Comparison of the postoperative analgesic effect for infiltration between the popliteal artery and the capsule of the posterior knee and that of periarticular multimodal drug injection in total knee arthroplasty: retrospective study in the immediate postoperative period

Background@#The aim of this study is to compare the postoperative analgesic effect of infiltration between the popliteal artery and the capsule of the knee (IPACK) and the effect of periarticular multimodal drug injection (PMDI) in addition to adductor canal block (ACB) after total knee arthroplasty. @*Methods@#Among patients who received total knee arthroplasty from June 2017 to December 2017, 50 who underwent ACB with additional IPACK and 50 who received ACB with additional PMDI were selected for this study.We compared the postoperative pain numerical rating scale (NRS), the number of times patient-controlled analgesia was administered and the amount administered, the total amount of opioids given, and complications associated with the procedure between the two groups. @*Results@#NRS measured at rest and 45° knee flexion at days 1 and 2 after surgery was significantly lower in the IPACK group than in the PMDI group. The resting NRS measured at day 3 after surgery was also significantly lower in the IPACK group than in the PMDI group, and the NRS at 45° knee flexion measured from day 3 to day 5 showed a significant reduction in the IPACK group. No complications relating to the procedure occurred. @*Conclusions@#IPACK may be a better option than PMDI for controlling acute phase pain in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty.

Infiltrating Epidural Angiolipoma Involving Lumbar Spine / 대한정형외과학회잡지

We report on an unusual case with infiltrating extradural spinal angiolipoma. Most spinal angiolipomas involve the thoracic spine and infiltrating ones are also located mainly at the thoracic levels rather than lumbar lesion. In particular, there are few cases of lumbar extradural infiltrating type spinal angiolipoma. One case is that of a 52-year-old female with infiltrating extradural spinal angiolipoma involving lumbar 4 (L4) vertebra, who underwent a L4-5 laminectomy and surgical removal of the tumor. We achieved satisfactory results with surgical treatment of the patient. Spinal angiolipoma has a benign course with a good postoperative outcome.

The Effect of Autotransfusion System in Minimally Invasive Total Knee Arthroplasty

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of autotransfusion system in minimally invasive total knee arthroplasty (TKA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy-one patients who underwent unilateral minimally invasive TKA between October 2009 and June 2010 were selected. The first group included 36 patients who received standard vacuum drainage and the second group, 35 patients who underwent autologous retransfusion drainage. In the first group, allogeneic blood transfusion was performed if the postoperative hemoglobin level was <7.0 g/dL or 7.0-8.0 g/dL with the presence of a medical complication and an anemic symptom. The second group received autotransfusion and allogeneic transfusion additionally according to the same criteria. Changes in the pre- and postoperative hemoglobin level, amount of auto- or allotransfusion, and frequency of allogeneic transfusion were assessed. RESULTS: Allogeneic transfusion was required in 13 patients (36.1%) in the first group and four patients (11.4%) in the second group. The mean allogeneic transfusion volume was significantly low in the second group compared to the first group (64.4 mL vs. 278.9 mL; p<0.05). The hemoglobin level on the 1st postoperative day compared to the preoperative level decreased by 22.6% in the first group and 11.7% in the second group. The postoperative hemoglobin level was higher in the second group (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Minimally invasive unilateral TKA with an autotransfusion system can be beneficial in patients with no medical complications because of the decreased allogeneic transfusion.

The First Web Space Free Flap of the Foot to Reconstruct the Pulp of Fingers

PURPOSE: The first web space of the foot has a similar thickness and skin texture of the pulp of the fingers. Moreover, it has a reliable blood vessel and sensory nerve. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical results of the first web space free flap to reconstruct the pulp of fingers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Authors have performed 23 cases of first web space free flap to reconstruct the pulp defect of the fingers between June 2004 and May 2009. The age of the patients ranged from 20 years old to 55 years old. The size of the flap ranged from 1x1.5 cm to 8.5x2.5 cm. The mean flap area was 5.4 cm2. In 4 cases, we elevated the flap including lateral aspect of the big toe and medial aspect of the second toe. And then we made an artificial syndactyly to reconstruct the pulps on two fingers at the same time. In all cases, we performed 1 digital artery and 1 dorsal vein anastomosis. Every donor site that had a small defect healed spontaneously without any additional operations to cover it. RESULTS: Of this type of surgery 21 flaps (91.3%) survived, 2 flaps (8.7%) failed. There was no severe complication in the donor sites. There was no walking disturbance due to the skin defect of the donor site. The static 2 point discrimination in 11 cases that we could check ranged from 3 mm to 15 mm. CONCLUSION: The authors believe that the first web space free flap of the foot is a good option for the reconstruction of the pulp of the fingers and it has a minimal donor site morbidity.

Fabrication of a Scaffold for Bone Regeneration and Differentiation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells / 대한정형외과연구학회지

PURPOSE: This in-vitro study aimed to confirm the clinical potential of a newly suggested bone substitute fabricated by a bio-plotting system. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A 3-dimensional, PCL (polycaprolactone)-based bone substitute was fabricated by a bio-plotting system, which enables us to control the shape and porosity. Mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs) from a New Zealand white rabbits were seeded to the bone substitute. Through 2-week experiment, morphological and various biological responses were assessed depending on the use of osteogenic media and/or mechanical stimuli. RESULTS: The viability of cells was confirmed. Other findings in relation to proliferation and differentiation were also confirmed to be biocompatible. Specifically, the activity of ALP was increased in the groups using osteogenic media along the time. And the expressions collagen type I was more affected by intermittent hydrostatic pressure rather than by osteogenic media. But those of Cbfa-1 was affected by osteogenic media and mechanical stimuli, as well. CONCLUSION: The potential of a newly fabricated and suggested material was confirmed. However, further long term and animal study are recommanded for the clinical application.

The Fate of Butterfly Fragments in Extremity Shaft Comminuted Fractures Treated with Closed Interlocking Intramedullary Nailing

PURPOSE: For conservative treatment of shaft fractures, the butterfly fragments that were somewhat larger in the closed intra-medullary (IM) nailing. The results of treatment were monitored using radiography separately for the weight-bearing femur and non-weight-bearing humerus. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 27 from Group I and 31 from Group II. In the two groups, the displacement and angulation changes in the fragments, and the degree of improvement of these two factors, were compared using follow-up radiography. RESULTS: The mean angulation of fragments in Groups I and II were 9.2degrees and 9.6degrees, and the mean degree of displacement of the fragments in Groups I and II were 16.7 mm and 21.2 mm, respectively. Follow-up radiography showed that the above factors improved in both groups. The degree of displacement was significantly lower in the normal cases than in the complicated cases (p=0.001). CONCLUSION: Displacement and angulation gradually improved in both groups. It was found that the degree of displacement after the initial reduction is more important than the influence of anatomical position or weight bearing. This indicates that care should be taken when inserting IM nails to prevent displacement or angulation.

Management of Focal Chondral Lesion in the Knee Joint

Articular cartilage does not contain vascular, nervous and lymphatic tissue and chondrocytes hardly participate in the healing or repair process of chondral tissue because of being surrounded by plenty of extracellular matrix. Therefore, the injury to articular cartilage frequently requires an operative treatment. The goal of surgical repair of articular cartilage is to regenerate nearly normal chondral tissue and prevent degenerative arthritis caused by the articular cartilage defect. Microfracture is a kind of cartilage repair procedure that makes a fibrin clot containing mesenchymal stem cells in the chondral lesion. Microfracture is a simple procedure but it has a disadvantage that the repaired tissue is fibrocartilage. Autologous chondrocyte implantation has an advantage that it implants fully differentiated chondrocytes to the lesion, which theoretically produces hyaline cartilage. Its disadvantages are that it is a two stage and a costly procedure. Osteochondral autograft transplantation is a one stage procedure and repairs the lesion with hyaline cartilage. But its limitation is the lack of donor site availability. Surgeons who understand the theoretical background, indications, surgical methods, rehabilitation, complications, and clinical course of cartilage repair procedures can achieve the goal of preventing degenerative arthritis.

Double Check Method of Femoral Alignment in Total Knee Arthroplasty / 대한정형외과학회잡지

PURPOSE: To determine the effectiveness of a double checking method with an extramedullary guide for improving the accuracy of an intramedullary alignment guide in a total knee arthroplasty. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From June 1999 to October 2002. 30 cases of a double checked total knee arthroplasty with an extramedullary guide were classified as Group I, and an other 30 cases of a total knee arthroplasty with an intramedullary guide were classified as Group II. The extramedullary guide was a set 3-finger width medial to the anterior superior iliac spine as a landmark, and was checked by the X-ray findings during surgery. The radiological assessment was carried out by comparing the preoperative and postoperative standing AP view. RESULTS: The postoperative femorotibial angle in Group I was valgus 5.9degrees (5-9degrees) and valgus 7.7degrees (4-11degrees) in Group II. The normal anatomical variation (valgus 6+/-2degrees) was outranged in 1 case (3%) in group I, and 6 cases (20%) in group II. CONCLUSION: Determining the angle of a distal femoral resection only with an intramedullary guide can cause a misalignment by many factors. The double check method with an extramedullary guide can improve the alignment accuracy, and show better results.