Compartment Syndrome of the Thigh Following Manipulation to Treat Knee Stiffness after Total Knee Arthroplasty / 대한정형외과학회잡지

A 67-year-old man developed compartment syndrome of the thigh following manipulation for treatment of knee stiffness after a total knee arthroplasty. Three months earlier, he had undergone arthroscopic synovectomies twice for treatment of septic arthritis in the same leg. Manipulation for treatment of stiffness concomitant with periarticular inflammation is a possible risk factor of compartment syndrome.

Risk of Anterior Femoral Notching in Navigated Total Knee Arthroplasty

BACKGROUND: We retrospectively investigated the prevalence of femoral anterior notching and risk factors after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) using an image-free navigation system. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 148 consecutive TKAs in 130 patients beginning in July 2005. Seventy knees (62 patients) underwent conventional TKA, and 78 knees (68 patients) received navigated TKA. We investigated the prevalence of femoral anterior notching and measured notching depth by conventional and navigated TKA. Additionally, the navigated TKA group was categorized into two subgroups according to whether anterior femoral notching had occurred. The degree of preoperative varus deformity, femoral bowing, and mediolateral suitability of the size of the femoral component were determined by reviewing preoperative and postoperative radiographs. The resection angle on the sagittal plane and the angle of external rotation that was set by the navigation system were checked when resecting the distal femur. Clinical outcomes were compared using range of motion (ROM) and the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAX) scores between the two groups. RESULTS: The prevalence of anterior femoral notching by conventional TKA was 5.7%, and that for navigated TKA was 16.7% (p = 0.037). Mean notching depth by conventional TKA was 2.92 +/- 1.18 mm (range, 1.8 to 4.5 mm) and 3.32 +/- 1.54 mm (range, 1.55 to 6.93 mm) by navigated TKA. Preoperative anterior femoral bowing was observed in 61.5% (p = 0.047) and both anterior and lateral femoral bowing in five cases in notching group during navigated TKA (p = 0.021). Oversized femoral components were inserted in 53.8% of cases (p = 0.035). No differences in clinical outcomes for ROM or the HSS and WOMAX scores were observed between the groups. A periprosthetic fracture, which was considered a notching-related side effect, occurred in one case each in the conventional and navigated TKA groups. CONCLUSIONS: Surgeons should be aware of the risks associated with anterior femoral notching when using a navigation system for TKA. A modification of the femoral cut should be considered when remarkable femoral bowing is observed.

Short-term of Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty for the Treatment of Irreparable Massive Rotator Cuff Tear

BACKGROUND: To investigate the effectiveness of reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA) in treating irreparable massive rotator cuff tears (RCTs). METHODS: Twenty-nine patients who underwent RTSA for the treatment of irreparable massive RCTs and completed follow-up for at least 1 year were selected. Their mean age was 69.7 years (range, 59-80 years). The mean follow-up was 17.7 months (range, 12-42 months). The shoulder range of motion was measured preoperatively and at final follow-up. The functional result was evaluated using visual analog scale (VAS) for pain, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeon (ASES) score, and Korean Shoulder Society (KSS) score. Additionally, the shoulders were categorized into two groups depending on prior history of surgery and the clinical outcomes were analyzed between two groups. RESULTS: Mean pain VAS improved, from 6.6+/-1.2 to 2.7+/-0.9 (p=0.001), and the mean functional VAS from 35.7+/-4.2 to 73.3+/-5.4 (p=0.006). The mean ASES score improved from 37.2+/-2.8 to 75.0+/-3.8 (p=0.012). The mean KSS improved from 36.5+/-7.2 to 75.6+/-5.4 (p=0.009), the mean forward elevation from 66.3+/-4.7 to 135.6+/-8.4 (p=0.0001), and the mean abduction from 45.2+/-4.2 to 119.0+/-6.5o (p=0.0001). Internal rotation differed significantly from the first sacral to the third lumbar vertebrae (p=0.036). External rotation did not change significantly (p=0.076). There was also no statistically significant difference between groups (no previous operation versus none). Four complications occurred: one superficial infection, one with anterior dislocation, one acromial fracture, and one clavicle fracture. CONCLUSIONS: RTSA provides reliable pain relief and recovery of shoulder function in patients with massive irreparable RCTs in short-term follow-up.

Epidural Abscess Following Epidural Catheterization for Painless Mobilization after Total Knee Arthroplasty / 대한정형외과학회잡지

Epidural analgesia is one of the effective methods for pain management after total knee arthroplasty. Although epidural analgesia has been reported to have very low epidural abscess rates, infection could be serious and life-threatening, if there is no early diagnosis and treatment. We report on a patient who developed an epidural abscess following epidural catheterization after total knee arthroplasty.

Short-term of Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty for the Treatment of Irreparable Massive Rotator Cuff Tear

BACKGROUND: To investigate the effectiveness of reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA) in treating irreparable massive rotator cuff tears (RCTs). METHODS: Twenty-nine patients who underwent RTSA for the treatment of irreparable massive RCTs and completed follow-up for at least 1 year were selected. Their mean age was 69.7 years (range, 59-80 years). The mean follow-up was 17.7 months (range, 12-42 months). The shoulder range of motion was measured preoperatively and at final follow-up. The functional result was evaluated using visual analog scale (VAS) for pain, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeon (ASES) score, and Korean Shoulder Society (KSS) score. Additionally, the shoulders were categorized into two groups depending on prior history of surgery and the clinical outcomes were analyzed between two groups. RESULTS: Mean pain VAS improved, from 6.6+/-1.2 to 2.7+/-0.9 (p=0.001), and the mean functional VAS from 35.7+/-4.2 to 73.3+/-5.4 (p=0.006). The mean ASES score improved from 37.2+/-2.8 to 75.0+/-3.8 (p=0.012). The mean KSS improved from 36.5+/-7.2 to 75.6+/-5.4 (p=0.009), the mean forward elevation from 66.3+/-4.7 to 135.6+/-8.4 (p=0.0001), and the mean abduction from 45.2+/-4.2 to 119.0+/-6.5o (p=0.0001). Internal rotation differed significantly from the first sacral to the third lumbar vertebrae (p=0.036). External rotation did not change significantly (p=0.076). There was also no statistically significant difference between groups (no previous operation versus none). Four complications occurred: one superficial infection, one with anterior dislocation, one acromial fracture, and one clavicle fracture. CONCLUSIONS: RTSA provides reliable pain relief and recovery of shoulder function in patients with massive irreparable RCTs in short-term follow-up.

A Tenosynovial Giant Cell Tumor Arising from Femoral Attachment of the Anterior Cruciate Ligament

The localized type of tenosynovial giant cell tumor usually occurs on the palmar side of fingers and toes. Tenosynovial giant cell tumors of the tendon sheath are rarely intra-articular. We report a giant cell tumor of the tendon sheath arising from femoral attachment of the anterior cruciate ligament and its treatment with arthroscopy in a 28-year-old man.

Acute Compartment Syndrome in Association with Spontaneous Muscle Infarction / 대한정형외과학회잡지

Diabetic muscle infarction is a rare complication of diabetes mellitus that is not clearly defined in the orthopedic literature. In addition, acute compartment syndrome in association with diabetic muscle infarction is a rarer disease, which has had only a few cases have been reported up to date. A large and painful swelling was noticed in the thigh of a 55-year-old female, who had not experienced trauma. The patient was diagnosed as having compartment syndrome with diabetic muscle infarction by magnetic resonance imaging. The patient underwent immediate fasciotomy, and recovered without any complications.

A Case of Asymmetric Bilateral Discoid Medial Menisci

Discoid medial meniscus is a very rare condition of the knee. Even less frequent is the presence of bilateral medial discoid menisci and in fact only 18 cases have been described in the medical literature. We present here one case of asymmetric bilateral discoid medial meniscus. One knee had an incomplete type of discoid medial meniscus with a horizontal cleavage tear confirmed by both magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and arthroscopy. The other knee showed a complete type of discoid medial meniscus with posterior cyst formation on MRI.

Comparison of Tunnel Enlargement between Single and Double Bundle Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction / 대한정형외과학회잡지

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to compare the tunnel enlargement in patients who had undergone a double-bundle (DB) or single-bundle (SB) anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction, and to determine the correlation between the extent of bone tunnel enlargement and the clinical results. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Among 224 primary ACL reconstructions performed from January 2004 to May 2008 we examined in this study 38 patients who underwent a SB-ACL reconstruction and 30 patients underwent a DB-ACL reconstruction. They were followed up over 1 year. The evaluation methods were the Lachman test, pivot-shift test and KT-1000 measurement for knee stability and the Lysholm score and International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) ratings for the functional results. Tunnel enlargement was measured at the sclerotic ridge of the most widest area on the anteroposterior and lateral radiographs in longitudinal and vertical axis of the tunnel. RESULTS: The tunnel enlargement on the femoral side was similar in the DB-ACL group and the SB-ACL group. On the other hand, on the tibial side, the tunnel enlargement was less in the DB-ACL group than in the SB-ACL group (p=0.001, ICC: 0.94). The two groups showed different functional results and extent of stability recovery. The KT-1000 arthrometer revealed 1.1 mm and 93% of negative in the pivot-shift test for the DB-ACL group, which induced an improved tendency compared to the SB-ACL group. No correlation was found between the tunnel enlargement and clinical results. CONCLUSION: A DB-ACL reconstruction results in less tunnel enlargement on the tibial side than a SB-ACL reconstruction. There was no correlation between the tunnel enlargement and clinical results.

Soft Tissue Damage in Cervical Spine Extension Injury / 대한정형외과학회잡지

PURPOSE: To diagnose the extent of soft tissue damage with MRI, and to evaluate the relationship between soft tissue damage and a spinal cord injury in an extension injury to the lower cervical spine trauma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighty-one patients who treated surgically for an anextension injury to the cervical spine over the past 5 years, were analyzed. All patients had undergone MRI after the injury, and for the specific grading of soft tissue damage, the grades were defined from grades 1 to 5. RESULTS: The spinal cord injury developed with more than grade 3 soft tissue damage associated with a rupture of the posterior longitudinal ligament (p<0.01). The changes in signal intensity of the spinal cord also developed according to the severity of soft tissue damage (p<0.01). There was no relationship between the soft tissue damage and the spinal cord injury in spinal stenosis (p=0.75). CONCLUSION: The extent of soft tissue damage was diagnosed precisely with MRI, and there was an close relationship between the soft tissue damage and spinal cord injury in the distractive- extension injury to the lower cervical spine trauma.