Intra- and inter-rater reliability of a three-dimensional classification system for intertrochanteric fracture using computed tomography.

INTRODUCTION: Intertrochanteric fractures are common fragility fractures in elderly patients. The importance of a reliable classification system for these fractures has been increasingly recognized. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that three-dimensional classification by CT has better intra- and inter-observer reliability than conventional two-dimensional classification. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Two hundred and three consecutive patients (39 male, 164 female; mean age 84.5 years) with intertrochanteric fracture were included in the study. In each case, the fracture was classified using the two-dimensional Evans-Jensen and AO/OTA systems that rely on plain radiographs and using a three-dimensional fragment-based CT system. The second evaluation was performed 1 month after the first evaluation by the same examiner to determine intra-observer reliability. Another blinded examiner also classified each case to assess inter-observer reliability. The kappa coefficient was used for determination of intra- and inter-observer reliability. RESULTS: The kappa values for the two-dimensional Evans-Jensen and AO/OTA classification systems showed moderate intra-observer reliability (κ=0.65 and κ=0.61, respectively) and slight inter-observer reliability (κ=0.20 and κ=0.19). The intra-observer kappa value for the three-dimensional classification system was 0.88, indicating almost perfect reliability; the inter-observer kappa value was 0.70, indicating substantial reliability. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study confirm that the fragment-based classification system has high reliability. Surgeons should be aware that the three-dimensional fragment-based CT system for classification of intertrochanteric fractures has better intra-observer and inter-observer reliability than the conventional two-dimensional systems.

A novel three-dimensional classification system for intertrochanteric fractures based on computed tomography findings.

A novel three-dimensional fragment-based classification system based on computed tomography findings was established to characterize femoral intertrochanteric fractures. The intertrochanteric bone fragments were defined as follows : neck, posterior portion of the greater trochanter, anterior portion of the greater trochanter, lesser trochanter, and shaft. Each type of fracture was classified as 2-, 3-, 4-, or 5-fragment according to the number of floating bone fragments. Following the description of the fracture type, each floating bone fragment was appended, with the exception of a fragment involving the shaft. Ninety-five intertrochanteric fractures were classified by the same surgeon. The fractures occurred in 14 men and 81 women with a mean age of 84.7 years. The frequency of each type of fracture was investigated. Thirty-one fractures (32.6%) were 2-fragment and 64 (67.4%) were ≥ 3-fragment. A fragment of the anterior portion of the greater trochanter, which cannot be classified using conventional systems, was included in 29 cases (30.5%). A 5-fragment fracture was detected in two cases (2.1%). Using this fragment-based classification system, intertrochanteric fractures can be evaluated in more detail than is possible using conventional classification systems. J. Med. Invest. 66 : 362-366, August, 2019.

Tendon retraction with rotator cuff tear causes a decrease in cross-sectional area of the supraspinatus muscle on magnetic resonance imaging.

BACKGROUND: Muscle atrophy and fatty degeneration of the rotator cuff muscles have been reported as negative prognostic indicators after rotator cuff repair. Although the Y-shaped view is widely used for measuring the cross-sectional area of the supraspinatus muscle, the contribution of retraction of the torn tendon as well as muscle atrophy must be considered. The purpose of this study was to clarify the relationship between cross-sectional area and tendon retraction or size of the tear. METHODS: This study included 76 shoulders that were evaluated arthroscopically for the presence and size of tears. Cross-sectional areas of rotator cuff muscles were measured from the Y-shaped view to 3 more medial slices. The occupation ratio and tangent sign were evaluated on the Y-shaped view. The retraction of torn tendon was also measured on the oblique coronal images. RESULTS: On the Y-shaped view, the cross-sectional area of the supraspinatus and the occupation ratio decreased in conjunction with the increase in tear size. A significant decrease in cross-sectional area was noted only in large and massive tears on more medial slices from the Y-shaped view. Significant decreases in the cross-sectional area of the infraspinatus were observed in large and massive tears on all images. A negative correlation was found between tendon retraction and cross-sectional area, which was strongest on the Y-shaped view. CONCLUSIONS: To avoid the influence of retraction of the supraspinatus tendon, sufficient medial slices from the musculotendinous junction should be used for evaluation of muscle atrophy.

Double arthroscopic transtendon repair of partial-thickness articular surface tears of the rotator cuff: a surgical technique.

This study describes a technique of simultaneous arthroscopy and bursoscopy for transtendon repair of a partial-thickness articular surface rotator cuff tear. All procedures are under simultaneous visualisation from both the glenohumeral joint and the subacromial space to reduce the risk of intraoperative complications.

Pyomyositis of the obturator internus muscle extending to septic arthritis of the hip in a child: a case report.

We report a case of primary pyomyositis in the obturator internus muscle. Pyomyositis involving muscles around the hip needs to be differentiated from septic arthritis because these infections show similar symptoms. Management with antibiotics can avoid the need for surgical intervention. Uncontrolled pyomyosistis can cause sequelae such as septic shock, osteomyelitis of adjacent bone, and septic arthritis. Awareness of this condition will facilitate correct diagnosis and early treatment.

Anteversion of the acetabular component aligned with the transverse acetabular ligament in total hip arthroplasty.

In total hip arthroplasty (THA), accurately positioning the cup is crucial for achieving an adequate postoperative range of motion and stability. For 47 THA cases in which the inferomedial rim of the cup had been positioned parallel to the transverse acetabular ligament, we retrospectively performed the measurements of the radiographic cup anteversion angle relative to the anterior pelvic plane using 3-dimensional reconstruction computed tomography. The mean anteversion angle was 21.2°, with no significant difference detected in mean cup anteversion between the dysplastic hip group (15 hips) and the control group (15 hips). We suggest that the transverse acetabular ligament is a practical anatomical landmark for determining cup anteversion in THA for both dysplastic and nondysplastic hip cases.

Modic type I changes of the lumbar spine in golfers.

Low back pain (LBP) is the most prevalent musculoskeletal complaint among professional and amateur golfers; however, associated radiological changes in golf-related LBP have not been examined in the literature. We suspect that Modic Type 1 changes in the lumbar spine are linked to golf-related LBP. In this retrospective case series, four middle-aged golfers (one professional and three high-level amateurs) presented to our clinic with LBP. Inflammation of the right side of endplates in the lumbar spine was suspected based on Modic Type 1 changes detected by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in each patient. All four cases were diagnosed with right-sided endplate inflammation and administered intradiscal steroid injections with a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). Treatment swiftly alleviated LBP and diminished Modic Type 1 changes on follow-up MRI 3-6 months later in all four patients. We suggest that Modic Type 1 changes play a significant role in the diagnosis and treatment of golf-related LBP.

Causes of radiculopathy in young athletes with spondylolysis.

BACKGROUND: The main clinical symptom of lumbar spondylolysis is lower back pain. Radiculopathy rarely occurs without vertebral slippage. Hypothesis Spondylolysis in young athletes can cause lumbar radiculopathy. STUDY DESIGN: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. METHODS: Ten patients (7 males and 3 females) were included in this study. The age of the patients ranged from 12 to 27 years. We employed plain radiography, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and selective radiculography if needed. RESULTS: The pathomechanism was classified into nonspondylolytic radiculopathy (3 cases) and spondylolytic radiculopathy (7 cases). In the nonspondylolytic group, 1 patient had a juxta-facet cyst at L4-5 and 2 patients had a herniated nucleus pulposus. In the other group, spondylolytic-related factors caused radiculopathy, and spondylolysis was in the early or progressive stage in all 7 patients. Radiologic findings indicated that radiculopathy was caused by extraosseous hematoma or edema in the vicinity of the fracture site. The radiculopathy disappeared within a month of nonoperative management, and radiologic abnormalities disappeared 3 to 6 months later. CONCLUSION: Radiculopathy can occur together with lumbar spondylolysis without slippage in young athletes. We propose extra-osseous hematoma or edema at the site of spondylolysis as the unique pathomechanism causing radiculopathy in young athletes. Radiculopathy is rare in athletes with spondylolysis. Magnetic resonance imaging is a useful tool to clarify the pathologic changes that induce the radiculopathy for both spondylolytic and nonspondylolytic factors.

Fresh stress fractures of lumbar pedicles in an adolescent male ballet dancer: case report and literature review.

Stress fracture in the pars interarticularis is a common cause of low back pain in young athletes. Pedicle stress fractures have also been reported in adolescent sport players, and most of them were associated with contralateral spondylolysis. Only a few cases with bilateral pedicle stress fractures have been reported. We report a 14-year-old ballet dancer with fresh bilateral pedicle fractures treated conservatively, together with a review of the literature.