[An optical method for investigation of thickness of damaged articular cartilage].

Objectives: The aim of this study was to develop an optical system to measure damaged cartilage thickness in-vivo and real time using an optical fiber probe and conducting ex-vivo elastic light-scattering spectroscopy experiments on different thicknesses of damaged calf's patella cartilage.

Materials And Methods: An elastic light-scattering spectroscopy system was assembled with a miniature UV-VIS spectrometer, halogen-tungsten light source, laptop and optical fiber probe. Elastic light-scattering spectra were taken on the control and damaged calf's patella cartilages of 40 samples.

Surgery is not always necessary in intraosseous lipoma.

Intraosseous lipoma is the rarest primary bone tumor, is usually asymptomatic, and is often discovered incidentally during unrelated investigations. Lipomas usually undergo varying degrees of involution, with necrosis, cyst formation, and calcification. Careful radiological-pathological correlation is required to avoid misinterpretation.

[Osteochondral allograft transplantation in the knee].

Despite significant improvements for the past 20 years in the treatment of full-thickness chondral defects with the use of chondroprotective biological methods (microfracture, autologous chondrocyte transplantation, osteochondral autograft, and periosteal graft), the treatment of large osteochondral defects in young and physically active population is still challenging. Alternatives for the treatment of chondral defects exceeding 3 cm in size are limited, and among them, allografts have been used longer than any other treatment methods with the most favorable results. The success rates for osteochondral allograft transplantation have been reported as 95%, 71%, and 66% at 5, 10, and 20 years, respectively.

[Chondropenia: early-stage degenerative disease].

Chondropenia is defined as loss of the articular cartilage volume. It is the early stage of degenerative joint disease. Risk factors include advanced age, obesity, overuse (activity-related injury), menopause, and trauma.

Proprioceptive comparison of allograft and autograft anterior cruciate ligament reconstructions.

The aim of this study is to search if there is any proprioceptive difference between auto and allograft anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstructions, and also to determine if there is any relationship between instrumented anterior knee laxity and proprioception after an ACL reconstruction. The following four groups were constituted for this purpose: group I, control group; group II, autograft reconstructions; group III, allograft reconstructions and group IV, people with injured ACLs. Each group consisted of 20 patients/volunteers.

Posterior spinal epidural abscess: an unusual complication of vertebroplasty.

Objective: Complications after vertebroplasty are rare. There are few reported infectious complications requiring surgical management such as corpectomy with anterior reconstruction and posterior stabilization, although we have not seen any reports about epidural abscess in the literature. We present a patient in whom posterior epidural abscess developed after vertebroplasty in which drainage and antibiotherapy were required for treatment.

Irreducible posterolateral knee dislocation resulting from a low-energy trauma.

A small amount of knee dislocations is included in the irreducible knee dislocations group. In such instance, medial femoral condyle is buttonholed through the gap formed by medial retinacular and capsular structures and this prevents reduction. In this study, we present two cases in which there were irreducible posterolateral knee dislocations resulting from a low-energy trauma.

[Avulsion injuries of the pelvis in adolescents].

Avulsion fractures of the apophyses of the pelvis are common in adolescent athletes. They usually occur as a result of trauma or overuse, involving especially the anterior inferior iliac spine, anterior superior iliac spine, anterior third of the iliac crest, tuber ischiadicum, and the symphysis pubis. The majority of these injuries occur during vigorous sports, with a male preponderance.

Anastomotic vessels in the retropubic region: corona mortis.

Anastomosis between the pubic rami of the inferior epigastric and the obturator arteries has been referred to as the corona mortis. Because anomalous vessels in the retropubic region are at risk in groin or pelvic surgeries, they have an importance not only for general surgery but also for orthopaedics. Because it is hard to distinguish these vessels, they can be injured during ilioinguinal incision, which can lead to massive uncontrolled bleeding.

A different treatment modality for trochanteric fractures of the femur in surgical high-risk patients: a clinical study of 44 patients with 21-month follow-up.

Introduction: To assess the effectiveness of a modular axial fixator as an alternative method in surgically high-risk patients with trochanteric fractures of the femur.

Materials And Methods: In a prospective, uncontrolled clinical study, 44 high-risk patients (ASA grade 3 or 4) with trochanteric femoral fractures were treated by a modular axial fixator. They were prospectively followed up for 21 months (range 14-30 months) and evaluated using Foster's criteria.

[The relationship between the thickness and elasticity of the heel pad and heel pain].

Objectives: We investigated the factors affecting the thickness and elasticity of the heel pad and sought relationship between the heel pad thickness and elasticity and heel pain.

Methods: Of 182 patients who presented with a complaint of heel pain over a three year period, 50 patients (38 females, 12 males; mean age 46 years; range 23 to 73 years) met specific criteria for the study. A combined treatment modality was conducted throughout a year which consisted of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, contrast baths, stretching exercises, and changes in footwear design.

Tarsal tunnel syndrome - the effect of the associated features on outcome of surgery.

Between 1989 and 2000, 16 patients underwent surgery for tarsal tunnel syndrome; 12 patients (13 feet) were available for follow-up at a mean of 83 (12-143) months. The symptoms had resolved in six feet, were improved in four, were unchanged in two and recurred after five years in one. Better results are obtained in patients who have space occupying lesions than in those in whom the aetiology is idiopathic or post-traumatic or those with foot deformities.