The Ilizarov fixator allows significantly more axial motion at the fracture site than the conventional monofixators. But the transfixing wires have inevitable problems of soft tissue impalement. Therefore the Rancho mounting technique, replacing the transfixing wires with half pins, has become a common place. But the increment of the axial stiffness secondary to replacing transfixing wires with half pins has not been defined clearly yet. The authors measured the axial stiffness of the Ilizarov fixator and two different configurations of the Rancho frame. The group I frame was the Ilizarov fixator composed of four rings and two transfixing wires on each ring. The group II frame was the Rancho frame and it was constructed same as the Ilizarov frame but a transfixing wire was replaced with a half pin from two central rings respectively. The group III frame was another type of Rancho frame which was constructed same as the second group but the remaining transfixing wire was replaced with a half pin from the two central rings respectively. The axial stiffness of the Group I , II and Group III frames were 71.54+/-7.21N/mm, 89.65+/-6.42N/mm, 101.01+/-7.92N/mm respectively. The axial stiffness difference between the Group I frame and the Group II frame was statistically significant(p<0.01). Also the difference between the Group I frame and the Group III frame was statistically significant(p<0.01). This study shows that the replacement of two transfixing wires with two stainless half pins resulted in significant increment of the axial stiffness of the Ilizarov frame.

No abstract available.
Nails

The authors performed a study of 32 patients who had undergone anterior lumbar interbody fusion using allograft with posterior pedicular instrumentation. The clinical outcomes were evaluated and the radiographs were analyzed with respect to graft subsidence, interspace collapse, graft collapse, sagittal angle and fusion status. In 71% of the levels there was a loss of disc space height during the follow-up, with 18% of the levels being narrower than their preoperative height at late follow-up. Significant(more than 3mm) subsidence and collapse were noted in three and four levels respectively. Approximately 84% of the 32 patients had satisfactory results and a radiological fusion was obtained in 88.2% of the 34 levels. We consider the pedicle screw fixation improves the retention of interspace distraction and the fusion rate of allograft in anterior lumbar interbody fusion.
Allografts* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Spine ; Transplants

No abstract available.
Arthroplasty* ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip* ; Head* ; Hemiarthroplasty* ; Necrosis*

PURPOSE: This study was performed to compare the radiographic results of femoral tunnels made through the tibial tunnel and through the anteromedial portal. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From March 1996 to September 1997, fifty-five reconstructions of anterior cruciate ligament were performed. Group I (femoral tunnel through tibial tunnel) was composed of 30 cases and group II (femoral tunnel through anteromedial portal) was consisted 25 cases. On postoperative anteroposterior and lateral radiographs of knees, five angles were measured : APD/LD (angle between longitudinal axis of femoral bone block of patella tendon bone graft and that of interference screw in anteroposterior view/ lateral view), AFT (the angle between longitudinal axis of femoral tunnel and that of tibial tunnel in anteroposterior view), APFT/LFT (the angle between longitudinal axis of femoral tunnel and that of femoral shaft in anteroposterior view/ lateral view) and the graft tunnel mismatch was evaluated. RESULTS: Average APD was 1.30+/-3.13 degree in group I and 0.52+/-1.85 degree in group II (P>0.05), average LD was 4.97+/-7.62 degree and 1.48+/-3.30 degree (P<0,05), average AFT was 12.40+/-7.29 degree and 19.48+/-8.49 degree (P<0.05), average APFT was 15.33+/-6.95 degree and 14.32+/-7.33 degree (P>0.05), and average LFT was 36.57+/-5.20 degree and 39.64+/-6.48 degree (P>0.05), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that making a femoral tunnel through the anteromedial portal decreased the divergence between the femoral interference screw and femoral bone block of patella tendon-bone autograft.
Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction* ; Anterior Cruciate Ligament* ; Autografts* ; Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Knee ; Patella ; Patellar Ligament ; Transplants

No abstract available.
Arthroplasty* ; Joints*

The authors studied 54 patients (55 cases) of femoral shaft fractures treated by compression plate fixation and IM nailing from August 1986 to December 1991. The purpose of this study is to analyse comparatively the radiological and clinical results between the compression plate fixation and IM nailing in femoral shaft fracture of adult. The obtained results were as follows: 1. Among the 54 patients, the ratio of male and female was 44: 10, and the highest in cidence of age was between 3rd and 4th decades. 2. The main cause of injury was traffic accident in 38 cases. 3. The most common fracture type was B1-② in ten cases by AO-ASIF classification. 4. The mean duration of union was 13 weeks in compression plate fixation by the Koostra's criteria and the average 23 weeks in IM nailing by the Bjorens criteria. 5. The clinical result according to Margerl et al, was good in 25 cases (80.6%) with compression plate fixation and good in 20 cases (83.3%) with intramedullary fixation. 6. Complications of compression plate fixation were metal failure in 2 cases and deep wound infection in 1 case, and 1 case of femur neck fracture during operation and 1 case of metal failure in intramedullary fixation.
Accidents, Traffic ; Adult ; Classification ; Female ; Femoral Neck Fractures ; Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary ; Humans ; Male ; Wound Infection

No abstract available.

No abstract available.

No abstract available.