M. E. Rabbi

Ultrasonographic measurement of humeral torsion

This article presents a new method for the measurement of humeral torsion with the use of ultrasonography and discusses clinical applications of the method such as the evaluation of cubitus varus deformity after a supracondylar elbow fracture. Torsion angle increased 14 degrees from the time the patients were newborns to when they were adults. No significant difference was found between the right and left sides in healthy subjects. When humeral shaft or supracondylar fractures are treated, or when rotational deformities of the humerus are corrected, this method of measurement is very practical, because the humeral torsion of the unaffected side provides a standard for the individual. With this method of measuring humeral torsion, we also found that cubitus varus deformity after supracondylar fracture in children is caused not only by an increase in varus angulation but also by internal rotation of the distal fragment.

Peculiar structures of the blood vessels forming the secondary ossification center in the rat femoral heads

To investigate the development of the blood vessels forming the secondary ossification center in the femoral heads of growing rats, we observed the specimens of the proximal femurs having vascular casts using both an optical and a scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Histologically, the vascular invasion occurred from the lateral part of the cartilaginous epiphysis, prior to the appearance of the ossification center. The vascular casts were prominent within the cellular spaces consisting of a few hypertrophic chondrocytes. The SEM study suggested that the vascular buds had peculiar structures and invaded the cartilaginous epithysis by breaking through the cellular spaces. The blood vessels budded out from the arch of the lateral epiphyseal vessels toward the femoral heads. The sizes of the large-caliber vascular buds of about 50 μm in diameter were similar to those of the cellular spaces, and they penetrated into the epiphysis by repeated merging and branching. Many deep impressions were noted on the surface of the vascular buds, and the tips showed the peculiar shape similar to a suction cup.