Giant-cell tumour of the synovium in a facet joint in the thoracic spine of a child

Giant-cell tumour of the synovium is known to affect the fingers or toes of adults. It has seldom been described in the spine and rarely in the thoracic vertebrae or in a child. The lesions of giant-cell tumour of the synovium have a classical radiological appearance, but require a high index of suspicion for correct recognition. Unlike giant-cell tumour of the synovium at other well-known sites, spinal lesions lack the characteristic papillary architecture, thereby raising other diagnostic possibilities. We describe a giant-cell tumour of the synovium of the left facet joint of a thoracic vertebra in a nine-year-old girl. The tumour was treated successfully by surgical excision.     

Torsion of the hernia sac within a hydrocele of the scrotum in a child

Torsion of the hernia sac is a rare disease that presents as acute scrotum in children. Including the present case, only six cases have been reported in the English literature. We report a 10-year-old boy who presented with pain and swelling of his right scrotum. Ultrasonography revealed a hypoechoic region adjacent to the normal right testis. The inflammatory changes of the right scrotum deteriorated. The patient underwent surgery and a necrotic cyst was recognized within a hydrocele of the scrotum. The cyst was not connected with the testis or epididymis and was twisted at an angle of 270 degrees. The cause of the necrotic cyst observed was anatomical and pathological torsion of the hernia sac.     

Apophyseal dislocation of the body of the sternum in a child: a case report

A 4-year-old boy received a blow to the chest and sustained an apophyseal dislocation of the body of the sternum. The dislocation was treated by open reduction and internal fixation. This type of injury is so rare that no studies could be found.     

Successful Resection of a Primary Liposarcoma in the Anterior Mediastinum in a Child: Report of a Case

Primary liposarcomas of the mediastinum are very rare. We report on a 13-year-old girl who presented with a huge mediastinal tumor. The tumor was extirpated by a median sternotomy with a right thoracotomy. The tumor included the superior vena cava in the anterior mediastinum. It therefore probably originated from the anterior mediastinal fat tissue, possibly from the thymus. A pathological examination revealed myxoid liposarcoma. At 35 months postoperatively, the patient has not shown any recurrence. Received: March 15, 2000 / Accepted: September 26, 2000     

V-Y advancement flap in the treatment of a pressure sore of the plantar forefoot in a myelomeningocele patient

Summary A case of a pressure sore of the plantar forefoot in a myelomeningocele patient with plantar insensitivity is presented. The repair of the sore was successfully obtained using two contiguous subcutaneous pedicle flaps. This minor operation is a satisfactory procedure in a patient with insensitive plantar skin; it avoids major operations that could cause further complications.