Kudo type-5 total elbow arthroplasty in mutilating rheumatoid arthritis: a 5- to 11-year follow-up.

We studied 11 patients (14 elbows) with gross rheumatoid deformity of the elbow, treated by total arthroplasty using the Kudo type-5 unlinked prosthesis, and who were evaluated between five and 11 years after operation. Massive bone defects were augmented by autogenous bone grafts. There were no major complications such as infection, subluxation or loosening. In most elbows relief from pain and stability were achieved. The results, according to the Mayo Elbow Performance Score, were excellent in eight, good in five and fair in one. In most elbows there was minimal or no resorption of the grafted bone. There were no radiolucent lines around the stems of the cementless components. This study shows that even highly unstable rheumatoid elbows can be replaced successfully using an unlinked prosthesis, with augmentation by grafting for major defects of bone.

Kudo total elbow arthroplasty in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a long-term follow-up study.

BACKGROUND: Improvements in the design of total elbow prostheses over the last two decades have led to better and more consistent results. The type-3 Kudo total elbow prosthesis was developed in 1980. The long-term results of use of this implant have not been reported. Because it is an unlinked prosthesis, it is not known whether preservation of the anterior oblique component of the ulnar collateral ligament at the time of implantation is important. METHODS: A type-3 Kudo total elbow arthroplasty with cement was performed in forty-seven patients (fifty elbows) with rheumatoid arthritis. Revision rates, clinical symptoms, postoperative complications, and radiographic changes were assessed eleven to sixteen years (mean, thirteen years) postoperatively. RESULTS: The overall survival rate of the prosthesis was 90% at sixteen years. The mean Mayo elbow performance scores were all poor (mean overall score, 43 points) initially. The overall score was substantially improved at both the intermediate follow-up examination (four to six years after the operation) and the late follow-up examination (eleven to sixteen years after the operation), to 81 and 77 points, respectively. The overall rate of radiolucency about the humeral component was 45% at the intermediate follow-up examination and 100% at the long-term follow-up examination. The rate of radiolucency about the ulnar component at the intermediate and late follow-up examinations was 4.3% and 8.9%, respectively. No great differences in results were found with preservation of the anterior oblique component of the ulnar collateral ligament. CONCLUSIONS: This long-term follow-up study showed acceptable results of the type-3 Kudo total elbow arthroplasty in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Preservation of the ulnar collateral ligament does not seem to be necessary when performing this procedure.

[Prospective study of pulmonary embolism after total hip or knee arthroplasty].

We investigated the incidence of pulmonary embolism after total hip or knee arthroplasty. Arterial pO2 while the patient was breathing room air was measured at pre-operative day and 5 post-operative day using a Blood Gas Analyzer. Selection of patients for perfusion/ventilation scan during this study was dependent on the results of arterial blood gas determination that was more than 10 mmHg depression Of arterial pO2 level after surgery. More than depression of that was occurred in 11 patients (17.7%). Eight of them (72.7%) detected abnormalities (V/Q mismatch) in perfusion/ventilation scan, and we diagnosed them PE. More than 70% of PE was detected by only estimating the pre and post-operative arterial pO2. It was concluded that the estimation of arterial pO2 (pre and post-operation) was useful for the detection of PE, and combining estimation of arterial pO2 with the clinical feature evaluation method, low-invasive diagnosis and rapid treatment should be possible.

Total elbow arthroplasty with use of a nonconstrained humeral component inserted without cement in patients who have rheumatoid arthritis.

BACKGROUND: Most total elbow prostheses that are currently in use require cement for fixation of each component. We developed a new (type-5) prosthesis that does not need cement for fixation. METHODS: The humeral component is made of cobalt-chromium alloy, and its stem is porous-coated with a plasma spray of titanium alloy. There are two options for the ulnar component: an all-polyethylene type and a metal-backed type with a porous-coated stem. Forty-three elbows in thirty-seven patients who had rheumatoid arthritis were treated with total elbow replacement arthroplasty with use of the type-5 prosthesis. The humeral component was implanted without cement in all elbows, whereas the ulnar component was implanted without cement in eleven elbows and was fixed with cement in the remaining thirty-two. The elbows were followed for an average of three years and ten months (range, two years and six months to five years and six months). RESULTS: The clinical results were assessed according to a modification of the Mayo Clinic Performance Index. At the time of the latest follow-up, the overall result was excellent for six elbows, good for thirty-one, and fair for six. All elbows had been rated as poor before the operation. There was almost complete relief of pain in twenty-nine elbows and mild or occasional pain in the remaining fourteen. Flexion increased markedly, from an average of 104 degrees preoperatively to an average of 133 degrees postoperatively; this difference was highly significant (p < 0.001, Student t test). In contrast, extension (flexion contracture) worsened slightly, from an average of 38 degrees preoperatively to an average of 42 degrees postoperatively; this difference was significant (p < 0.05). There was one postoperative dislocation of the elbow, and ectopic bone formed in another, with recurrence of ankylosis. Both elbows had a reoperation, and a good result eventually was obtained. There were no instances of postoperative infection or neuropathy of the ulnar nerve. Radiographically, there were no radiolucent lines at the bone-metal interface of any of the humeral or ulnar stems that had been implanted without cement, suggesting solid fixation by osseointegration. CONCLUSIONS: The results of total elbow arthroplasty with use of this prosthesis appear promising. There was a high rate of relief of pain as well as of restoration of adequate function in patients in whom the elbow was severely affected by rheumatoid arthritis.

Cholesterol emboli following percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty as speculated by toe skin biopsy.

A 55-year-old man required hemodialysis for acute renal failure 3 days after repeat percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). Bilateral acrocyanosis and necrotic lesions of the toes occurred 10 days after PTCA. Skin biopsy samples revealed needle-shaped cholesterol crystals of the intraluminal clefts in his small arteries. He was diagnosed with cholesterol emboli presenting as blue toe syndrome. The conditions improved with anticoagulation and vasodilation, but improvement in renal function was temporary. He later required maintenance hemodialysis. Cholesterol emboli following PTCA are life threatening because they are difficult to diagnose and can cause severe complications.

Cementless or hybrid total elbow arthroplasty with titanium-alloy implants. A study of interim clinical results and specific complications.

Twenty-six patients (32 elbows) with rheumatoid arthritis had a total elbow arthroplasty with insertion of a cementless prosthesis. The humeral component was made of titanium alloy and it was fixed without cement in all elbows. The patients were followed for an average of 3 years 1 month (range, 2 years 2 months to 4 years 4 months). A good result was seen in 25 elbows, a fair result in 2, and a poor result in 5. The reason for the poor results was a breakage of the humeral component at the junctional portion of its stem. In all five of these elbows a marked resorption of bone mass within the condylar portion of the humeral component was observed on the lateral radiograph. The five elbows with a poor result had a revision operation, and in each of these black staining of the soft tissues within the joint was seen. This tissue metallosis due to wear debris of the titanium alloy was responsible for the osteolysis within the condylar portion. It became clear from this study that even in a non-weight-bearing joint, such as the elbow, titanium alloy may wear and result in tissue metallosis when used as a bearing surface of the implant. However, it was also found that in the majority of the elbows an establishment of the biologic fixation of the porous-coated stem could be achieved by use of this alloy.

Surgical treatment of subaxial cervical myelopathy in rheumatoid arthritis.

Between 1978 and 1988 a total of 27 operations were performed on 26 patients for cervical myelopathy due to rheumatoid disease in the subaxial spine. Three different causes were recognised: the first group had cord compression due to subluxation of the cervical spine itself (6 patients); the second had cord compression occurring from in front, with rheumatoid lesions of vertebral bodies or discs (6); the third had compression from behind the cord due to granulation tissue within the epidural space (14). Group I was treated by closed reduction of the subluxation followed by surgical fusion either from in front or behind. Group II was decompressed by subtotal resection of the involved vertebral bodies and discs, followed by interbody fusion. The patients in group III were decompressed by laminectomy and excision of fibrous granulation tissue from the epidural space. Good recovery of neurological function was observed after 18 of the operations, fair recovery after five, poor recovery followed three, and one was worse. Myelopathy recurred in four patients, all of whom had had anterior interbody fusion.

[Causes of death in patients with rheumatoid arthritis--analysis of 117 cases for 13 years].

One hundred seventeen deaths of RA patients (30 males and 87 females) at National Sagamihara Hospital for 13 years (1975-1988) were analysed. The average duration of disease were 10.5 years in male patients and 17.7 years in female. The average life span of the patients with RA, revealing 65.8 years in male and 63.7 years in female, were much shorter than of general population. The causes of all deaths were investigated by ourselves and/or autopsy. The autopsy was performed in 56.6%. The most common causes of death in RA patients were infectious diseases (20.5%), respiratory diseases (16%, mainly interstitial pneumonia and chronic obstructive lung diseases), and gastrointestinal diseases (14.7% chiefly perforation or bleeding of peptic ulcer). The distribution of causes of death in RA patients was quite different from in general population. The gastrointestinal disease decreased from 20% in the early half (1975-1981) to 12.6% in the latter half (1982-1987). It seems likely that H2-receptor antagonist played a major role for preventing the death by perforation or bleeding of ulcer, because the drug has been used since 1982 in Japan. Renal insufficiency including amyloidosis increased markedly in the latter half (14.9%) compared with in the early half (6.7%). Frequency of infectious diseases, respiratory diseases, and basilar impression remain unchanged in all course. Although our study are case-analysis in only one institute and further study will be necessary, the accumulation of the data investigated by rheumatologist will be helpful to grasp correct cause of death in patients with RA.

Total elbow arthroplasty with a non-constrained surface-replacement prosthesis in patients who have rheumatoid arthritis. A long-term follow-up study.

Thirty-seven elbows in thirty-six patients who had rheumatoid arthritis had a total elbow arthroplasty with insertion of a non-constrained surface-replacement prosthesis. The patients were followed for an average of nine years and six months, the longest follow-up being seventeen years. A good result was seen in twenty-nine elbows; a fair result, in one; and a poor result, in seven. The reasons for the poor results were gross posterior displacement of the humeral component in five elbows, persistent subluxation with pain in one, and recurrent ankylosis in one. Of the five elbows that had gross posterior displacement, four had a revision operation with a new humeral component, and a satisfactory result was eventually achieved. Radiographic examination revealed various degrees of proximal subsidence of the humeral component in 70 per cent of the elbows. However, in most of the elbows the subsidence was not progressive and was compatible with a good clinical result. In contrast, the rate of loosening of the ulnar component was low; loosening was seen in only 5 per cent of the elbows. Seventeen elbows were followed for ten years or more, and comparison of the clinical results in the intermediate period with those at the most recent review revealed that the results improved with time. Because of the number of elbows in which subsidence of the humeral component developed, we now use a humeral component with an intramedullary stem, and were no longer recommend the use of our Type-1 and Type-2 prostheses.

[Intraarterial urokinase infusion therapy for the acute intracranial major artery occlusion].

Recently percutaneous transluminal coronary recanalization therapy (PTCR) with urokinase infusion has became one of popular technique for coronary arterial occlusion. This paper reported clinical experience of intraarterial urokinase infusion therapy for acute or superacute stroke patients. The procedure was followed by angiographical study which revealed the major intracerebral arterial occlusion in three cases. Case 1: A 74-year-old female had sudden onset of clouding of consciousness with complete left hemiplegia. The patient was in our urological ward because of treatment for her right ureter tumor, as the patient was immediately subjected to angiographical study and complete occlusion of the trunk of the right middle cerebral artery was revealed four hours after onset. Successively 240,000 IU of urokinase solution was injected through the arterial catheter after angiographical study. This procedure repeated two times with 10 minute intervals. So total amount of 720,000 IU of urokinase was given by intraarterial injection. Immediately after the last urokinase injection the patient started to recover her consciousness and weakness. Simultaneous angiogram demonstrated partial recanalization of the proximal branches of the middle cerebral artery. The following day, she had complete recovery from her neurological deficits although she had transient hemorrhagic tendency. The final angiogram showed no existence of obstructed cerebral arteries as well as no low density areas in computed tomographic images. Case 2: A 73-year-old female, with the left internal carotid occlusion at the site of C1-2 portion, was instituted infusion therapy of similar procedure with total amount of 960,000 IU oi urokinase ten to twenty hours after onset. However, no rewarding was obtained.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Chondroblastoma of the sacrum. A case report.

Death due to a chondroblastoma of the sacrum is uncommon. We report the case of a 48-year-old man with this condition. During a 10-year period, the tumor spread into the retroperitoneal space and was an enormous mass after repeated radiotherapy. The patient died of renal failure. The tumor was histologically benign even at autopsy.

Cervical cord compression due to extradural granulation tissue in rheumatoid arthritis. A review of five cases.

Five patients with long-standing, severe rheumatoid arthritis who developed cervical myelopathy at the subaxial levels are presented. In each patient the myelopathy occurred in the absence of major subluxation. At laminectomy the cause of the cord compression was found to be a band-like mass of ligamentous and granulation tissue in the posterior half of the extradural space, extending to the underlying portion of the dura and forming a constricting ring. In three patients this constricting ring was released by longitudinal division of the dura followed by application of a fascial patch graft. This release seems to be essential for effective decompression of the cord and good neurological recovery was achieved in these three patients. Of the other two patients, the result was fair in one and poor in the other, this latter result being due to severe intra-operative bleeding with a massive wound haematoma.

[Clinical manifestations, therapeutic methods and prognosis of patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy].

In view of the increased prevalence of so-called "ischemic cardiomyopathy" ( Burch ) in Japan, we attempted to clarify the clinical manifestations of this condition and to investigate the medical treatment in comparison with the surgical therapy. Eighteen patients (17 males and one female) were identified as having "ischemic cardiomyopathy" according to the following criteria: These include (i) an ejection fraction of 30% or less with asynergy on all segments of AHA classification, (ii) significant coronary stenosis (75% or more) of one or more major coronary branches, and (iii) no other coexisting lesion, such as primary valvular disease or congenital heart disease. In the history, distinct myocardial infarction or angina pectoris was observed in 10 cases (56%), and in the remaining eight cases (44%) only symptoms of cardiac failure was shown. On the ECG, all cases showed pathologic Q waves. Moreover, 10 cases (56%) of these had Q waves in five leads or more. Cardiomegaly on the chest X-ray film (CTR greater than or equal to 60%) was evident in 10 cases and that on echocardiogram ( LVDd greater than or equal to 60 mm) in 16 cases. Physical examinations demonstrated gallop sounds in 89% and a B-B' step formation on echocardiograms in 50%. The LVEDP was greater than 12 mmHg in 13 cases, and the systolic pressure of the pulmonary artery was higher than 35 mmHg in 13 cases. On the other hand, the reduced cardiac index (less than or equal to 2.21/min/M2) was observed in only one case. Selective CAG revealed multiple vessel disease in 78%. Ten of the 18 cases had mitral regurgitation demonstrated by left ventriculography.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Experimental study on immunochemotherapy using schizophyllan].

Immunochemotherapy with schizophyllan (SPG) combined with chemotherapeutic agents was evaluated in two syngeneic tumor-C3H/He mouse systems. The administration of SPG alone caused a significant growth inhibition of MM 46 mammary carcinoma, the highest therapeutic effect being obtained by SPG given at the advanced stage of tumors. When combined with neocarzinostatin given 7-times every other day the simultaneous administration of SPG produced an optimal response to that therapy. In X-5563 plasmacytoma, SPG alone was ineffective. However, when combined with mitomycin C given with 1 to 5-days interval, the concurrent administration of SPG prolonged significantly the life-span of the tumor-bearing mice. These results indicated that the simultaneous administration of SPG and antitumor drugs may be a useful application method for immunochemotherapy of experimental tumors.

Total replacement of the rheumatoid elbow with a hingeless prosthesis.

Twenty-four elbows with rheumatoid arthritis underwent total replacement arthroplasty with insertion of a hingeless surface-replacement prosthesis. These were followed for an average of three years and ten months. Excellent results were seen in fourteen elbows; fair, in seven; and poor, in three. Satisfactory pain relief as well as good stability were obtained in all but one elbow. Two elbows did not regain a useful range of motion. Proximal migration of the humeral component was seen in one elbow, and persistent subluxation with pain and instability was seen in another. No other major complications were encountered. The very low incidence of loosening in this series seems to substantiate the sound principle of the use of this type of hingeless prosthesis.