An Epidemiological Study of Clavicle Fractures for Koreans in the Metropolitan Area / 대한정형외과학회잡지

PURPOSE: Though clavicle fractures are the second most common fractures to occur in active adults, there have been a few epidemiological studies conducted on the Korean population in recent years. To better understand clavicle fractures, an epidemiological study reflecting the changes in current life style and injury mechanism may be important. Hence, the purpose of this study was to conduct an epidemiological study on the Korean population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective study of 973 patients (977 cases) who presented with clavicle fractures from January 2000 to August 2015. Radiological results were classified by the Allman system-3 groups and 7 subgroups. The study collected information regarding gender, age at the event of injury, injury mechanism, other associated injuries, occurrence rate of each year, and seasonal variation. RESULTS: The study consisted of 627 male patients (64.4%, 1 bilateral case) and 346 female patients (35.6%, 3 bilateral cases). The mean age at the time of injury was 31.8±24.9 years (male, 31.2±22.6 years; female, 32.7±28.7 years). Midshaft clavicle fractures (Allman group I) were the most common with 758 cases (77.6%). There were 397 cases with displacement (40.6%). The occurrence of clavicle fractures decreased with increasing age in male patients and showed a bimodal distribution in female patients. Injury due to a fall from standing height was the most common mechanism of injury. There were 61 cases (6.2%) who had other associated injuries and the most common associated injury was a rib fracture. The occurrence of clavicle fractures increased with time, and falling was associated with the highest occurrence rate of clavicle fractures. CONCLUSION: The mean age of clavicle fracture was 31.8 years in a recent 15-year period. The occurrence of fracture in male patients was 1.8 times than female patients, primarily occurring as midshaft fractures. There were more cases of displacement than minimally displaced cases. The most common injury mechanism was a fall from standing height, and the occurrence of clavicle fractures has shown an increasing trend recently.

Reconstruction of Large Femur and Tibia Defect with Free Vascularized Fibula Graft and Locking Plate

PURPOSE: The reconstruction of femur and tibia defects following tumor resection remains a surgical challenge. The clinical outcome of free vascularized fibula graft (VFG) reconstruction with locking plate for massive femur and tibia defects of more than 10 cm that were secondary to skeletal tumor resection is reported. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirteen patients with a mean follow-up of 3.3 years were reviewed. Seven patients received vascularized fibula grafts in the femur and six in the tibia. The mean bony defect of the femur and tibia was more than 10 cm and the length of the grafted fibula was more than 15 cm. All defects were stabilized with long locking plates. RESULTS: All patients were free of disease at final follow-up; All VFGs were transferred successfully. All patients had a successful outcome with bony union. Stress fractures of the grafted fibula had occurred but the locking plate stabilized the fracture and healed until the last follow-up. All patients were able to walk without a brace after a mean of 9 months postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: VFG with locking plate is a reliable reconstructive procedure for massive femur and tibia defects.

Incidental Findings on Knee Radiographs in Children and Adolescents

BACKGROUND: Despite the wide use of knee radiography in children and adolescent patients visiting the outpatient clinic, there has been no analysis about the prevalence and type of incidental findings yet. This study was performed to investigate the incidental findings on knee radiographs in children and adolescents according to age. METHODS: A total of 1,562 consecutive patients younger than 18 years of age were included. They who visited Seoul National University Bundang Hospital's outpatient clinic with a chief complaint of knee pain or malalignment between 2010 and 2011. We reviewed the knee radiographs and analyzed the prevalence and type of incidental findings, such as metaphyseal lucent area, epiphyseal cortical irregularity, osteochondroma and Harris growth arrest line. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 10.2 years (range, 1 month to 18 years). We identified 355 incidental findings in 335 patients (21.4%) and 98 abnormal findings (6.3%). The most common incidental finding was metaphyseal lucent area (131, 8.4%), followed by epiphyseal cortical irregularity (105, 6.7%), Harris growth arrest line (75, 4.8%), and osteochondroma (44, 2.8%). An epiphyseal cortical irregularity tended to have a higher prevalence at younger age (p < 0.001) and the prevalences of metaphyseal lucent area and Harris growth arrest line were also higher at a younger age (p = 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively). However, the osteochondroma tended to have a higher prevalence at an older age (p = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS: This study describes the incidental findings on knee radiographs in children and adolescents and provides effective information from a viewpoint of an orthopedic doctor. The authors recommend considering those incidental findings if unfamiliar findings appear on a knee radiograph in the pediatric outpatient clinic.