Radial Head and Neck Allograft for Comminute Irreparable Fracture-Dislocations of the Elbow

Fracture-dislocations of the elbow can be difficult to treat, with unsatisfactory results in some cases. In general, it is preferable to preserve the fractured radial head when possible, but some patients present a unique treatment challenge because of extremely comminuted fractures and bone loss. In these cases, the only options available are radial head prosthesis or allograft. The authors present a case of a 45-year-old man with a fracture-dislocation of the left elbow that was treated with an allograft of the radial head and neck because of extreme comminution of the fracture. There have been a few reports about osteochondral allograft transplantation of the radial head, and they all included traumatic or posttraumatic cases treated with a frozen allograft. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first report on the use of osteochondral allograft in the acute setting for the treatment of a comminuted fracture of the radius involving the whole head and neck. The clinical results were satisfactory at the final follow-up, although mild degenerative changes were present, the screws were coming loose, and the radial head had a slight valgus deformity. Radial head allograft can be an option in selected cases of acute fractures with severe comminution and bone loss that are not amenable to a stable internal fixation; for the young and active patient, who is not the best candidate for radial head resection; or in cases in which radial head arthroplasty is not feasible because of severe bone loss. [Orthopedics. 201x; xx(x):xx-xx.]

Histological Study of Discoid Lateral Meniscus in Children and Adolescents: Morphogenetic Considerations

: Background  Discoid lateral meniscus is the most frequent variant of the meniscus. Few studies have focused on the histology of discoid menisci. The aim of the present study was to report the histological findings of discoid lateral meniscus in children and adolescents, after arthroscopic partial resection, to give a possible explanation of its developmental etiology. Methods  Five patients aged 9, 10, 13, 15, and 17 years were operated on for a 1-piece excision of a discoid lateral meniscus, and the specimens were histologically examined. Results  The extracellular matrix showed a different distribution and characteristics depending on the different side of the meniscus. Irregularly oriented collagen fibers in discoid lateral meniscus were found. Cells of different shapes were observed depending on the surficial or deep location in the tissue. There were no blood vessels in the inner part of discoid lateral meniscus. Conclusion  The findings of the current study seem to confirm that discoid lateral meniscus arises from variant morphogenesis. Furthermore, the altered distribution and shape of the cells and disorganization of collagen fibers (irrespectively of the age of the patients) may predispose discoid lateral meniscus to degeneration, damage, and tear in young patients also. Level of Evidence  Level of evidence 4 (case series)

Role of high tibial osteotomy in chronic injuries of posterior cruciate ligament and posterolateral corner

High tibial osteotomy (HTO) is a surgical procedure used to change the mechanical weight-bearing axis and alter the loads carried through the knee. Conventional indications for HTO are medial compartment osteoarthritis and varus malalignment of the knee causing pain and dysfunction. Traditionally, knee instability associated with varus thrust has been considered a contraindication. However, today the indications include patients with chronic ligament deficiencies and malalignment, because an HTO procedure can change not only the coronal but also the sagittal plane of the knee. The sagittal plane has generally been ignored in HTO literature, but its modification has a significant impact on biomechanics and joint stability. Indeed, decreased posterior tibial slope causes posterior tibia translation and helps the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)-deficient knee. Vice versa, increased tibial slope causes anterior tibia translation and helps the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL)-deficient knee. A review of literature shows that soft tissue procedures alone are often unsatisfactory for chronic posterior instability if alignment is not corrected. Since limb alignment is the most important factor to consider in lower limb reconstructive surgery, diagnosis and treatment of limb malalignment should not be ignored in management of chronic ligamentous instabilities. This paper reviews the effects of chronic posterior instability and tibial slope alteration on knee and soft tissues, in addition to planning and surgical technique for chronic posterior and posterolateral instability with HTO

Hyaluronic acid vs corticosteroids in symptomatic knee osteoarthritis: a mini-review of the literature

Although intra-articular injections of hyaluronic acid (HA) are common non-operative measures used in clinical practice in the management of symptomatic osteoarthritis, there is a great controversy on their efficacy and safety compared to corticosteroids (CSs)

Infra-patellar fat pad cysts: a case report and review of the literature

Infra-patellar fat pad cysts are an uncommon type of intra-articular ganglia. We report a case of a young woman with a painful little mass in the anterior aspect of the left knee. Ultrasound revealed a multiloculate cyst, that was initially drained with a spinal needle. Four months later, she had a recurrence of symptoms and a ultrasound guided aspiration was performed. Cytological examination revealed synovial cells, synovial fluid, macrophages and debris: diagnosis was ganglion cyst. We reviewed the literature about infrapatellar fat pad cysts. Clinical diagnosis of an intraarticular cyst is very difficult, but sometimes an infrapatellar fat pad cyst could be suspected because it could be visible and palpable. MRI is the best diagnostic option in all cases. There are several treatment option, operative or conservative. In our opinion ultrasound guided aspiration is the treatment of choice in symptomatic ganglia, because it allows to drain all lacunae, preventing recurrenc

Discoid lateral meniscus in children and adolescents: a histological study

Abstract Background Discoid lateral meniscus is the most frequent variant of the meniscus. Although the histology of normal menisci in children and in adults has been well described, few studies have focused on the histology of discoid menisci. Furthermore, most of the patients in those studies were adults. The aim of the present study was to report the histological findings of discoid lateral meniscus in a group of children and adolescents, aged between 9 and 18, after arthroscopic partial resection, focusing on cellularity, arrangement of collagen fibers, and vascularity of the excised fragments. Furthermore, to report on MRI findings compared to the histological findings in the same region. Methods Six patients (one female and five males) aged 9, 10, 13, 15, 17, and 18, were arthroscopically operated on partial meniscectomy (saucerization) of a discoid lateral meniscus, and the specimens were histologically examined. Results The extracellular matrix showed a different distribution and characteristics depending on the different side of the meniscus. Irregularly oriented collagen fibers in discoid lateral meniscus were found. There were no blood vessels in the inner part of discoid lateral meniscus in all patients but the 18-year old (in which we observed also endothelials cells, edematous tissue and leaking of erythrocytes in the extracellular matrix). In the discoid lateral menisci analyzed, irregularly oriented collagen fibers with blood vessels were found only in the presence of degenerating tissue. Conclusions Discoid lateral meniscus is different from a normal meniscus in terms of vascularity and disorganization of collagen fibers