A total of 329 patients with osteoblastoma were retrospectively reviewed from the archives of the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, of which 41 (12.5%) presented with tumors in the foot and ankle. This was the third most common site of disease after the spine and femur. Overall, the mean age was 22.5 years, which was the same for the foot and ankle subset of patients; however, there was a significant male predominance in foot and ankle patients compared with the whole group. The majority of patients were skeletally mature (85.4%). Clinically, most patients presented with pain (97.2%), although one-third of the total related a history of antecedent trauma. The interval between the onset of symptoms and biopsy was 84 days (range, 0-572 days). Radiographically, the majority of lesions were in the hindfoot (N = 18; 44%) of which 16 of 18 tumors (89%) were in the talus. Of these, one-half were subperiosteal and dorsally based and were associated with osseous tumor matrix and a soft tissue mass. Two osteoblastomas, both in the metatarsals, transitioned into sarcomas; the rest were histologically benign. For diagnostic purposes, it was essential to obtain clinical, radiographic, and histologic correlation.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1998

Recognition and treatment of osteosarcoma in the military health care system.

Forty-two patients with high-grade intramedullary osteosarcoma treated at Walter Reed Army Medical Center between 1985 and 1995 were reviewed to determine what effects military "managed health care" had on diagnosis, treatment, and outcome. Five-year survival was 61% overall (SE +/- 9.9%), despite local disease control obtained in 95% of patients. There was a statistically significant difference between active duty members and dependents in time to diagnosis (p = 0.008), yet there was no significant difference in survival between the two groups. Five-year survival in our patient population was slightly lower than 5-year survival reported in some large civilian medical centers despite good local disease control and intensive multiagent chemotherapy. Delays in diagnosis and military status had no apparent effect on survival, although limb salvage was not possible in nearly 40% of patients because of tumor size, disease extent, and involvement of neurovascular structures.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

Thromboembolism after foot and ankle surgery. A multicenter study.

Thromboembolic disease presents a potentially fatal complication to patients undergoing orthopaedic surgery. Although the incidence after hip and knee surgery has been studied and documented, its incidence after surgery of the foot and ankle is unknown. For this reason, a prospective multicenter study was undertaken to identify patients with clinically evident thromboembolic disease to evaluate potential risk factors. Two thousand seven hundred thirty-three patients were evaluated for preoperative risk factors and postoperative thromboembolic events. There were six clinically significant thromboembolic events, including four nonfatal pulmonary emboli, after foot and ankle surgery. The incidence of deep vein thrombosis was six of 2733 (0.22%) and that of nonfatal pulmonary emboli was four of 2733 (0.15%). Factors found to correlate with an increased incidence of deep vein thrombosis were nonweightbearing status and immobilization after surgery. On the basis of these results, routine prophylaxis for thromboembolic disease after foot and ankle surgery probably is not warranted.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1997

Lateral leg pain in a 26-year-old woman.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

Chondroblastoma of the foot.

A total of 322 cases of chondroblastoma were referred to the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology between 1960 and 1990. Ten additional cases of chondroblastoma were treated at Walter Reed Army Medical Center between 1985 and 1993. Forty-two of these involved the foot, two of which were treated at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Patients with chondroblastoma of the foot were male in 35 (81%) cases, with a mean age of 25.5 years, which was significantly different from the mean age of 17.3 years in patients with chondroblastoma of the long bones (P < 0.0001). Chondroblastoma of the foot is most commonly found in the posterior subchondral areas of the talus and calcaneus as well as in the calcaneal apophysis. Radiographically, the lesion was associated with an articular surface or apophyseal area in all cases and appeared radiolucent, with little to no matrix production. The margins were generally well defined. Cystic features were noted grossly and histologically in 24 (57%) specimens, a feature seen in only 21% of all chondroblastomas overall. Treatment consists of thorough curetting and bone grafting with good oncologic and functional results.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1997

A review of total joint replacement in active duty soldiers.

Thirty-two active duty soldiers (36 total joint replacements) were followed from 9 months and 18 years (average 4.1 years) to evaluate the outcome of total joint replacement in active duty soldiers. Follow-up consisted of clinical assessment and radiographic evaluation at 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, and yearly thereafter. A Harris hip rating (HHR) was also completed at each clinic visit. There were 30 total hip arthroplasties in 27 patients with an average age at surgery of 40.8 years (range 31-58) and an average follow-up of 4.1 years. The HHR averaged 93 on latest evaluation. There were three revisions (average 7.2 years). Of the 27 patients, 18 were retained on active duty and 9 were separated from service. Of the senior enlisted (E7 or above) and officers (O4 or above), 16 of 17 (94%) were retained on active duty, whereas only 2 of 10 (20%) of the junior enlisted (E6 or below) were retained on active duty. There were 6 total knee arthroplasties in 5 patients with an average age at surgery of 49.8 years (range 33-58) and an average follow-up of 3.0 years (9 months to 4 years). There were no revisions, and all 5 soldiers were retained on active duty. Preliminary results from this study reveal that a high percentage of soldiers undergoing total joint replacement are retained on active duty (72%) and are able to continue active lives. Rank or seniority also appears to be a significant factor for retention on active duty. The revision rate (10%) and the rate of osteolysis (19%) are comparable with reported rates.

Adult↗

PubMed1996

The surgical treatment of patients with osteosarcoma who sustain a pathologic fracture.

The presence of pathologic fracture in osteosarcoma raises concerns of tumor dissemination by the fracture hematoma and has been considered a contraindication to limb salvage surgery. Because this is a theoretical concern, there are little clinical data available in the literature on which to base treatment of these patients. Eighteen patients with osteosarcoma who sustained a pathologic fracture and had a minimum of 24 months of followup were reviewed retrospectively. Surgical treatment included nonoperative therapy, amputation, and limb salvage groups. Patients who refused surgical intervention (2) had a uniformly poor outcome. Patients who underwent amputation (6) had no local recurrences and 33% developed metastases. Patients who underwent limb salvage (10) experienced 3 local recurrences and 6 distant recurrences. Although the distant recurrence rate for patients undergoing amputation was no different from the rate for those undergoing limb salvage, the difference in local tumor control approached statistical significance. All patients who developed local recurrence died. Surgical treatment needs to be individualized and based on factors such as fracture displacement, stability, radiographic and histologic response to chemotherapy, and the perceived ability to resect the fracture hematoma completely.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1996

From the archives of the AFIP. Primary tumors of the spine: radiologic pathologic correlation.

Primary tumors of the spine are relatively infrequent lesions compared with metastatic disease, multiple myeloma, and lymphoma. However, when a solitary lesion of the spine occurs, these neoplasms represent an important group of entities for diagnostic consideration. A wide variety of benign neoplasms can involve the spine, including osteoid osteoma, osteoblastoma, aneurysmal bone cyst, giant cell tumor, enostosis, and osteochondroma. Common primary nonlymphoproliferative malignant neoplasms of the spine include chordoma, chondrosarcoma, Ewing sarcoma or primitive neuroectodermal tumor, and osteosarcoma. The imaging features of these lesions of the spine are often characteristic. These changes include a small sclerotic focus with irregular thorny margins in the vertebral body (enostosis), a small radiolucent nidus with central calcification in the posterior elements of the vertebral body (osteoid osteoma), a large expansile lesion with multiple fluid-fluid levels (aneurysmal bone cyst), and an aggressive mineralized mass (chondroid or osteoid) with osseous and soft-tissue involvement (chondrosarcoma or osteosarcoma). Radiologists should be aware of the appearance of these unusual neoplasms in order to provide a complete differential diagnosis and to guide clinical colleagues in patient treatment.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1996

Bridle transfer for paresis of the anterior and lateral compartment musculature.

In the Riordan (bridle) transfer, the posterior tibialis muscle as motor is routed through the interosseous membrane and anastomosed into a "bridle" formed by the distal tibialis anterior and peroneus longus muscles. In theory, the bridle provides inversion/eversion balance even if the transfer effects only tenodesis. However, the procedure has been criticized because its insertion is not into bone. This review analyzes the use of bridle transfer in flaccid paresis involving musculature innervated by the peroneal nerve. Surgery was performed 1 to 3 years after injury for patients with traumatic etiology. Ten patients are reviewed at 61 months' mean follow-up. Eight patients had traumatic peroneal nerve loss. Two had neuromuscular etiology. Evaluation included review of records, telephone interviews, and physical examinations. Data on functional status included walking barefoot running, need for bracing, return to duty, and patient satisfaction. Physical examination recorded ankle position and motions, gait findings, and results of static electromyograms. All patients were able to walk barefoot, but 6 of 10 had a mild to moderate limp. Five patients returned to running initially; only two were able to keep running. Nine patients were brace-free initially (polio sequela required bracing initially), and four others returned to bracing. Of these, two experienced an acute "tearing" and dorsiflexion loss, one sustained a prolonged gradual loss of dorsiflexion, and one sustained a contralateral cerebrovascular accident. Only three of seven patients returned to active duty, and one is on jump status. All patients were satisfied with their initial result. Only two patients had no detectable swing phase problems (both returned to active duty). Five patients had peroneal nerve exploration with repair or neurolysis; two of them sustained complete transections. Postoperative electromyograms showed insignificant, if any, nerve return. The Riordan transfer works well for neuromuscular flaccid paresis and in patients with peroneal nerve injuries with low demands. It may stretch out over time to the point of acute failure in patients with high demands. Concurrent peroneal nerve exploration and repair did not seem to be beneficial in this small study.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1995

Giant cell tumor of bone in the foot and ankle.

Giant cell tumor of bone has been shown to behave more aggressively when located in the wrist and hand. Although nearly 4% of giant cell tumors arise in the foot and ankle, biological features specific to this location have not been identified. In our experience with more than 300 cases of giant cell tumor, 12 arose in the foot and ankle and were followed for more than 2 years. These included nine females and three males ranging in age from 15 to 52 years (mean age, 29.5 years). All patients presented with pain of 5.0 months' mean duration and 9 of 12 tumors demonstrated aggressive radiographic features, including bone erosion and destruction; five had either invasion of a joint or a soft tissue mass present. Unlike the hand, where metacarpal and phalangeal lesions are common, no tumors arose in the forefoot and nine of the tumors were present in the ankle region. Four patients were treated with resection (no recurrence), two with curettage and cement packing (one recurrence), and six with curettage and autologous bone graft (two recurrences), which resulted in an overall recurrence rate of 25%. None of the recurrent tumors have returned after additional treatment, which consisted of curettage and cement packing in two cases and resection in one case. Five tumors (four primary, one recurrent) were treated with local resection and reconstruction with no major complications and with no amputations performed. Thus, giant cell tumors of the foot and ankle can be treated with local procedures, which result in recurrence rates similar to those found in more common locations.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1995

Role of surgical resection in pelvic Ewing's sarcoma.

PURPOSE: The improved survival in patients with Ewing's sarcoma over the past two decades has placed increased importance on achievement of local disease control. Ewing's sarcoma that arises in the pelvis has been recognized to have a worse prognosis than that in the appendicular skeleton, and the role of surgical resection in these cases remains controversial. The current study attempts to identify a benefit to surgical resection in these patients. METHODS: We retrospectively examined 39 patients who presented with Ewing's sarcoma in a pelvic location, all of whom were treated systemically with chemotherapy. Twenty patients received radiation only as a means of local control, and 19 underwent resection with or without radiation therapy. The patients were evaluated with end points of disease-free survival and overall survival for a minimum of 24 months and a mean of 58 months. RESULTS: There was an even distribution among patients who underwent surgical resection for local control as compared with those who received only radiation therapy with respect to age, site, date of treatment, and stage of disease. Despite uncontrolled biases including tumor size and response to chemotherapy that would be expected to favor patients who undergo resection, surgery in addition to or in substitution for radiation therapy did not result in a statistically significant increase in disease-free survival or overall survival. Local disease control was comparable between those who underwent resection and those who did not: three patients in each group developed a local recurrence. CONCLUSION: Currently, morbidity of surgical resection should be weighed against the efficacy and secondary complications of radiation therapy in the decision-making process for local disease control. The issue of whether overall survival and local disease control is improved in patients who undergo surgical resection remains controversial and may require a prospective randomized trial to be answered definitively.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1995

Calcific myonecrosis. A late sequela to compartment syndrome of the leg.

The clinicopathologic features of calcific myonecrosis are presented from results of an examination of 3 cases of this rare syndrome and review of the literature. Calcific myonecrosis is a painful, expansile, calcified mass that develops in muscle several decades after lower extremity trauma that typically has been associated with vascular injury. Plain radiographs show a well-defined and heavily calcified mass replacing the leg musculature. The calcifications are present in a thin, linear pattern and are organized around the periphery of the lesion. Smooth erosion of the adjacent bone may be present, whereas magnetic resonance imaging shows a heterogeneous signal with enhancement limited to the periphery of the mass. Pathologic features consist of a centrally cystic mass arising in muscle filled with friable, tan to dark red, soft debris. The cyst walls are firm and fibrous and contain many needle-like, elongated, calcified shards of necrotic tissue composed of hypocellular fibrous tissue with focal aggregates of hemosiderin-laden macrophages. The cyst contents are composed of necrotic skeletal muscle and acellular amorphous debris containing many cholesterol crystals, fibrin, and recent hemorrhage, including focal aggregates of organizing thrombus. The pathologic findings suggest that calcific myonecrosis might expand with time by virtue of recurrent intralesional hemorrhage into a chronic calcified mass that eventually becomes symptomatic. Surgical intervention is associated with a high rate of complication, particularly in cases in which intralesional procedures have been done.

Aged↗

PubMed1994

Lumbar and lumbosacral fusion using Steffee instrumentation.

Posterior and posterolateral spinal fusion with the Steffee variable plating system have been performed on 176 patients at Walter Reed Army Medical Center since November 1985. This report covers the authors' early experience using the Steffee device on 39 patients. All of the 39 patients (100%) were available for a minimum follow-up of 2 years. Complications occurred in 26% of the patients. Radiographic pseudarthrosis occurred in 8% of the patients. The findings suggest that lumbar and lumbosacral fusion supplemented with Steffee plate instrumentation are associated with a low incidence of pseudarthrosis and acceptable morbidity overall.

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