Thoracic Vertebral Fracture due to Spinal Tuberculosis which was Misdiagnosed as Matastatic Cancer: A Case Report

STUDY DESIGN: A case report. OBJECTIVES: To report the case of a patient whose preoperative imaging results seemed to show metastatic spine tumor but who actually had a vertebral pathologic fracture caused by spine tuberculosis. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: Tuberculosis spondylitis is classified into peridiscal, central, anterior, and posterior spondylitis according to the portion involved, and central spondylitis can be mistaken as a tumor. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Imaging studies were performed in a 79-year-old female with progressive lower extremity weakness. We found a T12 pathologic vertebral fracture, which was suspected to be metastatic cancer. RESULTS: We performed surgery and found spine tuberculosis in the pathological and immunological examinations. Two weeks postoperatively, the patient could walk with crutches and underwent anti-tuberculosis therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Even when the results of imaging studies predict spinal metastasis, we should keep in mind the possibility of spinal tuberculosis.

Anatomical Studies of the Upper and Lower Subscapular Nerves / 체질인류학회지

This study aimed to determine the number of branches of the upper and lower subscapular nerves and to classify the spinal nerve compositions of each branch. Twenty sides of the brachial plexus extracted from Korean adult cadavers were used in this study. The upper subscapular nerve was composed of three branches in 16 sides (80.0%), composed of four branches in 4 sides (20.0%). The lower subscapular nerve arose from posterior cord with one branch, innervating the subscapularis and the teres major muscles. In case of the upper subscapular nerve, the first branch was comprised of C5 in 40.0%, C5 and C6 in 60.0%, the second branch was composed of C5 in 15.0%, C5 and C6 in 85.0%, the third branch was arisen from C5 and C6 in 75.0%, C6 in 25.0% and the forth branch appeared in four sided was derived from C6. The nerve branch innervating the subscapularis muscle was composed of C6 in 55.0%, C5 and C6 in 40.0%, C6 and C7 in 5.0%. The nerve branch innervating the teres major muscle was composed of C6 and C7 in 65.0%, C5, C6 and C7 in 25.0%, and C6 in 10.0%. The injury was often due to an accidental damage or lesion of the subscapular nerve, these anatomical results may be helpful to predict the involving area of the lesion.

The Length of the Patellar Tendon in Normal Adults

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to measure the length of the patellar tendon in normal adults and to analyze the effect of several anthropological variables on the patellar tendon length. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 316 knees (278 males, 38 females) that were undergoing anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with a bone-patellar-bone autograft. The patellar tendon length was measured on the middle 1/3 of the ipsilateral patellar tendon taken during the operation and we analyzed the relationships between the tendon length and age, weight, height and gender using simple correlation tests and linear regression analysis. RESULTS: The mean tendon length was 42.6 mm (range: 30~60 mm) and the mean age, mean weight and mean height was 32.7 years, 72.8 kg and 170.2 cm, respectively. There was weak negative correlation between the tendon length and age (Pearson correlation r=-0.187) and weak positive correlation between the tendon length and weight (r=0.288) but there was no significant correlation between tendon length and the body mass index (p=0.282) There was a positive correlation between tendon length and height (r=0.434). There was a significant difference between the males and females for the length of tendon (p<0.001), yet after removing the variance of height, the difference was statistically insignificant (beta=-0.041, p=0.491). The linear regression equation for the patellar tendon length (y, in centimeters) as a function of height (x, in centimeter) can be expressed as y=0.032x1.183. CONCLUSION: The length of the patellar tendon is correlated with height, and a patient's height can predict the length of the patellar tendon.

Factors Affecting the Range of Motion after Revision Total Knee Arthroplasty

PURPOSE: We aimed to analyze the clinical results and investigate the factors that affect the range of motion (ROM) after revision total knee arthroplasty. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We measured the range of motion from 61 knees of 55 patients who underwent revision total knee arthroplasty using the Nexgen(R) LCCK and we investigated the factors affecting the postoperative ROM, including age, the body mass index (BMI), the preoperative ROM, deformity, causes of revision (septic vs. aseptic) and the type of polyethylene inserts (constrained vs. posterior-stabilized). The clinical results and radiographic findings were assessed using the American Knee Society Score and the roentgenographic method of the American Knee Society. RESULTS: The mean range of motion was improved from 113.7degrees to 127.2degrees. The preoperative ROM (p=0.000) and diagnosis (p=0.006) significantly influenced the postoperative ROM, yet age (p=0.386), BMI (p=0.054), deformity (p=0.218) and the type of polyethylene insert (p=0.195) were not related to the postoperative knee ROM. The American Knee Society Knee Score and Function Score on average was improved from 31.7 and 27.9 points to 86.7 and 64.7 points, respectively. CONCLUSION: The range of motion and clinical results were satisfactory after revision total knee arthroplasty using the Nexgen(R) LCCK, and the important factors affecting the range of motion after operation were the preoperative ROM and the causes of revision. The range of motion after arthroplasty using the constrained type polyethylene insert was not inferior to that using the posterior-stabilized insert.

Bony Ankylosis Secondary to Heterotopic Ossification Following Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Case Report

Bony ankylosis secondary to heterotopic ossification following total knee arthroplasty is extremely rare, and to the best of our knowledge, there has been no reported case of this in Korea. We present such a case in a 48 year-old female who underwent primary total knee replacement due to traumatic osteoarthritis.

Treatment of the Acromioclavicular Joint Dislocation Using a AO Hook Plate

PURPOSE: We wanted to evaluate the results of treating acromioclavicular joint dislocation using an AO hook plate. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between February 2008 and September 2009, 10 patients underwent implant removal after surgical treatment of acromioclavicular joint dislocation using a AO hook plate. The Constant-Murley scoring system was administered postoperatively for evaluating the clinical results, and simple X-ray was taken for evaluating the state of reduction. RESULTS: All cases showed satisfactory results on the clinical and radiological study. The mean Constant-Murley score at follow-up was 90.5 (range: 84~95). Three patients had some degree of discomfort with the hook plate, but these symptoms were relieved on removal of the plate. The radiological evaluation showed restoration of the vertical displacement of the clavicle in all the patients. No complications occurred such as infection, plate failure or redislocation after removal of the plate. CONCLUSION: The short term follow-up results of treating acromioclvicular joint dislocation using an AO hook plate were satisfactory both clinically and radiologically.

A Case of Bilateral Perineal Ectopic Testes Treated with Hormone Therapy and Orchiopexy

Bilateral ectopic testes, located in the perineum is a rare disease with no cases reported yet in Korea. We report a case of bilateral perineal ectopic testes in a 7-month-old infant who visited for evaluation of both non palpable testis in scrotum. External genitalia was male in appearance and cystic masses were palpated in both inguinal area. Serum testosterone level was lower than 0.01 ng/mL and suspicious hernial sac-like structures were seen in both inguinal area on pelvic ultrasonography. After 4 weeks of total 12,000IU hCG(human chorionic gonadotropin) therapy in pediatrics, serial follow up was done for 2 months and bilateral palpable masses were identified on deep perineal area, so bilateral orchiopexy was carried out.

Properties of Incidentaloma in Adrenal and Renal Tumors / 대한비뇨기과학회지

PURPOSE: Recent advances and wider application of imaging diagnostic techniques, especially ultrasonography(USG) and computed tomography(CT), account for the increasing incidentaloma in adrenal and renal tumors. We have studied these incidentalomas to investigate the incidences, occasions of detection, pathological findings, prognosis and other clinical properties. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The 186 cases of adrenal and renal tumors, treated surgically in Kyoungpook National University Hospital between 1987 and 1997 were reviewed and compared incidentally detected group(59cases) to symptomatically suspected group(127cases). RESULTS: The analysis of 186 cases demonstrated a marked increase in the frequency of incidentaloma from 15.6%(1987?1992) to 43.1%(1993?1997). The proportions of incidentaloma in adrenal and renal tumors were 20.4% in adrenal tumor, 36.4% in renal tumor and 31.7% in total. The chief method of detection was USG(57.6%), followed by CT(33.9%) and IVP(6.8%). The main reasons for examination leading to the diagnosis in incidentaloma were evaluation of unrelated symptoms(44.1%), follow up of other diseases(35.6%), general health check(18.6%) and during other operation(1.7%). In case of adrenal incidentaloma, the mean tumor diameter was larger than in suspected group(4.8+/-3.4cm vs 3.1+/-2.3cm). The main histologic diagnosis of adrenal incidentaloma was adrenal adenoma and hormonally functional tumors were less than suspected group (63.6% vs 88.4%). In case of renal incidentaloma, the mean tumor diameter was smaller than in suspected group(5.3+/-2.1cm vs 8.7+/-2.2cm) and paraneoplastic syndromes were less than in suspected group(20.8% vs 57.1%). The grade and stage of renal incidentaloma were lower and survival rate was higher than suspected group(5 year survival rate, 83.3% vs 64.3%). CONCLUSIONS: These results indicated that abdominal USG or CT should be performed with special attention to adrenal and renal lesions, where at a health examination or evaluation to unrelated disease.