An intercalary reconstruction is defined as replacement of the diaphyseal portion of a long bone after segmental skeletal resection (diaphysectomy). Intercalary reconstructions typically result in superior function compared to other limb-sparing procedures as the patient's native joints above and below the reconstruction are left undisturbed. The most popular reconstructive options after segmental resection of a bone sarcoma include allografts, vascularized fibula graft, combined allograft and vascularized fibula, segmental endoprostheses, extracorporeal devitalized autograft, and segmental transport using the principles of distraction osteogenesis. This article aims to review the indications, techniques, limitations, pros and cons, and complications of the aforementioned methods of intercalary bone tumor resections and reconstructions in the context of the ever-growing, brave new field of limb-salvage surgery.

Melatonin "the light of night" is secreted from the pineal gland principally at night. The hormone is involved in sleep regulation, as well as in a number of other cyclical bodily activities and circadian rhythm in humans. Melatonin is exclusively involved in signalling the 'time of day' and 'time of year' (hence considered to help both clock and calendar functions) to all tissues and is thus considered to be the body's chronological pacemaker or 'Zeitgeber'.The last decades melatonin has been used as a therapeutic chemical in a large spectrum of diseases, mainly in sleep disturbances and tumours and may play a role in the biologic regulation of mood, affective disorders, cardiovascular system, reproduction and aging. There are few papers regarding melatonin and its role in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). Melatonin may play a role in the pathogenesis of scoliosis (neuroendocrine hypothesis) but at present, the data available cannot clearly support this hypothesis. Uncertainties and doubts still surround the role of melatonin in human physiology and pathophysiology and future research is needed.

The reported rate of complications of reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) seems to be higher than the complication rate of anatomical total shoulder arthroplasty.The reported overall complication rate of primary RSA is approximately 15%; when RSA is used in the revision setting, the complication rate may approach 40%.The most common complications of RSA include instability, infection, notching, loosening, nerve injury, acromial and scapular spine fractures, intra-operative fractures and component disengagement.Careful attention to implant design and surgical technique, including implantation of components in the correct version and height, selection of the best glenosphere-humeral bearing match, avoidance of impingement, and adequate management of the soft tissues will hopefully translate in a decreasing number of complications in the future.Cite this article: Barco R, Savvidou OD, Sperling JW, Sanchez-Sotelo J, Cofield RH. Complications in reverse shoulder arthroplasty. EFORT Open Rev 2016;1:72-80. DOI: 10.1302/2058-5241.1.160003.

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Background: Numerous studies have attempted to quantify the correlation between the surface deformity and the Cobb angle without considering growth as an important factor that may influence this correlation. In our series, we noticed that in some younger referred children from the school-screening program there is a discrepancy between the thoracic scoliometer readings and the morphology of their spine. Namely there is a rib hump but no spinal curve and consequently no Cobb angle reading in radiographs, discrepancy which fades away in older children. Based on this observation, we hypothesized that in scoliotics the correlation between the rib cage deformity and this of the spine is weak in younger children and vice versa.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of unilateral external fixator as primary and definitive treatment for open tibial fractures, fractures with severe soft tissues injuries, threatened compartment syndrome, and in multiply injured patients. Two hundred and twenty-three tibial shaft fractures (212 patients) were treated. In open fractures, union was achieved in 25 weeks, while in closed in 21. There were 18 nonunions, 21 delayed unions, 4 malunions, 58 pin infections and 3 osteomyelitis. A reoperation was performed in 42 patients. Fat embolism was diagnosed in three patients, pulmonary embolism in five and deep venous thrombosis in 14. The external fixator was definitive treatment in 87.27%. Unilateral external fixators can be used as primary and definitive treatment for complicated tibia shaft fractures. Re-operation or change of the method must be performed only when there is a delay in callus formation.

AimTo evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of an intra-articular injection of bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC) as a treatment option for osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee.Materials and methodsBetween June 2014 and February 2017, data from 233 patients with knee osteoarthritis treated with BMAC injection at a single center, were retrospectively evaluated. Only patients with idiopathic osteoarthritis were included. Exclusion criteria were post-traumatic osteoarthritis, previous knee surgery, age less than 50 years old or more than 85 years old, active infection, uncontrolled diabetes mellitus, rheumatological or other systemic disease, malignancy, or treatment with immunosuppressive drugs. Bone marrow from the iliac crest was aspirated/concentrated with a standardized technique using a single-spin manual method. Patients were evaluated before and after the procedure, using the numeric pain scale (NPS) and Oxford knee score (OKS). Mean follow-up period was 11 months, range (6–30 months).ResultsA total of 121 of 233 patients had completed data as previously defined and were included in the statistical analysis. There were 85 females and 36 males, with mean age 70 years (range 50–85). Compared to baseline, the mean NPS decreased from 8.33 to 4.49 (p < 0.001) and the mean OKS increased from 20.20 to 32.29 (P < 0.001) at final follow-up. There were no complications.ConclusionA single intra-articular injection of BMAC is a safe and reliable procedure that results in clinical improvement of knee OA.

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