Archives of orthopaedic and trauma surgery
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Among the available imaging techniques such as conventional radiography, radionuclide bone scan, and computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has made significant contributions to the diagnosis of acute hip joint disease in adults by enabling early differentiation between such conditions as idiopathic avascular femoral head necrosis, septic coxitis, degenerative disease, and tumors. In this study we investigated the use of MRI for evaluation of patients with transient osteoporosis (TO). MRI with T1- and T2-weighted sequences in coronal, transverse, and sagittal sections was performed in 12 patients with retrospectively confirmed TO, both at the onset of the disease and later as follow-up procedure. ⋯ Characteristic symptoms of TO are hip pain and a need for protective splinting of the hip joint. Conventional radiographs show demineralization of the hip joint without joint space narrowing. Clinical, radiologic, and MRI findings normalize within 6-10 months, indicating that TO has a good prognosis with complete restoration of bone density.
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Arch Orthop Trauma Surg · Jan 1991
ReviewKnee ligament injuries combined with ipsilateral tibial and femoral diaphyseal fractures: the "floating knee".
The incidence of rupture of the knee ligaments was retrospectively studied in 47 patients with ipsilateral fractures of the femoral and tibial diaphyseal shaft. Fifteen patients proved to have an instability of the knee at the time of follow up. Disruption of the knee ligaments had not been recognised initially. ⋯ After stabilisation of both fractures in these cases, the knee ligaments had been repaired; at re-examination these patients had no complaints and their knees were perfectly stable. In view of the high incidence of missed cases, the possibility of disruption of the knee ligaments should be considered in all patients with fractures of both the femoral and tibial shaft. Meticulous examination of the knee at the time of injury is strongly advocated.
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Arch Orthop Trauma Surg · Jan 1991
ReviewTumors and tumor-like lesions arising in tendons. A clinicopathological study of 75 cases.
Eight cases of malignant tumors, 38 cases of benign tumors, 15 cases of metastatic tumors, and 14 cases of tumor-like lesions arising in tendons seen over a period of 22 years (1967-1988) are surveyed. Benign tumors of tendon occur relatively frequently - in 38 (1.7%) of 2143 tendon biopsies - but malignant tumors (0.37%) and metastases (0.70%) are extremely rare. Malignant tumors occurred most frequently in lower limb tendons, while benign tumors were most often found in the tendons of the hand.
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The neurilemoma (benign schwannoma) is a benign tumor which arises from the Schwann cells of the peripheral nerves. In an intraosseous localization it is a very rare lesion, only forty cases being reported in the literature, and only two of these with the tumor located in the femur. This paper reports on a patient with a large neurilemoma in the lower part of the left femur.
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Arch Orthop Trauma Surg · Jan 1991
ReviewIndications for and results of operative treatment of spondylitis and spondylodiscitis.
We present a retrospective follow-up study of 24 patients with spondylitis or spondylodiscitis whose treatment included surgical intervention. Tuberculous spondylitis was diagnosed in 14 patients and 10 suffered from non-specific spondylitis. The average age of the patients was 50.2 years and average follow-up was 3 years. ⋯ We recommend radical debridement and spinal fusion through a ventral approach in patients with destruction of the ventral vertebral body, progressive neurological impairment, septicaemia and antibiotic-resistant, symptomatic infections of the spine. In the elderly patient, even in reduced states of health, early surgical intervention can be particularly valuable. Although surgical intervention should be reserved for specific indications, we were able to document favourable results in all 24 patients treated with debridement and spinal fusion.