Correlation between anterior thigh pain and morphometric mismatch of femoral stem / 영남의대학술지

Background@#Postoperative pain occurring after hip arthroplasty has become common since the expanded use of cementless femoral stems. The characteristic pain develop in the anterolateral thigh area. This study aimed to predict anterior thigh pain based on the measurements of postoperative anteroposterior (AP) and lateral (Lat) radiographs of the hip joint. @*Methods@#The present study included 26 patients (29 hips) who underwent total hip replacement or bipolar hemiarthroplasty between March 2010 and May 2016, whose complete clinical information was available. AP and Lat radiographs of the affected hip were taken on the day of surgery and 1 and 6 months postoperatively. Patients with improper radiographs were excluded. The distance from the femoral stem to the nearest cortical bone in the distal region of the stem was measured. The patient group with a visual analog scale (VAS) score of ≥6 points was designated as patients with anterior thigh pain. @*Results@#Sex, age, weight, height, body mass index, and bone mineral density in the lumbar spine and femur did not have a significant effect on postoperative VAS scores (p>0.05). Presence of contact between the femoral stem and cortical bone was associated with postoperative anterior thigh pain. @*Conclusion@#Hip AP and Lat radiographs are usually taken to confirm fixation and alignment of the femoral stem after hip arthroplasty. The measurement method introduced in this study can be utilized for predicting anterior thigh pain after hip arthroplasty.

Clinical Outcome of Beta-Tricalcium Phosphate Use for Bone Defects after Operative Treatment of Benign Tumors

BACKGROUND: We investigated the clinical outcome in patients whose cavitary bone defects were treated with beta-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) after surgical removal of benign tumors. METHODS: Between March 2015 and December 2015, 20 patients who underwent operation for bone tumors were enrolled into this study and prospectively followed up for a median period of 28.1 months. RESULTS: When the radiographic sign of complete resorption was defined as greater than 50% resorption of the allograft material accompanied by bone remodeling until 12 months, 55% of patients had complete resorption. Positive correlation between the filling volume and time needed for complete resorption was not found (p = 0.184). CONCLUSIONS: Purified β-TCP could be a suitable choice as a bone graft substitute after the removal of benign bone tumors.

Measuring Needle Angle and Depth for Lumbar Medial Branch Block Using Ultrasonography: An Evaluation of Efficiency Compared with Magnetic Resonance Imaging / 대한정형외과학회잡지

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare accuracy of proper needle insertion angle between magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasonography during lumbar medial branch nerve block procedure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 2015 and June 2016, 80 people who underwent MRI in the past 3 months with improved lumbar pain after sono-guided medial branch nerve block were enrolled for analysis (male, 39; female, 41; average age, 63.3 years). The insertion angle and depth between the spinous process and needle at each target points were measured at various levels (superior, inferior segment of each facet joints from L2–3 to L5–S1). The needle was positioned 1 cm apart from both lateral sides of the probe, locating spinous process in the middle. A comparative analysis was performed between an ultrasonography and an MRI. We determined the statistical correlation between the two methods. RESULTS: The average differences with respect to the distance between each level on a sono-guided medial branch nerve block were 1.28±1.07 mm in L2 (7 cases), 1.27±4.26 mm in L3 (25 cases), 1.63±5.89 mm in L4 (93 cases), 1.99±4.12 mm in L5 (141 cases), and 1.51±3.87 mm in S1 (66 cases). The average differences regarding the angle of each level were 1.69°±1.34° in L2 (7 cases), 2.03°±5.35° in L3 (25 cases), 1.49°±3.42° in L4 (93 cases), −1.55°±3.67° in L5 (141 cases), and 1.86°±4.83° in S1 (66 cases). All measurements followed a normal distribution (p < 0.05), showing statistical correlation without significant difference (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: After measuring each level using an MRI prior to performing the procedure, a sono-guided lumbar medial branch nerve block can be performed with greater safety and efficacy, especially for beginners.

Thoracic outlet syndrome

Thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) is an uncommon condition that can occur when the nerves, artery, or vein to the arm is compressed by one or more of the structures that make up the thoracic outlet. TOS was the first compression neuropathy of the upper extremity to be identified. The wide variability of patients' symptoms, which include vascular and neural signs, as well as diffuse symptoms, and the lack of a valid and reliable test to confirm the diagnosis of TOS makes it difficult to identify correctly patients with TOS. Rates of three to 80 cases per 1,000 patients have been reported, but more patients are likely to have TOS because it is underestimated. Additionally, the primary controversy regarding patients with TOS is related to symptoms such as paresthesia, numbness, and pain. No positive objective test exists to confirm an accurate diagnosis. If patients present with diffuse pain and numbness in the neck and upper extremity with more than 2 provocation tests, TOS could be considered. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of the causes, classification, evaluation, and management of TOS.