The correlation of correction magnitude and tibial slope changes following open wedge high tibial osteotomy

We investigated whether there is a correlation between coronal plane correction magnitude and tibial slope in patients treated with medial open wedge high tibial osteotomy (OWHTO) and also measured changes in patellar height. Thirty-four knees treated with for varus deformities were retrospectively reviewed and the follow-up period of the patients was averaged 24.1 months. Preoperative and postoperative measurements of the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) score, Insall–Salvati index, posterior tibial slope angle, mechanical axis deviation, proximal medial tibial angle (PMTA) was used to determine. All patients had a significant increase in their HSS score postoperatively (P < 0.0001). There was no significant correlation between the differences in patellar heights (P = 0.368). The mechanical axis deviation was altered by a mean of 25.5 ± 10.9 mm and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The mean posterior tibial slope angle on preoperative radiographs was 9.0 ± 5.1°; on postoperative radiographs it was 11.7 ± 5.7° and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.007). Seventeen knees (50%) demonstrated postoperative posterior tibial slope angle increases; 7 knees (21%) had a decrease in this angle, while 10 knees (29%) showed no change. Statistical analyses revealed that the mechanical axis deviation was not correlated with change in tibial slope (P = 0.837). Although we could not find a correlation between tibial slope change and the amount of coronal correction, 50% of our patients demonstrated increased tibial slope.     

Primary clear cell sarcoma of rib

Clear cell sarcoma (malignant melanoma of soft tissues) is a very rare soft tissue neoplasm. It generally arises in tendons and aponeuroses. Although metastasis of malignant melanoma to bone is not uncommon, primary clear cell sarcoma of bone is an extremely rare neoplasm. To our knowledge five cases have been reported in the English literature. We present a case of primary clear cell sarcoma of bone in a 28-year-old woman arising in the left ninth rib. We treated the patient with total excision of the mass and postoperative radiotherapy. The patient is alive and well without local recurrence or distant metastasis at 33 months after surgery.Presented at SICOT/SIROT 2002 XXII World Congress, San Diego, California, USA, August 23–30, 2002     

The timing of tourniquet release and its influence on blood loss after total knee arthroplasty

We performed a prospective, randomized study on 76 patients (82 knees) scheduled for total knee arthroplasty to determine the effect of tourniquet release and hemostasis on the peri- and postoperative blood loss. Patients were randomly divided in two groups. Posterior cruciate retaining tricompartmental total knee prostheses were used in all. In group 1, the tourniquet was deflated intraoperatively after the prosthetic components were settled and hemostasis was done. In group 2, the tourniquet was released after the wound was closed and a compressive bandage was applied. Mean blood drainage was 880.85 ml (320–1,315) in group 1 and 745.36 ml (220–1,175) in group 2 (p=0.03). The mean number of blood transfusions given, hemoglobin and hematocrit values, operation time, and tourniquet time were similar in both groups. Intraoperative tourniquet release and hemostasis does not reduce total blood loss in total knee arthroplasty.

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Résumé Nous avons exécuté une étude prospective et randomisée sur 76 malades (82 genoux) programmé pour arthroplastie du genou total pour déterminer leffet de la levée de garrot- hémostase sur le perte de sang per—et postopératoire. Une prothèse tricompartmentale du genou, avec conservation du croisé postérieur totale a été utilisée dans tous les cas. Les malades étaient randomisés et divisés en deux groupes. Dans le groupe 1 le garrot a été dégonflé en intraopératoire après que les composants prothétiques aient été posés et lhémostase a, alors été faite. Dans le groupe 2 le garrot a été retiré après la fermeture et la mise en place dun pansement compressif. La perte moyenne de sang par drainage était 880.85 ml (320–1315) dans le groupe 1 et 745.36 ml (220–1175) dans le groupe 2 (p=0.03). Le nombre moyen de transfusions du sang effectuées, les valeurs de lhémoglobine et de l› hématocrite, la durée opératoire et la durée du garrot étaient semblables dans les deux groupes.La levée du garrot pendant lopération avec hémostase ne réduit pas la perte totale du sang dans larthroplastie du genou.

     

Analysis of cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4) exon 1 polymorphism in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus in a Turkish population

Recent studies have described linkage and association between cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4) gene polymorphism and type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM1) in some ethnic populations, but not others. This finding suggests that CTLA-4 gene association with DM1 may be influenced by the racial composition of the population. Thus, it is important to study the polymorphism of the CTLA-4 gene in different ethnic groups. In this case-control association study, the CTLA-4 gene exon 1 A/G polymorphism was analyzed in 48 children with DM1 and 80 healthy controls using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. The possible interaction of the CTLA-4 gene polymorphism with the presence of established genetic markers (HLA-DR genotyping) was also evaluated in 29 patients. The results of the present study do not suggest an association of the known polymorphism in exon 1 of the CTLA-4 gene with DM1 in this Turkish population, and G-allele containing CTLA-4 genotypes were not preferentially associated with age at clinical presentation or with presence of other genetic (HLA-DR3 or -DR4) markers of DM1.