Morphology and morphometry of the ulnar head of the pronator teres muscle in relation to median nerve compression at the proximal forearm.

INTRODUCTION: The pronator syndrome is a rare compression neuropathy of the median nerve. Ulnar head of the pronator teres muscle may cause compression at proximal forearm. HYPOTHESIS: Detailed morphologic and morphometric studies on the anatomy of the ulnar head of pronator teres is scarce. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We dissected 112 forearms of fresh cadavers. We evaluated the morphology and morphometry of the ulnar head of pronator teres muscle. RESULTS: The average ulnar head width was 16.3±8.2mm. The median nerve passed anterior to the ulnar head at a distance of 50.4±10.7mm from the interepicondylar line. We classified the morphology of the ulnar head into 5 types. In type 1, the ulnar head was fibromuscular in 60 forearms (53.6%). In type 2, it was muscular in 23 forearms (20.5%). In type 3, it was just a fibrotic band in 18 forearms (16.1%). In type 4, it was absent in 9 forearms (8%). In type 5, the ulnar head had two arches in 2 forearms (1.8%). In 80 forearms (71.5%: types 1, 3, and 5), the ulnar head was either fibromuscular or a fibrotic band. DISCUSSION: Although the pronator syndrome is a rare compression syndrome, the ulnar head of pronator teres is reported as the major cause of entrapment in the majority of the cases. The location of the compression of the median nerve in relation to the ulnar head of pronator teres muscle and the morphology of the ulnar head is important for open or minimally-invasive surgical treatment. TYPE OF STUDY: Sectional study. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Basic science study.

Survival analysis of Y-90 radiosynovectomy in the treatment of haemophilic synovitis of the knee: a 10-year retrospective review.

Despite recent advances including new therapeutic options and availability of primary prophylaxis in haemophiliacs, haemophilic synovitis is still the major clinical problem in significant patient population worldwide. We retrospectively reviewed our 10-year experience with Y-90 radiosynovectomy to determine the outcome in the knee joints of patients with haemophilic synovitis. Between 2002 and 2012, 82 knee joints of 67 patients with haemophilic synovitis were treated with Y-90 radiosynovectomy. The mean age was 16.8 ± 7.8 years (range: 5-39 years). The mean follow-up period was 39.6 ± 25.6 months (range: 12-95 months). Failure of therapy represented re-bleeding after a radiosynovectomy was used as an end point in patient time to progression (TTP) analysis. The median TTP was calculated as 72.0 ± 3.6 months (95% CI 64.8-79.1 months) in Kaplan-Meier analysis. The 1, 3 and 5-year survival rates were 89%, 73% and 63% respectively. Longer TTP (hazard ratio for progression, 2.5; P = 0.00) was evident in patients who have greater reduction in bleeding frequency within 6 months after radiosynovectomy. We did not find a relationship between the TTP and the following variables: age, type and severity of haemophilia, the presence or absence of inhibitor, the radiological score, range of motion status of joints and the pretreatment bleeding frequency. We concluded that Y-90 radiosynovectomy in knee joint represents an important resource for the treatment of haemophilic synovitis, markedly reducing joint bleeding and long-term durability, irrespective of the radiographic stage and inhibitor status.

Long-term outcomes in haemophilic synovitis after radiosynovectomy using rhenium-186: a single-centre experience.

Radiosynovectomy has been performed successfully for more than 10 years in our hospital. This study investigated the long-term outcome in the context of time to progression (TTP) analysis and the factors influencing TTP following radiosynovectomy with Re-186 in patients with haemophilic synovitis. Radiosynovectomy performed in 165 joints (81 elbows, 74 ankles, 8 shoulder and 2 hip joints) of 106 patients (median age was 18.0 ± 7.5 years; 91 haemophilia A, 13 haemophilia B and 2 von Willebrand's disease between June 2001 and July 2011. The mean follow-up was 48 months (range: 9-120 months). This study revealed that patients' mean TTP after primary radiosynovectomy was satisfactory for both the ankle and elbow joints. There was no TTP differences between the ankle and elbow joint groups (67 vs. 72 months respectively; P = 0.22). We did not find a relationship between the TTP and the following variables: age, type and severity of haemophilia, the presence or absence of inhibitor, the radiological score, range of motion (ROM) status of joints and the pretreatment bleeding frequency. In this study, 18-20% of the treated joints had improved ROM and 82-79% of the treated joints had unchanged ROM after treatment both the ankle and elbow joints respectively. In this report including TTP analysis in the largest series with long-term follow-up, we demonstrated long-term effectiveness of Re-186 radiosynovectomy in haemophilic synovitis. In our experience, the main predictor of outcome following radiosynovectomy is the number of joint bleeding within 6 months after therapy.