Superficial femoral pseudoaneurysm and arterial thromboembolism caused by an osteochondroma

A 13-year-old boy with a symptomatic distal femoral osteochondroma was found to have a pseudoaneurysm of the superficial femoral artery caused by the tumor and occlusion of the anterior tibial artery due to arterial thromboembolism. Excision of the exostosis followed by saphenous vein grafting resulted in an excellent clinical recovery.     

Unusual presentation of an osteochondroma

Osteochondromas or exostoses are the most common benign tumours of the bone. They occur during the growth period and are rarely responsible for vascular complications. We report a case of a patient with osteochondroma in the lower limb and vascular complication caused by compression of the popliteal artery. The patient presented with the gangrene of the medial three toes at the ipsilateral right lower limb. Magnetic resonance angiography and radiography screening identified the vascular lesion and the bone tumour. Surgical treatment of osteochondroma was performed with satisfactory postoperative evolution.     

胫骨下段巨大骨软骨瘤的治疗

目的介绍胫骨下段巨大骨软骨瘤的手术方法,评价其临床疗效。方法应用经胫骨楔形截骨、腓骨双截骨保留外侧骨膜、重建腓骨时将其内外侧旋转180°的方法切除胫骨下段巨大骨软骨瘤12例。结果12例随访6～35个月,未见复发,肢体生长发育不受影响,功能正常;临床疗效：治愈11例,好转1例。结论该术式治疗胫骨下段巨大骨软骨瘤,可保证暴露充分,切除彻底,疗效满意。     

Ipsilateral fractures of tibia and femur or floating knee

Ipsilateral fractures of the femur and the tibia are relatively uncommon lesions, with critical consequences to the knee. We report a series of 18 ipsilateral fractures of the femur and the tibia treated at the Department of orthopaedics, CHU Hassan II of Fez, over an eight-year period (1996–2004). Various surgical procedures were used, in particular, intramedullary nailing. After an average follow-up of 2.5 years, we re-examined the 18 patients. The functional results were evaluated using the Schiedts’ criteria, and we had seven excellent results (38.9%), six good (33.4%), and five bad (27.8%). There was one major lesion of the popliteal artery that led to an emergency amputation, two cases of osteitis, one septic non-union, one case of late deep sepsis, one insignificant shortening of 2 cm, two cases of varus, three cases of stiffness, and one ankylosis of the knee. Through this work we will try to show the repercussions of this type of fracture of the knee and to evaluate our therapeutic choices.

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Résumé Les fractures ipsilatérales du fémur et du tibia sont des fractures relativement rares. Nous rapportons une série de 18 patients traités pour fractures ipsilatérales du fémur et du tibia au service de traumatologie-orthopédie CHU Hassan II de Fès, colligés sur une période de 8 ans (1996–2004). Différents procédés chirurgicaux ont été employés, dominés notamment par l’enclouage centromédullaire. Sur un recul moyen de 2 ans et demi, nous avons revu les 18 patients ; les résultats ont été jugés sur les critères adoptés par Schiedts, nous avons eu 7 excellents résultats (38,9%), 6 bons (33,4%) et 5 mauvais (27,8%). On a déploré une amputation sur une lésion majeure de l’artère poplitée, deux cas d’ostéites, une pseudarthrose septique, un sepsis profond tardif, un raccourcissement de 2 cm et deux cas de varus non significatifs, 3 cas de raideur et une ankylose du genou. A travers ce travail, nous essayons de relater les répercussions de ce type de fracture sur le genou et d’évaluer nos choix thérapeutiques.

     

Simultaneous ipsilateral diaphyseal fractures of the femur and tibia: treatment and complications

We present our experience of intramedullary nailing (IM) and external fixation in the treatment of 54 patients with ipsilateral diaphyseal fractures of the femur and tibia. Eight femoral and 24 tibial fractures were open. They were classified into three groups: IM nailing of both fractures (group A, 19 patients); IM nailing of the femoral and external fixation of the tibial fracture (group B, eight patients); and external fixation of both fractures (group C, 27 patients). In group C (which included all but one grade III open fracture), two patients died and four underwent amputation. Femoral fractures treated with external fixation had significantly more complications and reoperations than those treated with IM nailing. In tibial fractures this difference was also present but not statistically significant. We believe that IM nailing is the method of choice for femoral fractures and is preferable for tibial fractures, with the exception probably of grade III B and C open injuries.     

Fracture of an osteochondroma of the femoral neck caused by impingement against the ischium

This article describes 2 cases of osteochondroma emanating from the posterior aspect of the femoral neck with a fracture at the base of its stalk caused by impingement between the tumor and the ischium.A 44-year-old man and a 57-year-old man presented with left hip pain. Radiographs revealed a mass at the posterior aspect of the femoral neck. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed that the mass was fractured at the stalk. The relationship between the tumor and the ischium was examined with an image intensifier. The tumor impinged on the ischium with slight flexion and external rotation of the hip joint. In both patients, the tumor was excised, and the pathological report was osteochondroma. At follow-up, the patients had full hip joint range of motion, and lateral radiographs of the left hip joint showed complete resection of the tumor without recurrence.To the authors' knowledge, the current cases are the first reports of fracture of an osteochondroma with confirmed impingement using an image intensifier pre- and intraoperatively. Both patients had histories of restricted hip range of motion and a sudden onset of pain. After excision, the patients recovered to activities of daily living with no complications. An osteochondroma at the posterior aspect of the femoral neck can impinge on the ischium and fracture at its base with a sudden onset of pain. Awareness of this mechanism of impingement may lead to a better understanding of patient symptoms caused by osteochondroma of the femoral neck.     

Unusual osteochondroma of the foot and ankle

Osteochondroma, also known as osteocartilaginous exostosis, is by far the most commonly occurring benign bone neoplasm. Its occurrence is the most frequent of all osseous tumors found in the foot. A basic review is discussed along with two case reports. The first case describes an osteochondroma of the third metatarsal shaft that became symptomatic during boot camp. The second case presents an atypical osteochondroma arising from the posterior aspect of the talus.     

Fibular lengthening by Ilizarov method secondary to shortening by osteochondroma of distal tibia

Osteochondroma is the most common benign bone tumour. They most commonly affect the long tubular bones and almost half of osteochondromata are found around the knee. Osteochondroma arising from the distal metaphysis of the tibia typically result in a valgus deformity of the ankle joint secondary to relative shortening of the fibula. This case describes the use of Ilizarov technique for fibular lengthening following excision of a distal tibial osteochondroma. A 12-year-old girl presented with a 3-year history of a large swelling affecting the lateral aspect of the right distal tibia. Plain radiographs confirmed a large sessile osteochondroma arising from the postero-lateral aspect of the distal tibia with deformity of the fibula and 15 mm of fibular shortening. The patient underwent excision through a postero-lateral approach and subsequent fibular lengthening by Ilizarov technique. The patient made excellent recovery with removal of frame after 21 weeks and had made a full recovery with normal ankle function by 6 months. The Ilizarov method is a commonly accepted method of performing distraction osteogenesis for limb inequalities; however, this is mainly for the tibia, femur and humerus. We are unaware of any previous cases using the Ilizarov method for fibular lengthening. This case demonstrates the success of the Ilizarov method in restoring both fibular length and normal ankle anatomy.     

Infected nonunion of the femur and tibia

The data presented in this article support the view that first saucerizing the infected bone and then grafting give good results. Immediate bone grafting, that is, bone grafting within a few days or weeks of saucerization, will fail when insufficient care has been employed in preparing the area for bone grafting. Using finely divided cancellous bone combined with a suitable fixator is important. Treatment of a nonunion can be successful without bone grafting if, after complete saucerization, stability is achieved by a brace, cast, or external fixator. Failure in all categories of patients is, in the main, due to failure to control the infection or inadequate stabilization. Posterolateral bone grafting may be an excellent alternative and was used in 20 per cent of the patients with tibial nonunion and a substantial loss of tibial shaft.     

Arterial complications caused by using an axillary crutch

BACKGROUND: Of all upper extremity emboli, up to twenty percent arise from an arterial, not a cardiac source. METHOD: We report about a patient with recurrent embolism, caused by an axillary crutch-induced aneurysm of the axillary artery. RESULT: After revascularisation by embolectomy and axillo-brachial vein graft bypass, the patient was free of symptoms. CONCLUSION: Angiography and duplex scanning were necessary for the correct diagnosis.     

Treatment of infected pseudarthrosis of the femur and tibia with an interlocking nail

Between 1970 and 1977, 64 patients with infected pseudarthrosis of the femur and tibia were treated with an interlocking nail. The type of primary treatment prior to the development of the infected pseudarthrosis was plate fixation in 21 femurs and seven tibias and conventional intramedullary nails in 16 femurs and 20 tibias. Fracture union was obtained in 34 of the 38 femoral infected pseudarthrosis (89.5%) and 19 of 27 tibial infected nonunions (62.5%) following interlocking nailing. Seven of the eight failures (87.5%) in the tibial group were the result of reoperation with interlocking nails following infected plate fixation. Following removal of the interlocking nail and treatment of residual infection, osteomyelitis was considered quiescent in 59 patients (35 femurs and 24 tibias) and active in five patients (two femurs and three tibias). Today, external fixation in combination with gentamicin-PMMA chains for local antibiotic treatment is used in the majority of such cases, because fracture instability and the chronic osteomyelitis can be treated simultaneously.     

Ultrasound measurements of torsions in the tibia and femur

BACKGROUND: The purpose of the present study was to determine the validity and reliability of using ultrasound to measure tibial and femoral torsion. METHODS: In vitro ultrasound measurements of torsion in 118 matched dried tibiae and femora were compared with direct anatomical measurements with use of simple regression. The second part of the study involved repeated in vivo ultrasound measurements made on twenty adult limbs to determine the clinical reliability of our methods. RESULTS: The in vitro ultrasound measurements of femoral and tibial torsion were significantly related to the anatomical measurements (p < 0.001 for both). The inter-rater correlation coefficients between three examiners were 0.84 for both the tibial and femoral measurements, and the intra-rater correlation coefficients ranged from 0.86 to 0.98. The in vivo measurements were similar to the in vitro measurements, and the intra-rater correlation coefficients for repeated measures were 0.91 and 0.93 for femoral and tibial torsion, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasound is a viable tool for measuring torsion of the tibia and femur. In order to minimize measurement errors, the ultrasound measurement should be used to calculate the predicted value of torsion with use of the regression equation.     

Corrective osteotomy of the shaft of the femur and tibia with an interlocking nail

The indication for nailing a femur or tibia fracture has been extended by the method of interlocking up to the meta/diaphyseal zone. For the stabilization of osteotomies in these regions, the nail was used in 16 cases of femur and 21 of tibia corrections between 1982 and 1986 in orthopedic university clinic Berlin. The osteotomies were done with a small skin incision in open way. Although there were three infections bone consolidation was succeeded in all but one patient with the planned axis. The first achieved gain in length could not be hold in five cases after removing the interlocking screws in order to give full weight bearing to the leg for callus formation. In situations of non-unions with wrong position of refracture of biologically troubled bones after plating the method of interlocking nail is stable and enables bone recovery after grafting by drilling. The possibility of early full weight bearing is a great advantage for the rehabilitation of patients, who had been suffering of the delayed healing of their leg. The nail itself preserves the right position of the bone in two dimensions, even if there are not exact fitting osteotomy fragments, and the interlocking screws secure the bone against malrotation.     

Residual bone-mineral density and muscle strength after fractures of the tibia or femur in children.

This study compared the bone-mineral density in the proximal part of the femur and the flexion and extension strength of the knee in the fractured and the non-fractured limbs after an uncomplicated fracture of the tibia or femur in children. Thirty-eight children, whose ages ranged from two to fifteen years at the time of the injury, were evaluated at an average of 2.3 years after the injury. The mean difference in bone-mineral density between the fractured and non-fractured limbs was 3.3 per cent (p = 0.004). There was no significant difference between the bone-mineral density of the limbs that had been immobilized for less than four weeks and that of the contralateral, non-fractured limbs. However, the mean difference between the bone-mineral density of the limbs that had been immobilized for more than eight weeks and that of the contralateral limbs was 4.3 per cent (p = 0.006). There was little or no relationship between the time since the injury and the difference in bone-mineral density between the two limbs of the patient at the intervals of follow-up that were studied. No residual weakness in flexion and extension of the knee was detected, and no relationship was established between the limb-to-limb differences in strength and the limb-to-limb differences in bone-mineral density. The residual bone-mineral deficit was found to be minimum after an uncomplicated fracture. This difference, while statistically significant, is unlikely to be clinically important in the long term. However, the fact that there was a deficit raises a potential concern for children who have more severe or repeated injuries.