CONTEXT: Despite the absence of symptoms in the majority of patients carrying lead bullet fragments in their bodies, there needs to be an awareness of the possible signs and symptoms of lead intoxication when bullets are lodged in large joints like knees, hips and shoulders. Such patients merit closer follow-up, and even surgical procedure for removing the fragments. OBJECTIVE: To describe a patient who developed clinical lead intoxication several years after a gunshot wound. DESIGN: Case report. CASE REPORT: A single white 23-year-old male, regular job as a bricklayer, with a history of chronic alcohol abuse, showed up at the emergency department complaining of abdominal pain with colic, weakness, vomiting and diarrhea with black feces. All the symptoms had a duration of two to three weeks, and had been recurrent for the last two years, with calming during interval periods of two to three weeks. Abdominal radiograms showed a bullet lodged in the left hip, with a neat bursogram of the whole synovial capsule. A course of chelating treatment using calcium versenate (EDTACaNa2) intravenously was started. After the chelation therapy the patient had recurrence of his symptoms and a radical solution for the chronic mobilization of lead was considered. A hip arthroplasty procedure was performed, leading to complete substitution of the left hip. (+info)
The 'chef's hat' appearance of the femoral head in cleidocranial dysplasia.
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Cleidocranial dysplasia (CCD) is inherited as an autosomal dominant disorder characterised by failure of membranous ossification. The condition is due to a mutation of the cbfa1 gene on chromosome 6 which has a role in the development of osteoblasts from the mesenchymal cells. In their growing years, these patients have an unusual shape of the femoral head reminiscent of a 'chef's hat'. In order to confirm the consistency of this sign, we have reviewed the radiographs of 28 patients with CCD. All except three had this appearance. The sign was also seen in patients with coxa vara associated with a variety of other conditions. The chef's hat sign may occur secondary to the particular mechanical environment created by coxa vara as well as abnormal cellular function in patients with CCD. Although coxa vara has some influence on the shape of the femoral head, it is not entirely responsible for its morphology since it was present in only six of the 28 patients with CCD. (+info)
Charnley low-friction arthroplasty with an autograft of the femoral head for developmental dysplasia of the hip. The 10- to 15-year results.
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Between 1983 and 1988 we carried out 45 Charnley low-friction arthroplasties with autografts from the femoral head in 41 patients for developmental dysplasia of the hip. The preoperative radiographs were assessed for the severity of DDH according to the classifications of Crowe et al, Hartofilakidis et al and Sharp. The postoperative and follow-up radiographs were analysed for coverage of the socket by the graft, for loosening and for the outcome of the fixation of the bone graft. Two patients died (two hips) at four and seven years after THR from causes unrelated to the surgery and were excluded from the final radiological analysis. The mean age of the patients at the time of operation was 46 years 3 months. The autograft of the femoral head covered a mean 26% (16 to 35) of the acetabular component. All the grafts united. Some degree of resorption of the bone graft occurred in 27 patients, and always involved the lateral part of the graft, which was beyond the margin of the socket. After a mean follow-up of 11 years there had been no revisions and 38 patients had no pain or only slight discomfort. One socket migrated and four others were fully demarcated. Our findings indicate that the Charnley LFA with an autograft of the femoral head for DDH remains successful at a follow-up of 15 years. (+info)
Prediction of the outcome of transtrochanteric rotational osteotomy for osteonecrosis of the femoral head.
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We have studied the correlation between the prevention of progressive collapse and the ratio of the intact articular surface of the femoral head, after transtrochanteric rotational osteotomy for osteonecrosis. We used probit analysis on 125 hips in order to assess the ratio necessary to prevent progressive radiological collapse over a ten-year period. The results show that a minimum postoperative intact ratio of 34% was required. This critical ratio may be useful for surgical planning and in assessing the natural history of the condition. (+info)
The anterior centre-edge angle. A cadaver study.
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The anterior centre-edge (VCA) angle quantifies the anterior cover of the femoral head, and angles of less than 20 degrees are considered abnormal. We have measured the VCA angles in hips without osteoarthritic changes. We took bilateral false-profile radiographs of nine female and 30 male cadavers without signs of osteoarthritis. The mean age at the time of death was 72 years (46 to 92). The mean VCA angle was 32.8 degrees (17.7 to 53.6). The SD was 7.9 degrees. Our findings suggest that the threshold of abnormality of the VCA angle may be slightly lower than previously thought. This information may be useful in counselling patients with asymptomatic acetabular dysplasia. (+info)
Physiological cell death of chondrocytes in vivo is not confined to apoptosis. New observations on the mammalian growth plate.
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Chondrocytes at the lower zone of the growth plate must be eliminated to facilitate longitudinal growth; this is generally assumed to involve apoptosis. We attempted to provide definitive electron-microscopic evidence of apoptosis in chondrocytes of physes and chondroepiphyses in the rabbit. We were, however, unable to find a single chondrocyte with the ultrastructure of 'classical' apoptosis in vivo, although such a cell was found in vitro. Instead, condensed chondrocytes had a convoluted nucleus with patchy chromatin condensations while the cytoplasm was dark with excessive amounts of endoplasmic reticulum. These cells were termed 'dark chondrocytes'. A detailed study of their ultrastructure combined with localisation methods in situ suggested a different mechanism of programmed cell death. In addition, another type of death was identified among the immature chondrocytes of the chondroepiphysis. These cells had the same nucleus as dark chondrocytes, but the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum had expanded to fill the entire non-nuclear space, and all cytoplasm and organelles had been reduced to dark, worm-like inclusions. Since these cells appeared to be 'in limbo', they were termed 'paralysed' cells. It is proposed that 'dark chondrocytes' and 'paralysed cells' are examples of physiological cell death which does not involve apoptosis. It is possible that the confinement of chondrocytes within their lacunae, which would prevent phagocytosis of apoptotic bodies, necessitates different mechanisms of elimination. (+info)
The use of dynamic interventional MRI in developmental dysplasia of the hip.
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Conventional methods of imaging in the investigation of developmental dysplasia of the hip all have disadvantages, either in definition or in exposure to radiation. We describe a new open-configuration MR scanner which is unique in that it allows anaesthesia and access to the patient within the imaging volume for surgical procedures and application of casts. We performed 13 scans in eight anaesthetised infants. Dynamic imaging revealed two dislocated hips which were then visualised during reduction. Hip spicas were applied without removing the patient from the scanner. In one hip, an adductor tenotomy was carried out. In all patients, stressing the hips during dynamic imaging allowed an assessment of stability. This was particularly useful in two hips in which an analysis of stability in different positions facilitated the planning of femoral osteotomies. This method of imaging provides new and important information. It has great potential in the investigation of developmental dysplasia of the hip and, with ultrasound, may allow management without the need for radiography. (+info)
Open reduction and cementation for femoral head fracture secondary to avascular necrosis: preliminary report.
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Current treatment for femoral head avascular necrosis has shown good results in early stages of disease, but are not as impressive after progression to collapse. We treated 19 patients (20 hips) with Stage III avascular necrosis (AVN) by open reduction augmented by methylmethacrylate cementation. Follow up ranges from 6 months to 2 years (average = 8.7 months). We followed patient progress with pre- and post-operative Harris Hip Scores, Womac Osteoarthritis Index and a Health Status Questionnaire (SF36). All patients realized immediate post-operative pain relief and improvement in function. Harris Hip, Womac Osteoarthritis Index and SF36 physical health scores improved significantly from 54.0 to 79.5 (p < 0.05), 54.3 to 29.8 (p < 0.05) and 28.4 to 42.4 (p < 0.05), respectively. Three patients had a conversion to total hip arthroplasty. Cementation is technically simple, burns no bridges and enables patients a rapid recovery. The long term results, in regards to progression of disease and secondary arthritis, are unknown. (+info)