Outcomes and complications of fibular head resection

Peroneal Nerve Decompression in Patients with Multiple Hereditary Exostoses: Indications, Complications, and Recurrence

BACKGROUND

To our knowledge, there have been no studies examining peroneal nerve decompression and proximal fibular osteochondroma excision exclusively in patients with multiple hereditary exostoses (MHE). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the indications, complications, and recurrence associated with nerve decompression and proximal fibular osteochondroma excision in patients with MHE.

METHODS

The records on patients with MHE undergoing peroneal nerve decompression from 2009 to 2023 were retrospectively reviewed. Indications, clinical status, surgical technique, recurrence, and complications were recorded and were analyzed using the Fisher exact test, logistic regression, and the Kaplan-Meier method.

RESULTS

There were 126 limbs identified in patients with MHE who underwent peroneal nerve decompression. The most common indications were pain over the proximal fibula, tibialis anterior and/or extensor hallucis longus weakness, and dysesthesias and/or neuropathic pain. Seven cases experienced postoperative foot drop as a complication of the decompression and osteochondroma excision. Logistic regression found significant relationships between complications and excision of anterior osteochondromas (odds ratio [OR], 5.21; p = 0.0062), proximal fibular excision (OR, 14.73; p = 0.0051), and previous decompression (OR, 5.77; p = 0.0124). The recurrence rate was 13.8%, and all recurrences occurred in patients who were skeletally immature at the index procedure. The probability of skeletally immature patients not experiencing recurrence was 88% at 3 years postoperatively and 73% at 6 years postoperatively.

CONCLUSIONS

Indications for peroneal nerve decompression included neurologic symptoms and pain. The odds of a complication increased with excision of anterior osteochondromas and previous decompression. Recurrence of symptoms following decompression and osteochondroma excision was found exclusively in skeletally immature patients.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Therapeutic Level III . See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Extended Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Delayed Primary Resection of Ewing Sarcoma During the COVID-19 Era: A Case Report

CASE

A 13-year-old adolescent boy visited our hospital with a growing mass on his left leg. Investigations and examinations were performed to obtain a final diagnosis of Ewing sarcoma in the head of the left fibula with lung metastasis. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy was extended to 11 courses with radiation before wide tumor resection could be performed. The final 3 adjuvant chemotherapy courses were administered to complete the original protocol while surgical resection complications were also treated. The pathological report revealed free margin resection with nonviable tumor cells.

CONCLUSION

An extended neoadjuvant chemotherapy regimen with additional radiation therapy for Ewing sarcoma provided extra local control and allowed limb salvage.

Management and outcomes of proximal tibiofibular joint ganglion cysts: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

Proximal tibiofibular joint (PTFJ) ganglion cysts are rare; however, their optimal management remains unclear. This study aimed to systematically review the surgical treatment options with a focus on recurrence rates and complications.

METHODS

A systematic review of the literature was performed, searching three electronic databases, according to the PRISMA guidelines. The presentation, treatment, and outcomes of PTFJ ganglion cysts of minimum 1-year follow-up was collected. Study quality was assessed using the Modified Downs and Blacks checklist. Surgical interventions were considered ordinally from simple to more extensive as follows; cyst aspiration, cyst excision, cyst excision with an intervention to the PTFJ, either a hemi-resection or arthrodesis.

RESULTS

Twenty-two studies comprising 100 patients (101 knees) met inclusion criteria. Among all patients, pain was present in 59.7%, a lateral fullness in 71.6% and symptoms of the common peroneal nerve in 57.4%. The overall rate of recurrence after primary treatment was 28.9%. Recurrence rates for aspiration, cyst excision, PTFJ hemi-resection and PTFJ arthrodesis were 81.8%, 27.4%, 8.3% and 0%, respectively. Revision excision for recurrence failed in all cases. Outcomes beyond recurrence were poorly reported.

CONCLUSION

Addressing the PTFJ at the time of cyst excision reduces recurrence rates, however, the morbidity from PTFJ hemi-resection and arthrodesis are poorly reported. Whilst primary excision offers resolution in most cases (73%), revision cyst excision in isolation for the treatment of recurrent cysts is an inadequate treatment option. Cyst aspiration is ineffective. Data pertaining to patient reported outcomes for all treatment types are lacking.

Progressive Ankle Subluxation Following Panfibular Osteomyelitis Requiring Fibular Resection

A 10-month-old boy presented with fever, a swollen left leg, and septicemic shock. He was diagnosed with panfibular osteomyelitis. Failure of combined medical and surgical treatment to achieve source control necessitated fibular resection. He subsequently developed a progressive superolateral subluxation of his left ankle, valgus deformity, and brace intolerance. Tibiotalar arthrodesis resulted in a stable plantigrade ankle, excellent weight-bearing ability, and a minor leg-length discrepancy at the 14-month postoperative follow-up.

Surgical Management of Benign Tumors of the Proximal Fibula

Benign tumors of the proximal fibula are clinically notable, often resulting in pain, cosmetic defects, and potential neurovascular compromise. These symptomatic lesions warrant surgical consultation, but specific procedure selection remains a topic of ongoing discussion. The fibula is widely considered an expendable bone, which permits a greater variety of surgical options relative to other skeletal locations. As a result, some authors suggested en bloc resections without reconstruction as a viable first-line option to decrease tumor recurrence risk. However, wide resections may still result in diminished postoperative functionality compared with the standard intralesional and marginal approaches. Thus, surgical management remains a multifactorial decision, and often orthopaedic surgeons rely on past clinical experience or surgical preference within this unique tumor location. This detailed review will summarize the published literature and discuss the outcomes and indications of various surgical approaches for benign tumors of the proximal fibula. Emphasis will be placed on balancing tumor recurrence risk and postoperative functionality within the context of histologic diagnoses and surgical approaches.

Vascularized fibula flap in the management of segmental bone loss following osteomyelitis in children at a Ugandan hospital

Background: Hematogenous osteomyelitis is commonly observed in the pediatric population across sub-Saharan Africa. This retrospective case series was designed to evaluate the complications and outcomes of treatment using a vascularized fibula flap (VFF) to fill segmental bone defects secondary to osteomyelitis in children in a low-resource setting in CoRSU Rehabilitation Hospital, Uganda. Methods: Clinical notes and radiographs of children with a diagnosis of osteomyelitis that subsequently underwent a VFF procedure between October 2013 and December 2017 were reviewed. All patients were clinically and radiographically evaluated in 2019. Results: Forty-four children, with an average bone defect of 10.5 cm, were included. Eighty-four percent of children had successful VFF limb reconstruction. Integration of the graft was radiologically sound in 20.8 weeks on average. The postoperative phase was uneventful in 29 % of patients. Complications were observed in the remaining patients, including flap failure (6), donor leg neurapraxia (3), cutaneous paddle necrosis (11), graft fracture (2), skin graft loss (6), fixator failure (1) and non-union (2). Functional outcomes were rated as excellent in 13 patients, good in 14, fair in 9 and poor in 8. There was no recurrence of the bone infection in any of the enrolled children. Conclusion: Despite being a complex and demanding procedure, VFF is a good option for reconstructing post-osteomyelitis bone defects, particularly when associated with loss of soft tissue envelope. Considering the more than satisfactory functional and clinical outcomes, this procedure should be kept in mind for these complex pediatric cases of bone and soft tissue loss, even in a low-resource setting.

A Devasting Course of an Iliopsoas Muscle Abscess Subsequently Leading to Septic Shock, Septic Hip Arthritis, and Extended Gluteal Soft Tissue Necroses in an Elderly Immunocompromised Patient with Multiple Carcinomas: A Case Report and Brief Review of Literature

BACKGROUND

A devasting course of Iliopsoas Muscle (IPM) abscess remains a challenging therapeutic problem.

METHODS

A 69-year-old polymorbid male had a history of multiple carcinomas and presented with advanced stage of septic shock due to a right IPM abscess which communicated with the right hip joint and subsequently led to septic hip arthritis accompanied with post-infectious right gluteal deep soft tissue necroses. Management of surgical treatment included abscess revision, coverage with the use of Long Head Biceps Femoris Muscle (LHBFM) 180° turnover flap, and creating a Girdlestone resection-arthroplasty.

RESULTS

After a duration of patient's hospitalization of six months that included the necessity of artificial respiration over two months accompanied with in summary 18 required surgical procedures, the patient could be recovered successfully regarding his polymorbidity and his low-demand claims in activities of daily living with his Girdlestone resection-arthroplasty.

CONCLUSION

Recovery of immunocompromised patients with those life-threatening situations can only be achieved by an interdisciplinary management. The LHBFM 180° turnover flap can be useful for filling off post-infectious deep soft tissue cavities communicating with the hip joint. The definitive Girdlestone resection-arthroplasty for treatment of septic hip arthritis is the method of choice for mobilization of elderly polymorbid patients with low demand claims in their activities of daily living.

Fibulectomy for Primary Proximal Fibular Bone Tumors: A Functional and Clinical Outcome in 46 Patients

BACKGROUND

Primary benign and malignant tumors of the proximal fibula are not very common. Upper fibula being an expendable bone; the majority of the primary bone tumors at this site are usually treated with en bloc proximal fibulectomy. There is scarce literature on functional results, difficulties faced during dissection when to preserve or sacrifice common peroneal nerve and importance of lateral collateral ligament repair after proximal fibulectomy. The present study attempts at assessing these variables.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This retrospective study included 46 patients; 30 males and 16 females with age ranging from 12 to 44 years (average: 26 years) operated between 2003 and 2014. There were 34 benign and 12 malignant tumors. All were treated with proximal en bloc fibulectomy as indicated and decided by the operating surgeon keeping in view its extent on magnetic resonance imaging. Peroneal nerve sacrifice or preservation was decided as per the type (benign/malignant), its involvement by the tumor and the extent of the tumor. In 14 (for 12 malignant and two benign giant cell tumors [GCTs]) patients, the peroneal nerve required resection for the margins. Partial upper tibial resection was performed in cases of malignant tumors and three GCTs. The followup ranged between 24 and 120 months (median: 48 months).

RESULTS

Patients with peroneal nerve resection had inferior functional outcome than those without peroneal nerve resection. There was no higher risk of tibia fracture in patients with partial tibial resection. Lateral collateral reconstruction yielded better results and should be performed in all cases. Functional outcome was significantly better in patients with benign tumors than in patients with malignant tumors as these required neither resection of the peroneal nerve nor large amount of muscle excision. The functional results were evaluated using Musculoskeletal Tumor Society (MSTS) score, and clinical outcomes were evaluated using knee and ankle movements and stability. The overall average MSTS score was 26.50.

CONCLUSIONS

With good reconstruction of lateral ligament we can achieve good results after proximal fibulectomy for benign as well as malignant tumor without much instability. With partial upper tibial resection (i.e., the extra-articular resection of proximal tibiofibular joint) adequate margins are feasible even in malignant tumors.