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Biomedical subjects

B Maldague

Publications and source records attributed to B Maldague.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

[Profile of the knee. Differential radiologic anatomy of the articular surfaces].

On lateral roentgenograms, the articular surfaces of the knee are characterized by specific landmarks that enable to differentiate them. We looked for the incidence of these characteristics on lateral views of the knees in 40 unselected patients. In our observations, several signs are virtually constant: the visualisation of the external portion of the lateral patellar facet (100%), the concave configuration of the medial tibial condyle (100%), the groove of the middle third of the lateral femoral condyle (90%), and--as a new sign--the sharper aspect of the lateral border of the patellar surface of the femur in comparison with the medial border (87.5%). Other characteristics, less constant but also useful, are the convex configuration of the lateral tibial condyle (62.5%), the more cranial extension of the lateral border of the patellar surface of the femur in comparison with the medial (57.5%), and the groove in the anterior part of the medial femoral condyle (47.5%). These anatomic characteristics are linked with the specific functional characteristics of each compartment. For instance, the lateral preponderance of patello-femoral stresses accounts for the better visualization of both the lateral patellar facet and the lateral border of the patellar surface of the femur; the great anteroposterior mobility of the lateral femoral condyle on the corresponding tibial condyle during the rotatory motion of the knee is facilitated by the convex configuration of both; finally, the femoral condylar grooves are the mirrors of the anterior part of the tibial condyles with which they make contact when the knee is full extended (with meniscal interposition in the lateral but not in the medial compartment, as it was proved by 20 full extended arthrographic views). Besides, it seems that the development of some inconstant anatomic details is probably correlated with knee laxity.

Adult↗

[Developmental spondylolysis].

Spondylolysis is generally regarded as a stress-fracture acquired early in life by predisposed persons. However, the early stages of spondylolysis are seldom recorded in clinical practice. This can be explained by the fact that the delayed roentgenological detection of early stress lesions of bone in general, is aggravated by technical difficulties encountered at the level of the low lumbar spine. Consequently, healing of spondylolysis is extremely scarce in the experience of most clinicians who essentially observe old and usually inactive pars separations. Therefore, two radiological patterns of developing spondylolysis are stressed: 1: an isolated stress sclerosis of both pedicle and pars, reflecting the overload of the corresponding posterior elements and 2: partial cracks of the isthmus starting at its antero-inferior cortex, near the pedicle. Such developing defects were observed in 20 patients: in 5 cases of primary spondylolysis, as an isolated finding, and in 15 other cases during formation of a pars defect at the opposite side of a primary unilateral spondylolysis. Bilateralization of primary unilateral defects is indeed a common sequence of events. In addition, healing of bilateral defects of L4 or L5 was observed in 7 adolescent patients: 5 boys and 2 girls aged 8 to 16 (mean 12.5). The corresponding defects were invariably of recent origin. Therefore, in case of low back pain in adolescent patients engaged in athletic activities, it should be remembered that routine roentgenograms showing an apparently normal pars do not completely rule out a developing defect. In such cases, a repeated X-ray study with close scrutiny of the pars could then reveal an early spondylolysis which is still apt to heal.

Adolescent↗

Unusual aspects of synovial chondromatosis of the elbow.

A 60-year-old man suffered locally from a rather aggressive chondromatosis of the elbow. Clinically the presentation was rather uncommon, with some radiological aspects (juxta-articular bone rarefaction) differing from those of ordinary chondromatosis. Neither the pathologist nor the radiologist recognized signs of malignancy. Regional osteoporosis, although rarely described in synovial chondromatosis, was considered as the diagnosis in this patient, but a low grade primitive chondrosarcoma must be sought in such cases.

Bone Neoplasms↗

Facet joint arthrography in lumbar spondylolysis.

Facet joint arthrography was performed in 11 patients with lumbar spondylolysis. An abnormal communication between the two facet joints bordering the separated par interarticularis was observed in nine of these patients. This communication occurred through a channel in the area of the defect. In one patient with bilateral spondylolysis of the L5 vertebra, both left adjacent apophyseal joints were observed to communicate not only with one another, but also with the contralateral facet joints, through a transverse channel joining the isthmic areas of L5. Significant pain relief following intra-articular administration of anesthetics and corticosteroids was recorded in 5 patients, for periods lasting from 2 to 10 months. Spondylolysis considerably alters the soft tissues of the adjacent facet joints. Irritation of these structures might explain certain complaints of patients with spondylolysis.

Adolescent↗

[Radiological opacities after intra-articular injection of osmic acid. Relationship with the injection site (author's transl)].

Abnormal radiological opacities are sometimes observed after intra-articular injection of osmic acid. These opacities are radio-opaque because osmium is a heavy metal (atomic number = 76). They are usually found near the suprapatellar pouch which is the usual injection site. A parasynovial injection (or back flow from the joint cavity) of some of the osmic solution, followed by concentration and fixation of the osmic deposits at this level, seems to be the cause of these radiological opacities. This could be the reason for the poor clinical results encountered in some cases of osmic acid therapy followed by such deposits.

Adult↗