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A number of patients with problems of major joints increases every year. These patients need the replacement arthroplasty. The rate of thrombotic complications rises in given category of patients simultaneously with the increase of the number of performed operations. There weren’t well-defined instructions of management of the patients with associated chronic vein diseases at the preparation period for arthroplasty performance in spite of the presence of clinical recommendations for prevention of thromboembolic complications. The authors analyzed the experience of management of such patients and presented these data for doctors from polyclinic and hospitals in order to apply the common treatment strategy.

The paper describes a case of synovial lipoma arborescens (tree-forming lipoma) of the knee joint. This tumor is a variety of lipomas--a benign tumor composed of mature adipose tissue without signs of atypia. Most investigators regard lipoma as a reactive rather than neoplastic process. X-ray and histological studies should be performed for its differential diagnosis with pigmented villonodular synovitis, synovial chondromatosis, synovial hemangioma, xanthoma, a group of chronic synovitis in rheumatic diseases (rheumatoid arthritis, amyloid arthropathy, psoriatic arthritis). Its final diagnosis is possible only after morphological study.

The paper presents the results of examining 45 persons with sequels of shoulder joint injuries, by applying magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (100%) and arthroscopy (95.6%). The data of arthroscopy were compared with those of MRI; thereafter the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of MRI were calculated. The findings suggested that there was no statistically significant difference in the capacities of the two comparable techniques MRI and arthroscopy to diagnose labral tears with degenerative changes, synovitis, bursitis and tendinitis (McNemar's test; p > 0.05). The capacities of MRI are greater than those of arthroscopy only to detect the structural disintegrity of the joint shoulder.

The properties of the synovial fluid and the results of the electrophysical studies of the fluid by the thermoelectret method are briefly described. The interrelation between current peaks on the thermostimulated current spectra of thermostimulated currents of the synovial fluid and the liguid-crystalline state of its components was established. The results can be used for developing the methods of diagnostics of synovial joint diseases and design of artificial joints.

The paper presents the results of examination of 95 patients with shoulder joint abnormality to define the capacities of MR imaging in the evaluation of the anatomic structures of this joint. It details the MR anatomic features of the shoulder joint. Some conditions should be adhered to while performing MRI of the joint, namely: to obtain high-quality images by correctly choosing pulse sequences and scanning planes and to know the anatomic variants of the structure of the shoulder joint.

The paper deals with the visualizing study of the ankle joint and foot by MRI and with the problems in the interpretation of magnetic resonance images in health. For this, 50 healthy volunteers without diseases and lesions of the ankle joint and foot were examined. The study was performed by using flexible superficial coils and T1-, T2-, and proton-weighed pulse-sequences in the orthogonal projections. The articular surfaces and cavity of the ankle joint were evaluated. The specific features of visualization of the muscles and tendons of this area and the pattern of fluid under their membranes were explored. The typical location of the "magic corner" phenomenon was revealed. The individual specific features of identification of the ligaments of the ankle joint and foot and plantar aponeurosis were defined. The features of visualization of bones simulating abnormalities were studied. A category of normalcy in the MRI of the ankle joint and foot was formulated.

A complex clinical, X-ray, and magnetic resonance tomographic study of 327 joints was made in 114 patients with different forms of hemophilic arthropathy. The diagnostic potentialities of MRI were defined and the MRI symptoms of hemophilic arthropathy, including degeneration of the articular cartilage, meniscus, ligaments, proliferation of the synovial membrane, fibrosis, blood accumulation, and hemosiderosis were revealed. Comparative analysis of the X-ray and MRI imaging findings of the joints at different stages of hemophilic arthropathy has shown that MRI has advantages in diagnosing acute and chronic hemarthrosis, moderate hemophilic osteoarthrosis as it can reveal abnormal processes in the X-ray negative structures of joints.

Hygienic, clinical and roentgenologic studies covered locomotion apparatus in hot forging puncher blacksmiths who are exposed to several occupational hazards with vibration as the leading one. The studies covered work conditions and health state of risk group members-patients with some signs of vibration disease. Some up-to-date roentgenologic methods helped precise evaluation of occupational factors' role in bone manifestations of subclinical vibration disease.

Thorough study of work conditions and health state of stone masons proved physical overload to be a principal factor in charge of the occupational diseases. The physical overload is associated with prevalent manual tasks, frequent monotonous movements, lifting and manual carriage of heavy net weight during the working shift, uncomfortable working postures, unfavorable climate conditions. Nearly half (55.9%) of the examinees were diagnosed as having peripheral neurologic disorders and locomotion diseases--autonomous and sensory polyneuropathy, "frozen shoulder" syndrome, shoulder epicondylitis.

To determine the HLA-B27 gene subtypes associated with joint diseases we examined 55 patients (35 with ankylosing spondylarthritis (AS), 13 with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), 5 with Reiter's syndrome, 2 with psoriatic arthritis). DNA amplification combined with sequence specific oligonucleotide hybridization were used to identify six HLA-B27 gene alleles. In the AS patients group the frequency of HLA-B2705 variant was found to be different significantly from that in healthy West Siberia Caucasians and distribution of HLA-B27 gene allele variants among AS patients in East Russia differed from that in West regions of Russia. DNA typing data can be useful together with other criteria for diagnosis of AS in a early onset.

A criterial approach to the diagnosis of the skeletal system changes in individuals exposed to industrial vibration, involving the use of the X-ray diagnostic criteria (gerontologic, manual, vertebral) and the criterion based on the absorbed dose of vibration energy (exposure criterion) together with the data on the vibration disease manifestations (clinical criterion), makes it possible to estimate the risk of vibration disease.

Using the intentional procedures to reveal systemic semantic interrelations between different phenomena that form the causative-sequential chain in joint diseases of dysplasia genesis and assuming the pathology theory laws as a basis, applying the methodologies of different interdisciplinary sciences and the technology of cognitive simulation, the conceptual model "joint dysplasia--dysplasia arthrosis" was developed. This model depicts the characteristic features of joint dysplasia. The use of the model permitted one to base and describe a group of inherited (depressional) diseases of joints as an independent scientific orthopedo-arthrological problem. The application of the conceptual model confirmed its high cognitive and reforming role. Using this model on a knee joint new syndromes of dysplasia have been described; the system of roentgenometric diagnosis of dysplasia anomalies and new methods of surgical intervention have been elaborated; the foundation has been laid of prophylactic surgery aimed at the exclusion or at the minimizing of the risk of gonarthrosis in persons suffering from different inherited syndromes.

The hand joint is a multi-joint formation, including the wrist, carpal, intercarpal, carpometacarpal, intermetacarpal, distal radioulnar joints. Features of hand joint and periarticular tissue disease were studied in 536 workers exposed to local vibration and functional overstrain. The most prevalent diseases are arthroses with deformation of the wrist, radiocarpal, carpometacarpal joints, often with involvement of the triangular fibrous disk and carpals, periarthroses of the hand joint with compression neuropathy of the median and ulnar nerves.

Modern arthrology, the science of disease of and damages to the joints, is a multidisciplinary section of medicine (rheumatology, orthopedics, pediatrics, allergology, oncology, and so forth). About 4% of the population of the earth suffer from different diseases of the joints. It is noted that the prevalence of joint pathology is non-uniform in different countries and continents. In the XX century, orthopedic arthrology, surgical methods of treatment are developing fairly intensively. The following issues have become a matter of growing concern: the effect of ionizing radiation, including low doses, on the articular cartilage, the role played by stress, disruption of the ecological balance in the genesis of arthrological disease, connection between dysplasia of the joints and subsequent dystrophic processes in them (the sequence dysplasia-dysplastic arthrosis), disturbances of the load of the joints as a pathogenetic mechanism of dystrophic and necrotic processes. In arthrology, special attention should be paid to aseptic necrosis of the jointed bones and to protruding coxarthrosis. The topicality of joint endoprosthetics is stressed as is the necessity of the setting up of the arthrological centres where endoprosthetics and restorative surgery might be up to standard. Unfortunately, the manufacture of joint endoprostheses in this country lags behind the requirements. Lately the problem of infantile and juvenile arthritides has become very urgent, posing the problem of the development of arthrological techniques for diagnosis and surgical treatment of the joints. The Academy of Medical Sciences of the Russian Federation should strengthen its coordinating and integrating roles in further development of arthrology.

A study was made of the clinical picture, certain laboratory and immunological findings in pseudotuberculosis patients with involved joints in the presence of opisthorchiasis invasion. The patients suffering from pseudotuberculosis and chronic opisthorchiasis frequently demonstrated icteric sclera, erythema nodosum, skin itch, tenderness in the right hypochondrium, hepatomegaly, liquid stool, leukopenia, eosinophilia, hyperbilirubinemia, activation of aminotransferases. Later they showed the diagnostic titers of the indirect hemagglutination test, an increase in disease duration, delayed disappearance of the main clinical symptoms. As compared to patients suffering from arthritides without invasion, the patients with associated pseudotuberculous arthritides and opisthorchiasis demonstrated a higher activity of the inflammatory process in the joints, an increase of the duration and number of polyarthritis relapses, alterations in the immunological indicators (a stable reduction of the T lymphocyte and T helper count as well as a rise of the IgM level during late convalescence).

A total of 45 patients with beta-thalassemia and 30 patients with thalassemia intermedia underwent clinical and x-ray examinations. Electron microscopy was used to examine biopsy specimens of the synovial membrane from 6 patients with homozygous thalassemia intermedia. It has been revealed that damage to the osseous system and joints is of systemic nature and depends on the clinical form of the pathological process. Morphological methods have demonstrated abnormal metabolism of iron with its deposition in the tissues and impairment of the vessels of the microcirculatory bed.

The authors analyse the experience of ambulatory observations of 126 patients with functional disturbances of knee joint with application of arthroscopy, which was carried out with local anesthesia for diagnostic as well as for curative purposes. On the basis of the obtained results the authors make conclusion about high practical value of the given method, that finds expression in decrease of psychosomatic stress of a patient, reduction of social expenses for carrying out arthroscopy as well as in the possibility of immediate transition from diagnostic examination to surgical intervention.

The author analyzes the significance and diagnostic value of traditional methods of examination (evaluation of past history findings, personal examination, palpation). It is concluded that detailed examination of the patients and adequate interpretation of the obtained data enable to widen significantly the diagnostic possibilities of the practitioner at the prehospital period.

A clinico-x-ray study of the cranio-vertebral area permitted to define the most frequently encounted forms of degenerative-dystrophic processes in this region. Some in an increased load. Others (depending upon the localization and expressiveness of the process) create conditions for development of neurological disturbances accompained not only by a temporary loss of working capacity, but by long-term incapacity, even invalidity, the severity of which depends upon the expressiveness of neurological disorders.

On the basis of a clinical follow-up study of 384 patients with cyclothymia and schizophrenia with the picture of larvated depressions the author distinguishes 5 groups of somatovegetative sensations according to anatomo-physiological projections: cardiovascular (37%), neurological (32%), abdominal (23%), bone-muscular (5%), skin (3%). The traits of pathological sensations, imitating genuine somatoneurological pathology is discussed in a differential diagnostic aspect.