An unusual combination of extremity fractures: floating body injury

Simultaneous quadruple extremity fractures are rare and can be termed as “floating body” injury. A review of the literature produced only one previous report of this rare combination which could not be operated. We presented a 40-year-old female patient with bilateral humerus and femur fractures associated concomitant injuries such as nondisplaced acetabular fracture, rib fractures and traumatic tendon ruptures. She was operated by arthroscopically assisted retrograde intramedullary nailing for femur fractures as well as by external fixators for humerus fractures. She was able to walk with full weight-bearing without any assistance at the end of the first postoperative year. Early fixation of the fractures in floating body injury using retrograde intramedullary nailing and external fixator is successful treatment method.     

Correlation between posteromedial or posterolateral displacement and cubitus varus deformity in supracondylar humerus fractures in children

Purpose Cubitus varus deformity is one of the most common complications after displaced supracondylar humeral fractures in children. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the fracture displacement and cubitus varus deformity in displaced supracondylar humerus fractures. Methods Seventeen patients (11 males/6 females; mean age 7 years) with cubitus varus deformities occurring after Gartland type III posteromedial or posterolateral displaced supracondylar humerus fractures were evaluated with clinical and serial radiographic examinations. All patients had been treated surgically by open reduction through a medial approach and percutaneous cross-pinning. All fractures were reduced anatomically. Ten of the patients were operated within the first 24 h. The time interval between the initial injury and the surgical procedure for the remaining seven patients was 5.3 days on average (range 2–10 days). The carrying angle and range of motion of the elbow were measured throughout the follow-up period. The mean follow-up time was 3.7 years (range 2–12 years). Results Five patients with type III-B fractures had a mean carrying angle loss of 8.8° (range 6–10°), whereas for the remaining 12 type III-A patients the mean loss was 15° (range 6–29°) (P = 0.019). None of the patients in this study demonstrated limited elbow motion. According to the Flynn criteria, the results were good in five type III-B patients. There was no statistically significant relationship between the loss of carrying angle and the delay before the surgical procedure (P = 0.615 in type III-A, P = 0.096 in type III-B). Conclusions The carrying angle loss was more significant in type III-A fractures compared with type III-B in this series. These results suggest that although anatomic reduction has been achieved by surgical treatment without loss of reduction, there is still a risk for cubitus varus deformity for type III-A fractures due to the initial compression of the medial column or, in other words, physeal injury.     

Helicobacter pylori associated gastric pathology in patients with type II diabetes mellitus and its relationship with gastric emptying: the Ankara study.

Helicobacter pylori (HP) is the most common cause of nonerosive nonspecific gastritis. Gastric and duadenal ulcer both are found to be associated with HP infection. Another consequence of HP infection is that it may progress to chronic atrophic gastritis which is a well recognized risk factor for adenocarcinoma of the stomach. So by extension, HP infection can be accepted as a risk factor for gastric cancer. From this aspect, identification of risk groups is increasingly important. It is well-known that patients with diabetes mellitus are more prone to infection. Besides this, presence of gastroparesis diabeticorum may lead to bacterial overgrowth in the upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract. The present crossectional study was planned to study the presence of HP infection in diabetic patients with alterations in upper GI motility and to compare the results with healthy control group. Group I consisted of 51 patients with type II diabetes mellitus (as defined by National Data Group criteria) without any dyspeptic symptoms. Twenty-five age-matched healthy people served as a control in group II. Radionuclide-labelled solid meals were used to calculate gastric emptying time (GET). According to the results, patients in group I were divided into two groups. Patients with prolonged GET were grouped as group IA, while group IB consisted of patients with normal or shortened GET. Presence of HP gastritis is determined by histopathologic examination of endoscopic biopsy specimen. The results showed that the prevalence of HP gastritis in group I and II were 80.4% and 56% respectively and the difference was significant statistically (p: 0.03). In group IA, the prevalence of HP infection was estimated to be 88.2%, while in group IB it was 76.5% but the difference was not significant (p: 0.31). We have not found any correlation between HbA1c levels and the presence of HP infection in both group IA and IB (p values 0.26 and 0.15 respectively). We conclude that the prevalence of HP gastritis is higher in asymptomatic diabetic patients compared with healthy people. But there is no association between the alterations in GET and the presence of HP gastritis as indicated by our results. So prolonged GET may not be regarded as a specific pathogenic mechanism or a cause of HP infection in NIDDM patients.     

Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis in an adolescent with Ewing sarcoma

BACKGROUND: Although thromboembolic complications are common in adult patients with malignant diseases, cerebral venous sinus thrombosis has been rarely described in cancer afflicted pediatric and adolescent population. CASE HISTORY: A 16-year-old adolescent girl referred for complaints of pain and swelling on her left leg. On physical examination, a solid tibial mass was discovered. After the diagnosis of Ewing sarcoma with a tru-cut biopsy, chemotherapy protocol consisting of cisplatin, ifosfamide, adriamycine, and vincristine was started. During the first course of the treatment, the patient expressed headache, diplopia, and ptosis. Contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance (MR) images and MR angiography showed superior sagittal and transverse sinus thromboses. After anticoagulant therapy, the thromboses disappeared within 1.5 months. She received her chemotherapy protocol with the anticoagulant prophylaxis. After a follow-up period of 12 months, she is still in a good neurological recovery without any sequel. CONCLUSION: Children and adolescents with cancer should be monitored closely for thrombotic complications. We discuss this uncommon case to draw attention to the importance of early diagnosis and adequate treatment of intracranial thrombosis in childhood cancer, and we review the relevant literature.     

Efficiency of prostacyclin in the treatment of protamine-mediated right ventricular failure and acute pulmonary hypertension

Protamine is used after cardiopulmonary bypass was stopped in order to reverse the anticoagulant effects of heparin administered during open-heart operations. Adverse hemodynamic responses to protamine are common, ranging from minor perturbations to cardiovascular collapse. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether a prostacyclin is effective in the treatment of protamine-mediated acute pulmonary hypertension and right ventricular failure in the perioperative period of isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) operations. In sixty-eight (1.78%) of 3800 patients who underwent isolated CABG, acute pulmonary hypertension and right ventricular failure developed during or following the protamine infusion. These 68 patients were included in the study and were randomized into two groups. Thirty-eight of the patients received prostaglandin I(2) (PGI(2)), norepinephrine and dopamine (PGI(2) group), whereas 30 patients received nitroglycerin, norepinephrine and dopamine (control group). Hemodynamic data were recorded before and after the above drug combinations. The mean value of left ventricle ejection fraction significantly increased (p < 0.05) and mean values of central venous pressure, pulmonary artery systolic and diastolic pressure, pulmonary capillary wedge pressure and pulmonary vascular resistance significantly decreased (p < 0.05) in the PGI(2) group. The mean value of pulmonary capillary wedge pressure significantly decreased (p < 0.05) and the mean value of central venous pressure significantly increased (p < 0.05) in the control group. In conclusion, prostacyclin (PGI(2)) is effective in the treatment of protamine-mediated acute pulmonary hypertension and right ventricular failure in the perioperative period in isolated CABG operations. This finding may be an important contribution to the treatment of severe protamine complications during open-heart operations.     

Colitis cystica profunda: MRI appearance

Colitis cystica profunda (CCP) is an uncommon benign condition characterized by mucin-filled cysts located in the submucosa, frequently associated with the solitary ulcer and rectal prolapse syndromes. The diagnosis of this entity is important as it can mimic rectal cancer and therefore may result in unnecessary surgical resection. Endoscopic examination and barium enema findings are suggestive but not specific, neither are superficial biopsy findings. Transrectal ultrasound is helpful in the diagnosis by imaging the layers of the rectal wall. The authors report a 16-year-old male with a rectal lesion mimicking malignant mass on endoscopic examination. The lesion was defined as CCP, based on MR imaging findings which disclosed multiple noninfiltrating submucosal cysts, confirmed by histopathological examination. To our knowledge, this is the first case of CCP in the radiology literature describing MRI findings.     

Prevalence estimation and familial tendency of common forefoot deformities in Turkey: A survey of 2662 adults

Objective

This survey was designed to evaluate the prevalence estimations of HV, bunionette, hammertoe as well as their relations to shoe wearing and also familial tendency, in Turkey.

Transosseous capsuloplasty improves the outcomes of Lindgren–Turan distal metatarsal osteotomy in moderate to severe hallux valgus deformity

Introduction

Lindgren–Turan osteotomy used in hallux valgus deformity is a subcapital, transverse displacement osteotomy of the first metatarsal without any additional capsular repair. The aims of this study are to describe a transosseous capsuloplasty technique in this procedure and evaluate whether capsuloplasty would improve the clinical and radiological outcomes in patients with moderate to severe hallux valgus deformity.

Methods

Twenty-three feet operated by Lindgren–Turan osteotomy (Group B) and 25 feet operated by the same osteotomy combined with transosseous capsuloplasty (Group A) were evaluated retrospectively for the correction of the hallux valgus, intermetatarsal and distal metatarsal articular angles, sesamoid reduction, American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) Clinical Rating Scale as well as patient satisfaction. The mean postoperative follow-up was 14 (range 12–28) months.

Results

All radiological parameters improved considerably as a result of both groups. However, postoperative improvements in intermetatarsal and distal metatarsal articular angles were greater in Group A. Complete reduction of medial sesamoid was achieved in 52% of patients in Group A, whereas 17.4% of patients in Group B had complete reduction. AOFAS scores and number of patients with complete satisfaction in Group A were significantly greater than that in Group B.

Conclusion

Better clinical and radiological outcomes can be achieved in patients with moderate to severe hallux valgus deformity operated by Lindgren–Turan distal metatarsal osteotomy, when it combines with transosseous capsuloplasty.