A case of sub-acute compartment syndrome of bilateral pectoralis major, deltoid and triceps muscles

A 19-year-old healthy bodybuilder presented to the emergency department with gradually worsening pain in both his upper arms and shoulders and inability to fully flex his elbows. The haematological investigations revealed a markedly raised Creatinine Kinase (74,400 U/L) and myoglobinuria. The patient required an emergency surgical decompression of the pectoral and the anterior and posterior compartments of arms of both upper limbs with secondary closure after 48 h. The patient had an uneventful post-op and recovery of his functions with some initial restriction of full flexion of his left elbow and some weakness in his triceps, all of which gradually improved.

Hirayama disease: the importance of flexion imaging

Hirayama disease is a rare cervical myelopathy characterised by asymmetrical upper limb weakness and muscle atrophy in the forearm and hand. MRI of the cervical spine plays an essential role in diagnosis, however, the characteristic findings are often only seen when the patient is imaged with the neck in flexion. We present a case of a 15-year-old male who presented with left forearm and hand weakness with muscle wasting. An MRI of the cervical spine with the neck in a neutral position demonstrated atrophy of the spinal cord with intrinsic signal abnormality between C5 and C7. Further imaging with the patient’s neck in flexion demonstrated the hallmark features of Hirayama disease. There was anterior displacement of the thecal sac and spinal cord, and an enlarged, crescent-shaped dorsal epidural space which enhanced following i.v. gadolinium administration. The atrophic segment of cord contacted the posterior vertebral bodies when the neck was in full flexion. This case highlights the importance of imaging patients suspected of having this entity with the neck in full flexion in order to make a diagnosis.

Characteristics of the Passive Muscle Stiffness of the Vastus Lateralis: A Feasibility Study to Assess Muscle Fibrosis

Skeletal muscle fibrosis occurs with aging and has been suggested to impair muscle performance, thereby decreasing quality of life. Recently, muscle stiffness, a surrogate measure of muscle fibrosis, was noninvasively quantified as the shear modulus using ultrasound shear wave elastography (SWE) in humans. We aimed to investigate thigh muscle stiffness in females and males, respectively, across a broad range of ages by using SWE. Eighty-six community-dwelling Japanese people who were aged 30 to 79 years and did not regularly exercise participated in this study. The vastus lateralis (VL) shear modulus was measured at three different knee joint angles: full extension, 90° of flexion, and full flexion. There were no significant main effects of sex or age on the VL shear modulus in full extension or 90° of flexion of the knee. However, the VL shear modulus in knee full flexion was significantly smaller in females than in males and increased with age from 47.9 years. The results suggest that the accelerated increase in VL stiffness that occurs after an individual passes their late 40s may be an important therapeutic target for developing effective treatments and programs that preserve and improve quality of life.

Novel assessment of the variation in cervical inter-vertebral motor control in a healthy pain-free population

Spinal control at intervertebral levels is dependent on interactions between the active, passive and neural control elements. However, this has never been quantifiable, and has therefore been outside the reach of clinical assessments and research. This study used fluoroscopy during repeated unconstrained flexion and return neck movements to calculate intersegmental motor control (MC), defined as the difference and variation in repeated continuous angular motion from its average path. The study aimed to determine control values for MC at individual levels and its variability. Twenty male volunteers aged 19–29 received fluoroscopic screening of their cervical spines during 4 repetitions of neutral to full flexion and return motion. Moving vertebral images from C0–C1 to C6–C7 were tracked using cross-correlation codes written in Matlab. MC for each level was defined as the mean of the absolute differences between each repetition’s angular path and their mean and its variability as represented by the SD. 1-way ANOVA and Tukey multiple comparisons were used to identify significant contrasts between levels. The mean MC differences and SDs were highest at C1-2, suggesting that this level has the least control and the most variability. Results at this level alone were highly significant (F-ratio 10.88 and 9.79 P < 0.0001). Significant contrasts were only found between C1-C2 and all other levels. The mean MC difference for summed C1-6 levels was 3.4° (0.7–6.1). This study is the first to quantify intervertebral MC in the cervical spine in asymptomatic people. Studies of neck pain patients are now merited.

MRI-based kinematics of the menisci through full knee range of motion

Purpose: The meniscal kinematics in the full knee range of motion (ROM) have not been demonstrated by MRI, because the narrow bore of the superconducting magnet prevents full knee motion. The purpose of this study was to the investigate meniscal kinematics associated with femorotibial kinematics using an open-structure MRI unit that allows kinematic analysis of the menisci in full knee ROM. Methods: Non-weight-bearing MR images of the right knee of 10 subjects were acquired at six angles of knee flexion (0°, 30°, 60°, 90°, 120°, and full flexion) using a compact 0.2-T MRI system. The positions of the anterior and posterior horns of the medial and lateral menisci (MM/LM) and the medial and lateral femoral condyles (MFC/LFC) were measured at each angle of flexion. Results: Significant posterior LFC movement was observed in all sets of adjacent flexion angles of 60°–90° or more, indicating medial pivot motion of the femur. Significant differences in LM position were observed between adjacent flexion angles of 60°–90° or more. The positional relationship between the posterior horn of MM and the MFC was statistically significant in all but 60° flexion. The positional relationship between LM and LFC was significant at flexion angles of ≤90° in the anterior horn and at 60°, 90°, and full flexion in the posterior horn. Conclusion: Motion patterns of the menisci were analogous to those of the femoral condyle. Medial pivot motion of the femur caused the greatest posterior movement of the LM. Meniscal kinematics followed the femorotibial kinematics. Comprehension of meniscal kinematics in full knee ROM is important for understanding of injury mechanisms, planning meniscus transplant, and making postoperative care program for meniscus surgery.

Extra-synovial Pigmented Villonodular Synovitis of the knee joint, Case Repor

Background: PVNS is a rare, benign & aggressive disorder arising from either synovial joints or tendon sheaths; it may erode articular structures and bones. We present a case with unique features of PVNS being extra-synovial and by this report we open a gate for more researches in this field. Case Presentation: This case report concerns a 35-year-old female with a history of right knee pain for 6-month duration proceeded by gradual swelling over posterior aspect of the knee, she denies any history of trauma, clinical examination was unremarkable but apart from tenderness over the infrapatellar region with full flexion. MRI shows a heterogenous signal extra-articular and extra-synovial lesion in posterior aspect of the knee suggesting Pigmented Villonodular Synovitis, FNA revealed a hemosiderin-laden macrophages and multinucleated giant cells, Tru-cut biopsy result was suggesting PVNS as synovial cells were seen admixed with hemosiderin-laden macrophages with fibroblastic elements. Through posterior approach; the lesion was surgically excised and histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis, the lesion was recurrent after 1-year and MRI revealed the same features, the lesion was excised by arthroscopic intervention. Conclusion: We concluded that PVNS cannot be excluded when extra-synovial lesion is assessed, and further researches on this topic will expand our understanding of the etiological and pathological aspects of this tumor.

Thoracic Reciprocal Change Can Be Predicted Before Surgery in Adult Spinal Deformity

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study. Objective: Analysis of postoperative sagittal alignment of the unfused spine is lacking in patients with adult spinal deformity (ASD). The present study aims to evaluate the efficacy of the whole spine full-flexion lateral radiograph to predict the reciprocal change of the unfused spine after correction surgery. We hypothesized that the novel parameter (T1-UIV angle: angle between the upper vertebral endplate of the T1 and the upper vertebral endplate of the upper instrumented vertebra) of the preoperative whole spine full-flexion lateral radiograph is similar to that of the postoperative lateral radiograph if the patient has the ideal sagittal alignment. Methods: Twenty-six ASD patients who underwent correction surgery with a minimum 2-year follow-up were enrolled and separated into the Ideal and Non-Ideal groups according to the Scoliosis Research Society (SRS)-Schwab classification of the final follow-up radiograph. Radiographic parameters, including T1-UIV of the preoperative whole spine full-flexion lateral radiograph, were obtained. Results: Thirteen patients were included in the Ideal group and 13 were in Non-Ideal group. Preoperative T1-UIV of the whole spine full-flexion lateral radiograph exhibited significant correlations with the T1-UIV angles of the postoperative and final follow-up radiographs ( r = 0.64, P < .01, y = 0.800 x + 8.012, and r = 0.69, P < .01, y = 0.857 x + 2.960, respectively). Interestingly, this correlation was stronger for the Ideal group ( r = 0.77, P < .01, y = 1.207 x − 1.517, and r = 0.89, P < .01, y = 0.986 x + 0.694, respectively). Conclusion: A novel radiographic strategy (T1-UIV of preoperative the whole spine full-flexion lateral radiograph) could estimate the postoperative alignment of the unfused spine correctly.

Increasing range of motion in total knee replacement using novel patellar resection technique

Background: Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is a surgical procedure designed to alleviate pain and improve function in patients suffering from osteoarthritis. Range of motion is one of the most important factors for patient satisfaction after total knee replacement. The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of a new TKA technique involving patellar resection to enable increased flexion of the knee joint.Methods: Eighty-four patients suffering from osteoarthritis with an indication for conducting TKA underwent the novel procedure. Pre-operative and post-operative flexion measurements were assessed.Results: Mean age of patients participating in this study was 62 years. Males and females were 63% and 37 % of total population respectively. The mean pre-operative and post-operative flexion measurements were 97.39±3.33 º and 131.35±4.27 respectively. The mean in flexion measurements was improved by 33.95±5.30 º (p<0.05). The joint was kinematically stable during full flexion, mid-flexion, and extension.Conclusions: The novel patellar resection technique can be beneficial for the patients. They can able to follow their native lifestyle and perform their daily activities without any hindrance. The mean increase in the range of flexion was 33.95±5.30 º (ranged 30-35 º, p<0.05). This technique allowed patients to have a greater range of flexion as compared to standard and high flexion designs.

Cervical Spine Musculotendon Lengths When Reading a Tablet in Three Seated Positions

A popular posture for using wireless technology is reclined sitting, with the trunk rotated posteriorly to the hips. This position decreases the head’s gravitational moment; however, the head angle relative to the trunk is similar to that of upright sitting when using a tablet in the lap. This study compared cervical extensor musculotendon length changes from neutral among 3 common sitting postures and maximum neck flexion while using a tablet. Twenty-one participants had radiographs taken in neutral, full-flexion, and upright, semireclined, and reclined postures with a tablet in their lap. A biomechanical model was used to calculate subject-specific normalized musculotendon lengths for 27 cervical musculotendon segments. The lower cervical spine was more flexed during reclined sitting, but the skull was more flexed during upright sitting. Normalized musculotendon length increased in the reclined compared with an upright sitting position for the C4-C6/7 (deep) and C2-C6/7 (superficial) multifidi, semispinalis cervicis (C2-C7), and splenius capitis (Skull-C7). The suboccipital (R2 = .19–.71) and semispinalis capitis segment length changes were significantly correlated with the Skull-C1 angle (0.24–0.51). A semireclined reading position may be an ideal sitting posture to reduce the head’s gravitational moment arm without overstretching the assessed muscles.