IntroductionCarcinomatous degeneration is a rare and late complication developing decades after the diagnosis of chronic osteomyelitis.ObjectivesTo present the results from a retrospective study of six cases of squamous cell carcinoma arising from chronic osteomyelitis.MethodsSix cases of chronic osteomyelitis related to cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma were identified. The cause and characteristics of the osteomyelitis were analyzed, as well as time up to malignancy, the suspicion signs for malignancy, the localization and histological type of the cancer, and the type and result of the treatment.ResultsThe mean time between osteomyelitis onset and the diagnosis of malignant degeneration was 49.17 years (range: 32–65). The carcinoma resulted from tibia osteomyelitis in five cases and from femur osteomyelitis in one. The pathological examination indicated cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma in all cases. All the patients were staged as N0M0, except for one, whose lomboaortic lymph nodes were affected. The treatment consisted of amputation proximal to the tumor in all patients. No patient presented signs of local recurrence and only one had carcinoma metastasis.ConclusionEarly diagnosis and proximal amputation are essential for prognosis and final results in carcinomatous degeneration secondary to chronic osteomyelitis.

Expandable intravertebral implants are self-expanding devices applied percutaneously by the posterior transpedicular approach. These devices introduce the concept of anatomical restoration of vertebral body endplates and direct anatomical reduction performed from the interior of the vertebral body with a compression fracture. This paper aims to provide a narrative review on the concept, indications, biomechanical characteristics, as well as functional and radiographic outcomes of the main expandable intravertebral implants currently available, in terms of their application to thoracolumbar spine traumatology. To this end, we performed a search in July 2021 on the MEDLINE/PubMed platform with the words "expandable intravertebral implant", "armed kyphoplasty", "Vertebral Body Stenting" or "stentoplasty" and "SpineJack". The search yielded 144 papers, and of those, we included 15 in this review. We concluded that percutaneous transpedicular posterior access, the ability to reduce vertebral body fractures, particularly of the vertebral endplates and to maintain the vertebral body height, makes the application of expandable intravertebral implants an attractive option in the treatment of thoracolumbar vertebral compression fractures. However, more prospective, randomized, and large-scale blinded studies are still warranted, especially comparative studies between treatments and about the preferential use of an expansive implant over others, in order to gain definitive insights into the effectiveness and indications of each of these devices.

ObjectiveTo present a retrospective study of 16 patients submitted to hip disarticulation.MethodsDuring the period of 16 years, 16 patients who underwent hip disarticulation were identified. All of them were studied based on clinical records regarding the gender, age at surgery, disarticulation cause, postoperative complications, mortality rates and functional status after hip disarticulation.ResultsHip disarticulation was performed electively in most cases and urgently in only three cases. The indications had the following origins: infection (n = 6), tumor (n = 6), trauma (n = 3), and ischemia (n = 2). The mean post-surgery survival was 200.5 days. The survival rates were 6875% after six months, 5625% after one year, and 50% after three years. The mortality rates were higher in disarticulations with traumatic (66.7%) and tumoral (60%) causes. Regarding the eight patients who survived, half of them ambulate with crutches and without prosthesis, 25% walk with limb prosthesis, and 25% are bedridden. Complications and mortality were higher in the cases of urgent surgery, and in those with traumatic and tumoral causes.ConclusionHip disarticulation is a major ablative surgery with obvious implications for limb functionality, as well as high rates of complications and mortality. However, when performed at the correct time and with proper indication, this procedure can be life-saving and can ensure the return to the home environment with a certain degree of quality of life.

Current scientific evidence enhances the importance of the anatomic restauration of vertebral bodies with compression fractures aiming, as with other human body joints, to obtain a biomechanic and functional spine as close as the one prior to the fracture as possible. We consider that anatomic reduction of these fractures is only completely possible using intravertebral expandable implants, restoring vertebral endplate morphology, and enabling a more adequate intervertebral disc healing. This enables avoiding disc and osteodegenerative changes to that vertebral segment and its adjacent levels, as well as the anterior overload of adjacent vertebral bodies in older adults - a consequence of post-traumatic vertebral flattening - thus minimizing the risk of adjacent vertebral fractures. The ability of vertebral body fracture reduction and height maintenance over time and its percutaneous transpedicular application make the intra-vertebral expandable implants a very attractive option for treating these fractures. The authors show the direct and indirect reduction concepts of vertebral fractures, review the biomechanics, characteristics and indications of intravertebral expandable implants and present a suggestion for updating the algorithm for the surgical treatment of vertebral compression fractures which includes the use of intravertebral expandable implants. Level of Evidence V, Expert Opinion.

ObjectiveThis study aims to describe the surgical approach to such injuries and to present the clinical and functional outcomes obtained in a cohort of patients.MethodsThis is an observational retrospective study that included 153 patients with acute acromioclavicular joint dislocation, operated between 1999 and 2015. Clinical evaluation included the following outcomes: Constant functional scale, development of complications, time to return to previous work/sport activities, and satisfaction index. The contra-lateral (uninjured) shoulder was used as control in subjective outcomes. Radiological evaluation was performed in order to monitor signs of loss of reduction, degenerative joint changes, and coracoclavicular calcifications.ResultsThe mean age was 29.20 ± 9.53 (16–71), with a large male predominance (91.5%). Follow-up lasted 55.41 ± 24.87 (12–108) months. The mean Constant score attained was 96.45 ± 4.00 (84–100) on operated shoulders and 98.28 ± 1.81 (93–100) on contralateral ones. Almost all patients (98.69%) were satisfied with the surgical results. Worse outcomes were observed in acromioclavicular joint dislocations of increasing grade (from type III to V, but worse for type IV), both concerning the Constant score and return to work or sport. The overall incidence of complications was considered low, with the most prevalent being Kirschner wire failure and isolated coracoclavicular ligament calcifications.ConclusionThe surgical technique described is an excellent option in the treatment of acute acromioclavicular joint dislocations of Rockwood grades III to V. This is corroborated by the excellent clinical and functional outcomes and the low rate of complications.

ObjectiveRetrospective case–control study of authors experience in the modified Bristow-Latarjet procedure for treatment of recurrent traumatic anterior glenohumeral dislocation with glenoid bone injury.MethodsSample with 102 recurrent glenohumeral dislocation cases submitted to modified Bristow-Latarjet procedure. Indications included situations of recurrent traumatic anterior glenohumeral instability with more than two dislocation episodes and with glenoid bone attritional or fragmentary injuries, without possibility of reconstruction. Mean follow-up time was 5.33 ± 2.74 years (minimum 1; range 1–13).ResultsThe mean Walch-Duplay Score at the last evaluation was 91.23 ± 11.46 (range 15–100). The functional score of patients with glenoid bone loss greater than 20% did not show a significant difference in comparison with patients with glenoid bone loss lower than 20% (90 vs. 92, respectively). The functional score also did not show a significant difference between sports practice categories and between recreational and competitive practice, being excellent (greater than 90) in every category. There were no dislocation recurrences and the only complications were a case of persistent instability and a screw revision. Mild glenohumeral osteoarthrosis imaging signs were identified in 7.84% of the patients; however, their functional scores were not significantly different in comparison to other patients.ConclusionThe modified Bristow-Latarjet procedure is a very effective procedure with few complications in the medium-term, showing very satisfactory functional outcomes in the treatment of recurrent traumatic anterior glenohumeral dislocation associated with glenoid bone injury.

ObjectiveBilateral extensor tendon ruptures of the knee are rare and have only been published in the form of case reports or small series.MethodsSeven patients corresponding to 14 extensor tendon ruptures of the knee were evaluated by the same examiner after a minimum one year post-surgery. Clinical and radiographic evaluations were performed; for statistical analysis, the level of significance was set at 0.05.ResultsThe most common injury was patellar tendon rupture (n = 9; 64.29%) followed by quadriceps tendon rupture (n = 5, 35.71%). The intrasubstance was the most affected location (57.15%), followed by the myotendinous junction (21.43%) and the patellar bone insertions (21.43%). Quadriceps tendon ruptures were more prevalent in patients older than 50 years, while patellar tendon ruptures tended to occur in younger individuals. All but one patient had recognized risk factors for tendinous degeneration and rupture: 75% of the cases suffered from diseases, 50% had history of drug use and/or abuse, and 37.5% had both disease and drug use history. Mean attained values for flexion ROM were 124.64° ± 9.43 (110–140°) and 89.57 ± 6.02 (78–94) for Kujala score. More than half of the patients complained of residual pain and quadriceps muscular weakness. Mean age was younger in the individuals who complained of residual pain.ConclusionBilateral tendon ruptures of the knee extensor apparatus ruptures are rare and serious injuries, mostly associated with risk factors. Early surgical repair and intensive rehabilitation program for bilateral extensor tendon ruptures of the knee may warrant satisfactory functional outcomes in the medium to long term, despite non-negligible levels of residual pain, quadriceps muscle weakness, and atrophy.

Resumo Objetivo Estudo retrospectivo observacional em pacientes submetidos à fixação com haste intramedular de fratura patológica tumoral consumada ou iminente da diáfise do úmero em contexto de doença tumoral disseminada ao longo de 22 anos na mesma instituição. Métodos Amostra com 82 pacientes e 86 fixações do úmero com haste intramedular rígida bloqueada estática não fresada anterógrada ou retrógrada. Resultados Os tumores primários mais prevalentes foram carcinoma da mama (30,49%), mieloma múltiplo (24,39%), adenocarcinoma do pulmão (8,54%) e carcinoma das células renais (6,10%). O tempo médio de intervenção cirúrgica para fixação com haste foi 90,16 ± 42,98 minutos (40-135). Todos os pacientes referiram melhoria das queixas álgicas no nível do braço e velicou-se melhoria do score MSTS médio de 26% no pré-operatório para 72,6% na avaliação efetuada nos pacientes ainda vivos aos três meses de pós-operatório. A taxa de sobrevivência aos três meses após a cirurgia foi de 69,50%, 56,10% aos seis meses, 26,70% em um ano e 11,90% em dois anos. Nenhuma das mortes decorreu da cirurgia ou de complicações dela. Apenas se registaram quatro complicações relacionadas com a cirurgia, uma intraoperatória e três tardias, corresponderam a risco de complicações de 4,65%. Conclusão O uso de haste intramedular não fresada estática bloqueada (anterógrado ou retrógrado) no úmero é um método rápido, seguro, eficaz e com baixa morbilidade no tratamento das fraturas patológicas da diáfise umeral, garante fixação estável do braço e consequentemente melhora a funcionalidade e a qualidade de vida desses pacientes durante a sua curta expectativa de vida.