Giant cell tumour of foot bones - 25 years experience in a tertiary care hospital.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the incidence of giant cell tumour in foot, its clinical features, stage of tumour, treatment and outcome of surgery. METHODS: This retrospective case series study was conducted at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi, and comprised cases of giant cell tumour of foot bones diagnosed between January 1990 and March 2015. Tumour Incidence, type of procedure and results were recorded on a proforma and analysed for function outcome and recurrence. Clinical and radiological follow-up was done for a maximum 6 years. RESULTS: There were 240 cases of giant cell tumour but only 13(5.4%) related to foot bones. Of them, 8 (3.3%) were females and 5(2.0%) males. The mean age was 25 years (SD 10.59) (range: 17-38 years). In 7 (2.9%) cases lesion was in metatarsals, 2(0.8%) cases in phalanges, 3(1.2%) cases in calcaneus and 1(0.4%) case in talus. Duration of symptoms ranged from 4 to 12 months. All presented with radiologically stage 2 or 3 lesions. Resection of tumour and reconstruction with fibular graft was performed in 5(2.0%) cases, excision/curettage and filling cavity with cancellous bone graft in 5(2.0%) cases, resection in 2(0.8%) cases and toe amputation in 1(0.4%) case. There was recurrence in 2(0.4%) cases. No other complication was noted on last follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Giant cell tumour in foot bones is a rare tumour and shows specific clinical and radiographic features with early involvement of entire bones, more aggressive behaviour with recurrence potential. The preferred treatment options are resection with reconstruction, curettage and filling cavity with bone graft/cement and amputation.

Giant cell tumour of proximal radius in a 48 years old lady.

Giant cell tumour is a locally aggressive tumour of long-bones of epiphyseal region commonly occurring in adults aged 20-40 years. Most common location is distal femur, proximal tibia and distal radius. Different treatment options being used are curettage with bone graft or bone cement, resection with arthrodesis, reconstruction, radiation and chemotherapy. We are reporting a case of giant cell tumour of proximal radius in a 48 years old lady. It is very rare and only 4 cases have been reported in literature. It was treated by wide margin resection without reconstruction.

Improvised explosive device bombing police bus: Pattern of injuries, patho-physiology and early management.

OBJECTIVE: To understand the different types of blast injuries, their mechanisms, patho-physiology of wounds and clinical consequences caused by improvised explosive device detonation, and their early management. METHODS: The retrospective study related to 70 Special Security Unit personnel of police travelling on duty in a bus that was struck with an Improvised Explosive Device on February 13, 2014, at 7:48am.The data of triage, primary survey and resuscitation and secondary survey on arrival at the Accident and Emergency section of Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi, were noted and later analysed. RESULTS: Police commandos aged 20-32 years were brought to hospital within 35-55 minutes of blast by ambulances. Triage at Emergency labelled 11(15.7%) Black, 15(21.4%) Red, 19(27.2%) Yellow and 25(35.7%) Green. Primary blast waves led to 11 closed blast lung presenting as pneumothorax in 9(12.8%) patients; 11(15.7%) chest tube thoracotomies were performed. Primary blast waves also produced ear drum and eyeball perforation. Seven (10%) patients received calcaneal fractures; 2(2.8%) with bilateral calcaneal fractures. Tertiary blast waves also caused amputations, and lower leg open fractures. Patients who died had received multi-system involvement injuries due to combined primary and secondary blast waves. CONCLUSIONS: Improvised explosive devices produce a variety of serious and uncommon injuries requiring special care and early multi-disciplinary response. Repeated primary and secondary survey in Accident and Emergency are very important.

Total hip arthroplasty in a 6-month-old acetabulum fracture-dislocation of the hip: an 8-year follow-up.

Old unreduced acetabulum fracture-dislocation is common in developing countries due to various factors. Different options including arthrodesis, Girdlestone arthroplasty and total hip replacement (THR) are used for its treatment. THR with reconstruction of the acetabulum is recommended, but not much work has been reported so far in our country. Till date, arthrodesis in youngsters and resection arthroplasty in the elders has been the treatment of choice.THR, however, is being done by a few, but the experience has not been published. We are reporting a case of a middle-aged woman, who had a 6-month-old acetabulum dislocation of the hip with fracture of the posterior wall of the acetabulum. It was treated by THR and acetabulum reconstruction and had good functional result 8 years after the surgery.

Posterior spinal fixation with pedicle screws and rods system in thoracolumbar spinal fractures.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effectiveness of posterior spinal fixation in maintaining the stability of spine and to determine mortality in 6 months after posterior spinal fixation. STUDY DESIGN: Quasi experimental study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Department of Orthopaedics, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi and Department of Orthopaedics, Postgraduate Medical Institute, Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar, from April 2006 to April 2009. METHODOLOGY: Fifty patients with unstable thoracolumbar spinal fractures from T7 - L4 were included. All the patients were operated by posterior approach using pedicle screws and rods. Effectiveness of the fixation was measured at 6 months postoperatively in terms of relief of pain and improvement in mobility using Oswestry disability index, range of motion of spine using Schobar Test/sign, reduction in deformity by measuring Cobb angle, local kyphosis angle (LKA), thoracolumbar angle, anterior and posterior vertebral heights (AVH and PVH respectively), evidence of union was made using plain radiographs and by computer assisted measurement using " OSIRIS " software. The data was then analyzed using SPSS software version 13 and presented in the form of tables and charts. RESULTS: Twenty-eight patients were operated within first week. In 38 patients, 4 screws were used and in 12 patients, 8 screws were used with 2 rods. Pain and disability showed improvement, with mean 71.98% score pre-operatively to 44.96% mean at last visit (p = 0.001). Mean range of motion increased 0.5 - 2 cms postoperatively in all directions (p = 0.001). Mean kyphosis angle, Cobb angle and thoracolumbar angle improved postoperatively. Anterior and posterior vertebral body heights increased postoperatively with resultant decrease in anterior vertebral body compression. Ninety six percent patients showed signs of postoperative union on last visit and only 3 people died of unrelated causes till last visit. CONCLUSION: Posterior spinal fixation with pedicle screws and rods is an effective surgical technique in maintaining stability of spine by improvement in pain and mobility, range of motion of spine, correction of deformity and bone union.

Total hip arthroplasty for childhood fused hip.

The conversion of a painless fused hip of a long standing duration to a mobile hip is usually not demanded due to a number of per-operative problems, iatrogenic complications and a high demanding procedure. The conversion is, however, required when a patient develops chronic back pain or a painful pseudoarthrosis of the hip. Conversion due to pseudoarthrosis in a recent fracture through femoral neck of previously fused painless hip has never been reported. We are reporting this unique indication for conversion.