Bone scan in the patellofemoral pain syndrome

Summary Eighty patients who complained of retropatellar pain underwent evaluation by bone scintigraphy, intraosseous pressure determination, radiography, arthroscopy and physical diagnostic tests. The bone scans showed that 48% of the painful knees had an increased uptake compared with 9% for the normal joints. A highly significant correlation was evident between an increased uptake and established chondromalacia. For the diagnosis of a high pressure patella, radiography was only 7% sensitive (6/88), compared with 44% (39/88) for bone scintigraphy and 78% for the clinical sustained flexion test. The positive predictive value of a bone scan for detecting a high pressure patella was 0.72 (39/54). The best predictor was a positive sustained flexion test with a predictive value of 0.85 (69/81).

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Résumé Dix-huit malades se plaignant de douleurs rétro-patellaires ont été examinés par scintigraphie, mesure de la pression intra-osseuse, radiographie, arthroscopie et tests cliniques. La scintigraphie a montré que 48% des genoux douloureux présentaient une hyperfixation contre 9% des articulations normales. Il existait une corrélation évidente, hautement significative, entre l'hyperfixation et la chondropathie rotulienne. Pour le diagnostic d'hyperpression intrapatellaire, la radiographie n'était démonstrative que dans 7% des cas (6/88) alors que la scintigraphie l'était dans 44% (30/88) et le test clinique de «flexion prolongée» dans 78%. La valeur d'une scintigraphie positive en faveur du diagnostic d'hyperpression intra-patellaire est de 0.72 (39/54). L'élément le plus fiable est la positivité du test de flexion prolongée qui a une valeur prédictive de 0.85 (69/81).

     

Fibrocartilaginous mesenchymoma with low-grade malignancy

In a review of cases of fibrous cartilaginous dysplasia of bone, five of fibrocartilaginous lesions were found to be different in clinical behavior and radiographic and morphologic features from the others. We have named these previously undescribed tumors fibrocartilaginous mesenchymomas with low-grade malignancy in the fibrous elements.Dr. Bertoni is a visiting surgical pathologist from the Servizio di Anatomia ed Istologia Patologica, Bologna, Italy     

维生素D缺乏性晚发性佝偻病的骨密度研究

目的：探讨维生素D缺乏性晚发性佝偻病的骨密度变化;方法：采用病例对照研究方法。对640名学生进行问诊及体验,测定非优势侧尺挠骨中1／3交界处骨密度（BMD）,病例组检测骨碱性磷酸酶,拍摄腕部X光片,病例组与对照组同测血250HD3;结果：病例组骨密度显著低于对照组,病例组250HD3异常者显著低于对照组;结论：晚佝病是由于维生素D缺乏所至的骨量减少性疾病,日后影响峰值骨量的形成,并与成人期骨质疏松有密切的关系,骨密度检查对晚佝病有重要诊断价值。     

Is there a role for elbow arthrodesis in 21st Century - Current concepts and overview of surgical techniques

Elbow arthrodesis is uncommon and is usually performed as a salvage procedure to provide a stable elbow. There is a significant gap in the literature about the indications, contraindications, fusion angle, technical tips, and reversibility of the procedure. This review addresses these questions in a evidence based manner, based on the published literature.     

Three rare cases of benign mixed tumour of the skin displaying mature bone and cartilage elements

Mixed tumour of the skin is a rare adnexal tumour of sweat gland origin, which can be benign or malignant. Histologically, it is defined by the presence of epithelial, myoepithelial and mesenchymal elements. The latter can take several forms, but both bone formation and cartilage formation are independently rare features. We present three rare cases of mixed tumour of the skin. Two of these displayed both mature bone and cartilaginous mesenchymal elements, while the third displayed mature bone formation without cartilage.     

Craniofacial Development: Neural Crest in Molecular Embryology

Craniofacial development, one of the most complex sequences of developmental events in embryology, features a uniquely transient, pluripotent stem cell-like population known as the neural crest (NC). Neural crest cells (NCCs) originate from the dorsal aspect of the neural tube and migrate along pre-determined routes into the developing branchial arches and frontonasal plate. The exceptional rates of proliferation and migration of NCCs enable their diverse contribution to a wide variety of craniofacial structures. Subsequent differentiation of these cells gives rise to cartilage, bones, and a number of mesenchymally-derived tissues. Deficiencies in any stage of differentiation can result in facial clefts and abnormalities associated with craniofacial syndromes. A small number of conserved signaling pathways are involved in controlling NC differentiation and craniofacial development. They are used in a reiterated fashion to help define precise temporospatial cell and tissue formation. Although many aspects of their cellular and molecular control have yet to be described, it is clear that together they form intricately integrated signaling networks required for spatial orientation and developmental stability and plasticity, which are hallmarks of craniofacial development. Mutations that affect the functions of these signaling pathways are often directly or indirectly identified in congenital syndromes. Clinical applications of NC-derived mesenchymal stem/progenitor cells, persistent into adulthood, hold great promise for tissue repair and regeneration. Realization of NCC potential for regenerative therapies motivates understanding of the intricacies of cell communication and differentiation that underlie the complexities of NC-derived tissues.     

The Efficacy of Radiofrequency Ablation for Bone Tumors Unsuitable for Radical Excision

BackgroundBone tumors can cause severe pain and poor quality of life due to recurrence and non-achievement of complete remission after surgery, chemotherapy, or radiotherapy. Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) can be considered for minimally invasive treatment of bone tumors that are difficult to radically excise. In this study, RFA was performed for bone tumors that were difficult to radically excise and did not respond to surgery, chemotherapy, or radiotherapy due to their large sizes and/or locations. The purpose of this study was to retrospectively analyze the clinical characteristics and survival rates of bone tumors after RFA and provide one more treatment option for the future.MethodsThere were 43 patients with bone tumors who underwent percutaneous RFA at our hospital from April 2007 to October 2017. The median age of the patients was 59 years (range, 31–75 years), and the median follow-up duration was 67.2 months (range, 10.2–130.5 months). Of the 43 patients, 26 were male and 17 were female. Thirty-four cases were metastatic bone tumors, 5 were chordomas, 3 were osteosarcomas, and 1 was a giant cell tumor. Pain and functional ability of the patients were evaluated using a visual analog scale (VAS) and the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society (MSTS) functional scoring system, respectively. Scores were recorded preoperatively, 1 week postoperatively, and 4 weeks postoperatively. The 1-year, 2-year, and 5-year survival rates were evaluated using the Kaplan-Meier method.ResultsThe mean VAS score was 8.21 preoperatively. The mean VAS score at 1 week, 4 weeks, 12 weeks, and 24 weeks postoperatively were 3.91, 3.67, 3.31, and 3.12, respectively. The mean preoperative MSTS score was 64.0% (range, 32%–87%). The mean postoperative MSTS score was 71.0% (range, 40%–90%). The 1-year, 2-year, and 5-year survival rates were 95.3%, 69.8%, and 30.2%, respectively.ConclusionsAs per our study findings, RFA was effective in reducing pain and improving functional ability of patients with bone tumors that were difficult to radically excise.