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R J Grimer

Publications and source records attributed to R J Grimer.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

The incidence and significance of fluid-fluid levels on computed tomography of osseous lesions.

The demonstration of a fluid-fluid level (FFL) within an osseous lesion on computed tomography (CT) has been reported as suggestive of an aneurysmal bone cyst (ABC) although FFLS have also been rarely found in association with other lesions. This study was conducted to determine the frequency of FFLS on CT in a group of ABCs and a series of patients presenting to a major tertiary referral centre for the treatment of bone tumours. An FFL was present on CT in 21 (84%) of the 25 ABCs and in 17 was multiple. FFLs are typical of the mid ("blow-out") or late phase of development of an ABC and not the incipient ("permeative") stage or where the internal architecture of the tumour has been disrupted by biopsy or previous surgery. In a 3-year period, 16 ABCs were found in 491 bone lesions referred to a bone tumour treatment centre. CT of the ABCs revealed FFLs in 14 (87.5%) cases. Within the same period, 728 CTs of these and other bone lesions were performed and FFLs were identified in two further cases: a massive telangiectatic osteosarcoma and a conventional osteosarcoma following chemotherapy. The diagnostic significance of an FFL on CT for ABC is: sensitivity = 87.5%, specificity = 99.7%, positive predictive value = 87.5%, negative predictive value = 99.7%, accuracy = 99.4%. An FFL within a bone lesion on CT remains strongly suggestive of an ABC although the radiologist should be wary of a rare telangiectatic osteosarcoma.

Adolescent

Computed tomographic appearances of the pelvis following hindquarter amputation.

Bilateral and midline symmetry of the normal pelvic anatomy is an aid to the interpretation of computed tomographic (CT) examinations. Following hindquarter amputation (HQA) or partial hemipelvectomy (PHP) the normal anatomical relationships are disturbed. The CT examinations of 15 patients who had undergone either an HQA or a PHP for an advanced musculoskeletal malignancy are reviewed. The new "normal" anatomy revealed displacement of the bladder and small bowel to the side of surgery in one third of patients, more commonly in the PHP cases. There were varying degrees of wasting of the ipsilateral musculature, gluteus maximus muscle flap, erector spinae and psoas muscles, etc., because of partial denervation and disruption of their origin or insertion. Recurrent tumour was identified in eight of 10 cases in which it was clinically suspected prior to the CT examination. Invariably the recurrence arose within the muscle flap at the resection margin. Bone involvement by direct tumour spread was present in three cases. Pitfalls in differentiating recurrent tumour from scar tissue are discussed.

Adult

Endoprosthetic replacement for bony metastases.

A series of 38 patients with long bone metastases treated at the Birmingham Bone Tumour Treatment Service with resection of the metastatic lesion and replacement of the bone defect with an endoprosthesis was reviewed. The majority of cases had pathological fractures due to a massive destructive lesion. Two-thirds of the patients had a solitary metastasis. Metastases from hypernephroma and breast carcinoma accounted for the majority of cases. All the patients were independently mobile after the endoprosthetic replacement and were pain free. The average survival rate after the endoprosthetic replacement was 14.7 months and this varies with the primary tumour. The indications for endoprosthetic replacement for the treatment of long bone metastases are outlined and the results and complications are discussed. It is concluded that endoprosthetic replacement for bony metastases is an effective palliative procedure for a selected group of patients.

Adult

Results of thoracotomy in osteogenic sarcoma with pulmonary metastases.

BACKGROUND Resection of pulmonary metastases may be followed by long term survival and now that it is an accepted method of treatment for patients with osteogenic sarcoma indicators of favourable prognosis are needed to aid the assessment of suitability for resection. This study compares the survival rates of patients who did and did not undergo resection of their pulmonary metastases and relates them to prognostic indicators. METHODS The study population was the 43 patients with osteosarcoma who developed pulmonary metastases out of the 111 patients with osteosarcoma treated by the Birmingham bone tumour treatment service during 1977-83. All patients who developed metastases confined to the lungs were considered for resection, thoracotomy being advised for all patients (provided that they were fit enough) who had metastases thought to be resectable even if they were multiple. RESULTS Of the 18 patients who did not have a thoracotomy, 15 died of disseminated disease after a mean interval of eight months; one patient died of cardiomyopathy and two are alive after 26 and eight months. Of the 25 patients who underwent thoracotomy in an attempt to resect metastases, three were found to have inoperable disease and died after a mean interval of 5.4 months from thoracotomy. Overall, after thoracotomy (repeated if necessary) there was a 20% survival at five years from the first thoracotomy. When survival was assessed with respect to the disease free interval and the number and bilaterality of the metastases no significant relationships were found. There was, however, a significant relation between survival and the position of metastases, patients with metastases confined to one lobe of the lung having a mean survival of 29.5 months, compared with 13.7 months in patients with disease in more than one lobe. CONCLUSION Thus patients who had a thoracotomy survived longer from the time of diagnosis of pulmonary metastasis than those not undergoing thoracotomy; metastases confined to one lobe predicted a better prognosis.

Adolescent

Prosthetic replacement of the distal femur for primary bone tumours.

Over a 16-year period, 135 custom-made distal femoral prostheses, based on a fully constrained Stanmore-type knee replacement, were used in the treatment of primary malignant or aggressive benign tumours. Survivorship analysis showed a cumulative success rate of 72% at five years and 64% at seven years. Intact prostheses in 91% of the surviving patients gave good or excellent functional results. Deep infection was the major complication, occurring in 6.8% of cases; clinical aseptic loosening occurred in 6.0%. Revision surgery was carried out for loosening and infection, and the early results are encouraging. We conclude that prosthetic replacement of the distal femur can meet the objectives of limb salvage surgery.

Adolescent

A review of 13-years experience of osteosarcoma.

Since the inception of the authors' facility, 365 patients with osteogenic sarcoma have been treated. While other facilities were surgically treating patients with primary amputation, this facility attempted limb-salvage surgery. The majority of patients being treated with limb-salvage surgery had the resected bone replaced by a metallic endoprosthetic replacement. The emphasis on conservative surgery led to the development of growing endoprosthetic replacements with the first being used in 1975. The cumulative survival of those patients with Stage 2 osteosarcoma treated at this facility between 1977 and 1984 is 48% at five years.

Amputation, Surgical

Crutches.

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Achilles Tendon

Hindquarter amputation for tumours of the musculoskeletal system.

We reviewed 34 hindquarter amputations performed for malignant tumours around the hip from 1971 to 1988, classifying them as palliative or curative according to the resection margins or the presence of disseminated disease at the time of surgery. There were three peri-operative deaths, 12 palliative and 19 curative procedures. Ten patients died of disseminated disease within a year of surgery, eight of whom had had a palliative operation. Three patients died between one and five years after palliative surgery. One died of unrelated disease at nine years. Seventeen patients are disease free an average of 31 months from surgery, 16 after curative procedures. The median survival after palliative amputations was six months and the 5-year survival rate for curative cases was 83%.

Adolescent

Fatigue fractures of the femoral diaphysis in the skeletally immature simulating malignancy.

The clinical and radiological features of three fatigue fractures developing along the medial aspect of the distal femoral diaphysis are described. All three patients were skeletally immature and were referred with the radiographic diagnosis of a probable sarcoma of bone. The plain radiographic findings consisted of an uninterrupted single lamella of periosteal new bone arising medially from the distal femoral diaphysis. Bone scans showed no evidence of hyperaemia on the vascular phase and revealed a fusiform focus of increased uptake in the postero-medial cortex of the lower femoral diaphysis on the 3-h images. Computed tomography showed increased attenuation of the medulla due to fibrosis and an absence of a soft-tissue mass. Periosteal callus was present and a cortical fracture through the medial femoral cortex was identified in two cases. The features that distinguish a fatigue fracture of the femur from a sarcoma are discussed.

Adolescent

Intra-vascular leiomyoma of the popliteal vein.

A large mass in the popliteal fossa was found to be a leiomyoma of the popliteal vein with portions of tumour both inside and outside the vein. This is only the second recorded case of a benign smooth muscle tumour of a peripheral vein.

Humans

Fatigue fractures of the proximal tibia simulating malignancy.

The clinical and radiological features of nine fatigue fractures developing along the soleal line of the posteromedial cortex of the proximal tibia are described. Seven patients were referred with the diagnosis of a probable malignant sarcoma of bone. All nine patients were male and all but one were 18 years of age or less. Only two gave a history of a recent increase in physical activity. The plain radiographic findings consisted of an uninterrupted, lamellar, periosteal reaction arising medially and posteriorly in the proximal tibia with the fracture seen through the thickened posterior cortex. Bone scan revealed a fusiform focus of increased uptake in the posteromedial cortex of the tibia with varying degrees of activity in the adjacent metaphysis. Computed tomography, on a soft-tissue window, showed perifracture oedema and the absence of a soft-tissue mass. The attenuation of the underlying medulla was increased as a result of fibrosis and hyperaemia. On an extended window setting, both periosteal and endosteal callus was identified, maximal in the posteromedial tibia, and the fractures, multiple in two cases, were best demonstrated on a cortical window. Clinical and radiological features that differentiate a fatigue fracture of the tibia from a sarcoma are discussed.

Adolescent