Correlation between Patellar Tilt Angle, Femoral Anteversion and Tibial Tubercle Trochlear Groove Distance Measured by Computer Tomography in Patients with non-Traumatic Recurrent Patellar Dislocation.

Introduction: Recurrent patellofemoral dislocation (RPD) is a disabling condition with a variety of anatomical risk factors. Its management remains difficult and controversial. Patients with RPD are known to have increased femoral anteversion (FA) and tibial tubercle trochlear groove (TT-TG) distance, but their effect on the patellar tilt angle (PTA) is less studied. Aims: The aims of this study are to compare PTA, TT-TG distance and FA between RPD patients and healthy controls and to establish a relation between these parameters and the type of surgery indicated for this pathology. Materials and methods: A total of 63 knees (57.1% females, 28.1±6.2 years), of which 33 from subjects with RPD and 30 from healthy controls, were assessed by computed tomography (CT) scan under supine position, with the measurement of TT-TG distance, FA and PTA. Results: The values of PTA, FA and TT-TG distance were significantly higher in the RPD group compared to the control group (CI 95% 9.52-11.64, CI 95% 5.87-11.8, CI 95% 6.44-9.72, respectively, with p value <0.0001 in all cases). In the RPD group, PTA significantly correlated to the FA (r=.53, p=0.001) and TT-TG (r=.39, p=0.02), while TT-TG correlated to FA (r=.53, p=0.001) too. Further analysis in the RPD group showed a significant correlation of PTA, FA and TT-TG (r=.96, r=.89, respectively, p=0.0001) when FA >25 degrees, but no significant correlation between TT-TG and FA or PTA when FA<25 degrees. Moreover, higher values of PTA and FA positively correlated with TT-TG distance (r=.44, r=.74, r=.20, p=0.03) when TT-TG was >20 mm, but no correlations were found between TT-TG and FA on less than 20 mm. Conclusion: In patients with RPD, FA, TT-TG and PTA have significantly higher values than controls. Higher PTA, TT-TG and FA are associated with an anteversion angle greater than 25 degrees and a TT-TG distance more than 20 mm, which might indicate a derotational femoral osteotomy to these patients in order to correct this pathology.

Long-term follow-up after intertrochanteric osteotomies for avascular necrosis of the femoral head.

Between 1978 to 1994, 110 osteotomies were performed in 94 patients. Fifty hips (40 patients) were included in this study. Six hips were in stage II avascular necrosis (Arlet-Ficat staging) and 44 hips were in stage III. In 14 patients an etiologic association was discovered, the remaining 26 were considered idiopathic. The postoperative assessment (Harris score) showed that there is no statistic differences between sexes. Results strongly depend on the amplitude of the necrotic (Kerboul) angle (p < 0.01), the preoperative mobility of the hip (p < 0.01), and age. The best postoperative results are usually obtained in young, active, patients with unilateral involvement, a necrotic angle of less than 200 degrees, a good preoperative range of hip motion, and in which the osteotomy is performed before the collapse of sequestrum.

Immunocytomorphological study on the pathogenesis of ankylosing spondylarthritis.

The present investigation is based on the cytomorphological, histopathological (HE, VG, PAS-Alcian, Safranin 0, Gömöri), histoenzymological (acid phosphatase, chondroitinsulphatase, peroxidase) and immunological (rheumatoid factor (RF), circulating immune complexes (CIC), anticolagen II antibodies and C reactive protein (CRP) study on ankylosing spondylarthritis (2.5 cases). The synovial fluid (SF) synoviocytogram showed cytosis (6.067/mm3), with polynucleosis (65.19%) and ragocytosis (17.73%) as compared with the hydrarthrosie SF characterized by lymphocytosis (47%). Enzymological findings revealed phosphatasic and myeloperoxidasic activity in the ragocytary polymorphonuclear (PMNs) and mononuclear cells. Histopathologically, the severe forms of AS correlated with villous chronic synovitis, associated to processes of obliterating vascularitis, fibrosclerosis, necrosis and calcification of disintegrated synovial structures. The articular cartilage was severly damaged, while osseous necrobiosis was noted at the osteocartilaginous junction. Histoenzymologically, the chondrocytes and synovial macrophages showed lysosomal and oxidative enzymatic activity. Immunological assessments (72 sera and 25 synovial fluid samples) showed pathological values of circulating immune complexes, anticollagen antibodies and C reactive protein. Correlation of immunocytomorphological findings demonstrates the involvement of immunologic and enzymatic factors in the pathogenesis of AS.

Histopathological and ultrastructural modifications of the arthrosis articular cartilage.

Thirty samples of articular cartilage taken during the operation from patients with incipient arthrosis, arthrosis with radiological modifications and arthrosis under study for Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) were investigated using histopathological (HE, VG, PAS-Alcian, Gömöri, Safranine O) and electronmicroscopic techniques. The control material was made of posttraumatic cartilage (Moore prosthesis). Histopathologically, the incipient arthrosis cartilage had superficial exfoliations associated with reduced saframinophilic tinctorial perichondrocytic activity. The arthrosic cartilage with typical radiological modifications was individualized at the synovia-cartilage junction by villous aspects of the synovia associated with perichondrocytic gaps, reduction of safraninophilia and modifications of reticuline-collagenic network. The arthrosic cartilage under study for RA revealed destructive fibrous modifications of the synovia and severe affection of the articular cartilage at synovia-cartilage junction. Electronmicroscopically, the ultrastructural affection was minimum in the incipient arthrosis cartilage developing to chondrocytic degeneration in arthrosis with radiological correspondent. Both histopathological and ultrastructural data emphasize the fact that arthrosis is associated with synovitis following a primitive degenerative process similar to rheumathoid synovitis in arthrosis under study for RA.

Pathogenesis aspects of arthrosis in histopathological and electronmicroscopical studies of articular cartilage, correlated to some immunological parameters.

Twenty-five biopsies of arthrosic cartilage with radiological correspondence, arthro, sic cartilage under study for Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) and posttrauma cartilage as control-were examined using histopathological (HE, VG, PAS-Alcian, Gömöri, Safranine O) and electronmicroscopical techniques. The arthrosic cartilage with radiological correspondence shows superficial and deep fissures, perichondrocytic gaps and modified reticulino-collagenic network at the histopathological examination. At the level of synovia-cartilage junction, we found some villous aspects of the synovia desquamating in the proximity of the affected cartilage. The investigated arthroses for RA presented some destructive fibrous modifications of the synovia similar to rheumatoid synovitis and associated with some dystrophic chondrocytic alterations. The ultrastructural affection was severe leading to cellular degeneration. The immunologically-studied arthroses for RA had seric pathologic values regarding: circulating immune complexes (CIC) (mean = 67.08 +/- 1.45 U), Ig.M(mean = 358 +/- 3.02 UI/ml) and anti collagen antibodies (mean = 409.9 +/- 0.42 U). The synovial depletion of complementary fraction C3(mean = 42.3-1 mg%) as against the normal seric level (mean = 63.07 +/- 0.49 mg%) suggests an immune synovitis. Correlation of immunomorphopathological data emphasize that arthrosis coexists with a secondary synovitis following a primitive degenerative process and allows arthroses under study for RA to be separated from other degenerative rheumatism diseases.

Histopathological and histoenzimological investigations of the rheumatoid articular cartilage.

Twenty seven biopsies of articular cartilage taken intraoperatively from patients with Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and from control patients with traumas were examined using histopathological techniques (HE, VG, PAS-Alcian, Gömöri, Safranine 0) and histoenzymological techniques (Acid phosphatase-lysomal marker, Chondroitinsulphatase, Peroxidase). Histopathologically, the rheumatoid articular cartilage appears with superficial and deep cartilaginous fissures, frequent perichondrocytic gaps associated with modification of the tinctorial activity. At the pannus synovia-cartilage junction we found invasive and destructive synovial inflammatory infiltrates penetrating and eroding the cartilage. Histoenzymologically, the rheumatoid chondrocytes have a high lysosomal potential (phosphatasic, chondroitinsulphatasic) and highly oxidative potential (peroxidasic) specific for lesion modifications.

[Therapeutic management of fracture-induced osteitis]. / Atitudinea terapeutica în osteita fracturar.

Fractural osteitis is considered to be exclusively of external origin, being due either to accidental wounds, or to operatory wounds. The infection is usually either with a single strain of germs, or with a small number of strains, most frequently a staphylococcus strain with a necrototizing effect on the bone structure. The prophylaxis has a determinant role, and the authors stress the organisatory measures, as well as the medical attitudes that should prevail in the face of an open fracture. In the case of closed fractures that have been infected as a result of surgery the necessity for an "early reintervention" is stressed. Late postoperative osteitis may develop in a consolidated focus, and is called osteitis of the repaired bone. It may also develop as an osteoarthritis or, and this is more serious, as a suppurated pseudarthrosis. The therapeutic attitude depends on the condition, and may consist in the removal of the osteosynthesis material, removal of the sequestered bone tissue, a so-called: "mis-à-plat" of the cavity with muscular tissue and application of septopal pearls, or a two-stage spongious graft according to Papineau, under protection of the external fixation when the necessity arises.

[Surgical shock. Acute hypocatecholaminemia and therapeutic indications of an adrenocortical vasopressor sympathicolytic drug mixture. Clinical studies and experimental research]. / Socul operator, Hipocatecolaminemia acuta si indicatiile terapeutice ale amestecului farmacologic simpaticolitic vasopresor adrenocortical. Studii clinice si cercetari experimentale.

In cases with postoperative shock and collapse a constant fall in the concentration of serum cathecholamines was noted. Thus adrenalin was reduced by 77%, noradrenalin by 86.5%, in direct proportion with the fall in the blood pressure, of the pulse amplitude and with the slowing-down (or the arrest) of the microcirculation. The reduction of serum cathecholamines also coincided with a decrease in the amount of buffer bases and of the diuresis. The adrenocortical vasopresor sympathicolithic mixture is indicated in the prolonged arterial hypotension following failure of therapy aimed at filling of the vascular bed associated with the administration of sympathicolytic drugs.