Comparison of Minimally Invasive Operative Treatment with Conservative Treatment for Acute, Minimally Displaced Scaphoid Fractures at 12 Months' Follow-up.

 Minimally displaced scaphoid fractures can be challenging to diagnose and treat. Cannulated scaphoid screws have made percutaneous stabilization highly effective.  Would minimally invasive operative treatment of minimally displaced scaphoid fractures yield faster return to work when compared with patients treated conservatively? How do functional and patient satisfaction scores compare between the two groups at 12-months follow-up?  Records from 18 patients (mean age 28.

An 11- to 15-year clinical outcome study of the Advance Medial Pivot total knee arthroplasty: pivot knee arthroplasty.

Aims: The Advance Medial-Pivot total knee arthroplasty (TKA) was designed to reflect contemporary data regarding the kinematics of the knee. We wished to examine the long-term results obtained with this prosthesis by extending a previous evaluation.

Patients And Methods: We retrospectively evaluated prospectively collected data from 225 consecutive patients (41 men and 184 women; mean age at surgery 71 years, 52 to 84) who underwent 284 TKAs with a mean follow-up of 13.

Operative management of humeral nonunions. Factors that influence the outcome.

Unlabelled: The purpose of this study is to present the outcome of surgically treated humeral nonunions and find factors that affect the outcome. Forty-two patients with humeral nonunions (30 shaft, 7 proximal and 5 distal) were reviewed in a prospective manner. Treatment was based on a specific algorithm.

Reconstruction nailing for ipsilateral femoral neck and shaft fractures.

The surgical management of ipsilateral fractures of the femoral neck and shaft presents a difficult and challenging problem for the orthopaedic surgeon. The purpose of the present study was to report the mid-term results and complications in a series of patients who sustained ipsilateral femoral neck and shaft fractures and treated in our trauma department with a single reconstruction nail for both fractures. Eleven patients were included in the study with an average age of 46.

An anatomical update on the morphologic variations of S1 and S2.

Although percutaneous fixation with iliosacral screws has been shown to be a safe and reproducible method for sacroiliac dislocation and sacral fractures, it is a technically demanding technique, and one of its contraindications is sacral anatomical variations and dysmorphism. The incidence and pattern of S1 and S2 anatomical variations were evaluated in 61 patients (35 women and 26 men) using magnetic resonance imaging of the sacrum in an attempt to explore the possible existence of groups of individuals in whom percutaneous sacroiliac fixation is difficult due to local anatomy. S1 and S2 dimensions in both the transverse and coronal planes were recorded and evaluated.

Repair of an anteroinferior glenoid defect by the latarjet procedure: quantitative assessment of the repair by computed tomography.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine quantitatively whether the Latarjet procedure (coracoid transfer to the glenoid) is sufficient to restore a significant defect area of the glenoid.

Methods: Fourteen cadaveric shoulders were used (mean age, 76 years; range, 72 to 87 years). An anteroinferior glenoid defect was created and then the coracoid osteotomized to its angle and transferred to the defect.

Skeletal muscle hydatid cysts presenting as soft tissue masses.

Muscle hydatidosis is rare, accounting only for 3-5% of all cases. We present a case series of 9 patients (8 male, one female, mean age 59.3 years, range 48-75 years) with primary echinococcosis of skeletal muscles.

Ankle and foot osteomyelitis: treatment protocol and clinical results.

Introduction: A management protocol for ankle and foot osteomyelitis and the outcome in 84 patients treated in a unit with special interest in musculoskeletal infection, is presented.

Patients And Methods: Patients' mean age was 50.7+/-16.

A mid-term clinical outcome study of the Advance Medial Pivot knee arthroplasty.

The Advance Medial Pivot Total Knee Arthroplasty (Wright Medical Technology, Arlington, Tennessee, USA) has been designed to reproduce modern ideas of knee kinematics. We report a prospective clinical outcome study of 284 arthroplasties in 225 consecutive patients with a mean follow-up of 6.7 years (range 4 to 9 years).

Use of a mini-external fixator for the treatment of hand fractures.

Purpose: To evaluate the outcome of hand fractures managed with mini-external fixators (MEFs) in order to assess their usefulness in different fracture types and to make recommendations regarding potential applications.

Methods: Fifty-one patients with 59 metacarpal and phalangeal fractures were treated with MEFs. Fixators were used to reduce the fracture or to achieve volar plate arthroplasty when anatomical joint reconstruction was impossible.

Autogenous osteochondral transfer in the femoral head after osteonecrosis.

Osteonecrosis of the femoral head is a major problem, especially in younger patients. Most of them need a total hip replacement. This article presents a case of a successful autologous osteochondral transfer.

Purulent flexor tenosynovitis: factors influencing the functional outcome.

This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the factors that influence the final outcome of treatment of purulent flexor tenosynovitis, viz. delay in treatment, severity of the condition, the infecting pathogen and the method of treatment. Of 41 patients with this condition treated by drainage and irrigation through two small incisions (16) and wide incision (25), 16 were treated after a delay.

Treatment of intra-articular fractures of the distal radius: fluoroscopic or arthroscopic reduction?

In a randomised prospective study, 20 patients with intra-articular fractures of the distal radius underwent arthroscopically- and fluoroscopically-assisted reduction and external fixation plus percutaneous pinning. Another group of 20 patients with the same fracture characteristics underwent fluoroscopically-assisted reduction alone and external fixation plus percutaneous pinning. The patients were evaluated clinically and radiologically at follow-up of 24 months.

Multicentre use of a porous tantalum monoblock acetabular component.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the minimum five-year prospective results from the multicentre use of a porous tantalum monoblock acetabular component for primary total hip arthroplasty (THA). A multicentre study was performed in 253 consecutive primary THAs in three separate surgical centres. All patients underwent identical postoperative protocols including radiological and clinical evaluation.

Total knee replacement performed with either a mini-midvastus or a standard approach: a prospective randomised clinical and radiological trial.

We report the clinical and radiological results of a two- to three-year prospective randomised study which was designed to compare a minimally-invasive technique with a standard technique in total knee replacement and was undertaken between January 2004 and May 2007. The mini-midvastus approach was used on 50 patients (group A) and a standard approach on 50 patients (group B). The mean follow-up in both groups was 23 months (24 to 35).

Survivorship of monoblock trabecular metal cups in primary THA : midterm results.

Unlabelled: Monoblock trabecular metal cups are made of a novel porous material intended to enhance ingrowth and improve fixation. We prospectively followed 223 consecutive patients with 245 trabecular metal acetabular cups implanted during primary total hip arthroplasties to determine the overall survivorship of the implant, and any association of survivorship to primary diagnosis and age, and to determine the fate of polar gaps and cysts. Minimum followup was 36 months (mean, 60 months; range, 36-112 months).

Compartmental infections of the hand.

Suppurative conditions of the hand-wrist compartments result in a "vicious circle" of infection and increase in compartmental pressure that reduces perfusion of soft tissues and facilitates spreading of the infection. We have assessed the outcome of such infections in relation to the infecting pathogen, delay in diagnosis, and method of treatment. Fifty-nine patients were treated with drainage, irrigation, and antibiotics and followed up for 6-58 (median 18) months.

The growth differentiation factor 5 (GDF5) core promoter polymorphism is not associated with knee osteoarthritis in the Greek population.

Genetic factors have been shown to play an important role in the etiology of osteoarthritis (OA). A functional single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) +104T/C; rs143383 in the 5' UTR of the GDF5 gene was recently associated with susceptibility to osteoarthritis in the Japanese and Chinese population. Our objective was to assess whether this SNP was also associated with knee OA in a Greek Caucasian population sample.

Osteonecrosis of the femoral head: etiology, imaging and treatment.

Osteonecrosis of the femoral head is a disabling clinical entity affecting young adults that usually leads to destruction of the hip joint. A high index of suspicion is necessary for the diagnosis due to the insidious onset of the bone infarcts and the lack of specific clinical signs at the early stages. Many etiology-associated factors have been identified reducing thus the number of idiopathic cases.

Arthrodesis of the knee with a long intramedullary nail following the failure of a total knee arthroplasty as the result of infection. Surgical technique.

Background: Knee arthrodesis can be an effective treatment option for relieving pain and restoring some function after the failure of a total knee arthroplasty as the result of infection. The purpose of the present study was to review the outcome of a staged approach for arthrodesis of the knee with a long intramedullary nail after the failure of a total knee arthroplasty as the result of infection.

Methods: We reviewed the results for twelve patients who underwent knee arthrodesis after the removal of a prosthesis because of infection.

Patellar tendon length after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: a comparative magnetic resonance imaging study between patellar and hamstring tendon autografts.

Patellar tendon shortening after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction may be associated with anterior knee pain or patellofemoral arthritis. The present study was designed to compare postoperative changes in patellar tendon length after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction between patellar tendon and hamstring tendon autograft. Magnetic resonance images of both knees (operated and healthy) and functional outcome were documented at least 1 year postoperatively in 16 patellar tendon harvested patients and in 32 hamstrings harvested patients.

Revision total hip arthroplasty with a custom cementless stem with distal cross-locking screws. Early results in femora with large proximal segmental deficiencies.

Background: Revision total hip arthroplasty in the setting of a large proximal segmental femoral deficiency and/or discontinuity between the proximal and distal parts of the femur remains a challenging problem. We describe the use of a cementless stem with distal cross-locking screws to provide stability of the femoral implant in this situation.

Methods: Seventeen custom fully porous and hydroxyapatite-coated titanium femoral stems with distal cross-locking titanium screws were implanted in sixteen patients during revision total hip arthroplasty.

Arthrodesis of the knee with a long intramedullary nail following the failure of a total knee arthroplasty as the result of infection.

Background: Knee arthrodesis can be an effective treatment option for relieving pain and restoring some function after the failure of a total knee arthroplasty as the result of infection. The purpose of the present study was to review the outcome of a staged approach for arthrodesis of the knee with a long intramedullary nail after the failure of a total knee arthroplasty as the result of infection.

Methods: We reviewed the results for twelve patients who underwent knee arthrodesis after the removal of a prosthesis because of infection.

Restoration of function and sensitivity utilizing a homodigital neurovascular island flap after amputation injuries of the fingertip.

Sixty-three fingertip amputations in 50 patients were reconstructed using a homodigital neurovascular island flap technique based on a single neurovascular pedicle without further shortening of the distal phalanx. The procedure was carried out under regional anaesthesia, using a tourniquet and magnifying loupes. All of the flaps survived and achieved normal or adequate two-point discrimination without any painful scar or cold hypersensitivity.