Ochronotic arthropathy-a rare clinical case.

Ochronotic arthropathy is a rare condition found in patients with alkaptonuria that results from the accumulation of ochronotic pigment. We present the case of a 65-year-old woman who presented for medical evaluation due to hip and knee chronic pain. The physical and radiographic findings were compatible with an end-stage hip osteoarthritis and knee osteoarthritis. During total hip arthroplasty it was noticed that the articular capsule and the cartilage of the femoral head were black. In the postoperative period she was diagnosed with alkaptonuria. Later, a total knee arthroplasty was performed and once more the presence of black cartilage was noted. Alkaptonuria usually appears after age 30 and is usually asymptomatic until the involvement of the spine, hip, knee and shoulder joints. Therefore, orthopaedic surgeons must be suspicious of an atypical arthropathy in order to not be overwhelmed during surgery with the presence of darkened cartilage.

Posterior interosseous nerve syndrome after pneumatic hammer use: An uncommon condition.

This case report presents a 27 year-old manual worker with right wrist extension deficit after pneumatic hammer handling. MRI and electromyographic studies revealed partial compromise of the posterior interosseous nerve (PIN) proximal to the branch for the extensor digitorum communis. The patient enrolled a 6-week rehabilitation period and recovered without remaing symptoms. PIN syndrome has mostly been associated with compressive neuropathies of the upper limb, but has seldom been reported in labor contexts. This case exemplifies an unusual presentation of PIN compression without a definite imaging diagnosis, where clinical presentation and electrodiagnostic studies are paramount for an accurate approach and understanding of the underlying condition.