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Biomedical subjects

A E Beris

Publications and source records attributed to A E Beris.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Clinical criteria and treatment of segmental versus upper extremity reflex sympathetic dystrophy.

The effectiveness of a multimodal treatment protocol in the long-term management of upper extremity reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD), as well as of isolated finger involvement, was analyzed. In the present series, 62 patients diagnosed with RSD were treated and followed for a mean of 22.2 +/- 1.5 months. The findings in the present study indicate that: 1) RSD occurs predominantly in females (female:male, 3:1); 2) regional dystrophy is twice as common as segmental dystrophy; 3) segmental dystrophy is most often associated with minor traumatic dystrophy, whereas regional dystrophy is more evenly distributed among the various clinical types; 4) patients with regional dystrophy score their pain significantly higher; and 5) segmental and regional dystrophy respond with equal satisfaction to the multimodal treatment regimen. In conclusion, the weight of the available evidence strongly suggests that RSD is a complex multifaceted disease entity which responds well when managed with a multimodal treatment program aimed at the various interacting components of the disorder. Furthermore, the finding that segmental dystrophy did not behave differently from the treatment protocol compared to extensive upper extremity RSD, suggests that the anatomic location of the syndrome may not significantly alter the course of the disease during treatment.

Adolescent

Posterior traumatic dislocation of a Thompson prosthesis: report of a case.

A case of posterior traumatic dislocation of a Thompson prosthesis with fracture of the posterior wall of the acetabulum is presented. Nine years after the reduction and fixation of the posterior acetabular wall and 10 years after the initial neck fracture, the patient was free of pain, and the hip range of motion was within normal limits. To the best of our knowledge, no such case has ever been described in the English literature.

Accidental Falls

Scaphoid nonunion treated with bone graft and Herbert screw. 23 of 28 fractures healed.

We retrospectively reviewed 28 patients with symptomatic, established nonunion of the waist of the scaphoid who were treated with bone grafting and Herbert screw fixation. A volar approach was used in 20 patients, and a dorsal in 8. Grafting was performed with cancellous bone from the radius in 16 patients and a iliac wedge graft in 12 patients. At a mean follow-up of 3 (1-6) years. 5 of the 28 patients had not united. The surgical approach, the type of graft applied, and the duration of postoperative immobilization played a role for the final outcome. The volar approach appeared to be associated with a better outcome which may be attributed, in part, to the relatively better view of the nonunion achieved with this incision compared to the dorsal approach. The iliac wedge graft was more effective for reduction of the deformity and initial stabilization. We believe that the relatively long period, 3 months, of postoperative immobilization negatively effected the postoperative function because of stiffness.

Adolescent

School-screening for scoliosis. A prospective epidemiological study in northwestern and central Greece.

A two-year prospective study was done to assess the prevalence and distribution of various parameters associated with scoliosis in schoolchildren in northwestern and central Greece. A total of 82,901 children (41,939 boys and 40,962 girls) who were nine to fourteen years old were screened for scoliosis. Five thousand eight hundred and three children had clinical signs of scoliosis and, of these, 4185 were referred for posteroanterior radiographs (to be made with the patient standing) because they had a positive result on the forward-bending test (a difference of more than five millimeters between the two sides of the torso as measured in the thoracic or thoracolumbar region with use of a ruler and a level plane) at the time of a second screening. The prevalence of scoliosis (defined as a curve of 10 degrees or more) was 1.7 per cent (1436 of 82,901 children), and most of the curves (1255; prevalence, 1.5 per cent) were small (10 to 19 degrees). The ratio of boys to girls was 1:2.1 over-all but varied according to the magnitude of the curve (1:1.5 for curves of less than 10 degrees, 1:2.7 for curves of 10 to 19 degrees, 1:7.5 for curves of 20 to 29 degrees, 1:5.5 for curves of 30 to 39 degrees, and 1:1.2 for curves of 40 degrees or more). Thoracolumbar curves were the most common type of curve identified, followed by lumbar curves; specifically, of the 1436 children who had a curve of at least 10 degrees, 493 (34.3 per cent) had a thoracolumbar curve, 475 (33.1 per cent) had a lumbar curve, 261 (18.2 per cent) had a thoracic curve, and 207 (14.4 per cent) had a double curve. Although most (753) of these curves were to the left, the left:right ratio varied according to the location of the apex of the curve (1:3.1 for thoracic curves, 2.0:1 for thoracolumbar curves, and 3.2:1 for lumbar curves). The cost of the screening process was negligible (estimated at thirty cents per child); however, the decreased number of operative procedures performed in children from the geographical area of our University Hospital, the identification of a large number of previously undiagnosed curves (eleven of which were treated operatively and 170 of which were treated with a brace), and the identification of children who were at high risk for progression were considered important benefits of the school-screening program.

Adolescent

Total hip arthroplasty for avascular necrosis and degenerative osteoarthritis of the hip.

Although several studies of various treatment modalities have been reported during the past decade, osteonecrosis of the femoral head remains a difficult therapeutic problem. Total hip replacement which is reserved for patients showing collapse of the femoral head, usually shows poorer results in patients with osteonecrosis compared with those with osteoarthritis. Uncemented total hip arthroplasty was performed on 29 patients with avascular necrosis of the femoral head and 29 patients with degenerative osteoarthritis. After a mean followup of 7.6 years and 7.1 years for the two groups of patients, only one failure was observed in one patient with osteonecrosis. Clinical evaluation after cementless total hip arthroplasty in both groups of patients revealed improvement in all parameters. Postoperatively, pain improved from 1.4 to 5.1, walking ability from 3.4 to 5.3, and range of motion from 4.5 to 5.5 in patients with osteonecrosis, and pain improved from 1.2 to 5.3, walking ability from 3.2 to 5.4, and range of motion from 3.1 to 4.7 in patients with osteoarthritis. Thigh pain was observed postoperatively in only two and three patients treated for osteonecrosis and osteoarthritis, respectively. The present results using cementless arthroplasty seem to be somewhat better than those reported for cemented arthroplasty in patients suffering from osteonecrosis. The clinical and radiographic findings after noncemented arthroplasty in patients with osteonecrosis of the femoral head and in patients with degenerative arthritis of the hip were similar in the two groups.

Adult

Idiopathic osteonecrosis of the medial femoral condyle. Classification and treatment.

Idiopathic osteonecrosis of the medial femoral condyle is a well recognized cause of spontaneous, sudden onset of severe pain, usually at the anteromedial aspect of the knee joint. At the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery of the University of Ioannina, 105 knees in 101 patients were evaluated and treated for idiopathic osteonecrosis of the medial femoral condyle. The disease was found to follow a four-stage course, which consisted of a progression from no radiographic findings (Stage I), to a slight flattening of the medial condyle (Stage II), followed by the appearance of a radiolucent lesion (Stage III), and finally, articular cartilage collapse (Stage IV). Although Stages I and II potentially were reversible, Stages III and IV were associated with irreversible destruction of the subchondral bone and articular cartilage. Although bone scan is a nonspecific diagnostic modality, it was helpful in establishing diagnosis in the early stages of the disease. Conservative treatment was found appropriate for the first two stages, whereas surgical management was effective for patients with Stages III and IV. Specifically, osteotomy was useful for patients younger than 60 years of age with limited necrotic lesions, whereas unicompartmental arthroplasty was effective in older patients with more extensive lesions. Total knee arthroplasty can be reserved for cases where the disease has expanded to the lateral compartment.

Aged

Surgical treatment of malleolar fractures. A review of 144 patients.

Malleolar fractures are one of the most common fractures faced in orthopaedic surgery. The results from a consecutive series of 144 malleolar fractures during a 10-year period that were classified and treated according to the AO system are presented. Assessment of outcome was done using the scoring system of Baird and Jackson, which is based on subjective, objective, and radiographic criteria. Excellent and good results were achieved in 107 of the 144 patients surgically treated. Overall, excellent and good results were obtained in almost all unimalleolar fractures, but were significantly less in bimalleolar fractures. There was no difference in outcome achieved between Weber C and Weber D fractures. The presence of a large bony fragment or dislocation also significantly affected the final outcome. Posttraumatic osteoarthritis was found to be associated significantly with poor clinical results, bimalleolar fractures, and unsatisfactory surgical reduction.

Adolescent

Reflex sympathetic dystrophy of the upper extremity. Clinical features and response to multimodal management.

The weight of available evidence suggests that reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD) is a complex clinical entity that (1) occurs predominantly in young adult women; (2) has five clinical types but presents most frequently as minor traumatic dystrophy; (3) has primary signs and symptoms (e.g., pain, edema, stiffness, and discoloration) that are expressed highly in each clinical type, whereas secondary signs and symptoms are variable; (4) responds well to treatment, regardless of its clinical type; and (5) is managed best when treatment is started early. It can be concluded that RSD is a multifaceted disease that responds well when managed with a multimodal treatment program aimed at the various interacting components of the disorder. The recognition and documentation of the variation of the clinical features of RSD may allow for its earlier diagnosis and treatment and thus significantly improve the chances for a successful outcome.

Analysis of Variance

Versatility of TSRH spinal instrumentation system. Experience in 67 patients with trauma and spinal deformities.

We evaluated the effectiveness of the TSRH (Texas Scottish Rite Hospital) spinal instrumentation system in treating patients with spinal deformities and trauma to the spine. 38 patients (29 women) with spinal deformities and 29 (13 women) with trauma to the spine underwent fusion using the TSRH implant system. In patients with idiopathic scoliosis, the amount of curve correction achieved varied depending on the curve pattern, where patients with single thoracic (type III) or single extended thoracic (type IV) curves showed an improvement of 54% and 63%, respectively, compared to patients with King type II curves in which correction averaged only 45%. We found the TSRH spinal system to be effective for correcting the scoliotic curve. The fact that no neurologic complications were observed and that patients demonstrated a rapid ability to stand and walk as compared to the lengthy immobilization required with more traditional methods, suggests that the TSRH system is superior for scoliotic curve correction.

Adolescent

Two-stage treatment of flexor tendon ruptures. Silicon rod complications analyzed in 109 digits.

Complications during two-stage flexor tendon reconstruction may jeopardize the function of the repaired tendons. We reviewed complications encountered in 89 patients (109 digits) treated with a two-stage flexor tendon reconstruction using either silicone or Hunter rods. The complications could be distinguished according to the stage of reconstruction in which they occurred. Complications during stage I included rod buckling, rupture of the distal end of the rod, rod migration, synovitis and infection, and during stage II included distal rupture of the graft juncture, loose graft, tight graft, bowstringing, and flexion deformity of the PIP and DIP joints. The commonest complication was a flexion deformity of the PIP and/or DIP joint which was related to the surgical procedure. These deformities could easily be corrected in all cases with night splints.

Adult

Functional assessment of the rat sciatic nerve following intraoperative expansion: the effect of recovery duration on behavioural, neurophysiological, and morphological measures.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the feasibility of rapid intraoperative elongation of the rat sciatic nerve with the use of tissue expander and to assess its functional recovery. Out of 51 rats 43 had their right sciatic nerve expanded with a 5-ml intraoperative expander over 1 hr and 8 were sham-operated controls. The functional recovery of the nerve was assessed at intervals up to 4 months using the Sciatic Functional index (SFI), neurophysiological indices, and histology. Intraoperative expansion elongated the rat sciatic nerve by about 13%. SFI decreased on the first postoperative day and started to recover by Day 7, reaching almost preoperative values by Days 14 and 30 according to De Medinaceli and Bain-Mackinnon-Hunter formulas, respectively. Latency and motor conduction velocity demonstrated a deterioration after expansion which peaked on Day 1. Recovery started by Day 7 and reached preoperative levels by 60 days. The histological findings indicated minor aberrations immediately after expansion and maximal demyelination with minimal axonal disruption on Day 1. The reparative process started by Day 7 and continued till Day 120 when almost no histological changes were observed. In conclusion, intraoperative nerve expansion successfully elongates the rat sciatic nerve. It also causes functional and morphological abnormalities which are of low to moderate degree, have a short duration, and are reversible. Intraoperative nerve expansion might be a valuable solution in the treatment of short nerve gaps, but its clinical application still needs to be evaluated.

Animals

Scoliosis elasticity assessed by manual traction: 49 juvenile and adolescent idiopathic cases.

We assessed preoperative curve elasticity in 49 consecutive patients with juvenile or adolescent idiopathic scoliosis who were operated on with Harrington distraction rods. Preoperatively, the curve was determined from posteroanterior radiographs taken in the standing position and in the supine position, with traction. In the latter, the radiographs were taken at the moment of maximal traction when one technician applied traction to the ankles and another to the wrists. The scoliotic curve in the 10 patients with juvenile scoliosis averaged 59 degrees and 32 degrees in the standing and supine positions with traction, respectively. Immediately postoperatively, the curve averaged 19 degrees. 39 patients with adolescent scoliosis had a scoliotic curve which averaged 58 degrees in the standing position and 32 degrees in the supine position with traction. The mean postoperative measurement was 21 degrees. These findings suggest that manual traction is a simple and reliable means of predicting the minimal correction of the scoliotic curve to be expected, using Harrington distraction rods.

Adolescent

Load tolerance of tibial plateau depressions reinforced with a cluster of K-wires.

The efficacy of subchondral Kirschner wires in enhancing load tolerance of the tibial plateau articular cartilage was examined in a biomechanical study of cadaveric tibias. Seven patterns of K-wires were evaluated under axial loading equivalent to the maximum loading of the knee during normal gait. Subchondral K-wire reinforcement of tibial plateau depressions significantly enhanced load tolerance. This suggests that a subchondral cluster of K-wires in the treatment of tibial plateau fractures may protect the articular cartilage from the loss of reduction resulting from the forces applied to the knee during non-weight-bearing motion.

Analysis of Variance

Major ablative procedures in orthopaedic surgery.

In the presence of the notable progress in limb-sparing techniques afforded by the developments in microsurgery and musculoskeletal oncology, major ablative surgery of the extremities still remains a last-resort, yet powerful tool in managing patients with primary tumors in whom wide excision is not possible, as well as in cases with severe trauma to the limbs. During the last thirteen years, eight major ablative procedures were performed at the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery of the University of Ioannina Medical School. Seven out of the eight procedures were performed in patients with primary malignant tumors either because the anatomical location or multiple recurrences of the tumor did not allow removal by wide local excision or by amputation at a lower level. In one patient, the procedure was related to a severe, mangling trauma. Four illustrative cases of the eight major ablative procedures performed are reported to highlight the current indications of this rarely used, complex, and extensive surgery. The characteristic cases presented are: hemipelvectomy in a patient with chondrosarcoma of the pelvis, disarticulation of the hip in a patient with a malignant histiocytoma of the supracondylar area of the knee, forequarter amputation in a patient with a basal cell carcinoma of the axilla, and disarticulation of the shoulder in a patient with an incomplete nonviable amputation at the level of the shoulder girdle associated with severe damage to the brachial plexus and axillary artery. After a five to over a ten year follow-up, six of the eight patients who where subjected to major ablative procedures are doing well and are satisfactorily active. These cases reflect the dilemma that orthopaedic surgeons geons still face in selecting limb salvage or major ablative surgery in cases of aggressive malignant tumors to severe trauma.

Amputation, Surgical

Two-level dorsal dislocation of the little finger.

The case of an elderly man who suffered simultaneous interphalangeal joint dislocation in one finger as a result of a hyperextension force on both the distal and proximal interphalangeal joints is presented. This case differs from the few reports of this type of injury in the literature both in its mechanism of injury and time to reduction. Most reports have been in athletes who are actively involved in a sport, whereas the present case was the result of a fall. Also, successful reduction was achieved almost 2 weeks postinjury, indicating that, even with this amount of delay, these injuries can be effectively treated with closed reduction.

Accidental Falls

Osteoid osteoma in the differential diagnosis of persistent joint pain.

We report 20 cases (13 male and 7 female), mean age 21 years) of juxta-articular osteoid osteoma. The distribution of affected joints was as follows: hip joint (7 cases), knee joint (2 cases), ankle joint (2 cases); iliosacral joint (2 cases), lumbar spine (2 cases), carpus (2 cases), shoulder (1 case), second metacarpal (MCP; 1 case) and first metatarsal (MTP; 1 case). The duration between the onset of symptoms and diagnosis varied from 8 months to approximately 4 years. In juxta-articular osteoid osteoma, the clinical picture and the radiographic findings are often atypical, and this may lead to misdiagnosis and delayed definitive treatment. In young patients with persistent undiagnosed pain, the possibility of an osteoid osteoma should be considered. When the clinical picture is suggestive but radiological findings are negative, we must proceed to further investigation with bone scintigraphy and computed tomography. These examinations should be repeated 1 year after the onset of symptoms because initially negative findings may become positive at a later date. When the diagnosis of an osteoid osteoma is confirmed, surgical excision leads to complete relief of the symptoms.

Adolescent

Current indications for single digit replantation.

The functional outcome of 67 successfully replanted single digits (excluding the thumb) involving 31 complete and 36 incomplete nonviable amputations was found to be strictly related to the level of the amputation. While the survival rate was higher in patients with incomplete nonviable amputations (89 percent), compared to those with complete amputations (81 percent), the ability of the patient to use their digit was almost uniform among both groups of patients. All except 2 of the 9 digits with complete amputations at the level of the proximal phalanx or at the proximal interphalangeal joint (PIP) resulted in limited motion (less than 20 degrees-30 degrees) at the PIP and distal interphalangeal (DIP) joints. Only 9 from the group of patients with incomplete nonviable amputations at the proximal phalanx exceeded flexion greater than 40 degrees at the PIP joint. From these results, we conclude that the indications for replantation of a single digit amputation should be as follows: 1) amputation distal to the insertion of the flexor digitorum sublimis; 2) ring injuries type II and IIIa; and 3) amputations at the level of or distal to the DIP joint.

Adolescent