Background: Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) aims to improve cosmesis and minimize soft tissue disruption by using small skin incisions. When using MIS in the forefoot, there is concern about iatrogenic neurovascular and tendon damage. The aim of this anatomical study was to assess the risk of iatrogenic injury while performing MIS techniques. Methods: Ten normal cadaveric feet were used. All of the procedures were performed in a cadaveric lab using a mini-C-arm by two surgeons: a consultant who has attended a cadaveric MIS training course but does not perform MIS in his regular practice (eight feet) and a registrar (resident) who was supervised by the same consultant (two feet). In each foot, the surgeon performed a lateral release, a minimally invasive chevron and Akin (MICA) procedure for the correction of hallux valgus, and a minimally invasive distal metatarsal extra-articular osteotomy (DMO). Each foot was then dissected to identify any neurovascular or tendon injury and photographed. Results: The dorsal medial cutaneous and the plantar interdigital nerves were intact in all specimens. There was no apparent damage to the arterial plexus supplying the first metatarsal head. No flexor or extensor tendon injuries were identified. On examination of the osteotomies, the cuts were found not to be in the desired plane. In both MICA and DMO, the dissection also revealed some intact soft tissue at the osteotomy site, which may preserve vascularity and add stability to the osteotomy. Conclusions: Although there has been concern regarding neurovascular and tendon injury, the findings were consistent with minimal risk, which is consistent with reports in the literature. This study also reflects the challenges associated with performing the osteotomy in the No benefits in any form have been received or will be received from a commercial party related directly or indirectly to the subject of this article.

We have carried out a prospective double-blind randomised controlled trial to compare the efficacy of a single subacromial injection of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, tenoxicam, with a single injection of methylprednisolone in patients with subacromial impingement. A total of 58 patients were randomly allocated into two groups. Group A received 40 mg of methylprednisolone and group B 20 mg of tenoxicam as a subacromial injection along with lignocaine. The Constant-Murley shoulder score was used as the primary outcome measure and the Disability of Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) and the Oxford Shoulder Score (OSS) as secondary measures. Six weeks after injection the improvement in the Constant-Murley score was significantly greater in the methylprednisolone group (p = 0.003) than in the tenoxicam group. The improvement in the DASH score was greater in the steroid group and the difference was statistically significant and consistent two (p < 0.01), four (p < 0.01) and six weeks (p < 0.020) after the injection. The improvement in the OSS was consistently greater in the steroid group than in the tenoxicam group. Although the difference was statistically significant at two (p < 0.001) and four (p = 0.003) weeks after the injection, it was not at six weeks (p = 0.055). Subacromial injection of tenoxicam does not offer an equivalent outcome to subacromial injection of corticosteroid at six weeks. Corticosteroid is significantly better than tenoxicam for improving shoulder function in tendonitis of the rotator cuff after six weeks.

Objective:To compare the efficacy and side effects of 3% hypertonic saline and mannitol in the management of raised intracranial pressure in children.Design:Prospective randomized study.Setting:Pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) in a tertiary care hospital.Subject:200 patients with raised intracranial pressure.Materials and Methods:Patients were randomized into two statistically comparable groups; Group A (n = 98) was treated with mannitol while Group B (n = 100) was treated with 3% hypertonic saline. Group C (n = 2) included those members of Group A in whom serum osmolality ≥320 mosmol/kg and were then treated with 3% hypertonic saline. Both Drugs were given at a loading dose of 5 ml/kg stat followed by 2 ml/kg in every 6 h(both have same osmolarity) for two days in their respective groups. Besides monitoring, blood pressure (NIBP), mean arterial pressure (pre and post 30 min of drug), serum sodium, chloride and osmolality were measured. Intracranial pressure was assessed indirectly by measuring mean arterial ressure “MAP”. Student paired ‘t’ test was applied.Results:Decrease in MAP was highly significant (P<0.001) at 0 h in males 0,6 h in females, and moderately significant at 12,36 h in females and significant(P<0.05) at 6,24,42 h in males of Group B. Decrease in coma hours was a highly significant finding (P<0.001) in Group B. In Group B, serum sodium and chloride increased significantly but remained within acceptable limits. There was no difference in osmolality and mortality (fisher Z).Conclusion:Mannitol has several side effects, 3% hypertonic saline is a safe and effective alternative in managing cerebral edema.

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Non- or mal-union of the clavicle is reported to occur in up to 15 % of conservatively treated fractures: the purpose of this systematic review is to examine the evidence for the use of external fixation in the treatment of clavicular non-union. We performed a search of MEDLINE and Embase, including all papers using external fixators for the treatment of clavicular non-union. Four papers satisfied our eligibility criteria: three case series and one case-control study. Level of evidence and quality assessment scoring were performed using published methods. Due to the heterogeneity of the study populations and interventions, no attempt at meta-analysis was made. External fixation in hypertrophic non-union of the clavicle, but not atrophic non-union, appears to be a reasonable treatment option. A pragmatic, multicentre, randomised controlled trial comparing external fixation and open reduction internal fixation in the treatment of hypertrophic non-union of the clavicle would be valuable.