Posterior Tibial Tendinopathy and Osteopenia as Primary Symptoms of Celiac Disease: A Case Report

This case report describes posterior tibial tendon (PTT) tendinopathy, valgus deformity with tenosynovitis, and osteopenia at the medial malleolus as the primary symptoms of a young patient with celiac disease (CD) without gastrointestinal symptoms. CD is an autoimmune condition that is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the small intestine triggered by ingestion of gluten in individuals with a particular genetic background. Without typical gastrointestinal symptoms, CD patients are often misdiagnosed or undiagnosed. The patient was diagnosed with CD by duodenal biopsy. He underwent a surgical procedure, including medial displacement calcaneal osteotomy, tenosynovectomy of the PTT and flexor digitorum longus (FDL), FDL transfer to the navicular for a pes planovalgus deformity, and drilling of the medial malleolus for a stress reaction. The mechanism of the PTT tear and associated heel valgus deformity was assumed to be related to the fact that his heel alignment on the affected side changed gradually from normal to valgus and pes planus owing to CD and mechanical stress, because his normal-side heel alignment was neutral before surgery and at final follow-up. His operated ankle was pain-free, with full range of motion, 1.5 years after surgery. The patient was able to restart running and exercise gradually. Foot and ankle specialists should consider the possibility of CD in patients presenting with a PTT tear without injury or trauma and osteopenia with no obvious reason.     

Quantitative bone gallium scintigraphy in osteomyelitis

Gallium imaging offers many practical advantages over indium-111-labeled leukocyte imaging, and calculating quantitative ratios in addition to performing the routine bone-gallium images allows accurate and easy evaluation of patients with suspected osteomyelitis. To add objectivity and improve the accuracy and confidence in diagnosis of osteomyelitis, quantitative comparison of abnormalities seen on bone scans and gallium scans was performed. One hundred and ten adult patients with 126 sites of suspected osteomyelitis were evaluated and categorized by gallium-to-bone ratios, gallium-tobackground ratios, and spatial incongruency of gallium and bone activity. Combined evaluation using these criteria gave a 70% sensitivity and 93% specificity for the diagnosis of osteomyelitis.     

Effectiveness of Comanagement Model: Geriatric Medicine and Vascular Surgery

ObjectivesOlder surgical patients frequently develop postoperative complications due to their frailty and multiple comorbidities. Geriatric medicine consultation helps to optimize risk factors and improve outcomes in patients with hip fracture. This study aimed to evaluate patient outcomes before and after comanagement model implementation between geriatric medicine (Geriatric Surgical Service) and vascular surgery services.DesignThis was a case-control study involving emergency vascular surgical patients who were comanaged by vascular surgery, geriatric medicine, and geriatric nursing services.Settings and ParticipantsThis study was conducted in a tertiary hospital in Singapore from 2015 to 2018 with acute vascular surgical patients aged older than 65 years.MethodsA retrospective cohort of 135 patients from 2013 to 2014 (control group) who fulfilled the criteria for the comanagement model was compared with a prospective cohort of 348 patients who were comanaged by a geriatric surgical service from 2015 to 2018, and a further subgroup analysis of patients between 2015 and 2016 (n = 150) (early intervention group) and between 2017 and 2018 (n = 198) (late intervention group) was performed.ResultsComanaged patients had a significantly shorter length of hospital stay (11.6 vs 20.8 days, P = .001), reduced nosocomial infections (3% vs 12% for urinary tract infection, P = .003) and decreased 30-day readmission rates (22% vs 34%, P = .011). A trend of a decreased incidence of fluid overload was noted in patients comanaged with the geriatric surgical service (3% vs 7%, P = .073). Subgroup analysis showed progressive reductions in the length of stay (15.4 vs 11.6 days, P = .001), 30-day readmission rate (35% vs 22%, P = .01), and nosocomial urinary tract infection (8% vs 3%, P = .003) between the early intervention group and the late intervention group. Although they were not statistically significant, reductions were also observed in the delirium rate (13% vs 11%) and other postoperative medical complications in the early intervention group and the late intervention group.Conclusion and ImplicationsDespite having increasing comorbidities, older vascular surgical inpatients had a significantly shorter length of stay, reduced nosocomial infections, and decreased 30-day readmission rates through a comanagement model with vascular surgery and geriatric medicine services. Improvements in outcomes were observed over time as the model of care evolved. Geriatric medicine intervention in the perioperative period improves the outcomes of older acute vascular surgical patients.