Phalangeal bone anomalies in the European common toad Bufo bufo from polluted environments

Every spring, many of amphibians are killed by motor vehicles on roads. These road-killed animals can be used as valuable material for non-invasive studies showing the effect of environmental pollution on amphibian populations. The aims of our research were to check whether the phalanges of road-killed toads may be useful as material for histological analysis, and whether various degrees of human impact influence the level in bone abnormalities in the common toad. We also examined whether the sex and age structure of toads can differ significantly depending in the different sites. We chose three toad breeding sites where road-killed individuals had been observed: near the centre of a city, the outskirts of a city, and a rural site. We collected dead individuals during spring migration in 2013. The sex of each individual was determined and the toes were used to determine age using the skeletochronology method. While performing age estimates, we looked for abnormalities in relation to normal bone tissue structure. In urban site, females dominate males (sex ratio 2.6:1), but in populations from rural and semi-urban sites, sex ratio was reverse (1:2.2 and 1:1.4, respectively). However, we did not find any significant differences between age structure of all populations (average age of each population: approximately 4 years). We observed abnormalities in more than 80 % of all toads from the city, compared to approximately 20 % from the rural and semi-urban sites. In particular, we found hypertrophic bone cells, misaligned intercellular substance, and irregular outer edges of bones. We suggest that these malformations are caused by different pollution, e.g. with heavy metals.

Apert Syndrome

Apert syndrome is one of the craniosynostosis syndromes which, due to its association with other skeletal anomalies, is also known as acrocephalosyndactyly. It is a rare congenital anomaly which stands out from other craniosynostosis due to its characteristic skeletal presentations.

[Elongation with callotaxis for congenital brachymetatarsia]

OBJECTIVE

To present 10 cases of congenital brachymetatarsia treated with elongation by means of callotaxis with external minifixators.

INTRODUCTION

Brachymetatarsia of one or more of the matatarsals involving one or both extremities is a congenital condition, more frequent in the right foot, with the 4th metatarsal most commonly affected.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

From May 2007 to September 2008, 7 patients with congenital brachymetatarsia, ages 8 to 15 years, were operated on. Two metatarsals were involved in 3 of them and thus the series included 10 procedures. All of them underwent lengthening through callotaxis with a monoaxial external mini-fixator.

RESULTS

Mean lengthening was 21.1 mm, with a range of 17 to 25 mm. The complications included two cases of lengthening regression of 5 mm each. Delayed healing was reported in one of these two cases, and healing occurred spontaneously at 6 months. Nine metatarsals healed without any problems; no infections or material intolerance occurred.

CONCLUSION

Lengthening of metatarsals through callotaxis with external mini-fixators is an appropriate procedure for pediatric and adolescent patients with congenital brachymetatarsia.

[Clinical course of the quintus varus supraductus osteotomy in postoperative patients subjected to the LP-INR surgical approach]

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the clinical course of patients subjected to the osteotomy designed at the National Rehabilitation Institute (LP-INR) with a memory staple to treat the congenital quintus varus supraductus deformity, from December 2002 to August 2009. Moreover, to show that the LP-INR osteotomy decreases weight bearing under the 5th metatarsal head, descends the phalanx, spares the metatarsophalangeal joint, and prevents relapses and pain.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The study was conducted from December 2002 to August 2009 and included 51 patients with quintus varus supra-ductus deformity and 78 feet; 33 patients were males (64.7%) and 18 were females (35.2%), the Maryland clinical scale was applied at postoperative month six. The AOFAS scale was applied in the preoperative and postoperative periods to assess pain, gait and alignment.

RESULTS

The Maryland scale showed excellent results in 42 patients (84.3%), good results in 3 patients (5.8%), fair in 3 patients (5.8%) with a score of 75 to 50, and poor in 3 patients (5.8%). The AOFAS scale score for the forefoot was 55 + 8 preoperatively and 90 + 5 postoperatively. The Student t test was statistically significant in the preoperative and postoperative periods < 0.05.

DISCUSSION

The LP-INR osteotomy for the treatment of the congenital quintus varus supraductus deformity provides appropriate alignment of the 5th toe with decreased load on the 5th metatarsal head and avoids broad resections that result in both cosmetic and functional alterations.

Congenital localized limb hypertrophy: macrodystrophia lipomatosa

Congenital localized gigantism in children is rare and may be caused by a gamut of disorders. Family history, cutaneous and systemic manifestations and imaging together with histopathology assist in reaching the diagnosis. Macrodystrophia lipomatosa is one such rare non-hereditary congenital developmental anomaly causing localized overgrowth of a digit(s) or limb. Herein we report an interesting case of macrodystrophia lipomatosa in a child.

[Congenital malformation of the front limbs in a llama (Lama glama): polydactyly in combination with arthrogryposis]

A male, 10 month old llama with malformation of both front limbs was presented. Both front limbs had one more digit located medially. The distal phalanx of this additional digit at the left front limb reached the ground by the tip of the keratinzed pad and the toenail. The accessory digit at the right front limb was bent in a 90 degree angle caudolateraly. Beside the digital bones of the accessory digits the second metacarpal bone and the first carpal bone could be detected in both front limbs by radiological examination. Secondary a bilateral slight carpal valgus deformity could be seen.

Daughter and her mildly affected father with Keipert syndrome

A 10-year-old girl with characteristic features of Keipert syndrome (broad terminal phalanges, especially of the thumb and hallux, sensorineural deafness, unusual facial features, large head circumference, maxillary hypoplasia, hoarse voice) and her mildly affected father (broad terminal phalanges, especially of the thumb and hallux, large head circumference, maxillary hypoplasia, and hoarse voice) are presented. The girl is the first reported female with this rare syndrome to date, and the fact that she probably inherited the disease from her father suggests an autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance.

Bilateral hands and feet postaxial polydactyly presenting with renal vascular anomalies

The current Observation reports polydactyly of both the hands and feet in a 36 years old male cadaver that presented also with supernumerary renal vessels. The right kidney received the upper and lower supernumerary renal arteries from the abdominal aorta and was drained by the two renal veins. The anterior and posterior supernumerary renal veins opened separately into the inferior vena cava. Observations on the limbs revealed the presence of six digits in the four limbs. In the hands the extra digit contained two phalanges and rudimentary metacarpals that were pear-shaped. The pointed ends of the metacarpals articulated with the soft tissue at the lateral side of the fifth digit and the base articulated with the proximal phalanx. In the feet the proximal phalanges in the extra digits articulated with the anomalous metatarsals. The left foot presented with bifurcated fifth metatarsal and the most lateral part articulated with the extra digit. In the left foot the extra toes was pointing upward away from the plantar surface. Close observations revealed an oblique shaped cavity on the lateral surface of the fifth metatarsal. The cavity was situated about 1cm from the distal end of the fifth metatarsal. It contained short ligaments and its upper part articulated with the head of the proximal phalanx. The current observations has documented for the first time the occurrence of renal vascular anomalies with polydactyly of both hands and feet.