Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical and radiological outcomes of high-flexion total knee arthroplasty (TKA) using Vega Knee System (B. Braun, Aesculap) at a long-term follow-up and to analyze the implant survivorship. Methods: We enrolled 165 patients (232 knees) with a minimum 7-year follow-up after TKA (VEGA Knee System). For clinical assessment, range of motion (ROM), Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), and Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) were used. For radiologic assessment, hip-knee-ankle angle, component position, and the existence of radiolucent lines and loosening were used. Survival analysis was conducted using the Kaplan-Meier method. Results: The mean follow-up period was 9.8 years. The mean ROM increased from 124.4° to 131.4° at the final follow-up. The WOMAC score decreased from 38.5 to 17.4 at the final follow-up (p < 0.001). All 5 subscales of the KOOS improved at the final follow-up (all subscales, p < 0.001). Revision TKA was performed in 10 cases (4.3%), which included 9 cases of aseptic loosing and 1 case of periprostatic joint infection. Of the 9 aseptic loosening cases (3.9%), 8 cases (3.4%) were loosening of the femoral component and 1 case (0.4%) was loosening of the tibial component. When revision for any reason was considered an endpoint, the 10-year survivorship was 96.2% (95% confidence interval [CI], 93.9%–98.5%). On the other hand, when revision for aseptic loosening was considered the endpoint, the 10-year survivorship was 96.6% (95% CI, 94.4%–98.8%). Conclusions The Vega Knee System provided good clinical results in the long-term follow-up period. Although the VEGA Knee System showed acceptable implant survivorship, loosening of the femoral component occurred in about 3.4% of the patients. For more accurate evaluation of the survivorship of high-flexion design TKA with a short posterior flange, it is necessary to conduct more long-term follow-up studies targeting diverse races, especially Asians who frequently perform high-flexion activities.

Background/Aims: Although endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided fine needle aspiration (FNA) and fine needle biopsy (FNB) are widely used for tissue acquisition of pancreatic solid mass, the optimal strategy of this procedure has not been established yet. The aim of this nationwide study was to investigate the current practice patterns of EUS-FNA/FNB for pancreatic solid mass in Korea. Methods: The Policy-Quality Management of the Korean Pancreatobiliary Association (KPBA) developed a questionnaire containing 22 questions. An electronic survey consisting of the questionnaire was distributed by e-mail to members registered to the KPBA. Results: A total of 101 respondents completed the survey. Eighty respondents (79.2%) performed preoperative EUS-FNA/FNB for operable pancreatic solid mass. Acquire needles (60.4%) were used the most, followed by ProCore needles (47.5%). In terms of need size, most respondents (>80%) preferred 22-gauge needles regardless of the location of the mass. Negative suction with a 10-mL syringe (71.3%) as sampling technique was followed by stylet slow-pull (41.6%). More than three needle passes for EUS-FNA/FNB was performed by most respondents (>80%). The frequency of requiring repeated procedure was significantly higher in respondents with a low individual volume (<5 per month, p=0.001). Prophylactic antibiotics were routinely used in 39 respondents (38.6%); rapid on-site pathologic evaluation was used in 6.1%. Conclusions According to this survey, practices of EUS-FNA/FNB for pancreatic solid mass varied substantially, some of which differed considerably from the recommendations present in existing guidelines. These results suggest that the development of evidence-based quality guidelines fitting Korean clinical practice is needed to establish the optimal strategy for this procedure.

Despite the availability of direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) for chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in Korea, need remains for pangenotypic regimens that can be used in the presence of hepatic impairment, comorbidities, or prior treatment failure. We investigated the efficacy and safety of sofosbuvir–velpatasvir and sofosbuvir–velpatasvir–voxilaprevir for 12 weeks in HCV-infected Korean adults. Methods: This Phase 3b, multicenter, open-label study included 2 cohorts. In Cohort 1, participants with HCV genotype 1 or 2 and who were treatment-naive or treatment-experienced with interferon-based treatments, received sofosbuvir–velpatasvir 400/100 mg/day. In Cohort 2, HCV genotype 1 infected individuals who previously received an NS5A inhibitor-containing regimen ≥ 4 weeks received sofosbuvir–velpatasvir–voxilaprevir 400/100/100 mg/day. Decompensated cirrhosis was an exclusion criterion. The primary endpoint was SVR12, defined as HCV RNA < 15 IU/mL 12 weeks following treatment. Results: Of 53 participants receiving sofosbuvir–velpatasvir, 52 (98.1%) achieved SVR12. The single participant who did not achieve SVR12 experienced an asymptomatic Grade 3 ASL/ALT elevation on day 15 and discontinued treatment. The event resolved without intervention. All 33 participants (100%) treated with sofosbuvir–velpatasvir–voxilaprevir achieved SVR 12. Overall, sofosbuvir–velpatasvir and sofosbuvir–velpatasvir–voxilaprevir were safe and well tolerated. Three participants (5.6%) in Cohort 1 and 1 participant (3.0%) in Cohort 2 had serious adverse events, but none were considered treatment-related. No deaths or grade 4 laboratory abnormalities were reported. Conclusions: Treatment with sofosbuvir–velpatasvir or sofosbuvir–velpatasvir–voxilaprevir was safe and resulted in high SVR12 rates in Korean HCV patients.

Background/Aims: This study aimed to investigate the patterns of preferred endoscopic procedure types and techniques for managing difficult common bile duct (CBD) stones in South Korea. Methods: The Committee of Policy and Quality Management of Korean Pancreatobiliary Association (KPBA) conducted a survey containing 19 questions. Both paper and online surveys were carried out; with the paper survey being conducted during the 2019 Annual Congress of KPBA and the online survey being conducted through Google Forms from April 2020 to February 2021. Results: The response rate was approximately 41.3% (86/208). Sixty-two (73.0%) worked at tertiary hospitals or academic medical centers, and 60 (69.7%) had more than 5 years of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography experience. The preferred size criteria for large CBD stones were 15 mm (40.6%), 20 mm (31.3%), and 30 mm (4.6%). For managing of large CBD stones, endoscopic papillary large balloon dilation after endoscopic sphincterotomy was the most preferred technique (74.4%). When performing procedures in those with bleeding diathesis, 64 (74.4%) respondents favored endoscopic papillary balloon dilation (EPBD) alone or EPBD with small endoscopic sphincterotomy. Fifty-five respondents (63.9%) preferred the doubleguidewire technique when faced with difficult bile duct cannulation in patients with periampullary diverticulum. In surgically altered anatomies, cap-fitted forward viewing endoscopy (76.7%) and percutaneous transhepatic cholangioscopy (48.8%) were the preferred techniques for Billroth-II anastomosis and total gastrectomy with Roux-en-Y anastomosis, respectively. Conclusions Most respondents showed unifying trends for the management of difficult CBD stones. The current practice patterns could be used as basic data for clinical quality improvements in the management of difficult CBD stones.

Total knee arthroplasty is a surgical treatment for end-stage osteoarthritis of the knee. Postoperative lower limb alignment is one of the factors determining the long-term prognosis after total knee arthroplasty. Navigation-assisted surgery can be used to achieve an accurate lower limb alignment. Particular situations, such as severe extra-articular deformity in the femur or tibia and retained hardware, are a good indication for navigation-assisted surgery. On the other hand, thorough preoperative planning and an understanding of each steps of surgery are necessary to perform total knee arthroplasty successfully in these special cases. In this review article, preoperative radiological measurements and surgical planning for extra-articular deformity correction will be elucidated. The surgical steps and necessary instruments for navigation-assisted total knee arthroplasty will be described in cases of extra-articular deformity or retained hardware. A literature review showed that the radiological and clinical results after total knee arthroplasty using navigation in osteoarthritis with extraarticular deformity were good. Therefore, it is essential to use navigation when performing total knee arthroplasty in patients with extraarticular deformity or retained hardware.

Proximal junctional problems are among the potential complications of surgery for adult spinal deformity (ASD) and are associated with higher morbidity and increased rates of revision surgery. The diverse manifestations of proximal junctional problems range from proximal junctional kyphosis (PJK) to proximal junctional failure (PJF). Although there is no universally accepted definition for PJK, the most common is a proximal junctional angle greater than 10° that is at least 10° greater than the preoperative measurement. PJF represents a progression from PJK and is characterized by pain, gait disturbances, and neurological deficits. The risk factors for PJK can be classified according to patient-related, radiological, and surgical factors. Based on an understanding of the modifiable factors that contribute to reducing the risk of PJK, prevention strategies are critical for patients with ASD.

Owing to rapidly changing global demographics, adult spinal deformity (ASD) now accounts for a significant proportion of the Global Burden of Disease. Sagittal imbalance caused by age-related degenerative changes leads to back pain, neurological deficits, and deformity, which negatively affect the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of patients. Along with the recognized regional, global, and sagittal spinopelvic parameters, poor paraspinal muscle quality has recently been acknowledged as a key determinant of the clinical outcomes of ASD. Although the Scoliosis Research Society-Schwab ASD classification system incorporates the radiological factors related to HRQoL, it cannot accurately predict the mechanical complications. With the rapid advances in surgical techniques, many surgical options for ASD have been developed, ranging from minimally invasive surgery to osteotomies. Therefore, structured patient-specific management is important in surgical decision-making, selecting the proper surgical technique, and to prevent serious complications in patients with ASD. Moreover, utilizing the latest technologies such as robotic-assisted surgery and machine learning, should help in minimizing the surgical risks and complications in the future.

Background/Aims: Glecaprevir/pibrentasvir (G/P) is the first pan-genotypic direct-acting antiviral combination therapy approved in Korea. An integrated analysis of five phase II and III trials was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of G/P in Korean patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Methods: The study analyzed pooled data on Korean patients with HCV infection enrolled in the ENDURANCE 1 and 2, SURVEYOR II part 4 and VOYAGE I and II trials, which evaluated the efficacy and safety of 8 or 12 weeks of G/P treatment. The patients were either treatment-naïve or had received sofosbuvir or interferon-based treatment. Efficacy was evaluated by assessing the rate of sustained virologic response at 12 weeks posttreatment (SVR12). Safety was evaluated by monitoring adverse events (AEs) and laboratory assessments. Results: The analysis included 265 patients; 179 (67.5%) were HCV treatment-naïve, and most patients were either subgenotype 1B (48.7%) or 2A (44.5%). In the intention-to-treat population, 262 patients (98.9%) achieved SVR12. Three patients did not achieve SVR12: one had virologic failure and two had non-virologic failures. Most AEs were grade 1/2; eight patients (3.0%) expe-rienced at least one grade ≥3 AE. No serious AEs related to G/P treatment were reported, and grade ≥3 hepatic laboratory abnormalities were rare (0.8%). Conclusions G/P therapy was highly efficacious and well tolerated in Korean patients with HCV infection, with most patients achieving SVR12. The safety profile was comparable to that observed in a pooled analysis of a global pan-genotypic population of patients with HCV infection who received G/P.

Purpose: Data on the distribution and impact of panel reactive antibodies (PRA) and donor specific antibodies (DSA) before lung transplantation in Asia, especially multi-center-based data, are limited. This study evaluated the prevalence of and effects of PRA and DSA levels before lung transplantations on outcomes in Korean patients using nationwide multicenter registry data. Materials and Methods: This study included 103 patients who received a lung transplant at five tertiary hospitals in South Korea between March 2015 and December 2017. Mortality, primary graft dysfunction (PGD), and bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS) were evaluated. Results: Sixteen patients had class I and/or class II PRAs exceeding 50%. Ten patients (9.7%) had DSAs with a mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) higher than 1000, six of whom had antibodies with a high MFI (≥2000). DSAs with high MFIs were more frequently observed in patients with high-grade PGD (≥2) than in those with no or low-grade (≤1) PGD. In the 47 patients who survived for longer than 9 months and were evaluated for BOS after the transplant, BOS was not related to DSA or PRA levels. One-year mortality was more strongly related to PRA class I exceeding 50% than that under 50% (0% vs. 16.7%, p=0.007). Conclusion Preoperative DSAs and PRAs are related to worse outcomes after lung transplantation. DSAs and PRAs should be considered when selecting lung transplant recipients, and recipients who have preoperative DSAs with high MFI values and high PRA levels should be monitored closely after lung transplantation.

Background: Volar plate avulsion fractures of the proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint are a common hand injury and have been treated conservatively with favorable results. We assumed that conservative treatment of volar plate avulsion fractures of the PIP joint would be unsuccessful if the fracture fragment, even if small, was much displaced or rotated and that delayed excision of the avulsion fractures would result in good outcomes. We report clinical and radiological outcomes of conservative treatment of volar plate avulsion fractures of the PIP joint and risk factors for failure of conservative treatment. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical and radiological outcomes of 88 volar plate avulsion fractures (85 patients) treated conservatively at first. In 18 of these fractures, delayed excision of the fracture fragment was required after an average of 75 days of conservative treatment for limited motion or pain of the joint. We compared parameters between failed cases and successful cases after conservative treatment. Results: Compared to the successful cases, the failed cases had a higher prevalence of joint dislocation at the time of injury and greater pain, larger flexion contracture, and less further flexion after conservative treatment. The shape, comminution, and size of the fracture fragments were not related with the need for operation, but the operative cases had greater displacement and rotation of the fracture fragments than the conservative cases. After fragment excision, postoperative protection of the joint was not necessary, pain was reduced, and the mean range of motion increased. Conclusions The presence of joint dislocation and greater displacement and rotation of the fragments may be associated with the failure of conservative treatment of volar plate avulsion fractures. Failed cases after conservative treatment could be resolved by delayed fragment excision with favorable results. Therefore, it might be appropriate to consider conservative treatment at first in almost all volar plate avulsion fractures of stable PIP joints.