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IntroductionA major concern of orthopedic surgeons in managing children with idiopathic scoliosis with a minor curvature is identifying how many and which curves will progress to severe deformities requiring treatment [1, 3-12, 14, 15]. Accurate identification of curves destined to progress requires a clear understanding of the natural history of idiopathic scoliosis. In this regard, school screening has been a powerful tool for the identification of children who may have scoliosis, as well as for providing information on the course of the disease over time [10, 11, 15, 17-19, 21, 22]. The vast majority of the children, however, show no spinal deformity, and of the scoliotic curves detected through school screening, only a percentage are destined to progress to clinical significance. Various factors have been associated with curve progression, although it is not clear to what extent they can be used in predicting the course of the natural history of the scoliotic curve. As a Abstract In a 5-year prospective study on idiopathic scoliosis, an attempt was made to elucidate the natural history of the disease and to determine which factors contribute to curve progression. A total of 85,622 children were examined for scoliosis in a prospective school screening study carried out in northwestern and central Greece. Curve progression was studied in 839 of the 1,436 children with idiopathic scoliosis of at least 10°detected from the school screening program. Each child was followed clinically and roentgenographically for one to four follow-up visits for a mean of 3.2 years. Progression of the scoliotic curve was recorded in 14.7% of the children. Spontaneous improvement of at least 5°was observed in 27.4% of them, with 80 children (9.5%) demonstrating complete spontaneous resolution. Eighteen percent of the patients remained stable, while the remaining patients demonstrated nonsignificant changes of less than 5°in curve magnitude. A strong association was observed between the incidence of progression and the sex of the child, curve pattern, maturity, and to a lesser extent age and curve magnitude. More specifically, the following were associated with a high risk of curve progression: sex (girls); curve pattern (right thoracic and double curves in girls, and right lumbar curves in boys); maturity (girls before the onset of menses); age (time of pubertal growth spurt); and curve magnitude (≥ 30°). On the other hand, left thoracic curves showed a weak tendency for progression. In conclusion, the findings of the present study strongly suggest that only a small percentage of scoliotic curves will undergo progression. The pattern of the curve according to curve direction and sex of the child was found to be a key indicator of which curves will progress.

Human papilloma virus (HPV) is one of the most prevalent viral sexually transmitted diseases. The ability of HPV to induce malignancy in the anogenital tract and stomato-pharyngeal cavity is well documented. Moreover, HPV infection may also affect reproductive health and fertility. Although, the impact of HPV on female fertility has not been thoroughly studied it has been found also to have an impact on semen parameters. Relative information can be obtained from studies investigating the relationship between HPV and pregnancy success. Furthermore, there is an ongoing debate whether HPV alters the efficacy of assisted reproductive technologies. An association between HPV and assisted reproductive technologies (ART) programs has been reported. Nevertheless, due to conflicting data and the small number of existing studies further research is required. It remains to be clarified whether HPV detection and genotyping could be included in the diagnostic procedures in couples undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF)/intrauterine insemination (IUI) treatments. Vaccination of both genders against HPV can reduce the prevalence of HPV infection and eliminate its implications on human fertility. The aim of the present mini-review is to reiterate the association between HPV and human fertility through a systematic literature review.

We report the outcome of 50 patients with degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis who were treated surgically by spinal decompression between 1984 and 1995. Their mean age at the time of surgery was 59.9 (45-77) years and the mean follow-up was 11.6 (6.1-17.2) years. Five patients had a concomitant spinal fusion. The preoperative data were collected retrospectively from the patients' charts. The follow-up data were obtained from a clinical examination and questionnaire including overall pain, ability to work, walking ability, use of analgesics and satisfaction with surgery. The outcome was rated as excellent in 23 patients, good in 13 patients, fair in 9 patients and poor in 5 patients. Patients with concomitant fusion had good to excellent results and were more satisfied, whereas patients with long-standing preoperative symptoms had poor to fair result and were less satisfied.Résumé Nous rapportons le résultat de 50 malades avec une sténose lombaire dégénérative qui a été traité chirurgicalement par décompression vertébrale entre 1984 et 1995. L'âge moyen à la chirurgie était 59,9 (45-77) ans et le suivi moyen était 11,6 (6.1-17.2) années. Cinq malades avaient une fusion vertébrale concomitante. Les données préopératoires ont été rassemblées rétrospectivement. Les données du suivi ont été obtenues par un examen clinique et un questionnaire qui inclut les douleurs , la capacité de travailler, la capacité de marcher, l'usage d'analgésiques et la satisfaction de la chirurgie. Le résultat a été estimé comme excellent pour 23 malades, bon pour 13 malades, juste pour 9 et mauvais pour 5 malades. Les patients avec une fusion concomitante avaient des résultats bons ou excellents et étaient plus satisfaits alors que ceux avec symptômes préopératoires anciens avaient des résultats moyens ou mauvais et étaient moins satisfaits.

Great strides have been made in the field of total hip arthroplasty, but the issue of wear and osteolysis continue to be a problem, mostly for young adults. For this population varus rotational osteotomy still remains a viable alternative to total hip arthroplasty. The purpose of this prospective study was to describe the indications, the technique and the functional outcome of an isolated varus femoral osteotomy in 52 patients with hip dysplasia. We obtained very good results with a significant improvement of hip function and pain relief. We conclude that with appropriate selection of the patient the procedure may prevent or postpone the development of secondary osteoarthritis. Résumé De nombreux problèmes ont déjà été étudiés dans le champ de la prothèse totale de hanche, néanmoins, le problème de l'usure et de l'ostéolyse continue à être un problème important chez l'adulte. L'ostéotomie de varisation dérotations reste une alternative acceptable dans le traitement de ces lésions. Le but de cette étude est de réaliser une étude prospective afin de décrire les indications, la technique et le devenir fonctionnel de ces patients. Parmi les 52 patients opérés avec dysplasie cotyloïdienne nous pouvons rapporter de très bons résultats avec une amélioration de la fonction de la hanche et une amélioration des phénomènes douloureux. Après une sélection appropriée des patients ce traitement peut prévenir le développement trop précoce d'une arthrose secondaire à une dysplasie.