Osteoarthritis is a chronic disease that causes serious pain and limitations in activities. Intraarticular corticosteroid injections combined with pharmacological treatment and physiotherapy have been used for years to control the local inflammation and relieve pain in the patients with osteoarthritis. There are several animal experiments which suggested that the intraarticular corticosteroid injections impair cartilage protein synthesis. However, there are no serious evidences suggesting the increase of cartilage impairment. The aim of our study was to compare the efficacy of placebo and intraarticular corticosteroid agents in the patients with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis. One hundred and twenty patients with painful knee osteoarthritis were included in the prospective, randomized, controlled study. The patients were randomized into four groups. Each group consisted of thirty patients. Intraarticular single dose of methylprednisolone acetate (40 mg, 1 ml), Betametazone disodium phosphate (3 mg, 1 ml), Triamsinolon acetonate (40 mg, 1 ml), and serum physiological (0.09% NaCl, 1 ml) were administrated to the groups, respectively. The patients were evaluated by Visual Analog Scale (0-10 cm [VAS]) for the pain severity, and by Lequesne Functional Index for functional state before treatment, and at the 1st, 3rd, 6th, and 12th weeks. Our results showed that single doses of three agents provided symptomatic and functional relief and their effects reduced at the 12th week. However, methylprednisolone acetate was a statistically more effective analgesic as compared to the other agents until the sixth week.

Despite advances in the surgical treatment of peroneal nerve injuries, a significant fraction of patients do not recover adequately. Among 35 patients who had previous repair of the peroneal nerve, 19 had permanent drop foot, and 16 of these patients underwent tibialis posterior (TP) tendon transfer. Mean duration of paralysis was 26.7 (range, 7 to 192) months. TP tendon was carried to the anterior compartment via the circumtibial route, and then attached to the tibialis anterior, extensor hallucis longus, extensor digitorum communis, and peroneus tertius tendons using tendon-tendon anastomosis. All patients except for one achieved active dorsiflexion to or beyond neutral. Mean preoperative drop foot angle increased from -33.8 degrees to + 9.7 degrees. According to the Stanmore system, the results were excellent in 10 patients (62.5%), good in 4 (25.0%), fair in 1 (6.2%), and poor in 1 (6.2%). The average Stanmore score was 85, which corresponded to an excellent result. We believe that the TP tendon transfer is a straightforward and reliable solution in the treatment of drop foot.

With ease of application, low complication rate, and low rate of acromioclavicular joint arthrosis, the modified Bosworth technique is an effective surgical method in providing satisfactory shoulder function in acromioclavicular dislocations.

Relationship between the tilt angle of bipolar radial head prostheses and radiological radiocapitellar instability

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the accuracy of injections into the carpal tunnel using three different portals in cadavers, and to define safe guidelines. In this study, 150 wrists of 75 cadavers (54 male, 21 female) were included. To compare three injection sites, 50 wrists of 25 cadavers were used for each technique; we used 23 gauge needles, and acrylic dye. The first injection technique: the needle was inserted 1cm proximal to the wrist crease and directed distally by roughly 45 in an ulnar direction through the flexor carpi radialis tendon. The second injection technique: the needle was inserted into the carpal tunnel from a point just ulnar to the palmaris longus tendon and 1cm proximal to the wrist crease. The third injection technique: the needle was inserted just distal to the distal skin crease of the wrist in line with the fourth ray. The first injection technique gave the highest accuracy rate, and this was also the safest injection site. Median nerve injuries caused by injection was seen mostly with the second technique. Although a steroid injection may provide symptomatic relief in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome, the median nerve and other structures in the carpal tunnel are at risk of injury. Because of that, the injection should be given using the correct technique by physicians skilled in carpal tunnel surgery.