BACKGROUND:The regeneration ability of articular cartilage is limited.However,the emerging of tissue regeneration based on the use of autologous cells appears to offer great promise in repairing articular cartilage defects.OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the short-term effectiveness and safety of autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI).DESIGN,TIME AND SETTING:A prospective study was performed at the eighty university hospitals and general hospitals in Korea from March 2001 to April 2006.PARTICIPANTS:Two hundred and sixty-one patients with articular cartilage injury of the knee were selected,including 169 males,92 females,with the mean age of 36.47 years (ranged:15-70 yeats old),and the mean size of chondral defect was 4.91 cm2 (ranged:2.0-20.0 cm2).Totally 215 cases were femoral condyle injury,30 cases with trochlear,25 cases with patellar,and 2 cases with tibia defects.METHODS:A total of 200-300 mg of cartilage tissue was obtained from a non-weight-bearing portion of the knee,followed by in society score after ACI was evaluated by Knee Society Score-A (KSS-A)and Knee Society Score-B (KSS-B)system.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:KSS-A and KSS-B score of defected areas after ACI.RESULTS:All patients Received: followed-up without any loss.The KSS-A was 63.55±18.47 and 88.74±11.47 prior to and at 6 months after implantation,the difference had significance (P＜0.05).The KSS-B was 59.56±24.92 and 85.13±14.67 respectively prior to and at 6 months after implantation,which had obviously difference (P＜0.05).The joint pain,activity,stability,flexion contracture,locomotor activity and stair climbing were obviously improved.The effective rate was 97.3% and excellent and good rate was 89.3%.CONCLUSION:ACI can achieve a good result in treating knee articular cartilage defects,which can encourage the recover of knee function.

PURPOSE: No research on posterior bowing of the distal humerus in the sagittal plane requiring evaluation during performance of intramedullary nailing has been reported in Korea. This study is designed to evaluate the location and angle of distal humeral posterior bowing in the sagittal plane through analysis of true lateral radiographs of humerus and discusses key points when performing intramedullary nailing. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted on 99 people with a simple lateral radiograph of the humerus and the authors analyzed total length of humerus, the angle and location of maximum posterior bowing in the distal shaft of the humerus. RESULTS: The mean length of the humerus was 319.7 mm, and the mean angle of the distal posterior bowing was 8.8 degrees. The mean point of posterior bowing was 221.6 mm from the proximal end, which was 69.3% of the total length of the humerus. CONCLUSION: The average posterior angulation of humerus existed at the point of 69.3% from the proximal humerus. Careful assessment is needed during intramedullary nailing in order to prevent complications.
Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary* ; Humeral Fractures ; Humerus* ; Korea ; Retrospective Studies

Background: Prior studies have reported that 40%-90% of the patients with celiac plexus-mediated visceral pain benefit from the neurolytic celiac plexus block (NCPB), but the predictive factors of response to NCPB have not been evaluated extensively. This study aimed to identify the factors associated with the immediate analgesic effectiveness of NCPB in patients with intractable upper abdominal cancer-related pain. Methods: A retrospective review was performed of 513 patients who underwent NCPB for upper abdominal cancer-related pain. Response to the procedure was defined as (1) a decrease of ≥ 50% or ≥ 4 points on the numerical rating scale (NRS) in pain intensity from the baseline without an increase in opioid requirement, or (2) a decrease of ≥ 30% or ≥ 2 points on the NRS from the baseline with simultaneously reduced opioid consumption after NCPB. Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the factors associated with successful responses to NCPB. Results: Among the 513 patients included in the analysis, 255 (49.8%) and 258 (50.2%) patients were in the non-responder and responder group after NCPB, respectively. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that diabetes (odds ratio [OR] = 0.644, P = 0.035), history of upper abdominal surgery (OR = 0.691, P = 0.040), and celiac metastasis (OR = 1.496, P = 0.039) were the independent factors associated with response to NCPB. Conclusions Celiac plexus metastases, absence of diabetes, and absence of prior upper abdominal surgery may be independently associated with better response to NCPB for upper abdominal cancer-related pain.

Background: Prior studies have reported that 40%-90% of the patients with celiac plexus-mediated visceral pain benefit from the neurolytic celiac plexus block (NCPB), but the predictive factors of response to NCPB have not been evaluated extensively. This study aimed to identify the factors associated with the immediate analgesic effectiveness of NCPB in patients with intractable upper abdominal cancer-related pain. Methods: A retrospective review was performed of 513 patients who underwent NCPB for upper abdominal cancer-related pain. Response to the procedure was defined as (1) a decrease of ≥ 50% or ≥ 4 points on the numerical rating scale (NRS) in pain intensity from the baseline without an increase in opioid requirement, or (2) a decrease of ≥ 30% or ≥ 2 points on the NRS from the baseline with simultaneously reduced opioid consumption after NCPB. Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the factors associated with successful responses to NCPB. Results: Among the 513 patients included in the analysis, 255 (49.8%) and 258 (50.2%) patients were in the non-responder and responder group after NCPB, respectively. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that diabetes (odds ratio [OR] = 0.644, P = 0.035), history of upper abdominal surgery (OR = 0.691, P = 0.040), and celiac metastasis (OR = 1.496, P = 0.039) were the independent factors associated with response to NCPB. Conclusions Celiac plexus metastases, absence of diabetes, and absence of prior upper abdominal surgery may be independently associated with better response to NCPB for upper abdominal cancer-related pain.