Multiple myeloma (MM), a hematological malignancy, is characterized by malignant plasma cell proliferation in the bone marrow. Recent treatment advances have significantly improved patient outcomes associated with MM.In this study, we aimed to develop comprehensive, evidence-based guidelines for the diagnosis, prognosis, and treat‑ ment of MM. We identified 12 key clinical questions essential for MM management, guiding the extensive literature review and meta-analysis of the study. Our guidelines provide evidence-based recommendations by integrating patient preferences with survey data. These recommendations include current and emerging diagnostic tools, thera‑ peutic agents, and treatment strategies. By prioritizing a patient-centered approach and rigorous data analysis, these guidelines were developed to enhance MM management, both in Korea and globally.

Purpose: Osteosynthesis of a clavicular fracture can obtain good clinical results even with conservative treatment. The development of surgical techniques and improvements in internal fixation have led to the use of metal plates and screws. Although there are intramedullary nails or minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis that can reduce soft tissue damage, these techniques are not used often because most require a skin incision about the length of the metal plate to be inserted. This study compared the postoperative pain to determine the appropriate injection depth. Materials and Methods: A prospective, single-institute, single-blind, randomized study was designed. The patients in the study had clavicular fractures and who underwent the removal of implant. The patients judged to have difficulty indicating pain were excluded.Ropivacaine was injected between plate fixation and muscle suturing. The visual analog scale (VAS) pain score, patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) use, and additional pain medication usage were measured after surgery and every 4 hours. Results: Thirty-four clavicle shaft fracture patients were classified into 16 patients in the subcutaneous injection group and 18 in the muscle injection group. Seventeen implant removal patients were divided into eight patients in the subcutaneous injection group and another nine in the muscle injection group. In the fracture group, the mean VAS for the subcutaneous injection group was 4.20±2.68 immediately after surgery, 4.47±1.85 at 4 hours, 1.93±1.44 at 24 hours, and 1.60±1.35 at 48 hours. The mean VAS for the muscle injection group was 4.23±1.59 immediately after surgery, 3.00±1.47 at 4 hours, 1.69±1.03 at 24 hours, and 1.31±1.11 at 48 hours; the mean VAS score was not statistically significant in the two groups (p=0.332). In the implant removal group, the mean VAS for the subcutaneous injection group was 4.75±1.58 immediately after surgery, 3.75±1.04 at 4 hours, 1.75±0.89 at 24 hours, and 1.75±0.89 at 48 hours. The mean VAS for the muscle injection group was 3.78±1.20 immediately after surgery, 3.22±0.83 at 4 hours, 1.89±1.17 at 24 hours, and 1.11±1.01 at 48 hours; the mean VAS score was not statistically significant in the two groups (p=0.181). Conclusion The postoperative VAS pain score and PCA usage were not statistically significant regardless of the ropivacaine injection site in clavicular surgery, but each group had significantly different VAS pain scores and PCA usage according to time after surgery. In addition, the muscle injection group tended to have a lower average VAS than the subcutaneous injection group in the implant removal patient group.

Purpose: Osteosynthesis of a clavicular fracture can obtain good clinical results even with conservative treatment. The development of surgical techniques and improvements in internal fixation have led to the use of metal plates and screws. Although there are intramedullary nails or minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis that can reduce soft tissue damage, these techniques are not used often because most require a skin incision about the length of the metal plate to be inserted. This study compared the postoperative pain to determine the appropriate injection depth. Materials and Methods: A prospective, single-institute, single-blind, randomized study was designed. The patients in the study had clavicular fractures and who underwent the removal of implant. The patients judged to have difficulty indicating pain were excluded.Ropivacaine was injected between plate fixation and muscle suturing. The visual analog scale (VAS) pain score, patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) use, and additional pain medication usage were measured after surgery and every 4 hours. Results: Thirty-four clavicle shaft fracture patients were classified into 16 patients in the subcutaneous injection group and 18 in the muscle injection group. Seventeen implant removal patients were divided into eight patients in the subcutaneous injection group and another nine in the muscle injection group. In the fracture group, the mean VAS for the subcutaneous injection group was 4.20±2.68 immediately after surgery, 4.47±1.85 at 4 hours, 1.93±1.44 at 24 hours, and 1.60±1.35 at 48 hours. The mean VAS for the muscle injection group was 4.23±1.59 immediately after surgery, 3.00±1.47 at 4 hours, 1.69±1.03 at 24 hours, and 1.31±1.11 at 48 hours; the mean VAS score was not statistically significant in the two groups (p=0.332). In the implant removal group, the mean VAS for the subcutaneous injection group was 4.75±1.58 immediately after surgery, 3.75±1.04 at 4 hours, 1.75±0.89 at 24 hours, and 1.75±0.89 at 48 hours. The mean VAS for the muscle injection group was 3.78±1.20 immediately after surgery, 3.22±0.83 at 4 hours, 1.89±1.17 at 24 hours, and 1.11±1.01 at 48 hours; the mean VAS score was not statistically significant in the two groups (p=0.181). Conclusion The postoperative VAS pain score and PCA usage were not statistically significant regardless of the ropivacaine injection site in clavicular surgery, but each group had significantly different VAS pain scores and PCA usage according to time after surgery. In addition, the muscle injection group tended to have a lower average VAS than the subcutaneous injection group in the implant removal patient group.

Purpose: Osteosynthesis of a clavicular fracture can obtain good clinical results even with conservative treatment. The development of surgical techniques and improvements in internal fixation have led to the use of metal plates and screws. Although there are intramedullary nails or minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis that can reduce soft tissue damage, these techniques are not used often because most require a skin incision about the length of the metal plate to be inserted. This study compared the postoperative pain to determine the appropriate injection depth. Materials and Methods: A prospective, single-institute, single-blind, randomized study was designed. The patients in the study had clavicular fractures and who underwent the removal of implant. The patients judged to have difficulty indicating pain were excluded.Ropivacaine was injected between plate fixation and muscle suturing. The visual analog scale (VAS) pain score, patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) use, and additional pain medication usage were measured after surgery and every 4 hours. Results: Thirty-four clavicle shaft fracture patients were classified into 16 patients in the subcutaneous injection group and 18 in the muscle injection group. Seventeen implant removal patients were divided into eight patients in the subcutaneous injection group and another nine in the muscle injection group. In the fracture group, the mean VAS for the subcutaneous injection group was 4.20±2.68 immediately after surgery, 4.47±1.85 at 4 hours, 1.93±1.44 at 24 hours, and 1.60±1.35 at 48 hours. The mean VAS for the muscle injection group was 4.23±1.59 immediately after surgery, 3.00±1.47 at 4 hours, 1.69±1.03 at 24 hours, and 1.31±1.11 at 48 hours; the mean VAS score was not statistically significant in the two groups (p=0.332). In the implant removal group, the mean VAS for the subcutaneous injection group was 4.75±1.58 immediately after surgery, 3.75±1.04 at 4 hours, 1.75±0.89 at 24 hours, and 1.75±0.89 at 48 hours. The mean VAS for the muscle injection group was 3.78±1.20 immediately after surgery, 3.22±0.83 at 4 hours, 1.89±1.17 at 24 hours, and 1.11±1.01 at 48 hours; the mean VAS score was not statistically significant in the two groups (p=0.181). Conclusion The postoperative VAS pain score and PCA usage were not statistically significant regardless of the ropivacaine injection site in clavicular surgery, but each group had significantly different VAS pain scores and PCA usage according to time after surgery. In addition, the muscle injection group tended to have a lower average VAS than the subcutaneous injection group in the implant removal patient group.

Infective nonunion after fracture surgery can cause persistent pain and inflammatory exudate in patients, requiring long-term treatment. To treat infective nonunion, radical debridement of infective bone and soft tissue should be performed, followed by stable internal fixation and bone graft. Multiple treatment strategies need to be considered according to the classification of chronic osteomyelitis, size of the bone defect, degree of bone malalignment, and severity of the soft tissue injury. This paper reports a case of a patient treated with an antibiotic cement-coated nail and a Masquelet technique to treat the infected nonunion of the tibia with a bone defect and varus deformity.

Despite the availability of therapies to treat patients with immune thrombocytopenia (ITP), there is currently little data from randomized trials to assist clinicians in managing patients. The evidence-based guidelines of the Korean Society of Hematology Aplastic Anemia Working Party (KSHAAWP) are intended to support patients and physicians in the management of ITP. Experts from the KSHAAWP discussed and described this guideline according to the current treatment situation for ITP in Korea and finalized the guidelines. The expert panel recommended the management of ITP in adult and pediatric patients with newly diagnosed, persistent, and chronic disease refractory to first-line therapy with minor bleeding. Management approaches include observation and administration of corticosteroids, intravenous immunoglobulin, anti-D immunoglobulin, and thrombopoietin receptor agonists. Currently, evidence supporting strong recommendations for various management approaches is lacking. Therefore, a large focus was placed on shared decision-making, especially regarding second-line treatment.

Postoperative pain is one of the most common reasons for delayed discharge and can impede the recovery of joint motion and rehabilitation. Recently, an ultrasound-guided nerve block was shown to be the most effective method to control postoperative pain. Under ultrasound guidance, orthopedic surgeons can safely perform the nerve block procedure. This review discusses th

Background/Aims: We evaluated the feasibility and long-term efficacy of the combination of cytarabine, idarubicin, and all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) for treating patients with newly diagnosed acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). Methods: We included 87 patients with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia and a t(15;17) or promyelocytic leukemia/retinoic acid receptor alpha (PML-RARα) mutation. Patients received 12 mg/m2/day idarubicin intravenously for 3 days and 100 mg/m2/day cytarabine for 7 days, plus 45 mg/m2/day ATRA. Clinical outcomes included complete remission (CR), relapse-free survival (RFS), overall survival (OS), and the secondary malignancy incidence during a 20-year follow-up. Results: The CR, 10-year RFS, and 10-year OS rates were 89.7%, 94.1%, and 73.8%, respectively, for all patients. The 10-year OS rate was 100% for patients that achieved CR. Subjects were classified according to the white blood cell (WBC) count in peripheral blood at diagnosis (low-risk, WBC < 10,000/mm3; high-risk, WBC ≥ 10,000/mm3). The low-risk group had significantly higher RFS and OS rates than the high-risk group, but the outcomes were not superior to the current standard treatment (arsenic trioxide plus ATRA). Toxicities were similar to those observed with anthracycline plus ATRA, and higher than those observed with arsenic trioxide plus ATRA. The secondary malignancy incidence after APL treatment was 2.7%, among the 75 patients that achieved CR, and 5.0% among the 40 patients that survived more than 5 years after the APL diagnosis. Conclusions Adding cytarabine to anthracycline plus ATRA was not inferior to anthracycline plus ATRA alone, but it was not comparable to arsenic trioxide plus ATRA. The probability of secondary malignancy was low.

Purpose: Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) with optimal conditioning has helped better long-term survival in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). This study investigated the efficacy and safety of reduced-intensity conditioning (RIC) with busulfan and fludarabine in adult ALL patients unfit for myeloablation. Materials and Methods: Records of 78 patients who underwent HSCT with RIC consisting of 3.2 mg/kg/day of busulfan for 2 or 3 days and 30 mg/m2/day of fludarabine for 5 or 6 days were analyzed. Results: The median age at diagnosis was 49 years. Over a median follow-up of 22 months, 2-year estimates of relapse-free survival (RFS) and overall survival were 57.4% and 68.7%, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed a trend of improved RFS in patients with chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) (hazard ratio, 0.53; 95% confidence interval, 0.26–1.08; p=0.080). The cumulative incidences of relapse and non-relapse mortality were 42.9% and 19.6%, respectively and one case of central nervous system relapse was noted. No hepatic veno-occlusive disease was reported. Grade II–IV acute GVHD and any grade chronic GVHD occurred in 21.1% and 41.7%, respectively. Conclusion RIC with busulfan and fludarabine is an effective and safe conditioning regimen for adult ALL patients unfit for myeloablation.

Intramuscular lipomas are benign adipose tumors of the soft tissues that may resemble liposarcomas because of their size, deep location, and occasionally infiltrative growth. An awareness of their existence is fundamental to treating them correctly, and their differential diagnosis from liposarcoma is essential. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a useful diagnostic tool to differentiate benign adipose tumors from liposarcoma. Marginal excision and biopsy are required for the definite diagnosis and the treatment of symptomatic intramuscular lipomas. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first report in South Korea regarding the treatment of an intramuscular giant lipoma of the ankle.