HYPOTHESIS: Chondrolysis can be a devastating complication of shoulder arthroscopy. We undertook a review of the 100 cases reported in the English language to test the hypothesis that common factors could be identified and that the identification of these factors could suggest strategies for avoiding this complication. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We systematically reviewed the English language literature and identified 16 articles reporting 100 shoulders in which postsurgical glenohumeral chondrolysis had developed. RESULTS: The average reported patient age was 27 +/- 11 years at the time of surgery; 35 were women. The most common indications for surgery were instability (n = 68) and superior labrum anteroposterior lesions (n = 17). In 59 cases, chondrolysis was reported to be associated with the use of intra-articular pain pumps. The infusate was known to include bupivacaine in 50 shoulders and lidocaine in 2. Radiofrequency capsulorrhaphy was performed in 2 shoulders. DISCUSSION: Fifty-nine percent of the reported cases of glenohumeral chondrolysis occurred with the combination of arthroscopic surgery and postarthroscopy infusion of local anesthetic. The arthroscopic operations observed with chondrolysis were not limited to stabilization procedures, and the infused anesthetic was not limited to bupivacaine. CONCLUSION: In that postoperative infusion of local anesthetic and radiofrequency may not be essential to the success of shoulder arthroscopy, surgeons may wish to consider the possible risks of their use.

This article presents 3 cases of tibial diaphyseal adamantinoma. All 3 cases were men who reported pain and swelling but no history of trauma. The diagnosis of adamantinoma was suspected with radiographic and clinical findings, and the certain diagnosis was based on histopathological findings obtained from incisional biopsy. All the tumors were in stage IA according to the staging system of Enneking et al. The choice of treatment was wide en-block surgical resection of the tumor and reconstruction of the intercalary gap with the contralateral free vascularized fibular autograft. The lengths of the intercalary gaps were 16, 17, and 18 cm after resection, and the lengths of the vascularized free fibular transplants to reconstruct the intercalary gaps were 25, 21, and 25 cm, respectively. An end-to-side anastomosis technique was used in all cases. In the early postoperative period, patency of the anastomosis was checked by observing the monitoring skin flap. Bone scintigraphy was performed at the postoperative first week to see whether the anastomosis was working. All grafts healed with solid union. Hypertrophy and remodelization of the grafts were observed approximately 1.5 years postoperatively. All patients returned to their previous jobs without any restriction and with full range of motion of the adjacent joints. No sign of local recurrence or metastasis of the tumor were observed or detected during the follow-up period.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study is to compare the early clinical results of two techniques in regarding to complications in the patients who suffered from chronic anterior traumatic isolated shoulder instability. METHOD: Eighty-five patients underwent reconstructive procedures due to chronic isolated traumatic shoulder instability in our clinic between 1990 and 2002. Sixty-four patients in whom preoperatively Bankart lesion were detected with MRI and who participated in the regular follow-up were included in the study. Thirty-four patients were treated with Bankart repair (Group I) and 30 patients were treated with Modified Bristow procedure (Group II). Mean follow-up period was 25 (24-39) months for group I and 28 (24-96) months for group II. All cases were evaluated preoperatively and postoperatively according to Rowe scoring system. RESULTS: Mean Rowe scores were 90 and 88.1 for group I and II, respectively. Due to recurrent dislocation, four revision surgeries (one in group I, three in group II) were performed. Surgical complications were encountered in group II, just as fracture at the bone block in four cases, nonunion in five cases and removal of loose screw in one case. DISCUSSION: According to clinical outcomes, both the techniques are useful and feasible for the treatment of the chronic traumatic isolated anterior shoulder instability; however, complication rate is higher in the Modified Bristow technique and, Bankart repair is directed to the anatomic repair of the original pathology.

We evaluated eight patients after delayed treatment of nine metacarpal bone defects due to gunshot injuries. The mean length of the metacarpal defects was 3 cm and the average time between the gunshot injury and the reconstruction surgery was 10 months. Although all of the patients had been treated with wound irrigation and debridement immediately following injury, no attempt had been made to repair the metacarpal defect or to maintain metacarpal length. As a result, serious shortening had occurred. After the original length of the metacarpal had been restored by distraction of the soft tissues (1 mm/day), a tri-cortical iliac bone graft was inserted into the bone defect. The average follow-up time was 15 months. Clinical and radiological union was established in all cases after an average of 12 weeks. The mean grip strength of the hand and the mean range of motion of the metacarpophalangeal joint increased by 24% and 60%, respectively.

We reviewed 12 male patients with scaphoid nonunions treated by open reduction, bone grafting, and internal fixation with biodegradable implants made of self-reinforced poly- l-lactic acid. Mean patient age was 22.5 (20-25) years. Ten patients had type D2 scaphoid nonunions with a fracture line in the middle one third, one patient had type D2 nonunion with a fracture line in the proximal one third, and one patient had type D1 distal one-third fibrous union. The mean wrist score (modified Mayo wrist score) was 20.8 (10-40) preoperatively and improved after 22-80 months (55-90). All nonunions healed, and the mean solid union time was 4.5 (3.5-7) months. We obtained excellent results in five patients, good results in four, fair results in two, and a poor result in one. The results of this study offer a valid alternative in the fixation of scaphoid nonunions. The major advantage of biodegradable materials is to eliminate the requirement for the removal of the fixation material.

BACKGROUND: Femoral shaft fractures are usually seen in the young population as a result of high energy traumas and are often accompanied by major organ injuries. In this paper, we aimed to assess the clinical results of expandable femoral intramedullary nails in the treatment of 20 femoral shaft fractures. METHODS: The average age was 34.7. One fracture was the result of a gunshot wound, type 3A open fracture, and the other 19 fractures were closed. Under fluoroscopic control, all patients underwent elective closed reduction and internal fixation with intramedullary expandable femoral nails (Fixion, Disc-O-Tech; Israel). In case of failed or unacceptable closed reduction, open reduction was achieved with a second incision over the fracture site. Average operation time was 26.3 minutes. RESULTS: Full union was achieved in all patients. The shortest union time was 12 weeks and the longest 24 weeks, with an average of 15.2 weeks. Results in 15 patients (75%) were excellent, in 4 patients (20%) good and in 1 patient (5%) moderate according to Thorensen criteria. CONCLUSION: Use of expandable nails provides union without major complications and offers advantages such as less exposure to radiation as seen in distal locking of classical intramedullary nails. In conclusion, the good results of this study show that the expandable femoral intramedullary nail provides a successful option to classical intramedullary nails.

Management of an unusual injury of combined open fractures of the first metacarpal shaft and trapezium due to crush injury in a 21-year-old man was reported in this paper. Surgical management included irrigation, debridement, and reduction of the first metacarpal fracture followed by external fixation extending from the first metacarpal to the distal radius and primary wound closure. After 1 year of surgery, follow-up functional and radiographic evaluations were satisfactory, and most of the daily activities were pain-free.

The purpose was to evaluate the value of radiology to distinguish between symptomatic and asymptomatic flexible flatfeet in young male adults. Among young male army recruits, 56 feet of 28 recruits were diagnosed as otherwise normal, flexible flatfoot with invisible longitudinal arch on stance and either symptomatic or asymptomatic unilaterally or bilaterally. The talus-first metatarsal and calcaneal pitch angles were measured on weight-bearing lateral radiographs, and the results were evaluated statistically. The talus-first metatarsal angle showed statistical significance in both non-parametric and logistic regression tests, but the calcaneal pitch angle showed statistical significance only in non-parametric test between symptomatic and asymptomatic flatfoot groups. Although the single gender and number of samples limit the applicability of our study, these results caused us to make an interpretation that increased talus-first metatarsal angle might be an important risk factor of being symptomatic in otherwise normal flexible flatfoot.

Postarthroscopic glenohumeral chondrolysis is a devastating, poorly understood, and relatively rare complication. True chondrolysis involves the dissolution of articular cartilage, including the matrix and cellular elements, leading to premature and irreversible articular cartilage loss. Several factors have been implicated in this phenomenon; however, to date, no study has conclusively ascertained the causation. Potential causative agents include subclinical infection, high volume intra-articular infusion of certain anesthetics, arthroscopic implants, suture material, and thermal energy. One must also consider the possibility that chondrolysis represents an ongoing immunogenic process interrupted or possibly potentiated by surgical intervention. The complex homeostasis of articular cartilage is undoubtedly sensitive to agents introduced into the joint including mechanical, chemical, and temperature-dependent interventions. To date, several papers have described the phenomenon and the potential associations; however, there is no definitive answer although the use of high-dose bupivacaine as an intra-articular anesthetic seems to be contraindicated. The purpose of this article is to review the basic science regarding chondrolysis and to assess the current literature which focuses on postarthroscopic glenohumeral chondrolysis, as well as innovative treatment alternatives. It is unlikely that postoperative chondrolysis will be clearly understood until controlled studies are available, of which there are currently none.

Some lesions such as cyst, loose body, and mass around the knee joint tend to localize at the posterior aspect of the proximal tibia. Although arthroscopic procedures of the knee joint's posterior compartment have been developed through posteromedial, posterolateral, and posterior trans-septal portals, the posterior aspect of the proximal tibia remains difficult to access and manipulate. We report an arthroscopic loose body removal and cyst decompression on the posterolateral aspect of the proximal tibia using a posterior trans-septal portal. This area represents a blind spot in knee arthroscopy.

BACKGROUND: Synovial chondromatosis is a rare disorder characterized by formation of cartilaginous bodies within the synovia of joints, tendon sheaths, and bursae secondary to a synovial metaplastic process. Recent literature has described using only an anterior approach to the ankle for these patients. It is unclear how well, if at all, synovectomy of the posterior part of the ankle joint was performed. Most recurrences occur years after surgery, as a result of incomplete synovectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We treated five patients (mean age 31.6 years; range, 21 to 63; four male, one female) with synovial chondromatosis of the ankle. We performed arthroscopic loose body removal and total synovectomy using both posterior and anterior ankle arthroscopic portals. At latest followup of a mean of 34.2 (range, 13 to 58) months, the functional result was assessed with the AOFAS score. RESULTS: The AOFAS score improved from a mean of 67 (range, 58 to 77) points to a mean of 94 (range, 77 to 100) points. Overall patient satisfaction was good to excellent. We noted only one minor complication when a loose body was lost in the subcutaneous tissue, and was removed two weeks after the arthroscopy. CONCLUSION: Our experience in this small group of patients seems to indicate that a 2 portal approach with total synovectomy and removal of loose bodies gives the best result and minimizes the risk of recurrence.

Background. Synovial osteochondromatosis is a disease in which loose cartilaginous bodies develop around large joints, usually the knee. It is caused by synovial metaplasia of unknown etiology. Symptoms are due either to mechanical problems caused by the loose bodies or to the degenerative arthritis that follows after several years. Surgical or arthroscopic removal of the loose bodies appears to be the only effective treatment. This article reports treatment outcome in synovial chondromatosis of the knee. Material and methods. We treated 13 patients: 11 by arthroscopy and 2 by arthrotomy. The follow-up examination was performed at least two years after after surgery. Results. There were 6 good and very good outcomes, while 2 patients required arthroscopic re-operation. Conclusions. Arthroscopy seems to be the treatment of choice in synovial chondromatosis of the knee.

Arthroscopy has been established as a valuable technique in diagnosis and treatment of the injured and deseased shoulder. Arthroscopy is not a new diagnostic tool but offers new approaches to the surgical treatment of shoulder pathology. Shoulder arthroscopy is usally performed under general anesthesia or/with scalene block. The patient is positioned in opposite lateral decubitus position or in beach chair position. Diagnostic arthroscopic is initiated with insertion of the arthroscope from the posterior portal into the gleno humeral joint. Inspection should be organized systematic visualization of the entire joint (articular surfaces of the glenoid and humeral head, glenoid labrum, long head of the biceps tendon, sub scapularis tendon, axillary pouch, capsular ligaments, synovial membrane). Then endoscopic visualization of the subacromail space is a valuable and essential adjunct to the gleno humeral arthroscopy (impingement syndrome, rotator cuff tears, calcific tendinitis, acromio-calvicular joint disorders).

We reviewed consecutive patients undergoing hip arthroscopy for loose bodies after sustaining hip dislocations and fracture-dislocations not requiring open fracture management. Eleven patients were identified, all with intra-articular loose bodies diagnosed by computed tomography. After 3 weeks, all patients underwent hip arthroscopy in which loose bodies were removed and labral pathology debrided. No patient developed any of the complications (avascular necrosis, heterotopic ossification, nerve injury) associated with hip arthrotomy. Arthroscopic treatment of intraarticular loose bodies after hip dislocations and fracture-dislocations allows excellent joint visualization for loose body removal and labral tear diagnosis and treatment.

The arthroscopic removal of loose bodies in the knee joints is a relatively common procedure. Quite often intra-articular loose bodies tend to localize at the posterior compartment due to gravity effect. However, it is often technically demanding to find and remove loose bodies located at the posterior compartment of the knee joint arthroscopically. We present the technical aspects of arthroscopic removal of the loose bodies located in the posterior compartment of the knee joint. Loose bodies at posterior compartment were subdivided into six regions in posterior knee compartment with preoperative MRI and arthroscopic findings. Each section needs slight different application of arthroscopic techniques for removal. We retrospectively studied 52 knees in 50 patients who underwent arthroscopic loose-body removal in posterior compartment, in 28 knees, additional posterior trans-septal portal was needed for removal of loose bodies. With the help of trans-septal portal, we have successfully removed the loose bodies even from the most difficult locations in posterior compartment.

Subtalar arthroscopy has become a valuable adjunct to the tools used in lower extremity surgery. For the past 25 years, ankle arthroscopy has been in vogue for treating a variety of conditions. Subtalar arthroscopy has more treatment limitations and is more technically difficult to perform than ankle arthroscopy because of the anatomic confines and structure of the subtalar joint. Most procedures are performed on the posterior aspect of the subtalar joint. The subtalar joint is composed of three articulations (posterior, middle, and anterior facets) and is surrounded by a variety of intra-articular and extra-articular ligaments, whose anatomy must be fully understood before attempting this procedure. Subtalar arthroscopy may be indicated for diagnostic purposes and for débridement of synovial impingement syndromes in the sinus tarsi. It may be used to examine loose bodies or osteochondral lesions, to address fractures of the lateral process of the talus, and to evaluate subtalar instability to determine appropriate stabilization methods. Arthroscopic subtalar arthrodesis also has gained credibility over the past 10 years as an acceptable surgical procedure. Arthroscopic evaluation of subtalar instability is useful in planning the appropriate stabilization. Subtalar arthroscopy is usually performed with the patient in the lateral decubitus position without traction. Anterior and posterior portals as well as an accessory anterior portal are usually necessary to perform all of the above procedures. Because of the limited confines of the joint, care must be taken to prevent any articular cartilage damage. When performing subtalar arthroscopy in conjunction with ankle arthroscopy, the subtalar arthroscopy should be performed first to avoid excessive extravasation from the ankle arthroscopy, which could obscure entry to the subtalar joint. Complications of subtalar arthroscopy are similar to those encountered in ankle arthroscopy, such as damage to the sural and superficial peroneal nerves.

A case of a 26-year-old male with symptoms resulting from loose bodies residing in a sublabral recess is presented. Operative intervention using the standard arthroscopic portals in addition to an accessory posterior portal was successful in removing the loose bodies and approximating the edges of the sublabral foramen. The shoulder is a complex region made up of numerous anatomic structures, which if damaged may be responsible for a patient's pathology. Normal anatomic variations also exist, which in certain situations, may contribute to a patient's presentation. One example of a normal anatomic variation is the sublabral foramen, which represents an unattached anterosuperior labrum.

Knee joint is the most common site of synovial chondromatosis with the prevalence in middle-aged male. The following is the description of a 14-year-old girl presented with a knocking sensation during the motion of her joint, which is a less common occurrence at her age. Loose bodies in the left knee joint were excised as much as possible with arthroscopy. The patient was asymptomatic when moving her knee after arthroscopic synovialectomy and removal of the loose bodies. In spite of the less possibility of malignant transformation of synovial chondromatosis, long-term follow-up is still recommended in this 14-year-old girl due to the supposed genetic abnormalities.