Value of Post-arthrography Computed Tomography in Wrist Ligament Injuries / 대한정형외과학회잡지

PURPOSE: To evaluate the use of post-arthrography computed tomography in examining wrist ligament injuries. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty consecutive patients who had a history and clinical findings suggestive of ligamentous injuries of the wrist were examined. Fourteen men and sixteen women (average age 35 years) were enrolled in this study. The evaluation concentrated on the detection and precise localization of the ligament lesions in the triangular fibrocartilage (TFC), the scapholunate ligament (SLL) and the lunotriquetral ligament (LTL). RESULTS: For TFC, SLL and LTL lesions, arthro-CT showed a sensitivity 96%, 90% and 85.7%, and a specificity 80%, 90% and 91.3%, and an accuracy 93.3%, 90% and 93.3%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Arthro-CT may be a useful imaging method for evaluating intra-articular ligament injuries of the wrist.

The Efficacy of Suction Drains arter Total Hip Arthroplasty

Purpose: The goal of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of suction drains following total hip arthroplasties, by comparing the post-operative results between the group with suction drains and the group without suction drains. Materials and Methods: Eighty-six patients, who underwent primary total hip arthroplasties from June 2001 to June 2004, were divided into two groups: group 1 (48 patients), with suction drains; and group 2 (38 patients), without suction drains. We assessed the perioperative hemoglobin and platelet levels, the amount of total blood loss, the amount of post-operative blood transfusions, post-operative ranges of motion (ROMs, at 6 weeks), wound problems, and general conditions. Results: Although the postoperative hemoglobin level was greater in group 2 than in group 1, there was no statistically significant difference. The amount of total blood loss and blood transfusions in group 1 were statistically greater than in group 2 (p<0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in the post-operative ROMs and wound complications between groups 1 and 2. Conclusion: There were no limitations of hip motion and no wound complications in the patients without suction drains after total hip arthroplasties. However, they required fewer post-operative blood transfusions than did the patients with suction drains, due to less post-operative blood loss; and the absence of a suction drain might prevent retrograde tube infections. In addition, patients without suction drains after total hip arthroplasties seemed to recover better did than those with suction drains. Therefore, suction drains might provide no benefit in total hip arthroplasties.