J. Rütt

Subcutaneous rupture of the tibialis anterior tendon: review of the literature and a case report

Abstract Closed rupture of the anterior tibial tendon is uncommon, with 33 cases being reported previously. In this report we add another to these few. The literature is reviewed; late diagnosis is frequent, and the injury occurs in middle-aged and elderly patients after distorsion of the foot in plantar flexion and eversion. The treatment of the rupture in early and delayed cases is discussed.

Treatment of staphylococcal implant infection with rifampicin-ciprofloxacin in stable implants

Abstract Infection following total joint replacement remains a problem that has not been solved so far. The treatment options include removal of the implant and a delayed reconstruction or a direct exchange operation. Among patients with stable implants and short duration of infection as well as in patients who for certain reasons are inoperable, antibiotic therapy with a combination of rifampicin-ciprofloxacin may be a reasonable treatment option for curing staphyloccocal infection without removal of the implant. A case study of a Staphylococcus epidermidis (coagulase-negative) infection following delayed revision total knee replacement after septic loosening of a knee arthroplasty and its successful conservative treatment with rifampicin-ciprofloxacin is described. Alternative rifampicin combinations are discussed with respect to recently developed pharmacodynamical and pharmacokinetical findings of biofilm active drugs.

Subtrochanteric stress fracture of the femur following total knee arthroplasty

This study reports the first case of a subtrochanteric stress fracture of the femur after total knee arthroplasty. A 61-year-old obese woman was treated by right total knee arthroplasty for osteoarthrosis. Four months after the surgery and 1 month after full weight bearing, she complained of tenderness in the right groin and proximal thigh. There was no history of trauma. Radiographs of the right hip and of the right proximal femur were interpreted as unremarkable, and nonsteroid anti-inflammatory drugs were administered. Three months later, she had a sudden onset of increased pain with instability and giving way of the right leg. Radiographs revealed a subtrochanteric transverse fracture of the right femur. Histologic workup of the bone and tissue specimen taken at open reduction, as well as the laboratory data were consistent with the radiologic and clinical diagnosis of a stress fracture. It is most likely that a decrease in the tension band effect of the iliotibial tract in combination with coxa vara and changes in static and dynamic forces of the femur and an increased level of activity after a period of relative inactivity secondary to the knee arthroplasty are responsible for this very uncommon fracture type.

Osteoarthritis and recurrences after Putti-Platt and Eden-Hybbinette operations for recurrent dislocation of the shoulder

Summary. Thirty-five patients who had operations for recurrent anterior dislocation of the shoulder were reviewed, with a further 26 answering a questionnaire; the results were not as good as reported by others. The mean follow up was 26.9 years. Ten out of 43 patients had recurrent dislocations after the Putti-Platt and 6 out of 18 after the Eden-Hybbinette operation. Osteoarthritis developed in 15 shoulders of 26 patients who were followed-up after the former procedure and in 8 out of 9 shoulders after the latter. These sequelae depend on the age at the first dislocation rather than the number of dislocations. The overall satisfaction rate was acceptable for both procedures.Résumé. Notre étude à long terme (sur 61 patients, 35 suivis avec une moyenne de 26,9 ans) montre que les résultats des opérations de Putti-Platt et Eden-Hybbinette pour luxation récidivante de l’épaule ne sont pas, en considérant les récidives et le développement de l’arthrose, aussi bons que ceux rapportés dans la littérature [5, 8, 14, 18]. Dans notre série, 10 patients sur 43 ont eu une luxation récidivante après une intervention de Putti-Platt et 6 sur 18 après une opération de Eden-Hybbinette. Une omarthrose était présente chez 8 sur 9 patients du groupe Eden-Hybbinette et chez 15 sur 26 patients du groupe Putti-Platt. Nous pensons que le développement de l’omarthrose dépend plus de l’âge du patient lors de la première luxation que du nombre de luxation avant l’intervention. Cependant, le taux de succès après une période d’observation moyenne de 26,9 ans était acceptable pour les 2 types de traitement.

In vitro adherence and accumulation of Staphylococcus epidermidis RP 62 A and Staphylococcus epidermidis M7 on four different bone cements.

Abstract. Bacterial resistance of Staphylococcus epidermidis, a serious pathogen of implant-related infections, to antibiotics is related to the production of a glycocalyx slime that impairs antibiotic access and the killing by host defense mechanisms. In vitro studies of different bone cements containing antibiotics, developed for the prevention of biomaterial-associated infection, could not always demonstrate complete eradication of biomaterial-adherent bacteria. We have investigated four different bone cements in regard to bacterial accumulation of a slime-producing strain RP 62 A and its isogenic mutant M7 lacking the ability to produce exopolysaccharide slime using a bacterial adhesion assay and modified Kirby-Bauer technique. A significant effect of exopolysaccharide production for the accumulation on bone cement could be demonstrated. The gentamicin/clindamycin bone cement was the only tested biomaterial that produced a large zone of bacterial inhibition in the inoculated area adjacent to the biomaterial. The bacterial adhesion was not reduced significantly and there was no correlation between zones of inhibition on blood agar plates and the quantitative adhesion assay. The clinical efficacy of the gentamicin/clindamycin bone cement must be proven in vivo.

Prophylactic dynamic screw fixation of the asymptomatic hip in slipped capital femoral epiphysis.

Prophylactic dynamic screw fixation (DSF) of clinically and radiographically unaffected hips of 34 patients with a contralateral slipped capital femoral epiphysis and no evidence of an endocrinopathy or systemic disorder was performed using a single cannulated screw. Follow-up ranged from 2 to 12 years (average, 5.4 years). There was no case of perioperative complication and no avascular necrosis or chondrolysis occurred. No preslip or slip became apparent. In all 34 hips, no tendency toward premature closure of the epiphysis could be observed, no growth disturbance including greater trochanteric overgrowth, coxa brevis, or coxa vara was noted. This study supports the prophylactic treatment of the asymptomatic hip, using a simple and safe fixation method.

Intraosseous lipoma of the calcaneus.

Abstract. Background and aims: Intraosseous lipoma of the calcaneus is thought to be a rare tumour. As most of the articles have been single case reports, we performed a meta-analysis to evaluate diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. Methods: Based on 54 cases located at the calcaneus, typical features and treatment were studied. Results: A predilection was seen for adults between 30 and 60 years of age. Males were affected in two of three cases. The lesions were found incidentally in 33%. Symptomatic cases presented with pain, and some patients showed additional tenderness or swelling. All calcaneal lipomas were located at the base of the neck of the calcaneus (Wards triangle). Radiological appearance depends on the stage due to evolutionary changes of the tumour. Diagnosis can be established with CT or MRI, as both methods show fat-equivalent densities in the lesion. Pathological fracture has not been reported. Conclusion: Continued observation in asymptomatic cases is a reasonable clinical approach. We propose surgical treatment with curettage and bone grafting only in symptomatic cases.

Osteoarthrosis following the Putti-Platt operation

The objective of this study was to search for any degenerative changes in the shoulder joint following the Putti-Platt operation in a long-term follow-up study, as most papers regarding that operation report a redislocation rate and a limitation of external rotation, but only a few mention osteoarthrosis (OA). Patients operated on between 1945 and 1971 answered a questionnnaire and were invited for a clinical examination including standard X-rays of the shoulder. These films were compared with those taken preoperatively. OA was classified according to the Samilson and Prieto grading. Twenty-six patients could be re-examined on average 26 years after the operation. Fifteen had evident radiological signs of OA. According to Samilson and Prieto there were 11 mild, 2 moderate and 2 severe cases of OA. Nine patients had a Hill-Sachs defect and 3, a Bankart lesion. Patients over the age of 25 years at the time of the first dislocation developed OA more often. Following the Putti-Platt operation one has to expect radiological signs of OA in a longterm follow-up. Mainly minor forms are seen. Older patient age at the time of the first dislocation is a predisposing factor for the development of OA.

Slime production of Staphylococcus epidermidis: Increased bacterial adherence and accumulation onto pure titanium

In an in vitro study using Staphylococcus epidermidis RP 62 A, a slime-producing strain and its isogenic slime-negative mutant M7, we demonstrated that both strains adhere to pure titanium discs with significantly higher colony counts for the slime-producing strain. The colony count was dependent on temperature, time and strain. Prolonged incubation time (24 h) under growth conditions leads to higher colony counts for the slime-producing strain RP 62 A. As the slime-negative mutant M7 can adhere to, but not form multiple layers on metallic surfaces, increase of incubation time does not produce higher colony counts on the metallic surface. We conclude that slime production is important for adherence and subsequent accumulation of S. epidermidis onto pure titanium discs in vitro.

Slipped capital femoral epiphysis: a prospective study of dynamic screw fixation.

Twenty-five consecutive children (29 hips) who had slipped capital femoral epiphysis of a mild degree (slip angle less than 30°) were treated with dynamic screw fixation. The goal of dynamic screw fixation is to achieve physeal stability to prevent additional slippage and to avoid premature physeal closure. Seventeen boys and eight girls were followed up for an average of 7 years (range, 4–13 years). There were 25 chronic slips, three acute slips, and one preslip. The average age at the time of surgery was 11.7 years for the girls (range, 11.1–12.9 years) and 13.9 years for the boys (range, 9.4–16.1 years). The average time to physeal closure was almost the same in both genders (boys, 3.0 years; girls, 3.2 years), ranging from 1.1 years to 6.3 years. No increase in the degree of slippage occurred; there were no perioperative complications, and avascular necrosis and chondrolysis were not apparent. In all 29 hips, no growth disturbance, including greater trochanteric overgrowth, coxa brevis, or coxa vara, was seen. According to the clinical criteria of Heyman and Herndon, 26 hips were rated either excellent or good, and two were rated fair. One was rated poor because of the presence of slight pain after strenuous exercise. The technique of dynamic screw fixation provides sufficient immediate and long-term fixation, does not promote premature physeal closure, and permits normal hip development.