Arthroscopic subacromial decompression. 1-3 year results]

In 148 patients with impingement lesion type I or type II, we performed an arthroscopic subacromial decompression (ASD). 122 patients ran a follow up one to three years post-operatively. All patients were pre- and postoperatively documented by a 100 point shoulder score. The mean score was 57.9 (+/- 11.5) preoperatively. Postoperatively there was a significant increase to 80.7 (+/- 17.9) (p < 0.05). 15% of the patients with a postoperative score less than 70 points were determined as failures. Patients with a preoperative pain history of more than one year had a significantly worse result (79.1 +/- 8.4) compared to those patients with a preoperative course less than one year (88.8 +/- 11.6) (p < 0.05). Other significant factors were the patient's age, and calcific tendinitis, whereas sex, preoperative range of motion, muscle atrophy, and degeneration of the acromioclavicular joint did not significantly influence the result. Our results after ASD in patients with subacromial pathology without a rupture of the rotator cuff are encouraging. Therefore, ASD seems to be a reasonable alternative to open acromioplasty.     

The association of cancer survival with four socioeconomic indicators: a longitudinal study of the older population of England and Wales 1981–2000

Background  

Many studies have found socioeconomic differentials in cancer survival. Previous studies have generally demonstrated poorer cancer survival with decreasing socioeconomic status but mostly used only ecological measures of status and analytical methods estimating simple survival. This study investigate socio-economic differentials in cancer survival using four indicators of socioeconomic status; three individual and one ecological. It uses a relative survival method which gives a measure of excess mortality due to cancer.     

Long-term changes in the magnetic resonance image after chemonucleolysis

Summary After treatment of a symptomatic herniated disc with chymopapain, 14 patients were re-examined by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at a mean follow-up of 72 months. Well-defined MRI findings before chemonucleolysis were compared with those after the procedure by an independent observer. Five MRI parameters were assessed. No significant change was noted in the signal intensity of the affected disc, the extent of osteochondrosis and endplate reaction of the affected segment. The height of the affected disc as well as the size of the disc herniation were reduced significantly. The loss of the height is seen as a direct result of chymopapain activity, whereas the alteration of the size of the herniation seems to depend on the natural history of a disc herniation and is probably not a simple result of the treatment.     

Three-dimensional bone kinematics in an anterior laxity test of the ankle joint

Questions addressed in this in-vitro study are (1) what are the actual three-dimensional kinematics of talus and calcaneus during an anterior drawer test as performed with the quasi-static anterior ankle tester (QAAT) (2) does laxity measurement with the QAAT represent the true anterior translation of talus relative to the tibia?. Simultaneous measurements were made with the QAAT and a three-dimensional kinematics analysis system in five specimens. The three-dimensional translations and rotations on three axes were analysed at 25, 50 and 100 N of applied anterior load, with increased ligament damage. For four out of five remaining specimens, anterior translation values of talus and calcaneus and values as measured with the QAAT show a significant increase with growing ligament damage and with higher loads. Skeletal motions of talus and calcaneus show great similarity in three different motion axes, with increased ligament damage and at any given load. Skeletal translations and rotations of talus and calcaneus show great similarity during an anterior drawer movement of the ankle joint. Anterior skeletal translation of the talus and calcaneus show fair correlation with the anterior displacements measurements of the QAAT. These QAAT measurements show an overestimation of the laxity value by more than 200% irrespective of the load applied.