Histopathologic Changes of Articular Cartilage and Subchondral Bone in Cylindrical Biopsy Specimen from Talar Osteochondral Lesions / 대한족부족관절학회지

PURPOSE: This study was aimed at elucidating the pathogenesis of talar osteochondral lesion by analyzing the histopathological findings. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty specimens from 20 patients who underwent surgical treatment for talus osteochondral lesions were studied. Preoperative MRI images including T1, T2, and stir images were taken and cases were classified according to modification of the Anderson's classification. There were 5 cases of MRI group 1, 6 cases of group 2, 7 cases of group 3 and 2 cases of group 4. A full thickness osteochondral plug including the osteochondral lesion of the talus was harvested from each patient and reviewed histopathologic changes of osteochondral fragment using H-E staining. Mean diameter of specimens was 8.5 mm and mean depth was 10.3 mm. Pathologic changes of articular cartilage and subchondral bone were observed. Subchondral bone was divided into superficial, middle and deep zones according to depth. Cartilage formation, trabecular thickening and marrow fibrosis were observed in each zone. RESULTS: There were detachment of the joint cartilage at the tidemark in 16 cases of 20 cases and the separated cartilages were almost necrotic on the histopathologic findings. Cartilage formation within subchondral bone was discovered beneath the tidemark in 12 cases. Trabeculae were increased and thickened in 17 cases. These pathologic changes were similar to fracture healing process and these findings were more conspicuous near the tidemark and showed transition to normal bone marrow tissue with depth. No correlation between the pathological progression and MRI stages was found. A large cyst shown on MRI's was microscopically turned out to be multiple micro-cysts accompanied by fibrovascular structure and newly formed cartilage tissue. CONCLUSION: The histopathologic findings of osteochondral lesions are detachment of overlying cartilage at the tidemark and subsequent changes of subchondral bone. Subchondral bone changes are summarized as cartilage formation, marrow fibrosis and trabecular thickening that mean healing process following repeated micro fractures of trabecular. These osteochondral lesions should have differed from osteochondral fractures.

Multivessel Coronary Revascularization with Composite LITA-RA Y Graft / 대한흉부외과학회지

BACKGROUND: Arterial grafts have been used to achieve better long-term results for coronary revascularization. Bilateral internal thoracic artery (ITA) grafts have a better results, but it may be not used in some situations such as diabetes and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We evaluated the clinical and angiographic results of composite left internal thoracic artery-radial artery (LITA-RA) Y graft. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Between April 2002 and September 2004, 119 patients were enrolled in composite Y graft for coronary bypass surgery. The mean age was 62.6+/-8.8 years old and female was 34.5%. Preoperative cardiac risk factors were as follows: hypertension 43.7%, diabetes 33.6%, smoker 41.2%, and hyperlipidemia 22.7%. There were emergency operation (14), cardiogenic shock (6), left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF) less than 40% (17), and 17 cases of left main disease. Coronary angiography was done in 35 patients before the hospital discharge. RESULT: The number of distal anastomoses was 3.1+/-0.91 and three patients (2.52%) died during hospital stay. The off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) was applied to 79 patients (66.4%). The LITA was anastomosed to left anterior descending system except three cases which was to lateral wall. The radial Y grafts were anastomosed to diagonal branches (4), ramus intermedius (21), obtuse marginal branches (109), posterolateral branches (12), and posterior descending coronary artery (8). Postoperative coronary angiography in 35 patients showed excellent patency rates (LITA 100%,and RA 88.5%; 3 RA grafts which anastomosed to coronary arteries <70% stenosed showed string sign with competitive flow). CONCLUSION: The LITA-RA Y composite graft provided good early clinical and angiographic results in multivessel coronary revascularization. But it should be cautiously used in selected patients.

Changes of Serum Alkaline Phosphatase and Osteocalcin during Fracture Healing / 대한정형외과학회잡지

PURPOSE: To investigate changes of serum osteoblastic marker during fracture healing. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 22 patients with fresh fractures. Serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP), bone specific alkaline phosphatase and osteocalcin were analyzed on the first day and 1, 2, 4 and 8 weeks after injury. The bone specific-ALP was quantified by electrophoresis. Osteocalcin was quantified by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: One, 2, 4 and 8 weeks after injury, mean values of serum ALP increased 1.26, 1.45, 1.63, and 1.2 times that on the first day after injury, respectively. Similarly, during the same period, bone specific ALP increased 1.38, 1.33, 1.73 and 1.25 times, and serum osteocalcins increased 1.32, 1.2, 1.64 and 2.09 times. CONCLUSION: Serum ALP increased during the early soft callus phase. However, serum osteocalcins increased during the late hard callus phase. Serum alkaline phosphatase and osteocalcin warrant further study as useful prognostic indicators of fracture healing.

Avascular Necrosis following Renal Transplantation / 대한이식학회지

Between Jan. 1990 and Sep. 1996, 462 renal allografts were carried out at the Ulsan University College of Medicine and Asan Medical Center. This study was undertaken to evaluate a clinicopathologic features, to document a relationship between dosage and duration of the corticosteroids, and to figure out a treatment strategy of avascular necrosis(AVN) of bone in 13 cases of AVN of the femoral head following renal transplantation. A control group of 15 cases were randomly selected among 462 cases of renal allografts to do a comparative study with 13 cases of AVN. The diagnosis of AVN of bone was made on the basis of plain radiographs and MRI or bone scan. 1) The incidence of AVN was 2.8%(13/462). 2) In entire cases, affected site of bone was the femoral head. The main clinical manifestations were hip joint pain, limitation of weight bearing and motion. The mean onset of first bone symptoms of AVN was 5.5 months(1~9 months). 3) Clinical parameters such as age, sex, type and duration of preoperative dialysis, type of donor, rate of body weight change, and duration of follow up had no relation with the prevalence of AVN. 4) The mean total doses of corticosteroids at 1, 3, 6, and 12months post-transplantation were not differ significantly between the two groups. 5) Biochemical parameters, such as BUN/Cr., Ca, /P, /ALP., AST/ALT, cholesterol, glucose, total protein, and albumin had no relation save the preoperative BUN, total protein. 6) The mean duration of diagnosis of this condition were 12.9 months(range, 9~31 months), 6.7 months(range, 1~12 months), 6.9 months(range, 1~14 months) by X-ray, MRI, and bone scan respectively. 4/12(33.3%) cases of AVN was diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) at the time of the first clinical bone symptoms. 7) In AVN group, conservative management were performed in 2 cases, core decompression in 7 cases, and total hip replacement arthroplasty(THRA) were performed in 4 cases of AVN of the femoral head. From this study, we could not illustrate the precipitating factors in transplant recipients using steroid following renal transplantation. We considered that prognosis of AVN depends entirely on early diagnosis using MRI or bone scan, and proper treatment according to the stage of this condition.