No recurrences in selected patients after curettage with cryotherapy for grade I chondrosarcomas.

Background: The low aggressiveness of Grade I chondrosarcomas is compatible with conservative surgical treatment.

Questions/purpose: We asked whether combined curettage and cryotherapy would yield low rates of recurrence and whether supplemental internal fixation would retain function with low rates of complications in patients with Grade I central chondrosarcomas of the proximal humerus or distal femur.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 15 patients: nine women and six men with a mean age of 45 years (range, 26-70 years).

A new reconstructive technique for intercalary defects of long bones: the association of massive allograft with vascularized fibular autograft. Long-term results and comparison with alternative techniques.

In 1988, the excellent results obtained with the use of vascularized fibular autograft as a salvage procedure in massive allograft failures caused by non-union or massive resorption prompted a trial of an original reconstructive technique for intercalary defects based on the primary combination of the two types of graft. The authors believe the excellent final results and the ability to avoid further salvage surgical procedures justify the primary application of this more complicated technique despite longer surgical times.

Hip pain from impingement and dysplasia in patients aged 20-50 years. Workup and role for reconstruction.

In the 20-50-year age group, hip pain usually indicates dysplasia. Chronic mechanical pain is the usual pattern, although acute pain caused by avulsion or degeneration of the labrum may occur. The morphological characteristics of the dysplastic hip should be evaluated, and the link between the dysplasia and the osteoarthritis should be confirmed.

[Mini-invasive fixation of proximal femoral fractures: what benefit for elderly patients?].

Fixation is used to treat more than two-thirds of proximal femur fractures. The mortality rate is about 25% at one year in these patients, who have an average age of about 80 years. This is mainly due to aging, but also to a gradual deterioration of general health (especially if the operation has been delayed, or after a long stay in the surgical ward) and to local complications (displacement, infection, hematoma).