Izge Gunal

Normal Range of Motion of the Joints of the Upper Extremity in Male Subjects, with Special Reference to Side*

We measured, with a universal full-circle manual goniometer, the active and passive arcs of motion of the shoulder, elbow, forearm, and wrist in 1000 healthy male subjects who were right-hand dominant and who ranged in age from eighteen to twenty-two years. The ranges of motion on the right side were significantly smaller than those on the left. We concluded that the contralateral, normal side may not always be a reliable control in the evaluation of restriction of motion of a joint.

Local injection treatment for lateral epicondylitis.

In a prospective randomized study of lateral epicondylitis, 120 patients were treated with 2 mL lidocaine (Group A, n=60) or 1 mL lidocaine combined with 1 mL triamcinolone (Group B, n=60). All injections were done using the peppering technique: after inserting the needle the tender area was peppered with 40 to 50 injections by injecting, withdrawing, redirecting, and reinserting without emerging from the skin. All patients were followed up for 1 year. Fifty-six patients in Group A and 57 patients in Group B had excellent results. There was statistically no difference between the groups. Both groups had excellent results and because the injection of local anesthetics is known to have no long-term effect in the treatment of lateral epicondylitis, the peppering technique seems to be a reliable method of treatment.

Oxygen-free radicals impair fracture healing in rats

We studied the effect of oxygen-free radicals on fracture healing. 30 male rats were divided into 2 groups: 15 rats were given saline 5 mL/kg i.p. (control group) and 15 were given zymosan 100 mg/kg i.p. to induce oxygen-free radicals through stimulation of NADPH oxidase in polymorphonuclear leucocytes. 1 hour later, the right forelimbs of the rats were broken by light manual compression. These treatments were given once a day until the fifth post-fracture day. All rats were killed on day 22, and histological sections of the radius and ulna were examined without knowledge of the treatment given. The administration of zymosan impaired the fracture healing and therefore oxygen-free radicals appear to play an important role in fracture healing.

The effect of preoperative physiotherapy and education on the outcome of total hip replacement: a prospective randomized controlled trial:

Objective: To investigate the effects of preoperative physical therapy for patients undergoing total hip replacement. Design: Prospective randomized controlled study. Setting: Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology in a university hospital. Subjects: Sixty patients with osteoarthritis of the hip scheduled to receive total hip replacement were randomly assigned into two groups. Interventions: Subjects in the study group received preoperative physiotherapy designed to strengthen the muscles of the upper and lower limbs and to improve range of motion of the hip, beginning from eight weeks before the operation. These patients also received an educational programme about living with a prosthesis. The control group received no preoperative physiotherapy or educational programme. Main outcome measures: Patients were evaluated at baseline (study group only, eight weeks prior to operation), before surgery, at discharge, three months and two years postoperatively using Harris Hip Score, visual analogue scale and range at hip abduction. Results: Although patients in the study group performed transfer activities earlier than the control group, there were no significant differences between the groups at discharge with regard to the improvement in Harris Hip Score (p < 0.48) and hip adduction (p < 0.97) and visual analogue scale at rest (p < 0.54) and activity (p < 0.89). At the latest follow-up (two years postoperatively) both groups had improved in Harris Hip Score, but rate of improvement between the groups was similar (p < 0.05). Conclusions: We conclude that the routine use of preoperative physiotherapy and education programme is not useful in total hip replacement surgery.

Beta-blockers increase bone mineral density.

Authors of animal studies suggest that β-blockers stimulate bone formation and inhibit bone resorption. On the other hand, data in humans are limited and conflicting results exist in literature. We conducted a prospective case-control study in order to investigate the effects of β-blockers on bone mineral density in the elderly population. None of the patients were receiving anti-resorptive medicine. Bone mineral density of 50 β-blocker users was significantly greater at all measured skeletal sites compared with 100 nonusers. Bone mineral density for total hip and spine (β-blocker users and nonusers) were, 0.85 ± 0.13, 0.80 ± 0.11 and 0.90 ± 0.15, 0.83 ± 0.12, respectively. Our results suggest that use of β-blockers is associated with an increase in bone mineral density. Level of Evidence: Therapeutic study, LEVEL III (case control study). See the Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of the levels of evidence.

Rotational profile of the lower extremity and foot progression angle: computerized tomographic examination of 50 male adults.

Abstract Acetabular, femoral and tibial torsion of 50 normal adult male subjects were measured by computerized tomography and the relationship between these angles and foot-progression angle was examined. The mean acetabular anteversion was 15.6° on the right and 15.8° on the left, (range 3°–30°). The mean femoral torsion was 6.5° on the right and 5.8°on the left (range 14°–28°). The mean tibiofibular torsion was 30.9° on the right and 29.1° on the left (range 16°–50°). Although the normal range of torsional measurements of the lower extremity was very broad, subjects usually had out-toeing with a mean foot-progression angle of 13.7° on the right and 13.0° on the left (range 6°–21°). No correlation was detected on the rotation between different levels of the lower limb. No difference was detected in the lower extremity rotational profile between right and left sides.

Correlation of magnetic resonance imaging and intraoperative punctate bleeding to assess the vascularity of scaphoid nonunion

Abstract Thirty-two patients with radiographic evidence of scaphoid nonunion were preoperatively evaluated by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), then observed intraoperatively for punctate bleeding of the fragments. Although MRI and intraoperative findings matched in 19 patients, there was no correlation in 13 patients. While 7 of these latter patients showed normal MRI but no punctate bleeding during the operation, the remaining 6 had preoperative MRI of avascularity but punctate bleeding during the operation. After internal fixation and bone grafting, all but 1 of these 13 patients achieved union. We conclude that the diagnosis of avascular necrosis should only be made when both MRI and intraoperative findings indicate avascularity.

Compartment syndrome after intraosseous infusion: An experimental study in dogs

An experimental study was designed to investigate the development of compartment syndrome with the use of an intraosseous line in dogs. We used an open technique for insertion of a 20-gauge spinal needle to the tibia. The needle was secured to the tibia with bone cement. Throughout the intraosseous infusion of saline with radio-opaque dye (rate, 480 mL/h), serial radiographic examination and pressure monitoring of the anterolateral compartment of the leg was performed. Although there was no change up to approximately 350 mL of fluid infusion, the radio-opaque dye was detected in the soft tissues and compartment pressure increased to more than 35 mm Hg. Compartment pressure continued to increase in direct proportion to the amount of dye infused. In the present study, the possible technical errors, which may cause compartment syndrome, have been eliminated. However, compartment syndrome developed because of the failure of microvasculature within a muscle adjacent to bone. We suggest that there is a need for a dose-and time-dependent scale for safe intraosseous infusion.

Tibialis posterior tendon abnormalities in feet with accessory navicular bone and flatfoot

To assess tibialis posterior tendon (TPT) pathology, we investigated 27 feet with the accessory navicular bone and 22 normal feet by MRI. We found two major anatomical differences in the feet with the accessory navicular bone; the TPT directly inserted in the accessory navicular bone, without any continuity to the sole of the foot or with a slip, less than 1 mm in thickness, and there was a mass with the density of fibrocartilage tissue, between the tendon and the bone in 20/27 feet. These abnormalities were not detected in the control group. 3 patients in the study group were operated on and the MRI findings were confirmed. These findings suggest that patients with the accessory navicular bone and flatfoot should be examined by MRI for insertion abnormalities of the TPT.

Arthroscopic-assisted percutaneous stabilization of patellar fractures.

The authors did percutaneous, arthroscopicassisted osteosynthesis of patellar fractures associated with skin abrasions and lacerations in 11 patients. Skin problems did not delay the operation and the rehabilitation. The average followup was 2.8 years. All fractures healed without complications and good results were obtained in all patients using the criteria of Levack et al. This technique avoids the problems of patellar fractures with skin abrasions and may be adapted to other fractures of the patella.