In orthopedic trauma surgery, treatment of intraarticular distal humerus fractures is a challenge. With development of implants and biomechanical studies, surgical strategies with recommendations including preoperative computed tomography images, proper approaches and open reduction and internal fixation with dual plates have emerged. In addition, as an effort to provide stable fixation to permit early elbow motion, different methods of internal fixation, particularly plate configuration, have evolved. Using dual plates, either oriented parallel to each other or orthogonal, stable fixation has been achieved and satisfactory clinical outcomes have been reported. With rationales and advantages/disadvantages of each plate configuration, both techniques are selected according to surgeons' preference, and, in specific cases, one could be preferred over another. The key to successful fixation by either technique is obtaining anatomical reduction with restoration of two stable columns of the distal humerus.
Elbow ; Fracture Fixation ; Humeral Fractures* ; Humerus ; Orthopedics

PURPOSE: Understanding elbow biomechanics is necessary to understand the pathophysiologic mechanism of elbow injury and to provide a scientific basis for clinical practice. This article provides a summary of key concepts that are relevant to understanding common elbow injuries and their management. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The biomechanics of the elbow joint can be divided into kinematics, stability and force transmission through the elbow joint. Active and passive stabilizers include bony articular geometry; soft tissues provide joint stability, compression force and motion. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Knowledge of elbow biomechanics will help (i) advance surgical procedures and trauma management, (ii) develop new elbow prostheses and (iii) stimulate future research.
Biomechanics ; Elbow ; Elbow Joint ; Elbow Prosthesis ; Joints

Ulnar collateral ligament injuries have been increasingly common in overhead throwing athletes. Ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction is the current gold standard for managing ulnar collateral ligament insufficiency, and numerous reconstruction techniques have been described. Although good clinical outcomes have been reported regarding return to sports, there are still several technical issues including exposure, graft selection and fixation, and ulnar nerve management. This review article summarizes a variety of surgical techniques of ulnar collateral ligament reconstructions and compares clinical outcomes and biomechanics.

BACKGROUND: It has been documented that certain prognostic factors may affect the outcomes of the old aged victims by trauma. Considering that trauma is the sixth most common cause of death in people over the age of 65 years and there is a rapid growth of elderly population, it is paramount to understand the prognostic factors when dealing with geriatric trauma patients. Hypothesis and Goals : It can be hypothesized that the prognostic factors should be determined independently between populations being consisted of different races, countries, socio-economic states, cultures, or so on. Thus, study was designed to evaluate the factors affecting the outcomes of elderly Korean trauma patients. METHODS: One hundred forty six patients aged over 65 years were retrospectively reviewed, who visited the Emergency Canter of Korea University from January, 1997 to June, 1998. Of 146 patients, 7 were excluded due to discharge against advice or transfer to the other hospitals. Parameters analysed were age, sex, mechanism of injuries, body region injured, Injury Severity Score (ISS), previous medical illness, hospital morbidity, duration of hospital stay, and cost. Each patient was classified into improved or not-improved groups depending on the outcomes, and young-old or old-old group depending on the age. The factors affecting the hospital stay in improved patients were analyzed in the parameters of previous medical illness, hospital morbidity, multiple injuries, ISS, and age. All statistical tests were conducted with two-tailed levels of 0.05. RESULTS: Of 139 patients, the mean age was 74+/-7.1 years, mean ISS 9.3+/-7.26, mean hospital stay 27+/-27.1 days. Most commonly injured body region was the extremities due to fall from a level surface. Rate of previous illness showed 0.94 medical diseases per person and were aggravated after trauma in 39 patients (60.9%). Hospital morbidity rate was 0.46 incidents per person. There were no differences in age and duration of hospital stay between the improved and the not-improved group. Substantial differences were noted in affected body region, incidence of previous illness, and hospital morbidity between the groups (p=NS). Not-improved group had higher ISS (p<0.05). ISS, previous illness and hospital morbidity affected the duration of hospital stay in the improved group. Hospital stay was 40+/-25.1 days in patients with ISS over 6 while 6+/-8.6 days in those with ISS 5 (p<0.05). Hospital stay in the improved was 26+/-26.9 days while 31+/- 24.8 days in the improved old-old group (P=NS). Hospital stay in the young-old minor trauma (ISS5) patients with previous illness and hospital morbidity was 26+/-10.1 days while 4+/-7.3 days in those without previous illness and hospital morbidity (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Previous medical illness and hospital morbidity, not age, are predictive of outcomes of geriatric trauma patients with respect to hospital stay. As most of the hospital morbidity was a trauma-induced aggravation of previous medical illness and hospital morbidity contributing poor outcomes can be potentially avoidable, routine aggressive care far the geriatric trauma patients with previous medical illnesses is needed.
Aged ; Body Regions ; Cause of Death ; Continental Population Groups ; Emergencies ; Extremities ; Humans ; Incidence ; Injury Severity Score ; Korea ; Length of Stay ; Multiple Trauma ; Retrospective Studies

No abstract available.
Humans* ; Kidney*

No abstract available.
Humans* ; Kidney*

A variety of theories have been reported as causes of shoulder pain in overhead throwing athletes. Recently, an explanation with microinstability of the shoulder and internal impingement has been proposed. The concept of the microinstability is that pathologic laxity of the anterior capsule caused by repeated abduction and external rotation of the shoulder leads to abnormal glenohumeral biomechanics and causes internal impingement of the shoulder. Based on the understanding of the pathology, it is recommended to identify the causes of shoulder pain in the overhead throwing athletes and perform appropriate rehabilitation or surgical treatment.
Athletes ; Humans ; Pathology ; Rehabilitation ; Shoulder Pain ; Shoulder*

In orthopedic trauma surgery, treatment of intraarticular distal humerus fractures is a challenge. With development of implants and biomechanical studies, surgical strategies with recommendations including preoperative computed tomography images, proper approaches and open reduction and internal fixation with dual plates have emerged. In addition, as an effort to provide stable fixation to permit early elbow motion, different methods of internal fixation, particularly plate configuration, have evolved. Using dual plates, either oriented parallel to each other or orthogonal, stable fixation has been achieved and satisfactory clinical outcomes have been reported. With rationales and advantages/disadvantages of each plate configuration, both techniques are selected according to surgeons' preference, and, in specific cases, one could be preferred over another. The key to successful fixation by either technique is obtaining anatomical reduction with restoration of two stable columns of the distal humerus.
Elbow ; Fracture Fixation ; Humeral Fractures ; Humerus ; Orthopedics

PURPOSE: evaluate the radiologic and clinical results of modified step-cut osteotomy for correction of cubitus varus deformity in children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analysed 16 children who had varus deformity preoperatively and received modified step-cut osteotomy. The results were evaluated by final follow-up radiographs and clinical results, which were humeral-elbow-wrist angle, lateral prominence, range of motion and complications. RESULTS: The average preoperative humeral-elbow-wrist (HEW) angle was -15.8degrees and average last follow-up HEW angle was +6.7degrees Lateral prominence under 5 mm occurred in 3 cases and one children showed limited motion and transient ulna neuropathy. CONCLUSION: The results demonstrate that modified step-cut osteotomy achieve good correction of cubitus varus without lateral bony prominence or complications.
Child* ; Congenital Abnormalities* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Humerus* ; Osteotomy* ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Ulna

PURPOSE: This study examined the rate of degeneration of the acetabular cartilage by the bipolar head according to time, and which clinical factors are related to the degeneration of the acetabular cartilage. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Among 192 patients (226 hip joint) who were received bipolar hemiarthroplasty from August 1996 to August 2002, 61 patients (65 hip joint), who were followed up for more than 2 years and showed no signs of dislocation, infection and functional problems, were enrolled in this study. A modified form of a computer assisted vector wear analysis program was used to measure the rate of degeneration of the acetabular cartilage. The subjects were divided into two groups, those whose amount of degeneration of the acetabular cartilage was less than average and those whose amount of degeneration was more than average. The factors that appeared to affect the level of acetabular degeneration in the two groups were evaluated. RESULTS: After a bipolar hemiarthroplasty, the average linear degenerative change in the acetabular cartilage and the volumetric degenerative change was 0.23+/-0.107 mm/yr and 114+/-47.2 mm3/yr, respectively. The result showed significant differences with activity and the HHS between the two groups. The HHS showed a reverse relationship with the linear degeneration and volumetric degeneration, the activity showed a correlation with the linear and volumetric degeneration. CONCLUSION: The acetabular cartilage degenerates faster as the patient's activity increases, and slower with a higher HHS. When surgeons perform hip joint arthroplasty, it is strongly recommended that the life expectancy and the level of activity be considered when deciding between a hemiarthroplasty or total hip arthroplasty.
Acetabulum* ; Arthroplasty ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip ; Cartilage ; Cartilage, Articular* ; Dislocations ; Head ; Hemiarthroplasty* ; Hip ; Hip Joint ; Humans ; Life Expectancy