[Bone quality of lower limbs in patients with chronic osteomyelitis aged over 60 years according to multi-slice computed tomography.]

Radiography and multi-slice computed tomography (MSCT) were used to examine 30 patients with chronic osteomyelitis of lower limb whose age was over 60 years. There were more male patients with posttraumatic osteomyelitis of tibia. 16 patients were treated for chronic osteomyelitis for more than 5 years and 9 patients for more than 15 years. Control groups included 30 patients with chronic osteomyelitis of long bone aged 20 to 45 years and 30 patients aged 46 to 59 years. Radiographs of 19 patients of index group (63,3%) showed osteomyelitic cavities in the femur and tibia. Radiomorphological changes were observed in the adjacent segment of all the patients. Changes in bone architechtonics were manifested in expressed polymorphism, without evident signs of osteoporosis due to the spread sclerosis in osteomyelitic nidus. Information obtained with MSCT preoperatively was comprehensive and revealed location of purulent and necrotic nidus, type of destruction, extent and location of involved bone tissue that provided a possibility of choice of the most efficient surgical intervention.

Radiosonographic substantiation of algorithms for examination of patients during operative lengthening of the tibia.

The muscles of 70 patients with lower limb shortening due to various etiologies were studied using three radiographic diagnostic methods: contrast radiography (CR), ultrasonography (US), and computed tomography (CT). The studies were performed before surgery, during lengthening using the Ilizarov external fixator, during the fixation period following distraction, and after apparatus removal. The data compiled using these modalities described alterations in the muscles during lengthening which enabled us to develop algorithms for patient examination during the process of lower extremity lengthening with the aim of solving tactical tasks.

Radiopaque muscle studies in patients treated with the Ilizarov method.

The evaluation of muscles and thus limb function is significant in the choice of treatment, as well as an indicator of the results achieved with the Ilizarov method of external fixation. The use of plain film radiology for the diagnosis of soft tissue changes has proven to be insufficient for a detailed evaluation--its data are difficult to interpret, it is impossible to separate a single muscle, or to determine specific anatomic relations between different muscles, and between muscles and bone. The authors present a new method of radiologic examination of the muscles using contrast media and use it as a basis to investigate and develop a system of anatomic, topographical, and morphological muscle features in patients with congenital and acquired locomotor problems and to evaluate how those features change during treatment with Ilizarov transosseous compression-distraction osteosynthesis.