Prateek Behera

Leukocyte-poor platelet-rich plasma versus bupivacaine for recalcitrant lateral epicondylar tendinopathy

Purpose. To compare a single leukocyte-poor (type-4B) platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection versus bupivacaine injection for recalcitrant lateral epicondylar tendinopathy (LET). Methods. 25 patients aged 27 to 50 years with painful and recalcitrant LET of the humerus were randomised to receive leukocyte-poor (type-4B) PRP (n=15) or bupivacaine (n=10) injection. Outcome measures included visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain, modified Mayo clinic performance index for elbow (MMCPIE) for elbow function, and Nirschl score for activity-related pain at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months by a single assessor. Results. At baseline, the PRP and bupivacaine groups were comparable in terms of age, sex, duration of symptoms, VAS for pain, MMCPIE score, and Nirschl score. After one month, the percentage of improvement was less in the PRP than bupivacaine group in terms of the VAS for pain (17.7% vs. 26.5%), MMCPIE score (24.0% vs. 27.6%), and Nirschl score (20.7% vs. 31.1%). Nonetheless, improvement in the respective scores was greater in the PRP than bupivacaine group after 3 months (42.5% vs. 30.9%, 34.1% vs. 27.2%, and 50.7% vs. 39.6%), 6 months (67.3% vs. 20.1%, 40.6% vs. 16.3%, and 71.4% vs. 31.1%), and one year (83.2% vs. 45.6%, 47.0% vs. 21.7%, and 76.6% vs. 56.3%). The differences in scores between groups were significant at 6 months and one year only (p<0.001). Conclusion. Leukocyte-poor (type-4) PRP injection for recalcitrant LET enabled good improvement in pain and function.

Orthobiologics and platelet rich plasma

Orthobiologics have evolved to the extent that they significantly influence modern orthopedic surgical practice. A better understanding of the role of various growth factors and cells in the process of tendon healing, ligament repair, cartilage regeneration and bone formation has stimulated focused research in many chronic musculoskeletal ailments. Investigators have published results of laboratory as well as clinical studies, using orthobiologics like platelet rich plasma, stem cells, autologous conditioned serum etc., with variable results. However, a clear consensus over the best orthobiologic substance and the method of preparation and usage of these substances is lacking. Much of the confusion is due to the fact that studies ranging from RCTs to case reports present variable results, and the interpretations are wide-ranging. We have reviewed the available orthobiologics related data with a focus on platelet rich plasma in orthopedic conditions.

WHOQOL-BREF Hindi questionnaire: Quality of life assessment in acetabular fracture patients

Background: The incidence of acetabular fractures in India has increased over the past years but so has the operating skills of pelvi-acetabular trauma surgeons. The outcomes of surgical management need to be assessed so as to be able to devise proper treatment plan and execute the same during and after surgery, which in turn requires assessment of quality of life indices as well as functional scores. While there are studies assessing Harris Hip scores (HHS) and world health organization quality of life BREF (WHOQOL BREF) in the western population there is no study which assesses the same in Indian population. We designed this study to evaluate and define reference values for use of WHOQOL BREF Hindi scores in QOL Assessment in patients with acetabular fractures and to assess the relationship between it and HHS. Materials and Methods: 118 patients with acetabular fractures who were treated surgically were included in this retrospective study. Assessment of reduction quality (Mattas radiological criteria), clinical outcome (HHS) and functional outcome (WHOQOL-BREF score) were done. The affect of age, gender, fracture displacement, hip dislocation, delay in surgery and associated injury on the clinical and functional outcome was evaluated. Results: The mean HHS was 90.65 (42–100) which showed an overall good to excellent outcome in 78.8% cases. WHOQOL-BREF Hindi score of domain-one was 63.06 ± 20.31 (13–94), of domain-two was 58.22 ± 19.57 (13–100), of domain-three was 70.49 ± 17.92 (13–100) and of domain-four was 64.48 ± 18.46 (13–100), which showed significant functional deficit in domain-one (P = 0.0001) and domain-two (P = 0.0001) but not in domain-three (P = 0.458) and domain-four (P = 0.722) when compared to score of general healthy population. The domain scores of general population norms were achieved in 59.3%, 61.9%, 69.5% and 66.1% cases in domain one, two, three and four respectively. Conclusions: Based on these results one can conclude that WHOQOL-Hindi questionnaire is good enough for assessment of QOL in addition to clinical measures in acetabular fracture patients.

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.

Congenital mesenchymoma of tibia: case report and review of literature.

Fibrocartilaginous mesenchymoma is a rare bone tumor arising from long bones in children and adolescents. With only 21 cases reported in the literature, it is often not included in the differential diagnosis in patients with a bone tumor. Previously, the youngest case reported was in a 19-month-old boy, and a congenital variant had not been reported. We describe a case of congenital fibrocartilaginous mesenchymoma of the proximal tibia that presented shortly after birth. Biopsy of a suspected malignancy on imaging confirmed the diagnosis. The child was temporarily lost to follow up and presented again with genu varum and limb shortening but surprisingly, the tumor had completely resolved without surgical intervention.

Awareness of osteoporosis in postmenopausal Indian women: An evaluation of Osteoporosis Health Belief Scale

Context: The level of awareness about osteoporosis in postmenopausal women who are the common sufferers. Aims: This study aims to evaluate the level of awareness in postmenopausal women using the Osteoporosis Health Belief Scale (OHBS). Settings and Design: Osteoporosis has emerged as a common health problem in geriatric population. A proactive role needs to be played for preventing its consequences. Before initiating any preventive measures, an evaluation of awareness level of the target population is necessary. The questionnaire-based study design was used for this study. Subjects and Methods: A questionnaire (OHBS)-based study in 100 postmenopausal women in Chandigarh was conducted. The bone mineral density (BMD) was measured in each case by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. Height, weight, and body mass index (BMI) of the participants were noted. Statistical Analysis Used: Statistical analysis was conducted to evaluate any correlation between the various components of the OHBS and the BMD. Results: No statistically significant difference was noted in the seven component parameters of OHBS among the normal, osteopenic, and osteoporotic women suggesting that the health belief regarding susceptibility is not much different between the three groups of the study population. A statistically significant difference between the mean BMI of normal and osteoporotic population was noted. Conclusions: The results show that there is a great deficit in the awareness level of postmenopausal Indian women regarding osteoporosis. Most of the women were unaware of the condition and the means to prevent it. The study emphasizes that health care professionals have lot of ground to cover to decrease the incidence of osteoporosis and its associated health problem.

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.

Examination of Elbow

Elbow joint is trocho-ginglymoid joint between distal end of humerus, proximal ulna and radius. It consist of three articulation ulno-humeral, radio-humeral and proximal radio-ulnar joint. The trochoid (pivoting) components consist of the radiohumeral and proximalradioulnar joints, which allow for axial rotation of the forearm. The ginglymus (hinge) component is created by the ulnohumeral joint, allowing for flexion and extension

Distal femoral physeal crush injury with metaphyseal comminution – A report of two cases and a new perspective to physeal injury

The physis of a long bone may get ‘sandwiched’ and crushed between the metaphysis and the epiphysis if it is traumatically loaded along its long axis. Such a physeal injury may lead to complications like angular deformities and growth restrictions and hence, management of such injuries requires adequate planning and attentive execution. Two patients with distal femoral physeal crush injury were treated using a ring fixator such that one ring had the wires passing through the epiphysis and the other through the femoral shaft. On table image intensifier controlled distraction of the crushed physis was done to bring the height of the physis similar to that of the opposite limb. Patients were followed up for more than two years clinically and radiologically. There was no clinical or radiological angular deformity of the operated limbs. MRI scans showed intact physes with no physeal bar formation in either of the two patients. The distraction obtained by the ring fixator appears to have provided ample ‘breathing space’ to the compressed physis and that the growth potential may have been re-gained by the procedure. However, two years is a relatively short duration of follow-up and further follow-up of longer duration and in greater number of patients is needed to gauge the actual effectiveness of the technique used by us.

Sagittal cut injury of the foot at workplace – A rare injury pattern and its management

Extremity injuries to employees in an industrial setting are not an uncommon event in todays mechanised workspace. Cut injuries of the foot during handling of machines are common in the workplace and the management of such injuries depends upon various factors at the time of presentation. This case report describes a rare foot injury which has not previously been reported in the literature and describes its subsequent successful management.