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Introduction: Cysticercosis leads to a cyst formation known to occur due to the Taenia solium parasite. Patients normally present with seeding and formation of the cysts in the central nervous system (CNS) as neurocysticercosis (NCC). Intramuscular cysts are rare presentations and are mostly incidental findings in NCC patients. We present a rare case of a rapidly progressing isolated cysticercosis of the flexor digitorum profundus (FDP) muscle leading to a pseudotumor and presenting with pseudo-Volkmanns contracture and a positive Volkmanns sign. Case Report: A 26-year-old right-hand dominant vegetarian female presented with a 3-month-old progressive swelling on her right forearm with no antecedent trauma history. A positive Volkmann's sign was present. Radiographs were normal, and ultrasonography showed a cysticercus cyst in the FDP muscle belly with a multiseptated abscess around the tendons of the middle, ring, and little fingers at the musculotendinous junction. Bones and nerves were spared. After ruling out CNS involvement and providing oral antiparasitic cover, she underwent a successful surgical exploration with cyst excision, debridement, and freeing of the involved tendons. Immediately post-operatively, she was able to completely extend the three involved fingers without flexion at the wrist joint (resolving Volkmann's sign). She reported significant improvements in the functions of daily life. She was protected with a splint for 2 weeks. There was no recurrence, and the swelling subsided. Histo-pathology reports depicted cysts with visible scolices. Conclusion: It is important to consider the possibility of 'Myoparasitism' in atraumatic cases showing contractures. Clinching the right diagnosis is essential and best done with a multidisciplinary approach with ultrasonography, magnetic resonance imaging, electromyography, and nerve conduction velocity studies. It is essential to rule out life-threatening NCC beforehand and offer prophylaxis. Surgical exploration is generally indicated to regain normal function and free the involved structures.
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Background: Infection around the ankle joint after fracture fixation, or septic arthritis with active discharging sinuses is often challenging to manage with conventional procedures of arthrodesis. The Ilizarov method of arthrodesis gives a better alternative for salvage in such cases. Methods: This was a retrospective study including 20 patients who were subjected to tibiotalar arthrodesis with Ilizarov method. The major pathologies included internal fixation of ankle fractures complicated by infection, posttraumatic infected ankle arthritis, and osteomyelitis. The patients were evaluated on the basis of Association for the Study and Application of the Method of Ilizarov (ASAMI) criteria. The aim of the surgery was to achieve plantigrade, stable, and painless foot with no signs of infection. Results: A total of 20 patients were operated and reviewed at our institute. The study comprised of 15 male and 5 female patients with a mean age of 43.9 years (range 33-55 years). Out of 20 patients, 4 patients had complications of pin-tract infection and one had wire breakage of the forefoot ring. According to the ASAMI criteria, 17 patients had excellent bone scores and 18 patients had good functional scores. Union was achieved in all patients with resolution of infection and the mean limb length discrepancy was 1.92 cm (range 1-2.5 cm). Conclusions: The Ilizarov fixator for ankle arthrodesis provides an excellent way for strong bone fusion, infection eradication, early weight-bearing, and the added benefits of compression at the arthrodesis site post-operatively.
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Introduction: This article reports a case of surgical repair of traumatic rupture of tibialis posterior (TP) tendon in a young healthy male after alleged history of grinder (heavy machine) injury over the foot, with the help of a suture anchor and running whip stitch followed by immobilization in a below knee slab postoperatively. The acute rupture of the TP tendon (TPT), compared to an acute rupture of the Achilles tendon, is a quite uncommon disease to be diagnosed in the emergency department setting. In most cases symptoms related to a TP dysfunction, like weakness, pain along the course of the tendon, swelling in the region of the medial malleolus, and the partial or complete loss of the medial arch with a flatfoot deformity precede the complete rupture of the tendon. Case Report: A 32-year-old healthy male presented to the outpatient clinic with a history of pain and swelling in the right foot for 10 months after alleged history of sustaining a grinder (heavy machine) injury to the medial aspect of the right foot 10 months ago. Anteroposterior and oblique radiographs of the right foot suggestive of no skeletal pathology and patient was managed conservatively with analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and compression bandaging. A magnetic resource imaging of the right foot was advised after no relief of symptoms and was suggestive of high-grade tear of the distal tibialis posterior tendon from the level of medial malleolus to its insertion. Surgical repair of the TPT was planned with a suture anchor placed in the navicular bone. The procedure was carried out under spinal anesthesia and there were no complications in the intraoperative or post-operative period. Patient was given a below knee slab with the foot in inversion postoperatively which was revised into a below knee cast with foot in inversion. Six-week post-operative follow-up, cast was removed and physiotherapy was started for the patient that included Active Ankle ROM and Gait Training, patient had a Modified Olerud and Molander Score of 45/100. Six-month post-operative follow-up, patient was relieved of chronic pain and was able walk and stand on his toes without pain and showed significant improvement in gait with Modified Olerud and Molander Score 90/100. Conclusion: The TPT is the main dynamic stabilizer of the medial longitudinal arch of the foot. With appropriate surgical technique, adequate post-operative immobilization followed by physiotherapy surgical repair of the TPT helped alleviate the chronic pain experienced by the patient during weight bearing activities.
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INTRODUCTION: Gap non-union of tibia occurring mostly after trauma and many times complicated by infection, is a difficult problem to treat. The study aimed to assess the outcome of the three-ring construct of the Ilizarov fixator frame in the management of gap non-union of the tibia. METHODS: This retrospective study included 30 patients of gap non-union of tibia operated from April 2016 to March 2019 with a three-ring Ilizarov fixator frame and follow-up done till March 2021. The mean age was 39.27 (range 10-66) years. The results were assessed by the Association for the Study and Application of the Method of Ilizarov (ASAMI) criteria. MPTA, PPTA, and LDTA after removal of the frame were also measured. RESULTS: Out of the total 30 cases, all the patients showed complete union. The Ilizarov fixator was kept for an average period of 11.43 months and the mean defect size was 7.17 (range 2-12) cm. All patients were followed up for an average period of 39.36 (range 24-54) months. According to the ASAMI score bone/radiological results, 27 were classified as excellent, 2 as good, and 1 as poor. Functionally 28 were graded as excellent and the remainder as good. The normal ranges of MPTA, LDTA & PPTA were also achieved in a majority (80%) of patients. CONCLUSION: Our results after using only a three-ring Ilizarov fixator frame are almost equivalent to earlier studies and have advantages such as less weight, better patient compliance, superior radiographic visualization, easy mobilization, and reduced costs. Ilizarov ring fixator remains an excellent treatment modality for tibial non-union with a defect, regarding bone union, deformity correction, infection eradication, limb-length achievement, and limb function.