The Correlation Between Radiographic and Clinical Results after Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion / 대한척추외과학회지

STUDY DESIGN: This is a prospective study. OBJECTIVES: We wanted to analyse the correlation between the radiographic and clinical results after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) for treating degenerative cervical diseases. Summary of Literature REVIEW: ACDF is a successful procedure for treating the degenerative cervical spine. Many studies have reported on radiographic results and clinical outcomes of this procedure. However, few studies have examined the relationships between the changes of the radiographic parameters and the clinical results after ACDF. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 26 patients who had single level ACDF performed for degenerative cervical diseases during the period between Jan, 2000 and Dec, 2004 were evaluated. All the patients underwent autologous iliac bone graft and plate fixation. The radiographic parameters, including the disc height, the disc space angulation and the spinous process distance were measured at the preoperative period, post operative 1 month and the last follow up period, respectively. The clinical changes were measured using the visual analogue scale (VAS) for neck and arm pain at the preoperative and last follow up period. The correlations between the radiographic parameters and the clinical outcomes were assessed by Pearson correlation. RESULTS: There were significant changes in disc height (6.7-7.9 mm) as well as disc space angulation (kyphosis: 1.1degrees, lordosis: 3.4degrees). The reduction in the neck pain VAS score (63.9-33.1) and the arm pain VAS score (57.9-29.7) was significant. None of the correlations between the radiographic parameters and the clinical outcomes were significant (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: Although the clinical outcomes improved significantly, there was no significant correlation between the radiographic parameters and clinical results after performing single level anterior cervical discectomy and fusion for the degenerative cervical disease.

Operative Treatment of Acute Peroneal Tendon Subluxation in Athletes: A Case Report - 2 Cases / 대한족부족관절학회지

Acute subluxation of the peroneal tendon is an uncommon injury which is predominantly associated with a trauma. Traumatic peroneal tendon subluxation in athletes is an uncommon cause of ankle pain. As a result, the diagnosis is often delayed. Numerous surgical techniques have been described for chronic peroneal subluxation or dislocation, however reports in acute cases are rare. Authors experienced two cases of acute subluxation of peroneal tendon in athletes which were treated by simple primary repair of superior peroneal retinaculum with good results.

Comparison of the Results of the Decompression Methods for Degenerative Lumbar Spinal Stenosis: Comparison of Posterior Element Saving Procedures / 대한척추외과학회지

STUDY DESIGN: This is a prospective study. OBJECTIVES: We wanted to analyze the radiographic and clinical results of the three posterior element saving decompression techniques for treating lumbar degenerative spinal stenosis. SUMMARY OF THE LITERATURE REVIEW: Minimal invasive decompression reduces patient morbidity and the hospital stay. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We evaluated 30 patients, who were treated with posterior element saving microscopic decompression for their lumbar spinal stenosis (without instability), during the period from March, 2002 and February, 2004. The procedures were bilateral laminotomy (10 cases), spinous process osteotomy (8 cases) and laminoplasty (12 cases). We evaluated the estimated blood loss, the amount of transfusion, the complications and the radiographic instability at the last follow-up. The clinical results were evaluated with using the Oswestry disability index (ODI) and the visual analogue scale (VAS) for buttock and leg pain both preoperatively and at postoperative 1, 3, 6 and 12 months, respectively. RESULTS: There was no radiographic instability noted for any of the patients at the last follow up. The mean ODI and VAS scores were substantially improved at postoperative 1 month and then they were marginally improved afterwards. However, there were no statistically significant differences among three procedures (p>0.05). The mean blood loss and the amount of transfusion for each spinal level were 290 ml and 0.5 U for bilateral laminotomy, 370 ml and 0.9 U for spinous process osteotomy and 180 ml and 0.1 U for laminoplasty, respectively. CONCLUSION: There were no significant differences in the radiograhic and clinical results among bilateral laminotomy, spinous process osteotomy and laminoplasty. Yet in terms of blood loss and transfusion, laminoplasty was better than the other techniques. We believe that laminoplasty is a useful and safe technique for treating degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis.