Incidence and Risk Factors for Pregnancy-Related de Quervain’s Tenosynovitis in South Korea:A Population-Based Epidemiologic Study

Background@#Although pregnant or lactating women have been recognized to be predisposed to de Quervain’s tenosynovitis (DQT), there is a lack of epidemiologic evidence. The purpose of this study was to estimate the nationwide incidence of pregnancy-related DQT (PRDQT) and to analyze risk factors using the Korean National Health Insurance (NHI) database. @*Methods@#A retrospective epidemiologic study of pregnant women in South Korea from 2013 to 2017 was conducted using the NHI claims database. Using corresponding diagnostic codes, we identified women diagnosed with DQT during pregnancy or the postpartum period. We calculated the cumulative incidence and analyzed risk factors such as demographics, pregnancy type, delivery method, gestational complications, and comorbidities using multivariate logistic regression analysis. @*Results@#Between 2013 and 2017, 34,342 patients with PRDQT were identified among 1,601,501 pregnant women, representing a cumulative incidence of approximately 2.1%. Age ≥ 30 years, multiple gestation, cesarean delivery, hypertensive disorders in pregnancy, and underlying rheumatoid arthritis were all identified as significant risk factors for the occurrence of PRDQT, whereas diabetic disorders in pregnancy and underlying diabetes mellitus were not. @*Conclusions@#In South Korea, PRDQT was found to affect approximately 2.1 out of 100 pregnant women between 2013 and 2017. The incidence and risk factors identified in this study can be used for clinical consultations and prediction, as well as for development of national health policies.

Reliable measurements of physiologic ankle syndesmosis widening using dynamic 3D ultrasonography: a preliminary study

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to present a technique for measuring physiologic distal tibiofibular syndesmosis widening using 3-dimensional ultrasonography (3D-US) with an evaluation of its reliability, and to determine whether there were differences in the measurements between different dynamic stress tests. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated 3D-US of 20 subjects with normal ankle syndesmosis. 3D-US was performed in neutral (N), dorsiflexion with external rotation (DFER), and weight-bearing standing (WB) positions at the anterior inferior tibiofibular ligament level in both ankles for comparison. Using 3D-US volume data, axial images were reconstructed at the level of the lateral prominence of the anterior tibial tubercle to ensure consistent measurements of the tibiofibular clear space (TFCS) by two radiologists. RESULTS: There was a wide range of TFCS values among the subjects (N, 1.2 to 4.2 mm; DFER, 2.3 to 4.8 mm; WB, 1.7 to 4.6 mm). When both ankles of each subject were evaluated, the side-to-side differences were less than 1 mm in all positions, with high intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) values between both ankles (ICC, 0.85 to 0.93). The inter-rater agreement for all TFCS measurements between the two radiologists was excellent (ICC, 0.81 to 0.96). In comparisons between the two dynamic stress tests, the TFCS was significantly wider in the DFER position than in the WB position (DFER vs. WB, 3.3 mm vs. 2.9 mm; P<0.001). CONCLUSION: Using 3D-US, we were able to consistently evaluate the TFCS with good reliability. In a comparison of the two dynamic tests, there was more significant widening of the TFCS in the DFER position than in the WB position.

Multimodal Diagnostic Approach for Synovitis of the Wrist / 대한정형외과학회잡지

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to suggest a multimodal diagnostic approach to determine the cause of the disease in patients diagnosed with synovitis of the wrist and who underwent synovectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-nine patients, who underwent contrast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) preoperatively and synovectomy from January 2000 to December 2013, were reviewed retrospectively. Among them, 17 patients underwent a Tc99m white blood cell (WBC) scan preoperatively. In patients who met the diagnostic criteria of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), the diagnosis was confirmed as RA if the MRI finding or histology was compatible with RA. If the MRI finding and histology were disparate, the final diagnosis was made based on the histologic finding. RESULTS: Of the nine patients who met the diagnostic criteria of RA, seven patients were finally diagnosed as RA and two patients as tuberculous arthritis. Of the 20 patients who did not meet the diagnostic criteria of RA, the MRI findings and histology were consistent with the same disease in 12 patients. In the remaining eight patients, five were diagnosed with nonspecific chronic synovitis, one with RA, and two with tuberculous arthritis based on the clinical findings, MRI, and histology findings. CONCLUSION: MRI and a WBC scan are very useful imaging modalities for diagnosing the causative condition of the wrist synovitis. A histology evaluation after synovectomy can also be useful in cases with a difficult diagnosis or are refractory to medications.

Ultrasonographic diagnosis of snapping annular ligament in the elbow

Elbow snapping by annular ligament is rare and may be difficult to diagnose, when this condition is not familiar. We report a case of elbow snapping by annular ligament diagnosed by ultrasonography, which was confirmed by arthroscopic observation. The ultrasonographic findings were thickening of the annular ligament and snapping in and out of the radiocapitellar joint during elbow flexion and extension on dynamic ultrasonography.

Evaluation of Femoral Neck Bone Mineral Density and Radiographic Hand and Knee Osteoarthritis in a Korean Elderly Population

BACKGROUND: Reports on the relationship between osteoporosis and osteoarthritis (OA) have tended to disagree, especially in non-weight bearing joints such as the hand joints. We aimed to investigate the relationship between bone mineral density (BMD) and hand and knee OA in a general Korean elderly population. METHODS: We evaluated femur neck BMD and the hand and knee radiographs of 143 men and 123 women over 65 years of age who participated in a population-based cohort study. The Kellgren-Lawrence criteria for grading OA were implemented, and grade 2 or higher were categorized as radiographic OA. BMD was compared according to the existence of radiographic OA in the hand and knee using analysis of covariance, and correlation analyses were performed to explore the relationship between BMD and radiographic OA grade. RESULTS: After controlling for age and body mass index, there was no significant difference in BMD between participants with and without hand OA (p = 0.717 in male and p = 0.862 in female), between those with and without knee OA (p = 0.974 in male and p = 0.563 in female), and between those with only hand OA and those with only knee OA (p = 0.920 in male and p = 0.961 in female). Furthermore, there was no significant correlation between BMD and the radiographic OA grade of the hands (p = 0.182 in male and p = 0.897 in female) and knees (p = 0.245 in male and p = 0.098 in female). CONCLUSIONS: In our cohort of the general Korean elderly population, no association was found between osteoporosis and OA, regardless of the weight bearing status of the joints.

Responsiveness of the Korean Version of the Michigan Hand Outcomes Questionnaire after Carpal Tunnel Release

BACKGROUND: The Korean version of the Michigan Hand Outcomes Questionnaire (K-MHQ) was recently validated; however, the questionnaire's responsiveness as well as the degree to which the instrument is sensitive to change has not been thoroughly evaluated in a specific condition in Koreans. We evaluated the responsiveness of the K-MHQ in a homogenous cohort of patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and we compared it with that of the Korean version of the Disability of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand Questionnaire (K-DASH), which was found to have a large degree of responsiveness after carpal tunnel release for Korean patients with CTS. METHODS: Thirty-seven patients with CTS prospectively completed the K-MHQ and the K-DASH before and 6 months after surgery. The responsiveness statistics were assessed for both the K-MHQ and the K-DASH by using the standardized response mean (SRM), which was defined as the mean change of the original scores after surgery divided by the standard deviation of the change. RESULTS: All domains of the K-MHQ significantly improved after carpal tunnel release (p or = 0.8. The aesthetics scale showed medium responsiveness of 0.6. The combined function/symptom scale of the K-DASH significantly improved after surgery (p < 0.001). The SRM of the K-DASH revealed large responsiveness of 0.9. CONCLUSIONS: The K-MHQ was found to have a large degree of responsiveness after carpal tunnel release for Korean patients with CTS, which is comparable not only to the K-DASH, but also to the original version of the MHQ. The region-specific K-MHQ can be useful for outcomes research related to carpal tunnel surgery, especially for research comparing CTS with various other hand and wrist health conditions.

Intra-Articular Injury Associated with Distal Radius Fracture / 대한정형외과학회잡지

Distal radius fractures are commonly associated with intra-articular injuries such as carpal ligament injuries and triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) injuries. Such injuries occurring in elderly patients with a low-energy distal radius fracture can be treated successfully with cast immobilization and do not usually lead to clinical problems. However, despite healing of the fracture, some intra-articular injuries, especially in active patients with a high-energy fracture, can result in persistent pain and disability. In addition, the current trend of internal fixation and early use of the wrist may actually increase instability due to inadequate healing of the ligament injuries. Due to a lack of typical symptoms and physical findings in acute fracture settings, detection of these injuries is not easy. Arthroscopic examination, as well as radiographs and intraoperative fluoroscopic findings, are useful in detection of carpal ligament injuries. Complete ruptures of intercarpal interosseous ligaments warrant temporary interosseous fixation using K-wires. In TFCC injuries, distal radioulnar joint (DRUJ) instability should be assessed after anatomical reduction and fixation of a distal radius fracture. Operative treatments such as open or arthroscopic repair of TFCC to the fovea can guarantee greater stability of the DRUJ. For optimal results, early detection and appropriate treatment of intra-articular injuries associated with distal radius fractures is critical.

Sural Artery Flap for the Treatment of Soft Tissue Defects around Knee Joint

PURPOSE: This report presents the authors' experience of twelve patients with sural artery flap for soft tissue defects around the knee joint. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The patients' age ranged from 25 to 80 years; seven of the patients were male and five were female. The cause of soft-tissue defects involved wide excision for malignant soft tissue tumor, tumor prosthesis related infection, infection after total knee arthroplasty and chronic osteomyelitis. Postoperative range of motion was checked. The sensibility of flap was evaluated by Semmes-Weinstein monofilaments and two-point discrimination. RESULTS: All flaps survived and provided satisfactory coverage of the defect. There was no complication except one delayed skin graft incorporation at donor site. Seven knee joints which had been stiff previously gained average 58 degrees of ROM postoperatively. All flaps retained sensibility and showed no significant increase in sensory thresholds comparing with contralateral side. CONCLUSION: Sural artery flap not only shows high survival rate and broad coverage ability, but also offers improvement in range of motion and preservation of sensation. We speculate that sural artery flap is valuable for the reconstruction of the soft tissue defects around knee joint.