PURPOSE: To avoid prolonged recovery time and scar tenderness in open carpal tunnel release and possible nerve or tendon injuries by bulky instruments in endoscopic techniques, we tried to percutaneously release the transverse carpal ligament using simple, thin instruments. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed carpal tunnel release percutaneously through a single small incision on the wrist with curved mosquito and meniscectomy hook knife under general or regional anesthesia in 41 wrists of 27 patients during the last 5 years and followed up for at least one year. Before and after release, endoscopic examinations were done to rule out space occupying lesions or other anormalies and to confirm complete release. RESULTS: According to the Cseuz's criteria, 38 cases (93%) showed excellent or good results, which was compatible to open or endoscopic technique with special instruments and there was no major neurovascular injury except one superficial palmar arch laceration associated with the second palmar incision in complicated case. CONCLUSIONS: From earlier experience, we learned that this simple technique may be used successfully with low cost without any fear of complication.
Anesthesia, Conduction ; Cicatrix ; Culicidae ; Humans ; Lacerations ; Ligaments ; Tendon Injuries ; Wrist

Polyethylene wear is one of the major problems following total knee arthroplasty. Many factors affect the degree and the pattern of polyethylene wear. We experienced three cases of early catastrophic poly- ethylene wears. All cases showed flexion contracture with severe genu varum deformity and total knee arthroplasty was performed with Advantim total knee prostheses in all cases. Postoperatively, bony align- ment and ligament balancing were good in all cases. However, in 12 to 22 months later, lateral subluxa- tion and valgus instability were developed with early catastrophic polyethylene wear especially in the medial compartments. Flat surface geornetry of polyethylene might be responsible for the development of lateral subluxation and early catastrophic wears. From these experience, we concluded that the mediolat- eral as well as anteroposterior dishing is essential for the stability of the artificial joint and prevention of early rapid wear of polyethylene articular inserts following total knee arthroplasty.
Arthroplasty ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Contracture ; Genu Varum ; Joints ; Knee ; Knee Prosthesis ; Ligaments ; Polyethylene*

Fibrous dysplasia is a common benign disorder of bone in which normal bone marrow is replaced with fibro-osseous tissue. As PET/CT is increasingly used for the staging of different malignant disease, incidentally found fibrous dysplasia with increased FDG uptake may mimic metastasis. We report on a 46-year-old woman with fibrous dysplasia who underwent PET/CT because of suspected recurrence of breast cancer and was misdiagnosed as a bony metastasis with a focal FDG uptake on left proximal femur. This lesion was interpreted as fibrous dysplasia based on MRI in addition to the plain radiographs. We conclude that MRI in addition to radiography may help to differentiate fibrous dysplasia mimicking metastasis on PET/CT in the patients with malignancy.
Bone Marrow ; Breast ; Breast Neoplasms ; Female ; Femur ; Humans ; Hydrazines ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Recurrence

Slipped capital femoral epiphysis is a rare disease in Korea, but the incidence has being increased according to the changes of body contour and life style. Now we have more concern about slipped capital femoral epiphysis, especially the factors which contribute to the final result of treatment. Many factors such as severity of slip, stability of slipped epiphysis, whether closed reduction was done or not, whether severe complication like avascular necrosis or chondrolysis has occurred or not have effect on the result. We analyzed 20 cases of slipped capital femoral epiphysis, which occurred in 16 adolescence in view of which factors contributed to the final satisfactory result. In our study, the difference in the duration of symptoms, instability of slipped epiphysis, patients age, association with obesity or acute trauma and the number of pins had much effect on the final results and whether the reduction was done or not, the kinds of pins and association with endocrinopathy made a little difference. But further studies are necessary because the number of cases is not sufficient and the length of follow up period is not long.
Adolescent ; Epiphyses ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Life Style ; Necrosis ; Obesity ; Rare Diseases ; Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphyses*

Structural allograft or recycled autograft bone transplantation has been performed for reconstruction of bone defects caused by bone tumor resection. Knowledge regarding advantages and disadvantages of bone reconstruction using an allograft or recycled autograft, other alternatives such as reconstruction with tumor prosthesis, the understanding of biologic characteristics and fate of transplanted bones, functional results, and complications of reconstruction are important. The surgeon should also be accustomed to the major technical points of allograft or recycled autograft transplantation. Proper indication, selection of an appropriate allograft or recycled autograft, rigid fixation, accurate surgical skills, preventive measures of infection and efficient rehabilitation are necessary in order to obtain long term survival of grafted bones and good functional outcome. Here, I will discuss the bone reconstruction methods using structural allograft or recycled autograft transplantation after bone tumor resection and their clinical results.
Allografts* ; Autografts* ; Bone Neoplasms ; Bone Transplantation ; Population Characteristics ; Prostheses and Implants ; Rehabilitation ; Transplants

Schwannomas are benign, slow-growing peripheral nerve sheath tumors commonly occurring in the head, neck, and flexor regions of the extremities. Although most schwannomas are easily diagnosable, their variable morphology can occasionally create difficulty in diagnosis. Reporting pathologists should be aware that schwannomas can exhibit a broad spectrum of morphological patterns. Clinical and radiological examinations can show correlation and should be performed, in conjunction with ancillary tests, when appropriate. Furthermore, deferring a definitive diagnosis until excision may be necessary for small biopsy specimens and frozen sections. This report underscores these challenges through examination of two unique schwannoma cases, one predominantly cellular and the other myxoid, both of which posed significant challenges in histological interpretation.

PURPOSE: We evaluated oncologic outcomes of chondrosarcomas and analyzed the disease-free survival rate of chondrosarcomas according to the various factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective study for the disease-free survival rate of 48 chondrosarcomas, 44 of which underwent surgical treatment and followed up more than 18 months since 1993, and in the remaining 4 cases, the patients died before 18 months after surgery. The vsariables were location, tumor volume, histologic grade, stage, age at presentation and treatment performed. The mean follow up period was 43.8 months (1-196 months). RESULTS: The overall disease-free survival rate was 77.1% at mean 43.8 month follow up. The 5 year- and 10 year disease-free survival rates were 64% and 58% respectively. The histologic grade, stage, age at presentation revealed statistical significance on disease-free survival. All 9 patients treated with extended curettage for grade 1 central chondrosarcomas revealed disease-free survival with excellent functional outcome. CONCLUSION: The disease-free survival rate of chondrosarcomas mainly depended on histologic grade, stage and age at presentation. Local recurrence and distant metastasis also revealed statistically significant differences of disease-free survival rate. Comparing to wide resection, extended curettage for low-grade central chondrosarcomas in extremities were efficient methods with similar survival rate and less functional losses and complications.
Chondrosarcoma ; Curettage ; Disease-Free Survival ; Extremities ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate ; Tumor Burden

An impairment is defined as "a loss, loss of use, or derangement of any body part, organ system or organ function". The impairment evaluation should be performed by physicians. To determine permanent impairment associated with medical condition a standard method should be used. It is a general principle that an evaluation of permanent impairment only be performed when the physician considers the person to have reached a state of maximum medical improvement. Maximum medical improvement is considered when the person's condition has been medically stable and is unlikely to change by more than 3% of whole body impairment within the next 12 months. The physician must use the entire clinical skill and judgment to perform the proper impairment evaluation. A report of the evaluation of permanent impairment should be accurate, comprehensive and fair. The physicians are reminded that they have a duty to act in an ethical, professional and considerate manner when examining the person for the purpose of assessing the permanent impairment.
Clinical Competence ; Humans ; Judgment

PURPOSE: To analyze clinical, radiological and pathological features as well as clinical outcome after surgical treatment of patients with secondary chondrosarcoma arising from osteochondroma(tosis). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed clinical records, radiographs, pathologic slides of 14 patients. Nine patients were male and five were female. The mean age was 34 years. The mean follow-up period was 54 months. RESULTS: All patients had a history of previous mass since childhood or puberty. Preexisted osteochondroma was single in 3 patients and multiple in 10. Remaining 1 patient had multiple osteochondromatosis with enchondromatosis. MRI clearly provided thickness of cartilage cap, which was over 2 cm except in 2 cases. Chondrosarcoma was grade 1 in all except 1 case, which was grade 2. Wide excision was performed in 10 patients, marginal excision in 3 and amputation in 1. Twelve patients were doing very well without evidence of disease. Among 3 patients with marginal excision, 1 patient had local recurrence and 1 patient died of disease. CONCLUSION: Comprehensive understanding of clinical, radiological and pathological features of secondary chondrosarcoma is warranted for accurate diagnosis. The best result can be expected with early recognition of malignant change of osteohcondroma(tosis) and wide excision.
Amputation ; Cartilage ; Chondrosarcoma ; Enchondromatosis ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Osteochondroma ; Osteochondromatosis ; Puberty ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: To investigate prognostic factors influencing on local recurrence, distant metastasis and event-free survival of liposarcomas. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-two patients managed for liposarcomas since 1993 were analyzed respectively in the view of prognostic influence of patient age, tumor size, location, histologic type, histologic grade, resection type, surgical margin, chemotherapy and radiation therapy on local recurrence, distant metastasis and event-free survival. The mean follow up period was 39 months. The univariate and multivariate regression analysis were performed for statistical evaluation. RESULTS: The local recurrences occurred in 11 patients (21.2%) and distant metastasis in 4 patients (8%), Event-free survival rate at 4 year follow up was 67%. In univariate analysis, histologic grade, surgical margin, chemotherapy and radiation therapy were significant prognostic factors on local recurrence (p<0.05). However, histologic grade lost its significance in muitivariate analysis. Trunk location revealed higher rate of distant metastasis than extremity location. In univariate analysis on event-free survival. histologic grade and chemotherapy were significant factors (p<0.05). No factor remained significant in multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION: Considering selection bias, positive surgical margin was negative prognostic factor on local recurrence. Liposarcomas arisen in trunk revealed higher rate of distant metastasis. There was no independent prognostic factor on event-free survival of patients with liposarcomas.
Disease-Free Survival ; Extremities ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Liposarcoma ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Selection Bias