Arthrographic indicators for decision making about femoral varus osteotomy in Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease

Purpose  There is not always a good outcome after a femoral varus osteotomy (FVO) in those with Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease (LCPD), even when the severity warrants surgical treatment. The purpose of this study was to find arthrographic indicators for decision making regarding the likely surgical outcome of a FVO. Methods  We used an image of an abduction position during preoperative arthrography under general anesthesia that simulated the post-operative relationship between the femoral head and the acetabulum. In the image, we defined two indicators of how deeply the deformed epiphysis was contained within the acetabulum: an acetabular head index in abduction and an epiphyseal slip-in index. Finding the contact point between the top of epiphysis and acetabulum was the key for the epiphyseal slip-in index measurement. In 37 patients (38 hips) who underwent FVOs based on our inclusion criteria, these two indices were measured retrospectively and were analyzed for a correlation with surgical outcome. Surgical outcome was evaluated using a combination of three factors: sphericity of the femoral head (Stulberg’s classification), acetabular cover (acetabular head index), and the slope of acetabular roof. Results  The outcome was acceptable in 20 hips (52.6%) and unacceptable in18 hips (47.4%). There was a statistically significance difference in epiphyseal slip-in index between the acceptable group (21.9 ± 2.8%) and the unacceptable group (15.0 ± 4.4%) (P < 0.0001). An index of 20% or more determined a safe zone for predicting an acceptable outcome with 80% sensitivity, 89% specificity, and a 7.2 likelihood ratio. However, the acetabular head index in abduction showed no such statistical significance. Conclusions  In this study, we found that the epiphyseal slip-in index was a reliable indicator for predicting the effectiveness of a FVO. It is worth measuring this index when a surgeon is considering a FVO for a patient with severe LCPD. (Level of Evidence Level III.)     

MR-plastination-arthrography: a new technique used to study the distal tibiofibular syndesmosis

Purpose  The purpose of this study was to describe a new technique called MR plastination arthrography to study both intra- and extra-articular anatomy. Materials and methods  In six human cadaveric lower legs MR arthrography was performed in either a one-step or two-step procedure. In the former a mixture of diluted Gadolinium and dyed polymer was injected. In the latter the dyed polymer was injected after arthrography wih diluted Gadolinium. Three-millimeter slices of these legs, obtained in a plane identical to that of the MR images, were plastinated according to the E12 technique of von Hagens. The plastination slices were subsequently compared with the MR images. Results  The one-step procedure resulted in an inhomogeneous arthrogram. The two-step procedure resulted in a good correlation between the high-resolution MR images and plastination slices, as expressed by a good comparison of anatomic detail of the small syndesmotic recess. Conclusions  Images of the distal tibiofibular syndesmosis obtained with plastination arthrography correlated well with images acquired by MR arthrography when performed in a two-step procedure.     

Contrast and nuclear arthrography in loosening of the uncemented hip prosthesis

The recent popularity of ingrowth or uncemented hip arthroplasties has presented problems in the radiographic diagnosis of loosening because there is no longer a cement interface in which lucencies may be seen. We evaluated a combination of positive contrast and nuclear arthrography to see whether these studies could accurately detect loosening of uncemented femoral components of hip prostheses. We performed routine contrast and nuclear arthrography in 21 patients with ingrowth total hip arthroplasties or bipolar endoprostheses. The results were surgically confirmed in 12 patients. The contrast arthrogram was true positive in 5 and false negative in 5. There were no false positives and 2 true negatives. The nuclear arthrogram was true positive in 7 patients, false negative in 3, and true negative in 2. Taken together, there was only 1 patient in whom both contrast and nuclear arthrography were false negative, and there were no false positives. Thus, when either contrast or nuclear arthrography is positive, the sensitivity of the combined procedures is 90%; when both studies are negative, the specificity is 100%. The combination of contrast and nuclear arthrography is an accurate method of determining loosening of the femoral component of an uncemented hip arthroplasty or bipolar endoprosthesis in the patient with postoperative hip pain.     

冈上肌腱撕裂的磁共振诊断

目的　探讨外伤性冈上肌腱撕裂的MRI表现特点、诊断方法和关节腔MR造影的应用价值。方法　 18例均有明确的外伤史 ,开放性手术、关节镜检查或综合诊断最终明确 6例冈上肌腱完全撕裂、9例部分撕裂和 3例无撕裂。所有 18个病例均行常规SE序列MRI检查 ,另追加FE序列成像 11例、关节腔MR造影 9例、脂肪抑制序列成像 5例。结果　常规SE序列诊断冈上肌腱撕裂的准确率为 5 0 % (9/18) ,部分病例追加关节腔MR造影后准确率提高至 72 .2 % ;FE序列和脂肪抑制序列可提高检出病灶的敏感性。结论　冈上肌腱MRI诊断尚需采用SE序列、FE序列、脂肪抑制、关节腔造影等多种MR成像方法。     

MRI与MR关节造影诊断肩袖不同程度撕裂准确性的Meta分析

目的 通过Meta分析评价MRI和MR关节造影（MRA）对肩袖不同程度撕裂的诊断价值。方法 检索Cochrane图书馆、Embase、PubMed、万方、维普及CNKI等数据库,收集符合纳入标准的文献,并对文献进行评价和筛选。应用Metadisc及STATA软件对纳入的试验结果进行分析。结果 共获取符合纳入标准的文献36篇,其中包含全层撕裂文献33组数据、部分撕裂文献25组数据。各研究间存在异质性。MRI及MRA诊断肩袖全层撕裂的汇总加权敏感度、特异度、SROC曲线下面积（AUC）分别为[95%CI（0.85,0.90）]、0.95[95%CI（0.93,0.96）]、0.973 3、0.93[95%CI（0.91,0.95）]、0.96[95%CI（0.93,0.97）]、0.981 4。MRI及MRA诊断肩袖部分撕裂的汇总加权敏感度、特异度、SROC曲线下面积分别为0.70[95%CI（0.64,0.76）]、0.92[95%CI（0.89,0.94）]、0.824 3、0.82[95%CI（0.77,0.86）]、0.94[95%CI（0.92,0.95）]、0.937 6。两种检查手段对诊断肩袖不同程度撕裂的AUC差异无统计学意义。结论 虽然MRA诊断肩袖撕裂的准确率高于MRI,但两者无显著差异。常规MRI诊断肩袖撕裂不明确时,可考虑采用MRA进一步检查。     

Femoroacetabular impingement

Femoroacetabular impingement is a relatively recently appreciated "idiopathic" cause of hip pain and degenerative change. Two types of impingement have been described. The first, cam impingement, is the result of an abnormal morphology of the proximal femur, typically at the femoral head-neck junction. Cam impingement is most common in young athletic males. The second, pincer impingement, is the result of an abnormal morphology or orientation of the acetabulum. Pincer impingement is most common in middle-aged women. This article reviews the imaging findings of cam and pincer type femoroacetabular impingement. Recognition of these entities will help in the selection of the appropriate treatment with the goal of decreasing the likelihood of early degenerative change of the hip.     

The CT-arthrography in the antero-inferior glenoid labral lesion: Pictorial presentation and diagnostic value

Objective:

To present the Computed Tomography (CT)-Arthrography appearance of the most common types of anterior labral lesion and to assess the diagnostic value of this technique in the detection and classification of the antero-inferior labral tears in glenohumeral joint instability.

Materials and Methods:

The pre-operative CT-Arthrography records of 43 patients, who underwent surgery for anterior shoulder instability, were retrospectively evaluated independently by two radiologists. The data were compared with arthroscopic results and the diagnostic accuracy of CT-Arthrography was calculated to detect the labral lesion and the agreement between the CT-Arthrography lesions classification and the arthroscopy classification.

Results:

The CT-Arthrography sensitivity, specificity and accuracy were: 92% / 89% (reader 1/reader 2), 86% / 86% and 91% / 88% respectively. The CT-Arthrography classification was correct in 86% of cases.

Conclusions:

CT-Arthrography appears to be an accurate means for identification and classification of the anterior labral tears and, identifying the labral degeneration, this technique can be very helpful in the selection of patient for arthroscopic stabilization of the shoulder.     

Lumbar Facet Joint Block: A Simplified Technique

Lumbar facet joint arthropathy is now recognized as an important cause of lumbago and sciatica. Intra-articular block with local anaesthetics and steroids can confirm symptomatic facet arthropathy. A simplified technique for lumbar facet joint block is described to facilitate safe and rapid intra-articular therapy.