A comparative study for the treatment of simple bone cysts of the humerus: open curettage and bone grafting either without instrumentation or with intramedullary nailing.

Functional and radiographic outcomes, in addition to complication and reoperation rates of open curettage and grafting without instrumentation or with intramedullary nailing, in the treatment of simple bone cysts (SBCs) of the humerus were compared. Thirty-seven children [25 males, 12 females; median age=9.5 years (range, 3-17 years)] with humeral SBC were treated with curettage and grafting without instrumentation (group 1, 21 patients) or with intramedullary nailing (group 2, 16 patients). The pathological fracture rate was 85.7% in group 1 and 87.5 in group 2. The follow-up duration ranged from 26 to 85 months. The average last follow-up Musculoskeletal Tumor Society functional scores for groups 1 and 2 were 28.9 and 29.5 (P>0.05). Higher, but statistically insignificant (P>0.05), complete or significant partial radiographic healing rates were achieved in group 2 (100%) compared with group 1 (76.2%). The overall complication rate of the entire study population was 21.6% (19%; 4/21 in group 1; 25%; 4/16 in group 2). The reoperation rates for groups 1 and 2 were 9.5% (2/21; one for partial cyst healing, one for recurrence) and 56.25% (9/16; one for surgical complication, eight for implant removal). Surgical intervention is indicated for selected patients with SBCs. Even though perfect functional results were possible with open curettage and grafting, continuous intramedullary decompression with elastic nails led to a higher radiographic healing rate in the treatment of humeral SBCs. Open curettage and grafting with or without intramedullary nailing was associated with a high number of complications, but the rate of reoperation for complications was very low.

Total hip arthroplasty without femoral osteotomy in patients who had high and low dislocation due to developmental dysplasia of the hip.

BACKGROUND: Various surgical techniques and outcome results have been reported after primary total hip arthroplasty for the treatment of patients dysplastic hips. Low failure and complication rates have been reported when the acetabular component has been placed in the true acetabulum. The current study reports the results of primary total hip arthroplasty in patients with high and low dislocation for whom the acetabular component was placed in the true acetabulum without femoral or trochanteric osteotomy. METHODS: 26 primary total hip replacements were performed on 22 patients. The mean duration of follow-up was 8.9 years.There were 4 men and 18 women. 17 hips were classified as type B (low dislocation) and 9 as type C (high dislocation), according to the classification system of Hartofilakidis et al. Acetabular components were placed in the true acetabulum without osteotomy for all patients. RESULTS: At the time of final follow-up (mean 8.9 years) the average Harris Hip Score was 85 points. Femoral head autograft was used in 9 hips to supplement acetabular coverage. In 8 patient linear calcar fracture. 7 fixed with Dall-Mile cable and 1 fixed with a side plate. On radiologic evaluation, 2 incidents of asymptomatic osteolysis, 1 of acetabular loosening, 1 graft resorption, and 1 impingement (correlated with physical examination) were identified. 2 patients had neuropraxia and were treated medically. There were no early or late infections. Only 1 patient with acetabular loosening required revision surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Although it is surgically difficult to place the acetabular component in the true acetabulum without femoral or trochanteric osteotomy, at the final follow-up we report favourable results. Long-term follow-up is needed to verify our results.