Yaman Sarpel

Central acetabular fracture-dislocation following electroconvulsive therapy: report of two similar cases.

Acetabular fracture-dislocations usually occur as a result of high velocity trauma. Such fractures following electroconvulsive therapy are extremely rare. In this report, two similar cases of acetabular fractures and central fracture-dislocations following ECT are presented. This rare complication could be eliminated easily by using short-acting anaesthetic agents and muscle relaxants.

Arthroscopy of the knee in pre-adolescent children

Introduction: Arthroscopic operations performed in the pediatric age group constitute less than 5% of all arthroscopies. Diagnostic accuracy is reported to be lower than the procedures in adult patients. The incidence of pathologies also varies in the literature. We aimed at assessing the diagnostic accuracy of arthroscopy and review the incidence of pathologies in pre-adolescent patients. Materials and methods: In the period April 1990–January 2002, 50 pre-adolescent patients underwent knee arthroscopy after clinical and radiological assessment. Average age was 10.24 (1–13) with a male-to-female ratio of 34:16. Results: Discoid lateral meniscus was found to be the most common pathology encountered in 17 cases followed by infection and synovitis in 8 cases each. Diagnostic accuracy of arthroscopy correlated with preoperative clinical and radiologic evaluation was 90%. Arthroscopy findings were negative in two cases. Two cases of plica syndrome and one case of chondral injury were mistaken for medial meniscal tear. Final diagnosis was familial Mediterranean fever in one case of synovitis and knee fusion was performed at follow-up due to progressive degenerative changes. No other patient required reoperation. Conclusion: Arthroscopy is a safe procedure with minor morbidity allowing treatment of various intraarticular knee disorders. Diagnostic accuracy of the procedure may increase with careful preoperative work-up.

Prediction of the quadruple hamstring autograft thickness in ACL reconstruction using anthropometric measures

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to determine whether simple anthropometric measurements, such as height, weight, body mass index (BMI), age, and thigh circumference can be used to accurately predict the diameter of hamstring tendons for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction surgery. METHODS One hundred sixty-four consecutive male patients who underwent ACL reconstruction using quadruple hamstring autograft between January 2010 and December 2011 were prospectively evaluated. Anthropometric measurements including height, weight, BMI, age and thigh circumference were recorded preoperatively. The thickness of the quadruple hamstring autograft was intraoperatively determined using sizing cylinders. Correlation coefficients (Pearsons r) and stepwise, multiple linear regression were used to determine the relationship between the outcome variable (hamstring graft diameter) and the predictor variables (age, height, weight, BMI, thigh circumference). RESULTS Correlation analysis revealed a positive relation between the height, weight and graft thickness (p=0.000 and p=0.002, respectively). Taller and heavier patients tended to have thicker quadrupled hamstring graft. However, age, thigh circumference, and BMI did not correlate with the graft thickness (p=0.700, p=0.290 and p=0.727, respectively). Stepwise, multiple linear regression indicated that height was statistically important as a predictor for hamstring graft diameter (R2=0.157, p=0.0001) and yielded the following regression equation for predicting quadrupled hamstring graft thickness: graft thickness = [(height in cm) x 0.052) - 1.07] mm. CONCLUSION Height can be used as a practical and accurate measurement to preoperatively predict quadruple hamstring graft diameter in male patients. Identification of possible hamstring tendon autograft insufficiency allows for preoperative determination of additional graft source possibilities, resulting in a more prompt surgical strategy.

Comparison of mechanical performance among different frame configurations of the Ilizarov external fixator : Experimental study

The circular frame of the Ilizarov fixator can be modified to reflect anatomic variations and treatment aims. However, these modifications in the frame system cannot always achieve the mechanical performance of the standard frame system. A standard system has two rings in each bone fragment connected by four longitudinal bars on each side of the ring. In this study, the mechanical performances of one standard and eight modified frame systems were compared. Each system was loaded on a material testing machine, with calculation of axial compression, four-point bending, and torsion. As a result, systems that were modified with drop wires and Schanz screws 45 degrees oblique to the wires on the proximal ring provided a mechanical performance closer to the standard system than systems with other modifications.

Mechanical performance of hybrid Ilizarov frames containing full-threaded Schanz screws.

Modification of circular Ilizarov frames is necessary to overcome the difficulties in pin positioning due to unfavorable anatomic site or local soft-tissue conditions. Hybrid frame configurations consisting of half pins or full-threaded schanz screws are widely used in clinical practice. This study compared the mechanical performance of hybrid frames and a standard system. One standard and five modified hybrid systems were tested under axial compression, four-point bending, and torsional forces. Systems modified with full-threaded schanz screws showed a higher stiffness than half pin modifications and exhibited a similar mechanical performance of a standard system.

Congenital Unilateral Synostosis of Elbow Associated with Multiple Hand Anomalies (Case Report)

Congenital synostosis of the elbow is a very rare malformation of the upper limb. We present two similar cases with congenital humeroradial synostosis in association with absence of the ulnar carpals, fourth and fifth metacarpals and phalanges, and syndactily between the second and third fingers. Both cases were male and their anomalies were on the right side. In the second case, an Aitken type-2 proximal focal deficiency of femur was also present.