Introduction:Arthroscopy has become a major diagnostic tool and treatment option for shoulder pathology. However rare, respiratory complications such as a pneumothorax have been reported in patients undergoing shoulder arthroscopy. Surgery - as well as anesthesiology-related factors and respiratory comorbidity have been hypothesized to intervene in the onset of respiratory complications.Case Report:We report the case of a 42-year-old male patient who underwent an arthroscopy of the left shoulder. The anesthesia, the surgical procedure as well as the post-operative course went uncomplicated. The patients were discharged 6 h after the end of the surgical procedure. 4 h after discharge, however, the patient developed severe respiratory distress and signs of hemodynamic shock due to an ipsilateral (tension) post-operative pneumothorax. The available literature is reviewed focusing on the possible pathogenic mechanisms implying the development of this complication.Conclusion:The presence of a pneumothorax after shoulder arthroscopy is a rare but dangerous complication. It can primarily be attributed to rupture of parietal pleura, rupture of visceral pleura, and alveolar rupture or trauma during anesthesia. In our patient, we speculate that a rupture of parietal pleura was the underlying cause. This can be related to the surgical methodology (portal placement and continuous pump infusion with intermittent suction) and subacromial distention used during the procedure. Awareness, prompt recognition, and treatment are necessary.

Tibial post fracture in total knee arthroplasty is a rare but disabling complication. The authors report a case of a nontraumatic fracture of the polyethylene tibial post in a patient with a bi-cruciate stabilized Journey total knee arthroplasty system with subsequent episodes of knee subluxation. Early revision is required to resolve this particular problem.

Surgical management of de Quervain's tenosynovitis is based on decompression of the first extensor compartment. A simple release of the first compartment can cause instability of the extensor pollicis brevis (EPB) and abductor pollicis longus (APL) tendons in zone seven of the extensors. The WHAT test (wrist hyperflexion and abduction of the thumb) is very effective in diagnosing this instability. In this retrospective monocentric study, we analyzed a case series of 10 patients all of whom underwent a reconstruction of the first extensor compartment using a retinacular graft because of symptomatic instability after decompression surgery. The reconstruction was a modified technique of the sixth compartment. Functional outcome and characteristics of the newly reconstructed pulley were examined by physical examination with the aid of ultrasound and internationally validated questionnaires. Four patients had a good-to-excellent functional outcome, all of those had a maximum of two surgical procedures performed on the first extensor compartment. Six patients presented poor functional outcome. In four of them, more than two surgical procedures were performed. Minor residual instability was noted in six cases, found in both the groups. The reconstruction procedures on the first compartment seemed to be satisfactory in treating instability of the EPB and APL tendons after primary surgical release for de Quervain's disease. Level IV, observational study without controls.

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