Osteomyelitis due to Pseudallescheria boydii.

This report describes an unusual opportunistic fungal infection in an immunocompetent young man who had no cutaneous involvement and whose infection was diagnosed 6 years after an accident. The unusual clinical presentation and difficulties in making a correct diagnosis are discussed and prophylactic antifungal chemotherapy is suggested.

How iliotibial tract injuries of the knee combine with acute anterior cruciate ligament tears to influence abnormal anterior tibial displacement.

A knowledge of the patterns of injury to the components of the iliotibial tract allows a clearer interpretation of motion limits testing in patients with abnormal anterior tibial translation of the knee (anterior cruciate ligament-deficient knees). Eighty-two consecutive patients with acute knee injuries were classified as anteromedial-anterolateral rotatory instability (anterior cruciate ligament-deficient) based on the abnormal motion demonstrated by clinical examination tests for instability. At surgery, injuries to the intraarticular and extraarticular anatomic structures were identified and correlated to the abnormal grades of motion demonstrated by the knee motion limits examination. Tears of the anterior cruciate ligament occurred in 80 (98%) of the knees. However, the grade of abnormal motion demonstrated by the Lachman and pivot shift tests was quite variable. This variation did not correlate statistically with anterior cruciate ligament tears. Injuries to the anatomic components of the iliotibial tract were confirmed in 76 (93%) of the knees. These injuries correlated highly with variations in grades of abnormal motion detected by the following tests: lateral joint line opening at 30 degrees (r2 = 0.05); Lachman test (r2 = 0.08); pivot shift (r2 = 0.16); and anterior translation at 90 degrees of flexion (r2 = 0.34). Thus, injuries to the components of the iliotibial tract are thought to contribute to the variation in grades of abnormal motion observed in this complex subgroup of anterior tibial translation instabilities.

The stabilizing function of passive shoulder restraints.

UNLABELLED: The static restraints of the scapulohumeral joint provide stability for the humeral head in the glenoid cavity, limit extremes of motion of the glenohumeral joint, and guide positioning of the humerus during normal shoulder movement. Eleven fresh-frozen cadaver shoulders of unknown age were attached to a shoulder motion device that allowed measurement of motion in three planes with an accuracy to 0.5 degrees. Four shoulders underwent motion analysis and seven were used for strain gauge analysis of the static scapulohumeral ligamentous restraints. The results of the motion analysis demonstrated that any attempt at simple motion (flexion, extension, abduction, internal or external rotation) resulted in coupled motion in two additional planes. The strain gauge data, expressed as a percent of total tension for each ligament tested, demonstrated a reciprocal tension-sharing relationship among all ligament components and a transference of tension among these components when original and new joint positions were compared. These data provide an in vitro model of shoulder restraint function to explain primary restraint, tension sharing, and transference of tension functions in the in vivo scapulohumeral joint. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: These principles of shoulder function have application in the treatment of instability and frozen shoulder syndrome, and provide an in vitro model to better understand static restraint function in the throwing mechanism.

Pigmented villonodular synovitis of the shoulder.

No characteristic clinical presentation of pigmented villonodular synovitis of the shoulder can yet be determined. Symptoms of discomfort and stiffness may appear insidiously or, in some cases, pigmented villonodular synovitis may be found incidentally during surgery for unrelated problems. Cystic and degenerative changes are more likely to occur in the shoulder than in joints with large synovial recesses such as the knee. Histologic findings parallel those in other joints. Optimal treatment appears to be early marginal excision for the localized form or total synovectomy for the diffuse form. The incidental finding of pigmented villonodular synovitis should not influence the decision to proceed with a preplanned reconstructive procedure. No experience with arthroscopic treatment or radiation therapy for diffuse pigmented villonodular synovitis of the shoulder has been reported.

Clinical presentation of complete tears of the rotator cuff.

To determine whether the presence and extent of a tear of the rotator cuff could be predicted on the basis of a patient's history, physical examination, and radiographic findings, detailed data from the histories and physical examinations of 103 patients who were known to have a tear of the rotator cuff were correlated with the radiographic and operative findings on these patients. An age-matched control group of fifty-one patients who had similar symptoms, but whose arthrograms showed normal results, was used to establish a baseline incidence of ten specific radiographic findings in the shoulder. Two discrete groups of patients who had a tear of the rotator cuff were identified. Twenty-eight patients (27 per cent) had a tear of a single tendon; the histories and the physical and radiographic findings in this group were consistent with a symptomatic local mechanical-impingement process in the shoulder. Sixty (80 per cent) of the seventy-five patients in the other group had a history of acute trauma to a shoulder. The patients in this second group were older and were non-athletic, and had not previously had symptoms that were severe enough to need treatment. These patients were subsequently found to have a complete tear of more than one of the tendons of the rotator cuff. Multiple radiographic findings in the shoulder and other coexisting orthopaedic conditions also were more common in these patients. In this group, we believe that acute trauma in a shoulder that had chronic degenerative changes, rather than localized mechanical impingement, caused the tendons to rupture.

Isolated chondral fractures of the knee.

Eighteen patients with isolated chondral fractures of the knee were reviewed to reevaluate the clinical signs and symptoms. No other conditions had been present to account for the symptoms. Most of the patients had significant injuries often involving a flexed knee. All patients had had symptoms and physical findings strongly suggestive of meniscal abnormality. Roentgenographic examinations were noncontributory. The lesions occurred in four distinct patterns. All were full thickness. Many of the lesions occurred on the posterior aspect of a femoral condyle, a location where they could be easily overlooked if the condyle were not examined with the knee in extreme flexion. Abutment of the tibial spine against the medial femoral condyle may be one cause of these injuries. The incidence of isolated chondral fractures was found to be higher than previously reported. A negative arthroscopic meniscal examination in a patient with symptoms and physical findings suggestive of meniscal abnormality should alert the physician to the possibility of an isolated chondral fracture.

The anatomy of the iliopatellar band and iliotibial tract.

Based on an extensive review of the literature and dissections of 17 fresh-frozen knee specimens, the authors divide the lateral fascia lata of the knee into two functional components: the iliopatellar band and the iliotibial tract. Aponeurotic, superficial, middle, deep, and capsulo-osseous layers contribute to these two functional components. The superficial layer of the iliotibial tract, combined with the deep, and capsulo-osseous layers, is hypothesized to function as an anterolateral ligament of the knee. The iliopatellar band provides stabilization of the patella against a medially directed force and is dynamically influenced by the vastus lateralis. The relationship of the iliotibial tract to extraarticular reconstructions of the knee with anterolateral rotatory instability is discussed.

Posterior shoulder approach.

A posterior shoulder surgical approach combines the subperiosteal detachment of the deltoid from the scapular spine, described by McWhorter, with a lateral extension to include the lateral deltoid splitting of Codman. The glenohumeral joint is superiorly approached between the supraspinatus and infraspinatus tendons, or inferiorly between the infraspinatus and teres minor tendons. This approach was used in 42 shoulders with rotator cuff tears or posterior instability without complications of infection, failure of deltoid healing, or compromise of suprascapular or axillary nerves. This combined surgical approach provides excellent exposure of the superior and posterior shoulder, which is difficult to obtain by anterior or superior approaches. This approach may be used for repair of rotator cuff tears, posterior instability, and displaced posterior glenoid fractures.

Treatment of acute anterolateral rotatory instability.

This article provides an account of the experience at the Hughston Orthopaedic Clinic in diagnosing and treating acute anterolateral rotatory instability of the knee. Clinical evaluation, surgical exposure and repair, and postoperative rehabilitation are detailed, with emphasis on an integrated approach to treatment, with the goal of restoring stability and function to the injured knee.

Acute combined posterior cruciate and posterolateral instability of the knee.

This report concerns 13 consecutive patients (13 knees) who underwent operative treatment for acute combined posterior cruciate and posterolateral instability due to combined injury to the posterior cruciate ligament and the arcuate ligament complex. Our purpose was to examine the method of diagnosis and the results in these patients. There were 12 males and 1 female (average age, 26 years). Five patients were injured in a motor vehicle accident, four in sports activities, and four in nonsports activities. The mechanism of injury was an anteromedial blow to the flexed knee in six patients, a fall onto the knee in two, and unknown in five patients. Eleven patients were available for follow-up evaluation (average, 56 months), and in each the result was rated as good, fair, or poor. In 10 patients (90%) the results were rated as good subjectively, in 11 (100%) as good functionally, and in 8 (73%) as good objectively. Injury to both the posterior cruciate ligament and the arcuate ligament complex can result from rotational force that can be due to a blow to the anteromedial aspect of the knee. Diagnosis can be made by a combined positive response to the posterior drawer test, the anterior drawer test performed with the tibia in internal rotation, the abduction and adduction stress tests performed with the knee in full extension, the posterolateral drawer test, and the external rotation-recurvatum test. In a knee with concomitant injury to the posterior cruciate ligament and the arcuate ligament complex that requires surgical repair, all injured structures should be explored and repaired to ensure a subjectively, objectively, and functionally good result.

Shoulder posterior subluxation.

The records of 21 patients with chronic recurrent posterior subluxation were reviewed to document postoperative stability and level of athletic participation after opening wedge posterior scapular osteotomy and associated soft tissue procedures. At an average of 39.9 months after surgery, we objectively reevaluated 17 males and 2 females (from 16 to 46 years old). Patients with posterior instability caused by a direct trauma stabilized and effectively returned to athletic participation following osteotomy. Patients with posterior stability resulting from muscular contraction required additional soft tissue procedures for stability and effective return to athletics. Congenitally or habitually lax shoulders did not stabilize in this series. This study suggests that opening osteotomy is indicated for single plane, posterior instability which results from direct trauma or muscular contraction, and for combined anterior-posterior instability. Opening osteotomy is contraindicated in congenitally or habitually lax shoulders. A descriptive classification system which groups shoulders according to injury force and direction of instability facilitates preoperative prediction of subsequent glenohumeral joint stability and athletic participation or level of nonsportive activity.

Acute posterolateral rotatory instability of the knee.

We reviewed the clinical records and operative notes of seventeen consecutive patients who were treated by surgical repair for acute posterolateral rotatory instability in order to determine the diagnostic features of the instability and the effectiveness of our surgical repair in thirteen patients who returned for objective and subjective evaluation after a mean follow-up of 53.3 months. Sixteen of the seventeen knees had a positive external-rotation recurvatum test; fifteen, a positive adduction-stress test at 30 degrees of knee flexion; and twelve, a positive posterolateral-drawer test. Associated rotatory instabilities were found in ten of the seventeen knees, with anterolateral rotatory instability being the most frequent. Two patients had associated peroneal-nerve palsy. One or more components of the arcuate ligament complex were injured in all seventeen knees. None of the thirteen patients who were followed required subsequent reconstruction for any chronic instability. Of these thirteen, the results in 85 per cent were rated good subjectively and in 77 per cent, good objectively. Eighty-five per cent of these patients had returned to athletic activity at their preinjury level; the remaining 15 per cent did not participate in sports activities. A positive posterolateral-drawer test or external rotation recurvatum test, or both, was diagnostic of posterolateral rotatory instability. The adduction stress test at 30 degrees of knee flexion was usually positive, but was not diagnostic. Accurate diagnosis and treatment of posterolateral rotatory instability in the acute stage can result in subjectively and objectively acceptable knee function.

Lateral roentgenographic projections of the acromioclavicular joint.

Although the acromioclavicular joint is frequently injured in both contact and noncontact sports, the treatment is nonspecific, as demonstrated by the numerous methods of treatment currently employed. Despite treatment, some shoulders still develop chronic symptoms and disability during overhead lifting, throwing, and swinging. Perhaps these difficulties develop as a result of an incomplete evaluation of the joint and because the exact nature of the injury is not appreciated. Therefore, the shoulder develops chronic problems. We have routinely utilized a lateral roentgenogram of the acromion to evaluate the acromioclavicular joint. This has significantly aided us in the diagnosis and treatment of acromioclavicular joint injuries, especially when there was posterior dislocation of the distal clavicle. This presentation reviews standard roentgenography of the acromioclavicular joint and illustrates the method of obtaining the lateral projection as described by O. M. Alexander. We will also show how this method has helped us clinically in detecting posterior dislocations of the distal end of the clavicle.

Acute medial elbow ruptures.

Disruption of the ulnar collateral ligament, flexor muscles, and anterior elbow capsule may result from valgus vector forces and subsequently cause difficulty in throwing, pulling, pushing and catching. Complete medial elbow tears were diagnosed acutely in four elbows by abduction stress tests at 15 degrees of flexion. Three elbows had associated ulnar nerve compression. We repaired torn medial structures by direct suture without ligamentous reconstruction. We also decompressed ulnar nerves and performed one anterior transposition. Full range of motion, strength, and return to previous functional level was attained without infection, neurovascular compression, or myositis ossificans.

Acute tears of the posterior cruciate ligament. Results of operative treatment.

The posterior cruciate ligament, situated near the center of the knee, functions as the basic stabilizer and is located close to the axis of motion. We diagnosed and repaired thirty-two consecutive acute tears of the posterior cruciate ligament associated with tears of medial or lateral-compartment ligaments, or of both. Of the twenty-nine knees that we could evaluate, twenty-three demonstrated a 2+ to 3+ positive abduction or adduction stress test done in maximum extension and a positive anterior drawer test done in maximum internal rotation, while only nine had a definitely positive posterior drawer test. In all knees we repaired the tears, using the medial meniscus as a graft in nine knees in which the repair of the posterior cruciate ligament did not produce immediate adequate stability at operation. Five to sixteen years after operation, twenty of these twenty-nine knees were available for evaluation. The objective results were good in thirteen, fair in four, and poor in three.

The posterolateral drawer test and external rotational recurvatum test for posterolateral rotatory instability of the knee.

Posterolateral drawer tests and external rotational recurvatum tests are used to detect posterolateral rotatory instability. A specific manner of performance of these tests is necessary to properly interpret the nature of acute and chronic knee conditions. The posterolateral drawer test is performed at 80 degrees of knee flexion and is maximum in 15 degrees of external rotation. Since the posterior cruciate ligament is intact in posterolateral rotatory instability, the posterior drawer will be negative on maximum internal tibial rotation. Fibrous scar tissue may conceal an otherwise positive posterolateral drawer sign in the chronic condition. The external rotational recurvatum test examines the knee in extension. Tightness and spasm of the biceps femoris and semimembranosus may obscure a positive external rotational recurvatum test in the acute or chronic condition. The external rotational recurvatum test will be negative when the anteromedial and intermediate bundles of the anterior cruciate ligament are intact owing to their contact with the intercondylar shelf in extension. The posterolateral drawer and the external rotational recurvatum can be subtle tests and require careful observation for accurate evaluation of both the acute or chronic condition of the knee joint.