Case Reports in Orthopedics

We report on a 77-year-old male patient, who presented with excessive bone loss at the area of the greater trochanter after several hip revision surgeries resulting in a persistent friction syndrome caused directly by the rough surface and sharp edges of the prosthetic shoulder of a well-fixed Wagner-type revision stem. Surgery was performed by creating a cemented neotrochanter with an attached polyester patch around the proximal lateral shaft and performing a Z-plasty of the iliotibial tract. Twelve months postoperatively, the patient reported a reduction in subjective pain of 50% and improvement of the Harris Hip Score from 45 to 75 points. Without a definition in the current literature, the authors propose the term “lateral hip prosthetic friction syndrome” (LHPFS) to describe this medical condition.

Introduction. Rice bodies (RBs) are pale and glossy appearing small fibrinous nodules that form due to synovial or tenosynovial joint inflammation. RBs are significant as they are common in orthopedic practices causing nonspecific symptoms such as pain, swelling, range of motion limitations, crepitus, and catching sensations. These loose bodies occur often within the bursa as a symptom of chronic bursitis and are commonly associated with rheumatoid, inflammatory, or tuberculous arthritis. Reports on RBs are present; however, few bilateral cases within the shoulder appear in the literature. Case Presentation. This case demonstrates an unusual bilateral, subacromial-subdeltoid presentation of rice bodies (RBs) in a 41-year-old Caucasian female patient with a history of rheumatoid arthritis. We describe treatment with right shoulder arthroscopy to remove the loose bodies. One-year postoperative patient-reported outcomes (PROMs) show improvement in symptoms, pain, and overall function. Conclusion. Formation of RBs occurs as a symptom of an inflammatory response in synovial joints. This provokes multiple small fibrin aggregates to collect within synovial bursae and occasionally tendon sheaths. RBs are rarely seen bilaterally. Arthroscopic removal of RBs is an appropriate treatment method for symptom improvement.

A leiomyoma is a benign smooth muscle tumor that is most commonly found in the uterus. Limited studies have reported leiomyoma of the foot, rendering it an usual finding. We present a case of a 57-year-old female patient who presented to the clinic for a painless mass on the posteromedial side of the right heel. It was diagnosed by the radiologist on MRI as a probable schwannoma. The patient underwent surgical excision of this mass which turned out to be a leiomyoma on pathology report. Although foot leiomyoma is a rare finding, leiomyoma should be listed in the differential diagnosis when evaluating foot soft tissue masses. It is difficult to confirm the diagnosis clinically and radiographically, yet a histologic evaluation can affirm the diagnosis. Surgical excision is the treatment of choice offering immediate symptomatic relief.

Metallosis is a known complication of arthroplasty and has been reported for the hip, knee, and shoulder joints. Metallosis pseudotumors have been linked to an increased risk of implant failure. We report a case of pseudotumor with massive bone loss following total wrist arthroplasty (TWA) using the Maestro implant. Revision to arthrodesis is possible, but issues with bone loss have to be addressed. We recommend caution in offering TWA to young patients with high functional demands.

Spinal accessory nerve palsy (SANP) is rare and is commonly presented following iatrogenic injury. Their diagnosis is often missed on initial presentation. Injury following blunt trauma is rare, with few cases reported in literature describing blunt-associated SANP and their treatment and recovery. We present and discuss a case of SANP following an aggressive soft tissue adjustment by an uncertified individual that has been responsive to nonsurgical measures over 18 months. We also reviewed the related literature on similar cases that were presented as result of direct pressure on the nerve from soft tissue manipulation or heavy lifting and their outcome following treatment. Chiropractic is generally a safe complimentary medicine and must only be practiced by trained personnel. We found that blunt-caused SANP injuries should initially be treated conservatively as they are likely to respond and recover unlike when presented following invasive trauma accordingly to what we found in literature.

Bite injuries frequently occur on human hands. Human bite injuries to the hand may lead to an infection because of limited soft tissue protection and wound contamination. However, no studies have reported severe bite injuries on hands treated by flaps. We report a case of an 80-year-old woman diagnosed with a major neurocognitive disorder. The patient accidentally had a self-bite injury accompanied with an open metacarpal fracture. Debridement and fixation of the first metacarpal fracture were performed. Afterward, skin necrosis occurred gradually on the dorsum of the hand. Therefore, a reverse posterior interosseous artery (PIA) flap was used, and the postoperative course was uneventful. Given the high risk of infection, human bite injuries, particularly hand bites, should be treated immediately. Delayed treatment for such injuries may lead to extensive soft tissue defects requiring reconstruction with flaps.