Accurate quantitative measurements of the spine are essential for deformity diagnosis and assessment of curve progression. There is much concern related to the multiple exposures to ionizing radiation associated with the Cobb method of radiographic measurement, currently the standard procedure for diagnosis and follow-up of the progression of scoliosis. In addition, the Cobb method relies on 2-D analysis of a 3-D deformity. The aim of this prospective study was to investigate the clinical value of Ortelius800 TM that provides a radiation-free method for scoliosis assessment in three planes (coronal, sagittal, apical), with simultaneous automatic calculation of the Cobb angle in both coronal and sagittal views. Analysis of the clinical value of the device for assessing spinal deformities was performed on patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, deformity angles ranging from 10°t o 48°. Correlation between Cobb angles measured manually on standard erect posteroanterior radiographs and those calculated by Ortelius800 TM showed an absolute difference between the measurements to be significantly less than ± 5°for coronal measurements and significantly less than ± 6°for sagittal measurements indicating good correlation between the two methods. The measurements from four independent sites and six independent examiners were not significantly different. We found the novel clinical tool to be reliable for following mild and moderate idiopathic curves in both coronal and sagittal planes, without exposing the patient to ionizing radiation. Considering the need for further validation of this new method, any change in treatment protocol should still be based on radiographic control.
Stress fractures of the ulna are uncommon injuries, but they have been reported in athletes from various sports. In tennis players stress fractures of the ulna are described exclusively in the nondominant forearm of athletes using a two-handed backhand stroke. We report such a case in a 24-year-old tennis player, with special emphasis on diagnostic imaging, accurate grading of the injury, and specific treatment recommendations.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the sensitivity and predictive value of early postoperative bone scan for detection of avascular necrosis (AVN) of the femoral head after surgical treatment of slipped capital femoral epiphysis. We reviewed records of 49 patients (64 hips) operated on between 1980 and 1997 with a mean follow-up of 3 years. Sixty-one out of 64 hips went through an early postoperative bone scan. The three hips that developed AVN showed significant loss of radionuclide uptake. There were neither false-positive or false-negative cases in this series. Early postoperative bone scan has an excellent sensitivity and predictive value for detection of AVN after surgical treatment of slipped capital femoral epiphysis.
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