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Context: Enlargement of osseous tunnels following anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction is a newer discovery. This phenomenon is particularly valuable in planning for revision ACL reconstruction. Aim: The purpose of this study was to evaluate prospectively the increase in size of the tibial and femoral bone tunnel following arthroscopic ACL reconstruction with quadrupled hamstring autograft and fixation with biodegradable interference screws. Materials and Methods: A prospective study was conducted on 10 patients who underwent arthroscopic ACL reconstruction with quadrupled hamstring autograft and fixation with biodegradable interference screws. Tunnel width was measured at postoperative 2 weeks and an average of 1-year follow-up (range: 10–13 months). Clinical evaluation was done as per the International Knee Documentation Committee form. Paired Student's t-test and linear regression were used for statistical analysis. Results: There was a mean 14% enlargement in the femoral tunnel (from 9 mm at postoperative 2 weeks to 10.3 mm at postoperative 1 year) and 18% enlargement in the tibial tunnel (from 10.4 mm at postoperative 2 weeks to 12.2 mm at the postoperative 1-year follow-up). Both of these were statistically significant (P = 0.005 for femoral tunnel enlargement and P = 0.008 for the enlargement of the tibial tunnel). No statistically significant association was noted between tunnel enlargement and clinical results. Conclusion: Compared to previous similar studies, less tunnel widening was observed in the present study. We come to a conclusion that less aggressive rehabilitation program and anatomical graft fixation technique can help achieve the goal of minimum tunnel enlargement after ACL reconstruction.

Introduction: Rotational malalignment after intramedullary fixation of fractures of the shaft of femur and tibia has been assessed by many studies but less frequently after intramedullary fixation of intertrochanteric fractures. Intertrochanteric fractures are managed by closed reduction in a traction table and fixation either by dynamic hip screw or proximal femoral nail under image intensifier. Reduction is checked intraoperatively by antero-posterior and lateral views with image intensifier in which rotational alignment cannot be assessed. Aim: To study the rotational malalignment in the operated limb compared to normal limb by computed tomography (CT). Materials and Methods: A prospective study was conducted on 70 patients at Kasturba Medical College and allied hospitals with intertrochanteric fractures with intramedullary fixation and with normal anatomy on opposite side. Postoperative CT with pelvis and knee was done and compared for rotational alignment. Results: The mean anteversion on the normal side was 13.20. The mean anteversion on the operated side was 15.70. The mean rotational malalignment was 9.70; there was internal rotational deformity in 41 cases (58.6%) and external rotational deformity in 29 cases (41.4%) with Grade III malrotation in 17 (24.3%) cases. Conclusion: Rotational malalignment postoperatively is frequently present and needs to be corrected intraoperatively by improving assessment methods.

Introduction: Rotational malalignment after intramedullary fixation of fractures of the shaft of femur and tibia has been assessed by many studies but less frequently after intramedullary fixation of intertrochanteric fractures. Intertrochanteric fractures are managed by closed reduction in a traction table and fixation either by dynamic hip screw or proximal femoral nail under image intensifier. Reduction is checked intraoperatively by antero-posterior and lateral views with image intensifier in which rotational alignment cannot be assessed. Aim: To study the rotational malalignment in the operated limb compared to normal limb by computed tomography (CT). Materials and Methods: A prospective study was conducted on 70 patients at Kasturba Medical College and allied hospitals with intertrochanteric fractures with intramedullary fixation and with normal anatomy on opposite side. Postoperative CT with pelvis and knee was done and compared for rotational alignment. Results: The mean anteversion on the normal side was 13.20. The mean anteversion on the operated side was 15.70. The mean rotational malalignment was 9.70; there was internal rotational deformity in 41 cases (58.6%) and external rotational deformity in 29 cases (41.4%) with Grade III malrotation in 17 (24.3%) cases. Conclusion: Rotational malalignment postoperatively is frequently present and needs to be corrected intraoperatively by improving assessment methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose To evaluate change in size vs computed tomography (CT) density of hepatic metastases in breast cancer patients before and after cytotoxic chemotherapy or targeted therapy. Methods A database search in a single institution identified 48 breast cancer patients who had hepatic metastases treated with either cytotoxic chemotherapy alone or targeted therapy alone, and who had contrast-enhanced CT (CECT) scans of the abdomen at baseline and within 4 months of initiation of therapy in the past 10 years. Two radiologists retrospectively evaluated CT scans and identified up to 2 index lesions in each patient. The size (centimeters) of each lesion was measured according to Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) criteria, and CT density (Hounsfield units) was measured by drawing a region of interest around the margin of the entire lesion. The percent change in sum of lesion size and mean CT density on pre- and post-treatment scans was computed for each patient; results were compared within each treatment group. Results Thirty-nine patients with 68 lesions received cytotoxic chemotherapy only; 9 patients with 15 lesions received targeted therapy only. The mean percent changes in sum of lesion size and mean CT density were statistically significant within the cytotoxic chemotherapy group before and after treatment, but not significant in the targeted therapy group. The patients in the targeted therapy group tend to have better 2-year survival. The patients who survived at 2 years tend to have more decrease in tumour size in the cytotoxic chemotherapy group. Conclusion Cytotoxic chemotherapy produced significant mean percent decrease in tumour size and mean CT density of hepatic metastases from breast cancer before and after treatment, whereas targeted therapy did not. Nonetheless, there is a trend that the patients in the targeted therapy group had better 2-year survival rate. This suggests that RECIST is potentially inadequate in evaluating tumour response in breast cancer liver metastases treated with targeted therapy alone, calling for an alternative marker for response evaluation in this subset of patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background: Cervical transpedicular screw fixation is safe and is probably going to be the gold standard for cervical spine fixation. However, cervical transpedicular screw use in the Asian population can be limited as the transverse diameter in this group of patients may not be adequate to accommodate the 3.5-mm pedicular screw thus injuring the vital structures located in the close proximity of the pedicles. Thus lateral mass fixation remains the mainstay of treatment. The present study evaluated the transverse cervical pedicle diameter of C2-C7 vertebrae in a pilot study in 27 Indian subjects using computed tomography (CT) imaging and evaluated the feasibility of transpedicular screw fixation in them. Aims: To evaluate the feasibility of transpedicular screw fixation in the Indian population. Settings and Design: The cervical pedicle diameter size differs between the Asian and non-Asian population. The authors studied the transverse pedicle diameter of the C2-C7 of the cervical spine in the Indian population using CT measurements. This cross-sectional study was carried out at a tertiary care centre for a period of four months from October 2010 to December 2010. Material and Methods: Measurements of cervical pedicles in the subjects were performed on the CT workstation from the CT images taken at 2.5-mm interval. The transverse pedicle diameter was defined as the outermost diameter of the pedicle, taken perpendicular to the axis of the pedicle at the narrowest point and measured in millimeters±0.1 mm. Statistical Analysis: Descriptive statistics was used to represent percentage of transverse diameter of cervical pedicles less than 5 mm in male and female subjects at C2-C7 levels. Since there is no previous study done in India, we initiated the study with sample size of 27 as a pilot study. The statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software. Results: The mean transverse diameters of the cervical pedicles of C2, C3, C4, C5, C6 and C7 in males were 5.3, 5.3, 5.3, 5.6, 5.6 and 6.1 mm respectively and ranged between 5.3 to 6.1 mm. The mean transverse diameters of the cervical pedicles of C2, C3, C4, C5, C6 and C7 in females were 5.1, 4.6, 4.7, 4.7, 5.3 and 5.6 mm respectively and ranged between 4.6 to 5.6 mm. Between 2.1% and 55.7% of pedicles in our male population and between 5.5% and 74.3% pedicles in our female population was smaller than 5.0 mm in transverse diameter and thus cannot have fixation with a 3.5 mm screw using this technique. Conclusions: We found that the transverse pedicle diameter of cervical pedicles in the Indian subjects is smaller compared to the Western population. Although transpedicular screw fixation has stronger pullout strength compared to lateral mass fixation, its use must be considered carefully and individually. Preoperative CT evaluation is a must before transpedicular fixation in the cervical spine, especially in the Indian female population. As an option 2.7-mm screws can be devised for the Indian population giving a wider safety margin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]