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Pachydermodactyly (PDD) is a benign, acquired digital fibromatosis characterized by asymptomatic and progressive swelling of periarticular soft tissue, and is usually seen in young men. The etiology of PDD is not fully understood, but is thought to be due to the result of recurrent mechanical stimulation. PDD is usually diagnosed by clinical evaluation. There are thick collagen bundles and collection of dermal mucin in the histopathology. Treatment is not indicated due to benign prognosis. Rheumatologic diseases, particularly rheumatoid arthritis, affecting the joints of the hands should be considered in the differential diagnosis due to the similarity of the joint involvement.

Hypocalcemia after parathyroidectomy is a well-known metabolic sequela, but rare conditions such as acute calcium pyrophosphate (CPP) arthritis can be observed. In this study, we presented a case of acute CPP arthritis in both knees after parathyroidectomy. A 48-year-old man presented with pain and swelling in his right knee that started 1 day ago. There was no feature in his background and family history other than parathyroidectomy surgery performed for parathyroid adenomy a week ago. The diagnosis of acute CPP arthritis was made on the basis of blood, imaging and synovial fluid analysis. Evaluation was made after 3 days and acute arthritis in left knee was detected. Similar findings were also observed in the synovial fluid examination. After cold application and colchicine 1 mg/day started, improvement in arthritis and acute phase markers was detected. Acute CPP arthritis after parathyroidectomy is a rare condition and there are various theories in this regard. According to the most widely accepted theory; as a result of the decrease in the calcium level, the solubility of the CPP crystals decreases, and the CPP crystals previously deposited in the articular cartilage are poured into the synovial fluid. As a result; CPP arthritis should also be considered in differential diagnosis in patients with arthritis after parathyroidectomy and synovial fluid analysis should be performed.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the association between knee osteoarthritis (OA) and bone mineral density (BMD) in the femur and lumbar vertebrae. Materials and Methods: A total of 74 female patients (mean age 61.9 ±9.1 years, mean body mass index 27.09±4.24) diagnosed with knee OA were included in this study. To assess knee OA, bilateral weight-bearing antero-posterior knee radiographs were taken and graded from 0 to 4 according to Kellgren–Lawrence criteria. The BMD of the subjects was measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). BMD measurements of those with OA were compared with those without OA. Results: While there was no correlation between BMD and the grade of knee OA, a significant negative correlation was found between age and femur BMD. Body mass index was positively correlated with OA and negatively correlated with OP. Conclusion: Further investigations are needed to demonstrate the association between knee OA and BMD.

Although hydatid cysts are an endemic infestation, experience in surgical management of pregnant women is quite limited. This report aims to share the results and experiences gained from the management and surgery of a woman with a second trimester pregnancy who presented with asphyxia because of the rupture of a giant bilateral hydatid cyst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study aims to evaluate the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of transthoracic robot-assisted surgery for diaphragmatic plication and to describe our surgical approach in detail., Methods: Between January 2014 and January 2020, a total of 13 patients (11 males, 2 females; median age: 55 years; range, 24 to 70 years) who underwent diaphragmatic plication with the robotic system were retrospectively analyzed. The changes in the Medical Research Council dyspnea scale, forced expiratory volume in 1 sec, body mass index, and quality of life scale scores of the patients before the operation and at the first year of follow-up were examined., Results: Twelve of the operations were performed on the left side. The median pre- and postoperative Medical Research Council dyspnea scores were 2 (range, 1 to 4) and 1 (range, 1 to 4), respectively, indicating a statistically significant improvement (p=0.008). A significant improvement was detected in the forced expiratory volume in 1 sec of the patients in the first year after surgery (p=0.036). In terms of quality of life parameters, only, in the physical health subscale, the scores were statistically significantly different in the pre- and postoperative first-year follow-up (p=0.002). Median time to chest tube removal was 1 (range 1-5, IQR=0,5) days. Median total length of hospital stay was 2 (range 2-18, IQR=3) days., Conclusion: Owing to its technical dexterity, the robot enables the plication to be performed easily and safely. Late improvement in respiratory functions is reflected in quality of life., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest: The authors declared no conflicts of interest with respect to the authorship and/or publication of this article., (Copyright © 2023, Turkish Society of Cardiovascular Surgery.)