[Non-traumatic osteonecrosis of the patella, a rare cause of knee pain].

Non-traumatic osteonecrosis of the patella is a rare cause of knee pain that must be present in the diagnostic discussion of disability of the knee with subacute character. The author describes a case in which the characteristic images had an important role in defining the etiology of disabling knee pain, developing pathophysiological hypotheses that may have contributed to the clinical presentation, including situations of overuse of the joint.

[Osteomyelitis after septic trochanteric bursitis - clinical case].

We report the clinical case of a 76 years-old woman with a subacute trochanteric inflammatory pain with low-grade fever and laboratory markers of acute inflammation, associated with the ultrasonographic evidence of bursitis and radiologic evidence of femoral erosions, that resolved after intravenous antibiotherapy. Although rare, the infectious etiology should be considered in patients with clinical manifestations of bursitis and signs of systemic involvement.

[Colonic acute pseudo-obstruction: uncommon manifestation of vertebral fracture].

We report the clinical case of a 73-years-old woman with sarcoidosis since 29 years-old, on long-term corticosteroid therapy, who presented with symptoms of abdominal pain after an episode of acute and severe low back pain associated with significant functional impairment, in the context of D11 fracture. Although infrequent, recent spine fractures should be considered in osteoporotic or osteoporotic risk patients presenting with pain and abdominal distension.

[Nailfold capillaroscopy in the evaluation of Raynaud's phenomenon and undifferentiated connective tissue disease].

Background: Microvascular abnormalities involved in the pathogenic mechanism of several connective tissue disorders can be detected by nailfold capillaroscopy.

Objectives: Evaluation of the interest of nailfold capillaroscopy results in patients with Raynaud s phenomenon or undifferentiated connective tissue disease and their correlation with diagnostic and therapeutical evolution.

Methods: Selection of capillaroscopic and laboratory results of patients with the diagnosis of Raynaud s phenomenon (without defined connective tissue disease) or undifferentiated connective tissue disease.

[Macrodystrophia lipomatosa. A rare disease with rheumatic manifestations].

The author presents the case of a 32-year-old woman with the diagnosis of Macrodystrophia Lipomatosa associated with carpal tunnel syndrome. Macrodystrophia Lipomatosa is a rare form of localized gigantism characterised by an abnormal overgrowth of the mesenchymal elements of one or more digits. For the rheumatologist this disease has interest due the possibility of musculoskeletal complaints, namely compression of the neurovascular structures and local degenerative articular disease.