Simultaneous robotic-assisted adrenalectomy and partial nephrectomy: technical aspects

Robot-assisted partial nephrectomy has become a safe and feasible procedure for small renal masses (SRM). Similarly, robot-assisted adrenalectomy has also been well established. Robotic surgery has provided the possibility to manage complex cases that are considered technically challenging for traditional laparoscopy. We describe in this video the details of performing simultaneous robotic adrenalectomy with partial nephrectomy highlighting the technical aspects of the same. A 62-year-old gentleman presented to us with incidentally detected left renal complex cyst (Bosniak IIF) and a concomitant left adrenal mass. Hormonal evaluation of adrenal tumor revealed raised levels of serum estrogen and DHEAS. A robotic-assisted simultaneous procedure was planned. Patient was positioned in right lateral position. After port placement, robot was brought from the shoulder of the patient and docked. We first excised the adrenal tumor followed by the renal cyst. Total operative time was 180 min with warm ischemia time of 20 min for renal cyst excision. Drain was removed on post-operative day 2. Patient was discharged on post-operative day 3. Histopathology revealed adrenocortical adenoma and benign hemorrhagic renal cyst. We found simultaneous ipsilateral adrenalectomy with partial nephrectomy using robotic assistance is feasible and safe with minimal morbidity. Port placement in such cases should be individualized according to the location of the SRM. The robot provides the ergonomic advantage and 3D vision for better anatomic definition as compared to laparoscopy.     

Monosegment Liver Allografts for Liver Transplantation in Infants Weighing Less Than 6 kg: An Initial Indian Experience

BackgroundLiving donor liver transplantation in small infants is a significant challenge. Liver allografts from adults may be large in size. This is accompanied by problems of graft perfusion, dysfunction, and the inability to achieve primary closure of the abdomen. Monosegment grafts are a way to address these issues.MethodsTwo recipients in our cohort weighed less then 6 kg. The prospective left lateral segments from their donors were large for size. Therefore, monosegment 2 liver grafts were harvested. Data regarding the preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative events in the donor and the recipient were recorded.ResultsWe were able to achieve significant reduction in the sizes of the grafts harvested. The donors underwent surgery and hospital stay uneventfully. The recipients had normal graft perfusion and no graft dysfunction, and we could achieve primary abdominal closure. One recipient had self-limiting bile leak postoperatively.ConclusionsMonosegment 2 liver allografts are safe and effective for use in living donor liver transplantation in small infants weighing less than 6 kg.     

Cerebellopontine angle meningeal melanocytoma: a rare tumor in an uncommon location. Case report

Meningeal melanocytomas are uncommon intracranial tumors and their occurrence at the cerebellopontine angle (CPA) is extremely rare. The authors describe the case of a 58-year-old woman who presented with a left CPA tumor; on the basis of histopathological studies after resection, a diagnosis of meningeal melanocytoma was reached. The relevant literature is reviewed.     

Staged male urethroplasty transferring megalourethra tissue as free graft dorsal inlay to proximal urethral atresia in VACTERL association

Megalourethra is a rare spectrum of urologic malformations of penile corporal structures frequently associated with multiple congenital anomalies, such as prune belly syndrome or vertebral, anorectal, cardiac, trachea-esophageal, renal, and limb (VACTERL association) defects. A 6-year-old boy with VACTERL association and proximal urethral atresia with distal fusiform megalourethra underwent staged reconstruction, including appendicovesicostomy, perineal urethrostomy, and first-stage urethroplasty with a dorsal inlay free graft of megalourethra tissue to the proximal urethral atretic region, followed by second-stage urethroplasty. At 2.6 years of follow-up, he was continent, voids per urethra without postvoid residual urine volume, and no longer performs clean intermittent catheterization by way of the appendicovesicostomy.     

Isolated Hoffa fracture of the medial femoral condyle in a skeletally immature patient

Intraarticular coronal fracture of the femoral condyle is rare, and an isolated medial Hoffa fracture in a child is extremely rare. To our knowledge, such a case has not yet been reported in the literature. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment are essential for a good long-term outcome. We report a case of 12-year-old male who suffered a traffic accident and sustained an isolated medial Hoffa fracture. Open reduction was performed using a subvastus approach and the joint surface congruity restored and secured by two large fragment partially threaded screws placed from anterior to posterior in the epiphysis. At the 36-month follow-up, the fracture was united, and the patient had full extension and approximately 130° flexion of knee. There was no varus or valgus instability or limb length discrepancy. This case highlights the importance of early diagnosis and prompt treatment in the form of epiphyseal fixation for the management of these fractures in skeletally immature individuals.     

Prolonged (longer than 3 hours) laparoscopic cholecystectomy: reasons and results

For the experienced surgeon, the average operative time for a laparoscopic cholecystectomy is less than 1 hour. There has been no study documenting the causes and results of prolonged (longer than 3 hours) surgery. A retrospective study was done of patients who underwent cholecystectomy between January 2003 and December 2007. A total of 3126 cholecystectomies were done. After excluding patients who had a planned open cholecystectomy and patients who had additional laparoscopic surgeries, we identified 70 patients who had a planned laparoscopic cholecystectomy with operative time exceeding 3 hours. Multivariate stepwise logistic regression was performed analyzing the various factors leading to prolonged surgery. Of the 70 patients, ranging in age from 21 to 92 years (mean, 57 years), most (n = 53) were female. Operative time ranged from 3 hours to 6 hours 40 minutes (mean, 3 hours 37 minutes). Emergency:elective admission ratio was 9:5 and acute cholecystitis (n = 40) was the most common indication. Common characteristics were obesity (n = 44, P = 0.031), intra-abdominal adhesions (n = 43, P = 0.004), and previous abdominal surgeries (n = 40, P = 0.002). Intraoperative complications included spillage of stones (n = 6), bile duct injury (n = 3), and bleeding (n = 3). The possibility of prolonged laparoscopic cholecystectomy should be anticipated in patients with obesity and previous abdominal operations. Prolonged surgery increases the risk of complications (bile duct injury, bleeding) and prolongs the postoperative hospital stay.     

Salvage of infected total knee arthroplasty with Ilizarov external fixator

Background:

Knee arthrodesis may be the only option of treatment in cases of chronic infected total knee arthroplasty (TKA) with concomitant irreparable extensor mechanism disruption, extensive bone loss or severe systemic morbidities. Circular external fixation offers possible progressive adjustment to stimulate the bony fusion and to make corrections in alignment. We evaluated the results of knee arthrodesis with one or two stage circular external fixator for infected TKA.

Materials and Methods:

16 cases of femoro-tibial fusion were retrospectively evaluated. Male-to-female ratio was 10:6. Mean age of the patients was 62.2 years. Cierney-Mader classification was used for anatomical and physiological evaluation while the bone stock deficiency was classified into mild, moderate and severe. Surgical technique involved either single or two stage arthrodesis using circular external fixator.

Results:

Union was achieved in 15 patients (93.75%). The mean duration for union (frame application time) in these patients was 28.33 weeks (range 22 to 36 weeks). Analysis showed that in the group with frame application time of less than 28 weeks, the incidence of mild to moderate bone deficiency was 83.33%, while in the frame application time more than 28 weeks group the incidence was 20% (P-value 0.034). Similarly the incidence of Cierney-Mader 4B (Bl, Bs, Bls) was found to be 33.33% in the group of frame application time of less than 28 weeks, while it was 90% in the group with frame application time more than 28 weeks (P-value 0.035).

Conclusion:

Circular external fixator is a safe and reliable method to achieve knee arthrodesis in cases of deep infection following TKA. Severe bone stock deficiency and Cierney- Mader type B host are likely risk factors for prolonged frame application time. We recommend a two-stage procedure especially when there is compromised host or severe bone loss.     

人工全膝关节置换后股骨假体角度的CT影像学评估：股骨外上髁线参照与间隙平衡技术的对比研究

[目的]虽然人工全膝关节置换术中假体旋转定位的重要性已得到公认,但术中以哪条轴线为参照能够更加精确的保证股骨假体的旋转定位,目前尚存争议.研究表明股骨外上髁线(TEA)与膝关节屈曲轴线平行,但这一轴线术中难以精确确定.本文采用间隙平衡技术(BG),对比TEA技术在股骨假体实际旋转角度测量的差异 [方法]30例人工全膝关节置换分为2组(每组15膝),分别采用.TEA和BG技术,术后行CT扫描测量股骨假体旋转角度并行膝关节学会评分(KSS).[结果]BG组中股骨假体平均外旋角度为2.7°±1.1°,TEA组为5.6°±1.6°(P=0.001).术后KSS功能评分改善BG组高于TEA组(P=0.002).但两组的KSS膝评分无显著性差异(P=0.39).[结论]研究表明,与BG技术相比,术中应用TEA参照确定股骨假体的旋转定位可导致股骨假体的过度外旋,其术后KSS功能评分亦较差.     

Multicentric metachronous giant cell tumour of vertebrae and tibia

Background Multiple metachronous giant cell tumours (GCT), occurring in an individual are extremely rare. Purpose A patient presenting with GCT of multiple thoracic and lumbar vertebrae, 14 year subsequent to occurrence of GCT of proximal end of left tibia, is being reported. Study design Case report. Method Forty-year-old male presented with upper motor neuron paraplegia with sphincter involvement and complete sensory involvement below T11 spinal level. There was a surgical scar of resection arthrodesis of left knee for GCT proximal tibia. Radiographs showed compression of T8, T10, T12, L1 and L4 vertebrae. Routine haematological investigations including serum PTH levels were normal. MRI scan and CT scan showed expansile mass lesion and compression of cord at D12 and L1 vertebrae. Posterior decompression and stabilization was performed. Results As the second focus of the disease occurred 14 years after the appearance of initial lesion, the second independent focus of the disease, rather than a metastasis, is the likely cause. Conclusion It is the first reported case of multiple giant cell tumour of the spine above the sacrum.     

Changes in the range of motion of the cervical spine and adjacent segments at ≥24 months after uninstrumented corpectomy for cervical spondylotic myelopathy

Background  

Few clinical studies have described the changes in the range of motion (ROM) of the cervical spine and adjacent segments following central corpectomy. We aimed to quantify the changes in range of motion (ROM) of the cervical spine and the adjacent segments at ≥24 months following uninstrumented central corpectomy (CC) for cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) and to determine the contribution of the adjacent segments to the compensation for loss of motion of the cervical spine following CC.