Acute Organoaxial gastric volvulus: A massive problem with a twist-case report

IntroductionGastric volvulus (GV) is a rare and life threatening condition if not treated promptly or wrongly diagnosed. The main complication of gastric volvulus is foregut obstruction. The extreme rotation can cut off blood supply to the stomach and even distal organs, which can lead to ischemia and necrosis of the affected area.Presentation of caseWe report a case of a 41yo female that complained of severe abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting for approximately 3 days after eating a large meal. The patient didn’t have any flatus or bowel movements in the last 24 h. CT of the abdomen and pelvis showed a dilatation of the stomach and esophageal hernia. Laparotomy confirmed an organoaxial volvulus at the level of the antrum and body of the stomach. Gastropexy was implemented and the stomach fixed to the posterior abdominal wall to prevent recurrence.DiscussionGV may have a significant related morbidity and mortality rate. It can be missed easily on diagnosis. The presence of vomiting not responding to initial antiemetic treatment, as well as, the presence of a hiatal hernia on the imaging studies should trigger our thinking of gastric volvulus, regardless of the stable appearance of the patient.ConclusionChronic GV can manifests as atypical chest, abdomen and gastro intestinal symptoms. We recommend that everyone with these atypical symptoms seek medical attention to rule out GV. Early diagnosis and treatment will reduce the risk of developing chronic gastric volvulus to acute gastric volvulus.     

Thoracolumbar hernia: A rare cause of back pain

We report a case of a hernia through the thoracolumbar fascia in a young adult male who presented with pain and swelling in the thoracolumbar region. Surgical repair of the defect was performed in the superficial layer of the thoracolumbar fascia and, 18 months following surgery, he remained asymptomatic. The purpose of this report is to make clinicians aware of a thoracolumbar hernia as a rare cause of back pain.     

Giant Meckel’s diverticulum compressing root of mesentery – A rare cause of ileal gangrene – Case report and review of literature

IntroductionMeckel’s diverticulum (MD) commonly presents as gastrointestinal bleeding in the pediatric population and intestinal obstruction in adults. There is no consensus for surgical excision of an incidentally diagnosed MD. We present a hitherto unreported vascular cause of intestinal gangrene due to MD.Case presentationA 16 year old boy was referred as an acute abdomen for tertiary hospital management. Clinical examination and CT suggested small bowel obstruction and emergency laparotomy was performed. A giant MD compressing the root of mesentery, causing critical occlusion of the ileal vessels and extensive ileal gangrene was found. The gangrenous bowel was resected and a jejuno-ascending colon anastamosis was done. Postoperative recovery was uneventful.DiscussionThis case report highlights an unrecognized complication of a giant Meckel’s diverticulum. There are no clear guidelines on the management of an incidentally discovered MD though certain studies recommend resection of an incidental MD in males and individuals less than 50 years of age or when the MD is larger than 2 cm or contains histologically abnormal tissue. Other meta-analyses do not recommend routine resection. MD has been identified as a high risk region for ileal malignancy and its resection usually has minimal morbidity. A valid consent for opportunistic resection of a Meckel’s diverticulum in any laparotomy would be discerning.ConclusionAppropriate opportunistic resection of an incidental Meckel’s diverticulum may prevent extensive surgical morbidity later. This case highlights the need to revisit guidelines for management of incidentally identified MD.     

A rare cause of chronic sciatic pain: Schwannoma of the sciatic nerve

Schwannomas are common, benign tumors of the shelth of peripheral nerves. Sciatic schwannomas are rare. Their symptomatology usually mimics sciatic pain due to a herniated disc, which can delay the diagnosis. If there is no lumbar pain and lumbar MRI is normal, the sciatic nerve must be clinically and radiologically examined all along its course. We report a case of sciatic nerve schwannoma presenting with chronic sciatica which was diagnosed and monitored radiologically for several years before successful surgical resection.     

An unusual and life-threatening cause of epigastric pain presenting to the general surgical team: a case report

As general surgeons, we are regularly referred patients with epigastric pain. There are a huge number of common pathologies which cause this complaint, most of which are gastrointestinal in origin. Although the old adage goes ’common things are common’, we must always keep our minds open to the possibility of the uncommon and not miss warning signs which are present in the history or examination. We present the case of a 59-year-old woman with a ruptured sinus of Valsalva aneurysm presenting to the accident and emergency department as epigastric pain.     

A rare cause of type 1 complex regional pain syndrome: Osteoblastoma of the talus

We report a 14-year-old boy who presented with pain in the left foot and ankle for about 9 months. The clinical symptoms of the patient suggested complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). The radiographs and magnetic resonance imaging studies ravealed a bone tumor in the talus, consistent with an osteoblastoma. The patient underwent operative treatment with curettage and grafting. The complaints of the patient completely resolved by 6 months after surgery, and there was no recurrence at the postoperative 23th month follow-up.     

Synovial lipomatosis: A rare cause of knee pain in an adolescent female

Synovial lipomatosis is a benign proliferative disease of the subsynovial adipose which can lead to a variety of presentations. Cases of synovial lipomatosis in children or adolescents are rare. This case report describes an adolescent patient with a rare bilateral presentation of synovial lipomatosis. She had been treated for years prior to her presentation for juvenile idiopathic arthritis. She presented with chronic bilateral knee pain, swelling, and mechanical symptoms. Bilateral MR imaging demonstrated effusions, hypertrophy of the synovium, and polyp-like projections of tissue with the same signal intensity as fat which is pathognomonic for synovial lipomatosis. Arthroscopic synovectomy and extensive debridement of polyp like fat projections of the right knee was performed. Histopathology was consistent with the synovial lipomatosis diagnosis. Postoperatively, the patient was satisfied with her outcome with improved pain relief and function in her right knee.     

A rare cause of chronic elbow pain in an adolescent baseball player: a case report

Objective:To present a case of chronic elbow pain as a result of a hidden underlying osteochondral defect.Summary:Examination and imaging indicated that elbow pain in an adolescent baseball player could be from multiple sources, however, the chronic swelling raised suspicion of a condition requiring immediate and further investigation.     

Phytobezoar in Meckel's diverticulum: A rare cause of small bowel obstruction

IntroductionMeckel's diverticulum (MD) is the prevailing anomaly of the gastrointestinal tract, found in about 2% of the population; it rarely gives rise to symptoms and its discovery is usually accidental. Phytobezoar is a concretion of poorly digested fruit and vegetable fibres that is found in the alimentary tract and rarely can be the cause of small intestinal obstruction. Herein we report a rare case of intestinal obstruction due to phytobezoar formation into a MD.Presentation of caseA 50 year-old patient, was admitted to author's institution with an history of abdominal pain, nausea and multiples episodes of vomiting. Plain X-ray showed dilated small-bowel loops. Computed tomography (CT) revealed jejunal loops with air-fluid levels. The patient underwent explorative laparotomy where we found a giant Meckel's diverticulum, filled by a phytobezoar that caused small bowel compression. We performed a segmental ileal, resection, containing the MD. The histological exam confirmed Meckel's diverticulum.DiscussionBowel obstruction due to a phytobezoar in a Meckel's diverticulum is rare: only 7 cases have been reported in literature. MD complications are rare and phytobezoar is one of them with only few cases described in literature.ConclusionThe conventional x rays studies were inconclusive whereas abdominal contrast enhanced CT led to a definitive diagnosis. Explorative laparotomy or laparoscopy is mandatory in these cases.     

Calcific tendinopathy of the pronator quadratus muscle: A rare site and cause of ulnar sided wrist pain

Ulnar -sided wrist pain is a common complaint and can present a diagnostic challenge for a musculoskeletal clinician. Calcific tendinopathy is a well-recognised disorder related to the deposition of calcium hydroxyapatite crystals within tendons. Classically, tendons around the shoulder and the hip joints are the most commonly affected sites. We report a rare site of calcific tendinopathy of the Pronator Quadratus muscle presenting with ulnar-sided wrist pain in a 36-year-old male posing a diagnostic dilemma. This case-report highlights the importance of a thorough clinical evaluation and crucial role of cross-sectional imaging in reaching a diagnosis of calcific tendinopathy of the Pronator Quadratus muscle as unusual cause of ulnar-sided wrist pain. This is the first reported case of calcific tendinopathy in pronator quadratus in the literature we could review.     

A rare presentation of midgut malrotation as an acute intestinal obstruction in an adult: Two case reports and literature review

INTRODUCTIONMidgut malrotation is a congenital anomaly presenting mainly in the childhood. Its presentation as an acute intestinal obstruction is extremely rare in adults usually recognized intra-operatively, therefore a high index of suspicion is always required when dealing with any case of acute intestinal obstruction.PRESENTATION OF CASEWe report two cases of young adults who presented with symptoms of acute intestinal obstruction and were diagnosed intra-operatively as cecal volvulus and paraduodenal hernia, respectively, caused by midgut malrotation. Post-operative CT scan confirmed these findings.DISCUSSIONMalrotation of the intestinal tract is a product of an aberrant embryology. The presentation of intestinal malrotation in adults is rare (0.2–0.5%). Contrast enhanced CT can show the abnormal anatomic location of a right sided small bowel, a left-sided colon and an abnormal relationship of the superior mesenteric vein (SMV) situated to the left of the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) instead of to the right.CONCLUSIONAnomalies like midgut malrotation can present as an operative surprise and awareness regarding these anomalies can help surgeons deal with these conditions.     

Virtual reality hand therapy: A new tool for nonopioid analgesia for acute procedural pain,hand rehabilitation,and VR embodiment therapy for phantom limb pain

IntroductionAffordable virtual reality (VR) technology is now widely available. Billions of dollars are currently being invested into improving and mass producing VR and augmented reality products.Purpose of the StudyThe purpose of the present study is to explore the potential of immersive VR to make physical therapy/occupational therapy less painful, more fun, and to help motivate patients to cooperate with their hand therapist.DiscussionThe following topics are covered: a) psychological influences on pain perception, b) the logic of how VR analgesia works, c) evidence for reduction of acute procedural pain during hand therapy, d) recent major advances in VR technology, and e) future directions—immersive VR embodiment therapy for phantom limb (chronic) pain.ConclusionVR hand therapy has potential for a wide range of patient populations needing hand therapy, including acute pain and potentially chronic pain patients. Being in VR helps reduce the patients’ pain, making it less painful for patients to move their hand/fingers during hand therapy, and gamified VR can help motivate the patient to perform therapeutic hand exercises, and make hand therapy more fun. In addition, VR camera–based hand tracking technology may be used to help therapists monitor how well patients are doing their hand therapy exercises, and to quantify whether adherence to treatment increases long-term functionality. Additional research and development into using VR as a tool for hand therapist is recommended for both acute pain and persistent pain patient populations.     

Enterovesical fistula,a rare complication of Meckel’s diverticulum: A case report

IntroductionEnterovesical fistulas usually result from diverticulitis, Crohn's disease, or colorectal cancer. A perforated Meckel's diverticulum can exceptionally result in an vesico-diverticulum fistula, as noted in only seven previously reported cases.Case reportA 35-year old Arabic male, quadriplegic,who presented epigastralgia evolving for a week, associated with abdominal distension and cloudy urine. On examination he was feverish (38.5 °C), dehydrated with tenderness in the entire distended abdomen; rectal examination revealed a hypotonic sphincter with no other abnormality. After investigations, acute peritonitis diagnosis was retained. Exploratory laparotomy revealed a vesico-diverticular fistula resulting from a performed Meckel’s diverticulum. Diverticulectomy, ileostomy and bladder sutures were performed after peritoneal cleansing. The postoperative course was uneventful. The anatomo-pathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of a perforated Meckel’s diverticulum that did not contain ectopic gastric or pancreatic tissue.ConclusionVesico-diverticular fistula resulting from a perforated Meckel's diverticulum is a rare complication. To our knowledge, this is only the fourth reported case which is not associated to inflammatory bowel disease.     

A rare case of a strangulated Littre’s hernia with Meckel’s diverticulum duplication. Case report and literature review

IntroductionThe Meckel’s diverticulum (MD) is the most common congenital anomaly of the gastrointestinal tract present in approximately 1–4% of the population; the MD duplication is exceedingly rare with only a few reports of it. Here we present the firs case of a strangulated Littre’s hernia with MD duplication.Presentation of caseA 30-year-old male presented to the emergency room with clinical signs of small bowel obstruction, at physical examination, a right incarcerated inguinal hernia with erythema was found. We did a laparotomy, and two MD were found, one in the sac with ischemia, and the other 90 cm from the Bahuińs valve. A diverticulectomy of the ischemic diverticulum was done, and the other MD was left in place; the inguinal region was repaired with a Lichtenstein technique.DiscussionThe complications of the MD are 3–4 times more frequent in men, been an intestinal obstruction, hemorrhage, diverticulitis, ulceration, and perforation. A Littrés hernia is when the MD is found in the sac; this is seen in the inguinal region in 50% of the cases. The management of a Littre’s hernia is the resection of the MD; it could be done by an intestinal resection or by a diverticulectomy accordingly to the Park criteria.ConclusionAs to our knowledge, this is the first case of an incarcerated Littre’s hernia with duplication of a Meckel’s diverticulum.     

Phytobezoar impaction in a Meckel’s diverticulum; a rare cause of bowel obstruction: Case report and review of literature

IntroductionMeckel’s diverticulum is the most common anomaly of the gastrointestinal tract, occurring in 1–3% of the general population. The most common complication of Meckel’s diverticulum is intestinal obstruction. In this report, we describe a rare cause of intestinal obstruction due to Meckel’s; the phytobezoar. After thorough literature review, the authors found about ten individual reports of the same topic. In all these cases, diagnosis was established intra-operatively.Case presentationA forty-seven-year old male presented to the emergency department with a one-day history of abdominal pain associated with vomiting and constipation. Physical examination diagnostic tests revealed features of intestinal obstruction.DiscussionThe lifetime risk of complications in patients with a Meckel’sdiverticulum is usually small and occurs only in up to 4%. In adults’ intestinal obstruction is the most common complication (40%).ConclusionComplicated Meckel’s diverticulum can have different clinical presentations and can cause bowel obstruction. An association with bezoars impaction is possible and it should be suspected in adult patients presenting with bowel obstruction of unknown causes especially those with high vegetarian diet.     

Delayed diagnosis of Wernicke encephalopathy with irreversible neural damage after subtotal gastrectomy for gastric cancer: A case of medical liability?

IntroductionWernicke’s encephalopathy (WE) is a neurological syndrome caused by thiamine deficiency, and clinically characterized by ophthalmoplegia, ataxia and acute confusion. In developed countries, most cases of WE have been seen in alcohol misusers. Other reported causes are gastrointestinal tract surgery, hyperemesis gravidarum, chronic malnutrition, prolonged total parenteral nutrition without thiamine supplementation, and increased nutrient requirements as in trauma or septic shock. WE is a well-known postoperative complication of gastric restrictive surgery for morbid obesity, after which patients often experience protracted nausea and vomiting, leading to malnutrition and massive weight loss.Presentation of caseThis case report concerns WE occurring in a patient who underwent Roux-en-Y subtotal gastrectomy for gastric cancer, and subsequently experienced neurological symptoms that proved irreversible probably due to the lengthy time elapsing between their clinical presentation and the diagnosis of WE.DiscussionThere have been some reports of WE occurring after total or subtotal gastrectomy for gastric cancer in non-obese patients with no history of alcoholism, but monitoring for WE has yet to be recommended in the clinical guidelines in this setting (as it has for bariatric surgery). Because of its rarity and variable clinical presentation, WE is often under-diagnosed and under-treated, and confused with other neurological problems.ConclusionThere is an urgent need for the specific guidelines to take into account not only the neoplastic follow-up of such patients, but also the possible side effects of necessary surgery, since this could help to ensure the timely diagnosis and management of WE in this setting, and to avoid, when possible, claims for medical malpractice that may cause enormous costs both in economical and professional terms.     

Diagnosis and surgical treatment of back pain originating from endplate

Twenty-one patients with back pain originating from the endplate injuries were selected to explore the methods of diagnosis and surgical treatment. All patients underwent examinations using radiography, CT, and MR imaging. Pain level of disc was determined through discography in each patient. The principal outcome judgments were pain and disability, and the efficacy of surgical treatment was assessed through the use of the visual analog scale (VAS) for pain and the Oswestry disability index (ODI) for functional recovery. All 21 patients with a diagnosis of back pain originating from endplate injuries according to discography were treated with anterior or posterior fusion surgery. The mean follow-up period was 3 years and 5 months (range, 2–6 years). Of the 21 patients, 20 (20/21) reported a disappearance or marked alleviation of low back pain and experienced a definite improvement in physical function. Statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvements in the VAS and ODI scores were obtained after treatment in the patients with chronic low back pain originating from the endplate injuries (P = 0.0001). The study suggests that discography and fusion surgery may be very effective methods for the diagnosis and treatment, respectively, of chronic back pain originating from the endplate injuries.     

Comparison of postoperative pain after open and endoscopic carpal tunnel release: A randomized controlled study

Background:

Results of open and endoscopic carpal tunnel surgery were compared with many studies done previously. To the best of our knowledge, difference in pain after endoscopic carpal tunnel release (ECTR) and open carpal tunnel release (OCTR) has not been objectively documented in literature. The aim of the study was to compare the pain intensity in the early postoperative period in patients undergoing OCTR versus those undergoing ECTR.

Materials and Methods:

Fifty patients diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome were randomized into two groups using “random number generator” software (Research Randomizer, version 3.0); endoscopic surgery group [(21 female, 1 male; mean age 49 years (range 31–64 years)] and open surgery group [(25 female, 3 male; mean age 45.1 years (range 29–68 years)] and received carpal tunnel release. Surgery was performed under regional intravenous anesthesia. The patients’ pain level was assessed at the 1^st, 2^nd, 4^th, and 24^th postoperative hours using a visual analog scale (VAS) score.

Results:

Mean age, gender and duration of symptoms were found similar for both groups. Boston functional scores were improved for both groups (P < 0.001, P < 0.001). Pain assessment at the postoperative 1^st, 2^nd, 4^th and 24^th hours revealed significantly low VAS scores in the endoscopic surgery group (P = 0.003, P < 0.001, P < 0.001, P < 0.001). Need for analgesic medication was significantly lower in the endoscopic surgery group (P < 0.001).

Conclusion:

Endoscopic carpal tunnel surgery is an effective treatment method in carpal tunnel release vis-a-vis postoperative pain relief.