Flávio Luís Garcia

Damage to the superior gluteal nerve after direct lateral approach to the hip.

The superior gluteal nerve may be damaged during total hip arthroplasty. We prospectively studied 40 patients who had total hip arthroplasties using the Hardinge direct lateral approach to the hip to determine any correlation between superior gluteal nerve damage and abductor function. We used the Trendelenburg test to clinically evaluate abductor function preoperatively and 1 year postoperatively. We evaluated superior gluteal nerve function by electromyography preoperatively and at 4, 8, and 12 weeks until its normalization over a maximum of 24 weeks postoperatively. The Tren-delenburg test was positive in 20 patients (50%) preoperatively and in 10 patients (25%) 1 year postoperatively. Seventeen patients (42.5%) had damage to the superior gluteal nerve visible on the first electromyographic evaluation performed 4 weeks postoperatively; three (7.5%) of these patients showed changes when reevaluated 6 months postoperatively; only one of the three patients had a positive Trendelenburg test 1 year postoperatively. Nine of the 37 patients with normal electromyography results had positive Trendelenburg tests. Our results suggest there are frequent electromyographic signs of damage to the superior gluteal nerve using the direct lateral approach to the hip. However, the damage tends to improve spontaneously and does not seem to cause clinically apparent abductor insufficiency.

Sonographic Evaluation of the Abductor Mechanism After Total Hip Arthroplasty

Objective. The purpose of this series was to determine the frequency of abductor mechanism avulsion by sonography after total hip arthroplasty with the Hardinge approach (J Bone Joint Surg Br 1982; 64:17–19) and its relationship to the presence of insufficiency of this musculature in the postoperative period. Methods. Thirty‐four consecutive patients were prospectively accessed in the postoperative period of hip arthroplasty by the Trendelenburg test, hip sonography, and abductor muscle electromyography. In patients who were found to have clinical insufficiency of the abductor musculature, we also measured the femoral offset in the preoperative and postoperative radiographs. Hip sonography was performed by an experienced musculoskeletal radiologist blinded to the other tests, and the tendons of the gluteus medius and gluteus minimus were visualized on longitudinal and transverse sections with a 7‐ to 10‐MHz linear transducer. Results. Eight patients presented clinical insufficiency of the abductor musculature as detected by the Trendelenburg test. Four of these 8 patients with abductor insufficiency presented tendinous avulsion detected by sonography. One of the 4 patients with abductor insufficiency and normal sonographic findings had a decrease in the femoral offset caused by the arthroplasty itself. Two patients presented electromyographic changes of the abductor musculature, with no tendinous avulsion detected by sonography and no abductor insufficiency. Conclusions. We concluded that in patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty by the Hardinge approach in whom insufficiency of the abductor musculature develops, sonography is an interesting method of investigation because it identified the cause of this problem in most of our patients.

Resultado tardio da infecção isolada no quadril por Paracoccidioides brasiliensis

SUMMARY Infections caused by Paracoccidioides brasiliensis are always a diagnostic challenge, even in endemic areas due to its multiple clinical presentations and involved organs. This paper describes the evolution of the only case found in literature in which the disease affected just one hip.

Impacto isquiofemoral secundário a osteotomia intertrocantérica valgizante: relato de caso

We report an unusual case of ischiofemoral impingement secondary to valgus intertrochanteric osteotomy. The osteotomy was performed for treatment of epiphysiolysis of the left femoral head.

Bilateral spontaneous fracturing of the femoral neck in a patient with renal osteodystrophy.

We report a case of bilateral fracturing of the femoral neck in a patient with renal osteodystrophy who was treated by means of osteosynthesis. In this type of patient, there is a need to remain watchful for the possibility of occurrences of spontaneous fracturing of the femoral neck, even if the initial radiographic examination is normal.

Distúrbios de coagulação em pacientes com osteonecrose da cabeça femoral

Objective: To compare the occurrence of thrombophilic disorders in patients with idiopathic osteonecrosis of the femoral head and patients with secondary osteonecrosis of the femoral head. Methods: Twenty-four consecutive patients were enrolled, with eight of them presenting idiopathic osteonecrosis and 16 presenting secondary osteonecrosis. The tests for detection of thrombophilic disorders were measurements of protein C, protein S and antithrombin levels and detection of prothrombin and factor V gene mutations. We compared the results using the odds ratio statistics for the thrombophilic disorders between the two groups. Results: The odds ratio for the protein S deficiency and protein C deficiency between the idiopathic and secondary groups were 5 and 2.14, respectively. Thus, an individual with idiopathic osteonecrosis has 5 times more chance of presenting protein S deficiency and 2.14 times more chance of presenting protein C deficiency than an individual with secondary osteonecrosis. Conclusion: Patients with idiopathic osteonecrosis have more chances of presenting thrombophilias than those with secondary osteonecrosis, suggesting these coagulation disorders can play an important role in the pathogenesis of the osteonecrosis in cases where there was no initial risk factorOBJECTIVE: To compare the occurrence of thrombophilic disorders in patients with idiopathic osteonecrosis of the femoral head and patients with secondary osteonecrosis of the femoral head. METHODS: Twenty-four consecutive patients were enrolled, with eight of them presenting idiopathic osteonecrosis and 16 presenting secondary osteonecrosis. The tests for detection of thrombophilic disorders were measurements of protein C, protein S and antithrombin levels and detection of prothrombin and factor V gene mutations. We compared the results using the odds ratio statistics for the thrombophilic disorders between the two groups. RESULTS: The odds ratio for the protein S deficiency and protein C deficiency between the idiopathic and secondary groups were 5 and 2.14, respectively. Thus, an individual with idiopathic osteonecrosis has 5 times more chance of presenting protein S deficiency and 2.14 times more chance of presenting protein C deficiency than an individual with secondary osteonecrosis. CONCLUSION: Patients with idiopathic osteonecrosis have more chances of presenting thrombophilias than those with secondary osteonecrosis, suggesting these coagulation disorders can play an important role in the pathogenesis of the osteonecrosis in cases where there was no initial risk factor recognized. Level of Evidence III, Case-Control Study.

Aseptic Loosening Rate of the Mayo Femoral Stem With Medium-Term Follow Up

The aseptic loosening rate of the Mayo hip prosthesis femoral stem was determined in a 44 patient (52 hips) series, by comparing preoperative and postoperative clinical and radiographic parameters, over a minimal 5-year postoperative period. Loosening was obvious before five years in four hips (7.6%), while the stem was considered stable in the remaining 48 hips over a mean 6.1 year period, therefore accounting for a 92.3% Kaplan-Meier survival rate. We conclude that the aseptic loosening rate is too high for the Mayo hip prosthesis femoral stem, as compared to literature data concerning the non-conservative stems.

Correção de falhas ósseas diafisárias: trasnporte ósseo fixado com placa

The objective of this study is to describe a new bone transport system not requiring the use of transfixating wires. The system, which is constituted by a plate, a movable conveyor and a hauling device, was set up on the right tibia of 17 sheep intending to fill a 1-cm bone gap. Bone transport started 7 days after surgery on a rate of 0.8 mm/day, divided into 0.2 mm at each 6 hours. X-ray images of anteroposterior and lateral planes were taken immediately after surgery and on a weekly basis until transport was finished. In all 12 animals completing the study, the bone gap was filled with regenerated formation and target focus consolidation. The study shows that the system presented here effectively performs bone transport, eliminating the use of transfixating wires or pins.

Pain as symptom of threaded acetabular cup loosening

37 cementless CO-10 total hip replacements were clinically and radiographically evaluated, with a minimum follow-up of 60 months. 23 cups were found to be fixed and 14 presented signs of loosening. Nine patients (26%) with an obviously fixed cup presented some degree of pain, a symptom also referred by ten patients (36%) with signs of cup loosening, but in this latter group pain varied from mild (5/10) to moderate (3/10) and severe (2/10). Interestingly, four patients with a loose cup had no pain at all. The authors concluded that pain is not a symptom present in the majority of the patients with a loose threaded CO-10 cup and that a significant number of patients with fixed cups can present pain.

Reverse Microfracture of the Hip Acetabulum: A Technique for the Wave Lesion

The long-term efficacy of the treatment of chondral lesions is very important to prevent hip osteoarthritis. Microfracture, autologous chondrocyte transplantation, and direct chondral repair, among others, are techniques that have shown good results in some cases. We propose a technique to treat wave lesions through reverse microfracture, with bubble decompression and adherence of the natural scar from the detached cartilage.