Bucket-handle tear of the triangular fibrocartilage complex: case report of a complex peripheral injury with separation of the distal radioulnar ligaments from the articular disc

Palmer previously proposed a classification system of triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) injuries that proved to be useful in directing clinical management. However, dorsal peripheral tears (variants of class 1C) were not described and have rarely been reported in the literature since. We herewith present a rare case of bucket-handle tear of the TFCC. To our knowledge, this is the first case demonstrating partial separation of both the palmar and dorsal distal radioulnar ligaments (DRULs) from the articular disc. The particular wrist magnetic resonance (MR) arthrographic findings of this unusual complex peripheral TFCC tear (a variant of both class 1B and 1C) were nicely appreciated upon sagittal reformatted image

Percutaneous radiofrequency ablation of primary intraosseous spinal glomus tumor

The glomus tumor is a rare, benign, but painful vascular neoplasm arising from the neuromyoarterial glomus. Primary intraosseous glomus tumor is even rarer, with only about 20 cases reported in the literature so far, 5 of which involved the spine. Surgical resection is currently considered the treatment of choice. We herewith present an uncommon case of primary intraosseous spinal glomus tumor involving the right pedicle of the eleventh thoracic vertebra (T11). To our knowledge, this is the first case of primary intraosseous spinal glomus tumor successfully treated by percutaneous CT-guided radiofrequency ablation (RFA

Innovative Engineering Education In The Wake Of Smart Agriculture. Revision Of The Agricultural Engineering Curriculum

Global developments request ever more productive agricultural production systems to ensure food security. Agricultural production must be environmentally, socially sustainable and economically efficient. Innovative digital technologies are central to sustainable production systems. This poses challenges to the education of agricultural engineers, as technologies for real world challenges result from highly interdisciplinary innovations. Agricultural engineering (AgEng) as academic discipline is not universally established, which leaves voids in educational curricula and formal training areas. A substantial conflictual dualism remains between the biological and engineering domains. There are currently no homogeneous pathways through which these domains merge on common scientific and cultural foundations, cumulating in consistent training areas. The diffuse institutional situation damages the position of AgEng as an academic discipline. The ambiguity of AgEng has become evident during the evolution of Smart Agriculture (SA), where digital technologies deeply interact with conventional agricultural technologies. In the course of rapidly spreading SA technologies, the present paper formulates a rigorous approach to defining competence formation in AgEng to integrate crosscompetences, which can be offered through lifelong learning (LLL) opportunities

Percutaneous CT-Guided Treatment of Osteochondritis Dissecans of the Sacroiliac Joint

Osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) is a joint disorder that affects the articular cartilage and subchondral bone, most commonly at the knee. OCD of the sacroiliac joint is extremely rare. Management of OCD remains controversial, and surgery is often needed, especially when conservative treatment fails. We present a rare case of OCD involving the left sacroiliac joint successfully treated by percutaneous computed tomography—guided retrograde drilling and debridemen

Chances and challenges of photon-counting CT in musculoskeletal imaging

In musculoskeletal imaging, CT is used in a wide range of indications, either alone or in a synergistic approach with MRI. While MRI is the preferred modality for the assessment of soft tissues and bone marrow, CT excels in the imaging of high-contrast structures, such as mineralized tissue. Additionally, the introduction of dual-energy CT in clinical practice two decades ago opened the door for spectral imaging applications. Recently, the advent of photon-counting detectors (PCDs) has further advanced the potential of CT, at least in theory. Compared to conventional energy-integrating detectors (EIDs), PCDs provide superior spatial resolution, reduced noise, and intrinsic spectral imaging capabilities. This review briefly describes the technical advantages of PCDs. For each technical feature, the corresponding applications in musculoskeletal imaging will be discussed, including high-spatial resolution imaging for the assessment of bone and crystal deposits, low-dose applications such as whole-body CT, as well as spectral imaging applications including the characterization of crystal deposits and imaging of metal hardware. Finally, we will highlight the potential of PCD-CT in emerging applications, underscoring the need for further preclinical and clinical validation to unleash its full clinical potential.</p

Computed tomography of the cervical spine: comparison of image quality between a standard-dose and a low-dose protocol using filtered back-projection and iterative reconstruction

Objective: To compare image quality of a standard-dose (SD) and a low-dose (LD) cervical spine CT protocol using filtered back-projection (FBP) and iterative reconstruction (IR). Materials and methods: Forty patients investigated by cervical spine CT were prospectively randomised into two groups: SD (120kVp, 275mAs) and LD (120kVp, 150mAs), both applying automatic tube current modulation. Data were reconstructed using both FBP and sinogram-affirmed IR. Image noise, signal-to-noise (SNR) and contrast-to-noise (CNR) ratios were measured. Two radiologists independently and blindly assessed the following anatomical structures at C3-C4 and C6-C7 levels, using a four-point scale: intervertebral disc, content of neural foramina and dural sac, ligaments, soft tissues and vertebrae. They subsequently rated overall image quality using a ten-point scale. Results: For both protocols and at each disc level, IR significantly decreased image noise and increased SNR and CNR, compared with FBP. SNR and CNR were statistically equivalent in LD-IR and SD-FBP protocols. Regardless of the dose and disc level, the qualitative scores with IR compared with FBP, and with LD-IR compared with SD-FBP, were significantly higher or not statistically different for intervertebral discs, neural foramina and ligaments, while significantly lower or not statistically different for soft tissues and vertebrae. The overall image quality scores were significantly higher with IR compared with FBP, and with LD-IR compared with SD-FBP. Conclusion: LD-IR cervical spine CT provides better image quality for intervertebral discs, neural foramina and ligaments, and worse image quality for soft tissues and vertebrae, compared with SD-FBP, while reducing radiation dose by approximately 40

Chances and challenges of photon-counting CT in musculoskeletal imaging

In musculoskeletal imaging, CT is used in a wide range of indications, either alone or in a synergistic approach with MRI. While MRI is the preferred modality for the assessment of soft tissues and bone marrow, CT excels in the imaging of high-contrast structures, such as mineralized tissue. Additionally, the introduction of dual-energy CT in clinical practice two decades ago opened the door for spectral imaging applications. Recently, the advent of photon-counting detectors (PCDs) has further advanced the potential of CT, at least in theory. Compared to conventional energy-integrating detectors (EIDs), PCDs provide superior spatial resolution, reduced noise, and intrinsic spectral imaging capabilities. This review briefly describes the technical advantages of PCDs. For each technical feature, the corresponding applications in musculoskeletal imaging will be discussed, including high-spatial resolution imaging for the assessment of bone and crystal deposits, low-dose applications such as whole-body CT, as well as spectral imaging applications including the characterization of crystal deposits and imaging of metal hardware. Finally, we will highlight the potential of PCD-CT in emerging applications, underscoring the need for further preclinical and clinical validation to unleash its full clinical potential.</p