Echinococcosis or hydatid disease affecting the spine is an uncommon manifestation of Echinococcus granulosus infection of the spine. More commonly found in endemic areas, it causes significant morbidity and mortality as it grows slowly and produces symptoms mainly by compressing the spinal cord. As diagnostic methods are non-specific, diagnosis and management are usually delayed until the disease is advanced, thereby therapy is usually unlikely. Treatment is usually surgical, aiming at cyst excision, spinal cord decompression and spinal stabilization. This article summarizes the clinical findings of echinococcosis of the spine, discusses the specific laboratory and diagnostic findings, lists the current treatment options, and reviews the patients’ outcomes. The aim is to prompt clinicians to be aware of the possibility of echinococcosis as a possible diagnosis in endemic areas. Cite this article: EFORT Open Rev 2021;6:288-296. DOI: 10.1302/2058-5241.6.200130

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Subtrochanteric fractures can result from high-energy trauma in young patients or from a fall or minor trauma in the elderly. Intramedullary nails are currently the most commonly used implants for the stabilization of these fractures. However, the anesthetic procedure for the patients, the surgical reduction and osteosynthesis for the fractures are challenging. The anesthetic management of orthopedic trauma patients should be based upon various parameters that must be evaluated before the implementation of any anesthetic technique. Surgery- and patient-related characteristics and possible comorbidities must be considered during the pre-anesthetic evaluation. Adequate fracture reduction and proper nail entry point are critical. Understanding of the deforming forces acting on various fracture patterns and knowledge of surgical reduction techniques are essential in obtaining successful outcomes. This article discusses the intraoperative reduction techniques for subtrochanteric fractures in adults and summarizes tips and tricks that the readers may find useful and educative.

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