Evaluation of the prevertebral soft tissue thickness by magnetic resonance imaging in patients with mild neck problem.

AIM: We encountered no study conducted on the evaluation of prevertebral soft tissue (PVST) thickness by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) during our literature search. Measuring PVST thickness by MRI in the cervical region of adult cases was aimed in the present retrospective study. MATERIAL AND METHODS: For the intended purpose, a total of 136 patients, composed of both males and females, with ages ranging from 20 to 69 years, in whom no pathology in the cervical prevertebral region was revealed by MRI modality implemented for various reasons, were included in the study. RESULTS: The upper limit of normal for PVST thickness was measured in our study to be 10 mm, 7 mm and 20 mm at C1, C2-C3 and C6-C7 vertebral levels, respectively. The least variation in the measurements and standard deviations were obtained at C3-C4 vertebral levels. Upon making a comparison between the measured PVST thicknesses on the basis of gender, the measurements at C2,C4 and C7 were found to display significant difference, whereas that was not the case for the measurements obtained at the other levels. CONCLUSION: Progressively widespread use of MRI for the traumas inflicting the cervical region makes it obligatory to specify normal values for the thickness of PVST measured by MRI.

Arthroscopic-assisted surgical treatment for developmental dislocation of the hip before the age of 18 months.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the results of arthroscopy assisted surgical treatment of developmental dislocation of the hip (DDH). METHODS: Arthroscopic assisted surgical treatment was performed on nine hips of nine female children with DDH using our method, published previously, between January 2001 and December 2005. Their ages ranged from 9 to 16 months. Percutaneous adductor tenotomies were performed in seven cases. A spica cast and abduction splint were used for 11-17 weeks postoperatively. Acetabular index and Shenton line were used for preoperative and postoperative radiologic evaluation. Also, the cases were evaluated postoperatively with respect to range of motion restriction, and the leg length discrepancy. RESULTS: The average follow-up was 47.7 months (range 22-79 months). Acetabular index measurements of cases in the preoperative/postoperative periods were as follows: preoperative mean angle 39.9° (range 34°-52°)/postoperative mean angle 26° (range 22°-34°). Hip joint restriction and leg length discrepancy were not observed postoperatively. However, two patients had acetabular dysplasia. Acetabular dysplasia was completely resolved in one patient in the third year of follow-up, whereas Salter innominate osteotomy, required in another patient, was in the second year of follow-up. The latter patient was the oldest case (16-month-old) in our series. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the results of this study, treatment of developmental hip dysplasia with arthroscopic-assisted surgical treatment technique may be safe and effective method. Further clinical studies will be required to confirm this study.

CT assessment of bone remodeling in the otic capsule in chronic renal failure: association with hearing loss.

OBJECTIVE: Hearing loss (HL) is common in patients with chronic renal failure (CRF), but its cause is controversial. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of CRF on the bone density of the otic capsule using densitometric measurements with MDCT and to evaluate the relationship between changes in the otic capsule density and HL in patients with CRF. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 34 patients with nonsyndromic CRF undergoing hemodialysis and 35 healthy control subjects. A CT was obtained, for a variety of reasons, in control subjects who did not have CRF or HL, but patients with trauma and infection were excluded. Control subjects were chosen on the basis of a normal CT and pure tone audiometry findings. Densitometric measurements were made using CT in the region anterior to the oval window and anterior to the internal auditory canal. These measurements were compared between patients and control subjects. Pure tone audiometry was performed to detect HL. The average levels of parathyroid hormone in the previous 6 months and the duration of hemodialysis in patients were documented. The association between the levels of parathyroid hormone, the duration of hemodialysis, and the region-of-interest density values in the patient groups were evaluated using the Pearson correlation coefficient. RESULTS: HL was found in 40 of 68 ears (58.8%) in the patient group. A significant difference in the otic capsule density was found between the ears with and without HL. There was a strong negative correlation between the parathyroid hormone level and the densitometric measurement of the otic capsule. CONCLUSION: There is osseous remodeling of the otic capsule in CRF with loss of bone density, and this is associated with HL in CRF.

Pigmented villonodular synovitis managed by Yttrium 90 after debulking surgery.

The goal of this study was to evaluate outcome of patients with pigmented villonodular synovitis (PVNS) managed by Yttrium90 (90Y) after debulking surgery. Seven patients (3 males and 4 females) with PVNS were studied retrospectively. Mean follow-up was 47.8 months (range 24-97 months). Mean age was 44.8 years (range 20-68 years. Debulking surgeries via arthroscopic synovectomy were performed in 4 cases and in 3 cases via mini arthrotomy. After 90Y injection was applied. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) included measurement of synovial thickness in preoperative and at last control. Main musculoskeletal tumor society score was 26 (range, 23-29), main MTS rating was 70.4% (range, 38.5-86.2%). Mean preoperative synovial thickness was 14.9mm range 20-12mm. Synovial thickness was completely disappeared at last MRI examination. There was diffuse joint effusion preoperatively, decreasing at last control. No cases of PVNS recurrence were found. Although we had a small number of cases, we believe that combination of debulking surgery with intra-articular injection of 90Y for PVNS of knee joint is an effective and safe treatment method.

Comparison of the diagnosis of plain radiography ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging in early diagnosis of acute osteomyelitis experimentally formed on rabbits.

PURPOSE: We have compared the sensitivities of MRI, US and radiography which are some of the radiologic modalities used in the early diagnosis of acute osteomyelitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: After 1 week care and research on 20 New Zealand rabbits (average weight: 2.5 kg) in animal laboratory, study was begun. Six rabbits died after anesthesia and surgical procedure. There were 14 rabbits remaining and 10 of them formed the study group. Four of them were used as the control group. Fresh mouse feces was inoculated into the bone marrow of 20 tibia under general anesthesia and during the following 15 days, MRI, US and radiographic researches were made everyday. RESULTS: According to the results that we got at the end of the 15-day period, MRI was found as the most sensitive method in describing early diagnosis of infection in the bone marrow and also in showing the extension of the infection to the soft tissue. Although US showed the findings later than MRI, it was determined that its sensitivity was less than but near MRI's in detecting subperiosteal fluid in short term period. Radiographic research gives acute osteomyelitis diagnosis latest, so it was determined as the modality that has the lowest sensitivity. CONCLUSION: MRI which is one of the radiologic modalities among other diagnostic radiologic modalities that can be used in early diagnosis of acute osteomyelitis, has the highest sensitivity. Ultrasonography is the second most sensitive modality. Radiographic analysis has the least sensitivity among other modalities. As a result, first MRI then US and after that plain radiography should be used for the early diagnosis of acute osteomyelitis.

Arthroscopic-assisted surgical treatment for developmental dislocation of the hip.

PURPOSE: Treatment of developmental dislocation of the hip (DDH) includes surgical management in older children or in those who cannot be treated conservatively. However, complication rates of surgical treatment are quite high. The purpose of this report is to introduce our new surgical technique that can eliminate existing pathologic changes in DDH. TYPE OF STUDY: A small case series. METHODS: We performed arthroscopic-assisted surgical treatment in 4 hips of 4 female children who had DDH and no previous treatment. Their ages ranged from 11 to 14 months. Closed reduction under general anesthesia was tried just before the surgical intervention, but it failed in all of them. Tightness of the iliopsoas tendon was released followed by dissection of capsular adhesions using an anterolateral mini-incision. Excision of the hypertrophic ligamentum teres, transverse acetabular ligament, and pulvinar tissue was carried out using a double-portal arthroscopic procedure. We performed percutaneus adductor tenotomies in 2 cases. A spica cast and abduction splint were used for 12 to 17 weeks postoperatively. The follow-up of the patients was a minimum of 1 year. Although a 1-year follow-up period is adequate to evaluate the short-term results, it has been considered that there is a need for further studies that include long-term follow-up. We used the acetabular index and Shenton's line for preoperative and postoperative radiologic evaluation. Also, the cases were evaluated postoperatively in respect to range of motion restriction and the leg length discrepancy. RESULTS: The mean follow-up was 13.7 months (range, 12 to 16 months). Acetabular index measurements of the cases in the preoperative/postoperative periods were as follows: in the first case, 34 degrees/27 degrees; in the second case, 35 degrees/22 degrees; in the third case, 52 degrees/39 degrees; and in the fourth case, 40 degrees/28 degrees. Hip joint restriction and leg length discrepancy were not observed postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: All the intra-articular structures (hypertrophic ligamentum teres, transverse acetabular ligament, and pulvinar tissue) in the acetabulum that impede the reduction of the femoral head have been eliminated by using the arthroscopic technique. The arthroscopic-assisted surgical treatment of DDH is successful in the short-term follow-up period. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, Case Series.

The efficacy of ultrasonography in hemodynamically stable children with blunt abdominal trauma: a prospective comparison with computed tomography.

PURPOSE: In this prospective study we aimed to investigate the diagnostic value of ultrasonography (US) in hemodynamically stable children after blunt abdominal trauma (BAT) using computed tomography (CT) as the gold standard. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between 1997 and 2001, 96 children with BAT were evaluated prospectively. CT was performed first, followed by US. US and CT examinations were independently evaluated by two radiologists for free fluid and organ injury. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and overall accuracy of US were assessed regarding CT as the gold standard. RESULTS: Overall 128 organ injuries were determined in 96 patients with CT; however, 20 (15.6%) of them could not be seen with US. Free intraabdominal fluid (FIF) was seen in 82 of 96 patients by CT (85.4%) and eight of them (9.7%) could not be seen by US. We found that sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and overall accuracy of the US for free intra-abdominal fluid were 90.2, 100, 100, 63.6 and 91.7%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: US for BAT in children is highly accurate and specific. It is highly sensitive in detecting liver, spleen and kidney injuries whereas its sensitivity is moderate for the detection of gastrointestinal tract (GIT) and pancreatic injuries.

Lipoma arborescens; successfully treated by yttrium-90 radiosynovectomy.

Although radiosynovectomy (RS) applications have been carried out for many years, clinical indications of this non-invasive procedure is thought to be limited probably due to the lack of information of clinicians. Clinicians' preferential indication for RS is the treatment-resistant synovitis of individual joints, i.e. despite systemic pharmacotherapy and intra-articular steroid injections. We present here a case of "lipoma arborescens" treated by yttrium-90, which is a rare intra-articular lesion characterized by villous proliferation of the synovial membrane and hyperplasia of subsynovial fat. The results of clinical, biochemical and hematological examinations, magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, arthroscopy and histological analysis have shown that the etiology was lipoma arborescens in a female patient, aged 36 having swelling and sometimes associating pain at her right knee for 4 years. We have applied to our patient's right knee RS with 185 MBq yttrium-90 colloid together with 40 mg of methylprednisolone acetate, although in our literature survey we have not met any similar case being treated with such indication. Even a year after the application, the patient has absolutely benefited from the treatment clinically, and this was also confirmed by comparative MR images (pre- and post-treatment). Consequently, we consider that Y-90 treatment might be applicable in suitable cases with lipoma arborescens.

Evaluation of pulmonary changes due to biomass fuels using high-resolution computed tomography.

Biomass fuels are frequently used in rural areas of the world for cooking and heating frequently. It has been reported that the use of these fuels causes hazardous effects on the lungs. In this study, we evaluated the pulmonary changes due to the use of biomass fuels in a female population that lives in our territory by high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT). The study analyzed three groups of women. The first group comprised those subjects who were exposed to biomass without respiratory symptoms (group 1; n=32). The second group comprised those individuals that were exposed to biomass and showed respiratory symptoms, such as cough, sputum production, and dyspnea (group 2; n=30). The third group was composed of women who were not exposed to biomass and also had no respiratory symptoms (group 3; n=30). Women with a history of concomitant pulmonary diseases were excluded from the study. All groups were examined with HRCT. Groups 1 and 2 (individuals exposed to biomass fuels) had more pathologic findings than group 3 (not exposed to biomass fuels). Ground-glass appearance was seen in 71.9% in group 1, 23.3% in group 2, and 3.3% in group 3. The difference between the groups was statistically significant (p<0.05). Fibrotic bands were seen 50% in group 1, 63.3% in group 2, and only 6.7% in group 3 (p<0.001). Exposure to biomass fuels was the cause or predisposing factor for many pulmonary diseases, ranging from chronic bronchitis to diffuse lung diseases. We believe that these pathological changes due to biomass fuels can be detected earlier by HRCT and the diseases might be prevented or treated earlier.

The measurement of the rotational deformities with computed tomography in femoral shaft fractures of the children treated with early spica cast.

Twenty-eight children with femoral shaft fractures, treated with early spica cast, were evaluated with computed tomography (CT), for their femoral shaft rotational deformities. The femoral torsion angles were measured on both sides. If the torsion angle of the fractured side was more than the other side, it was considered as an internal rotational deformity and if it was less, it was considered as an external rotational deformity. Internal rotational deformities were detected in nine cases and external rotational deformities were detected in 17 cases. Rotational deformity was not observed in two cases. Four cases, with a rotational deformity more than 10 degrees, were corrected with a gypsotomy through the level of the fracture. We concluded that a rotational deformity, which is an important complication in conservative treatment of the femoral shaft fractures in children, can be determined exactly with CT and corrections on the spica cast can be made with a gypsotomy.

Normal thyroid volume by ultrasonography in healthy children.

With the objective of creating standards for the volume of the thyroid gland by ultrasonography in the 0-16-year age group, thyroid volumes of 302 healthy children (150 boys, 152 girls) were measured by ultrasonography. The transverse (x), sagittal (y) and anteroposterior (z) lengths of the right and left lobes and isthmus were measured. Volumes of these were calculated by the ellipsoid volume formula [V = (pi/6) x x x y x z]. Statistical analysis was done using the Kruskal-Wallis and Student t tests. The cases were divided into six and eight groups by age and height, respectively. There was a significant positive correlation between thyroid volume, age, height and weight. Thyroid volumes in children of 12 years and over were significantly different from those in the younger age groups.