1. Four cases of periosteal ganglion are described. Their relationship to other mucin-filled cysts of connective tissue, both in soft tissues and in bone, is discussed and the fact that they all result from mucoid degeneration of fibrous tissue is emphasised. 2. Treatment is by surgical excision, with removal of a margin of apparently normal periosteum as well as the lesion itself. The lesion may recur, even after apparently adequate excision, by mucoid degeneration taking place in the periosteum immediately adjacent to the operative site or in the connective tissues occupying the surgical defect

In cerebral palsy, the site and severity of the brain lesion are directly linked to gross motor function and the development of musculoskeletal deformities. The relationship between walking ability and orthopaedic surgery in children with cerebral palsy is not fully understood. The development of new tools such as the Functional Assessment Questionnaire and the Functional Mobility Scale can be used to give new insights on the functional impact of multilevel surgery. These scales are most useful as part of systematic, long-term follow-up

Aims

This exploratory randomized controlled trial (RCT) aimed to determine the splint-related outcomes when using the novel biodegradable wood-composite splint (Woodcast) compared to standard synthetic fibreglass (Dynacast) for the immobilization of undisplaced upper limb fractures in children.

We report a case of systemic intraosseous lipomatosis involving the proximal femur, both ends of the tibia, and the tarsal and metatarsal bones. The lesions progressed during a five-year follow-up with a pathological fracture of the tibial plateau. CT scans were characteristic and helpful in diagnosis but MR imaging added little information. Intraosseous lipomatosis is a hamartomatous malformation due to hyperplasia of adipose tissue, and is fundamentally different from solitary benign intraosseous lipoma. Management involves reconstruction of any pathological fracture. Large progressive lesions should be treated by curettage and grafting in an attempt to prevent such fractures

The behaviour pattern of the scoliosis associated with osteoid osteoma or osteoblastoma of the spine is described. In patients presenting with symptoms at or around skeletal maturity, the scoliosis is postural. Excision of the lesion ensures complete resolution of the curve. In the growing child, however, an initial postural scoliosis may develop vertebral rotation with structural characteristics. The magnitude of the curve and the associated vertebral rotation is dependent on the time interval between the onset of symptoms and the surgical treatment. Although removal of the lesion usually results in regression of the curve, a prolonged delay in treatment may result in a progressive structural scoliosis. A possible mechanism for the behaviour of the scoliosis is discussed

Ten patients with multiple non-ossifying fibromata are reported. All had associated extraskeletal congenital anomalies such as cafe-au-lait spots, mental retardation, hypogonadism or cryptorchidism, ocular anomalies or cardiovascular malformations. The radiographic picture and the distribution of the skeletal lesions are characteristic and constant. There are lucent areas in the shaft with a sclerotic margin; these areas narrow the medullary canal or may completely fill it. It is suggested that these features characterise a new malformation syndrome, possibly allied to neurofibromatosis. After skeletal maturation is complete, the skeletal lesions may (like non-ossifying fibromata) regress and undergo spontaneous healing

1. Evidence is presented that certain types of cervical spine injury are due mainly to lateral flexion forces. 2. These injuries are often complicated by a brachial plexus lesion as well as a lesion of the spinal cord. 3. It is not always easy to detect the brachial plexus injury when the patient is first seen. 4. In the cases reviewed there has been little or no recovery of cord function, and the existence of a brachial plexus injury has, of course, made rehabilitation much more difficult. 5. The practical importance of recognising the mechanism of this type of injury is that treatment which will cause further separation of the vertebrae is inadvisable

1 . Twenty patients with fibrous dysplasia, confirmed histologically, are reported and discussed in regard to classification, etiology, pathogenesis and treatment. The various fibrous or fibrocystic lesions of bone are characterised briefly for purpose of contrast, and the position of fibrous dysplasia in this heterogeneous collection is suggested. 2. The classification of fibrous dysplasia based on the degree of skeletal involvement is used, and the diagnostic, therapeutic and prognostic implications of this classification emphasised. The authors endorse the opinion that fibrous dysplasia is a developmental defect. Clinical, histological and radiographic evidence is presented to point to the distinct evolution of the monostotic lesions, to which a positive and aggressive approach is recommended

1. The natural history of cryptococcal infection is discussed in relation to the findings in a woman of fifty-six with lesions in the right radius and right fourth metatarsal. A diffuse lesion found in the right lung with a calcified gland at the right hilum was believed to represent the initial site of infection. 2. There was a general tendency for normal bone architecture to be restored after the destructive phase of the disease had finished. 3. Specific treatment with the fungicide amphotericin B had to be stopped because of severe systemic reaction. 4. The significance of the rare association of Boeck's sarcoid with torulosis is discussed

1. Thirty-eight cases of tuberculosis of the greater trochanter have been reviewed. 2. Classification into bursal and osseous infections is discussed, and reasons have been given for our belief that either lesion may be the primary one. 3. An attempt has been made to assess available methods of treatment. In general, conservative measures are recommended for primary lesions, and surgery for recurrences. We have the impression that chemotherapy is of definite value. 4. The incidence of spread of tuberculosis to the hip joint is discussed. In this connection, reasons have been given for condemning excision of the trochanter

Animal studies have shown that implanted anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) grafts initially undergo a process of revascularisation prior to remodelling, ultimately increasing mechanical strength. We investigated whether minimal debridement of the intercondylar notch and the residual stump of the ruptured ACL leads to earlier revascularisation in ACL reconstruction in humans. We undertook a randomised controlled clinical trial in which 49 patients underwent ACL reconstruction using autologous four-strand hamstring tendon grafts. Randomised by the use of sealed envelopes, 25 patients had a conventional clearance of the intercondylar notch and 24 had a minimal debridement method. Three patients were excluded from the study. All patients underwent MR scanning postoperatively at 2, 6 and 12 months, together with clinical assessment using a KT-1000 arthrometer and International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) evaluation. All observations were made by investigators blinded to the surgical technique. Signal intensity was measured in 4 mm diameter regions of interest along the ACL graft and the mid-substance of the posterior cruciate ligament. Our results indicate that minimal debridement leads to earlier revascularisation within the mid-substance of the ACL graft at two months (paired t-test, p = 0.002). There was a significant reduction of mid-substance signal six months after the minimal debridement technique (paired t-test, p = 0.00007). No statistically significant differences were found in tunnel placement, incidence of Cyclops lesions, blood loss, IKDC scores, range of movement or Lachman test between the two groups

Aims

The early mortality in patients with hip fractures from bony metastases is unknown. The objectives of this study were to quantify 30- and 90-day mortality in patients with proximal femoral metastases, and to create a mortality prediction tool based on biomarkers associated with early death.

Dorsal root ganglion neurones with dichotomising axons are present in several species and are considered to play a role in referred pain. Clinically, patients with lesions in the lower lumbar discs occasionally complain of pain in the groin. We investigated the existence of dichotomising afferent neurones projecting axons both to the lumbar disc and to the groin skin, using the double fluorescent-labelling technique in rats. We observed neurones labelled with a tracer applied at the ventral portion of the L5-L6 disc and another tracer placed on the groin skin in L1 and L2 dorsal root ganglia. Our results showed that the double-labelled neurones had peripheral axons which dichotomised into both the L5-L6 disc and the groin skin, indicating the convergence of afferent sensory information from the disc and groin skin. Our findings provide a possible neuroanatomical mechanism for referred groin pain in patients with disc lesions

Lateral oblique radiographs are considered important for the identification of spondylolytic lesions, but these projections will give a clear view only when the radiological beam is in the plane of the defect. We studied the variation in orientation of spondylolytic lesions on CT scans of 34 patients with 69 defects. There was a wide variation of angle: only 32% of defects were orientated within 15° of the 45° lateral oblique plane. Lateral oblique radiographs should not be considered as the definitive investigation for spondylolysis. We suggest that CT scans with reverse gantry angle are now more appropriate than oblique radiography for the assessment of spondylolysis. Variation in the angle of the defect may also need consideration when direct repair is being planned

1. The treatment is described of a consecutive series of fourteen patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis causing a slip of the cervical vertebrae, mainly at the C.1-2 level, and a cord lesion. 2. The importance of a change of symptoms and signs in these patients, especially the occurrence of the so-called "alarm signs", is stressed. 3. In twelve patients the combination of this kind of cervical instability with a cord lesion was treated by fusion, most frequently of occiput to C.2 and 3. 4. In the eleven patients who survived the operation the results with a follow-up period of one to eight years are considered highly gratifying. 5. Technical details and various problems associated with treatment are discussed

1. Twenty-eight patients with pyogenic infection of the spine are reported. 2. Diagnosis was by clinical, radiological and bacteriological means. Investigations of the spinal lesions by needle aspiration or open operation was needed in four patients. 3. Treatment consisted primarily of antibiotics and rest. 4. Twenty-five patients were fit and well after follow-up of one to fifteen years. Three deaths occurred, but only one was directly connected with the infection ; urinary infection with paraplegia and haemophilia were the cause in two others. 5. The relatively benign course is stressed, as are some of the diagnostic pitfalls in the early stages, particularly with thoracic lesions

1. Hereditary multiple exostosis has been studied in fifty-six patients and their relatives. In most cases previous records were available and the progress of the disease could be traced over many years. 2. The characteristic lesions are described and the complications encountered in the present series of cases are noted. The disease is inherited in approximately two-thirds of the cases and invariably produces detectable lesions in the heterozygote. 3. The cartilage-capped exostoses are confined to the endochondral skeleton where their incidence is closely related to the growth potential of the sites involved. 4. An attempt has been made to explain the curious distribution of the exostoses, and the likely theories of the pathogenesis of the disease are discussed

Low back injuries account for the greatest loss of playing time for professional fast bowlers in cricket. Previous radiological studies have shown a high prevalence of degeneration of the lumbar discs and stress injuries of the pars interarticularis in elite junior fast bowlers. We have examined MRI appearance of the lumbar spines of 36 asymptomatic professional fast bowlers and 17 active control subjects. The fast bowlers had a relatively high prevalence of multi-level degeneration of the lumbar discs and a unique pattern of stress lesions of the pars interarticularis on the non-dominant side. The systems which have been used to classify the MR appearance of the lumbar discs and pars were found to be reliable. However, the relationship between the radiological findings, pain and dysfunction remains unclear

Injuries to the hamstring muscle complex are common in athletes, accounting for between 12% and 26% of all injuries sustained during sporting activities. Acute hamstring injuries often occur during sports that involve repetitive kicking or high-speed sprinting, such as American football, soccer, rugby, and athletics. They are also common in watersports, including waterskiing and surfing. Hamstring injuries can be career-threatening in elite athletes and are associated with an estimated risk of recurrence in between 14% and 63% of patients. The variability in prognosis and treatment of the different injury patterns highlights the importance of prompt diagnosis with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in order to classify injuries accurately and plan the appropriate management.

Low-grade hamstring injuries may be treated with nonoperative measures including pain relief, eccentric lengthening exercises, and a graduated return to sport-specific activities. Nonoperative management is associated with highly variable times for convalescence and return to a pre-injury level of sporting function. Nonoperative management of high-grade hamstring injuries is associated with poor return to baseline function, residual muscle weakness and a high-risk of recurrence. Proximal hamstring avulsion injuries, high-grade musculotendinous tears, and chronic injuries with persistent weakness or functional compromise require surgical repair to enable return to a pre-injury level of sporting function and minimize the risk of recurrent injury.

This article reviews the optimal diagnostic imaging methods and common classification systems used to guide the treatment of hamstring injuries. In addition, the indications and outcomes for both nonoperative and operative treatment are analyzed to provide an evidence-based management framework for these patients.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2020;102-B(10):1281–1288.

In a retrospective review of 302 clinically suspected cases of congenital syphilis, bone changes were found in 197. The skeletal manifestations were periostitis (102 cases), osteitis (20), and metaphyseal changes (71). Combinations of more than one lesion were found in 61. Pseudoparalysis was a presenting sign in 34 infants; 12 of these were found to have had pathological fractures and four had dactylitis. Complete radiological healing without residual changes was seen in all 59 cases that were recalled for review. The orthopaedic surgeon should consider the diagnosis of congenital syphilis when destructive lesions of bone are seen in an infant