Zdenko Ostojic

Minimally invasive calcaneo-stop method for idiopathic, flexible pes planovalgus in children.

Background: The aim of this study was to correct heel valgus in children and to lift the longitudinal arch of the foot using a temporary cancellous screw placed percutaneously across the talocalcaneal articulation. Methods: From April, 1997, to June, 2003, 94 procedures were done on 48 children between the ages of 8 and 14 years. The Meary angle to determine the degree of collapse of the medial longitudinal arch was 170 degrees or less, and the weightbearing hindfoot was in valgus. Presumably, the screw achieves correction by stimulating the proprioceptive foot receptors allowing active inversion of the foot. Results: At 5 years followup, no serious complications occurred. The correction of the Meary angle on average was 17.10 ± 5.51 degrees. In every foot, heel valgus and the longitudinal arch of the foot were improved radiographically and clinically without the loss of function. We removed the screws in all patients. In 91 feet, the arch of the foot and heel valgus remained in the corrected position. Conclusions: The ‘calcaneo-stop’ method is a simple, effective, minimally invasive technique for the treatment of idiopathic, flexible pes planus in carefully selected pediatric patients.

Age- and region-dependent changes in human lumbar vertebral bone: a histomorphometric study.

Study Design. Histomorphometric evaluation of autopsy material. Objectives. To explore region-dependent changes that occur with aging in trabecular and cortical bone of the human vertebral body. Summary of Background Data. Human vertebral bone is continuously subjected to external forces (loads) that promote changes in inner architecture. This functional adaptability is limited, however, and when lost, vertebral bone progressively deteriorates and becomes subject to injury with increases in mechanical loading. Methods. Bone cylinders were drilled with a trephine from three regions (central anterior, central posterior, and lateral) of the third lumbar vertebral bodies of 48 autopsy cases 31 to 76 years old. Two consecutive 5-&mgr;m sections obtained 150 &mgr;m apart were stained with toluidine blue and Masson trichrome and photographed at ×40. Differences in numerous morphometric factors were evaluated by age and region of the vertebra using repeated-measures analysis of variance and Tukey’s Honestly Significant Difference test. Results. Starting at about 50 years of age, significant, linearly progressive decreases occurred in trabecular and cortical bone volume (P < 0.005), trabecular surface area (P < 0.001), number of trabeculae (P < 0.001), and thickness of trabeculae (P < 0.001). Space between trabeculae increased from ages 31 to 70 years and then decreased (P < 0.001). Trabecular deterioration was significantly more pronounced in central versus lateral regions (P < 0.001). Cortical bone thickness decreased significantly with aging in central regions but increased in lateral regions between ages 61 and 70 years (P < 0.001). Conclusions. The balance between cortical and trabecular bone maintains the strength of the vertebral body until about the age of 50 years, when irreversible deterioration begins in central regions and subsequently involves lateral regions.

Religiousness as a Protective Factor for Substance Use in Dance Sport

Although religiousness is found to be a significant protective factor in substance use, there is an evidential lack of studies of such in athletes. The aim of the study was to identify the predictive value of the religiousness and some social, educational, and sport factors on substance use in 43 sport dancers. An originally developed questionnaire for studying substance use and precipitation factors was applied. The Chi-square showed male dancers as more religious than females. Using the Spearman’s correlation, religiousness was found to be a significant protective factor in cigarette smoking, sport nutritional supplementation, and the likelihood of doping. Data were interpreted emphasizing the previous findings from the literature.