Search

Structural bone allografts have become an alternative in the treatment of limb bone tumours with a chance of limb-saving surgery. We present an observational retrospective study on the use of structural bone allografts in bone tumours of the long bones in our hospital between January 1993 and January 2010, with a sample of 37 patients subjected to this surgical technique. After obtaining clinical information from our sample we applied the Mankin and EVACOM HUVA functional scales with excellent, very good and good results in 84%, and with the radiological information we applied the International Symposium on Limb Salvage (ISOLS) osseointegration scale, with 95.6% of excellent results after 24 months. These results demonstrate that structural bone allografts are a valid and reproducible technique in patients with destructive long bone tumours.

Introduction Right hepatic artery (RHA) injury after laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) may go unnoticed clinically, but can sometimes cause necrosis of the right lobe. Exceptionally, when the necrosis spreads to segment IV, fulminant liver failure (FLF) may occur, and an urgent liver transplantation (LT) may be required. Patients and method We provide a review of the literature on patients with indication for an LT due to vascular damage caused by bile duct injury following LC. The case reported herein is the fourth described in the specialized literature of LT due to RHA injury after LC and the second of FLF after RHA injury. Results LT due to RHA injury was performed in 3 of 13 patients reported in the literature: one LT was performed at 3 months due to FLF, after an extended right hepatectomy was performed, and the remaining two were performed due to secondary biliary cirrhosis. Our patient was transplanted due to FLF 15 days after the injury. Conclusions RHA injury after LC may require LT due to FLF. Although exceptional, this possibility should be considered when there are RHA complications that may require occlusion.

Thrombosis of the portal-mesenteric axis is an infrequent cause of intestinal ischemia or infarction. In addition to the multiple acquired factors that contribute to the development of this entity, hereditary risk factors, especially the factor V Leiden mutation and the G20210A mutation of the prothrombin gene, have been implicated. The G20210A mutation of the prothrombin gene is found in up to 40% of patients with splenic-portal-mesenteric thrombosis. The present case illustrates the unusual and nonspecific presentation of this mutation in the form of diarrhea and images of thrombosis of the superior mesenteric-portal vein and cavernous transformation of the portal vein. Delayed diagnosis is highly frequent since the clinical signs, laboratory investigations and radiological tests do not suggest the diagnosis. The patient received anticoagulant treatment and showed clinical improvement with complete portal-mesenteric recanalization. Currently the diagnostic technique of choice is magnetic resonance angiography or computerized tomography angiography and treatment consists of indefinite anticoagulation. This case illustrates that an unusual or atypical localization of venous thrombosis may be a manifestation of thrombophilia, emphasizing the importance of genetic screening in these cases.