BACKGROUND: Chronic low back pain can be a manifestation of lumbar degenerative disease, herniation of intervertebral discs, arthritis, or lumbar stenosis. When nerve roots are compromised, low back pain, with or without lower extremity involvement, may occur. Local inflammatory processes play an important role in patients with acute lumbosciatic pain. The purpose of this study was to assess the value of erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) measurements in patients with chronic low back pain or radiculopathy. METHODS: ESR and hsCRP were measured in 273 blood samples from male and female subjects with low back pain and/or radiculopathy due to herniated lumbar disc, spinal stenosis, facet syndrome, and other diseases. The hsCRP and ESR were measured prior to lumbar epidural steroid injection. RESULTS: The mean ESR was 18.8 mm/h and mean hsCRP was 1.1 mg/L. ESR had a correlation with age. CONCLUSIONS: A significant systemic inflammatory reaction did not appear to arise in patients with chronic low back pain.
Arthritis ; Blood Sedimentation ; C-Reactive Protein ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Erythrocytes ; Female ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc ; Low Back Pain ; Lower Extremity ; Male ; Radiculopathy ; Spinal Stenosis

The author performed an experiment to measure the bonding strength of acrylic bone cement when the bonding surfaces of bones were under various conditions; namely different axial compression forces and different means of preservation of bones, in the air and in Hartman's solution. Mechanical tests for compression forces revealed that the bonding strength was greatest when the bonding surfaces were dry, being weaker when soaked with alcohol and whole blood, in that order. When different strengths of axial compression forces were applied, the bonding strength was greatest at 5 kg of compression force, being weaker at 3 kg and 1 kg, in that order. The bonding strength was greater when the bones were preserved in the air than in Hartman's solution.
Polymethyl Methacrylate

Object of treatment of long bone fracture is the reduction of fracture and maintenance of good alignment. Recently operative treatment has been attempted increasingly, but conservative treatment is considered important also. The authors have employed the multiple splint method that is modified from triangular splint method for humerus shaft fracrure originally having designed and reported by ourselves. In our experience of multiple splint method for long bone fracture and ligament injuries, some merits were noticed such as easiness of application, simplicity of removal and reapplication. We report this method with review of literature.
Casts, Surgical ; Fractures, Bone ; Humerus ; Joints ; Ligaments ; Methods ; Splints

No abstract available.
Female ; Mammaplasty*

PURPOSE: To evaluate the treatment results of geriatric intertrochanteric fractures by using Asian-Pacific Gamma nails. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From June 1994 to June 1997, 58 cases of the intertrochanteric fractures were treated with Asian-Pacific Gamma nail, particularly compression hip screw fixation complications such as communited fracture involving lesser trochanter, transverse or reverse oblique intertrochanteric fracture. We evaluated the bone union time, neck-shaft angle, lag screw sliding by follow up radiographs, and studied complications and intraoperative cautions. RESULTS: The average age was 74.4 years old, the mean duration of follow-up was 17 months, the mean duration of bone union was 14.2 weeks, the average neck-shaft angle was postop. 133+/-2.78 degree and last follow-up was 129.5+/-3.37 degree, and the average lag screw sliding was 4.7+/-3.16 mm. Intraoperative complications were difficulty in distal drilling (posterior drilling) in 4 cases, fracture displacement by nail insertion in 3 cases, and postoperative complications were coxa vara in 13 cases, superior cutting out of lag screw with nonunion in 1 case and superficial infection in 1 case. The entry portal must be formed by awling. The fracture displacement when inserting nail could be prevented by proper reaming after inserting the C-shaped guide pin, and posterior drilling could be avoided by confirming the locking between target device and nail. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that the Asian-Pacific Gamma nail could appropriately treat the osteoporotic, communited intertrochanteric fracture in elderly patients and we obtained satisfactory results.
Aged ; Coxa Vara ; Femur* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hip ; Hip Fractures ; Humans ; Intraoperative Complications ; Postoperative Complications

No abstract available.
Bursitis*

No abstract available.
Skin Neoplasms* ; Skin*

No abstract available.
Catalase ; Erythrocytes* ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn* ; Superoxide Dismutase

No abstract available.
Animals ; Mice*

No abstract available.