Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by a new virus that has never been identified in humans before. COVID-19 caused at the time of writing of this article, 2.5 million cases of infections in 193 countries with 165,000 deaths, including two-third in Europe. In this context, Oncology Departments of the affected countries had to adapt quickly their health system care and establish new organizations and priorities. Thus, numerous recommendations and therapeutic options have been reported to optimize therapy delivery to patients with chronic disease and cancer. Obviously, while these cancer care recommendations are immediately applicable in Europe, they may not be applicable in certain emerging and low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). In this review, we aimed to summarize these international guidelines in accordance with cancer types, making a synthesis for daily practice to protect patients, staff and tailor anti-cancer therapy delivery taking into account patients/tumour criteria and tools availability. Thus, we will discuss their applicability in the LMICs with different organizations, limited means and different constraints.

Introduction. There are various methods of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction of which the two main choices in autograft reconstruction involve the use of the bone-patella tendon-bone or hamstring graft. Femoral fixation can be divided into three main types: cortical suspensory devices such as Endobutton (Smith & Nephew, Arthrex), interference screws, and femoral transfixation devices such as Transfix (Arthrex) and Rigidfix (Depuy-Mitek). The aim of this study was to compare the clinical outcome between Rigidfix, Transfix and Endobutton devices for soft tissue femoral fixation in primary ACL reconstruction using the autogenous hamstring graft. Methods. We conducted our study in 48 patients admitted to our clinic, University Traumatology Clinic, Clinical Center "Mother Teresa", Skopje for ACL reconstruction from September 2009 to May 2013. The patients with ACL reconstruction were assigned as Rigidfix group (n=28), the second patients to Transfix group (n=13) and the third to Endobutton group (n=7). MRI of the knee joint was done prior to surgery. A data sheet, containing demographic data, examination findings and Tegner & Lysholm score, was completed for each patient. Results. Tegner & Lysholm the average scores before surgery were 2.52 and 34.75 (p>0.05). Six month after arthroscopy, the average value of Tegner and Lysholm scores in patients with ACL reconstruction was 8.37 and 89.08. Comparison among them showed that the operative mode of Endobutton femoral fixation had the highest level of the Lysholm score. Conclusions. Endobutton (Tight rope-RT) yielded a better outcome compared to the other two modes of femoral fixation in terms of instant stability of the graft and the general results.

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INTRODUCTION:In the past distal tibia fractures, including intraarticular fractures, frequently led to poor functional outcomes. The Ruedi-Allgower four steps open method, and later the Patterson and Sirkin recommendations for delayed operative treatment has made a drastic advancement in the treatment of these fractures. The two-stage minimally-invasive protocol using locking plate fixation proved a historical turning point, improving functional results to the highest levels compared to all other methods.AIM:To present the superior results of the two-stage minimally-invasive method using locking plate fixation, making this a historic step forward in treating distal tibia fractures.MATERIAL AND METHODS:A prospective longitudinal study, collecting data from Traumatology-Clinic in the 2014-2016 periods, available for nine-month follow-up. Twenty-three patients were finally included in the study.RESULTS:In analysing the data collected, we focused our attention on the final functional outcomes as indicated by dorsiflexion nine months after injury and also according to the AOFAS Ankle-Hindfoot Scale. Results were excellent with no or minimal consequences. Where complications were present, these were benign and did not require further surgery.CONCLUSION:We believe this modern method for the treatment of distal tibia fractures should be applied routinely and considered as the gold standard in this domain.

BackgroundThe aim of the study was to examine on the CT basis the inter-application displacement of the positions D0.1cc, D1cc and D2cc of the brachytherapy dose applied to the bladder and rectum of the patients with inoperable cervical cancer.Patients and methodsThis prospective study included 30 patients with cervical cancer who were treated by concomitant chemo-radiotherapy. HDR intracavitary brachytherapy was made by the applicators type Fletcher tandem and ovoids. For each brachytherapy application the position D0.1cc was determined of the bladder and rectum that receive a brachytherapty dose. Then, based on the X, Y, and Z axis displacement, inter-application mean X, Y, and Z axis displacements were calculated as well as their displacement vectors (R). It has been analyzed whether there is statistically significant difference in inter-application displacement of the position of the brachytherapy dose D0.1cc, D1cc and D2cc of the bladder and rectum. The ANOVA test and post-hoc analysis by Tukey method were used for testing statistical importance of differences among the groups analyzed. The difference among the groups analyzed was considered significant if p < 0.05.ResultsThere are significant inter-application displacements of the position of the brachytherapy dose D0,1cc, D1cc and D2cc of the bladder and rectum.ConclusionsWhen we calculate the cumulative brachytherapy dose by summing up D0,1cc, D1cc and D2cc of the organs at risk for all the applications, we must bear in mind their inter-application displacement, and the fact that it is less likely that the worst scenario would indeed happen.

Introduction: Management of degenerative lumbosacral spondylolisthesis with spinal stenosis is still controversial. Surgery is widely used, as well as non-surgical treatment. Aim: To evaluate the clinical results and functional outcome after operative treatment in Grade II and III lumbar spine spondylolisthesis. Material and methods: Twelve patients with symptoms and image-confirmed degenerative spondylolisthesis entered the study. Mean patient age was 57 years. Spondylolisthesis Grade II or III, segment L4-L5 or L5-S1 were evaluated. All patients underwent similar protocols. Operative treatment was decompressive laminectomy, posterior one segment fixation, and fusion with autologous bone grafting. Functional outcome measures were Visual Analog Scale (VAS, 10-point scale) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI, 100-percent scale) after 6 and 12 months. Results: Patient follow-up was 12 months. Preoperatively, 7 patients had severe disability according to ODI, 4 had moderate disability. VAS measured 6 and 7 points in 6 patients, lowest score of 4 points and the highest score of 9. After 6 months, ODI showed 5 patients had minimal and 7 had moderate disability; 2 patients had 0 points on the VAS, 2 had a score of 1, 4 had a score of 2, highest score of 4 points. Treatment outcome effects after 1 year were 9 patients with minimal disability, 3 with moderate; VAS -2 patients with O points, 3 with 1 point, 4 with 2 points. Conclusion: Patients with degenerative spondylolisthesis and spinal stenosis treated surgically showed substantially greater improvement in pain and functional outcome during a period of 1 year.

INTRODUCTION: An important feature of distal tibia fractures is the relevance of the soft tissue coverage. In order to maintain good functional outcome, several operative techniques have been established. Among them, percutaneous screw fixation has the advantage of causing less biological damage of the soft tissues with lower rates of complications.MATERIAL AND METHODS: We reviewed 16 patients with distal tibia fracture. Operative treatment consisted of indirect reduction and percutaneous fixation of the tibia followed by cast immobilization for approximately 3-4 months. Minimum follow up period was 12 months. Functional outcome was evaluated using Olerud-Molander Ankle Score (OMAS) and American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society ankle-hindfoot score (AOFAS).RESULTS: Twelve out of 16 fractures healed within 6 months of the injury. In 3 cases, delayed union was evident, but the fractures healed in less than nine months. There was one case of malunion, two cases of superficial skin infections, two cases of DVT and two cases of gross swelling. According to OMAS score, the functional result was excellent in 7 (43.75%), good in 5 (31.25%) and fair in 4 (25%) patients.CONCLUSION: Percutaneous screw fixation can be a safe and effective method for operative treatment of distal tibia fractures.

ApstraktCilj: prikazati metodologiju rada primjenom modernih tehnika zračenja. Pozadina: Tehnološki razvoj rezultirao je implementacijom novih tehnika zračenja i omogućio preciznu isporuku visokih doza zračenja na ciljni volumen uz maksimalnu poštedu okolnih zdravih tkiva. Metodologija: priprema pacijenta na 4DCT-simulatoru uz adekvatnu imobilizaciju, fuzija simulacione CT slike s dijagnostičkim CT/MRI/PET, delineacija volumena zračenja i zdravih organa. Planiranje zračenja provodi se prema VMAT/RapidArc: Eclipse TPS protokolu s ciljem eskalacije doze u targetu i maksimalnom poštedom zdravih tkiva strmim padom doze. To se postiže izocentričnom isporukom doze iz više sekvencijalnih malih snopova zračenja nejednakog intenziteta (IMRT) ili Arc-tehnikom iz izvora koji kruži oko pacijenta za 360 o , dok je volumen zračenja moduliran dinamičkim pomjeranjem listova kolimatora (VMAT SRS/SRT, SBRT). Preciznost isporuke doze provjerom pozicije targeta osigurava se slikovnim vođenjem radioterapije (IGRT) tokom isporuke doze (OBI CBCT). Diskusija: primjena modernih tehnika zračenja zahtijeva visokosofisticiranu opremu i educirano osoblje, što omogućava isporuku visokih doza zračenja na tumorsko tkivo. Pošteda zdravih tkiva je značajna u odnosu na ranije tehnike, ali istovremeno se malim dozama ozrači veći volumen zdravog tkiva. Zaključak: Isporuka visokih doza zračenja na tumorsko tkivo je u direktnoj korelaciji s boljom tumorskom kontrolom, uz doze na zdrava tkiva ispod granice doze koja ne dovodi do značajnijeg poremećaja funkcije (<5% komplikacija). Provođenje QA procedura u cilju kontrole visokih terapijskih doza na target i niskih doza na zdrava tkiva u cilju prevencije ranih i kasnih nusefekata.Ključne riječi: zaštita, zračenje, SRT/SBRT, IMRT.* Studija prikazana u članku provedena je u Affidea IMC Centru za radioterapiju Banja Luka