Biomedical subjects

G A Kapetanos

Publications and source records attributed to G A Kapetanos.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2005

Brachial plexus palsy secondary to birth injuries.

We describe the long-term results in ten patients with obstetric brachial plexus palsy of anterior shoulder release combined with transfer of teres major and latissimus dorsi posteriorly and laterally to allow them to act as external rotators. Eight patients had a lesion of the superior trunk and two some involvement of the entire brachial plexus. The mean age at operation was six years, and the mean follow-up was 30 years. Before operation, the patients were unable actively to rotate the arm externally beyond neutral, although this movement was passively normal. All showed decreased strength of the external rotator, but had normal strength of the internal rotator muscles. Radiologically, no severe bony changes were seen in the glenohumeral joint. No clinically detectable improvement of active abduction was noted in any patient. The mean active external rotation after operation was 36.5 degrees. This was maintained for a mean of ten years, and then deteriorated in eight patients. At the latest follow-up the mean active external rotation was 10.5 degrees. The early satisfactory results of the procedure were not maintained. In the long term there was loss of active external rotation, possibly because of gradual degeneration of the transferred muscles, contracture of the surrounding soft tissues and degenerative changes in the glenohumeral joint.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

The pathogenetic influence of I-parathyroid hormone on slipped capital femoral epiphysis. Towards a new etiologic approach?

The displacement of the femoral head along the upper femoral physis that occurs during adolescence or slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE) is not a very common traumatic entity. Ever since Muller1 first described it in 1888, its symptoms, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, treatment and complications have been thoroughly described and studied. Nevertheless little progress has been accomplished as far as its etiology is concerned. In order to assess the potential pathologic influence of any parathyroid hormone (PTH) disturbances on the development of SCFE, we conducted a prospective clinical study with 14 patients, 7 boys and 7 girls (16 hips), suffering from SCFE (Group A). Another 5 patients who had been treated for SCFE a few years before the study, were used as a control group (Group B). We measured the level of I-PTH along with serum calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) levels. Furthermore, we checked all the necessary anthropometric characteristics of the patients (i.e., age, height, weight and sexual maturation). Each patient of Group A was categorized from grade I to grade V according to the progress of the slipping. The results showed an increased incidence of serum PTH level abnormalities (both decrease and increase) in Group A while Group B patients had normal results. The detected I-PTH serum level abnormalities were not in any pattern related to the Ca and P serum levels. We believe that a temporary parathyroid hormone disorder during the early years of adolescence may play a potentially significant role (along with other etiologic factors) in the development of SCFE.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1997

Functional outcome after experimental cauda equina compression.

Spinal nerve roots often sustain compression injuries. We used a Wistar rat model of the cauda equina syndrome to investigate such injuries. Rapid transient compression of the cauda equina was produced using a balloon catheter. The results were assessed by daily neurological examination and somatosensory evoked potential (SEP) recording before surgery and ten weeks after decompression. Compression of the spinal nerves induced changes in the SEP which persisted for up to ten weeks after decompression, but it had no effect on the final neurological outcome. Our study shows the importance of early surgical decompression for cauda equina syndrome.

Animals↗

PubMed1988

The effect of partial periosteal division on growth of the long bones. An experimental study in rabbits.

The mode of action of the periosteum in the growth of the long bones was investigated by comparing the activity of the growth plate after hemicircumferential and longitudinal periosteal incisions. Twenty-eight rabbits were divided into three groups. A longitudinal periosteum incision was made on the medial upper tibia in rabbits of Group A, and a hemicircumferential periosteum incision was made in Group B. An incision of the skin and superficial tissue only, similar to the skin incision of Groups A and B, was performed on rabbits in Group C. Certain differences in the development of the right tibia compared to the control side were observed in rabbits of Group B: (1) valgus deformity, 5 degrees-10 degrees; (2) overgrowth, 1-2 mm; (3) an S-shaped tibia deformity. The dynamics of the deformity support the mechanical theory because the direction of periosteum division was an important factor in the appearance of growth disturbances.

Animals↗

PubMed1984

Mixed polydactyly. An unusual case of a patient with seven-toed feet.

Polydactyly is an entity of great etiologic heterogeneity, and many facts about its genetics remain unknown. Therefore, the relative terminology and classification in the literature are rather obscure. Mixed polydactyly, i.e., polydactyly with both preaxial and postaxial involvement in the same person, is very rare, and crossed polydactyly is even more so. A seven-year-old girl with six fingers on each hand and seven-toed feet, lower-mixed and crossed polydactyly with syndactyly, underwent operation mainly for cosmetic reasons. The report of this rare case confirms the great variability and expressivity of this malformation and suggests that large statistical studies on this subject in the future are warranted.

Child↗