In a prospective study of 50 patients with suspected tear of the meniscus of the knee, the clinical diagnosis, arthrographic and arthroscopic findings were compared at arthro-tomy. The clinical diagnosis was correct in 85%, arthrographic in 54%, and arthroscopy in 91%of the patients.
The coracoclavicular joints are genetically determined anatomic variants. There are problems in determining their presence by dissection examination of osteologic material as well as by radiography. Based on a survey of published material and a prospective radiological survey carried out in Malaysia, it is clear that the anomaly is more frequent in Asia than in Europe and Africa. There is a high incidence in people from Southern China. The joints are subject to osteophytic marginal lipping without development of symptoms or disability.
Medial coronoid disease (MCD) encompasses lesions of the entire medial coronoid process (MCP), both of the articular cartilage and the subchondral bone. To detect the earliest signs of MCD, radiography and computed tomography were used to monitor the development of MCD in 14 Labrador retrievers, from 6 to 7 weeks of age until euthanasia. The definitive diagnosis of MCD was based on necropsy and micro-computed tomography findings. The frequency of MCD in the dogs studied was 50%. Radiographic findings did not provide evidence of MCD, ulnar subtrochlear sclerosis or blunting of the cranial edge of the MCP. Computed tomography was more sensitive (30.8%) than radiography (0%) in detecting early MCD, with the earliest signs detectable at 14 weeks of age. A combination of the necropsy and micro-computed tomography findings of the MCP showed that MCD was manifested as a lesion of only the subchondral bone in dogs <18 weeks of age. In all dogs (affected and unaffected), there was close contact between the base of the MCP and the proximal radial head in the congruent joints. Computed tomography and micro-computed tomography findings indicated that the lesions of MCD probably originated at the base of the MCP.
The calcaneus is not a common site for a unicameral solitary bone cyst. Little is known about the etiology and natural history of these lesions. The author reports an adult man with a solitary bone cyst of the os calcis which was confirmed radiologically and histologically and successfully treated with curretage and bone grafting.
The aetiopathogenesis of medial coronoid disease (MCD) remains obscure, despite its high prevalence. The role of changes to subchondral bone or articular cartilage is much debated. Although there is evidence of micro-damage to subchondral bone, it is not known whether this is a cause or a consequence of MCD, nor is it known whether articular cartilage is modified in the early stages of the disease. The aim of the present study was to use equilibrium partitioning of an ionic contrast agent with micro-computed tomography (microCT) to investigate changes to both the articular cartilage and the subchondral bone of the medial coronoid processes (MCP) of growing Labrador retrievers at an early stage of the disease and at different bodyweights. Of 14 purpose-bred Labrador retrievers (15-27 weeks), six were diagnosed with bilateral MCD and one was diagnosed with unilateral MCD on the basis of microCT studies. The mean X-ray attenuation of articular cartilage was significantly higher in dogs with MCD than in dogs without MCD (P<0.01). In all dogs, the mean X-ray attenuation of articular cartilage was significantly higher at the lateral (P<0.001) than at the proximal aspect of the MCP, indicating decreased glycosaminoglycan content. Changes in parameters of subchondral bone micro-architecture, namely the ratio of bone volume to tissue volume (BV/TV), bone surface density (BS/TV), bone surface to volume ratio (BS/BV), trabecular thickness (Tb.Th; mm), size of marrow cavities described by trabecular spacing (Tb.Sp; mm), and structural model index (SMI), differed significantly by litter (P<0.05) due to the difference in age and weight, but not by the presence/absence of MCD (P>0.05), indicating that subchondral bone density is not affected in early MCD. This study demonstrated that cartilage matrix and not subchondral bone density is affected in the early stages of MCD.
Pigmented villonodular synovitis (PVNS) is a distinct but rare clinical entity often presents late with a diagnostic difficulty. Its non-specific manifestations require exclusion of several chronic inflammatory disorders and other humorous lesions but all investigations including highly predictive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and arthroscopic examination are non-diagnostic demanding confirmatory tissue biopsy. A typical case of such lesion is presented to highlight some potential difficulties.
Many authors agree that preliminary traction prior to closed or open reduction for congenital dislocation of the hip is helpful. Different ways of traction have been used and each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages. One of the problems in the very young child is the difficulty in maintaining a suitable traction that is biomechanically effective. We found that using a rocker bed made the traction more "user friendly" for the child, the parent and the doctors.
A 29-year-old man, who was a medical intern presented with history of recurrent shoulder dislocation. Radiographs
and computed tomography imaging revealed a bony bankart lesion with glenoid bone loss of 25% with moderate
Hill- Sachs lesion. Latarjet surgery was performed. At post-operative 8 months, the patient experienced pain and
clicking in the left shoulder while performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation. At post-operative 1 year, magnetic resonance arthrography showed a united coracoid graft and intact posterior labrum. Left shoulder diagnostic arthroscopy and removal of Latarjet screws through a limited anterior deltopectoral approach were performed. The symptoms
pain, clicking and instability sense was caused by either the prominent distal screw or the remnant suture material
from the anchor which resulted in impingement of the infraspinatus muscle. We recommend the use of image intensifier to check on the position and length of the screw at the end of the surgery to avoid this complication
We report our early experience of 20 cases of metal on metal articulation total hip arthroplasty in 19 young patients. Avascular necrosis of the femoral head (63%) was the commonest diagnosis for patients undergoing this procedure, followed by osteoarthritis (21%). In general, most of the patients were young and physically active with an average age of 43.1 years (range, 25 to 58 years). The average follow-up period was 18 months (range, 7 to 46 months). The mean total Harris Hip Score preoperatively and at final follow-up was 31 points and 89 points respectively. The mean total Pain Score improved from an average of 11.5 to 41.1 points at final follow-up. Sixteen (84%) of the patients had a good to excellent hip score. There was one dislocation, which stabilized after reduction and conservative management. One case of early infection underwent a two-staged revision.