Myositis ossificans in a child athlete: a case study

Background

A 13-year-old female athlete presented with a painful lesion in her right buttock for which she had been receiving physiotherapy. It was keeping her from participating in sports.

Aim

To report on a case of traumatic myositis ossificans in a child athlete - including the presentation, investigations, management, and outcome.

Findings

Palpation of the right buttock indicated a tender mass. Investigation by musculoskeletal ultrasound detected a large hypoechoic lesion. An MRI revealed patterns of calcification that were inconclusive in differentiating between a malignant or benign lesion. Macroscopic and microscopic histological examination, as well as immunohistochemistry, were consistent with myositis ossificans (MO), a non-malignant condition. The patient improved remarkably within three months of treatment with rest, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT).

Implications

Accurate differentiation of myositis ossificans from other benign and malignant soft tissue lesions may require histological evaluation in addition to a comprehensive radiological workup. Successful treatment with the patient being able to return to a pain-free and active state is achievable. Extracorporeal shock-wave therapy can play an important role in the management of this condition and should be considered when presented with a case of MO.

Review article: acute severe ulcerative colitis - evidence-based consensus statements

BACKGROUND

Acute severe ulcerative colitis (ASUC) is a potentially life-threatening complication of ulcerative colitis.

AIM

To develop consensus statements based on a systematic review of the literature of the management of ASUC to improve patient outcome.

METHODS

Following a literature review, the Delphi method was used to develop the consensus statements. A steering committee, based in Australia, generated the statements of interest. Three rounds of anonymous voting were carried out to achieve the final results. Acceptance of statements was pre-determined by ≥80% votes in 'complete agreement' or 'agreement with minor reservation'.

RESULTS

Key recommendations include that patients with ASUC should be: hospitalised, undergo unprepared flexible sigmoidoscopy to assess severity and to exclude cytomegalovirus colitis, and be provided with venous thromboembolism prophylaxis and intravenous hydrocortisone 100 mg three or four times daily with close monitoring by a multidisciplinary team. Rescue therapy such as infliximab or ciclosporin should be started if insufficient response by day 3, and colectomy considered if no response to 7 days of rescue therapy or earlier if deterioration. With such an approach, it is expected that colectomy rate during admission will be below 30% and mortality less than 1% in specialist centres.

CONCLUSION

These evidenced-based consensus statements on acute severe ulcerative colitis, developed by a multidisciplinary group, provide up-to-date best practice recommendations that improve and harmonise management as well as provide auditable quality assessments.