Atelocollagen Injections Improve Outcomes in the Nonsurgical Treatment of Grade III Medial Collateral Ligament Injuries

Background@#The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical outcomes of atelocollagen injections in isolated grade III medial collateral ligament (MCL) injuries of the knee joint. @*Methods@#A total of 50 participants were included in this retrospective study. Twenty-six patients underwent conservative treatment with a single atelocollagen injection, while the remaining patients underwent only typical conservative treatment. All participants underwent magnetic resonance imaging to identify and grade MCL injury. Valgus stress radiography was performed on both knees at 6 and 12 months after the injury. The visual analog scale (VAS) score was collected at the first visit and at 2 weeks, 6 weeks, 6 months, and 12 months after injury. The International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) formula activity level and Lysholm score were evaluated for patient-reported outcomes at the first visit and at 6 and 12 months after injury. The participant's return to the pre-injury activity level ratio was measured by comparing the IKDC formula activity level at 12 months after the injury with that before the injury. @*Results@#The VAS and Lysholm scores improved over time in both groups. The VAS and Lysholm scores were significantly better in the collagen injection group than in the control group. Regarding the activity level, the collagen injection group showed significantly better results at the 6-month follow-up, but there was no significant difference at the 12-month follow-up. The medial gap in the injured knee and the side-to-side difference (SSD) in both groups gradually decreased over time. The SSD in the collagen injection group was significantly smaller than that in the control group. @*Conclusions@#Atelocollagen injections resulted in better clinical and radiologic outcomes along with a higher rate of return to the pre-injury activity level, thereby exhibiting a positive effect in the nonsurgical treatment of grade III MCL injuries.

Epidemiologic Study of Shoulder Injuries in the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study is to describe and analyze the shoulder injuries in elite athletes during the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang. METHODS: To collect the data of all Olympic athletes who visited venue medical centers, polyclinics, and Olympic-designated hospitals for shoulder injuries during the Olympic Games (February 9 through 25, 2018), we reviewed Olympic electronic medical records and patient information obtained from Olympic medical service teams about athletes who complained of shoulder pain. RESULTS: During the Olympics, a total of 14 athletes visited clinics for shoulder-related symptoms. Five athletes were injured in games and nine were injured in training. The injury was due to overuse in four patients. Ten patients had trauma-related symptoms: one after being hit by an opponent and the other nine after a collision with the ground or an object. There were no patients who complained of symptoms related to pre-existing shoulder conditions. The most common cause of shoulder pain was snow-boarding (one big air and three slopestyle). The most common diagnosis was contusion (n = 6), followed by rotator cuff injuries (n = 3), superior labrum from anterior to posterior lesion (n = 1), sprain (n = 1), acromioclavicular-coracoclavicular injury (n = 1), dislocation (n = 1), and fracture (n = 1). CONCLUSIONS: To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first epidemiologic study of shoulder injury conducted during a huge sports event involving a variety of competitions for elite athletes. If the risk factors of shoulder injury can be established by continuing research in the future, it will be helpful to prevent injury and to prepare safety measures for athletes.

Comparison of Anterior Translation among Three Sternoclavicular Reconstruction Methods in Cadaver Study / 대한정형외과학회잡지

PURPOSE: Currently, biomechanics and function comparison of the reconstruction of structures play important roles in the sternoclavicular joint stability is not much. In order to confirm the improvement in the functional aspects of the sternoclavicular joint after the three most widely used reconstruction methods, we measured the degree of anterior translation of the sternoclavicular joint after the operation using cadavers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied 24 sternoclavicular joints in the cadavers. First, we measured the anterior translation of the clavicle, which was compared with the sternum in 24 normal sternoclavicular joints. We divided the cadaver into three groups and performed each of the three current operations: figure of eight hamastring tendon reconstruction operation (Group 1), subclavius tendon reconstruction operation (Group 2), and hamstring tendon reconstruction operation (Group 3); then we compared the degree of anterior translation in each group. We did the measurement by adding 10 degrees to the glenohumeral joint each time from 0 degrees to 90 degrees. RESULTS: In the normal joint, the clavicle was significantly ascended compared with the sternum. The Group 1 had a 1.68±0.25 mm anterior translation while the Group 2 had 1.81±0.23 mm and Group 3 had 2.8±0.58 mm (Group 1: p=0.004, Group 2: p=0.001, Group 3: p=0.002). The Group 1 showed a low ascending rate of up to 60 degrees, which showed no significant difference with that of the normal joint. However, after 60 degrees, the ascending rate showed a significant increase. In the case of Group 2, there was no significant difference with normal joint of up to 50 degrees. Group 3 showed significant anterior ascending from 20 degree. CONCLUSION: Through measuring the anterior translation of subjects that underwent three representative sternoclavicular joint reconstructions, we found that the result from the Group 1 was most comparable normal translation of the sternoclavicular joint.

Acute Patellar Osteomyelitis in a Child after a Blunt Trauma: Case Report

Osteomyelitis of the patella is a very uncommon condition that occurs mostly in the pediatric population. In addition to its rarity, nonspecific and variable clinical presentations usually lead to postponement in making the correct diagnosis. Moreover, it is often missed as prepatellar bursitis or septic arthritis of the knee. Nonetheless making early diagnosis and initiating prompt treatment is most important to preventing this condition from becoming chronic. In this case report, the authors encountered this rare condition of the patella in a child that was first misdiagnosed with pyogenic arthritis or prepatellar bursitis of the knee. The delay in making the diagnosis led to intractable progression of the disease, and sequestrectomy was required to stabilize the condition.

The Effect of Vildagliptin on Visfatin in Korean Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: A Multicenter, Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Prospective Study / 임상당뇨병

BACKGROUND: The effects of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors on adipokines remain obscure. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the addition of vildagliptin on visfatin, an adipokine that represents inflammatory biomarkers of adipose tissue, in patients with type 2 diabetes inadequately controlled with prior metformin monotherapy. METHODS: In this 16-week, double-blind, randomized, parallel-group, placebo-controlled study, 71 patients were randomly assigned to vildagliptin 50 mg twice a day (n = 35) or placebo (n = 36) added to ongoing metformin therapy. Fasting plasma glucose (FPG), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), plasma lipids, and visfatin levels were measured at baseline and 16 weeks after treatment. RESULTS: After 16 weeks, significant reduction in HbA1c and FPG was observed with vildagliptin addon treatment compared to placebo (-0.54 +/- 0.52%, P = 0.001 and -14.80 +/- 19.21 mg/dL, P = 0.004, respectively). However, no other clinically meaningful changes in lipid parameters or visfatin were observed. CONCLUSION: Vildagliptin add-on to metformin significantly improved fasting blood glucose and HbA1c. However, in this study, no significant differences in lipid parameters or visfatin level were observed between the two groups.

Two Cases of Fabry Disease in Women with Proteinuria Diagnosed by Molecular Analysis of the alpha-Galactosidase A Gene and Kidney Biopsy / 대한내과학회지

Fabry disease is an X-linked lysosomal storage disorder caused by alpha-galactosidase A deficiency, which results in the intracellular accumulation of globotriaosylceramide and leads to severe painful neuropathy with progressive renal, cardiovascular, and cerebrovascular dysfunction and early death. We report 52- and 55-year-old women with proteinuria and hematuria that were proven to be due to Fabry disease. A gene analysis using PCR direct sequencing confirmed a missense mutation of the GLA (alpha-galactosidase A) gene. Electron microscopy of a kidney biopsy showed lamella inclusion bodies, which are typical findings of Fabry disease. The patients were treated with enzyme replacement therapy as outpatients. They had a reduction in proteinuria and normal renal function.