Effect of Axial loading on Lumbar spine MRI: Comparative Study of Effect between a Patient Group with Claudication and a Patient Group without Claudication

STUDY DESIGN: This study intended to find out differences of effects by axial loading in MRI examination in a patient group with neurologic claudication and a group without neurologic claudication. OBJECTIVES: It was intended to understand in which group the effects of axial loading can be expected when taking MRI on the lumbar spine. SUMMARY OF THE LITERATURE REVIEW: The study of Willen and Danielson found spinal canal stenosis, which cannot be found by existing methods comparing an MRI taken in bended posture of lumbar without axial loading implementation by MRI taken with axial loading implementation. Hiwatashi et al. also reported that there was a change of treatment direction by laminectomy after axial loading in patients who were intended to take a conservational treatment before the axial loading. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 39 patients and 54 intervertebral discs were compared. The distances from a sagittal plane before and after intervertebral discs were compared by measuring a sectional area of dura mater in a horizontal plane image and two groups were compared by existence of patients' neurologic claudication. RESULTS: The AP diameter before and after a intervertebral discs increased into 41.98 mm from 41.1 mm on the average and the sectional area of dura mater showed 137.47mm2 before loading and 119.86mm2 after loading on the average. There was not a significant difference in the distances before and after axial loading implementation, but a significant difference was found in the sectional area of dura mater. CONCLUSION: Axial loading would contribute to diagnose spinal disease, and especially, spinal canal stenosis in a patient group with claudication.

Clinical and Radiological Results of Treatment in Bilateral Calcaneal Fracture / 대한족부족관절학회지

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to find out clinical and radiological outcomes in 70 patients of both calcaneal fracture. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From March 1993 to March 2011, 70 patients underwent non-operative management or operative management at our hospital. Conservative management was performed in 15 cases of undisplaced fracture (Group A). Operative management was performed in 125 cases including 32 cases of undisplaced fracture (Group B), 60 cases of joint depression type fracture (Group C), 33 cases of tongue type fracture (Group D). Results were evaluated by VAS score, AOFAS score, circle draw test, Bohler angle (BA), Gissane angle, width & height of calcaneus. RESULTS: VAS scores were 2.0 in group A, 2.0 in group B, 2.2 in group C, 2.7 in group D. AOFAS scores were 90.4 in group A, 91.9 in group B, 72.2 in group C, 79.2 in group D. Circle draw tests were 8.4 cm in group A, 10.1 cm in group B, 7.6 cm in group C, 7.9 cm in group D. Bohler angles (BA) and Gissane angles were 19.1degrees, 96.7degrees in group A, 21.8degrees, 119.1degrees in group B, 26.3degrees, 121.2degrees in group C, 19.7degrees, 119.7degrees in group D. Calcaneal widths and heights were 39.5 mm, 31.6 mm in group A, 32.7 mm, 37.0 mm in group B, 34.4 mm, 39.2 mm in group C, 35.2 mm, 38.7 mm in group D. CONCLUSION: The main cause of bilateral calcaneal fracture is an injury from a fall, and the cases were more frequently occurred in men than women. Also the fracture in the right side tend to occur more severely compared to the left side. The surgical treatment shows better results than conservative treatment in bilateral calcaneal fracture.

Comparative Study of Clinical and Radiologic Outcomes of Unstable Distal Radius Fractures in Patients 70 Years or Older: Nonoperative Versus Operative Treatment

PURPOSE: Clinical and radiologic results of operative versus nonoperative treatment were compared in patients 70 years or older who had an unstable distal radius fracture. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From March 2007 to April 2009, 49 patients who had an unstable distal radius fracture treated nonoperatively (22 patients) or operatively (27 patients) were investigated. The radiologic results between the two patient groups were compared based on bone union, dorsal tilt, radial inclination and radial shortening. The clinical results were compared based on disabilities of arm, shoulder & hand (DASH) score, the patient-rated wrist evaluation (PRWE) score, the grip strength and the motion range of the wrist joint. RESULTS: At the last follow-up examination, DASH score, PRWE score, the flexion, supination and radial deviation of wrist joint and the grip strength did not showed significant difference. Among the patients who received non-operative treatments, 18 of 22 showed radiologically recognizable deformation; average dorsal tilt of 11.9degrees, the average radial inclination of 18.9degrees, and average radial shortening of 3.8 mm. The patients who received operative treatments showed average volar tilt of 3.3degrees, radial inclination of 18.8degrees+/-3.7degrees, and radial shortening of 1.5 mm. Three patients showed radiologically recognizable deformation. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that nonoperative treatment is initially recommended in patients with the age of 70 years or older who have an unstable distal radius fracture in terms of functional results.