1/220. Salvage of contaminated fractures of the distal humerus with thin wire external fixation.Fractures and osteotomies of the distal humerus that are contaminated or infected represent a difficult management problem. Stable anatomic fixation with plates and screws, the acknowledged key to a good result in the treatment of bicondylar fractures, may be unwise. A thin wire circular (Ilizarov) external fixator was used as salvage treatment in such complex situations in five patients. The fixator allowed functional mobilization of the elbow while allowing achievement of the primary goal of eradicating the infection or colonization. Two patients required a second operation for fixation of a fibrous union of the lateral condyle. One patient with a vascularized fibular graft later required triple plate fixation for malalignment at the distal host and graft junction. Four of five patients ultimately achieved complete union. The fracture remained ununited in one patient who has declined additional intervention. All five patients achieved at least 85 degrees ulnohumeral motion, two after a secondary elbow capsulectomy performed after healing was achieved. This experience suggested that the Ilizarov construct, although not a panacea, represents a reliable method of skeletal stabilization that allows functional mobilization while elimination of infection or colonization is ensured. If necessary, stiffness and incomplete healing can be addressed with an increased margin of safety at subsequent operations.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = fracture (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/220. Myelopathy secondary to spinal epidural abscess: case reports and a review.Spinal epidural abscess (SEA) is a rare disease with an unknown incidence rate. This paper will illustrate that early diagnosis and rehabilitation may result in improved outcomes for patients with neck or back pain presenting with neurological deficits. Three cases of SEA in individuals without the commonly acknowledged risk factors of intravenous drug abuse (IVDA), invasive procedures, or immunosuppression were seen at our institution during a 10-month period between October 1995 and July 1996. The patients presented with neck or thoracic back pain and progressive neurological deficits without a febrile illness. Predisposing factors were thought to be urinary tract infection with underlying untreated diabetes mellitus in the first case, a history of recurrent skin infection in the second, and alcoholism without a definite source of infection in the third. leukocytosis, elevated sedimentation rate, and confirmatory findings reported on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) led to the diagnosis of SEA in all three cases. Immediate surgical drainage and decompression followed by proper antibiotic treatment and early aggressive rehabilitation led to good functional outcomes. All the individuals became independent in activities of daily living, wheelchair mobility, and bowel and bladder management. Two eventually became ambulatory.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.0080066786925582keywords = compression (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/220. femur osteomyelitis due to a mixed fungal infection in a previously healthy man.We describe a previously healthy, 22-year-old man who, after a closed fracture of the femur and subsequent operation, developed chronic osteomyelitis. Within a few days, infected bone fragments, bone, and wound drainage repeatedly yielded three different filamentous fungi: aspergillus fumigatus, aspergillus flavus, and Chalara ellisii. Histologic examination of the bone revealed septate hyphae. After sequential necrotomies of the femur and irrigation-suction drainage with added antimycotic therapy, the infection ceased and the fracture healed. This case is unique in that it is the only known instance in which a long bone was affected in an immunocompetent individual, with no evidence of any systemic infection, by a mixed population of two different Aspergillus spp. and the rare filamentous fungus C. ellisii. Environmental factors that could potentiate the infection include blood and edema fluid resulting from the surgical procedure and the presence of the osteosynthetic plate.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.33333333333333keywords = fracture (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/220. Pyogenic osteomyelitis of the spine in the elderly: three cases of a synchronous non-axial infection by a different pathogen.STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective chart review of patients over 65 years of age treated at the spine Care Unit for pyogenic vertebral osteomyelitis. OBJECTIVES: To assess the reliability of peripheral blood, urine and sputum cultures in the treatment of pyogenic vertebral osteomyelitis in the elderly. SETTING: Study performed at the spine Care Unit, Meir Hospital, Kfar-Saba, israel. methods: The Meir hospital records were searched for patients over 65 years of age, treated at the spine Care Unit for pyogenic vertebral osteomyelitis. charts, culture results and imaging studies were reviewed. A medline literature search was performed to survey the literature regarding pyogenic vertebral osteomyelitis in the elderly with emphasis on diagnostic imaging modalities and surgical treatment. RESULTS: Three patients were identified with concurrent peripheral infection by a different organism than the organism causing the vertebral osteomyelitis. Delay in correct diagnosis led to neurologic impairment in all patients and surgical treatment was performed in all three to drain the epidural abscess, decompress the spinal cord and obtain direct tissue culture. Following decompression and epidural abscess evacuation, one patient has functionally recovered and was ambulating with a cane, two patients did not recover and remained paraparetic and ambulate in a wheelchair. CONCLUSIONS: Pyogenic vertebral osteomyelitis in the elderly can be caused by a different pathogen than that isolated from blood, sputum or urine cultures. In the elderly, a biopsy of the vertebral lesion should be obtained for susceptibility studies prior to conservative treatment with bracing and intravenous antibiotics.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.0080066786925582keywords = compression (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/220. Infections of the hand.In this paper the importance is stressed of the dangers associated with neglecting hand infections in Paua new guinea, where, for understandable reasons, there is a tendency for people to be slow in seeking treatment. The prevention of hand infections is emphasised, and the principles in regard to rest, antibiotic therapy, and surgical decompression are discussed. The more common types of hand infection are described, with particular reference to surgical anatomy and surgical drainage. Some of the more complicated infections such as middle palmar and thenar space infections, suppurative tenosynovitis, osteomyelitis and septic arthritis are of sufficient importance to warrant the attentions of the specialist surgeon when this is possible.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.0080066786925582keywords = compression (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/220. Double-stress fracture of the tibia in a ten-year-old child.A double-stress fracture of the tibia in a 10-year-old girl is described. Double-stress fracture of the tibia has previously been described in association with osteoarthritic varus deformity of the knee but not, to our knowledge, in a child. It is important to establish the diagnosis of stress fracture in childhood because the differential diagnosis, both clinically and on imaging, includes malignancy that must be excluded while avoiding unnecessary invasive investigations. The site of the lesions, their appearance on magnetic resonance imaging, the absence of any soft-tissue involvement, and the clinical history made the diagnosis possible. The characteristics of stress fracture shown on magnetic resonance imaging are described.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1.3333333333333keywords = fracture (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/220. Aggressive thoracic actinomycosis complicated by vertebral osteomyelitis and epidural abscess leading to spinal cord compression.STUDY DESIGN: Report of a successfully diagnosed and treated case of spinal cord compression due to epidural actinomycosis. OBJECTIVE: To illustrate that proper use of imaging strategy can greatly facilitate diagnosis and management of this rare condition. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Spinal actinomycosis causing epidural abscess and significant spinal cord compression is an uncommon condition. Although diagnosis is difficult, favorable results are widely reported when specific therapy is instituted. methods: A 32-year-old Chinese man had extensive dorsal thoracic soft tissue swelling and lower limb weakness. Collapse of the T5 vertebral body was found on plain radiographs with mediastinal infiltrates on chest radiograph. It took magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to fully delineate the epidural abscess and dorsal muscular abscesses, which were not depicted by computed tomographic (CT) scan. Diagnosis was made by examination of CT-guided aspirate and tissue recovered during surgery by a microbiologist. The patient received high-dose intravenous penicillin and prompt spinal decompression once diagnosis of actinomycosis was confirmed. RESULTS: The dorsal muscular abscesses and upper thoracic epidural abscess resolved rapidly after intravenous antibiotics and surgical drainage. This was well documented by follow-up MRI and the full recovery of motor power and lower limb sensation in the patient. CONCLUSIONS: High clinical suspicion and proper use of imaging data led to timely diagnosis of this rare case of mediastinal, epidural, and intramuscular thoracic actinomycosis. Specific antibiotic therapy and timely, well-targeted surgical intervention greatly improve the outcome of this condition.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.056046750847908keywords = compression (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/220. fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose PET in infectious bone diseases: results of histologically confirmed cases.The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical use of fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) in acute and chronic osteomyelitis and inflammatory spondylitis. The study population comprised 21 patients suspected of having acute or chronic osteomyelitis or inflammatory spondylitis. Fifteen of these patients subsequently underwent surgery. FDG-PET results were correlated with histopathological findings. The remaining six patients, who underwent conservative therapy, were excluded from any further evaluation due to the lack of histopathological data. The histopathological findings revealed osteomyelitis or inflammatory spondylitis in all 15 patients: seven patients had acute osteomyelitis and eight patients had chronic osteomyelitis or inflammatory spondylitis. FDG-PET yielded 15 true-positive results. The tracer uptake correlated with the histopathological findings in each case. Bone scintigraphy performed in 11 patients yielded ten true-positive results and one false-negative result. Follow-up carried out on two patients revealed normal or clearly reduced tracer uptake, which correlated with a normalisation of clinical data. In early postoperative follow-up it was impossible to differentiate between postsurgical reactive changes and further infection using FDG-PET. It is concluded that acute and chronic osteomyelitis of the peripheral as well as the central skeleton can be detected using FDG-PET. osteomyelitis can be differentiated from soft tissue infection surrounding the bone. Unlike computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, FDG-PET is not affected by metal implants used for fixing fractures. FDG-PET demonstrated promising initial results with respect to treatment monitoring. Nevertheless, in the early postoperative phase FDG-PET seems to be of limited value owing to unspecific tracer uptake.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.16666666666667keywords = fracture (Clic here for more details about this article) |
9/220. A fractured mandible, from initial operation to removal of tantalum mesh. Report of a case.Report is made of a case of fracture of the angle of the mandible. Treatment was attempted with the Sampson pericortical bone clamp, but was unsuccessful. Routine use of intraosseous wire led to a localized osteomyelitis, without union of the fracture. Treatment then was made with a particulate marrow graft contained within a tantalum mesh screen. The screen was removed 30 months postoperatively.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = fracture (Clic here for more details about this article) |
10/220. Pyogenic vertebral osteomyelitis presenting as single spinal compression fracture: a case report and review of the literature.STUDY DESIGN: A case report of pyogenic vertebral osteomyelitis (PVO) presenting as single collapsed vertebral body without narrowing of the intervertebral disc space, and review of the literature. OBJECTIVE: To describe an unusual case of PVO showing atypical radiological change and call attention to this condition so that others may avoid this diagnostic pitfall. SETTING: japan. methods: A 62-year-old diabetic woman with suspected T12 pathological fracture of malignant spinal tumor and neurological involvement received urgent anterior decompression and spinal reconstruction without biopsy. RESULTS: Anterior decompression and spinal reconstruction was performed, but histological examination of the specimen after surgery unexpectedly revealed PVO. The surgery was followed by therapy with antibiotics for 7 months. A follow-up radiograph at 5 years after surgery revealed that solid consolidation has been achieved. CONCLUSIONS: Diagnosis of PVO presenting with single spinal compression fracture is very difficult. Although the finding of the high signal intensity in the lesion equal to or higher than that of the cerebrospinal fluid on T2-weighted MR image seemed to be the most reliable diagnostic modality retrospectively, diagnosis of this type of PVO is impossible without histology. A needle biopsy before surgery is strongly recommended.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1.0560467508479keywords = fracture, compression (Clic here for more details about this article) |
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