Natural course of osteochondritis dissecans in children

Results are reported from an absence of physiotherapic, orthopaedic, or surgical treatment in 31 cases of osteochondritis dissecans in 24 children. The mean age at diagnosis was 11 years and 4 months, and all the children were suffering from pain for an average of 3 months. None of these children were treated, except for instructions to discontinue involvement in sports activities until their pain had disappeared. In all cases pain disappeared, and these children have all returned to their former activities. According to x-ray findings, 30 lesions disappeared totally, although there was one case of a loose body. As a result, absence of treatment is recommended for osteochondritis dissecans in children.

Isolation of translactone-containing triterpenes with thrombin inhibitory activities from the leaves of Lantana camara

Methanolic extracts prepared from the leaves of Lantana camara have been found to inhibit human thrombin. An assay, in which thrombin activity is measured as a function of clot formation from fibrinogen, was used to guide the fractionation and purification of five principal active constituents (1-5), which were all characterized as 5,5-trans-fused cyclic lactone-containing euphane triterpenes.

Prevention of postoperative venous thrombosis: a randomized trial comparing unfractionated heparin with low molecular weight heparin in patients undergoing total hip replacement

A double blind randomized trial comparing subcutaneous enoxaparin (40 mg once daily) with standard unfractionated calcium heparin administered at a dose of 5,000 units every 8 hours in patients undergoing elective hip replacement has been performed. Treatment regimens began 12 hours preoperatively with enoxaparin, 2 hours preoperatively with standard unfractionated calcium heparin, and were continued for 15 days or until discharge. Venography was performed in all patients. Two hundred thirty-seven patients were included in the study: 113 received unfractionated heparin and 124 received enoxaparin. The incidence of proximal deep vein thrombosis was reduced from 18.5% in the unfractionated heparin group to 7.5% in the enoxaparin group (p = 0.014), and the incidence of total deep vein thrombosis was similarly reduced from 25% to 12.5% (p = 0.03). There were two major bleeding episodes and one minor bleed in the enoxaparin group compared to two minor bleeds in the unfractionated heparin group. Patients who received enoxaparin required fewer red blood cell transfusions and had a significantly higher hemoglobin on postoperative days 3 and 4. Thus prophylaxis with enoxaparin, 40 mg once daily, is simple, safe and more effective than standard low dose unfractionated heparin in preventing deep vein thrombosis in patients undergoing elective hip replacement.

[Double-blind randomized comparative study of enoxaparin and standard heparin in the prevention of thromboembolic disease during insertion of total hip replacement]

237 patients with a non-traumatic disease of the hip requiring total hip replacement entered a multicentre trial. Treatments were allocated at random in a double-blind manner: 113 patients received 5000 IU of standard heparin t.d.s.; 124 patients received enoxaparin 40 mg once a day. Treatment lasted from 10 to 15 days until bilateral ascending phlebography of the lower limbs (BAPLL) was performed. Its effectiveness was assessed by the results of BAPLL, by evaluation of the risk of bleeding on examination of the surgical wound, by the units of blood required for perfusion and by daily blood count and differential. BAPLL was performed in 228 patients: 15 phlebographies (12.5 p. 100) were positive in the 120 assessed patients of the enoxaparin group, while 27 (25 p. 100) were positive in the 108 assessed patients of the standard heparin group (p = 0.014). Proximal deep vein thrombosis was significantly (p = 0.03) less frequent in the enoxaparin group (7.5 p. 100) than in the standard heparin group (18.5 p. 100). Pulmonary embolism was observed in a patient on standard heparin. The units of blood required for perfusion were significantly (p = 0.03) smaller in the enoxaparin group (3.37 +/- 1.81 U) than in the standard heparin group (3.84 +/- 1.70 U). Thus, one single subcutaneous injection of enoxaparin 40 mg daily was significantly more effective and safer than standard heparin 5000 IU t.d.s. in the prevention of deep vein thrombosis after total hip replacement.

The three-dimensional active rotary stabilization of the knee

The careful examination of insertions and directions of the tendons of the knee peri-articular muscles permits a global conception of the action of the 29 couples in rotatory stabilization. First, an analytic study of the tibial and femoral rotatory stabilization is considered. Second, the three-dimensional rotatory mechanical coupling between femur and tibia is developed. The anatomical complexity of the musculotendinous elements allows understanding of the risks of desynchronisation of the articular joint in case of lesion of the central ligament pivot.

[Osteochondritis dissecans of the knee]

For more than 10 years the authors have had a rather differentiated attitude to osteochondritis dissecans. The indication depends on the age, topography of the lesion, its volume and stage of evolution. The results of three techniques are discussed: simple ablation of the sequestrum, re-implantation of the sequestrum after treatment of the niche and cortico-spongiosa grafting.

[Patellar imbalance and external rotary instability of the knee]

The importance of external hyperrotation and external rotary instability in patellar imbalance is examined. In view of the progressive nature of patellar imbalance and of the predominant part played by the muscular and capsulo-ligamentous elements in the stability of the extensor apparatus, the authors advocate an earlier and more radical surgical approach with a view to improving the patellar medialization forces (transplantation of the intermediate great muscle and retension of the lateral patellar retinaculum) as well as the elements of active internal rotation of the tibia (modified version of Slocum's operation and transfer of the internal third of the patellar tendon).

[Surgical treatment of long-standing anterio-internal instability of the knee. Personal experience]

The authors have reviewed 139 surgical procedures performed in the treatment of antero-medial instability of the knee, including 71 Slocum procedures, 54 Nicholas, procedures and 14 miscellaneous procedures. The clinical signs and surgical techniques are described in detail. The results show that Slocum's procedure was always satisfactory and that it can be done either in isolation or in association with Nicholas' procedure and medial transfer of part of the patellar tendon.