PURPOSE: This study investigated the effect of COX-2 inhibitor on the expression of MMP-13 in the healing process of fracture. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Adult Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into two groups of twenty five rats each. Unilateral femoral shaft fractures were created artificially under displacement in all two groups. COX-2 inhibitor was only given to the experimental group from the postoperative day 1. At 2 weeks after fracture the rats were sacrificed and the callus from each group was used for histologic examination and real time RT-PCR for MMP-13 expression. RESULTS: Histologically, proliferation of osteoblasts and formation of osteoid was less abundant in the experimental group. In real time RT-PCR, the mean expression of MMP-13 is 2.84+/-2.50 in the control group compared with 1.16+/-1.05 in the experimental group. CONCLUSION: In the early stage of fracture healing, COX-2 inhibitor suppress the expression of MMP-13.
Adult ; Animals ; Bony Callus ; Displacement (Psychology) ; Fracture Healing ; Humans ; Osteoblasts ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

PURPOSE: To evaluate the long-term clinical and radiological results of the operative treatment of the acromioclavicular dislocation with a Wolter plate. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed clinical and radiological data of twenty patients (mean age: 37 years) who underwent the operative treatment of acromioclavicular joint dislocation using a Wolter plate from September, 1999 to December, 2002 with minimum of five years follow-up (average 6 years 7 months). The clinical outcomes of twenty patients were evaluated by UCLA scoring and radiological results of fifteen patients with available radiograph were evaluated by Zanca view and stress view. RESULTS: The mean UCLA score was mean 33 points (range, 27~35) at final follow up. By clinical evaluation, twelve cases (60%) were excellent, six cases (30%) were good and two cases were poor (10%). By radiological evaluation, eight cases (54%) were excellent (without displacement), five cases (33%) were good (displacement <5 mm) and two cases (13%) were poor (displacement >5 mm). Erosive change in acromioclavicular joint was seen in poor case. CONCLUSION: Wolter plate fixation may be a useful modality for treating acromioclavicular joint dislocation. Great care should be taken to make the hook hole at the appropriate position during operation for long-term prognosis.
Acromioclavicular Joint ; Dislocations ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Prognosis

STUDY DESIGN: A prospective, non-randomized study OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the early clinical results of percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy (PELD) and microdiscectomy (MD) using a tubular retractor. SUMMARY OF THE LITERATURE REVIEW: There are few reports comparing the clinical results of different minimal invasive surgical procedures for disc herniation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Out of 41 patients who underwent a discectomy at the L4-5 level, 16 patients (Group I) underwent PELD and 25 patients (Group II) underwent MD. The surgical techniques were based on the patient's selection. The characteristics of the operation(operation time, time for C-arm, amount of removed disc) were compared with the clinical outcomes by evaluating the SLR (straight leg raising test), leg VAS (visual analogue scale), ODI (Oswestry Disability Index), hospital day, changes in disc height. RESULTS: Group I showed a larger amount of disc removed and exposure time for the C-arm than group II (p<0.05). However, the hospital day was shorter in group I than in group II (p<0.05). There were no differences in the leg VAS, ODI, the change in disc height and surgery time between the two groups at the last follow up. One case in group I had a neuropraxia of the L5 root that had recovered fully at postoperative 3months. In group II, there was one case of a postoperative hematoma and 2 cases of a dural tear. CONCLUSION: Although the early clinical outcomes were similar in both groups, group I showed a larger amount of disc removed and more exposure time to radiation but a shorter hospital stay.
Diskectomy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hematoma ; Humans ; Leg ; Length of Stay ; Prospective Studies ; Tears

PURPOSE: The current study assessed the factors affecting outcomes of primary repair procedures in tears of multiple rotator cuff tendons. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Among the cases of rotator cuff tears involving two or more tendons receiving operations between 1997 and 2003, The clinical results of 19 cases with more than 2 years follow-up were evaluated by the UCLA score. We evaluated the correlation of trauma, active motion, acromiohumeral distance, tear size, and surface area with the UCLA score using Pearson's linear correlation coefficient (PLCC). RESULTS: UCLA scores increased significantly in all cases, from 9 to 26.1 on average. However, the results were good in 53%, and poor in 47% according to Ellman's criteria. Trauma, active elevation, acromiohumeral distance, and tear size did not correlate with the UCLA score, but the tear surface area was inversely correlated with the score (PLCC=- 0.696). Cases with degeneration of the infraspinatus muscle above Goutallier grade III on MRI showed worse results than cases with less degeneration. CONCLUSION: The clinical results of primary repair of rotator cuff tears involving multiple tendons were satisfactory in 53% of patients. Large tear surface area and severe degeneration of the infraspinatus were poor prognostic factors.
Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Rotator Cuff* ; Tendons*

The term "Neurolymphomatosis" includes the infiltration of the peripheral nervous system by lymphoma and nontumor lymphocytes. A neurolymphomatosis has not been classified as a distinct entity. Hence, its characteristic symptoms are often missed, and oncologists or neurological consultants fail to obtain an accurate diagnoses. We encountered a case of non-Hodgkins lymphoma involving the sciatic nerve, which has never been reported in the orthopedic literature in Korea. We report a case of neurolymphomatosis with a brief review of the literature.
Animals ; Consultants ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Korea ; Lymphocytes ; Lymphoma ; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin ; Marek Disease* ; Orthopedics ; Peripheral Nervous System ; Sciatic Nerve*

There are few reports of the failure mode of a dynamic hip screw with a trochanteric stabilizing plate (TSP) in the treatment of unstable proximal femur fractures. We present 3 cases of fixation failure of a TSP used to treat unstable intertrochanteric fractures. All cases had the same type of failure mode, which represented a fatigue fracture of the distal screw at the junction of a plate and screw. Non-union occurred in 2 cases, and one case was an incidental finding 4 years after union. Biomechanical analysis and SEM (scanning electron micrograph) examination was also performed. Adding TSP to the plate might increase the level of shear stress and slip motion in the distal screw followed by a fatigue fracture. SEM of the surface of the broken screw revealed a multiple cycle and low stress fatigue fracture. Recommendations are made regarding the implant design and surgical technique.
Femur* ; Fractures, Stress ; Hip Fractures ; Hip* ; Incidental Findings

PURPOSE: To determine the suitability of using a chatoyant-collagen sponge as a scaffold for transplanting a chondrocyte into a full-thickness articular cartilage defect. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The in vitro characterization of a chatoyant-collagen sponge infiltrated with the chondrocyte was combined with an in vivo assessment of the early articular cartilage repair in a rabbit's knee by H&E and MTT staining. These porous chatoyant-collagen sponges were implanted into the osteochondral defects made in the left patellofemoral grooves of 12 rabbits. The osteochondral defects were untreated in the right side and used as controls. The experimental animals were sacrificed 1, 3, 6 and 12 weeks after implantation and the repaired tissue was evaluated by a gross and histological evaluation using the Wakitani score. RESULTS: More primary cells cultured from the articular cartilage of the rabbit's knee were found to attach to and survive within a porous chatoyant-collagen sponge than with a chatoyant sponge. In gross and histological examination, the experimental group showed indications of repair, which appeared similar in color and texture to the surrounding articular cartilage. The Wakitani scoring in the experimental group at 6 (Ave. 10.7) and 12 (Ave. 7.3) weeks were superior to those in the control group at 6 (Ave. 8.7) and 12 (Ave. 3.7) weeks (6 wk: p=0.03, 12 wk: p=0.02). CONCLUSION: Scaffolds composed of porous a chatoyant-collagen sponge enhance the growth of cartilaginous repair and make a milieu for the survival of chondrogenic cells both in vitro and in vivo.
Animals ; Cartilage, Articular ; Chondrocytes ; Knee* ; Porifera* ; Rabbits ; Transplantation

PURPOSE: Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-13 has a degradation effect on type II collagen and is expressed in osteoblastic cells and hypertrophic chondrocytes. However, the role of MMP-13 is not completely understood. This study investigated the effect of exogenous Hyaluronic acid (HA) on the expression of MMP-13 in the healing process of bone defects. MATERIALS AND METHODS: After making a bone defect in the metaphysis of the distal femur in rats, HA was instilled into the defect in the experimental group. In the control group, a bone defect was made but HA was not instilled. Two weeks after the experiment, the rats were sacrificed and the callus that filled the bone defects was obtained. A histological examination and real time reverse transcription polymeric chain reaction (RT-PCR) were performed to investigate the healing response and expression of MMP-13. RESULTS: Histologically, the proliferation of osteoblasts and the formation of osteoid were more active in the experimental group. Nevertheless, the level of MMP-13 expression was significantly lower in the experimental group than in the control group. CONCLUSION: From the results of this study, it appears that exogenous HA inhibits the expression of MMP-13 at the early stage of bone healing.
Animals ; Bony Callus ; Chondrocytes ; Collagen Type II ; Femur ; Hyaluronic Acid* ; Osteoblasts ; Polymers ; Rats* ; Reverse Transcription

PURPOSE: To investigate the proper insertion site for a tibial intramedullary nail in the Korean. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty volunteers without trauma below knee joint were studied to determine relationship between central axis of medullary canal and lateral tibial spine, patellar tendon and the proper insertion site, and to evaluation changes of proper insertion site during rotation of knee and effective diameter. RESULTS: The proper insertion site located average 4.3+/-0.9 mm medial to the lateral tibial spine. The proper insertion site was in the medial 1/3 of patellar tendon in 6 knees, middle 1/3 of patellar tendon in 20 knees, and lateral 1/3 of patellar tendon in 14 knees. The proper insertion site might be changed two times in internal rotation more than in external rotation. The effective diameter was more narrow in medial slope than in lateral slope at proximal tibia. CONCLUSION: The study indicates the ideal insertion site of tibial nail is the medial aspect of the lateral tibial spine in Korean. To reduce the mal-reduction from a improper insertion site, lateral insertion site might be safer than medial one. However, individual variations in the relationship between the patellar tendon and tibial medullary canal should be considered.
Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Knee ; Knee Joint ; Patellar Ligament ; Spine ; Tibia ; Volunteers

PURPOSE: To disclose the correlation between the functional and radiologic results of the treatment of distal radius fracture in elderly patients by non-operative versus operative treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From January 1995 to December 2000, 36 patients, more than 60 years old with fractures of distal radius were treated and followed up for more than one year. We classified them using the Fernandez classification and evaluated functional and radiological results according to the subjective point system of Cole & Obletz and objective evaluation by Scheck. RESULTS: In functional result, excellent to good results were obtained in 12 cases (71%) in the non-operative group and 14 cases (74%) in the operative group, there were no evidence of statistical difference between two groups (p>0.05). In radiographic results, mean radial inclination, loss of radial length and volar tilt were 13degree, 12.3 mm, 7.2degrees in the non-operative goup and 5.2degrees, 5.1 mm, 3.3degrees in the operative group on last follw-up radiographs, there were evidence of statistical difference between two groups (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Operative treatment is radiographically better result in distal radius of elderly patients but functional satisfaction is not significantly related with radiographic result. When we decide the treatment of elderly patients, non-operative treatment can be useful method, considering with patient's age and activity status.
Aged* ; Classification ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Radius Fractures* ; Radius*