A Simple Device in Shoulder Arthroscopy: the Suture Assistant

Arthroscopic reconstructive surgery in the shoulder is an extremely demanding. The advent of suture anchors, arthroscopic knot-tying techniques, and new arthroscopic instruments has greatly facilitated its development. Knowledge of the anatomy and surgical principles alone are not enough. Good visualization is critical. We describe a simple home-made device that can be very useful in improving visualization and in helping to retrieve sutures during the knot-tying stage, especially in smaller shoulders. We introduce the concept of 'bringing the suture' to the instrument rather than 'taking the instrument to the suture.

Arthroscopic surgery in the posterior compartment of the knee: Suture fixation of the anterior and posterior cruciate ligament avulsions

Anterior and posterior cruciate ligament avulsion injuries in the posterior compartment of the knee are most commonly dealt with using open approaches. We report an arthroscopic method of treatment using sutures, without the need of any metal implants, that can be safely used in patients with open physes and without the need of a 70 degrees arthroscope

Magnetic resonance imaging of subcutaneous diffuse neurofibroma

A 31-year-old woman presented with increasing pain and tenderness of a long-standing soft tissue mass on her back. MRI showed a network of interconnecting tubular areas, which were T1 isointense and T2 hyperintense relative to skeletal muscle, and displayed marked Gd-DTPA enhancement. The lesion was situated within the subcutaneous fat. Clinically and radiologically, this mass was considered to be a subcutaneous venous haemangioma. Histological examination of the excised mass showed a diffuse neurofibroma with ectatic vessels and entrapped adipose tissue. Similar MRI appearances of subcutaneous haemangioma and diffuse neurofibroma may result in failure to make the correct diagnosis and in inappropriate management.published_or_final_versio