Utilizing Suture Anchors in Addition to Screws for Treatment of Tibial Tubercle Avulsion Fracture: A Case Report.

Tibial tubercle avulsion fractures are relatively uncommon fractures commonly seen in adolescent males. The treatment goal is to restore the extensor mechanism and to repair the articular surface. Although previous surgical techniques have been mainly screws or tension band wiring, there is a certain consensus on this. However, the choice of these surgical techniques largely depends on the surgeon. In our case, we utilized a suture anchor distal to the cannulated screw. This enabled us to use a smaller screw and cover the screw head completely with the patellar tendon. Therefore, this can be an advantage in lowering the incidence of device irritation. Given the successful outcome of our technique, we may consider applying suture anchors more frequently in tibial tubercle avulsion fractures in the future.

Trauma-associated left renal vein thrombosis with nutcracker syndrome.

Background: Nutcracker syndrome is a compression of the left renal vein between the superior mesenteric artery and aorta, resulting in thrombogenesis. While renal vein thrombosis caused by renal disease is more common, solitary left renal vein thrombosis with nutcracker syndrome is rare. Case Presentation: We present the case of a patient with trauma-associated left renal vein thrombosis with nutcracker syndrome. A 24-year-old woman with low body mass index taking oral contraceptives was admitted for trauma. She had multiple injuries, including thoracolumbar fractures, for which elective spinal fusion surgery was scheduled. As the D-dimer level elevated to 82.5 µg/dL preoperatively, enhanced computed tomography was performed, which revealed a solitary left renal vein thrombus. Conclusion: This is the report of solitary left renal vein thrombosis in a patient with nutcracker syndrome after trauma. Patients with low body mass index and coagulopathy might have solitary left renal vein thrombosis associated with nutcracker syndrome.

Treatment of distal clavicle fractures using a Scorpion plate and influence of timing on surgical outcomes: a retrospective cohort study of 105 cases.

BACKGROUND: Plate fixation is an established method for treating unstable distal clavicle fractures. However, the appropriate timing of surgery for acute distal clavicle fractures remains unclear. The present study aimed to evaluate the clinical outcomes of osteosynthesis using a Scorpion plate and to assess the influence of surgery timing on the surgical outcomes for acute unstable distal clavicle fractures. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 105 patients who underwent fixation for acute unstable distal clavicle fractures (Neer type II and V) using the Scorpion plate between 2008 and 2018. Patients were divided into early (45 patients) and delayed (60 patients) treatment groups based on the timing of the surgical intervention (within or after 7 days). The outcomes were postoperative complications (nonunion, peri-implant fracture, plate loosening, plate-related pain, and stiffness). We evaluated the outcomes from X-ray radiographs and clinical notes. RESULTS: Among the 105 patients, nonunion, plate loosening, plate-related pain, and stiffness were observed in six patients (5.7%), four patients (3.8%), seven patients (6.7%), and one patient (1.0%), respectively. The nonunion rate was significantly higher in the delayed treatment group than that in the early treatment group (P = 0.036). Although the difference was not significant, plate loosening and stiffness were only observed in the delayed treatment group. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrated that osteosynthesis using Scorpion plates achieved satisfactory surgical outcomes for unstable distal clavicle fractures. In addition, this study suggested that performing surgery within 6 days after injury is recommended to reduce postoperative complications.

Acute progressive bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome associated with remitting seronegative symmetrical synovitis with pitting edema syndrome: A case report.

The association between carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and remitting seronegative symmetrical synovitis with pitting edema (RS3PE) syndrome, an elderly onset rheumatic disease, is not fully understood. Here, we describe a case of acute CTS caused by RS3PE syndrome. An 84-year-old man visited the hospital with sudden onset of severe neuralgia in the median nerve and pitting edema in both hands. Computed tomography showed low-density areas around the flexor tendons and median nerve compression in the carpal tunnel. Rapidly progressing intolerable neuralgia and paralysis required urgent carpal tunnel release in the left hand. After surgery, we considered the possibility of RS3PE syndrome and started the administration of prednisolone. The pitting edema and neuralgia improved. In this case, imaging and intraoperative findings suggest that the effusion generated from flexor tenosynovitis associated with RS3PE syndrome increased the internal pressure in the carpal tunnel rapidly, which led to acute CTS and urgent surgery.

Improvement of Cheilitis granulomatosa after Dental Treatment.

A 38-year-old male suffered from swelling of the lower lip for 3 months. Neither facial nerve palsy nor fissuring of the tongue was present. Histological examination of a biopsy taken from the lower lip revealed non-caseous epithelioid cell granulomas, suggestive of cheilitis granulomatosa. Patch testing revealed positive reactions to mercury chloride and amalgam. His symptoms markedly improved 3 months after treatment of the apical periodontitis and replacement of dental crowns. As his dental crowns did not contain mercury, we believe that the cheilitis granulomatosa may have been related to the focal dental infection.

Measurement of human gastric motility by near-infrared light for the assessment of chronic mental stress.

In this study, we focused on the relationship between mental stress and gastric motility and have tried to develop a measurement system of human gastric motility for the quantification of mental stress. A mental stress measurement system should be used easily in daily life. However, general measurement system as electrogastrography, endoscopy, CT, ultrasonic echogram isn't suitable for the home use. Then, we have developed non-invasive and compact measurement system of gastric motility using near-infrared (NIR) light. This system consists of NIR LEDs and an avalanche photodiode (APD). APD receives the NIR light transmitting outside the body from NIR LEDs and reflecting on the gastric wall. In the experiment, an ultrasonic echogram was used simultaneously to confirm our new method. The result showed that the waveform got by our method coincides with the cycle of contractile activity of stomach, and it was proved that our measurement system using NIR light could measure gastric motility. In addition, we performed chronic mental stress measurement intended for students to examine relationship between chronic mental stress and gastric motility. Experimental period was from two weeks before graduation examination to two weeks after graduation examination. The result showed that chronic mental stress may invoke gastric dysrhythmia, and chronic mental stress could be evaluated by long term monitoring of gastric motility using our NIR measurement system.