Background No consensus exists regarding the optimal treatment of ipsilateral femoral neck and shaft fractures. The three major issues related to these fractures are the optimal timing of surgery, which fracture to stabilize first, and the optimal implant to use. In an effort to find answers to these three key issues, we report our experience of managing 27 patients with ipsilateral femoral neck and shaft fractures by using two different treatment methods, i.e., reconstructiontype intramedullary nailing and various plate combinations. Materials and methods We divided patients into two groups. Group I included 15 patients (13 males and 2 females) who were operated with cancellous lag screws or dynamic hip screws (DHS) for fractured neck and compression plate fixation for fractured shaft of the femur. Group II included 12 patients (11 males and 1 female) who were operated with reconstruction-type intramedullary nailing. Results Mean age was 33.2 and 37.9 years in group I and II, respectively. Mean delay in surgery was 5.9 and 5.4 days in group I and II, respectively. Average union time for femoral neck fracture in groups I and II were 15.2 and 17.1 weeks, respectively; and for shaft fracture these times were 20.3 and 22.8 weeks, respectively. There were 13 (86.6%) good, 1 (6.7%) fair and 1 (6.7%) poor functional results in group I. There were 10 (83.3%) good, 1 (8.3%) fair and 1 (8.3%) poor functional results in group II.

Background:The optimal bladder management method should preserve renal function and minimize the risk of urinary tract complications. The present study is conducted to assess the overall incidence of urinary tract infections (UTI) and other urological complications in spinal cord injury patients (SCI), and to compare the incidence of these complications with different bladder management subgroups.Materials and Methods:545 patients (386 males and 159 females) of traumatic spinal cord injury with the mean age of 35.4±16.2 years (range, 18 – 73 years) were included in the study. The data regarding demography, bladder type, method of bladder management, and urological complications, were recorded. Bladder management methods included indwelling catheterization in 224 cases, clean intermittent catheterization (CIC) in 180 cases, condom drainage in 45 cases, suprapubic cystostomy in 24 cases, reflex voiding in 32 cases, and normal voiding in 40 cases. We assessed the incidence of UTI and bacteriuria as the number of episodes per hundred person-days, and other urological complications as percentages.Results:The overall incidence of bacteriuria was 1.70 / hundred person-days. The overall incidenceof urinary tract infection was 0.64 / hundered person-days. The incidence of UTI per 100 person-days was 2.68 for indwelling catheterization, 0.34 for CIC, 0.34 for condom drainage, 0.56 for suprapubic cystostomy, 0.34 for reflex voiding, and 0.32 for normal voiding. Other urological complications recorded were urethral stricture (n=66, 12.1%), urethritis (n=78, 14.3%), periurethral abscess (n=45, 8.2%), epididymorchitis (n=44, 8.07%), urethral false passage (n=22, 4.03%), urethral fistula (n=11, 2%), lithiasis (n=23, 4.2%), hematuria (n=44, 8.07%), stress incontinence (n=60, 11%), and pyelonephritis (n=6, 1.1%). Clean intermittent catheterization was associated with lower incidence of urological complications, in comparison to indwelling catheterization.Conclusions:Urinary tract complications largely appeared to be confined to the lower urinary tract. The incidence of UTI and other urological complications is lower in patients on CIC in comparison to the patients on indwelling catheterizations. Encouraging CIC; early recognition and treatment of the UTI and urological complications; and a regular follow up is necessary to reduce the medical morbidity.

Locking compression plate (LPHP) is an advantageous implant in proximal humeral fractures due to angular stability, particularly in comminuted fractures and in osteoporotic bones in elderly patients, thus allowing early mobilization.

Background:Curettage is one of the most common treatment options for benign lytic bone tumors and tumor like lesions. The resultant defect is usually filled. We report our outcome curettage of benign bone tumors and tumor like lesions without filling the cavity.Materials and Methods:We retrospectively studied 42 patients (28 males and 14 females) with benign bone tumors who had undergone curettage without grafting or filling of the defect by any other bone graft substitute. The age of the patients ranged from 14 to 66 years. The most common histological diagnosis was that of giant cell tumor followed by simple bone cyst, aneurysamal bone cyst, enchondroma, fibrous dysplasia, chondromyxoid fibroma, and chondroblastoma and giant cell reparative granuloma. Of the 15 giant cell tumors, 4 were radiographic grade 1 lesions, 8 were grade 2 and 3 grade 3. The mean maximum diameter of the cysts was 5.1 (range 1.1-9 cm) cm and the mean volume of the lesions was 34.89 cm3 (range 0.94-194.52 cm3). The plain radiographs of the part before and after curettage were reviewed to establish the size of the initial defect and the rate of reconstitution, filling and remodeling of the bone defect. Patients were reviewed every 3 monthly for a minimum period of 2 years.Results:Most of the bone defects completely reconstituted to a normal appearance while the rest filled partially. Two patients had preoperative and three had postoperative fractures. All the fractures healed uneventfully. Local recurrence occurred in three patients with giant cell tumor who were then reoperated. All other patients had unrestricted activities of daily living after surgery. The rate of bone reconstitution, risk of subsequent fracture or the incidence of complications was related to the size of the cyst/tumor at diagnosis. The benign cystic bone lesions with volume greater than approximately 70 cm3 were found to have higher incidence of complications.Conclusion:This study demonstrates the natural healing ability of bone without filling with bone grafts or bone graft substitutes. In selected sizes and locations of the benign lytic tumors and tumor like lesions extended curettage alone can be sufficient.

BackgroundManagement of distal tibial tumours with limb salvage surgery poses a challenge for the orthopaedic surgeon. This study was done to evaluate the results of fibular centralisation as a technique to reconstruct defects that occurred after resection at this site.Materials and methodsNine patients with a mean age of 23.2 years (range 17–34) with diagnosis of osteosarcoma in four patients, Ewing’s sarcoma in two, giant cell tumour in two and chondrosarcoma in one patient underwent surgical treatment for tumour in the distal tibia. All patients had wide resection of the tumour and ankle arthrodesis with centralisation of the fibula. Patients were assessed clinico-radiologically for bone union, infection and complications. The final functional outcome was estimated according to Musculoskeletal Tumor Society (MSTS) scores.ResultsThe mean age at the time of surgery was 23.2 years (17–34). There were five females and four males. The mean follow-up was 37 months (range 28–54 months). One of the patients with osteosarcoma had a recurrence a year after limb salvage surgery, underwent above-knee amputation, and died 18 months later due to metastasis. One patient developed leg length discrepancy. The mean MSTS score was 22.75 (range 17–27).ConclusionFibular centralisation is a durable reconstruction tool for defects of the distal tibial metaphysis with an acceptable functional outcome. It is an inexpensive and simple procedure, with a low rate of late complications, and reproducible results.Level of evidenceIV Retrospective case series.

Background:Spasticity is a syndrome associated with a persistent increase in involuntary reflex activity of a muscle in response to stretch. Adductor muscle spasticity is a common complication of spinal cord and brain injury. It needs to be treated if it interferes with activities of daily living and self-care. Obturator neurolytic blockade is one of the cost-effective therapeutic possibilities to treat spasticity of adductor group of muscles. In this study, we assessed the efficacy of interadductor approach in alleviating the spasticity.Methods:Obturator neurolysis using 8-10 ml 6% phenol was given with the guidance of a peripheral nerve stimulator in 20 spastic patients. Technical evaluation included number of attempted needle insertions, time to accurate location of the nerve, depth of needle insertion, and success rate. Pain, spasticity, hip abduction range of motion (ROM), number of spasms, gait, and hygiene were evaluated at 1st hour, 24th hour, end of the 1st week, and in the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd months following the intervention.Results:The success rate was 100% with mean time to accurate nerve location 4.9±2.06 min. Average depth of needle insertion was 2.91±0.32 cm. Compared with the scores measured immediately before the block, all studied parameters improved significantly. An increase in the Modified Ashworth Scale values was observed in the 2nd and 3rd months, but they did not reach their initial values.Conclusion:The interadductor approach proved to be accurate and fast, with a high success rate. Phenol blockade is an efficient and cost-effective technique in patients with adductor spasticity. It led to a decrease in spasticity and pain with an increase in the ROM of the hip and better hygiene, with an efficacy lasting for about 3 months.

Spasticity is motor alteration characterized by muscle hypertonia and hyperreflexia. It is an important complication of spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, cerebral palsy, and multiple sclerosis. If uncorrected, fibrosis and eventually bony deformity lock the joint into a fixed contracture. Chemical neurolysis using various agents is one of the therapeutic possibilities to alleviate spasticity. We are, hereby, reporting 3 patients in whom 65% alcohol was used as neurolytic agent for the treatment of hip adductor spasticity, and the effect lasted for a variable period.

The most common site for giant cell tumors (GCT) is knee, where the tumor characteristically extends right up to the subarticular bone plate. Extensive curettage with preservation of the joint should be done wherever possible. The alternatives for filling the void left after curettage are either bone graft or bone cement. Sandwich technique uses the advantages of both, taking care to prevent damage to articular cartilage. This study was done to evaluate the results of sandwich technique in tumors around the knee joint. It was a prospective study of 26 consecutive patients (15 females and 11 males) with Campanacci grade II and grade III GCT around the knee, which qualified the inclusion criterion and underwent knee reconstruction with sandwich technique, after extended curettage of the tumor. The mean age of the patients at the time of surgery was 32.73 ± 11.30 years (range, 18-62 years), and the mean follow-up was 3.87 ± 1.26 years (range, 6.5-2 years). At final follow-up, the functional evaluation was done using Musculoskeletal Tumor Society (MSTS) score and measuring range of motion around the knee. Three patients had recurrence of tumor; in one case, we were able to salvage the joint and repeat sandwich surgery was performed, and in the other two cases, the joint was breached; therefore, we resorted to resection arthrodesis. At final follow-up, the mean functional arc of motion around the knee and the mean MSTS score in patients without arthrodesis was 123.52 ± 10.21 degrees (range, 100-130 degrees) and 27.04/30, respectively; all patients were able to do their activities of daily living with ease. Sandwich technique is a good reconstruction procedure in GCT around knee joint with good survival rate, minimal complications, and good functional outcome.