Radiographic Outcomes of Osteosynthesis Using Proximal Femoral Nail Antirotation (PFNA) System in Intertrochanteric Femoral Fracture: Has PFNA II Solved All the Problems? / 대한고관절학회지

PURPOSE: We evaluated the geometric discrepancies between the proximal femur in Koreans and two types of proximal femoral nail using plain radiographs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 100 consecutive patients (38 treated with proximal femoral nail antirotation [PFNA], 62 PFNA II) with intertrochanteric fracture were retrospectively identified. The minimum follow up period was 32 months. The geometric analysis of the proximal femur was performed using preoperative true hip antero-posterior radiographs of the unaffected side, and the data were compared with the PFNA and PFNA II dimensions. Postoperative assessments were performed using postoperative radiographs for the proximal protruding length of nail tip, quality of reduction, implant position and the presence of lateral cortical impingement. RESULTS: The geometric dimensions of the proximal femur were different between the two proximal femoral nail types. No impingement was detected in patients treated with PFNA II, whereas 13 cases of lateral impingement were observed in patients treated with PFNA. A significant association was observed between the short proximal femur and the presence of lateral cortical impingement (P=0.032) and between impingement and intraoperative reduction loss (P=0.012). Proximal protrusion of the nail tip was seen in 71 patients and no difference was observed between two groups. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrates that the flat lateral surface of PFNA II can avoid lateral cortical impingement, which provide better fixation for intertrochanteric fracture. However, there was still a problem associated with longer proximal end of PFNA II compared with the proximal femoral length in Korean.

Postoperative Cubital Tunnel Syndrome due to Deep Flexor Pronator Aponeurosis / 대한정형외과학회잡지

Entrapment of the ulnar nerve around the elbow is the second most common compression neuropathy in the upper extremity. Many anatomical regions that possibly compress the ulnar nerve around the elbow joint have been described, however few cases below the flexor carpi ulnaris muscle have been reported. A case with ulnar nerve entrapment at the flexor pronator aponeurosis, secondary to surgery is reported in this study.

afety and Feasibility in Trans-radial Coronary Interventions for Chronic Total Occlusion

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Recent advances in trans-radial coronary intervention (TRI) have shown a reduction in patient's morbidity. However, the role of TRI for a chronic total occlusion (CTO) is not well established. The aim of this study was to assess the safety and feasibility of TRI for a CTO. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Sixty-three successive CTO lesions of more than 2 months duration were prospectively included in this registry between April 2002 and November 2003. Guiding catheters with strong back-up, stiff guide wires and supportive infusion catheters were actively used. The angiographic and procedural characteristics were prospectively evaluated. RESULTS: There were 45 male and 18 female patients, with a mean age of 59.8+/-9.5 years. The most common clinical diagnosis was stable angina (95.2%). The mean duration of the occlusions was 10.3+/-1.6 months. Procedural success was achieved in 53 lesions (84.1%). No cases were crossed over to transfemoral procedure. The most common cause of procedural failure was guide wire passage failure (7 lesions). The mean duration of occlusions was significantly longer in the failure group (7.5+/-1.1 versus 24.8+/-6.5 months, p<0.001). Bridging collateral vessels, long occlusions, calcification at lesion sites, a side branch at the occlusion site and blunt entry morphology were also statistically significant predictors for procedural failure. Procedure-related complications were noted in 6 patients (9.8%), which included coronary perforations (3.3%), severe dissections (3.3%), arrhythmia (1.6%) and branch artery occlusion (1.6%). No patients suffered from local complications, such as hematoma or radial artery occlusion. CONCLUSION: TRI for a CTO seems to be safe and feasible, with acceptable success and complication rates.