Sudhir K. Kapoor

Clinical relevance of palmaris longus agenesis: Common anatomical aberration

ABSTRACTPalmaris longus muscle, although of little functional use to the human upper limb, assumes great importance when used as a donor tendon for transfer or transplant. The variability in the prevalence of palmaris longus agenesis among various ethnic groups has been established, and the surgeon’s awareness of the prevalence in a population or ethnic group is desirable. The prevalence of palmaris longus agenesis has, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, not been reported in Indian patients. Five hundred Indian patients were examined for the presence or absence of palmaris longus tendon, using the conventional test for presence of palmaris longus. The prevalence and pattern of palmaris longus agenesis was analyzed statistically and any difference in prevalence or pattern of palmaris longus agenesis with regard to body side or sex was looked for. All statistical analysis was done using SPSS (version 12). ÷2 test was used to analyze the association of agenesis with limb laterality and sex. The prevalence of palmaris longus agenesis was found to be 17.2% (8% bilateral and 9.2% unilateral). The prevalence of agenesis was significantly more common on the left side. Male subjects had a greater likelihood of unilateral agenesis, while female subjects were more likely to have bilateral agenesis. That prevalence of palmaris longus agenesis is race dependent is reaffirmed in the present study. Although the prevalence of palmaris longus agenesis in Indian patients was found to be much higher than the reported average prevalence in an Asian population, this tendon can still be counted on by surgeons treating Indian patients for use as a donor tendon, which will be present in a vast majority of Indian patients.

Primary tumours and tumorous lesions of clavicle

Primary tumours and tumorous lesions of the clavicle are very rare, and little literature is available regarding their characteristics and outcome. We studied the clinical, radiological, and histopathological characteristics, and outcome of management of patients with primary tumours of the clavicle presenting to us from 1996–2005. Twelve cases of primary tumours of the clavicle presented during the above period. Seven patients were treated with partial or complete claviculectomy, and no reconstruction was done. These seven patients were evaluated for functional results with AMSTS scoring. Eight patients out of twelve had a primary malignant bone tumour, four of these being Ewing’s sarcoma. No particular predilection of location of the tumour within the clavicle was seen. Functional and oncological results of claviculectomy were good. The distribution of types of tumours in the clavicle is quite different from long-bone tumours. No reconstruction is required following partial or total claviculectomy.RésuméLes tumeurs primaires et les lésions tumorales de la clavicule sont très rares et peu de publications existent sur ce sujet. Nous avons étudié sur le plan clinique, radiologique et histopathologique l’évolution de patients présentant une telle tumeur sur une période s’étalant de 1996 à 2005. 12 cas de tumeurs primitives de la clavicule ont été recensés sur cette période. 7 patients ont été traités par une résection partielle ou complète de la clavicule sans reconstruction. 7 patients ont été évalués sur le plan fonctionnel par le score AMSTS. 8 patients sur 12 présentaient une tumeur maligne primitive des os et 4 d’entre elles étaient un sarcome d’Ewing. Nous n’avons pas mis en évidence de localisation particulière dans ces tumeurs au niveau de la clavicule. Les résultats fonctionnels et étiologiques de la claviculectomie restent satisfaisants. Les tumeurs sont différentes de celles des os longs, il n’est pas utile de reconstruire la clavicule après une résection partielle ou totale de celle-ci.

Capsuloligamentotaxis and definitive fixation by an ankle-spanning Ilizarov fixator in high-energy pilon fractures

Open reduction and internal fixation of high-energy pilon fractures are often associated with serious complications. Various methods have been used to treat these injuries, with variable results. A total of 17 consecutive patients with pilon fractures of AO/OTA type 43-B3 (n = 1), type C2 (n = 12) and type C3 (n = 4) were treated by indirect reduction by capsuloligamentotaxis and stabilisation using an ankle-spanning Ilizarov fixator. The calcaneal ring was removed at a mean of 3.7 weeks (3 to 6). A total of 16 patients were available for follow-up at a mean of 29 months (23 to 43). The mean time to healing was 15.8 weeks (13 to 23). Nine patients had pin-track infections but none had deep infection or osteomyelitis. Four patients (25%) had malunion. Fair, good or excellent ankle scores were found in 14 patients. External fixation with a ring fixator achieves stable reduction of the fractured fragments without additional trauma to soft tissues. With minimum complications and good healing results, the Ilizarov apparatus is particularly useful for high-energy pilon fractures.

Surgical management for late presentation of supracondylar humeral fracture in children

Purpose. To report the results of surgical management for late-presenting displaced supracondylar fractures of the humerus in children. Methods. Between February 2002 and June 2003, 40 children (mean age, 7 years) with late presentation (range, 2–12 days) of displaced supracondylar humeral fractures were prospectively recruited. Gentle closed manipulation under image intensification was attempted in all patients, except one with a compound open fracture. Manipulation was successful in 25 patients and percutaneous skeletal stabilisation with Kirschner wires was performed. The remaining 15 patients were treated with open reduction and Kirschner wire fixation, using a mediolateral approach. Results. The mean delay in presentation was approximately 4 days. No patients presenting more than 7 days after injury had the fracture reduced by closed manipulation. The mean hospital stay was 41 hours. At the final follow-up (mean, 18 months), 88% of the patients had a satisfactory result, according to Flynns criteria. Conclusion. Operative treatment for late presentation of supracondylar humeral fractures in children is effective. It minimises the risk of complications and the need for continuous traction or corrective osteotomy.

Open reduction for late-presenting posterior dislocation of the elbow

Purpose. To evaluate results of open reduction for late-presenting (more than 3 weeks) posterior dislocation of the elbow in 10 patients. Method. Elbow stiffness was the main indication for surgery. The mean age of the patients was 34 (range, 13–65) years; the mean time since injury was 4 (range, 2–6) months. All patients had non-functional elbow movement for any activity of daily living. Three patients had associated fractures around the elbow joint. Results. At a mean follow-up of 19 (range, 11–28) months, 8 patients regained a functional range of movement for activities of daily living and maintained a median arc of flexion of 100 degrees and a supination-pronation arc of 140 degrees. According to the Mayo Elbow Performance Index, the results of 5 patients were excellent, 3 were good, and 2 were poor. Complications included pin site infection (n=2), ulnar neuritis (n=1), and delayed wound healing (n=1). Conclusion. In patients with late-presenting, unreduced elbow dislocation occurring up to 6 months earlier, open reduction is effective in restoring the joint to a painless, stable and functional state.

Management of infection following reconstruction in bone tumors

Limb salvage surgery in bone tumors has evolved in recent years and includes all of the surgical procedures designed to accomplish removal of a malignant tumor and reconstruction of the limb with an acceptable oncologic, functional, and cosmetic result. This dramatic change came about as the result of three important developments, i.e. effective chemotherapy, improved precision imaging techniques and advances in reconstructive surgery. Reconstruction with a modular custom-made oncological endoprosthesis (megaprosthesis) has become a common procedure nowadays. These large foreign bodies make infection a common and feared complication. However, the occurrence of complications may be multifactorial, including a poor nutritional and compromised immune status due to chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy, a lengthy operation, extensive dissection and resection of soft tissues, inadequate soft-tissue coverage, a longer exposure of the wound resulting in infection, etc. Management of postoperative infection in these cases remains a challenge. This article analyses the current literature available for these cases and summarizes the cause and different available methods of treatment.

Multi-organ hydatidosis with extensive involvement of the hemi-pelvis and ipsilateral femur.

Bone involvement of hydatid disease is uncommon but when encountered, it presents few unique pathological features. The pattern of tissue involvement is largely different from that of visceral hydatid cyst. We describe the case of a 47 year-old man from northern India, a case of systemic hydatidosis including the liver and the right lung, presenting with an abscess like lesion in the left gluteal region with pathological fractures of the left femur. Radiographs and CT-scan images showed extensive invasion of the left hemi-pelvis and left proximal femur. Debridement of the honeycombed ilium yielded hydatid fluid, numerous small cysts and necrotic material. Multiple large devitalized and sequestrated bone pieces were recovered from the bone cavity of the affected ilium. A histopathological study of the bone sequestrums revealed the unique pattern of bone invasion by the characteristic laminated multi-layered cyst walls into areas of least resistance. Bone sequestration has not often been described or demonstrated elaborately in published studies of the past. The bone defects formed after debridement of the ilium and proximal femur were filled with bone cement along with augmentation of the femur using intra-medullary nail. The surgical technique adopted in our case although was not expected to be curative owing to the multi-system disease; it did result in significant functional improvement in the patient.

An unusual case of craniovertebral junction tuberculosis in an infant.

Study Design. We present, to the best of our knowledge, the first reported case of craniovertebral junction tuberculosis with complete quadriplegia in an infant. Objective. To describe report of an unusual case and discuss the difficulties and peculiarities of diagnosis, management, and follow-up of craniovertebral tuberculosis in an infant. Summary of Background Data. Spinal tuberculosis is prevalent in areas where tuberculosis is endemic, and its incidence is on the rise in developed nations with the rising incidence of HIV/AIDS. Although common in children and young adults, spinal tuberculosis is rare in infants. Again, craniovertebral tuberculosis is one of the rarest forms of spinal tuberculosis. Methods. The infant presented to us at the age of 9 months with Grade IV quadriplegia. Among many of the clinical differential diagnoses, craniovertebral tuberculosis was suspected only on MRI and proved after fine needle aspiration cytology demonstrated granulomas. The patient was subjected to transoral debridement, immobilized with help of a pair of pillows by either side of the head and multidrug antitubercular treatment was started, which continued for duration of 12 months. Results. At the last follow-up of 1 year, the patient had recovered fully and caught up with the milestones suitable for her age. Conclusion. Craniovertebral tuberculosis is difficult to diagnose and treat in infants. A high index of suspicion is essential for a prompt diagnosis and treatment, which is all the more crucial in this age group.

Resection arthrodesis for giant cell tumors around the knee.

Background: Giant cell tumors (GCTs) of bone are aggressive benign tumors. Wide resection is reserved for a small subset of patients with biologically more aggressive, recurrent and extensive tumors. As the patients affected with GCT are young or middle-aged adults with a normal life expectancy, arthrodesis is an attractive option for reconstruction in these patients. Materials and Methods: Thirty-six patients of mean age 33.1 years with Campanacci Grade III giant cell tumors around the knee (20 distal femoral and 16 proximal tibial) were treated with wide resection and arthrodesis from January 1996 through January 2006. Arthrodesis was performed using plating with free fibular graft (n = 18), IM nail with free fibular graft (n = 8) and IM nail combined with ring fixator using bone transport (n = 10). Results: Fusion after the first surgery was achieved in 77.7%, 75% and 90% of the patients in the three groups respectively. Local recurrence was seen in two patients and repeat surgery for nonunion/ graft fracture had to be done in four patients and two patients in the plating and nailing groups respectively. Conclusion: Wide resection and arthrodesis in aggressive GCTs around the knee is a good treatment option. IM nail combined with a ring fixator seems to be a good method of arthrodesis with high fusion rates, least shortening and early rehabilitation.

Extraosseous Ewing's sarcoma / primitive neuroectodermal tumor of the sacral nerve plexus

We report an unusual case of Ewings sarcoma / primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET) of the sacral nerve plexus in a 9-year-old boy who presented with a soft tissue swelling and severe piercing pain in the lower back region. MRI of the lumbosacral spine showed a lobulated soft tissue mass with clubbed finger-like projections along the path of the sacral nerves, which had caused widening of the spinal canal and the sacral foramina (S2–S4 level). There was presacral extension and posterior scalloping of the sacral vertebrae. Histopathology of the lesion confirmed Ewings sarcoma / PNET of the sacral spinal nerve plexus. The patient responded favorably to chemotherapy and radiotherapy, showing clinical and radiological improvement.