Treatment of Periprosthetic Fracture after Total Elbow Replacement Arthroplasty

The indications for total elbow replacement arthroplasty (TERA) include rheumatoid arthritis, degenerative arthritis, acute fracture, nonunion, malunion, posttraumatic arthritis, tumor, and chronic instability. With the development of designs and the increasing use of TERA, more periprosthetic fractures are occurring. On the other hand, there is less data on periprosthetic fractures after TERA because TERA is a relatively rare procedure. Thus, a careful review of the previous literature and appropriate selection of surgical indications are essential for achieving a satisfactory outcome, which should be accompanied by precise surgery as planned. This article presents the causes, risk factors, classification, and principles of treatment of periprosthetic fractures after TERA.

Free Functioning Muscle Transfer in Brachial Plexus Injury

The free functional muscle transfer (FFMT) is the surgical procedure aimed at reconstructing defective or deteriorated muscle function by grafting free muscles including blood vessels and nerves. Since the free gracilis transfer in the facial paralysis was introduced in 1976, there have been many studies and clinical applications of the FFMT in various donor and recipient sites in brachial plexus injury, muscle ischemic contracture, muscle defect after tumor resection, congenital muscular deficit, multiple trauma. When the reconstruction of the nerve is delayed for 9 months to 1 year after the brachial plexus injury, voluntary muscle contracture is impossible even after the nerve regeneration by the irreversible degeneration of the muscles. And it is difficult to obtain adequate function even if nerve transfer or nerve transplantation is performed because the distance to be regenerated is too long. In these cases, the FFMT has been improved the functions of the upper limb in flexion or extension of the elbow, fingers. Many good clinical results of the FFMT have been reported, so the FFMT gets much interests and attentions. The essential things for the successful outcome of the surgery are the anatomical knowledge, the skilled surgical technique and the choice of patients who can meet the indications and receive long-term rehabilitation. Recent advances in surgical techniques will result in improved results of the FFMT.

Comparative Study of Peripheral Rim Fixation Using Jumbo Cup in Revisional Hip Arthroplasty / 대한고관절학회지

PURPOSE: It is challenging procedure to revise acetabular component in acetabulum with severe bone defect or deformity. The jumbo cup is good option for revisional arthroplasty in large bone defect. The purpose of this study is to compare the prognosis of revisional total hip arthroplasty using jumbo cup with peripheral rim fixation and no rim fixation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We included the patients who had performed acetabular revisional total hip arthroplasty from January 2002 to March 2015 in our institute. Total of 51 hips (51 patients) were included. The mean follow up period was 51 months (range, 12 to 154 months) and mean age was 60.7 years (range, 30 to 81 years). We divided into two groups (peripheral rim fixation group and no rim fixation group) by anteroposterior and lateral plain radiograph. We compared survival rate, hip center change and clinical outcomes between two groups. RESULTS: There were 37 patients in peripheral rim fixation group and 14 patients in no rim fixation group. There was one patient who had aseptic loosening necessary to re-revision in rim fixation group and 3 patients in no rim fixation group. And one patient had superficial infection in rim fixation group and one patient had periprosthetic fracture in no rim fixation group. Survival rate was higher in the peripheral rim fixation group (97.3%) than no rim fixation group (78.6%, P=0.028) CONCLUSION: Based on our findings, peripheral rim fixation might be recommended to improve short-term outcome after revision total hip arthroplasty using jumbo cup.

Clinical Results of Supracondylar Dome Osteotomy for Cubitus Varus and Valgus Deformities in Adults

BACKGROUND: Cubitus varus and cubitus valgus deformities are common complications of distal humeral fractures in children. We evaluated the usefulness of supracondylar dome osteotomy as a treatment option for adults with cubitus varus or valgus deformity developed during childhood. METHODS: Ten patients who had received supracondylar dome osteotomy and stabilization with plates to treat cubitus varus or valgus deformity between July 2006 and August 2013 were included in this study. Their mean age at the time of surgery was 36.50 ± 10.22 years. The mean follow-up duration was 54.80 ± 32.50 months. We evaluated humerus-elbow-wrist angles (HEWA), improvements in the lateral prominence index (LPI) or medial prominence index (MPI), Mayo elbow performance scores (MEPS), and overall results in accordance with the Banerjee criteria. RESULTS: For the six patients with cubitus varus, the mean postoperative HEWA, mean correction angle, and mean improvement in LPI were 9.72° ± 3.95°, 27.67° ± 10.75°, and 6.92% ± 3.40%, respectively. For the four patients with cubitus valgus, the mean postoperative HEWA, mean correction angle, and mean improvement in MPI were 14.73° ± 2.97°, 11.55° ± 3.26°, and 11.33% ± 6.39%, respectively. There was no significant difference between postoperative and preoperative mean MEPS. The subjective ulnar nerve symptoms were alleviated in all patients. The overall results were excellent in six and good in four patients. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that supracondylar dome osteotomy with secure fixation using double plates may be useful in correcting cubitus varus or cubitus valgus deformity, yielding good functional outcomes in adults.

Evaluation of the Foveal Involvement of the Ulnar Styloid Fracture: A Comparison of the Plain Radiography and Three-Dimensional Computed Tomography

PURPOSE: There remains uncertain whether to fix or not an ulnar styloid fracture acommpanied by distal radius fracture. Fixation might be required in cases of the fracture involving a fovea of ulnar head, an attachment site of deep triangular fibrocartilage, which is thought to be important to distal radioulnar joint stability. We analyzed a fovea involvement of an accompanied ulnar styloid fracture in patients with distal radius fracture by simple radiograph and three-dimensional computed tomography (3D CT). METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 168 patients who underwent surgery with volar locking plate for distal radius fracture in our hospital from January 2005 to March 2015 and evaluated a fovea involvement of ulnar head by simple radiographs and 3D CT respectively, and compared. RESULTS: On simple X-ray, 64 cases (38%) were ulnar styloid fovea fractures; however, 21 cases of these revealed non-fovea fractures by 3D CT. And 7 out of 104 cases determined as non-fovea fracture by simple radiographs were diagnosed as fovea fractures by 3D CT. Sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of evaluation by simple radiograph were 86%, 82% and 83% respectively, when compared with those of 3D CT based evaluation. CONCLUSION: Accuracy of evaluating an accompanied ulnar styloid fovea fracture in patients with distal radius fracture by simple radiograph, when compared with 3D CT, was 83%; therefore, we recommend using the 3D CT based evaluation instead of simple radiograph based one for determination of fovea involvement of ulnar head.

Clinical Results of Supracondylar Dome Osteotomy for Cubitus Varus and Valgus Deformities in Adults

BACKGROUND: Cubitus varus and cubitus valgus deformities are common complications of distal humeral fractures in children. We evaluated the usefulness of supracondylar dome osteotomy as a treatment option for adults with cubitus varus or valgus deformity developed during childhood. METHODS: Ten patients who had received supracondylar dome osteotomy and stabilization with plates to treat cubitus varus or valgus deformity between July 2006 and August 2013 were included in this study. Their mean age at the time of surgery was 36.50 ± 10.22 years. The mean follow-up duration was 54.80 ± 32.50 months. We evaluated humerus-elbow-wrist angles (HEWA), improvements in the lateral prominence index (LPI) or medial prominence index (MPI), Mayo elbow performance scores (MEPS), and overall results in accordance with the Banerjee criteria. RESULTS: For the six patients with cubitus varus, the mean postoperative HEWA, mean correction angle, and mean improvement in LPI were 9.72°± 3.95°, 27.67°± 10.75°, and 6.92% ± 3.40%, respectively. For the four patients with cubitus valgus, the mean postoperative HEWA, mean correction angle, and mean improvement in MPI were 14.73°± 2.97°, 11.55°± 3.26°, and 11.33% ± 6.39%, respectively. There was no significant difference between postoperative and preoperative mean MEPS. The subjective ulnar nerve symptoms were alleviated in all patients. The overall results were excellent in six and good in four patients. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that supracondylar dome osteotomy with secure fixation using double plates may be useful in correcting cubitus varus or cubitus valgus deformity, yielding good functional outcomes in adults.

Volar Locking Plate Fixation for Distal Radius Fractures in Hemodialysis Patients

PURPOSE: Although the possibility of distal radius fractures is strong in hemodialysis patients, there are many difficult problems such as the bleeding tendency, hypervascularity and injury to arteriovenous fistula. We studied the outcomes of open reduction and volar locking plate fixation of the distal radius fractures in hemodyalisis patients with ipsilateral arteriovenous fistula. METHODS: From 2007 to 2009, a retrospective chart review was performed of eleven hemodialysis patients who underwent volar locking plate fixation for treatment of distal radius fractures. Eight of them were female and three were male and mean age was 68 years (range, 57-81 years). Mean follow-up period was 19 months (range, 12-28 months). All patients had osteoporosis with mean T-score of -2.7. All operations were performed on the next day of hemodialysis. Scheduled hemodialysis was possible on the next day of surgery without splint. We analyzed radiographic results, the wrist range of motion, Mayo wrist score and disabilities of the arm, shoulder and hand (DASH) score at the last follow-up. RESULTS: All fractures achieved anatomical reduction and united at final follow-up. Complications such as hematoma or occlusion of arteriovenous fistula were not observed. Mean Mayo wrist score was 78 and mean DASH score was 22. CONCLUSION: Volar locking plate fixation for distal radius fractures provides immediate support for continuing hemodialysis and exercise. Open reduction of the fractures and the use of tourniquet don't seem to increase the vascular complications like hematoma and fistula occlusion.

A Nation-Wide, Outpatient-Based Survey on the Pain, Disability, and Satisfaction of Patients with Osteoporotic Vertebral Compression Fractures

STUDY DESIGN: A nation-wide, outpatient-based, cross-sectional survey with the use of questionnaires. PURPOSE: To evaluate the pain, disability and satisfaction of patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCFs). OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: There are no nation-wide data in Korea on the degree of pain, disability and satisfaction with treatment in patients with OVCFs. METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional survey of 573 patients with OVCFs. After excluding incomplete questionnaires (missing more than 30% of the variables), 430 patient-physician-matched data sets were collected for this survey. RESULTS: Patients with OVCFs were managed with conservative treatment in 63% and with a vertebroplasty in 37%. The means of the latest visual analogue scale (VAS, 5.2) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI, 47.7) scores checked at the time of survey were significantly higher than those VAS and ODI scores prior to OVCFs (the prefracture VAS and ODI scores, 3.6 and 26.3, respectively; p<0.001 for both comparisons). However, the means of the latest VAS and ODI scores were insignificantly different between the conservative and vertebroplasty groups, irrespective of the duration from the fractures. Overall, 75% of patients were satisfied with their clinical outcomes. However, the percentages of patient's satisfaction were not significantly different between the conservative and vertebroplasty groups. Eighty-eight percent of patients felt some or marked deterioration of their general health condition following OVCFs. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that although most patients with OVCFs were satisfied with their clinical outcomes, their subjective general health conditions, as well as their pain and disability, did not recover to the prefracture state.