Synovial sarcoma (SS) is a malignant soft tissue sarcoma with a poor prognosis because of late local recurrence and distant metastases. To our knowledge, no studies have minimum follow-up of 10 years that evaluate long-term outcomes for survivors. Data on 62 patients who had been treated for SS from 1968 to 1999 were studied retrospectively in a multicenter study. The following parameters were examined for their potential prognostic value: age at diagnosis, sex, tumour site and size, histology, histological grade, fusion type (SYT-SSX1 vs. SYT-SSX2), and surgical margin status. Mean follow-up of living patients was 17.2 years, and of dead patients 7.7 years.Aim
Method
We retrospectively evaluated 18 patients with a mean age of 37.3 years (14 to 72) who had undergone pelvic reconstruction stabilised with a non-vascularised fibular graft after resection of a primary bone tumour. The mean follow-up was 10.14 years (2.4 to 15.7). The mean Musculoskeletal Tumor Society Score was 76.5% (50% to 100%). Primary union was achieved in the majority of reconstructions within a mean of 22.9 weeks (7 to 60.6). The three patients with delayed or nonunion all received additional therapy (chemotherapy/radiation) (p = 0.0162). The complication rate was comparable to that of other techniques described in the literature. Non-vascularised fibular transfer to the pelvis is a simpler, cheaper and quicker procedure than other currently described techniques. It is a biological reconstruction with good results and a relatively low donor site complication rate. However, adjuvant therapy can negatively affect the outcome of such grafts.
We evaluated 31 patients who were treated with a non-vascularised fibular graft after resection of primary musculoskeletal tumours, with a median follow-up of 5.6 years (3 to 26.7 years). Primary union was achieved in 89% (41 of 46) of the grafts in a median period of 24 weeks. All 25 grafts in 18 patients without additional chemotheraphy and/or radiotherapy achieved primary union, compared with 16 of the 21 grafts (76%; 13 patients) with additional therapy (p = 0.017). Radiographs showed an increase in diameter in 70% (59) of the grafts. There were seven fatigue fractures in six patients, but only two needed treatment. Non-vascularised fibular transfer is a simpler, less expensive and a shorter procedure than the use of vascularised grafts and allows remodelling of the fibula at the donor site. It is a biological reconstruction with good long-term results, and a relatively low donor site complication rate of 16%.
We have reviewed 183 patients (215 knees) assessing results and indications of High Tibial Osteotomies in medial gonarthrosis.
Healing delay was 55 days for closing and 70 for opening. R.O.M. was 125°. 25 knees are painful. 1/After opening, scoring is 77 and valgus angle is 3°. 2/After closing, scoring is 80 and valgus angle is 5°. 3/Global results: very good: 26%, good: 33%, medium: 28% and poor: 13%.
Clinical results are satisfying in early surgery. Reaxation is good for delaying or managing arthritis. The average of 5° mechanical valgus at osteotomy seems to be effective.
-Closing wedge for medium varus in younger patients. H.T.O. allows quite pain-free knees, restores axes and avoids or delays T.K.R. H.T.O. gives satisfactory results and should be then considered the best choice for early prevention and treatment of varus knee arthritis.
Purpose of the study: Congenital dislocation of the patella is a very rare condition. The pathology is inconsistent and treatment modalities are unclear. The aim of the study was to show the results of operative treatment of congenital dislocation of the patella. Material and methods: 9 knee joints in 7 patients with congenital dislocation of the patella have been treated between 1989 and 1999. Additional diagnoses were Rubinstein-Taybe syndrome, Larsen syndrome, pteryg-ium syndrome and cerebral palsy in 1 patient each. The age at the time of surgery was 8.9 years on average (between 4.3 and 14.8 years). In 6 knees primary treatment was a medial shifting of the quadriceps muscle according to Stanisavljevic, in the other 3 a combination of lateral release according to Green, proximal quadriceps realignment according to Insall and either medial displacement of the tibial tuberosity according to Elmslie or a duplication of the patellar tendon according to Goldthwait had been done. Results: The follow-up time was 6.4 years on average (between 2 and 12.5 years). 4 of 9 patellae remained stable after 1 operation, 3 remained stable after 2 operations and 2 remained unstable. 4 of the 9 knees were symptomatic at the time of follow-up. All patients were able to walk and to run and all had full extension. Apart from recurrence there were no major complications. Conclusions: Permanent dislocation of the patella reduces the extension force of the quadriceps muscle significantly. Medial shifting of the quadriceps muscle according to Stanisavljevic gives the best chance to reduce the patella permanently. Postoperative taping, splinting and muscle-exercises are often necessary to get a stable situation.
We used a combined cuboid/cuneiform osteotomy to treat residual adductus deformity in idiopathic and secondary club feet. The mean follow-up for 27 feet (22 idiopathic, four arthrogrypotic and one related to amniotic band syndrome) was 5.0 years (2.0 to 9.8). All healed uneventfully except for one early wound infection. No further surgery was required in the 22 idiopathic club feet but four of five with secondary deformity needed further surgery. At follow-up all patients with idiopathic and two with secondary club feet were free from pain and satisfied with the result. In the idiopathic feet, adductus of the forefoot, as measured by the calcaneal second metatarsal angle, improved on average from 20.7 ± 2.0° to 8.9 ± 1.8° (p <
0.05). In four feet, with a follow-up of more than six years, there was complete recurrence of the deformity. In the secondary club feet, there was no improvement of the adductus. We conclude that in most, but not all, idiopathic club feet a cuboid/cuneiform osteotomy can provide satisfactory correction of adductus deformity. Those with secondary deformity require other procedures.
One concern about the fixation of HA-coated implants is the possible disintegration of the surface, with the migration of HA granules into the joint space, producing third-body wear. We report a study of six revisions of HA-coated polyethylene RM cups at 9 to 14 years after successful primary arthroplasty. In all six hips, we found HA granules embedded in the articulating surface of the polyethylene, with abrasive wear of the cup and the metal femoral head. The cup had loosened in four hips and three showed severe osteolysis of the proximal femur. Third-body wear due to HA particles from implant coating may produce severe clinical problems with few early warning signs. Further clinical, radiological and histological observations are needed to determine the possible incidence of this late complication in the various types of coating of a variety of substrates.
Twenty-four children with infantile or juvenile idiopathic scoliosis had their spines corrected and solidly fused posteriorly before the age of eleven years. The growth of the fusion area was then accurately measured for a mean of 4.5 years during the adolescent growth spurt. During this period all longitudinal growth in the posterior elements ceased. The vertebral bodies continued to grow anteriorly, but the thick posterior fusion prevented the development of a lordosis. Initially the anterior growth was accommodated by narrowing of the intervertebral disc spaces, but eventually the vertebral bodies bulged laterally towards the convexity and pivoted on the posterior fusion, giving rise to loss of correction, increasing vertebral rotation and recurrence of the rib hump.
