An intraosseous lipoma of the calcaneus: a case report.

Intraosseous lipomas are one of the rarest bone tumors found in the body. The incidence has been reported to be <0.1% of all primary bone tumors. The differential diagnoses of an intraosseous lipoma in the calcaneus include plantar fasciitis, retrocalcaneal bursitis, gout, stress fracture, unicameral bone cyst, aneurysmal bone cyst, osteoblastoma, enchondroma, chondromyxoid fibroma, nonossifying fibroma, giant cell tumor, chondroblastoma, fibrous dysplasia, and chondrosarcoma. It has been reported that 60% to 70% of patients with an intraosseous lipoma present with symptoms. This article describes a case of a pathologic fracture secondary to a large intraosseous lipoma, the surgical treatments, and the subsequent resolution of symptoms. The purpose of our report was 3-fold: (1) to increase awareness of intraosseous lipomas and their potential to cause pathologic fractures in the calcaneus; (2) to suggest a possible treatment protocol for intraosseous lipomas in the calcaneus; and (3) to describe a rare case of an intraosseous lipoma of the calcaneus not located exclusively in the neutral triangle.

Cadaveric limb analysis of tendon length discrepancy of posterior tibial tendon transfer through the interosseous membrane.

The posterior tibial tendon transfer through the interosseous membrane, as popularized by Watkins in 1954, is a procedure for treating reducible eversion and dorsiflexory paresis used by lower extremity foot and ankle surgeons. The posterior tibial tendon has been transferred to various locations on the midfoot for equinus and equinovarus deformities. Dorsiflexory paresis is a common symptom in equinovarus deformity, clubfoot deformity, Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, leprosy, mononeuropathy, trauma to the common peroneal nerve, cerebrovascular accident, and Duchenne's muscular dystrophy. The main difficulty with this procedure, often discussed by surgeons, is inadequate tendon length, making anchoring to the cuneiforms or cuboid difficult. The goal of our cadaveric study was threefold. First, we sought to determine whether the tendon length is sufficient when transferring the posterior tibial tendon to the dorsum of the foot through the interosseous membrane for a dynamic or a static transfer. Second, we wished to describe the surgical technique designed to obtain the maximal length. Finally, we sought to discuss the strategies used when the tendon length for transfer is insufficient.

Topical ketamine cream in the treatment of painful diabetic neuropathy: a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind initial study.

BACKGROUND: Painful diabetic neuropathy remains a difficult pathologic condition to manage effectively despite numerous pharmacologic interventions. A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study was undertaken to determine whether topical 5% ketamine cream is effective in reducing the pain of diabetic neuropathy. METHODS: Seventeen diabetic patients completed the study. The Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument was used to determine whether the neuropathy was likely caused by the diabetic condition. Hemoglobin A(1c) levels were measured before treatment. Patients applied 1 mL of either ketamine cream or placebo cream for 1 month. The intensity of seven different pain characteristics was evaluated before and after treatment. A two-way repeated analysis of variance design was used to test for differences between treatments and within patients (time). RESULTS: We found no significant treatment main effect, but pain improved significantly over time in both groups. There was no statistical interaction effect (treatment × time) in any of the pain characteristics, indicating that pain improved in the two treatment groups similarly with time. CONCLUSIONS: The 5% topical ketamine cream was no more effective than was placebo in relieving pain caused by diabetic neuropathy.

Arthroscopic treatment of anterior ankle impingement.

Anterior ankle impingement is a common cause of chronic ankle pain in the athletic population. Its cause can be either soft tissue or osseous in nature. Arthroscopic debridement results in favorable and reproducible outcomes. However, in the population in which ankle instability or narrowing of the ankle joint occur, outcomes may be less favorable.