Aims: To present our experience from the diagnosis and treatment of axillary vein thrombosis in seven cases. Methods: We reviewed the medical records and x-rays of all the patients who were admitted and treated for axillary vein thrombosis (AVT) in the Orthopaedic and Vascular Surgery Departments of our hospital between 1995 and 2001. Results: We reviewed seven patients (þve males and two females, mean age 52.3 years old) presented in our hospital with AVT. Two of these cases occurred following musculoskeletal injuries (extrinsic trauma), three after central line insertion for oncological treatment (intrinsic trauma), one was related to the oral contraceptive pill (thrombophilic tendency) and one case was effort related (Paget-Schroetter syndrome). Clinically there was plethoria, arm swelling and persistent superþcial veins which were aggravated with activity and dependency. Venography or Duplex scan was used to establish the diagnosis. Causing factors and associated morbidity were assessed and treated. All of the cases of vein thrombosis responded well to conservative treatment (heparin/low molecular weight heparin for three months). None of the cases developed pulmonary embolism and we had no mortality. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that the innocent appearance of upper limb swelling should raise the index of suspicion of a potential underlying vascular lesion. Although quite rare, missed AVT may cause associated morbidity but very rarely mortality.

Introduction: Osteoid osteomas (OO) are benign skeletal tumours with a predilection for the long bones of young patients. Many different methods are used for their treatment, conservative or operative, less or more radical with variable technology applications to destruct the “nidus”.

Material & Method: We present thirty eight patients with OO who were treated in our hospital between 1995–2001. Their medical records and radiographs are retrospectively reviewed and the patients were contacted and interviewed with a telephone discussion.

Results: In thirty two cases OO were located in the lower limb, two in upper limb and four in spine. Thirty seven of those were treated operatively using open wide excision of nidus in twenty two of which with additional bone grafting.In three of the cases after excision of OO, precautious internal fixation was applied to the bone. Two patients developed deep vein thrombosis, another two had increased pain in anterior superior iliac spine from the bone graft harvesting area. We had one recurrence, which was treated with a second operation.

Conclusion: We conclude that although the traditional method of treatment is the wide surgical excision, this technique has increased morbidity and higher risk for complications comparing to more minimally invasive procedures. We suggest that it should be the first choice of treatment for either spinal or recurrent OO.

Introduction: Enchondromas are benign cartilaginous tumors, which are most often localized, in the small bones of the hand. Treatment methods fall into a broad spectrum ranging from conservative, medical therapies, to a variety of surgical procedures, which may or may not employ the use of local adjuvant treatment or bone grafting.

Material & Method: We present thirty four patients with hand enchondromas treated surgically in our department during the last eleven years. Their medical records and radiographs were reviewed retrospectively and the patients were contacted and interviewed by telephone.

Results: The patients were treated operatively with an intralesional approach, with meticulous curettage of the bone lesion, use of phenol 5% and grafting using coralline hydroxyapatite. X-rays taken over the first postoperative year revealed adequate bone synthesis at the site of enchondroma excavation, and there was no evidence of recurrence, fracture, infection or other complication related to the procedure.

Conclusion: We conclude that the combination of curettage of the lesion with the use of phenol as local adjuvant and grafting using coralline hydroxyapatite during the surgical treatment of enchondromas, is a safe technique to reduce or prevent recurrence and allow adequate and uncomplicated local new bone formation.