idiopathic scoliosis were evaluated. The patients were followed for 24 to 108 months with a mean follow-up of 5 years. Their average age was 15 years and 3 months. The scoliotic curves were classified according to King et al. There were 4 type I, 20 type II, 10 type III, 10 type IV and 1 type V. Five curves could not be included in this classification: 2 double lumbar, 1 right lumbar and 2 left thoracic curves. Coronal plane analysis showed an average postoperative correction of 56% for thoracic curves and 57% for lumbar curves. The loss of correction at the most recent follow-up was 14% and 15%, respectively. Higher corrections were obtained in King types III and IV than in types I and II. Mild increase of thoracic kyphosis was noted in previously hypokyphotic curves. The normal sagittal curve in the lumbar spine was maintained at the most recent follow-up. There were no major neurological deficits. A symptomatic pseudarthrosis developed in one patient with a concomitant L5-S1 spondylolisthesis. Another patient developed a delayed deep wound infection that resolved after the instrumentation was removed. The data from this study suggest that Cotrel-Dubousset instrumentation achieves a satisfactory correction of the curves with an acceptable loss of correction over time. The system also preserves lumbar lordosis when fusion to the lower lumbar spine is required.

Open dislocation of the carpal scaphoid: a case report.

A case of an open volar scaphoid dislocation is presented. The patient was treated surgically, with open reduction of the scaphoid and pinning to the lunate. After 9 years, good clinical and radiographic results were obtained.

Late infection after total knee arthroplasty caused by Pasteurella multocida.

The authors report a case of Pasteurella multocida infection in a total knee arthroplasty as a result of a dog bite. The patient was treated with one-stage reimplantation of a new prosthesis and with intravenous antibiotics, resulting in complete relief of symptoms with no evidence of recurrence of infection after 24 months.

Metastatic lesion of the cervical spine secondary to an extraocular sebaceous carcinoma.

A case of cervical spine metastasis from an extraocular sebaceous carcinoma of the scalp is presented. Anterior decompression and fusion were performed and resulted in complete relief of symptoms. Postoperatively the primary tumor behaved in a very aggressive manner, with visceral metastases leading to the death of the patient in a few weeks.

Ulnar nerve compression in Guyon's canal caused by a pseudotumor of the pisiform.

A rare case of ulnar nerve compression at the wrist by a hypertrophic pisiform is reported. The patient was treated with pisiform bone excision, and this resulted in complete relief of symptoms with no functional deficit.

Displaced radiocarpal dislocation with multiple associated fractures.

An unusual case of radiocarpal dislocation in a 33-year-old man is reported. He was treated with closed reduction and plaster immobilization with a good functional result.