PURPOSE: To evaluate the functional outcome after surgical treatment for displaced fractures of proximal humerus and assess the final results according to surgical methods. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-three cases with follow-up over 12 months were divided into three groups: double tension band wiring (Group I, 14), plate fixation (Group II, 10) and closed reduction with internal/external fixation (Group III, 9). The pain index, the self-assessed functional score and the range of motion were obtained. RESULTS: Anatomical reduction was best obtained in group II and fractures united in 11-16 weeks. The pain index was worst in group III and the functional score of group I (80+/-12.2%) was higher than in the others (II: 69+/-15.7%, III: 55+/- 7.9%). The range of motion was worst in group III. Complications were noted in 9 cases, which occurred mostly in group II and III. CONCLUSIONS: Double tension band wiring in displaced proximal humerus fracture demonstrated that it provides a sufficient fixation for early rehabilitation and union, while minimizing complication
Follow-Up Studies ; Humerus* ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Rehabilitation

Many types of meniscal anomalies have been reported. The authors encountered two cases of anomalous insertion of the anterior horn of the medial menisci to the lateral femoral condyle which ran along the course of the anterior cruciate ligament(ACL) without connecting ACL. These anomalies were noted during arthroscopic surgery of the ipsilateral knee for a torn discoid meniscus, and a patellar fracture. A 34-year-old woman had a horizontal tear of the lateral discoid meniscus. We performed arthroscopic partial meniscectomy of the inner torn portion of the lateral discoid meniscus and contoured it to resemble a normal meniscus. An anomalous insertion of the medial meniscus was found on examination of the joint during surgery. A 32-year-old man had a patellar fracture and we performed reduction under arthroscopy and internal fixation with cannulated screws. The same anomalous insertion of the medial meniscus was found on examination of the joint during surgery. We report the cases with review of literature.
Adult ; Animals ; Arthroscopy ; Female ; Horns ; Humans ; Joints ; Knee ; Menisci, Tibial*

No abstract available.
Hidrocystoma*

PURPOSE: To compare the pullout strength and insertion torque of proximally tapered screw (PT) with fully tapered screw (FT) and to investigate the correlation between the pullout strength and bone mineral density, morphology of pedicle, and insertion torque of the screw in osteoporotic lumbar spine. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifteen osteoporotic lumbar vertebrae from four white human cadavers were used. Bone mineral density, pullout strength and insertion torque were measured by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry, MTS and torque screw driver individually. RESULTS: The FT screw provided greater pullout force and insertion torque than the PT screw in 12 of 15 vertebrae tested (p<0.01). Pullout strength was correlated with insertion torque in PT (r=0.666, P=0.0006) and FT (r=0.464, P=0.19) screws. CONCLUSIONS: Results of this study indicate that the FT screws provide higher pullout strength and insertion torque than PT screws in osteoporotic lumbar spine and suggest that the development of tapered minor diameter may lead to an improved pedicle screw with high pullout strength and insertion torque. Nevertheless, further study is needed to investigate the effect of tapering the minor diameter on the mechanical bending strength of the screw.
Absorptiometry, Photon ; Bone Density ; Cadaver ; Humans ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; Spine* ; Torque

In osteoarthritis of the knee with varus deformity, abnormal stress is concentrated in the medial compartment of the knee joint. A logical treatment must decrease and recenter the force acting on the knee in order to distribute the compressive stresses evenly over the largest possible weight-bearing articular surfaces. This can be attained by an overcorrection of the deformity. The technique of a Barrel-Vault osteotomy is the correction of severe angular deformity of the knee and the reduction of the patellofemoral joint pressure simultaneously by an anterior displacement of the distal fragment. From 1986 to 1989, the authors studied the preoperative clinical status and lpostoperative results in twelve knees(nine patients) who had had a Barrel-Vault osteotomy for combined medial and patellofemoral disease. The total Insall Knee Rating Score improved from a preoperative mean 54.1 to 85.4 Points at the last assessment. The pain component score improved from a preoperative mean 6.6 to 26.2 points at the last assessment. Eleven kness had either no pain or occasional mild pain. The tibiofemoral angle was corrected from a preoperative mean of 4.4 degrees of varus to a mean of 11.2 degrees of valgus at the last assessment.
Congenital Abnormalities ; Knee Joint ; Knee ; Logic ; Osteoarthritis ; Osteotomy ; Patellofemoral Joint ; Weight-Bearing

Spinal block procedures are useful methods that reduce the need for surgical treatment. In addition to their therapeutic aspects of pain relief, in many patients, they are also used for diagnostic purposes to distinguish from symptoms originating from extra-spinal areas. Therefore, these procedures are the most basic technique for orthopedic surgeons dealing with diseases from limbs and spine. On the other hand, despite the simplicity of the instruments and drugs used, the overall understanding of them and the lack of knowledge of the possible side effects and complications can cause serious harm to the patient at the beginning of the trial. Therefore, it is necessary to understand the types of drugs used in the spinal block procedures, pharmacokinetic properties, and the side effects of each drug. In addition, efforts should be made to identify their indications, as well as advantages and disadvantages of each procedure to avoid possible complications. The purpose of this review was to provide basic knowledge and skills necessary for lumbar spinal block procedures as well as provide the reader with the ability to perform themselves.

BACKGROUND: ABO genotyping is being used increasingly when the results of serologic typing are unclear or there is some suspicion of rare ABO subtypes. Conventional molecular diagnostic methods such as PCR- restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP), allele-specific PCR, PCR-single stranded conformational polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) and sequence-based typing have been used in this field. Recently, a pyrosequencing technique was introduced into clinical laboratories. This study evaluated the possibility of applying pyrosequencing to ABO genotyping. METHODS: A total of 36 samples, which had previously been analyzed by PCR-RFLP and serological method in the Blood Genetics Clinic of Seoul National University Hospital between August 2001 and September 2004 and shown to have the A/A, A/B, A/O, B/B, B/O, O/O, cis-AB/O, cis-AB/A, or cis-AB/B genotypes, were analyzed by pyrosequencing analysis. Briefly, two PCR reactions were carried out separately for one region including nucleotide 261, and for another region including nucleotides 796 and 803. Pyrosequencing was then performed, and the pyrograms were interpreted using an automated interpretation program from the manufacturer and by researchers independently to determine the nucleotides 261, 796 and 803 for ABO genotyping. RESULTS: The ABO genotypes from pyrosequencing and the interpretation of the pyrograms according to the researcher on 36 samples were in complete concordance with the results obtained by PCR-RFLP. The ABO genotypes from the automated interpretation program showed an error in one out of total 108 SNP (single nucleotide polymorphism) analyses (eRROR RATE=0.9%) OF 36 SAMPLES. CONCLUSION: ABO genotyping for A, B, O, cis-AB alleles by pyrosequencing of nucleotides 261, 796 and 803 was relatively simple and accurate and could be an another field we can use in clinical laboratories.
Alleles ; Genetics ; Genotype ; Nucleotides ; Pathology, Molecular ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Seoul

Spinal epidural hematomas can often result from a spinal tap, trauma, pregnancy, bleeding diathesis, vascular malformations, hypertension, etc. However, a spontaneous spinal epidural hematomas (SSEH) without any risk factors are relatively rare clinical entities and the clinical suspicion is very difficult in an acute setting. The outcome for patients with SSEH usually is determined by the speed of the diagnosis and the initiation of the appropriate treatment. We present a good surgical outcome of a rare case of acute SSEH without any risk factors. The patient presented initially with paresis of both upper and lower extremities, upper thoracic and neck pain and mild headache. We report the diagnosis and treatment method of SSEH in this case with a review of the relevant literature.
Diagnosis ; Disease Susceptibility ; Headache ; Hematoma* ; Hematoma, Epidural, Spinal ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Lower Extremity ; Neck Pain ; Paresis ; Pregnancy ; Risk Factors* ; Spinal Puncture ; Spine* ; Vascular Malformations

No Abstract Available.
Arthroplasty* ; Knee*

PURPOSE: To determine if MR myelography (MRM) improves the interpretation of the severity of stenosis in patients with a multi-level lumbar stenosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Among the patients referred for MRI with MRM prospectively, 100 patients over 50 years old with multiple lumbar stenosis were enrolled in this study. The most severe stenotic level and the degree of stenosis at that level according to the extent of the remaining subarachnoidal space (1: normal to 50%, 2: over 50% but not a total block, 3: total block) were evaluated in a blinded manner by two observers. Conventional MRI (class A), MRM (class B) and MRI+MRM (class C) was evaluated independently and the interobserver and intraobserver reliability were assessed. RESULTS: In the selection of the most severe level and degree of stenosis, both observers showed a higher level of consensus with classes B and C than classes A and C. The interobserver k average values for the selection of the most severe level in classes A, B and C were 0.649, 0.782 and 0.832, respectively. In terms of the degree of stenosis, the average in classes A, B and C were 0.727, 0.771 and 0.784, respectively. The intraobserver k values for the above two items were the highest in class (B), followed by (C) and (A) in all observers and within the range of "almost perfect" (0.81< or =k< or =1) except for the selection of the level of one observer in clause A. CONCLUSION: MRM when used in routine practice can help improve the observer reliability in assessing the severity of stenosis in multiple lumbar stenosis.
Consensus ; Constriction, Pathologic* ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Middle Aged ; Myelography ; Prospective Studies