Cervicodorsal spine tuberculosis-- surgical approach.

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) of CT junction is uncommon (5 % of all spinal TB), and difficult to approach surgically in view of its deep location with sternum in front and scapula in the back. We present 7 consecutively treated cases of cervico-thoraccic TB for outcome of treatment and discuss rationale of choosing surgical approach. Methods: Present study includes 7 freshly diagnosed cases of CT junction TB. Plain radiographs, sagittal reconstruction of CT spine that included sternum on CT/MRI was performed in all cases. Disc space below the distal healthy vertebrae was identified and a line parallel to disc space was drawn. If this line passes above suprasternal notch, it was inferred that this VB can be accessed by anterior cervical approach. If disease focus was at or below suprasternal notch level, manubriotomy/sternotomy was added for better visualization of the lesion. Results: All seven cases were female, with mean age of 20 years (9-45 years). The vertebral lesion involved 2VB (n = 3), 3VB (n = 2) and >3 VB (n = 2). The average Cervico-thoracic kyphosis was 15° (range 10-25°). All 7 cases were operated for anterior decompression, kyphotic deformity correction and instrumented stabilization. Anterior cervical approach and manubriotomy/sternotomy approach was performed in three cases each. In two pan-vertebral cases we performed 360° procedure. Six cases have shown first sign of neural recovery within 3 weeks of surgery and almost complete neural recovery at 3 months follow-up while one case showed partial recovery. ATT was stopped after 12 months once healed stage was demonstrated on contrast MRI in all. Conclusions: CT junction TB usually presents with severe kyphotic deformity/neural deficit. These cases require anterior decompression/corpectomy, deformity correction, gap grafting and instrumented stabilization with anterior cervical plate. Lesion with pan-vertebral disease is stabilized 360°. These lesions can be decompressed by lower anterior cervical approach with/without manubriotomy. The Karikari method was useful in deciding the need for manubriotomy to decompress the lesion.

Tubercular Osteomyelitis of Navicular Bone: A Rare Site for Bone Tuberculosis.

Introduction: Tuberculosis (TB) is a global public health problem, endemic to India. Osteoarticular TB uncommonly presents in the foot, navicular osteomyelitis is an extremely rare entity. Case Report: We report a rare case of navicular osteomyelitis caused by TB in a 37-year-old man who presented to OPD with swelling and dull aching pain over the dorsum of his left foot. A radiograph of the foot showed a lytic lesion in the navicular bone. Further investigations in the form of aspiration cytology, cartridge-based nucleic acid amplification test, and acid-fast bacilli culture confirmed TB. Category-1 anti-tubercular therapy was started immediately and the patient was treated conservatively. Four drugs (HRZE) were given for 2 months and 3 drugs (HRE) for 9 months, after which the patient stopped his medications on his own. Radiographs and CEMRI at 14-month follow-up showed a healed lesion. Conclusion: This case illustrates an exceptional location of osteoarticular TB and shows that Navicular TB can be treated conservatively with near-complete function and recovery if diagnosed early.

Drug Resistance in Osteoarticular Tuberculosis: A Study From an Endemic Zone.

BACKGROUND: The present study was undertaken to determine the incidence of drug resistance against anti-tubercular drugs among patients from an endemic zone.  Methodology: Forty consecutive clinico-radiologically diagnosed patients of osteoarticular tuberculosis (29: spine, 11: extraspinal) were enrolled. Pus from needle aspiration was taken in 31 cases, tissue following spinal decompression in seven, synovial in one, and sinus edge biopsy in one. The pus/tissue was subjected to acid-fast bacilli (AFB) staining and liquid culture, sensitivity to 13 anti-tubercular drugs (Isoniazid (INH), rifampicin (RIF), kanamycin (KAN), amikacin (AMK,) capreomycin (CAP), ethionamide (ETH), levofloxacin (LEV), moxifloxacin (MOX), linezolid (LNZ), para-amino-salicylic acid (PAS), bedaquiline (BDQ), delamanid (DLM), and clofazimine (CFO)) were checked, and histopathological/cytopathological examination and molecular tests were performed.   Results: The mean age of patients was 29.07(9-65) years; 21 were female and 19 were male. The diagnostic accuracy for tuberculosis was 20% by AFB smear, 65% by liquid culture, 82.5% by histopathology, and 90% by cartridge-based nucleic acid amplification testing (CBNAAT). All culture-positive isolates were identified as Mycobacterium tuberculosis with no non-tubercular Mycobacterium. The drug resistance detected on CBNAAT was 11.1%, line probe assay (LPA) first line was 15.4%, LPA second line was 4%, and liquid drug susceptibility testing (DST) 11.5%. We detected 15.4% INH resistance, 11.1% RIF, 7.6% LEV, 3.8% MOX and PAS. No resistance was detected against second-line injectable drugs (SLID), ETH, LNZ, BDQ, DLM, and CFO.    Conclusions: No single laboratory modality can ascertain the diagnosis in all cases; hence, samples should be sent for all tests in tandem. In the presence of insufficient samples, tissue may be subjected to CBNAAT and histopathology to arrive at tissue diagnosis. In this subset, overall drug resistance incidence was 12.5% (5/40) with one patient each of isolated INH and RIF resistance, one of multidrug-resistance (MDR), and two of pre-extensively drug-resistant (pre-XDR). Primary drug resistance came out to be 11.1% (4/36) with one patient each of isolated INH and RIF resistance, one of MDR, and one Pre-XDR.

Effect of COVID-19 on the Burden and Profile of Orthopaedic Patients Admitted Post-Resumption of Routine Services in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Delhi.

Purpose On resumption of routine services post-lockdown during coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), we expected a backlog of orthopaedic patients who could not get appropriate and timely care and would now present with complications due to missed or delayed treatment. This study aimed to quantify the effect of COVID-19 on the burden and profile of orthopaedic patients admitted post-resumption of routine services. Materials and methods Data on all the patients admitted to the orthopaedic department were collected using an interviewer-administered schedule for a complete one-year period after the resumption of routine orthopaedic services in a tertiary care hospital in Delhi. For comparison of the burden of trauma patients with that during the pre-COVID-19 period, data were obtained from a similar study done on trauma patients in 2017 at the same institution. For patients with non-traumatic conditions, previous hospital records were used. Results A total of 1585 patients were admitted during the one-year period post-resumption of routine services following COVID-19 restrictions, which was 41% less than that compared to the corresponding pre-COVID-19 data. The proportion of patients from other neighbouring states showed a decline from 52% in the pre-COVID-19 period to 41.55% when healthcare services resumed during the COVID-19 period. Out of all admitted trauma patients in 2021, 12.7% presented with a missed or complication of treatment as compared to 3.1% in the pre-COVID period. Around half of them (52.5%) attributed their complications to a COVID-19-related lockdown. Conclusion There was a significant decline in the number of patients post-resumption of routine orthopaedic care services. Converting whole tertiary care teaching hospitals to COVID-19-dedicated hospitals must not be done as it leads to an increase in missed or complication of orthopaedic treatment.

Extended Curettage and Fibular Grafting in Enchondroma of the Acromion.

We report the case of a six-year-old male child with progressive pain and swelling of the right shoulder for six months. On examination, there was a 7x7 cm globular, tender swelling with firm consistency over the posterolateral corner of the right shoulder. Radiographs showed an expansile lytic lesion in the acromion process of the scapula. Biopsy showed lobules of hypocellular cartilage separated by fibroconnective stroma suggestive of an enchondroma. Extended curettage and fibular bone grafting of the lesion was done. At one-year follow-up, the patient was symptom-free and had full, painless shoulder range of motion. To the best of our knowledge, there is no published record of an enchondroma of the acromion.

Outcome of Percutaneous Fixation of Calcaneal Fractures: A Prospective Analysis in an Indian Population.

Displaced intra-articular calcaneal fractures can be difficult to treat. Open surgical techniques are associated with wound complications, whereas nonoperative management leads to arthrosis. In the present study, 23 displaced intra-articular calcaneal fractures in 19 patients were treated with closed reduction and percutaneous Kirschner wire fixation. Sanders and Essex-Lopresti classification systems were used. We studied anatomical (Gissane and Bohler angles and width of calcaneus) and functional (Maryland Foot Score and American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society Ankle-Hindfoot Score) outcomes after 6, 18, and 26 months. Mechanism of injury, fluoroscopy use, time since injury, time delay to surgery, method of reduction, and number of Kirschner wires used were recorded. The mean participant age was 29.5 (17 to 46) years, mean delay to surgery was 7 (2 to 12) days, mean length of surgery was 61 (range 20 to 175) minutes, and mean fluoroscopy time was 115 (range 20 to 254) seconds. All patients were followed for a minimum of 26 months, and the mean duration of follow-up was 32.4 (26 to 36) months. There were 18 (78.26%) joint depression and 5 (21.74%) tongue-type fractures, whereas there were 2 (8.69%) Sanders type II, 13 (56.52%) Sanders type III, and 8 (34.78%) Sanders type IV fractures. The mean Maryland Foot Score and American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society Ankle-Hindfoot Score at 6 months were 86.7 (81 to 92) and 84.2 (75 to 93), whereas at 26 months, the scores were 87.7 (82 to 93) and 85.1 (75 to 94), respectively. No pin site infections, cases of sural nerve dysfunction, or revision/additional surgery was experienced, and 17 (86.6%) patients were able to return to their original occupation at the end of 26 months.

Tuberculosis - 'The great masquerader' presenting as a dumb-bell-shaped intradural extramedullary tumor in a 20-year-old female.

Tuberculosis has been known as the great masquerader for its varied presentations. We present an extraordinary case of a 20-year-old female who presented with paraparesis of two months. MRI showed an intradural, extramedullary dumb-bell-shaped, spinal cord tumor. With a provisional clinicoradiological diagnosis of benign nerve sheath tumor (schwannoma/neurofibroma), laminectomy was done. But after durotomy, frank pus was drained from the site of lesion and the laboratory investigations of the tissue and pus obtained proved it to be tubercular. This is a rare case reported in the literature where tuberculosis is mimicking as a dumb-bell-shaped, spinal cord tumor.

Tuberculosis spine: Therapeutically refractory disease.

BACKGROUND: India ranks second amongst the high-burden multi drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) countries, with an estimated incidence of 2.3% MDR-TB cases amongst the new cases and 17.2% amongst the previously treated cases. The diagnosis and treatment protocol for MDR-TB of the spine are not clearly established. We report outcome of a series of 15 cases of TB spine who were suspected to be therapeutically refractory cases (MDR-TB) on the basis of clinicoradiological failures of initial treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifteen cases of TB spine from C2 to L5 spine were suspected to be the cases of MDR-TB (therapeutically refractory cases) on the basis of failures of adequate clinicoradiological healing response at 5 months or more on antitubercular treatment (ATT). None of the patient was immunocompromised. Thirteen out of 15 patients had tissue samples sent for histopathology, culture and sensitivity, smear, BACTEC, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). All patients were put on second line ATT and followed up fortnightly with regular liver and kidney function tests, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and plain X-ray. Healing was documented as subjective improvement of symptoms, reduction in ESR, and observations on contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) such as resolution of marrow edema, fatty replacement of bone marrow and resolution of abscesses. Ambiguous MRI observations in a few patients were resolved on positron emission tomography (PET) scan. Patients were monitored continuously for 2 years after stopping ATT. RESULTS: We could demonstrate a positive culture in three cases. Two of them had multi drug resistance. We could achieve healing status in 13 out of 14 patients after starting second line drugs, one patient is still on treatment while other patient with no drug resistance is responding well on ATT. CONCLUSIONS: The suspicion of therapeutically refractory case is of paramount importance. Once suspected, surgery to procure tissue for diagnosis and culture is to be undertaken. The demonstration of drug resistance on culture may not be achieved in all TB spine cases and empiric drug regimen for MDR-TB is to be started. We have achieved the healed status with immunomodulation and second line ATT. The length of treatment needs to be monitored with MRI and PET scan.

Efficacy of extended DOTS category I chemotherapy in spinal tuberculosis based on MRI-based healed status.

BACKGROUND: Duration of treatment in tuberculosis of spine has always been debatable in the absence of marker of healing. The objective of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of extended DOTS regimen (2 months of intensive phase and 6 months of continuation phase) as recommended by WHO, by using MRI observations as the healing marker. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 51 (Group A -28 prospective and Group B- 23 retrospective) patients of spine TB with mean age of 26.8 years (range 15-54 years) diagnosed clinico radiologically/imaging (n=36), histopathology or by PCR (n=15) were enrolled for the study. They were treated by extended DOTS regimen (2 months of HRZE and 6 months of HR) administered alternate day. The serial blood investigations and X-rays were done every 2 months. Contrast MRI was done at the end of 8 months and healing changes were recorded. Criteria of healing on the basis of MRI being: complete resolution of pre and paravertebral collections, resolution of marrow edema of vertebral body (VB), replacement of marrow edema by fat or by calcification suggested by iso- intense T1 and T2 weighted images in contrast enhanced MRI. Patients with non healed status, but, responding lesion on MRI after 8 months of treatment were continued on INH and rifampicin alternate day and contrast MRI was done subsequently at 12 months and 18 months till the healed status was achieved . RESULTS: 9 patients had paraplegia and required surgical intervention out of which 1 did not recover neurologically. All patients have completed 8 months of extended DOTS regimen, n=18 achieved healed status and duration of treatment was extended in rest (n=33) 5 were declared healed after 12 months, 8 after 18 months and one after 36 months of treatment, thus 32 were declared healed at varying periods. CONCLUSION: 35.2% patients demonstrate MRI based healed vertebral lesion at the end of 8 months of extended category 1 DOTS regimen. It is unscientific to stop the ATT by fixed time frame and MRI evaluation of the patients is required after 8 months of ATT and subsequently to decide for the continuation stoppage of treatment.

Normal range of motion of hip and ankle in Indian population.

OBJECTIVE: Most studies that determine the range of motion of joints of the lower limbs study the Western population. The Asian population differs significantly, as daily activities demand different sitting positions. Our study aimed to establish the normal values of hip and ankle range of motion in various age groups in the Indian population and the effect of various functional positions of the hip on range of motion. METHODS: Three hundred and twenty-six Indian subjects, between the ages of 1 month to 75 years, were randomly selected for measurement of the range of motion of the hip and ankle joint. Exclusion criteria included history of injury or disease related to the lower extremities. Changes with age in the arc of joint motion were studied. The influence of various functional positions of the lower limb on the range of motion of the hip and the effect of weight-bearing on the ankle joint range of motion were also analyzed. RESULTS: Hip range of motion differed in various positions. Hip rotations were significantly greater when measured with the knee in flexion in both the sitting and prone positions than in the supine position. The arc of hip rotation was highest in the prone position. A significant increase in the arc of ankle dorsiflexion was found in a weight-bearing (squatting) position. Age related reduction in movement was found mainly in the rotations of the hip and dorsiflexion of the ankle. CONCLUSION: The data compiled in this study on the range of motion in the hip and ankle joint of the Indian population will be useful in the evaluation of patients with disorders of these joints, especially in the Indian and Asian population.

Oncogenic osteomalacia: Problems in diagnosis and long-term management.

Oncogenic osteomalacia is a rare association between mesenchymal tumors and hypophosphatemic rickets. It is more of a biochemical entity than a clinical one. The pathophysiology of the tumor is not clear. However, it has been seen that the clinical and biochemical parameters become normal if the lesion responsible for producing the osteomalacia is excised. For a clinical diagnosis a high index of suspicion is necessary. We present three such cases where in one the oncogenic osteomalacia reversed while in rest it did not. We present this case report to sensitize about the entity.

Unstable recent intracapsular femoral neck fractures in young adults: osteosynthesis and primary valgus osteotomy using broad dynamic compression plate.

BACKGROUND: Displaced intracapsular femoral neck fractures continue to be a difficult problem to treat. Various treatment modalities and their modifications have been proposed to improve the outcome. Osteosynthesis and primary valgus angulation osteotomy is one of them. Technique and outcome in a consecutive series of recent intracapsular femoral neck fractures in young adults, from a single center, is presented. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-five patients of recent (<3 weeks old) displaced intracapsular fracture neck femur (Garden III and IV, Pauwels III, with or without comminution) in the age group 20-50 years (mean 35.4+/-10.4 years) were subjected to osteosynthesis and primary valgus intertrochanteric osteotomy using contoured broad dynamic compression plate (DCP). The patients were followed up from two to six years (mean 4.6 years). RESULTS: Fifty-one fractures united by six months of the index procedure (92.7% union range). Avascular necrosis (AVN) developed in six patients (11%). The other complications were shortening (six), coxa vara (two), infection (two) and delayed union at osteotomy site (one). Excellent results were achieved in 48, good/fair in four and poor in three patients. CONCLUSION: Osteosynthesis with cancellous screw and primary valgus intertrochanteric osteotomy stabilized by a contoured broad DCP is a simple, easy to perform, biological treatment. Failure in a particular case can be treated with any appropriate second procedure. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV.

Treatment of intraspinal tuberculoma.

Neurological manifestations in spinal tuberculosis often occur secondary to vertebral involvement. However, tuberculoma of the spinal cord or extradural granuloma without radiological evidence of vertebral involvement may be responsible for neurological complications. We report 22 patients with intraspinal tuberculoma (19 extradural, three intramedullary) ranging in age from 17 to 70 years. Three patients had a history of paraplegia of acute onset (within 12 hours of the appearance of neural deficit). Only four patients had spinal tenderness, and bone involvement could be seen on plain radiographs in only three patients. Extradural tubercular granuloma without vertebral involvement is uncommon. Of the 15 extradural tuberculoma patients who had a CT scan and/or MRI, only five had no osseous involvement. Laminectomy and surgical decompression was performed in all 19 patients with extradural granuloma. Thirteen patients showed complete neural recovery within 2 years. Of the three patients with intramedullary involvement, one underwent myelotomy and decompression and died within 2 months of surgery. The other two patients were treated nonoperatively with antitubercular therapy and showed complete neural recovery. All patients received antitubercular therapy for a minimum of 1 year. Intraspinal tubercular granuloma should be considered in the differential diagnosis when a case of spinal tumor syndrome is encountered in an endemic zone of tuberculosis.

Congenital diastasis of the inferior tibiofibular joint with clubfoot and imperforate anus.

Congenital diastasis of the inferior tibiofibular joint is a rare condition of unknown etiology, first described in 1972. Although its clinical presentation at birth is a talipes equinovarus deformity of the foot, it may be associated with limb length discrepancy and other skeletal and visceral abnormalities. We present one such case of congenital inferior tibiofibular diastasis of Onimus type A variety (vertical diastasis) with talipes equinovarus, high imperforate anus, short first ray of the foot, intact superior tibiofibular joint, and no limb length discrepancy. Closed manipulation and casting had been unsuccessful, and at this time, the patient had not pursued any treatment during the past one year. A colostomy for the imperforate anus had been performed 36 hours after his birth and was planned for subsequent posterior sagittal anorectalplasty to reestablish continuity. His ankle joint was reconstructed along with soft tissue release for talipes equinovarus. Two years after surgery, he has a plantigrade stable foot with no limb length discrepancy. We propose that if the reconstructed joint is carried out in early childhood, it will provide better reciprocal joint surfaces with less chances of degenerative arthritis in later life. However, leg length inequality and recurrence of the deformities are not uncommon, necessitating further surgical interventions.

Tubercular pseudoaneurysm of aorta: a rare association with vertebral tuberculosis.

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Pseudoaneurysm of the aorta in association with vertebral tuberculosis is a rare phenomenon. With the resurgence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and associated resistant tuberculosis, this life-threatening complication requires greater awareness. PURPOSE: Our purpose is to report the rare presentation and successful management of tubercular pseudoaneurysm of the aorta in association with vertebral tuberculosis, and to highlight the clinicoradiological features for early and prompt diagnosis of this potentially fatal, but treatable, disease. STUDY DESIGN: A single case report and overview of the disease comprises the design of this study. PATIENT SAMPLE: The patient, already surgically intervened, is a 27-year-old male with increasing abdominal and back pain, upper motor neuron signs, and constitutional signs and symptoms. OUTCOME MEASURES: At 33 months follow-up, there is complete resolution of the signs and symptoms, and the patient is back to his previous vocation. METHODS: The diagnosis was confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging and contrast computed tomography. Endoaneurysmorrhaphy of the pseudoaneurysm along with a complete course of antitubercular treatment was given to the patient, and he has presently been followed up for 33 months. RESULTS: The patient's signs and symptoms have been completely resolved without any recurrence. CONCLUSION: Despite the use of modern chemotherapy and imaging techniques, this disastrous complication still occurs and reinforces the need for early suspicion, diagnosis, surgical resection, and antitubercular therapy along with close postoperative follow-up to prevent recurrence. With the resurgence of HIV (and other immunocompromised states) associated and resistant tuberculosis, we should be more alert than ever to this life-threatening complication.

Reconstructive procedures for segmental resection of bone in giant cell tumors around the knee.

BACKGROUND: Segmental resection of bone in Giant Cell Tumor (GCT) around the knee, in indicated cases, leaves a gap which requires a complex reconstructive procedure. The present study analyzes various reconstructive procedures in terms of morbidity and various complications encountered. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirteen cases (M-six and F-seven; lower end femur-six and upper end tibia -seven) of GCT around the knee, radiologically either Campanacci Grade II, Grade II with pathological fracture or Grade III were included. Mean age was 25.6 years (range 19-30 years). Resection arthrodesis with telescoping (shortening) over intramedullary nail (n=5), resection arthrodesis with an intercalary allograft threaded over a long intramedullary nail (n=3) and resection arthrodesis with intercalary fibular autograft and simultaneous limb lengthening (n=5) were the procedure performed. RESULTS: Shortening was the major problem following resection arthrodesis with telescoping (shortening) over intramedullary nail. Only two patients agreed for subsequent limb lengthening. The rest continued to walk with shortening. Infection was the major problem in all cases of resection arthrodesis with an intercalary allograft threaded over a long intramedullary nail and required multiple drainage procedures. Fusion was achieved after two years in two patients. In the third patient the allograft sequestrated. The patient underwent sequestrectomy, telescoping of fragments and ilizarov fixator application with subsequent limb lengthening. The patient was finally given an ischial weight relieving orthosis, 54 months after the index procedure. After resection arthrodesis with intercalary autograft and simultaneous lengthening the resultant gap (∼15cm) was partially bridged by intercalary nonvascularized dual fibular strut graft (6-7cm) and additional corticocancellous bone graft from ipsilateral patella. Simultaneous limb lengthening with a distal tibial corticotomy was performed on an ilizarov fixator. The complications were superficial infection (n=5), stress fracture of fibula (n=2). The stress fracture fibula required DCP fixation and bone grafting. The usual time taken for union and limb length equalization was approximately one year. CONCLUSION: Resection arthrodesis with intercalary dual fibular autograft and cortico-cancellous bone grafting with simultaneous limb lengthening achieved limb length equalization with relatively short morbidity.

Tarlov cyst: Case report and review of literature.

We describe a case of sacral perineural cyst presenting with complaints of low back pain with neurological claudication. The patient was treated by laminectomy and excision of the cyst. Tarlov cysts (sacral perineural cysts) are nerve root cysts found most commonly in the sacral roots, arising between the covering layer of the perineurium and the endoneurium near the dorsal root ganglion. The incidence of Tarlov cysts is 5% and most of them are asymptomatic, usually detected as incidental findings on MRI. Symptomatic Tarlov cysts are extremely rare, commonly presenting as sacral or lumbar pain syndromes, sciatica or rarely as cauda equina syndrome. Tarlov cysts should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients presenting with these complaints.

Osteochondroma of C7 vertebra presenting as compressive myelopathy in a patient with nonhereditary (nonfamilial/sporadic) multiple exostoses.

INTRODUCTION: Osteochondromas are most commonly found in the appendicular skeleton. They occur less frequently in the spine and compression of the spinal cord is very rare. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of an osteochondroma arising from C7 vertebra presenting with compressive myelopathy in a patient with nonhereditary multiple exostoses. Our purpose is to report this rare presentation and its successful management, and to highlight the clinico-radiological features of this treatable condition. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A 20-year-old male with nonhereditary exostoses presented with gradual onset weakness in bilateral lower limbs, which had rapidly progressed to complete paraplegia over 1 month. The tumor was effectively treated by surgical excision along with spinal decompression. The diagnosis was confirmed by histopathological evidence complemented by clinico-radiological studies. RESULTS: There has been a complete functional recovery without any evidence of recurrence at last follow-up at 2 years. CONCLUSION: Compressive myelopathy due to an osteochondroma arising from C7 vertebra in a case with nonhereditary multiple exostoses is being reported for the first time. Both CT and MRI demonstrated the origin, size, extent and relationship of the tumor to the vertebral and neural elements. Complete recovery of functions after surgical decompression was achieved in this case. An osteochondroma of spine must always be considered in all patients with multiple exostoses who have spine pain or develop neural deficit.

Extraskeletal paraarticular osteochondroma of the knee--a case report and tumor overview.

Extraskeletal paraarticular osteochondromas are rather unusual osteocartilaginous lesions that arise in the soft tissues adjacent to the joint with no bony or joint continuity. This diagnosis should be considered with the demonstration of a well-circumscribed extraskeletal mineralized mass without any direct continuity with adjacent bone or joint. However, as with other lesions, clinicoradiographic features with histological correlation clinch the diagnosis. Differentiation from other lesions, particularly synovial osteochondromatosis and chondrosarcoma is essential to avoid unnecessary aggressive surgical procedures as marginal excision is adequate for these lesions. We present here such an infrapatellar lesion and discuss criteria helpful in distinguishing these benign lesions from other morphological similar lesions.