Purpose: The impact of postoperative nutritional status on clinical outcomes and biomechanics following total knee arthroplasty remains largely unknown. This study aimed to assess this question using the prognostic nutritional index to evaluate the nutritional status of orthopedic participants. Methods: Patients with knee osteoarthritis who underwent total knee arthroplasty (n=49) in Japan were divided into two groups based on their 1-week postoperative prognostic nutritional index. Group L patients had a prognostic nutritional index <40, whereas Group H comprised patients with a prognostic nutritional index ≥40. Postoperative improvements in Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score were evaluated. The patients performed squats under single-fluoroscopic surveillance in the sagittal plane for biomechanical evaluation. A two-dimensional/three-dimensional registration technique was employed to measure the tibiofemoral kinematics. The axial rotation of the femoral component relative to the tibial component and the anteroposterior translation of the medial and lateral femorotibial contact points were measured. Results: Group H showed significantly higher pain scores than Group L at 12 and 36 months postoperatively and a significantly higher symptom score at 36 months postoperatively. The kinematic comparison revealed that the axial external rotation in Group L was larger than that in Group H from 70° to 80° with flexion. Moreover, in the medial anteroposterior translation, Group L was more anteriorly located than Group H, with flexion beyond 30°. Conclusion The results suggest that a high postoperative nutritional status significantly improved pain and other symptoms and was associated with better knee biomechanics following total knee arthroplasty.

Purpose: The impact of postoperative nutritional status on clinical outcomes and biomechanics following total knee arthroplasty remains largely unknown. This study aimed to assess this question using the prognostic nutritional index to evaluate the nutritional status of orthopedic participants. Methods: Patients with knee osteoarthritis who underwent total knee arthroplasty (n=49) in Japan were divided into two groups based on their 1-week postoperative prognostic nutritional index. Group L patients had a prognostic nutritional index <40, whereas Group H comprised patients with a prognostic nutritional index ≥40. Postoperative improvements in Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score were evaluated. The patients performed squats under single-fluoroscopic surveillance in the sagittal plane for biomechanical evaluation. A two-dimensional/three-dimensional registration technique was employed to measure the tibiofemoral kinematics. The axial rotation of the femoral component relative to the tibial component and the anteroposterior translation of the medial and lateral femorotibial contact points were measured. Results: Group H showed significantly higher pain scores than Group L at 12 and 36 months postoperatively and a significantly higher symptom score at 36 months postoperatively. The kinematic comparison revealed that the axial external rotation in Group L was larger than that in Group H from 70° to 80° with flexion. Moreover, in the medial anteroposterior translation, Group L was more anteriorly located than Group H, with flexion beyond 30°. Conclusion The results suggest that a high postoperative nutritional status significantly improved pain and other symptoms and was associated with better knee biomechanics following total knee arthroplasty.

Purpose: The impact of postoperative nutritional status on clinical outcomes and biomechanics following total knee arthroplasty remains largely unknown. This study aimed to assess this question using the prognostic nutritional index to evaluate the nutritional status of orthopedic participants. Methods: Patients with knee osteoarthritis who underwent total knee arthroplasty (n=49) in Japan were divided into two groups based on their 1-week postoperative prognostic nutritional index. Group L patients had a prognostic nutritional index <40, whereas Group H comprised patients with a prognostic nutritional index ≥40. Postoperative improvements in Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score were evaluated. The patients performed squats under single-fluoroscopic surveillance in the sagittal plane for biomechanical evaluation. A two-dimensional/three-dimensional registration technique was employed to measure the tibiofemoral kinematics. The axial rotation of the femoral component relative to the tibial component and the anteroposterior translation of the medial and lateral femorotibial contact points were measured. Results: Group H showed significantly higher pain scores than Group L at 12 and 36 months postoperatively and a significantly higher symptom score at 36 months postoperatively. The kinematic comparison revealed that the axial external rotation in Group L was larger than that in Group H from 70° to 80° with flexion. Moreover, in the medial anteroposterior translation, Group L was more anteriorly located than Group H, with flexion beyond 30°. Conclusion The results suggest that a high postoperative nutritional status significantly improved pain and other symptoms and was associated with better knee biomechanics following total knee arthroplasty.

Purpose: The impact of postoperative nutritional status on clinical outcomes and biomechanics following total knee arthroplasty remains largely unknown. This study aimed to assess this question using the prognostic nutritional index to evaluate the nutritional status of orthopedic participants. Methods: Patients with knee osteoarthritis who underwent total knee arthroplasty (n=49) in Japan were divided into two groups based on their 1-week postoperative prognostic nutritional index. Group L patients had a prognostic nutritional index <40, whereas Group H comprised patients with a prognostic nutritional index ≥40. Postoperative improvements in Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score were evaluated. The patients performed squats under single-fluoroscopic surveillance in the sagittal plane for biomechanical evaluation. A two-dimensional/three-dimensional registration technique was employed to measure the tibiofemoral kinematics. The axial rotation of the femoral component relative to the tibial component and the anteroposterior translation of the medial and lateral femorotibial contact points were measured. Results: Group H showed significantly higher pain scores than Group L at 12 and 36 months postoperatively and a significantly higher symptom score at 36 months postoperatively. The kinematic comparison revealed that the axial external rotation in Group L was larger than that in Group H from 70° to 80° with flexion. Moreover, in the medial anteroposterior translation, Group L was more anteriorly located than Group H, with flexion beyond 30°. Conclusion The results suggest that a high postoperative nutritional status significantly improved pain and other symptoms and was associated with better knee biomechanics following total knee arthroplasty.

Purpose: The impact of postoperative nutritional status on clinical outcomes and biomechanics following total knee arthroplasty remains largely unknown. This study aimed to assess this question using the prognostic nutritional index to evaluate the nutritional status of orthopedic participants. Methods: Patients with knee osteoarthritis who underwent total knee arthroplasty (n=49) in Japan were divided into two groups based on their 1-week postoperative prognostic nutritional index. Group L patients had a prognostic nutritional index <40, whereas Group H comprised patients with a prognostic nutritional index ≥40. Postoperative improvements in Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score were evaluated. The patients performed squats under single-fluoroscopic surveillance in the sagittal plane for biomechanical evaluation. A two-dimensional/three-dimensional registration technique was employed to measure the tibiofemoral kinematics. The axial rotation of the femoral component relative to the tibial component and the anteroposterior translation of the medial and lateral femorotibial contact points were measured. Results: Group H showed significantly higher pain scores than Group L at 12 and 36 months postoperatively and a significantly higher symptom score at 36 months postoperatively. The kinematic comparison revealed that the axial external rotation in Group L was larger than that in Group H from 70° to 80° with flexion. Moreover, in the medial anteroposterior translation, Group L was more anteriorly located than Group H, with flexion beyond 30°. Conclusion The results suggest that a high postoperative nutritional status significantly improved pain and other symptoms and was associated with better knee biomechanics following total knee arthroplasty.

Background: A micro-arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is a minute, short shunt between an artery and a vein that does not pass through a capillary. We investigated the association between micro-AVFs and lymphedema using computed tomography angiography (CTA) and venous blood gas analysis.
Methods: In 95 patients with lower limb lymphedema, the presence or absence of early venous return (EVR) was compared between patients with primary and secondary lymphedema. Furthermore, we investigated the difference in the timing of edema onset in patients with secondary lymphedema with or without EVR using CTA. In 20 patients with lower limb lymphedema with confirmed early EVR in a unilateral lower limb, the partial pressure of oxygen (PO2) was compared between the lower limb with EVR and the contralateral lower limb.
Results: Secondary lymphedema with or without EVR occurred at an average of 36.0±59.3 months and 93.5±136.1 months, respectively; however, no significant difference was noted. PO2 was 57.6±11.7 mmHg and 44.1±16.4 mmHg in the EVR and non-EVR limbs, respectively, which was a significant difference (P=0.005).
Conclusions EVR and venous blood gas analysis suggested the presence of micro-AVFs in patients with lower extremity edema. Further research is warranted to examine the cause of micro-AVFs, to advance technology to facilitate the confirmation of micro-AVFs by angiography, and to improve lymphedema by ligation of micro-AVFs.

Objective: Whether or not emergent decompression/fusion surgery for paralysis caused by metastatic spinal tumors of unknown origin improves patient neurological outcome and survival remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical outcomes of emergent decompression/fusion surgery for paralysis caused by spinal tumors of unknown or not previously diagnosed origin.Patients and Methods: Data from the medical records of 11 patients with spinal tumors of unknown origin (study group) were compared with those of 15 patients with metastatic spinal tumors of known origin (control group). The outcome measures were postoperative performance status, motor function evaluated with the Frankel grade, and actual survival after surgery as compared with the estimated survival calculated using the Tokuhashi score. χ2 analyses were performed to evaluate differences between the groups.Results: The mean performance status was 3.6 preoperatively, which improved to 2.9 postoperatively (P<0.05), in the unknown origin group and 3.6 preoperatively, which improved to 2.7 postoperatively (P<0.05), in the control group. Seven patients (64%) in the unknown origin group showed improvement in paralysis by ≥1 Frankel grade. By contrast, only 4 patients (27%) in the control group showed improvement in paralysis. The unknown origin group tended to show better improvement (P=0.05). All the patients in the unknown origin group underwent adjuvant therapy after definitive diagnosis following surgery. The unknown origin group showed a slight tendency toward better survival than toward the estimated survival.Conclusion: Emergent decompression/fusion surgery for patients with paralysis caused by metastatic tumors of unknown origin is potentially useful for diagnosing tumor origin and improving neurological outcomes and performance status, and thus for extending survival.

BACKGROUND: Flap volume is an important factor for obtaining satisfactory symmetry in breast reconstruction with a transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous (TRAM) free flap. We aimed to develop an easy and simple method to estimate flap volume. METHODS: We performed a preoperative estimation of the TRAM flap volume in five patients with breast cancer who underwent 2-stage breast reconstruction following an immediate tissue expander operation after a simple mastectomy. We measured the height and width of each flap zone using a ruler and measured the tissue thickness by ultrasound. The volume of each zone, approximated as a triangular or square prism, was then calculated. The zone volumes were summed to obtain the total calculated volume of the TRAM flap. We then determined the width of zone II, so that the calculated flap volume was equal to the required flap volume (1.2×1.05×the weight of the resected mastectomy tissue). The TRAM flap was transferred vertically so that zone III was located on the upper side, and zone II was trimmed in the sitting position after vascular anastomosis. We compared the estimated flap width of zone II (=X) with the actual flap width of zone II. RESULTS: X was similar to the actual measured width. Accurate volume replacement with the TRAM flap resulted in good symmetry in all cases. CONCLUSIONS: The volume of a free TRAM flap can be straightforwardly estimated preoperatively using the method presented here, with ultrasound, ruler, and simple calculations, and this technique may help reduced the time required for precise flap tailoring.
Breast Neoplasms ; Breast* ; Diagnostic Imaging ; Female ; Free Tissue Flaps* ; Humans ; Mammaplasty* ; Mammary Glands, Human ; Mastectomy ; Mastectomy, Simple ; Methods ; Rectus Abdominis* ; Tissue Expansion Devices* ; Ultrasonography

　　[Purpose] We introduced subcutaneous suture with a synthetic absorption thread and examined its efficacy on surgical site infection after pancreaticduodenectomy (PD). [Method] In hour hospitals, PD was performed in a total of 69 cases from March 2006 through March 2014. They was divided into two groups-one consisting of 31 cases in which the skin wounds with staplers (non-subcutaneous suture group), and the other consisting of 38 cases in which surgical wounds were closed with subcutaneous sutures (subcutaneous suture group), and the incidence of surgical site infection (SSI) were compared between the two groups. [Result] Incidence of surface SSI occurred in eight cases (21.0%) in the non- subcutaneous suture group and three cases (9.7%) in the subcutaneous suture group (p＝0.17). The incidence of SSI was decreased in the subcutaneous suture group than in the non-subcutaneous suture group, but no statistically significant difference was observed between the two groups. However, taking into account the advantages such as the reduction of patient’s medical expenses, and the burden of ward duties, further examination with an additional number of patients was thought to be necessary.

No abstract available.
Cyclosporine/*therapeutic use ; *Drug Resistance ; Drug Substitution ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Female ; Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents/*therapeutic use ; Middle Aged ; Prednisolone/therapeutic use ; Still's Disease, Adult-Onset/blood/diagnosis/*drug therapy/immunology ; Tacrolimus/*therapeutic use ; Time Factors ; Treatment Outcome