Pathologic Fracture of Femoral Neck in a Patient with Tumoral Calcinosis.

Tumoral calcinosis is a rare disease characterized by massive subcutaneous soft tissue deposits of calcium phosphate around large joints in patients with chronic kidney disease. Invasion of bone by tumoral calcinosis is rare. We experienced a case involving a femoral neck pathologic fracture due to bony invasion of tumoral calcinosis in a 46-year-old female with chronic kidney disease who had been on dialysis for 15 years. Successful outcomes were obtained by performance of total hip arthroplasty for treatment of the pathologic fracture of the femoral neck. Careful precaution is necessary to prevent pathologic fractures in patients with tumoral calcinosis around the hip joint.

Long-term Outcomes of Cemented Total Hip Arthroplasty in Patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis at a Minimum Follow-up of 10 Years.

PURPOSE: This study was performed to evaluate long-term clinical and radiologic outcomes of cemented total hip arthroplasty in patients with ankylosing spondylitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study of 12 patients (16 cases) diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis undergoing total hip arthroplasty with cemented femoral stem from November 2002 to January 2006 with a minimum follow up of 10 years. Clinical outcomes were assessed using Harris Hip Scores and measures of pain and range of motion. Radiologic outcomes were assessed with serial plain X-ray. Fixation and stability of implant, enthesopathy of ischium and development of heterotopic ossification were also evaluated. RESULTS: Mean Harris Hip Scores significantly improved from pre-operative levels (58 points; range, 39-81 points) to post-operative (92 points; range, 68-100 points). Mean flexion contracture levels decreased from preoperative (13°) to post-operative (5°), and mean post-operative range of motion improved 106° compared to preoperative levels. No newly developed osteolysis lesions or implant loosening were observed in last follow up X-rays. One heterotopic ossification and one greater trochanter fracture were observed. Greater trochanter fracture was treated conservatively, and was resulted in bony union. No patients underwent revisions. CONCLUSION: This study revealed positive long-term clinical and radiologic outcomes following total hip arthroplasty with cemented femoral stems in patients with ankylosing spondylitis patients.

Comparison of Short-Term Complications of General and Spinal Anesthesia for Primary Unilateral Total Knee Arthroplasty.

PURPOSE: To compare the occurrences of perioperative complications of two anesthetic techniques (general anesthesia [GA] and spinal anesthesia [SA] in patients undergoing primary unilateral total knee arthroplasty (TKA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients who underwent unilateral primary TKA due to osteoarthritis from January 2005 to January 2014 were retrospectively reviewed. They were divided into two groups: GA (n=490) and SA (n=746). The operation duration, length of perioperative stay in the operation room and occurrences of adverse events in postoperative 30 days (mean, 29.7±3.1 days) were compared. Before multivariate linear or logistic regression analysis, different baseline characteristics were adjusted in the statistical models. RESULTS: There were significant intergroup differences in mean age (GA, 68.4±7.2 years; SA, 70.7±7.5 years; p<0.001) and mCCI (GA, 3±1.4; SA, 3.2±1.5; p<0.001). The GA group required longer preoperative room time (+9.4 minutes; p<0.001), postoperative room time (+12.7 minutes; p<0.001), and postoperative hospital stay (+2.5 days; p=0.001) and had more surgical site infections (5 [1%] vs. 0 [0%]; p=0.005) and blood transfusion (205 [41.8%] vs. 262 [35.1%]; p=0.01). No differences in operative duration and other adverse events were identified. CONCLUSIONS: We should cautiously consider that GA may be associated with slightly increased preoperative and postoperative room times, postoperative hospital stay, transfusion and surgical site infection rates in primary unilateral TKA.

Cerebrospinal Fluid Biomarkers for the Diagnosis of Alzheimer Disease in South Korea.

Laboratory-specific reference values for cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) Alzheimer disease (AD) biomarkers are necessary. Our objective was to apply well-known CSF biomarkers and redetermine their diagnostic cutoff values for AD in South Korea. CSF samples from matched control subjects (n=71), patients with AD dementia (ADD, n=76), and other neurological disorders with cognitive decline (OND, n=47) were obtained from 6 Korean dementia clinics according to a standardized protocol. CSF biomarker concentrations were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. CSF biomarkers differed significantly between the ADD and control groups (P<0.001 for all), and between the ADD and OND groups (P<0.001 for all). The areas under the curve in differentiation of ADD from control subjects were 0.97 for Aß42, 0.93 for total tau (tTau), 0.86 for pTau, and 0.99 for both tTau/Aß42 and pTau/Aß42 ratios. Our revised cutoff value for Aß42 was higher than our previous one, whereas the values for the Tau proteins were similar. The tTau/Aß42 ratio had the highest accuracy, 97%. Our findings highlight the usefulness of CSF AD biomarkers in South Korea, and the necessity of continually testing the reliability of cutoff values.

Incidences of Deep Vein Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism after Total Knee Arthroplasty Using a Mechanical Compression Device with and without Low-Molecular-Weight Heparin.

PURPOSE: To investigate the incidence of thromboembolic events and complications related to bleeding after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) with a mechanical compression device alone or in combination with low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 489 TKA patients (776 knees) were retrospectively reviewed for the incidence of thromboembolic events and complications related to bleeding. While 233 patients (354 knees) were treated with a mechanical compressive device without LMWH, 256 patients (422 knees) were treated with the mechanical compressive device along with LMWH. RESULTS: The incidences of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) were 15 of 375 knees (4.0%) and 5 of 375 knees (1.3%), respectively, in the group that used only a mechanical compressive device, and 14 of 401 knees (3.4%) and 5 of 401 knees (1.2%), respectively, in the group that used the mechanical compressive device with LMWH. There was no significant difference between the two groups (p=0.125 and p=0.146, respectively). The postoperative hemovac drainage amount was 635±57 mL in the group with a mechanical compressive device only and 813±84 mL in the group with the device and LMWH; therefore, the amount of drainage was significantly greater in the latter group (p=0.013). CONCLUSIONS: Mechanical compression alone for prophylaxis against DVT and PE after TKA can be an attractive option in Korean patients.

Incidence and risk factors of subsequent hip fractures in Korea: multicenter study.

This study analyzes the incidence of subsequent hip fractures and its risk factors in the northwestern region of Korea. We analyzed hip fracture patients who visited any of the 5 teaching hospitals in the Bucheon and Incheon area from January 2000 to December 2010. Medical records were reviewed and presence of subsequent hip fractures, alcohol history, marital status, live in solitude, dementia, dizziness, American society of anesthesiologists score, osteoporosis treatment after fracture, body mass index (BMI) and initial bone mineral density were analyzed. The average follow-up period was 12 months (range 1-130 months). A total of 2,546 patients (women 1,770, men 776) who had experienced hip fractures were included. Of these, subsequent hip fractures were found in 233 patients (9.2%) (women 187, men 46). Mean age at the time of the first fracture was 79.2 yr old (range 50-100 yr). The average interval between the first fracture and the subsequent hip fractures was 30.2 months (range 4 days-154 months). In this large-scale, retrospective, multicenter study, overall incidence of subsequent hip fractures is 9.2%. Independent risk factors of subsequent fracture are women, BMI<22 kg/m(2), and being unmarried.

The double flipped meniscus sign: unusual MRI findings in bucket-handle tear of the lateral meniscus.

Bucket-handle meniscal tears are either longitudinal, vertical, or oblique in direction with an attached tear fragment displaced from the meniscus. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) signs are widely used in the diagnosis of these tears, including the 'fragment within the intercondylar notch sign', 'flipped meniscus sign', 'double anterior horn sign', 'absence of the bow tie sign', 'double posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) sign', 'posterior double PCL sign', and 'triple PCL sign'. We report an unusual case, not yet described in previous studies, of a bucket-handle tear presenting as a double longitudinal tear of the lateral meniscus (LM). Two longitudinal tears were observed in the white-white zone and the red-white zone of the LM, where both fragments were shown to be displaced and locked within the intercondylar notch. Partial menisectomy was performed for the central fragment and a repair with modified all-inside sutures was performed for the peripheral fragment.

The Effect of Electrocautery around the Patellar Rim in Patellar Non-Resurfacing Total Knee Arthroplasty.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical effect of electrocautery on the reduction of pain in patellar non-resurfacing bilateral total knee arthroplasty. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 50 patients were enrolled into this study; all patients had undergone bilateral patellar non-resurfacing total knee arthoplasty at our hospital, between January 2007 to December 2008. The minimum follow-up period was 1 year. The electrocautery of the patellar rim was performed randomly on one side only. The clinical results were evaluated between the electrocautery group and the non-electrocautery group based on measures of anterior knee pain, range of motion, American Knee Society clinical rating score, Feller knee score, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities score, and radiographic analysis. RESULTS: There were statistically significant differences between preoperative and postoperative status for all parameters. There were no statistically significant differences noted between the electrocautery group and the non electrocautery group for all parameters. CONCLUSIONS: Electrocautery of patellar rim is thought to be less effective in reducing anterior knee pain.

A case of compression fracture of medial tibial plateau and medial femoral condyle combined with posterior cruciate ligament and posterolateral corner injury.

We report a case of compression fracture of anterior margin of medial tibial plateau and medial femoral condyle combined with the posterior cruciate ligament and posterolateral corner disruption. A thirty-seven-year old male had undergone the left knee injury 6 months before. The physical examination revealed positive posterior drawer test and tibial dial test, which evidenced the posterior cruciate ligament and posterolateral corner insufficiency. The plain lateral knee radiographs showed a marginal fracture of the anteromedial tibial plateau and a dimpling on the adjacent part of the medial femoral condyle. On arthroscopy, there were no gross tear of the cruciates, but the posterolateral capsule disclosed stigmata of stretching injury with multiple petechiae and scarring. The compression fracture on the anteromedial side and the stretching injury on the posterolateral side altogether support the mechanism of hyperextension pivoting on the anteromedial side of the knee joint. A small bony lesion around the knee joint should be inspected rigorously with an assumed mechanism of injury for it may herald major ligamentous injury.

Impaction allograft with cement for the revision of the femoral component. A minimum 39-month follow-up study with the use of the Exeter stem in Asian hips.

We report the results of impaction bone grafting of the femoral side in revision total hip arthroplasty in Asian hips (South Korean patients) in which the surgery was performed with the use of the Exeter stem. The minimum follow-up was 39 months (mean, 48.4; range, 39-66). There was subsidence of the cement-graft interface (<1 mm) in three hips (5%), of the stem-cement interface (<1 mm) in 12 hips (21%) and of the stem-cement interface (1-2 mm) in 14 hips (25%). Five hips (9%) developed intraoperative femoral fracture and two hips (4%) femoral perforation in revision. The complications of femoral fracture and subsidence did not have an adverse effect on the final clinical outcomes. The impaction of fresh-frozen allograft and use of a cemented, polished, tapered stem (Exeter stem) were also successful with good clinical and radiographic outcomes in our study of Asian hips (South Korean patients). However, we used smaller stems than the usual ones used for Western patients because of the smaller femur sizes.