PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

J Margulies

Publications and source records attributed to J Margulies.

32 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Stress fractures and tibial bone width. A risk factor.

A prospective study of 295 infantry recruits has shown that the mediolateral width of the tibia measured radiographically at each of three different levels in the bone had a statistically significant correlation with the total incidence of stress fractures as well as with those in the tibia alone or the femur alone. A narrow tibial width was shown to be a risk factor, but cortical thickness was not found to be significant.

Femoral Fractures↗

Clinical significance of nonfocal scintigraphic findings in suspected tibial stress fractures.

The clinical significance of nonfocal increased uptake on skeletal scintigraphy in suspected tibial stress fractures is controversial, because it may represent either bone reaction to stress or a stress fracture in evolution. The scintigraphic evolution of areas of abnormal tibial activity, graded according to a 1 to 4 rating system and their corresponding clinical courses, were analyzed in 27 military recruits, as part of a prospective study. Disappearance of pain correlated with scintigraphic healing and increased pain with progression to stress fracture. Decreased or persistent pain had equivocal scintigraphic correlation. Eight of 14 nondiscrete scintigraphic lesions disappeared in spite of continuous training by the recruits; four such lesions, however, progressed to stress fractures. This uncertainty of progression suggests that military recruits and people training for sports who have such scintigraphic activity should have a brief rest period and proper monitoring before resuming training.

Adolescent↗

External rotation of the hip. A predictor of risk for stress fractures.

External rotation of the hip was found to have a statistically significant correlation with the incidence of stress fractures, in a prospective study among Israeli infantry recruits of possible anthropomorphic predictors of risk for stress fractures. Soldiers in whom hip external rotation was greater than 65 degrees were at a higher risk for tibial and total stress fractures than those with external rotations of less than 65 degrees. The mean hip external rotation in this study of 57 degrees +/- 9.3 degrees was higher than in statistics reported in the American literature. The existence of a larger subpopulation with hip external rotation greater than 65 degrees may partially explain why the reported incidence of stress fractures in the Israeli army is higher than that of the American army.

Adolescent↗

Stress fractures of the medial femoral condyle.

Three military recruits who presented with medial joint line pain and positive Appley grinding tests were found on the basis of scintigrams plus arthroscopy and/or arthrogram to have no intra-articular pathology, but rather medial femoral condyle stress fractures. The importance of the differential diagnosis is emphasized.

Adolescent↗

Medial tibial pain. A prospective study of its cause among military recruits.

In a prospective study of 295 infantry recruits during 14 weeks of basic training, 41% had medial tibial pain. Routine scintigraphic evaluation in cases of medial tibial bone pain showed that 63% had abnormalities. A stress fracture was found in 46%. Only two patients had periostitis. None had ischemic medial compartment syndrome. Physical examination could not differentiate between cases with medial tibial bone pain secondary to stress fractures and those with scintigraphically normal tibias. When both pain and swelling were localized in the middle one-third of the tibia, the lesion most likely proved to be a stress fracture.

Fractures, Bone↗

A prospective study of the effect of a shock-absorbing orthotic device on the incidence of stress fractures in military recruits.

In a prospective study of stress fractures the hypothesis that a shock-absorbing orthotic device worn within military boots could lessen the incidence of stress fractures was tested. The incidence of metatarsal, tibial, and femoral stress fractures was lower in the orthotic group, but only the latter difference was statistically significant. The time of onset and the location of stress fractures between orthotic and nonorthotic users did not differ. These findings suggest that the incidence of femoral stress fractures, which are the most dangerous type of stress fracture because of their high risk of developing into displaced fractures, can be reduced by an orthotic device.

Fractures, Bone↗

The normal range of subtalar inversion and eversion in young males as measured by three different techniques.

In a prospective study, 272 males aged 18 to 20 had goniometric measurement of their subtalar inversion and eversion by three different methods. Placing the ankle in dorsiflexion while performing the measurements decreased the mean inversion from 32 to 22 degrees but had little effect on eversion. The neutral position of the subtalar joint was found to have a mean value of 3 degrees of varus from the midpoint of the tibia. The technique for measuring subtalar motion as described by the Committee for the Study of Joint Motion of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons has less subjective variables than the other two methods used in this study. Its use is therefore recommended if comparisons are to be made between series.

Adolescent↗

The effect of non-inflamed synovial fluid on neutrophil function in vitro.

In neutrophils preincubated with non-inflamed synovial fluid, opsonized zymosan-induced O2- production was increased by 232.7 +/- 19.1% and degranulation induced by zymosan or phorbol myristate acetate was increased by 152.8 +/- 21.8% and 217.4 +/- 26.3 respectively. Unstimulated neutrophils were not directly activated by the fluid, nor did it affect their chemotactic response. The activity was not abolished by heat (56 degrees C, 30 min, or 100 degrees C, 3 min) or by treatment with trypsin or hyaluronidase. The activity was not present in the serum albumin-bound lipid extract of the synovial fluid. Thus, this activity may represent a heat- and trypsin-resistant factor which is neither a complement component nor hyaluronic acid. It is proposed that this synovial fluid factor plays a role in increasing the neutrophil killing potential during the inflammatory process.

Chemotaxis↗

Negative bone scans in impending tibial stress fractures. A report of three cases.

Three highly motivated military recruits who presented with tibial pain on exertion are reported. Their initial bone scan assessments to rule out stress fracture were normal, and the recruits were returned to demanding training. One month later, because of persistent and increasing tibial pain, they were rescanned and focal activity representative of tibial stress fractures was found in each case. Until now it has been assumed that a negative bone scan ruled out a stress fracture unequivocally. Our reported cases show that bone pain may in fact precede scintigraphic evidence of a stress fracture. Persistent and increasing bone pain during demanding physical activity, even in the presence of a prior normal bone scan, may represent stress fracture and repeat bone scan may be indicated.

Humans↗

Multiple stress fractures. A longitudinal study of a soldier with 13 lesions.

A highly motivated 18-year-old man continued vigorous military training in spite of the presence of 11 stress fractures and subsequently developed two additional stress fractures. Scintigraphy over 27 weeks illustrated simultaneous regression and progression in his individual multiple foci. When stress fracture foci were not in anatomic locations prone to evolve to gross fractures, healing occurred despite vigorous activities and pain.

Adolescent↗