Purpose: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a major complication for hip fracture patients, and may exist preoperatively. This study aimed to examine the prevalence of VTE after immediate screening in hip fracture patients. Materials and Methods: Hip fracture patients with an elevated level of D-dimer underwent screening for VTE using computed tomography (CT) angiography. Anticoagulation treatments were administered preoperatively to patients diagnosed with VTE, followed by administration of additional anticoagulation postoperatively. Medical records were reviewed to identify risk factors for preoperative VTE and determine the prognosis of the patients. Results: Among 524 hip fracture patients, 66 patients (12.6%) were diagnosed with VTE, including 42 patients with deep vein thrombosis (DVT), 17 patients with pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE), and 7 patients with both DVT and PTE. Of the patients with VTE, 68.2% were diagnosed within 24 hours of injury, and 33.3% of these patients had PTE. VTE patients showed a tendency toward being overweight (P<0.01) and not on anticoagulant medication (P=0.02) compared to patients without VTE. The risk of VTE was higher for femur shaft fractures (odds ratio [OR] 4.83, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.18-10.69) and overweight patients (OR 2.12, 95% CI 1.17-3.85), and lower for patients who were previously on anticoagulants (OR 0.36, 95% CI 0.18-0.74). Patients with preoperatively diagnosed VTE were asymptomatic before and after surgery. Conclusion Clinicians should be aware that VTE may be present within 24 hours of injury, and screening for VTE or prophylactic measures should be considered for high-risk patients.

Objective: To investigate the clinical features and associated underlying conditions of isolated tuberculous myositis (ITBM), a rare extrapulmonary tuberculosis (TB). Methods: A systematic literature search and a multicenter survey were performed using a triangulation strategy. Data from the identified ITBM cases were extracted and analyzed to determine the underlying conditions, clinical presentations, treatments, and outcomes. Results: Based on the systematic review, we identified 58 ITBM, including 9 pediatric, cases in the literature published from 1981 to 2021: 25 (43.1%) immunocompromised and 33 (56.9%) non-immunocompromised patients. Immunocompromised cases had a significant shorter symptom duration (median 30.0 vs. 75.0 days) and a higher prevalence of multilocular involvement (20.8% vs. 0%). Among 24 immunocompromised adult patients, dermatomyositis/polymyositis (DM/PM; n=10, 41.7%) were the most common underlying diseases in adults with ITBM identified in the systematic review. Over the past 20 years, 11 Korean adults with ITBM were identified in the multicenter survey. Of 7 immunocompromised cases, two (28.6%) were DM/PM patients. TB death rate of immunocompromised patients was 0.0% and 5/23 (21.7%) in the pediatric and adult ITBM cases identified in the systematic review, respectively, and 3/7 (42.9%) in survey-identified ITBM cases. Conclusion ITBM has a unique clinical presentation including fever, tenderness, local swelling, overlying erythema, abscess formation and was associated with a grave outcome, especially in immunocompromised hosts. DM/PM was a highly prevalent underlying disease in both systematic review-identified and survey-identified immunocompromised ITBM patients.

Periprosthetic bone loss may lead to major complications in hip arthroplasty, including aseptic loosening, implant migration, and even periprosthetic fracture. Such a complication leads to revision surgeries, which are expensive, technically demanding, and result in a low satisfaction rate. Therefore, a study was conducted of the factors affecting the periprosthetic bone loss around the stem that caused these complications. Factors influencing periprosthetic bone loss include demographic factors such as age, sex, obesity, smoking, and comorbidity including diabetes and osteoporosis. The implant design and fixation method are also factors that are determined before surgery. In addition, there are surgical factors, such as surgical approach and surgical technique, and we wish to investigate the factors affecting periprosthetic bone loss around the stem by comparing the effects of postoperative rehabilitation protocols and osteoporosis drugs.

To develop a clinical practice guideline for vaccination in patients with autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic disease (AIIRD), the Korean College of Rheumatology and theKorean Society of Infectious Diseases developed a clinical practice guideline according to the clinical practice guideline development manual. Since vaccination is unlikely to cause AIIRD or worsen disease activities, required vaccinations are recommended. Once patients are diagnosed with AIIRD, treatment strategies should be established and, at the same time, monitor their vaccination history. It is recommended to administer vaccines when the disease enters the stabilized stage. Administering live attenuated vaccines in patients with AIIRD who are taking immunosuppressants should be avoided. Vaccination should be considered in patients with AIIRD, prior to initiating immunosuppressants. It is recommended to administer influenza, Streptococcus pneumoniae, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, herpes zoster, measlesmumps- rubella virus, human papillomavirus, and tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis vaccines in patients with AIIRD; such patients who planned to travel are generally recommended to be vaccinated at the recommended vaccine level of healthy adults. Those who live in a household with patients with AIIRD and their caregivers should also be vaccinated at levels that are generally recommended for healthy adults.

Femoral neck stress fractures are rare and when treating are difficult to achieve favorable outcomes. This study characterizes outcomes associated with the use of cephalomedullary nails for fixation of Pauwels type-3 vertical femoral neck undisplaced-incomplete insufficiency fractures. Four consecutive patients with a Pauwels type-3 vertical femoral neck tensile insufficiency fracture from 2016 to 2018 were reviewed. Magnetic resonance imaging data revealed tensile visible fracture lines and hip-joint effusions with a high shear angle. For all patients, bone mineral density and vitamin D levels were low; vitamin D therapy was initiated immediately. Surgical procedures were conducted with cephalomedullary nails (Gamma 3 locking nail system; Stryker) under general anesthesia. A cephalomedullary nail appears to be a safe and effective alternative to the use of multiple parallel screws or a sliding hip screw for fixation of vertical femoral neck stress fractures (level of evidence: Level V).

Background: We purposed to evaluate the seasonality and associated factors of the incidence of gout attacks in Korea. Methods: We prospectively enrolled patients with gout attacks who were treated at nine rheumatology clinics between January 2015 and July 2018 and followed them for 1-year. Demographic data, clinical and laboratory features, and meteorological data including seasonality were collected. Results: Two hundred-five patients (men, 94.1%) were enrolled. The proportion of patients with initial gout attacks was 46.8% (n = 96). The median age, body mass index, attack duration, and serum uric acid level at enrollment were 50.0 years, 25.4, 5.0 days, and 7.4 mg/dL, respectively. Gout attacks were most common during spring (43.4%, P < 0.001) and in March (23.4%, P < 0.001). A similar pattern of seasonality was observed in the group with initial gout attacks. Alcohol was the most common provoking factor (39.0%), particularly during summer (50.0%). The median diurnal temperature change on the day of the attack was highest in the spring (9.8°C), followed by winter (9.3°C), fall (8.6°C), and summer (7.1°C) (P = 0.027). The median change in humidity between the 2 consecutive days (the day before and the day of the attack) was significantly different among the seasons (3.0%, spring; 0.3%, summer; −0.9%, fall; −1.2%, winter; P = 0.015). One hundred twenty-five (61%) patients completed 1-year follow-up (51% in the initial attack group). During the follow-up period, 64 gout flares developed (21 in the initial attack group). No significant seasonal variation in the follow-up flares was found. Conclusion In this prospective study, the most common season and month of gout attacks in Korea are spring and March, respectively. Alcohol is the most common provoking factor, particularly during summer. Diurnal temperature changes on the day of the attack and humidity changes from the day before the attack to the day of the attack are associated with gout attack in our cohort.

To develop a clinical practice guideline for vaccination in patients with autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic disease (AIIRD), the Korean College of Rheumatology and the Korean Society of Infectious Diseases developed a clinical practice guideline according to the clinical practice guideline development manual. Since vaccination is unlikely to cause AIIRD or worsen disease activities, required vaccinations are recommended. Once patients are diagnosed with AIIRD, treatment strategies should be established and, at the same time, monitor their vaccination history. It is recommended to administer vaccines when the disease enters the stabilized stage. Administering live attenuated vaccines in patients with AIIRD who are taking immunosuppressants should be avoided. Vaccination should be considered in patients with AIIRD, prior to initiating immunosuppressants. It is recommended to administer influenza, Streptococcus pneumoniae, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, herpes zoster, measles-mumps-rubella virus, human papillomavirus, and tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis vaccines in patients with AIIRD; such patients who planned to travel are generally recommended to be vaccinated at the recommended vaccine level of healthy adults. Those who live in a household with patients with AIIRD and their caregivers should also be vaccinated at levels that are generally recommended for healthy adults.

The volume of hip arthroplasty is stiffly increasing because of excellent clinical outcomes, however it has not been shown to decrease the incidence of transfusions due to bleeding related to this surgery. This is an important consideration since there are concerns about the side effects and social costs of transfusions. First, anemia should be assessed at least 30 days before elective hip arthroplasty, and if the subject is diagnosed as having anemia, an additional examination of the cause of the anemia should be carried and steps taken to address the anemia. Available iron treatments for anemia take 7 to 10 days to facilitate erythropoiesis, and preoperative iron supplementation, either oral or intravenous, is recommended. When using oral supplements for iron storage, administer elemental iron 100 mg daily for 2 to 6 weeks before surgery, and calculate the dose using intravenous supplement. Tranexamic acid (TXA) is a synthetic derivative of the lysine component, which reduces blood loss by inhibiting fibrinolysis and clot degradation. TXA is known to be an effective agent for reducing postoperative bleeding and reducing the need for transfusions in primary and revision total hip arthroplasties. Patient blood management has improved the clinical outcome after hip arthroplasty through the introduction and research of various agents, thereby reducing the need for allogeneic blood transfusions and reducing the risk of transfusion-related infections and the duration of hospitalizations.
Anemia ; Arthroplasty* ; Blood Transfusion ; Consensus* ; Erythropoiesis ; Fibrinolysis ; Hemorrhage ; Hip* ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Incidence ; Iron ; Lysine ; Tranexamic Acid

Arthritis damages the cartilage within joints, resulting in degenerative changes, including loss of function and joint instability. Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory condition affecting the spine and bone-to-tendon attachment area within the sacroiliac joint leading to back pain and progressive spinal stiffness. In the final stages, AS causes hyperkyphosis-a condition closely tied to the human leukocyte antigen-B27 gene. Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, systemic autoimmune disease characterized by the simultaneous inflammation of the synovium of multiple joints, leading to joint damage (e.g., destruction, deformation and disability). In the past, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or conventional disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARDs) have been used for the treatment of these autoimmune diseases, but biologic DMARDs have recently been introduced with excellent results. Gout is a chronic inflammatory disease that causes an alteration of joints resulting in severe pain. Specifically, gout is associated with an accumulation of uric acid within the body resulting from dysregulated purine metabolism, causing recurrent paroxysmal inflammation in the joints. Allopurinol and febuxostat are the primary treatment options for individuals with gout. It is necessary to have an accurate understanding of the pathogenesis, pathological ecology and treatment of AS, rheumatoid arthritis, and gouty arthritis, which are the representative diseases that may cause inflammatory arthritis.
Allopurinol ; Antirheumatic Agents ; Arthritis ; Arthritis, Gouty ; Arthritis, Reactive ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Autoimmune Diseases ; Back Pain ; Cartilage ; Diagnosis* ; Ecology ; Febuxostat ; Gout ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Joint Diseases* ; Joint Instability ; Joints* ; Leukocytes ; Metabolism ; Sacroiliac Joint ; Spine ; Spondylitis, Ankylosing ; Synovial Membrane ; Uric Acid

The object of this study was to evaluate the seasonality of gout in Korea. We retrospectively examined data from 330 patients seen at nine rheumatology clinics, treated with urate lowering therapy (ULT) more than one year after stopping prophylactic medication. Demographic data, clinical and laboratory features, and seasonality of gout onset and flares were collected. Season was classified in three-month intervals. The mean age was 52.2 yr and mean disease duration was 26.8 months. The male to female count was 318:12. The onset of acute gouty attacks was obtained in 256 patients. Gout developed most commonly in summer season (36.7%) (P<0.001) and in June (15.6%, P=0.002). During ULT, there were 147 (male 97.3%) gout flares. Although there was no statistically significant difference, gout flares were more common in summer (30.6%). Aggravating factors were identified in 57 flares: alcohol (72.0%) was most common. In the patients who attained target serum uric acid (<6 mg/dL) at the end of prophylaxis, gout flares were high in fall (35.8%) and September (17.0%). In Korea, the summer is most common season of gout onset and there is a tendency for gout flares to increase during ULT in summer/fall season.
Alcohol Drinking ; Arthritis, Gouty/drug therapy/*epidemiology ; Blood Pressure ; Body Mass Index ; Comorbidity ; Female ; Gout Suppressants/therapeutic use ; Humans ; Lipids/blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Proteinuria ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Retrospective Studies ; *Seasons ; *Symptom Flare Up ; Uric Acid/blood