Case-control studies on therapeutic effects of arthroscopic reconstruction of anterior cruciate ligament with preservation of remnant through outside-in and transtibial tunel / 中国骨伤

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the properties and clinical outcomes of arthroscopic reconstruction of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) with preservation of remnant through outside-in and transtibial tunel.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From June 2005 to January 2012, 145 patients were treated with arthroscopic reconstruction of ACL with preservation of remnant. Among the patients, 88 patients were treated with outside-in techniques (outside-in group), including 55 males and 33 females, ranging in age from 18 to 52 years, with a mean of (29.22 +/- 7.31) years; 57 patients were treated with transtibial technique (transtibial group), including 35 males and 22 females, ranging in age from 18 to 51 years, with a mean of (29.28 +/- 8.07) years. The Lysholm, VAS and IKDC scores were compared between two groups before operation, after operation and at the latest follow-up time.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The average operation time was (76.94 +/- 10.83) min in the outside-in group, and (70.35 +/- 10.11) min in the transbibial group, there was a significant difference between two groups. There was no significant difference of hydrops articuli scores at the early stage between the two groups (P = 0.065). At follow-up from 18 to 60 months, there were great improvements in the knee stabilities in each group compared with the preoperative data respectively. The Lysholm score improved from 54.75 +/- 10.58 preoperatively to 95.80 +/- 5.16 at the follow-up in the outside-in group; and improved from 52.51 +/- 11.38 preoperatively to 94.86 +/- 5.50 at follow-up in the transtibial group. Additionally, IKDC grades also improved in both groups. However, no significant differences were seen in stabilities shown by pivot shift test, Lachman test and anterior drawer test. And there also no significant differences of Lysholm scores and IKDC grades between two groups after operation.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The outside-in technique has advantages to create an anatomical femoral tunnel easily with minimal intra-articular interference, and disadvantages of complicated manipulation. The transtibial technique is easy to operate and gain time. Using either of responding technique according to the actual situation, satisfactory outcome could be archived.</p>

Mortality analyses for tungsten miners / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the mortality from main causes of death in 6 tungsten miners and explore the effects of cumulative dust exposure on standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) from main causes.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A cohort of 18027 workers registered in the employment record from 6 tungsten mines located in Hunan and Jiangxi province and working for at least 1 year was identified for this study. SMRs were calculated based on Chinese national mortality. Trend analysis was used to analyze the effect of cumulative dust exposure on SMRs of main causes of death.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The cohort was followed up from 1972 to 2003 with an accumulative of 470 722.21 person-years. A total of 6135 workers died, and the mortality was 13.03 per thousand. Cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, malignant neoplasm and pulmonary tuberculosis accounted for 79.32% of all death. The mortalities of all-causes, pneumoconiosis, pulmonary tuberculosis, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, infectious disease, respiratory disease, cardiovascular disease and liver cancer were found to be significantly higher than the national average level. Positive dose-response relationship between SMRs and cumulative dust exposure was observed in all-causes, pneumoconiosis, pulmonary tuberculosis, respiratory disease, cardiovascular disease (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The mortality from main causes of death for the dust-exposed workers are higher than that for non dust-exposed workers. Positive dose-response relationships are observed between cumulative dust exposure and SMRs from all-causes, respiratory disease (including silicosis), pulmonary tuberculosis and cardiovascular disease.</p>

Application of computer-aided design in preoperative planning in total hip replacement / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the advantages of using the preoperative computer-aided design system (CAD) in total hip replacement (THR).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From March 2002 to September 2005, 182 patients who underwent primary THR were screened and divided into 2 groups randomly. CAD and traditional preoperative templating were used in preoperative planning respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In group using CAD, the migration of the center of acetabulum was smaller, and the discrepancy of the limb length and the abductor force lever arm were fewer. All the differences above were significantly different.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>CAD helps remove much of the guesswork during surgery, and the implant can be more precise fitting to the patient. And equal limb lengths and balanced abductor force can be restored more accurately.</p>