Spinal infection poses a demanding diagnostic and treatment problem for which a multidisciplinary approach with spine surgeons, radiologists, and infectious disease specialists is required. Infections are usually caused by bacterial microorganisms, although fungal infections can also occur. The most common route for spinal infection is through hematogenous spread of the microorganism from a distant infected area. Most patients with spinal infections diagnosed in early stages can be successfully managed conservatively with antibiotics, bed rest, and spinal braces. In cases of gross or pending instability, progressive neurological deficits, failure of conservative treatment, spinal abscess formation, severe symptoms indicating sepsis, and failure of previous conservative treatment, surgical treatment is required. In either case, close monitoring of the patients with spinal infection with serial neurological examinations and imaging studies is necessary.

Background/objective: Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip (DDH) is the most common congenital musculoskeletal disease of the infantile age. The gold standard for early diagnosis of the disease is the Graf ultrasound method. In our study, we examined the correlation between age of the examined infant and diagnostic errors due to the ultrasound probe tilt effect during examination. Methods: Forty-two newborns who underwent ultrasound examination with the Graf method, were included. We categorized the neonates into three age groups (Group#1: 0–1 weeks, Group#2: 3–4 weeks, Group#3: 5–6weeks). Two ultrasound examinations were performed in every group. In the first examination, images were obtained with the probe in vertical position. In the second examination, images were taken with a 10° caudocranial tilt of the probe. Our aim was to measure the α angle in both examination and to mention the possible Type changes according to the Graf classification. The α angle defines the osseous coverage of the femoral head from the acetabulum in the neonatal hip joint. Results: In many cases, the classification changed from type I to type IIa or D and from type IIa to D, when instead of the vertical acquisition, the ultrasound probe was placed in a 10° caudocranial tilt at the hip joint of the examined infant. At Group#1 of the study we observed 60 Graf classification Type changes (90.91%), while in Group#2 and Group#3 we had 18 (33.33%) and 3 (7.96%) Type changes respectively. Conclusion: As the age of the examined newborns increases, measurement and classification errors due to the tilt effect are significantly reduced. Clinically, the examination will be even more accurate and the use of an incorrect therapeutic approach due to incorrect classification will be avoided. Finally, the optimal time for conducting an ultrasonographic examination is between the 5th and 6th week of life.

Water polo is a competitive team sport played in the water between two teams of seven players each. Water polo players must have swimming speed, strong abdominal and back muscles, and strong shoulder muscles to cope with this sport's special conditions. In this study, we investigate the possible association of shoulder and trunk muscle systems in adolescent water polo athletes of high demands. The research included 42 water polo players aged 14-16, who train regularly for at least five years, six times a week, and participate in national championships and national teams. The athletes were evaluated on the strength and torque of these muscular systems using the isokinetic dynamometer Biodex System 4 Pro (Biodex Medical Systems, Inc, Shirley, NY). The correlation of the results was done using the statistical package SPSS 21. The correlations revealed statistically significant differences in trunk extension in combination with the shoulder external/internal rotation ratio. Also, most of the correlations occurred between the trunk and non-dominant limb of the athletes and, more often, in the female athletes. Furthermore, for the hand grip, the male athletes showed a greater difference in strength between the dominant and the non-dominant member than female athletes. Finally, the evaluation of the trunk extension/flexion ratio and external/internal rotation ratio for the shoulder joint showed that many athletes are outside the normal range and need targeted strengthening. The negative correlation coefficient between trunk extension/flexion and shoulder external/internal rotation indicates that the trunk extension mechanism helps for better internal rotation of the shoulder. Therefore, water polo players should focus on the training of the stretching mechanism of the trunk and also give weight to achieving a balance between the competing muscular systems of the trunk and the shoulder. Thus, athletes can maximize their skills and, at the same time, protect themselves from injuries.