BACKGROUND: Glenoid loosening and postoperative instability are common causes of failed reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA). When soft-tissue problems or large glenoid bone defect interferes with reimplantation in revision RTSA, conversion to hemiarthroplasty can be considered. We present a case series of patients who underwent conversion to hemiarthroplasty due to glenoid loosening and early instability after RTSAs, along with clinical results. METHODS: A total of 72 primary RTSAs using the Aequalis prosthesis were performed at our institution from May 2009 to December 2016. Of these, five patients, including one with humeral neck fracture and absent rotator cuff and four with cuff tear arthropathy, underwent conversion to hemiarthroplasty. Another patient who had RTSA at a local clinic underwent hemiarthroplasty at our institution for unresolved postoperative anterior dislocation. The mean age of the six patients was 71.7 years (range, 62 to 76 years), and the mean follow-up period was 24.4 months (range, 18 to 30 months). Clinical assessments were conducted by using the visual analog scale (VAS), American Shoulder and Elbow Surgery (ASES) score, and University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) shoulder score at the last follow-up. RESULTS: The conversion to hemiarthroplasty in the six patients dramatically improved the mean VAS score (preoperative, 8.1; postoperative, 2.5), ASES score (preoperative, 22.1; postoperative, 56.5), and UCLA score (preoperative, 12; postoperative, 18.1). However, the range of motion was almost unchanged after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Conversion to hemiarthroplasty can be a good alternative to revision RTSA in patients with serious complications (such as unresolved instability and glenoid loosening) difficult to treat with revision RTSA.
Arthroplasty ; California ; Dislocations ; Elbow ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemiarthroplasty ; Humans ; Neck ; Prostheses and Implants ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Replantation ; Rotator Cuff ; Shoulder ; Tears ; Visual Analog Scale

BACKGROUND: We investigated whether the patellar tilt angle influences the maximum knee flexion after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) performed by using a posterior cruciate ligament-substituting (PS) fixed-bearing prosthesis in patients with relatively loose or tight flexion gap. METHODS: In this prospective cohort study, we followed up 169 patients for at least 2 years after TKA using PS fixed-bearing prosthesis. The patients were divided into two groups according to the flexion gap value—calculated by subtracting the thickness of the final bearing from the flexion gap measured intraoperatively under 200-cN·m force after patellar reduction and insertion of the final femoral and tibial components—into a relatively tight group (group T; 3–6.5 mm) and a relatively loose group (group L; 7–11 mm). Patellar tilt angles and maximum non–weight-bearing active knee flexion angles were assessed postoperatively. Group T was further divided into subgroup Tn if the patellar tilt angle was < 5° and subgroup Tw if the angle was ≥ 5°. Pearson correlation test was used for the correlation analysis of the flexion gap, patellar tilt angle, and postoperative flexion range. RESULTS: The mean postoperative flexion was 137.3° in group T and 137.5° in group L. The mean patellar tilt angle was 6.5° in group T and 6.9° in group L. In group T, a strong negative correlation (r = −0.78, p < 0.05) was observed between the patellar tilt and postoperative flexion range. However, further analysis revealed that only the subgroup Tw showed a strong negative correlation (r = −0.76, p < 0.05). Significant correlations were not found in the subgroup Tn and group L. CONCLUSIONS: In TKA where a relatively tight flexion gap (≤ 6.5 mm) is created because of concerns about postoperative flexion instability due to a loose flexion gap, the patellar tilt angle should be < 5° for maximal postoperative knee flexion.
Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee ; Cohort Studies ; Humans ; Knee ; Prospective Studies ; Prostheses and Implants ; Range of Motion, Articular

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine the outcomes of fixation of AO/OTA type C2 fractures among intra-articular fractures of the distal humerus using the paratricipital approach (side to side retraction of the triceps). MATERIALS AND METHODS: From June 2008 to January 2018, 12 patients underwent an open reduction and internal fixation with the paratricipital approach and were followed-up for more than 10 months after surgery. According to the AO/OTA classification, type C2 fractures were chosen among the intraarticular distal humerus fractures. An extended posterior incision was used over the olecranon in the prone position, preserving the insertion site of the triceps brachii muscle. The fracture site was exposed by retracting the muscle side-to side through a dissection of the medial and lateral intermuscular septum of the triceps brachii muscle. The therapeutic results were assessed by the anatomical reduction of the articular surface and integrity of the metaphyseal contour in postoperative simple radiographs, complications, such as neuropathy or non-union, and the Mayo elbow performance score (MEPS) were checked to estimate the functional outcome. RESULTS: In the postoperative simple radiographs, no case showed more than 1 mm step-off and the disrupted contour of the distal humerus was recovered to normal alignment in most cases. The range of elbow joint motion in the last follow-up was 133.8° on average with a mean flexion contracture of 5.0°. The clinical results depending on the MEPS were excellent, except for two cases, which were good. Neuropathy of the ulnar nerve was observed in one patient, which was resolved after metal removal. CONCLUSION: The paratricipital approach is useful technique in AO/OTA type C2 intra-articular distal humerus fractures that provides sufficient exposure of the surgical field, without injury to the triceps brachii muscle and postoperative complications associated with the trans-olecranon approach.
Classification ; Contracture ; Elbow ; Elbow Joint ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Humerus ; Intra-Articular Fractures ; Olecranon Process ; Postoperative Complications ; Prone Position ; Ulnar Nerve

In comminuted patellar fractures, we performed modified tension band wiring using a FiberWire (Arthrex) instead of the conventional methods. From March 2016 to March 2018, 63 patients with patellar fractures who needed surgical treatment were treated with modified tension band wiring using two Kirschner wires (K-wires) and FiberWire. We inserted two 1.6-mm K-wires perpendicular to the fracture line after accurate reduction. With the knee flexed over 90°, we sutured around the patella using a FiberWire. Visual analog scale score and Levack's score were improved postoperatively. The mean bone union time was 5.6 months. None of the patients had breakage of wires, and nonunion with deformity occurred in one patient. We think that our method can be easier to handle and reduce irritation or breakage of the wires than conventional methods. In addition, early rehabilitation can be allowed. Therefore, we suggest that this method could be a useful method for the treatment of patellar fractures.
Bone Wires ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Humans ; Knee ; Methods ; Patella ; Rehabilitation ; Visual Analog Scale

PURPOSE: External tibia torsion and proximal tibial vara have been reported in severe varus deformed osteoarthritis, which is a tibio-femoral angle of more than 20°. The radiology measurements were compared with those of control group and the preoperative and follow-up radiology and clinical results were examined. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From January 2007 to March 2016, 43 knees from 37 persons, who underwent total knee arthroplasty for a severe varus deformity of more than 20° on the tibio-femoral angle on the standing radiographs and had a follow-up period more than two years, were examined. The mean follow-up period was 45.7 months. The control group, who underwent conservative treatments, had Kellgren-Lawrence grade three osteoarthritis and a tibio-femoral angle of less than 3° varus. The external tibial torsion of enrolled patients and control group were estimated using the proximal tibio-fibular overlap length and the tibial torsion values on computed tomography. The proximal tibia vara was measured using the proximal tibial tilt angle. The preoperative and postoperative proximal tibio-fibular overlap length, tibial torsion value, proximal tibial tilt angle, and hospital for special surgery (HSS) score were evaluated. RESULTS: The mean proximal tibio-fibular overlap length was 18.6 mm preoperatively and 11.2 mm (p=0.031) at the follow-up. The control group had a mean proximal tibio-fibular overlap length of 8.7 mm (p=0.024). The mean tibial torsion value was 13.8° preoperatively and 14.0° (p=0.489) at the follow-up. The control group had a mean tibial torsion value of 21.9° (p=0.012). The mean proximal tibial tilt angle was 12.2° preoperatively and 0° (p<0.01) at the follow-up. The control group had a mean proximal tilt angle of 1.2° (p<0.01). The preoperative tibiofemoral angle and mechanical axis deviation were corrected from preoperative 28.3° and medial 68.4 mm to postoperative 0.7° and medial 3.5 mm (p<0.01, p<0.01), respectively. The HSS scores increased from 34 points of preoperatively to 87 points at the last follow-up (p=0.028). CONCLUSION Patients with advanced osteoarthritis with a severe varus deformity of more than 20° had significant increases in the external tibial torsion and varus of the proximal tibia. The tibial torsion value before and after surgery in the enrolled patients was not changed statistically, but good clinical results without complications were obtained.

Diabetic foot ulcers can progress to the point where amputation is needed, and so these ulcers require active treatment. Skin grafts or flaps can be performed for coverage of this type of ulcer. Local flap surgery is relatively easy to perform and good results have been previously reported. We performed single-lobed rotation flap on 5 cases of forefoot ulcer around the site of weight bearing. The location of the foot ulcers was the medial part of the first metatarsophalangeal joint in all the patients. The mean size of the defect was 4.70 cm2. Managing of ulcers, controlling of diabetes and infection, and improving of peripheral blood flow were performed before surgery. In two cases, infection progressed to the articular cartilage and so metatarsophalangeal joint fusions were performed simultaneously. All the cases were completely transplanted. There was no recurrence of the ulcers, and all the patients were able to walk.