The Danger Zone for Iatrogenic Neurovascular Injury in All-Inside Lateral Meniscal Repair in Relation to the Popliteal Tendon: An MRI Study

Background: Lateral meniscal repair can endanger the nearby neurovascular structure (peroneal nerve or popliteal artery). To our knowledge, there have been no studies to evaluate the danger zone of all-inside meniscal repair through the anteromedial (AM) and anterolateral (AL) portals in relation to the medial and lateral edges of the popliteal tendon (PT). Purpose: To establish the risk of neurovascular injury and the danger zone in repairing the lateral meniscus in relation to the medial and lateral edges of the PT. Study Design: Descriptive laboratory study. Methods: Using axial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies at the level of the lateral meniscus, lines were drawn to simulate a straight, all-inside meniscal repair device, drawn from the AM and AL portals to both the medial and lateral edges of the PT. In cases in which the line passed through the neurovascular structure, a risk of iatrogenic neurovascular injury was deemed, and measurements were made to determine the danger zones of neurovascular injury in relation to the medial or lateral edges of the PT. Results: Axial MRI images of 240 adult patients were reviewed retrospectively. Repairing the body of the lateral meniscus through the AM portal had a greater risk of neurovascular injury than repairs made through the AL portal in relation to the medial edge of the PT ( P = .006). The danger zone in repairing the lateral meniscus through the AM portal extended 1.82 ± 1.68 mm laterally from the lateral edge of the PT and 3.13 ± 2.45 mm medially from the medial edge of the PT. Through the AL portal, the danger zone extended 2.81 ± 1.94 mm laterally from the lateral edge of the PT and 1.39 ± 1.53 mm medially from the medial edge of the PT. Conclusion: Repairing the lateral meniscus through either the AM or the AL portals in relation to the PT can endanger the peroneal nerve or popliteal artery. Clinical Relevance: The surgeon can minimize the risk of iatrogenic neurovascular injury in lateral meniscal repair by avoiding using the all-inside meniscal device in the danger zone area as described in this study.

Options for the treatment of the femoral hernia with atrophy of the public bone in the formed femoral canal

Femoral hernias make up 2–4 % of the total number of patients with hernias [1], the results of their treatment do not tend to improve [2–6].The aim of the study was to establish the incidence of atrophy of the pubic periosteum in patients with femoral hernia and to analyze the possible methods of surgery in their treatment.Material and methods. The analysis of the treatment of 249 patients with femoral hernias for the period from 1996 to 2021 was carried out. There were 61 men (24.5%), women – 188 (75.5%). in 14 (5.6%), atrophy of the pubic periosteum was revealed during operations. Since 2009, patients with femoral hernia and atrophy of the pubic periosteum began to use the "Method for the treatment of inguinal and femoral hernias" (patent for invention No. 2445002, authors V.I. Belokonev, A.V. Vavilov, A.V. Zharov, Yu. V. Ponomareva, A.G. Nogoga) [11], which was performed by inguinal access.Conclusions. In 5.6% of patients with femoral hernia and a long history, under the influence of the hernial sac, atrophy of the pubic periosteum occurs.A method of treating femoral and inguinal hernias by closing the hernial orifice with an elastic mesh with a protrusion at the medial edge of the mesh corresponding to the distance from the medial edge of the pupar ligament at the level of the femoral vein to the lower edge of the superior horizontal branch of the pubic bone (patent for invention No. 2445002) is an effective method of treating patients with hernias with destruction of the pubic bone periosteum in the femoral canal.

A new species of Limnonectes (Amphibia: Anura: Dicroglossidae) from Vietnam

A new species of Limnonectes from Phu Yen Province, South-central Vietnam is described based on morphological and molecular differences. Morphologically, the new species is distinguishable from its congeners on the basis of a combination of the following diagnostic characters: SVL 49.8–77.9 mm in males, 40.8–61.8 mm in females; males with moderately enlarged head (HL/SVL 0.47, HW/SVL 0.48); head slightly broader than long (HL/HW 0.97 in males, 0.95 in females); vomerine teeth present; external vocal sacs absent; rostral length short (RL/SVL 0.15); tympanum invisible; dorsal surface of head, body and flanks with ridges and tubercles; dorsal surface of tibia and foot distinctly tuberculate, covered with moderately dense, small, low tubercles; supratympanic fold present; dorsolateral fold absent; Finger I with nuptial pad, composed of minute spines on dorsal surface and medial edge in males; toes webbed to distal of terminal phalanx, webbing formula I0–0II0–0III0–0IV0-–0V0; in life, dorsum yellowish brown with dark brown markings; ventral surface white with brown markings. In phylogenetic analyses, the new species from Vietnam and Limnonectes fastigatus as well as L. kiziriani form a clade, which is sister to L. fragilis from China, although the nodal support values for the set of relationships are insignificant from all analyses.

A practical ‘safe zone’ technique for lag screw fixation of the fibula

Introduction During ankle fracture fixation, iatrogenic trauma to retro fibula structures can result in morbidity and reoperation. We describe a safe zone for lag screw insertion. Materials and methods This study was completed in three sections. We identified the average entry and exit points for the lag screw using 45 Weber B ankle fractures identified from our trauma database. We then analysed 26 sequentially presented ankle magnetic resonance images, concentrating on axial sections at 4, 8, 12 and 16 mm above the ankle joint. Finally, we used 63 sequentially performed magnetic resonance scans to confirm the safe zone from these consistent structures. Results The typical lag screw exit point was 14.2 mm above the ankle joint (95% confidence Interval 11.3–17.1 mm). A safe zone trajectory occurred between 31 and 45 degrees taken from the anterior aspect of the flat fibular surface at this level. The obvious palpable landmark to direct screw trajectory and avoid ‘at risk’ structures was found to be the medial edge of the Achilles tendon. Our final dataset confirmed in 63 scans, the medial aspect of the Achilles tendon to be a consistent safe zone with a minimum distance of at risk structures of 4 mm. Conclusion This simple method of directing the fibula lag screw towards the palpable medial edge of the Achilles tendon is practical, easy to teach and directs the screw on a safe trajectory away from the most commonly injured structures around the back of the fibula.