Acromioclavicular (AC) joint injury is a frequent diagnosis after an acute shoulder trauma – often found among athletes and people involved in contact sports. This injury occurs five times more frequently in men than in women, with the highest incidence in the 20- to 30-year-old age group. Patients usually complain of pain and tenderness over the shoulder, particularly over the AC joint. Depending on the degree of injury, the clavicle may become prominent on the injured site. The original classification was described by Rockwood and Green according to the injured ligament complex and degree and direction of clavicular displacement. Many surgical procedures have been described; among these are screws, plates, muscle transfer, ligamentoplasty procedures and ligament reconstruction using either autograft or allografts. With the advancement of shoulder arthroscopy, surgeons are much more capable of performing mini-open or arthroscopically-assisted procedures, allowing patients an earlier return to their daily living activities. However, the results of conventional open techniques are still comparable. The introduction of new arthroscopic equipment provides a great variety of surgical procedures, though every new technique has its own advantages and pitfalls. Currently there is no gold standard for the surgical treatment of any type of AC injury, though it should be remembered that whenever an arthroscopic technique is chosen, the surgeon’s expertise is likely to be the most significant factor affecting outcome. Cite this article: EFORT Open Rev 2018;3:426-433. DOI: 10.1302/2058-5241.3.170027

Functional and radiographic outcomes, in addition to complication and reoperation rates of open curettage and grafting without instrumentation or with intramedullary nailing, in the treatment of simple bone cysts (SBCs) of the humerus were compared. Thirty-seven children [25 males, 12 females; median age=9.5 years (range, 3–17 years)] with humeral SBC were treated with curettage and grafting without instrumentation (group 1, 21 patients) or with intramedullary nailing (group 2, 16 patients). The pathological fracture rate was 85.7% in group 1 and 87.5 in group 2. The follow-up duration ranged from 26 to 85 months. The average last follow-up Musculoskeletal Tumor Society functional scores for groups 1 and 2 were 28.9 and 29.5 (P>0.05). Higher, but statistically insignificant (P>0.05), complete or significant partial radiographic healing rates were achieved in group 2 (100%) compared with group 1 (76.2%). The overall complication rate of the entire study population was 21.6% (19%; 4/21 in group 1; 25%; 4/16 in group 2). The reoperation rates for groups 1 and 2 were 9.5% (2/21; one for partial cyst healing, one for recurrence) and 56.25% (9/16; one for surgical complication, eight for implant removal). Surgical intervention is indicated for selected patients with SBCs. Even though perfect functional results were possible with open curettage and grafting, continuous intramedullary decompression with elastic nails led to a higher radiographic healing rate in the treatment of humeral SBCs. Open curettage and grafting with or without intramedullary nailing was associated with a high number of complications, but the rate of reoperation for complications was very low.

Dysosteosclerosis (DOS) is a form of sclerosing bone disease characterized by irregular osteosclerosis and platyspondyly. Its mode of inheritance is autosomal recessive. SLC29A3 mutations have been reported as the causal gene in two DOS families, however, genetic heterogeneity has been suggested. By whole-exome sequencing in a Turkish patient with DOS, we found a novel splice-site mutation in TNFRSF11A. TNFRSF11A mutations have previously been reported in two autosomal dominant diseases (osteolysis, familial expansile and Paget disease of bone 2, early-onset) and an autosomal recessive disease (osteopetrosis, autosomal recessive 7). The biallelic mutation, c.616+3A>G, identified in our study was located in the splice donor site of intron 6 of TNFRSF11A. Exon trapping assay indicated the mutation caused skipping of exon 6, which was predicted to induce a frame-shift and an early termination codon in all known alternative transcript variants of TNFRSF11A. The predicted effect of the mutation for the isoforms was different from those of the previously reported mutations, which could explain the difference of their phenotypes. Thus, our study identified the second disease gene for DOS. TNFRSF11A isoforms may have the different roles in skeletal development and metabolism.

The aim of this study was to evaluate functional and radiological results, tumor control, and complications of the surgical treatment of aneurysmal bone cysts (ABCs) in children by extended curettage using a mechanical burr and cauterization, grafting, and internal fixation in specific locations. Sixty-four children [38 males, 26 females, median age=10 years (range, 5–18 years)] with active or aggressive ABCs of long and flat bones were subjected to a median follow-up of 66 months (range, 28–130 months) following surgical treatment. The pathological fracture rate was 72%. Surgical procedures included intralesional extended curettage (92%) or en-bloc resection (8%). Internal fixation was required in 53%. The pathological fractures healed successfully in 8–12 weeks. The median Musculoskeletal Tumor Society (MSTS) score at the last follow-up was 95% (range, 55–100%). Treatment failure (partial healing/recurrence) and complication rates following extended curettage were 7 and 5.2%, respectively. Statistically, the only parameter affecting partial healing and local recurrence was proximity of the lesion to the growth plate (P=0.011). Extended curettage using a mechanical burr and cauterization, grafting, and internal fixation in specific locations can promote healing in most cases of ABC, with low recurrence and complication rates.