Standards for Endovascular Neurosurgical Training and Certification of the Society of Korean Endovascular Neurosurgeons 2013

The need for standard endovascular neurosurgical (ENS) training programs and certification in Korea cannot be overlooked due to the increasing number of ENS specialists and the expanding ENS field. The Society of Korean Endovascular Neurosurgeons (SKEN) Certification Committee has prepared training programs and certification since 2010, and the first certificates were issued in 2013. A task force team (TFT) was organized in August 2010 to develop training programs and certification. TFT members researched programs and systems in other countries to develop a program that best suited Korea. After 2 years, a rough draft of the ENS training and certification regulations were prepared, and the standard training program title was decided. The SKEN Certification Committee made an official announcement about the certification program in March 2013. The final certification regulations comprised three major parts: certified endovascular neurosurgeons (EN), certified ENS institutions, and certified ENS training institutions. Applications have been evaluated and the results were announced in June 2013 as follows: 126 members received EN certification and 55 hospitals became ENS-certified institutions. The SKEN has established standard ENS training programs together with a certification system, and it is expected that they will advance the field of ENS to enhance public health and safety in Korea.     

Asymptomatic Penetration of the Oculomotor Nerve by a De Novo Aneurysm Associated with Severe Atherosclerotic Stenosis of the Supraclinoid Internal Carotid Artery

A 70-year-old woman presented with headaches and recurrent stroke symptoms. During five years, the patient has been treated for cerebral infarction associated with severe atherosclerotic stenosis of the internal carotid artery. Three-year follow-up magnetic resonance angiography showed a tiny de novo aneurysm arising from the distal part of atherosclerotic internal carotid artery. And 5-year follow-up three-dimensional CT angiogram demonstrated a definite aneurysm enlargement as large as requiring treatment. During dissection of aneurysm, the oculomotor nerve was found to be penetrated with the growing de novo aneurysm. The authors report a case of a de novo aneurysm, which resulted from atherosclerotic stenosis of the internal carotid artery at the supraclinoid portion, that was found to be penetrating the oculomotor nerve with no ocular palsy.     

Effect of Mineral Trioxide Aggregate Surface Treatments on Morphology and Bond Strength to Composite Resin

Introduction

The aim of this study was to evaluate the micromorphologic changes that accompany different surface treatments on mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) and their effect on the bond strength to the composite resin with 4 adhesive systems.

Methods

Three types of MTA cement, ProRoot MTA (WMTA) (Dentsply, Tulsa, OK), MTA Angelus (AMTA) (Angelus, Londrina, PR, Brazil), and Endocem MTA (EMTA) (Maruchi, Wonju, Korea), were prepared and stored for a week to encourage setting. Surface treatment was performed using phosphoric acid or self-etch primer, and an untreated MTA surface was prepared as a control. The surface changes were observed using scanning electron microscopy. MTA surfaces were bonded with 4 adhesive systems, including Scotchbond Multipurpose (3M ESPE, St Paul, MN), Single Bond 2 (3M ESPE), Clearfil SE BOND (Kuraray, Osaka, Japan), and AdheSE One F (Ivoclar Vivadent, Schaan, Liechtenstein), to evaluate the adhesive effectiveness of MTA followed by composite resin restoration. The shear bond strength of the polymerized specimens was tested.

Results

For WMTA and AMTA, untreated surfaces showed an irregular crystalline plate with clusters of globular aggregate particles. For EMTA, the untreated surface presented a reticular matrix with acicular crystals. After surface treatment, superficial crystalline structures were eroded regardless of the MTA cement and adhesive system used. WMTA bonded significantly more strongly than AMTA and EMTA, regardless of the adhesive system used. In the WMTA and AMTA groups, AdheSE One F showed the highest bond strength to the composite. For EMTA, no significant differences were found across adhesive systems.

Conclusions

Acidic treatment of the MTA surface affected the micromorphology and the bond strength to the composite. Within the limitations of this study, using a 1-step self-etch adhesive system might result in a strong bond to WMTA when the composite resin restoration is required over MTA cement.     

Relationship Between Mechanical Axis-Derived and Anatomic Landmark-Derived Femoral Rotation in TKA: A Three-Dimensional CT Study

We sought to determine the relationship between the mechanical axis-derived and the anatomic landmark-derived femoral rotational axes using three dimensional computed tomographic images of 20 lower extremities. The mechanical axis-derived femoral rotational axis was created on the distal articular surface of the femur using coronal mechanical limb axis and the reconstructed images of the femur. Then, we measured the angular difference between mechanical axis-derived and anatomic landmark-derived femoral rotational axes. The mechanical axis-derived femoral rotational axis was externally rotated with a mean of 2.2° (range, 0 to 4.7°; SD, 1.0) compared with the surgical epicondylar axis. Our findings should be considered to obtain a proper femoral rotational axis in total knee arthroplasty.