Ordinary and Encased Stone Columns with Two Different Relative Densities

Stone columns technique is most commonly used in increasing bearing capacity, reduces and controls the compressibility and accelerates the rate of consolidation of soft saturated clay. During the last four decades, the technique has been utilized worldwide and proved successful results. Several modifications have been proposed to increase the efficiency of this technique such as addition of additives, use of special patterns of reinforcements, encasing the stone columns with geonet or geogrid to provide extra confinement that enhances the bearing capacity and reduces the settlement drastically without compromising its effect as a drain. The present paper focuses on the behavior of soft saturated clay reinforced with ordinary and geogrid encased stone columns. The investigation was performed both experimentally through small scale models and through numerical techniques. The influence of relative density of the back fill material and the presence of the encasement are the main parameters investigated. Ordinary stone columns revealed an increase of 20% in the carrying capacity when the relative density of the backfill stone aggregates increased from 23% to 71%, furthermore the efficiency of the encasement was more pronounced at lower relative density

MR and CT findings of cyst degeneration of sphenoid bone in McCune-Albright syndrome: a case report

© 2009 Li et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Licens

Osteochondritis dissecans and Osgood Schlatter disease in a family with Stickler syndrome

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Purpose</p> <p>Stickler syndrome is among the most common autosomal dominant connective tissue disorders but is often unrecognised and therefore not diagnosed by clinicians. Despite much speculation, the cause of osteochondrosis in general and osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) and Osgood Schlatter syndrome (OSS) in particular remain unclear. Etiological understanding is essential. We describe a pair of family subjects presented with OCD and OSS as a symptom complex rather than a diagnosis.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Detailed clinical and radiographic examinations were undertaken with emphasis on the role of MRI imaging. Magnetic resonance imaging may allow early prediction of articular lesion healing potential in patients with Stickler syndrome.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The phenotype of Stickler syndrome can be diverse and therefore misleading. The expectation that the full clinical criteria of any given genetic disorder such as Stickler syndrome will always be present can easily lead to an underestimation of these serious inheritable disorders. We report here two family subjects, a male proband and his aunt (paternal sister), both presented with the major features of Stickler syndrome. Tall stature with marfanoid habitus, astigmatism/congenital vitreous abnormality and submucus cleft palate/cleft uvula, and enlarged painful joints with early onset osteoarthritis. Osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) and Osgood Schlatter syndrome (OSS) were the predominating joint abnormalities.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>We observed that the nature of the articular and physeal abnormalities was consistent with a localised manifestation of a more generalised epiphyseal dysplasia affecting the weight-bearing joints. In these two patients, OCD and OSS appeared to be the predominant pathologic musculoskeletal consequences of an underlying Stickler's syndrome. It is empirical to consider generalised epiphyseal dysplasia as a major underlying causation that might drastically affect the weight-bearing joints.</p

Spinale und extraspinale Deformitäten bei einem Patienten mit Dysspondyloenchondromatosis

Anisospondyly (irregularly shaped vertebral bodies) and enchondroma-like lesions in the metaphyseal and diaphyseal portions of the long tubular bones are the characteristic features in patients with dysspondyloenchondromatosis (DSC). Thoraco-lumbar scoliosis and windswept deformity of the lower limbs were the major abnormalities encountered in this patient. To the best of our knowledge this is the first case report delineating the spine pathology via reformatted CT scan and the correction of a windswept deformity by means of temporary hemiepiphysiodesis in a patient with (DSC).Anisospondylie (irregular geformte Wirbelkörper) und Enchondrom-artige Läsionen im metaphysären und dipaphysären Bereich langer Röhrenknochen sind die charakteristischen Merkmale bei Patienten mit Dysspondyloenchondromatose (DSC). Bei dem von uns vorgestellten Patienten war eine thorako-lumbale Skoliose sowie eine Windschlag-Deformität der unteren Extremität ein wesentliches Merkmal. Unseres Wissens ist dies der erste Case-Report, welcher die Wirbelsäulen-Pathologie mittels CT-Untersuchung darstellt und die Korrektur der Windschlag-Deformität mit Hilfe einer Hemiepiphyseodese bei einem Patienten mit DSC beschreibt