Reporting a measurement procedure and its analytical performance following method evaluation in a peer-reviewed journal is an important means for clinical laboratory practitioners to share their findings. It also represents an important source of evidence base to help others make informed decisions about their practice. At present, there are significant variations in the information reported in laboratory medicine journal publications describing the analytical performance of measurement procedures. These variations also challenge authors, readers, reviewers, and editors in deciding the quality of a submitted manuscript. The International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine Working Group on Method Evaluation Protocols (IFCC WG-MEP) developed a checklist and recommends its adoption to enable a consistent approach to reporting method evaluation and analytical performance characteristics of measurement procedures in laboratory medicine journals. It is envisioned that the Laboratory Evaluation and Analytical Performance Characteristics (LEAP) checklist will improve the standardisation of journal publications describing method evaluation and analytical performance characteristics, improving the quality of the evidence base that is relied upon by practitioners.

Objectives: To evaluate the association of illicit drug use with bone mineral density (BMD) and hip geometric parameters at the narrow neck. Methods: This is a cross-sectional matched cohort study conducted in the Hong Kong Chinese population. Associations with illicit drug use were estimated using linear regression for BMD (lumbar spine and femoral neck) and hip geometrical parameters (cross-sectional area [CSA], cross-sectional moment of inertia [CSMI], section modulus [SM], average cortical thickness [ACT] and BMD at the narrow neck) after adjusting for age, body mass index (BMI), smoking status, drinking status, physical activity, and history of antipsychotic and antidepressant use. Mean difference and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated between 108 illicit drug users and 108 controls using an adjusted linear model and cluster-robust standard errors after matching by age and sex. The false discovery rate was used to correct for multiple testing. Results: Illicit drug users had a significantly lower BMD (g/cm2 ) at the lumbar spine (mean difference: -0.062; 95% CI: -0.108 to − 0.015), and femoral neck (mean difference: -0.058; 95% CI: -0.106 to − 0.010) in the fully adjusted model. Illicit drug users also had a significantly lower CSA (mean difference: -0.238 cm2 ; 95% CI: -0.462 to − 0.013), ACT (mean difference: -0.018 cm; 95% CI: -0.030 to − 0.006) and BMD (mean difference: -0.070 g/ cm2 ; 95% CI: -0.128 to − 0.012) at the narrow neck. Conclusions Illicit drug use is associated with lower BMD and bone strength. Future studies evaluating the risk of illicit drug use with fragility fracture are warranted.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to assess the results of the autologous osteochondral grafting for the osteochondral lesion of the talus. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study included 21 patient who had been treated with the open autologous osteochondral grafting between December, 1999 and December 2003. We treated the patients with autologous osteochondral grafting method who had the lesion of stage II or medial lesion of stage III without improvement for at least 6 months, the medial lesion of stage IV, the lateral lesion of stage III, IV by Berndt and Harty's classification or who had not improved with previous operation. The average duration of follow up was 26 (12-56) months. 6 patients had been treated with the previous operation that 3 patients with drilling, 3 patients excision, curettage and drilling. RESULTS: The average AOFAS Ankle/Hindfoot score was 92.7 points and no patient had a limitation of the daily activities due to pain or abnormal function. Postoperative radiography showed good joint congruency and postoperative MRI good incorporation of the graft. The average Lysholm knee score was 96 points and only two patients had mild knee pain during severe exertion. CONCLUSION: The autologous osteochondral grafting is the useful operative method when the lesion is advanced stage or when previous operative treatment has failed.
Classification ; Curettage ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Joints ; Knee ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Radiography ; Talus* ; Transplants*

STUDY DESIGN: A prospective study OBJECTIVES: To analyze the serial results of selective nerve root blocks in herniated lumbar disc patients. LITERATURE REVIEW SUMMARY: To our knowledge there has been no study demonstrating the serial efficacy of root blocks for patients with a herniated lumbar disc only. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Selective nerve root blocks were performed in 36 patients who had a lumbar disc herniation only, with radiculopathy, between November 2002 and April 2003. The diagnoses were made by CT or MRI, which agreed with the symptoms and physical examinations. There were 31 men and 5 women, with a mean age of 28.2 years. The mean interval between the onset and procedure was 7.6 weeks, ranging from 1 to 26 weeks. Mono- and double-segment injections were used in 18 cases, respectwely. The straight leg raising angle, visual analogue pain scale, and motor and sensory functions were investigated before, immediately, 2 days, and 1 and 3 months after the procedure. RESULTS: The mean straight leg raising angle improved significantly, from 28+/-9 degrees to 53+/-18 degrees, immediately, and was maintained until 3 months after the procedure (P<0.001). The visual analogue pain scale was also improved, from 4.6+/-0.9 to 2.0+/-1.5, immediately, and was maintained until 3 months after the procedure (P<0.001). Two of ten patients with motor weakness, and six of eighteen with sensory deficit were improved. There was no procedure related complication; however, surgical treatment was performed in two patients who showed no improvement until 3 months. CONCLUSIONS: Selective nerve root block is a safe and effective treatment method to obtain a rapid and remarkable improvement of radiculopathy in herniated lumbar disc patients.
Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Leg ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Pain Measurement ; Physical Examination ; Prospective Studies ; Radiculopathy ; Sensation

STUDY DESIGN: A prospective study OBJECTIVES: To analyze the serial results of selective nerve root blocks in herniated lumbar disc patients. LITERATURE REVIEW SUMMARY: To our knowledge there has been no study demonstrating the serial efficacy of root blocks for patients with a herniated lumbar disc only. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Selective nerve root blocks were performed in 36 patients who had a lumbar disc herniation only, with radiculopathy, between November 2002 and April 2003. The diagnoses were made by CT or MRI, which agreed with the symptoms and physical examinations. There were 31 men and 5 women, with a mean age of 28.2 years. The mean interval between the onset and procedure was 7.6 weeks, ranging from 1 to 26 weeks. Mono- and double-segment injections were used in 18 cases, respectwely. The straight leg raising angle, visual analogue pain scale, and motor and sensory functions were investigated before, immediately, 2 days, and 1 and 3 months after the procedure. RESULTS: The mean straight leg raising angle improved significantly, from 28+/-9 degrees to 53+/-18 degrees, immediately, and was maintained until 3 months after the procedure (P<0.001). The visual analogue pain scale was also improved, from 4.6+/-0.9 to 2.0+/-1.5, immediately, and was maintained until 3 months after the procedure (P<0.001). Two of ten patients with motor weakness, and six of eighteen with sensory deficit were improved. There was no procedure related complication; however, surgical treatment was performed in two patients who showed no improvement until 3 months. CONCLUSIONS: Selective nerve root block is a safe and effective treatment method to obtain a rapid and remarkable improvement of radiculopathy in herniated lumbar disc patients.
Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Leg ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Pain Measurement ; Physical Examination ; Prospective Studies ; Radiculopathy ; Sensation

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to estimate the true recurrence rate of lumbar disc herniation after open discectomy, and to compare these results with those from other studies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From January 1992 to June 2002, the medical records and radiological findings, including a telephone survey were studied retrospectively. This study examined 306 cases, who had been operated by an open discectomy on a single level and had no other spinal lesions such as spondylolisthesis, spondylolysis, or spinal stenosis. MRI was used to confirm the diagnosis of a lumbar disc herniation in all cases. The recurrence of lumbar disc herniation was diagnosed only in those cases who had the same pattern of symptoms and was confirmed by MRI. The cases who had undergone additional surgery at another hospital at the same spinal level were also included as recurrence. In order to make up for weak points such the losses to a long term follow-up, statistical survival analysis was carried out using a life table method. In the life table method, the assumption is that all patients undergo surgery simultaneously. The longest follow-up duration was 11 years. RESULTS: In 252 of the 306 cases (82%), follow-up study was possible. The average duration of the follow-up was 5.9 years (from 1 to 11 years). The average age of the patients was 27.1 years (17 to 75), and the male to female ratio was 11.6: 1. The most common lesion of lumbar disc herniation was L4-5 (74%) at the initial diagnosis. The simple recurrence rate was 8.3% (21 cases) using the conventional method, in which the cases lost to follow-up were excluded. Survival analysis showed that, the annual recurrence rate was highest at the first year postoperatively as 3.4%, but decreased with time. At the last follow-up of 11 years, the cumulative survival rate was 88.9% and the recurrence rate was estimated to be 11.1% at final stage. CONCLUSION: Using survival analysis, the true rate of a recurrence of lumbar disc herniation after an open discectomy calculated. Even though the annual recurrence rate decreased with time, the true recurrence rate using the conventional method may be higher than the results obtained suggest.
Diagnosis ; Diskectomy* ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Life Tables ; Lost to Follow-Up ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Medical Records ; Recurrence* ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Stenosis ; Spondylolisthesis ; Spondylolysis ; Survival Analysis* ; Survival Rate ; Telephone

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare the arthroscopic findings between autograft group and allograft group minimal 1 year after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From Jul. 1999 to Feb. 2002, we performed second look arthroscopy to 55 patients(60 knees), who had already received anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction minimal 1 years ago(average 16 months) in our hospital. All patients visited our hospital just for removal of tibial hardware. Among 60 knees, 24 cases had operated using bone-patellar tendon-bone autograft(group 1), 36 cases using Achilles tendon allograft(group 2). We evaluated the clinical results by instability, subjective complaint and level of activity. Also we analyzed the second look arthroscopic findings by graft revascularization, fissuring, laxity and intraarticular general status. RESULTS: There was no differene in clinical results except 2 patients who complained mild anterior knee pain in group 1. At second look arthroscopy, well vascularized cases were 13 cases(54%) in group 1 and 15 cases(41%) in group 2 respectively. Fissuring of graft was more prominent in group 2(5 cases, 14%) rather than group 1(3 cases, 9%). Fibrous tissue formation around graft was found in 3 cases(14%) of group 1 and 7 cases(20%) of group2. According to Outerbridge grading system of articular cartilage, more than grade II change in patellofemoral joint were detected more prominently in group 1(7 cases, 32%) than group 2(7 cases, 21%). CONCLUSION: In clinical results, there was no difference between Achilles allograft and Bone-Patellar tendon-Bone autograft used for reconstruction of anterior cruciate ligament. On second look arthroscopy, patellofemoral arthrosis was more prominent in autograft group, but revascularization of graft and the change of perigraft tissue showed more favorable result.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to provide the basic data for the anatomy of distal femur by real measurement, to determine the morphologic fit between the distal femur of Koreans and the femoral prostheses in total knee arthroplasty. MATERIALS AND METHODS: For 173 knees of 117 patients who underwent total knee arthroplasty, we measured the mediolateral width and the anteroposterior height of the distal femur during operation. RESULTS: The average mediolateral width of the distal femur was 68.4+/-4.3 mm, and the average anteroposterior height of the medial and lateral condyle were 59.0+/-4.7 mm and 60.8+/-4.0 mm respectively. the distal femurs of Koreans are smaller on average than the femoral prostheses used in Korea. The average ratio of height to width of the distal femur is 0.86+/-0.07, but the ratios of the five different kinds of femoral prostheses were not constant. So discrepancy between the ratio of the distal femur and the femoral prosthesis results in poor bony coverage. CONCLUSION: A more adequate femoral prosthesis is required to improve the compatibility to the distal femur. These results should contribute to the development of new model of femoral prosthesis for Koreans.
Arthroplasty* ; Femur* ; Humans ; Knee* ; Korea ; Prostheses and Implants*

PURPOSE: This study was evaluated to find out meaning of patellofemoral alignment related to anterior knee pain using computed tomographic image. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study include 32 cases, 21 persons as a patient group which had been treated due to anterior knee pain related to tight lateral retinaculum from Jan. 1999 to Dec. 1999 and 36 cases, 18 persons as a control group which had no history of anterior knee pain and no abnormal finding malalignment by physical examination. Patellofemoral alignment was evaluated by measuring sulcus angle, congruence angle and lateral patellofemoral angle using computed tomographic images in 0 degrees and 20 degrees knee flexion patellofemoral alignment of the patient group was compared with that of the control group statistically. All 32 cases of the patient group had an arthroscopic lateral release and the patellofemoral alignment was rechecked on computed tomographic images. RESULTS: There was statistically difference between the average measurement of patient group and that of the control group on the computed tomographic images in 0degree and 20degree flexion of the knee. Also the average measurement after lateral release in patient group was corrected significantly. CONCLUSION: Laterally aligned patella during 0 degrees and 20 degrees knee flexion in computed tomographic should not be considered as normal variation but as pathologic condition related to anterior knee pain.
Humans ; Knee ; Patella* ; Physical Examination

Avulsion of the pectoralis major muscle is a rare injury, with only about 20 cases reported in literature. Most cases occur in a younger, more athletic population. The object of this paper is to report our experience of a complete avulsion of the pectoralis major muscle from the insertion site of the proximal humerus and we obtained excellent result with immediate surgical repair and rehabilitation.
Humerus ; Rehabilitation ; Sports ; Tendons*