Omental Infarction, the end result of impaired perfusion to the greater omentum, is a rare entity (JBCM Puylaert, Radiology 1992;185:169-172). We recently encountered three patients in whom computed tomography (CT) showed the characteristic findings of omental infarction. The diagnosis was subsequently confirmed intraoperatively and pathologically in two of the cases. The third case showed partial resolution on follow-up computed tomography. All three cases are presented with a brief review of the literature.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Retinal toxicity of liposome-incorporated and free ofloxacin after intravitreal injection in rabbit eyes.

BACKGROUND: Ofloxacin (OFLX) is a fluoroquinolone-antibiotic with a broad antimicrobial spectrum that may have a potential role in the treatment of bacterial endophthalmitis. However, its elimination half life after intravitreal injection is short. To prolong the intravitreal antibacterial level OFLX was incorporated into liposomes. This study was performed to investigate the retinal toxicity of liposome-incorporated and free OFLX. MATERIALS AND METHODS: OFLX was incorporated into multilamellar large vesicles. 0.1 ml of this suspension (= 180.2 microg OFLX) was injected into the midvitreous of rabbit eyes (n = 6). Free OFLX in doses of 100 microg, 500 microg and 1,000 microg was injected into the midvitreous of a second group of rabbit eyes (n = 18). The other eye served as a control and received empty liposomes or normal saline solution, respectively. Before injection and at the end of follow-up an ERG was obtained. After a follow-up of 1 day, 14 and 28 days the animals were perfused with glutaraldehyde and the eyes were examined by light- and transmission electron microscopy. RESULTS: The ERG as well as the histologic studies did not reveal any pathological changes after injection of liposome-incorporated OFLX compared to the control eyes. Significant reduction of the ERG was observed after 500 microg free OFLX in 2 out of 6 eyes after 1 and 14 days, respectively, and in 2 eyes 1 day after 1,000 microg free OFLX. Three days after injection of 1,000 microg OFLX the retina showed focal destruction in 1 out of 6 eyes. In another eye with the same dose 14 days after injection the photoreceptor outer segments showed disorganisation. CONCLUSION: This study shows that liposome-incorporated OFLX did not have any retinal toxicity in this animal model. Free OFLX appears to have no retinal toxicity in rabbit eyes at a dose of 100 microg after intravitreal injection. Injection of higher doses resulted in ERG changes and marked retinal damage.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Polyethylene liner dislocation in Harris Galante acetabular components].

AIM: Dislocation and subsequent dissociation of the polyethylene liner as a result of failure of the acetabular locking mechanism is a potential source of failure in the Harris-Galante acetabular component. The purposes of this study are to present seven cases with a liner dislocation due to failure of the liner locking mechanism. METHOD: Between March 1997 and December 2001, seven patients who had had a total hip arthroplasty presented with clinical and radiologic signs of liner dislocation and signs of polyethylene wear of the liner from a Harris Galante acetabular shell. In all cases the intraoperative findings showed evidence of failure of the liner locking mechanism and subsequent dislocation. The medical records, radiographs, operative notes and explanted retrieved components were reviewed. RESULTS: The components had been in situ for an average of 5.3 years (range 1-9 years). Two components were first generation, five were second generation. The symptoms developed spontaneously in five patients, the other two patients described a minor trauma. Radiographs showed eccentric position of the head in all cases. All acetabular components showed an excellent stability intraoperatively, nevertheless we had to remove the well fixed acetabular shell due to complete destruction of the liner locking mechanism in two cases. Treatment consisted of revision of the shell in two patients and exchange of the liner in five patients. All retrieved liners showed severe deformation and/or fracture of the rim. CONCLUSION: Harris Galante modular acetabular components have been used widely for primary and revision arthroplasty. The survival of this implant has been well documented in the literature. Failure of the liner locking mechanism and following dislocation or fracture of the polyethylene liner is a potential cause of failure which may possibly occur more often than the literature to date has documented. We report seven cases of liner dislocation, in which two acetabular components had to be removed completely due to destruction of the liner locking mechanism. In the other five cases exchange of the liner was possible thanks to well timed revision. We believe that, as the liner wears and becomes loose due to an inefficient locking mechanism, the load increases on the polyethylene rim until it deforms or fractures. As a consequence of the prosthetic design at that stage nothing can prevent the liner from rotating out of the shell.

Acetabulum↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Anterior intertrochanteric ossification after total hip arthroplasty].

AIM: Heterotopic paraarticular ossifications are usually identified by an anterior-posterior radiograph of the corresponding hip and are consecutively classified by the well accepted methods of Brooker, Arcq or deLee. In these methods ossifications are solely evaluated by the means of a single a-p radiograph, hence a major part of ossifications located in the anterior intertrochanteric region cannot be evaluated. Our study deals with the incidence of ossifications exclusively verifiable by an axial radiograph. METHOD: In the present study 209 patients' axial radiographs were retrospectively analysed by using our simple method of classification. In the axial projection these ossifications are situated anterior of the intertrochanteric region, therefore we created the term "anterior intertrochanteric ossification (AIO)". After developing a simple topographic scheme we classified these appearances by localisation and size. RESULTS: After total hip arthroplasty by using the transgluteal approach ossifications situated in the anterior intertrochanteric region can develop. These ossifications appear as bone islands, shield or clip like (without fixed connection to the femoral cortical bone) or as solid exostoses. Due to their strict anterior localisation these formations are often solely verifiable by the means of an axial (Lauenstein) radiograph. We were able to identify anterior intertrochanteric ossifications (AIO) in 97 out of 209 patients (48.4 %), 27 patients (13 %) developing an anterior intertrochanteric ossification were classified grade 0 according to the methods of Brooker, Arcq and deLee. CONCLUSION: According to the widely accepted methods of classification of paraarticular ossifications depending on a single a-p radiograph of the corresponding hip, 13 % of paraarticular ossifications would remain undocumented because of their strict anterior intertrochanteric position.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal↗