Low grade fibromyxoid sarcoma: a case report and review of the literature

Low grade fibromyxoid sarcoma (LGFMS) is a distinctive variant of fibrosarcoma with a high metastasizing potential and sometimes long interval between tumour presentation and metastasis. We present the case of a 50-year-old male who developed a large mass in the posterior aspect of his lower left thigh. The tumor was excised with preservation of the neurovascular structures surrounded by the mass. The tumour measured 11 × 10 × 9 cm and on pathology evaluation was diagnosed as LGFMS. Due to the relative rarity of LGFMS, there is no dedicated protocol regarding follow-up recommendations. In order to early diagnose possible metastasis it is important to inform the patients about the longstanding metastatic potential of the disease

Gait Kinetic and Kinematic Changes in Chronic Low Back Pain Patients and the Effect of Manual Therapy: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Patients with chronic back pain as a result of degenerated disc disease, besides pain, also present with impaired gait. The purpose of the article was to evaluate kinetic and kinematic characteristics during gait analysis in patients with chronic low back pain as a result of degenerated disc disease, before and after the application of physiotherapy, including manual therapy techniques. Seventy-five patients suffering from chronic low back pain were randomly divided into 3 groups of 25 each. Each group received five sessions (one per week) of interventions with the first group receiving manual therapy treatment, the second a sham treatment and the third, classic physiotherapy (stretching exercises, TENS and massage). The effectiveness of each treatment was evaluated using an optoelectronic system for recording and analysis of gait (kinetic and kinematic data). Patients overall showed an impaired gait pattern with a difference in kinetic and kinematic data between the left and the right side. Following the application of the above-named interventions, only the group that received manual therapy showed a tendency towards symmetry between the right and left side. In patients suffering from chronic low back pain as a result of degenerated disc disease, the application of five manual therapy sessions seems to produce a tendency towards symmetry in gait

Decompressive surgery for degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis: long-term results

We report the outcome of 50 patients with degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis who were treated surgically by spinal decompression between 1984 and 1995. Their mean age at the time of surgery was 59.9 (45–77) years and the mean follow-up was 11.6 (6.1–17.2) years. Five patients had a concomitant spinal fusion. The preoperative data were collected retrospectively from the patients’ charts. The follow-up data were obtained from a clinical examination and questionnaire including overall pain, ability to work, walking ability, use of analgesics and satisfaction with surgery. The outcome was rated as excellent in 23 patients, good in 13 patients, fair in 9 patients and poor in 5 patients. Patients with concomitant fusion had good to excellent results and were more satisfied, whereas patients with long-standing preoperative symptoms had poor to fair result and were less satisfied