Balaji Saibaba

Significant Incidence of Extra-Articular Tibia Vara Affects Radiological Outcome of Total Knee Arthroplasty

Purpose To identify and quantify the presence of extra-articular tibia vara that might influence the mechanical axis alignment after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Materials and Methods A total of 48 TKAs in 30 osteoarthritic Indian patients were prospectively evaluated. The hip-knee-ankle angle (HKA), joint line convergence angle, and varus angulation at the femur and tibia were measured from the preoperative and postoperative standing hip-to-ankle radiographs. Four different methods were used to measure the varus angulation at the tibia: metaphyseo-diaphyseal angle (MDA), the angle between the anatomical axis and mechanical axis of the tibia, the angle between the proximal third and distal third of tibia and the angle between the proximal half and distal half of tibia. Results Extra-articular tibia vara quantified using MDA had the most positive correlation with HKA. Receiver operating characteristic plotting showed that MDA of >4° predicts abnormal postoperative HKA. Twenty-eight out of 48 knees had MDA of >4°, and 78.6% of these had postoperative HKA under-correction and 21.4% had less than ideal tibial component position. Conclusions A significant inherent extra-articular varus angulation best measured using MDA exists in the proximal tibia in osteoarthritic Indian patients undergoing TKA. MDA of >4° is associated with abnormal postoperative HKA. Computer navigation may be useful for achieving ideal correction in such cases.

Curettage and reconstruction by the sandwich technique for giant cell tumours around the knee

Purpose. To evaluate outcomes of 36 patients who underwent curettage, use of phenol, and reconstruction using the sandwich technique for giant cell tumour (GCT) of bone around the knee. Methods. 22 women and 14 men aged 19 to 46 (mean, 29.6) years underwent intralesional curettage, use of phenol, and reconstruction using the sandwich technique for GCT of the proximal tibia (n=23) or distal femur (n=13). Two of the cases were recurrences. Two, 18, and 16 tumours were classified as grade I, grade II, and grade III, respectively. Five of the grade III tumours were associated with an extra-articular pathological fracture. Patients underwent intralesional curettage, use of phenol, and reconstruction with allograft, gel foam, and cement (the sandwich technique). Pathological fractures were fixed with plates. Functional outcome was evaluated using the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society (MSTS) score. Results. The mean follow-up period was 5 (2.5–11) years. The mean MSTS score was 27.7 out of 30 (standard deviation, 3; range, 16–30). One patient with a grade III tumour in the proximal tibia had a recurrence detected elsewhere after 3 years. Her MSTS score at 2 years was 26. No patient had malignant transformation. Conclusion. Intralesional curettage, use of phenol, and reconstruction with allograft, gel foam, and cement (the sandwich technique) for GCT of bone achieved good functional outcome and a low recurrence rate.

Myxoma of the femur: an unusual site of origin.

Skeletal myxomas are rare benign tumours. Their occurrence in long bones of the extremities is rarely reported. A 45-year-old man presented with pain in his left proximal thigh for a duration of 4 months. Movements of the hip were painful. Radiography revealed an expansile osteolytic lesion in the left proximal femur near the lesser trochanteric region. On MRI, the lesion showed a homogenous signal enhancement with no cortical disruption. Extended curettage and bone grafting was performed. On gross examination, the curetted specimen was a yellowish-white mucoid material. Histopathology showed a tumour consisting of spindle-shaped and stellate-shaped cells with widely separated myxoid mucoidy stroma, suggestive of intraosseous myxoma. At 2 years follow-up, there were no signs of recurrence and the patient was doing well with excellent hip and knee function.

Multicentric spinal tuberculosis with sternoclavicular joint involvement: a rare presentation.

Background. Tuberculosis is a chronic disease which may have varied presentations. Though pulmonary tuberculosis is the commonest, extrapulmonary tuberculosis involving skeletal system is often seen. Individuals with poor nourishment and immunological status are especially susceptible for disseminated and multicentric tuberculosis. Case Report. We here present a case of tuberculosis involving multiple anatomical locations in an immune-competent patient which was diagnosed with radiological studies and confirmed with histological examination. Patient was put on multidrug antitubercular therapy and responded well to the treatment with improvement in clinical and radiological picture. Clinical Relevance. This report of a rare case makes us aware of the varied presentations which tuberculosis can present with. It should be kept as a differential diagnosis in patients with cough and fever but not responding to conventional treatment. This is even more important in countries with poor socioeconomic conditions.

Epidemiology of lower limb musculoskeletal trauma with associated vascular injuries in a tertiary care institute in India

Background: Vascular trauma associated with bony injuries is an orthopaedic emergency. Lack of timely intervention can lead to loss of limb or even life. Inspite of the rising incidence of high speed road traffic accidents in India, there is paucity of literature regarding the demographic pattern, clinical morbidity, management strategies and outcome of arterial injuries associated with lower limb trauma. The aim of this study is to describe the epidemiology and outcome of lower extremity musculoskeletal trauma with associated vascular injuries in a tertiary care institute in India. Materials and Methods: All individuals who presented to our tertiary care trauma center from July 2013 to December 2014 with lower extremity vascular injury associated with lower limb fractures were identified from a retrospective trauma database for this descriptive study. For the 17 months, there were 82 lower extremity vascular trauma cases admitted in our trauma center, of which 50 cases were included in the study. 32 patients with crush injuries, traumatic amputations, and those with head injury and blunt trauma to chest or abdomen were excluded from the study. Results: Out of the 50 cases of lower extremity vascular injury with associated lower limb fractures, 19 limbs were salvaged, 28 amputated, and three patients expired. Young males in the age group of 20–39 years were frequently injured. Motor vehicle accident (MVA) (82%) was found to be the most common cause followed by pedestrian injury. Popliteal artery (62%) was the most common vessel injured, followed by femoral artery (28%). The salvageability percentage was much higher (64%) in the femoral artery injury group when compared to popliteal artery injury group (25%). There were 32 open fractures, with amputation rates (60%) being higher and all three cases of death falling in this group. In addition, the limb salvageability percentage was 43.2% when the patient presented within 12 h of injury and this decreased to a mere 16.7% when the patient had presented more than 24 h after injury. Conclusion: MVAs are the leading cause of vascular injuries in India. Road safety measures and prevention programs are the need of the hour to prevent these kinds of injuries in the future.

Ipsilateral obturator type of hip dislocation with fracture shaft femur in a child: a case report and literature review.

The incidence of traumatic hip dislocations in children is rising in this fast developing world along with increasing numbers of high-velocity road traffic accidents. Anterior dislocation of the hip has a lower incidence compared with posterior dislocation of the hip. We encountered a rare case of the obturator type of anteriorly dislocated hip associated with ipsilateral fracture of the shaft femur in an 11-year-old child. This is a highly unusual injury combination and the mechanism of injury is obscure. Only two similar cases have been reported in the English literature to date. Closed reduction of the hip using a hitherto undescribed technique and an intramedullary interlocking nail was performed in this case. At 6 months of follow-up, the fracture shaft femur has united and the child is bearing full weight on the limb.

Ingenious method of external fixator use to maintain alignment for nailing a proximal tibial shaft fracture

Fractures of the tibia are one of the most commonly seen orthopedic injuries. Most of them result from a high velocity trauma. While intramedullary nailing of tibial diaphyseal fractures is considered as the golden standard form of treatment for such cases, many metaphyseal and metaphyseal-diaphyseal junction fractures can also be managed by nailing. Maintenance of alignment of such fractures during surgical procedure is often challenging as the pull of patellar tendon tends to extend the proximal fragment as soon as one flexes the knee for the surgical procedure. Numerous technical modifications have been described in the literature for successfully nailing such fractures including semi extended nailing, use of medial plates and external fixators among others. In this study, it was aimed to report two cases in which we used our ingenious method of applying external fixator for maintaining alignment of the fracture and aiding in the entire process of closed intramedullary nailing of metaphyseal tibial fractures by the conventional method. We were able to get good alignment during and after the closed surgery as observed on post-operative radiographs and believe that further evaluation of this technique may be of help to surgeons who want to avoid other techniques.

Pediatric Subtalar Joint Synovial Chondromatosis Report of a Case and an Up-to-date Review.

Synovial chondromatosis is a rare, usually benign disorder affecting the population predominantly in the third and fourth decades of life and mainly involving the large weightbearing joints of the lower limb-the knees and the hip. In this report, we highlight an unusual pediatric clinical presentation of synovial osteochondromatosis involving the subtalar joint and discuss its surgical management; we also provide a comprehensive up-to-date literature review of the disorder. This patient was successfully treated with en masse surgical excision. He has been doing well, with complete pain relief and improved range of motion at 1-year follow-up. An exceptional involvement of the subtalar joint and an unusual presentation in the pediatric age group makes this case unique.

Bilateral Total Hip Arthroplasty in a Rare Case of Multicentric Reticulohistiocytosis

Multicentric reticulohistiocytosis (MRH) is a rare systemic disease, which commonly manifests as muco-cutaneous papulonodules and inflammatory erosive polyarthropathy. In this research, we report the clinical manifestations and management of a rare case of MRH with destructive arthropathy of bilateral hip joints and arthritis mutilans presenting with characteristic deformities. Disabling hip arthropathy that occurs secondary to MRH can be successfully managed with bilateral total hip arthroplasty (THA). Osteopenia and acetabular bone defects must be anticipated during THA. This case is reported due to its rare occurrence and because little literature has been published regarding THA in such patients.

Pan-tibial avascular necrosis in a 12-year-old boy: a case report

We report a unique case of post-traumatic avascular necrosis of tibia in a 12-year-old boy following a Salter–Harris type II physeal injury of the proximal tibia. The diagnosis was made on the basis of classical radiological findings. The only clinical symptom was diffuse shin pain. The patient was managed conservatively. At our 2-year follow-up, there was clinical and radiological evidence of spontaneous resolution of avascular necrosis, but with sequelae. The child developed a limb-length discrepancy and genu valgum. The parents of the child refused further treatment.