Anatomical variants of the medioplantar oblique ligament and inferoplantar longitudinal ligament: an MRI study

Purpose The spring ligament complex (SL) is the chief static stabilizer of the medial longitudinal foot arch. The occurrence of normal anatomical variants may influence radiological diagnostics and surgical treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate anatomical variants of the part of SL located inferior to the talar head (i-SL), medioplantar oblique ligament (MPO) and inferoplantar longitudinal ligament (IPL). Methods We included 220 MRI examinations of the ankle performed on a 3.0 T engine. Only patients with a normal SL were included. Two musculoskeletal radiologists assessed the examinations and Cohen’s kappa was used to assess agreement. Differences between groups were assessed using the chi-squared test; p < 0.05 was considered as significant. The final decision was made by consensus. Results Most commonly, i-SL was composed of the two ligaments IPL and MPO n = 167 (75.9%); in this group, bifid ligaments occurred in 19.2%, most commonly in the MPO. A branch to the os cuboideum was seen in n = 17 (10.2%). Three ligaments were seen in n = 52 (23.6%). In this group, bifid ligaments occurred in 13.5%; most commonly, the IPL was bifid and a branch to the os cuboideum was noted in n = 6 (11.5%). In one case, n = 1 (0.04%), we identified MPO, IPL and two accessory ligaments. No significant relationship was noted between the number of ligaments, the presence of bifid ligaments and side or gender (p > 0.05). Conclusion. More than two aligaments were seen in 24.1% of examined cases, the most common variant was the presence of MPO, IPL and one accessory ligament.

TÉCNICA DE LARSON ORIGINAL MODIFICADA PARA LA RECONSTRUCCIÓN DEL LIGAMENTO COLATERAL LATERAL DE LA RODILLA, REPORTE DE UN CASO.

The lateral collateral ligament (LCL), which is part of the knee stabilizers, constitutes an important structure within the posterolateral complex of the same (CPL), which restricts the varus, in the flexion angles of this, especially at 30°, in addition to controlling external rotation. Lesions that affect this complex are infrequent, etiologically between 50-90% are associated with other ligamentous injuries with a predominance of 60% damage to the posterior cruciate ligament. The Larson technique is based on the reconstruction of the LCL and the popliteal complex, using a single proximal insertion in the femoral epicondyle.We present the case of a 28-year-old male patient, with no medical history, who attended due to a forced varus of the limb while performing sports activity and after receiving a direct impact on the internal lateral region of the right calf, after which he presented pain to passive movements and inability to ambulation. In addition, he presents ecchymosis, edema, superficial abrasions on the external lateral aspect and pain on acupressure in the course of the external collateral ligament. A knee examination maneuvers: positive varus yawn sign, positive patellar brushing, positive patella hyperpressure, functional limitation to flexion and extension of the joint.This modified Larson technique turns out to be one of the most promising due to its various characteristics, as the least demanding and at the same time providing encouraging results. This procedure is based on the reconstruction of the LCL and the popliteal tendon (PT) as a whole, thus summarizing the reconstruction of the Peroneal Popliteal Ligament (LPP) as a static stabilizer of the PT, with its insertion at the level of the head of the fibula in conjunction with the of the LCL and the restitution of both attachments in the femoral epicondyle, taking into account the morphology of the fibula and the angles of movement of the knee.

Scapular Dyskinesia, the forgotten culprit of shoulder pain and how to rehabilitate

The improper movement of the scapula during shoulder movement is termed scapular dyskinesis and is an often-forgotten cause of pain and dysfunction. The scapula is a key part of the upper limb kinematic chain and is a vital component of the glenohumeral rhythm; which is a major determinant of the efficiency and efficacy of the upper limb. We provide an overview of the complex regional anatomy of the shoulder girdle and how this allows the scapula to act as a both a dynamic and static stabilizer to the upper limb. We explore the normal biomechanics and the aetiology, epidemiology and pathological occurrences which can disrupt the normal function and lead to scapula dyskinesis. Scapula dyskinesis is a poorly understood condition and provides a challenge for the clinician in both diagnosis and management. We provide a summary of the clinical assessment which is most likely to identify the source of the pathology and guides the treatment which is largely rehabilitation of the musculature with focused and specialized physiotherapy.

Chitosan Capped Colloidal Gold Nanoparticles for Sensing Zinc Ions in Water

In this work, we report sensing of Zn2+ ions using chitosan capped colloidal gold nanoparticles in aqueous media. The chitosan capping not just acted as an electro-static stabilizer to the colloidal gold nanoparticles, but also could bind to Zn2+ ions if present in the solution. However, the Zn2+ ions chelation to the chitosan capping decreased the stability of the colloidal gold hence shifted the surface plasmon peak to higher wavelengths. The extent of this red shift was found to be dependent on the concentration of the Zn2+ ions and therefore the presence of Zn2+ ions could be determined both qualitatively and quantitatively by analyzing the optical spectra of the chitosan capped gold nanoparticles. The sensing capability was also affected by the size of the nanoparticles, which could be tuned by adjusting the molar ratio of the reducing agent and the gold salt to the desired levels. Optical characteristics showed satisfactory results in estimating the amount of Zn2+ ions in water. This is thus a promising method for on the spot assessment of heavy metal ion concentrations in water.