Arthroscopic versus open dorsal ganglion excision: a prospective, randomized comparison of rates of recurrence and of residual pain

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare the postoperative rates of ganglion recurrence between arthroscopic and open techniques of dorsal ganglion (DG) excision. METHODS: A total of 72 patients had either arthroscopic or open excision of a primary, simple DG by 1 of 2 senior hand surgeons. Three prospective postoperative assessments were performed. The first examination was performed at 5 to 7 days, the second at 4 to 8 weeks, and the third assessment was performed at a minimum of 1 year after surgery. Percentages of ganglion recurrence at the second and third assessments were recorded. RESULTS: Forty-one patients had arthroscopic excision, and 31 patients had open excision. Baseline patient age, gender, and surgical side were similar between the 2 groups. Recurrence of the DG at the second postoperative assessment was 1 of 41 patients in the arthroscopic group and none in the open excision group, and, after a minimum of 12 months after excision, recurrence was 3 of 28 in the arthroscopic group and 2 of 23 in the open group. CONCLUSIONS: This study compares the rates of ganglion recurrence between arthroscopic and open DG excision. Our results demonstrate that at 12 months follow-up, the rates of recurrence with arthroscopic DG excision are comparable with and not superior to those of open excision. Our results suggest that additional long-term comparative studies are needed to accurately differentiate the efficacy of open and arthroscopic techniques.     

Treatment Guidelines for Branch Duct Type Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasms of the Pancreas: When Can We Operate or Observe?

Background The objectives of this study were to investigate the clinicopathological features of branch intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN) and to determine safe criteria for its observation. Most clinicians agree that surgical resection is required to treat main duct-type IPMN because of its high malignancy rate. However, no definite treatment guideline (with respect to surgery or observation) has been issued on the management of branch duct type IPMN. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the clinicopathological data of 138 patients who underwent operations for IPMN between 1993 and 2006 at five institutes in Korea. Results Of 138 patients (mean age, 60.6 years; 87 men, 51 women), 76 underwent pancreatoduodenectomy, 39 distal pancreatectomy, 4 total pancreatectomy, and 20 limited pancreatic resection. There were 112 benign cases: 47 adenoma, 63 borderline cases, and 26 malignant cases, with 9 of these being noninvasive and 17 invasive. By univariate analysis, tumor size and the presence of a mural nodule were identified as meaningful predictors of malignancy. By receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, a tumor size of >2 cm was found to be the most valuable predictor of malignancy. When cases were classified according to tumor size and the presence of a mural nodule, the malignancy rate for a tumor ≤2 cm without a mural nodule was 9.2%, for a tumor of ≤2 cm plus a mural nodule was 25%, and for other conditions such as tumor >2 cm, >25%. Conclusions Many branch duct IPMNs are malignant. Surgical treatment is recommended, except in cases that are strongly suspected to be benign or cases that present a high operative risk. Observation is only recommended in patients with a tumor size of ≤2 cm without a mural nodule.     

关节镜下LARS人工韧带重建后交叉韧带及有限切开重建外侧副韧带

目的探讨后交叉韧带、外侧副韧带同时损伤后,应用LARS人工韧带关节镜下重建后交叉韧带并同时有限切开重建外侧副韧带的手术方法。方法8例关节镜下LARS人工韧带重建后交叉韧带同时有限切开LARS人工韧带重建外侧副韧带。术后随访6~29个月,采用国际膝关节委员会韧带标准评价表(IKDC)和Lysholm膝关节功能评分表评估患膝功能。结果术后无膝关节感染发生,无伸膝受限,屈膝活动度115~125°,术后随访时IKDC评分:8例均为A类,患者术前Lysholm膝关节功能评分平均为60分以下,终末随访时为平均91·5分。结论膝关节后交叉韧带、外侧副韧带同时损伤,较为少见,采用自体或异体移植物等方法重建创伤大,移植物来源有限,术后并发症多,膝关节术后不能达到即时稳定,易导致术后再次发生膝关节不稳。而应用LARS人工韧带关节镜下重建后交叉韧带,同时重建外侧副韧带,术后膝关节可获得即时稳定,利于膝关节早期活动,避免相关并发症的发生,临床疗效满意。     

Factors Influencing Pathologic Results after Total Mesorectal Excision for Rectal Cancer: Analysis of Consecutive 100 Cases

Background The aim of this study was to analyze clinical and anatomical factors affecting the pathologic quality of the resected specimen after total mesorectal excision (TME) for rectal cancer. Methods A total of 100 patients who underwent TME for mid or low rectal cancer were evaluated prospectively. MRI pelvimetry data (transverse diameter, obstetric conjugate, interspinous distance, sacrum length, and sacrum depth) were analyzed as anatomically affecting factors to postoperative specimen quality. Sex, body mass index (BMI), type of surgery, tumor size, and tumor distance from the anal verge were analyzed as clinically affecting factors. The gross judgment of resected specimen, circumferential resection margin and the number of harvested lymph nodes were used to access postoperative specimen quality. Results The univariate and multivariate analysis showed that narrow obstetric conjugate and shorter interspinous distance were related to the inadequate quality of the mesorectum in the specimen (P = 0.022, P = 0.030). Interspinous distance was a predicting factor of a positive circumferential resection margin (P = 0.007). There were no clinical factors affecting the inadequate quality of the mesorectum or positive circumferential resection margin. Moreover, there were no clinico-anatomical factors affecting the number of harvested lymph nodes after TME. Conclusion Narrow obstetric conjugate and shorter interspinous distance were factors leading to poor postoperative specimen quality. Rectal cancer patients with narrow obstetric conjugate or shorter interspinous distance should be considered as high-risk patients with regard to specimen quality, which is in turn related to oncological outcome.     

Axillary brachial plexus block with patient controlled analgesia for complex regional pain syndrome type I: a case report

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Brachial plexus block (BPB) has been cited as a treatment modality for complex regional pain syndrome type I (CRPS I) of the upper limb. However, there are no reports using axillary BPB with patient controlled analgesia (PCA) for the treatment of CRPS I. This report is based on the retrospective observations of the outcome and effects of axillary BPB with PCA in a patient with CRPS I. CASE REPORT: A 32-year-old man suffered from CRPS I of the right upper limb after surgical release of carpal tunnel syndrome of the right hand. Symptoms and signs over the right hand were alleviated under rehabilitation and conventional pharmacological management, but severe painful swelling of the right wrist persisted. Axillary BPB with PCA was performed on the 32nd postoperative day, which soon resulted in significant reduction of pain with gradual improvement of function of the right wrist. CONCLUSIONS: Axillary BPB with PCA may provide patients with CRPS I of the upper limb a feasible and effective treatment. .     

外固定架治疗开放性胫腓骨骨折

目的 观察外固定架治疗开放性胫腓骨骨折的疗效。方法 自1994年7月到1999年12月,收治开放性胫腓骨骨折43例,男27例,女16例;年龄18-62岁。全部采用单侧多功能外固定架治疗。结果 43例全部随访,平均18个月,骨折均愈合,平均愈合时间86天,患肢恢复良好,无骨髓炎、骨不连等合并症。结论 该方法操作简单、创伤小、固定可靠、愈合率高,并发症少。为开放性胫腓骨骨折首选治疗方法。     

人工股骨头置换术治疗高龄非稳定性股骨转子间骨折

目的探讨高龄患者非稳定性股骨转子间骨折行人工股骨头置换术的临床疗效。方法本组74例，年龄75～89岁，平均80．3岁；骨折类型按Evans分类：ⅢA型31例，ⅢB型24例，Ⅳ型19例。其中3例为经内固定治疗失败病例，合并内科疾病者69例，在相关内科协同治疗后行双极骨水泥型人工股骨头置换术，术后早期进行康复锻炼。结果74例都顺利通过手术，住院期间无死亡病例；72例获得随访，随访时间3～16个月，平均9．2个月；无一例出现畸形，髋关节功能接近或恢复到受伤前水平，生活可自理；2例于出院后5个月、11个月死于其他疾病。结论人工股骨头置换术治疗高龄非稳定性股骨转子间骨折是一种效果确切的治疗方法，操作简单、创伤小、卧床时间短、并发症低、死亡率低，提高了高龄患者的生活质量。     

Intraoperative somatosensory evoked potential monitoring during anterior cervical discectomy and fusion in nonmyelopathic patients--a review of 1,039 cases.

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Intraoperative somatosensory evoked potential (SSEP) monitoring has been shown to reduce the incidence of new postoperative neurological deficits in scoliosis surgery. However, its usefulness during cervical spine surgery remains a subject of debate. PURPOSE: To determine the utility of intraoperative SSEP monitoring in a specific patient population (those with cervical radiculopathy in the absence of myelopathy) who underwent anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) surgery. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective review. PATIENT SAMPLE: A total of 1,039 nonmyelopathic patients who underwent single or multilevel ACDF surgery. The control group (462 patients) did not have intraoperative SSEP monitoring, whereas the monitored group (577 patients) had continuous intraoperative SSEP monitoring performed. OUTCOME MEASURE: A new postoperative neurological deficit. METHODS: SSEP tracings were reviewed for all 577 patients in the monitored group and all significant signal changes were noted. Medical records were reviewed for all 1,039 patients to determine if any new neurological deficits developed in the immediate postoperative period. RESULTS: None of the patients in the control group had any new postoperative neurological deficits. In the monitored group there were six instances of transient SSEP changes (1 due to suspected carotid artery compression; 5 thought to be due to transient hypotension) which resolved with the appropriate intraoperative intervention (repositioning of retractors; raising the arterial blood pressure). Upon waking up from anesthesia, one patient in the monitored group had a new neurological deficit (partial central cord syndrome) despite normal intraoperative SSEP signals. CONCLUSIONS: ACDF appears to be a safe surgical procedure with a low incidence of iatrogenic neurological injury. Transient SSEP signal changes, which improved with intraoperative interventions, were not associated with new postoperative neurological deficits. An intraoperative neurological deficit is possible despite normal SSEP signals.     

Use of small suture anchors in cervical laminoplasty to maintain canal expansion: a technical note

OBJECTIVE: Open door laminoplasty is a commonly performed procedure for the treatment of cervical spine pathology. One complication of this procedure is closure of the hinge and subsequent restenosis. A simple and effective method of using suture anchors to stabilize posterior elements has been previously described. The aim of this paper is to describe our experience using 2.0-mm suture anchors to maintain canal expansion. METHODS: Results of 42-consecutive patients who were treated with a modified cervical open-door laminoplasty were reviewed. The modification involves the use of original Hirabayashi technique, but augmenting the canal expansion with 2.0-mm suture anchors at C3, C5, and C7 levels. Additionally, nonabsorbable sutures are placed at C4 and C6 levels as described by Hirabayashi. The technical issues and short-term radiographic outcomes were evaluated. RESULTS: None of the 42 patients who had the door secured with 2.0-mm suture anchors had closure of the hinge. Additionally, the suture anchors maintained their position without loosening or "pull-outs" on postoperative follow-up radiographs. There were 3 short-term complications: 1 was a small dural-tear which was repaired intraoperatively without further sequelae, and the other 2 were both epidural hematomas that required emergent return to the operating room for evacuation. All 3 patients had an uneventful recovery without a new neurologic deficit. CONCLUSIONS: This paper reviews a simple and effective method for maintaining canal expansion in open-door laminoplasty. Because of its technical simplicity, 2.0-mm suture anchors may be a safer alternative than other devices currently popular for this purpose.