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This retrospective study was aimed to investigate the epidemiologic, clinical and arthroscopic features of discoid meniscus variant in Greek population. We reviewed the cases of 2,132 patients who underwent knee arthroscopy between 1986 and 2004 and diagnosis of discoid lateral meniscus was established in 39 patients with mean age of 31.7 ± 9.4 years old. Incidence of the discoid lateral meniscus variant was recorded at rate of 1.8% presenting no significant differences according to patient gender or lesion body side. Regarding the type of discoid dysmorphy, 23 cases attributed to complete type, 15 were incomplete and in one case, Wrisberg type was observed. Predictive values of the most commonly recorded physical signs in the clinical diagnosis of the discoid meniscus were analysed. Comparative evaluation of the long-term results of arthroscopic partial meniscectomy performed in patients with intact or torn discoid lateral meniscus and torn normally shaped lateral meniscus was carried out using Lysholm and IKDC scoring systems. Also, we investigated any correlation between dysmorphy type and tear pattern analysing the arthroscopic findings. Results demonstrated that the discoid meniscus lesion represents an atypical clinical entity in adults and no significant predictive value of the signs encountered in the clinical examination of the patients with discoid meniscus was observed. Clinical outcome after arthroscopic partial meniscectomy regarding the intact discoid meniscus group was superior in comparison with that of torn discoid meniscus cases. On other hand, no difference in the result of partial meniscectomy between discoid and normal lateral meniscus tear groups was found. No statistically significant relationship between the type of discoid menisci and tear pattern or incidence rate of concomitant intraarticular lesions was confirmed.

The purpose of our report is to describe a new application of kyphoplasty, the percutaneous anterolateral balloon kyphoplasty that we performed in two cases of metastatic osteolytic lesions in cervical spine. The first patient, aged 48 years, with primary malignancy in lungs had two metastatic lesions in C2 and C6 vertebrae. Patient’s complaints were about pain and restriction of movements (due to the pain) in the cervical spine. The second patient, aged 70 years, with primary malignancy in stomach, had multiple metastatic lesions in thoracolumbar spine and C3, C4 and C5 vertebrae without neurological symptoms. The main symptoms were from cervical spine with severe pain even in bed rest and systematic use of opiate-base analgesis. The preoperative status was evaluated with X-rays, CT scan, MRI scan and with Karnofsky score and visual analogue pain (VAS) scale. Both patients underwent percutaneous anterolateral balloon kyphoplasty via the anterolateral approach in cervical spine under general anaesthesia. No clinical complications occurred during or after the procedure. Both patients experienced pain relief immediately after balloon kyphoplasty and during the following days. The stiffness also resolved rapidly and cervical collars were removed. VAS score significantly improved from 85 and 95 preoperatively to 30 in both patients. Karnofsky score showed also improvement from 40 and 30 preoperatively to 80 and 70, respectively, at the final follow-up (7 months after the procedure). Fluoroscopy-guided percutaneous anterolateral ballon kyphoplasty proved to be safe and effective minimally invasive procedure for metastatic osteolytic lesions of the cervical spine, reducing pain and avoiding vertebral collapse. Experience and attention are necessary in order to avoid complications.

Purpose. To compare the measured resection technique and the gap balancing technique for correction of the femoral rotational alignment. Methods. 57 women and 6 men (mean age, 70 years) with end-stage osteoarthritis and ±15° malalignment and ±10° flexion contracture of the knee underwent primary total knee arthroplasty through the medial approach using the measured resection technique (n=34) or the gap balancing technique (n=29). Femoral rotational alignment was evaluated before and 7 days after surgery using computed tomography by referencing the 2 posterior condyles to the transepicondylar axis. Results. The 2 groups did not differ significantly in terms of correction of the femoral rotational alignment (3.4°±1.4° vs. 3.5°±3.1°, p=0.817). Conclusion. The measured resection and the gap balancing techniques achieved comparable correction of femoral rotational alignment.

In contrast to rheumatoid arthritis, in psoriatic arthritis (PsA), the efficacy of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) combination has not been documented. We conducted a retrospective study to evaluate the effectiveness of leflunomide (LEF) addition in 11 PsA patients with articular manifestations that failed to respond to methotrexate (MTX) monotherapy [disease activity score in 28 joints (DAS28) > 3.2)]. Eight of them, all with moderate disease activity (DAS28 < 5.1) at baseline, tolerated the combination. A statistically significant improvement of the mean DAS28, based on erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and its variables, and C-reactive protein (CRP) at 12–16 weeks after LEF addition was observed. Mean change of DAS28 in patients with polyarticular disease did not differ compared with those with oligoarticular. Based on the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) response criteria, none of our patients achieved a good response, seven had a moderate response, and one was a non-responder. The two patients with the lower DAS28 at baseline attained low disease activity (LDA, DAS28 ≤ 3.2), while none reached remission (DAS28 ≤ 2.6). Achievement of clinical remission or at least LDA has been recently proposed as the goal of treatment in PsA. Our results imply that LEF addition may serve as an alternative therapeutic modality for patients with moderately active PsA and, as lower as possible, residual disease activity after the initial therapy with MTX alone.

Background Scoliotic curves do not necessarily stop progressing at skeletal maturity. The factors that influence curve behavior following bracing are not fully determined. Our objectives were to evaluate the loss of the scoliotic curve correction in a cohort of patients treated with bracing during adolescence and to compare the outcomes of 18 versus 23 h of bracing at a mean of 25 years post brace removal. Methods Seventy-seven patients, who were successfully treated for Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis with Βoston brace, were re-evaluated 25 years after the end of their treatment. Patients were further divided in 2 matched groups; those wearing the brace for 23 h and those not wearing the brace at school-time, limiting the application of the brace to 18 h. The mean scoliotic curve was compared between groups before, during, just after bracing and 25 years post bracing. Validated in patients’ native language forms of Short Form 36 and Oswestry Disability Index questionnaires were used to compare the quality of life between groups 25 years post bracing. Results The mean age of the cohort was 40.4 (±3.2) years. They underwent long term follow up at a mean of 25.16 (±2.69) years after brace removal. The mean cohort scoliotic curve increased by 3.9 (±6.69) at 25 years since brace removal. There was however no significant difference in the mean Cobb angle of the cohort between pre brace and long term follow up period ( p  = 0.307). The 18 and 23 h application groups were comparable according to demographics and several bracing and scoliotic curve parameters. There was no significant difference in the mean curve magnitude between 18 and 23 h application groups at brace removal ( p  = 0.512) and at 25 years follow-up ( p  = 0.878). There was also no significant difference in the mean score of Quality of Life questionnaires between groups at long term follow up. Conclusion Scoliotic curves do not necessarily stop progressing after bracing. Bracing is effective treatment method with good long term results in appropriate patients. Since compliance was not objectively measured, we don’t feel confident to give any indication about everyday dosage.

The purpose of this study was to compare the architectural parameters of the long head of biceps femoris (BFlh) and semitendinosus (ST) muscles by comparing measurements from ultrasound (US) with those obtained from direct dissection. The BFlh and ST architectures were examined bilaterally in 6 legs from 3 male cadavers. The fascicle length, pennation angle, muscle thickness and muscle and tendon length were obtained from direct measurement and US scans along each muscle. Intraclass correlation coefficients between the two methods ranged from 0.905 to 0.913 for the BFlh variables and from 0.774 to 0.974 for the ST parameters. Compared with the direct measurements, the US method showed a mean typical error of 0.09–0.14 cm for muscle thickness, 1.01–1.31° for the pennation angle, 0.92–1.71 cm for fascicle length and muscle–tendon length measurements. The US method is a valid alternative tool for assessing basic architectural parameters of ST and BFlh components of the hamstring muscles.

The recommendations of the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) for the management of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) suggest a different therapeutic approach to methotrexate (MTX) resistance according to the presence or absence of poor prognostic factors. Retrospectively, in our patients with active early RA (disease activity score in 28 joints (DAS28) > 3.2) that failed to respond to initial MTX monotherapy, we investigated whether leflunomide (LEF) addition had a different efficacy when associated with the presence or absence of poor prognostic factors. Of the 20 patients who received LEF, 15 (2 males and 13 females) tolerated the combination. Five patients had no poor prognostic factors, and 4 (80%) of those patients achieved remission or low disease activity (LDA) according to DAS28 and also a good response with the EULAR criteria. Of the 10 patients with at least one poor prognostic factor, remission or LDA occurred in 4 (40%) of the patients, and a good EULAR response was obtained in 3 (30%) of the patients. By Fisher’s exact test, no significant difference was found between the two groups of patients in remission or LDA ( p  = 0.28) according to DAS28 and a good response ( p  = 0.12) with the EULAR criteria. In all patients with an inadequate response to the LEF+MTX combination, the substitution of a TNF inhibitor for LEF or the addition of a TNF inhibitor to the combination led to remission or LDA. Large studies are required to investigate the efficacy of LEF addition in relation to prognostic factors in patients with active early RA that did not respond to the initial therapy with MTX alone.

We present the case of a 14-year-old male with Scheuermann's disease and significant neurological deficit due to thoracic disk herniation at the apex of kyphosis. He was treated with an anterior decompression, anterior and posterior fusion in the same setting using plate, cage and a segmental instrumentation system. The patient had an excellent outcome with complete neurological recovery.

Purpose. To evaluate short-term parathyroid hormone (PTH) secretion following total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Methods. 119 Caucasian postmenopausal women aged 49 to 81 (mean, 69.8) years who underwent TKA for end-stage knee osteoarthritis were included. Serum levels of intact-PTH, calcium, phosphorus, and creatinine were evaluated pre- and post-operatively (on days −1 and 7). Creatinine clearance was also calculated. Results. In 67 of the patients, serum intact-PTH levels decreased after TKA; this sample proportion was not significant (p=0.82). In 16 of the patients, such levels elevated abnormally (above normal range). In the remaining 36 patients, such levels elevated within the normal range. Therefore, the mean serum intact-PTH level of all patients increased slightly after TKA (45.4 vs. 45.3, p=0.162). The serum intact-PTH level did not correlate to body weight (r=–0.045, p=0.624), patient age (r=–0.061, p=0.508), serum creatinine level (r=0.084, p=0.366), and clearance of creatinine (r=–0.037, p=0.692). Conclusion. In most postmenopausal women, the serum intact-PTH level decreased moderately following TKA, but in some, the level was abnormally elevated. This may interfere the prosthesis incorporation process.

This study aimed to describe clinical outcomes in patients prescribed teriparatide and followed up for 18 months after stopping the drug in real-life conditions. The Extended Forsteo® Observational Study analysed incident clinical fractures in 6-month intervals using logistic regression with repeated measures. Changes in back pain (visual analogue scale) and health-related quality of life (HRQoL; EQ-5D questionnaire) were analysed using mixed models for repeated measures. Patients were analysed if they had a post-baseline visit, regardless of whether and for how long they took teriparatide. Of 1531 patients analysed (90.7% female, mean age: 70.3 years), 76 (5.0%) never took teriparatide. Median treatment duration was 23.6 months. The adjusted odds of clinical fracture decreased by 47% in the > 12- to 18-month treatment period (p = 0.013) compared with the first 6-month period, with no statistically significant reduction in the > 18- to 24-month interval. The clinical fracture rate remained stable during the 18 months’ post-teriparatide, when approximately 98% of patients took osteoporosis medication (51% bisphosphonates). Clinical vertebral fractures were reduced at every time period compared with the first 6 months. Adjusted mean back pain scores decreased and EQ-5D scores increased significantly at each post-baseline observation. In a real-life clinical setting, the risk of clinical fractures declined during 24 months of teriparatide treatment. This reduction was maintained 18 months after stopping teriparatide. In parallel, patients reported significant improvements in back pain and HRQoL. The results should be interpreted in the context of the non-controlled design of this observational study.