EPCR gene A3 haplotype and elevated soluble endothelial protein C receptor (sEPCR) levels in Turkish pediatric stroke patients

INTRODUCTION: High plasma levels of sEPCR lead to dysfunction of the EPCR-mediated coagulation. We have evaluated the role of EPCR A3 haplotype with its representative promoter variant 1651 C-G in a total of twenty-seven pediatric stroke patients and fifty-nine healthy subjects. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Genotyping of the A3 haplotype was performed with RFLP analysis. Plasma sEPCR levels were measured with ELISA. The mutant 1651 G allele frequency was observed to be 0.166 in the patient group. Common risk factors such as FV 1691 G-A and PT 20210 G-A mutations were also screened. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: None of the patients with sEPCR levels below 100 ng/ml carried the A3 haplotype, while patients with elevated sEPCR levels carried the A3 haplotype either in a heterozygous or homozygous state. Our study confirms that there is a strong association between A3 haplotype and elevated sEPCR levels. We suggest that elevated sEPCR levels might increase the risk of stroke at pediatric age when compared to controls. Studies with large series of patients are warranted to confirm this hypothesis.     

Hip arthroplasty with the thrust plate prosthesis in patients of 65 years of age or older: 67 patients followed 2–7 years

Introduction Thrust plate prosthesis (TPP) is a relatively new concept in total hip arthroplasty and advocated to be used in young patients. We retrospectively evaluated the results of 67 patients (71 hips) who were older than 65 years of age and underwent hip arthroplasty using the TPP. Patients and methods There were 50 female and 17 male patients with a mean age 71 (range 65–89) years. All patients received accelerated rehabilitation program either with full weight bearing in the second postoperative day or at 6 weeks. All patients were followed-up for at least 2 years (range 28–87 months). Results The average Harris hip score improved from 43 (range 8–72) to 93 (range 64–100) at the latest follow-up (p < 0.001). The overall revision rate was 8.4%. However, when the patients with definitive history of trauma were excluded the rate for loosening and technical errors decreased to 4.2%. There was no significant difference between the Harris hip score of patients with full weight bearing in the second postoperative day or 6 weeks (p = 0.57). Conclusion We conclude that the TPP could be indicated for older patients without age limit and that an accelerated rehabilitation program with early weight bearing can be applied to these patients.     

Reversible valproate-induced choreiform movements.

Valproate is an anticonvulsive drug whose mechanism of action is based on GABAergic systems. One of the infrequent adverse effects of valproate is choreiform movements. In our study, we report a patient having head trauma history with partial and secondary generalized seizures taking 1500 mg/day valproate. During the second month of the therapy, generalized chorea was observed. Since other aetiologic causes of chorea were excluded, acutely occurring chorea in the patient was thought to be related with valproate usage because of persistence of choreiform movements for days without any fluctuation. Valproate was stopped slowly and lamotrigine was added at a dose of 400 mg/day. Within a two-month period after cessation of the valproate, choreiform movements had disappeared. We thought that the history of head trauma and another antiepileptic drug usage were the risk factors for the occurrence of valproate-induced choreiform movements.     

Cauda equina syndrome caused by primary lumbosacral and pelvic hydatid cyst: a case report.

INTRODUCTION: Hydatid disease occurs in humans as a result of faeco-oral contamination and spinal echinococcosis is rare even in areas where echinococcosis is endemic. Hydatid cyst primarily occurs in the liver and lungs. Bone involvement constitutes only 0.5-2% of all hydatidoses. About half of the bone involvement occurs in vertebrae. The thoracic spine is the most common site of the spinal hydatidosis. Primary hydatid cysts of the lumbar and sacral spinal canal are very rare. CASE REPORT: We present a 31-year-old man with cauda equina syndrome caused by a primary hydatid cyst of the lumbosacral and pelvic areas. He had been admitted to hospital with left foot and low back pain three years ago. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed an intraspinal hydatid cyst extending from L2 to S2. The cyst had been totally removed. He was symptom-free for three years. After three years, he presented with acute cauda equina syndrome. His neurological examination revealed total plegia of dorsal flexion of the left foot and perianal hypoaesthesia. MRI showed lumbosacral and pelvic hydatidosis again. After total removal of the cyst, his neurological status revealed immediately relief. DISCUSSION: Hydatid cyst is an important health problem in some countries including Turkey. Bone involvement is seen in only 0.5-2% of cases. Furthermore sacral and lumber vertebral involvement is extremely rare. We presented a case with a spinal hydatid cyst which classified as a combination of intraspinal extradural, vertebral and paravertebral forms according to the Braitwate and Lees classification. Surgical excision and additional medical treatment is still the most effective treatment. Cysts located intraspinally have a tendency to rupture spontaneously. For this reason the high recurrence rate (30- 40%) is still a major problem in management.     

Thrust plate prosthesis for osteonecrosis of the femoral head: short-term results of 15 patients followed 2–6 years

Background The thrust plate prosthesis is an implant with a metaphyseal fixation at the proximal femur that transmits the load forces of the hip onto the femoral neck. Methods In this prospective study, 15 patients (8 women, 7 men) with 19 cementless thrust plate prostheses because of femoral head necrosis were examined. A clinical and radiologic evaluation was performed preoperatively, at 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months postoperatively, and every year thereafter. The mean follow-up period was 44 (range, 24–72) months. The average age at the time of surgery was 49 (27–70) years. The pathogenesis of femoral head necrosis included alcoholism (6 joints of 3 cases), Gaucher disease (1 joint of 1 case), Sheehan syndrome (2 joints of 1 case), and idiopathic (10 joints of 10 cases). Results The Harris hip score increased from 53 (range, 15–71) to 97 (92–100) points on the final evaluation. Although mean preoperative hip flexion and abduction were 78° (45°–110°) and 24° (10°–45°), respectively, these increased to 114° (75°–125°) and 47° (45°–50°) 12 months after surgery and remained stable up to the latest follow-up. None of the patients displayed mechanical problems, and revision was not necessary in any case. Conclusions The thrust plate prosthesis shows midterm results comparable to those of the cementless stemmed prosthesis and supplies advantages, especially for younger patients with femoral head necrosis, because of its metaphyseal bone-preserving fixation.     

Assessing the results of thrust plate prosthesis: a comparison of four different rating systems

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate four rating systems designed to assess patients following provision of a thrust plate prosthesis. SUBJECTS: Sixty-one patients undergoing total hip replacement with thrust plate prosthesis. DESIGN: Patients were evaluated preoperatively and six months postoperatively by four different hip rating systems (Harris, Iowa, Charnley and Merle d'Aubigne), both on a categorical and on a numerical basis. SETTING: Department of orthopaedics and traumatology in a university hospital. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Patients were evaluated by four rating systems preoperatively and postoperatively either on a categorical or a numerical basis. RESULTS: All patients showed significant improvement after surgery in all rating systems. Although preoperative categorical evaluation revealed that the strongest correlation was between Charnley and Merle d'Aubigne scores (r = 0.876), numerical comparison of the rating systems showed strong correlation among all systems, both pre- and postoperatively. Responsiveness analysis revealed larger effect size for the Iowa and Harris hip scores. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that hip rating systems should be compared numerically rather than by categorical evaluation and that the Iowa and Harris hip scores are more convenient in evaluating thrust plate prosthesis patients because they have larger effect sizes without floor and ceiling effects.     

A brief report on managing infected nonunion of a high tibial osteotomy in two stages: a case series involving seven knees

The management of nonunion following high tibial osteotomy by total knee replacement (TKR) has been reported previously. We have extended the treatment to embrace cases with an infected high tibial osteotomy by performing an initial debridement with a period of antibiotic treatment followed by TKR. We have reviewed the results of seven knees in six patients with a mean follow-up of 40.5 months (20 to 57) after the staged TKR. At the latest follow-up, all the pseudarthroses had healed and there had been no recurrence of infection. The mean Hospital for Special Surgery knee score improved from 51.2 (35 to 73) to a mean of 91.7 (84 to 98) at final review. Management of nonunion following high tibial osteotomy with a TKR can be extended to infected cases when treated in two stages with a debridement and antibiotic therapy prior to TKR.