The Effect of Electrocautery around the Patellar Rim in Patellar Non-Resurfacing Total Knee Arthroplasty.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical effect of electrocautery on the reduction of pain in patellar non-resurfacing bilateral total knee arthroplasty. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 50 patients were enrolled into this study; all patients had undergone bilateral patellar non-resurfacing total knee arthoplasty at our hospital, between January 2007 to December 2008. The minimum follow-up period was 1 year. The electrocautery of the patellar rim was performed randomly on one side only. The clinical results were evaluated between the electrocautery group and the non-electrocautery group based on measures of anterior knee pain, range of motion, American Knee Society clinical rating score, Feller knee score, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities score, and radiographic analysis. RESULTS: There were statistically significant differences between preoperative and postoperative status for all parameters. There were no statistically significant differences noted between the electrocautery group and the non electrocautery group for all parameters. CONCLUSIONS: Electrocautery of patellar rim is thought to be less effective in reducing anterior knee pain.

Early surgical repair of acute complete rupture of the proximal hamstring tendons.

Hamstring injuries are common forms of muscle strains in athletes but a complete rupture of a proximal hamstring origin is rare. Often there is a considerable delay in diagnosis and stringent treatment because of its rarity, difficulty in clinical diagnosis, and initial attempts of conservative care. We report two cases of acute complete rupture of the proximal hamstring tendons treated with early surgical repair. The diagnosis and treatment of this unusual injury are discussed.

Calcaneal reconstruction for the late complication of calcaneus fracture.

Calcaneal fracture is the most common fracture in the tarsal bones. Treatment is difficult because the patterns of fracture are various and complications occur frequently. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical results of calcaneal reconstruction for chronic complications after calcaneal fracture. rom September 2001 to November 2004, calcaneal reconstruction was performed in 24 patients (25 feet). We reviewed 21 patients (22 feet) who could be followed up >2 years postoperatively. Patients who underwent subtalar arthrodesis and simple bone resection were excluded. Patients who underwent calcaneal sliding osteotomy were included. Nineteen men and 2 women ranged in age from 27 to 54 years (mean, 44.4 years). The mean interval between the first operation and reconstructive operation was 11.2 months (range, 3-31 months). The mean follow-up period after calcaneal reconstruction was 29.8 months (range, 24-38 months). Böhler angle, calcaneal pitch, and talocalcaneal height were checked pre- and postoperatively. The most common patient report was pain on the inferior aspect of the lateral malleolus (16 patients) and calcaneal tuberosity (3 patients). All the mean values of talocalcaneal height, calcaneal pitch, and Böhler angle improved, which was statistically significant. In the postoperative period, 10 patients were very satisfied, 9 were satisfied, and 3 were not satisfied. Although pain did not completely resolve, all patients were satisfied postoperatively.