Abdominal obesity increases the risk of developing a parastomal hernia, therefore, it might be advisable to place a prophylactic mesh during colostomy formation when the patient's waist exceeds 100 cm.

No abstract

A toddler, age 2, presented with a penetrating cardiac trauma caused by a fall on a pencil. This case showed a normal echocardiography. However, during removal of the pencil, signs of cardiac tamponade were noticeable. Thus, a normal echocardiography is no guarantee to exclude a possible penetrating cardiac injury.

Malignant giant solitary fibrous tumor (SFT) of the mediastinum is a rare neoplasm derived from mesenchymal tissue. Owing to its large size, a complete resection of the tumor can present many challenges, particularly given its proximity to vital neighboring structures. We report a successful en-bloc resection of a massive mediastinal SFT, which was compressing the inferior trachea and heart, by means of a median sternotomy and an anterior left thoracotomy. We emphasize the rarity of this uncommon mediastinal mass. Key points of mediastinal SFT are discussed.

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

A man, aged 55, presented with a spontaneous haemarthrosis of his right knee, 1 year after an unicompartmental knee replacement. This case showed an atraumatic rupture of the metal marker wire of an all-polyethylene inlay tibial implant which caused a destruction of the polyethylene surface and a disseminated synovitis of the right knee. This is a rare but destructive complication following an unicompartmental knee arthroplasty.