Pseudotumoural soft tissue lesions of the foot and ankle: a pictorial review

In the foot and ankle region, benign neoplasms and pseudotumoural soft tissue lesions are significantly more frequent than malignant tumours. The pseudotumoural lesions constitute a heterogeneous group, with highly varied aetiology and histopathology. This article reviews the imaging features of the most common pseudotumours of the soft tissues in the foot and ankle. Although the imaging characteristics of several of the lesions discussed are non-specific, combining them with lesion location and clinical features allows the radiologist to suggest a specific diagnosis in most cases

Preventing surgical-site infections: Measures other than antibiotics

AbstractSurgical-site infections (SSIs) due to intra-operative contamination are chiefly ascribable to airborne particles carrying microorganisms, mainly Staphylococcus aureus, which settle on the surgeon's hands and instruments. SSI prevention therefore rests on minimisation of airborne contaminated particle counts, although these have not been demonstrated to correlate significantly with SSI rates. Maintaining clear air in the operating room classically involves the use of ultra clean ventilation systems combining laminar airflow and high-efficiency particulate air filters to create a physical barrier around the surgical table; in addition to a stringent patient preparation protocol, appropriate equipment, and strict operating room discipline on the part of the surgeon and other staff members. SSI rates in clean surgery, although influenced by the type of procedure and by patient-related factors, are consistently very low, of about 1% to 2%. These low rates, together with the effectiveness of prophylactic antibiotic therapy and the multiplicity of parameters influencing the SSI risk, are major obstacles to the demonstration that a specific measure is effective in decreasing SSIs. As a result, controversy surrounds the usefulness of many measures, including laminar airflow, body exhaust suits, patient preparation techniques, and specific surgical instruments. Impeccable surgical technique and operating room behaviour, in contrast, are clearly essential