Introduction and objective: Distal biceps tendon ruptures commonly occur in the dominant arm of male between 40 and 60 years of age. The degenerative tendon avulses from the radial tuberosity. Conservative treatment results in decreased flexion and supination strength. Surgical reattachment is the treatment of choice and several surgical approaches and fixation devices have been proposed. The purpose of this study was to compare the results of two different techniques.

Materials and Methods: Twenty-four consecutive patients with distal biceps tendon ruptures were randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups: 12 using 2 biodegradable anchors through a modified 2-incision technique (group A) and 12 patients underwent distal biceps repair using an Endobutton^® (Acufex Smith & Nephew, Andover MA) using a single transverse anterior incision (group B). All patients were male. Average age was 40 (33–57) in groupA and 42 (29–59) in group B. The rupture was located in the dominant arm in 6 patients in groupA and 7 in group B.

The interval between injury and surgery was similar in both groups (< 12 days). Postoperative protocol and rehabilitation was the same in both groups. Full range of motion as tolerated was allowed two week after surgery.

Active range of motion, Mayo Elbow Performance Score (MEPS), pain, strength (Dexter isokinetic testing), patient satisfaction, operative time and elbow radiographs were evaluated at 12 months postoperatively. The mean follow-up was 17 months (range, 12–34).

Results: Average operative time (minutes):50 (group A) and 42 (group B). There were no complications in group B. Two patients in group A had a transient posterior interosseous nerve neurapraxia with spontaneous full recovery after 3 months, and other one developed symptomatic heterotopic bone formation and synostosis was resected. There was no statistical significant difference in MEPS score, range of motion, time to return to work or strength between both groups. All patients in both groups were satisfied with their final result and eventually returned to their pre-injury activity level without sequelae after 12.2 (group A) and 10.3 (group B) weeks.

Conclusion: Functional results of the two techniques studied were similar. Anterior approach showed lesser complications and less time off work than 2-incision technique. Endobutton^® single approach assisted tecnique should be considered the gold standard procedure for distal biceps tendon repair due to its shorter operative time and lower morbidity. However, we need series with a longer follow-up to confirm these results.

Aim: To assess the functional and occupational outcome of open elbow arthrolysis for post-traumatic contractures.

Materials and Methods: Prospective evaluation of 60 consecutive cases (86% male,14%female) of post-traumatic extrinsic elbow stiffness. Average age was 37 years (24–48). Moderate to high physical demand at work in 96% of cases. 56% of cases involved the right side.

Open arthrolysis (column procedure) trough a lateral (72%) or posterior (28%) approach followed a minimum rehabilitation period of 6 months post original injury. In 8 cases, an anterior transposition of the ulnar nerve was required. Patients received postoperative analgesia with Bupivacaine 0,0125% trough an indwelling catheter. No chemical or radiotherapy ectopic calcification prophylaxis was used. Postoperative complications, range of motion, X-ray evaluation, time to return to work, activity level and workers’ compensation were evaluated at the end of follow-up (24 months, range 12–36).

Results: Complications occurred in 14% of cases. Two patients required revision surgery for ectopic calcifications restricting prono-supination. The flexo-extension (FE) arc of motion improved from 49 ° to 115 ° and that of prono-supination (PS) from 100 ° to 158 ° The results were found to be statistically significant for FE (p= 0.054) and PS (p> 0,00001).

In 20% of cases, patients returned to their previous job with some restrictions (33% disability) and 12% changed to a less physically demanding occupation.

Conclusions: Open arthrolysis is an effective surgical procedure to improve mobility in post-traumatic stiff elbows. It is indicated when the joint interline is preserved. Good functional and occupational outcome in a high percentage of case in the working population was observed.

Introduction: Femoroacetabular Impingement had been until now an unknown pathology. It causes pain in the movements of flexion-adduction-internal rotation, due to a bump effect between the head-neck surface of the femur and the anterior acetabular rim.

Material and Method: We analysed our 14 first patients, 3 operated bilaterally with 1 year F.U.. In bilateral cases, the time between both operations ranged from 5 to 8 weeks. Mean Age: 36 years (27 to 48), all sports active patients.. The technique that we used was through our modified Hueter approach . The superoanterior rim of the acetabulum was excised as well as the deformity at the femoral side that causes a less femoral neck-offset. For that purpose we used special maxilofacial-reamers instead of chisels. In this way we avoid any bleeding from the femoral neck. With this technique we avoid a Trochanter osteotomy, as performed by other authors (Ganz, Trousdale) .

Results: Pain relief was obtained 4 weeks after surgery in 13 from 14 patients. Mean hospitalization time was 2,6 days (2 to 5). Improvement in ROM was significative (p= 0,006): from −17 mean internal rotation (−14 to −28) at 80 flexion to +23 mean one month postop internal rotation (14 to 32).There was a significant improvement of hip score according to Merle d’Aubigne evaluation (p=0,017): 13,8 points preop (13 to 15) to 16,9 at F.U. (16–18). Neither Trendelemburg nor osteonecrosis was observed in any patient, as possible complications related to the approach. Mean time of rehabilitation was 3,8 weeks ( 3 to 5). All patients returned to their respective sports activities

Discussion: The Modified Femoroacetabular Osteoplasty allows rapid improvement of the normal hip motion , relatively short rehabilitation time and sports resumption as well. However midterm new osteoarthritic changes had to be assessed, although clinical and functional improvement has been evident. This surgical procedure makes us think about other alternatives to hip endoprosthesis in young adults.

Introduction: knee revision in absence of Extensor Mechanism has been always a challenging problem in Orthopaedics. Many authors are in favour to abandone any endoprosthetic substitution in front of such a situation.

We think osteotendinous allografts, in this particular case whole Extensor Mechanism allografts, could play an essential role before any Knee Arthrodesis.

Material and Method: From 1999 up to 2004 11 patients (4 male, 7 female) (mean age 72, range 68 to 86) underwent to a whole Extensor Mechanism allografting procedure. Mean follow up was 2.7 years (1 to 5 years).

In the first four cases a whole Extensor Mechanism allograft was implanted, while the next seven cases the allograft was reinforced by means of a Leeds-Keio Dacron band.

Results: There was no infections in this serie. The mean obtained R.O.M. in the first three months was – 5 of active extension (range 0 to −15) and 95 active flexion (range 80 – 110). However 3 from the 4 former operated cases had a progressive loss of active extension up to −25 (range −20 to −35) at 18 months, that did not increase after this period. Ultrasonic exams showed a lengthening of the patellar tendon in these cases. None of these 3 patients wished to undergo to a patellar tendon reinforcement.

On the other hand those later cases, where patellar tendon was reinforced did not show any change over the time (at 18 months mean active extension was maintained to −5 (range 0 to 15)

Conclusions: Extensor mechanism allografts are very useful in difficult knee revisions with absence of extensor mechanism, so that knee arthrodesis is not the method of choice for these patients. However augmentation of patellar tendon is necessary to maintain with the years an active extension.