Fit and fill analysis of a newly designed femoral stem in cementless total hip arthroplasty for patients with secondary osteoarthritis

The fit and fill of the femoral canal are critical to the success of cementless femoral stems in total hip arthroplasty. It is difficult for conventional stems to provide a good fit and fill for the femora of patients with secondary osteoarthritis. Based on measurements of 100 femora of these patients, we designed two types of Fukui Medical School (FMS) stems with a proximal lateral flare that differed in the medial radius. We compared the fit and fill of the FMS stems with those of four conventional stems, using computer simulation. The mean proximal fit and total fit of the FMS stems were 46% and 53% respectively, a significant improvement compared with the other stems examined. The mean fill of FMS stems was 82% at the lower end of the lesser trochanter and 84% at the upper end of the isthmus, values that were significantly higher than those of the other stems. Since September 1995, we have implanted FMS stems in 15 hips with secondary osteoarthritis. Radiographic evaluations showed that the canal fill of the FMS stems was significantly greater in the proximal femur compared with other stems previously inserted at our department. A summary of this paper was presented at the 9th Symposium on Computer-Assisted Radiology; June 1995, Berlin, and at the 8th International Symposium on Technology in Arthroplasty; September 1995, Puerto Rico.     

Regression of Pulmonary and Multiple Skeletal Metastases from Renal Cell Carcinoma by Nephrectomy and Alpha-interferon Therapy: A Case Report

We report a rare case of advanced renal cell carcinoma in apatient who showed complete resolution of metastases to thelung and bones after nephrectomy, partial jejunectomy and subsequentalpha-interferon therapy. The patient was a 54-year-old manwhose right lung and left femur metastases were detected beforenephrectomy. In the seventh week after nephrectomy, a partialjejunectomy was carried out because of the obstructive ileuscaused by intraluminal multiple metastases of the jejunum. Apathological fracture of the metastasized right humerus occurredsubsequently. After four months of intramuscular alpha-interferonadministration (3x106 units/day), however, x-rays revealed thecomplete disappearance of the metastatic lung shadow and a solidunion of the humerus, and there were no tumor cells in the femurspecimen resected at the subsequent reconstruction surgery ofthe left leg. Seven years have passed from onset, and the patientis still alive and disease free.     

Experimental study on chronic entrapment neuropathy

This study was undertaken to clarify the pathology and pathophysiology of chronic entrapment neuropathy. Ten mm long Silastic tubes with internal diameter of 1.5 mm were placed on the right sciatic nerves of adult Wistar rats. Morphological and functional changes were studied from one to 14 months after tubing. The earliest changes consisted of thickening of the epineurium and perineurium, followed by breakage of nerve-blood barrier. Intraneural edema and segmental demyelination were evident at the central and peripheral areas of funiculi from 4 months after tubing. At 14 months after treatment, intraneural fibrosis was recognized. Compound action potentials and motor nerve conduction velocity were decreased in 4 and 8 month specimens respectively. Tadpole deformity of the myelin sheath was observed at 4 months and later. The fast axonal transport declined at 8 months after tubing. Our results were compatible with clinical and pathological findings of human materials. This model was thought to be useful one to elicit the pathology and pathophysiology of clinical entrapment neuropathy.     

A case of chronic hepatitis C virus-related advanced hepatocelluar carcinoma surviving more than 8 years]

A 64-year-old man was admitted for further examinations of a liver tumor. The patient was diagnosed as chronic hepatitis C complicated with advanced hepatocelluar carcinoma (HCC) with left portal vein tumor thrombosis. As he refused surgical treatment, hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) using cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil was performed initially. Administration of ursodesoxycholic acid (UDCA) was also started. Following HAIC, microwave coagulation therapy for residual tumor was added. Consequently, viable lesions of HCC disappeared completely. At present, after more than 8 years, neither signs of tumor recurrence, nor elevation of hepatic enzymes has been observed. Although the precise reason for long survival of this patient is not known, we speculate that suppression of levels of hepatic enzymes, as well as HAIC for subclinical intrahepatic metastasis, contributed to the good outcome. Therapeutic strategy for hepatic inflammation seems to be important for long-term prevention of hepatocarcinogenesis.     

Investigation of etiologies for acute renal failure due to rhabdomyolysis in 5 patients

We experienced 5 cases of acute renal failure due to rhabdomyolysis during the last two years and investigated those etiologies. Diagnosis of rhabdomyolysis was established by the detection of elevated serum creatine phosphokinase, myoglobin, aldolase, myoglobinuria as well as by the clinical course. The respective underlying illness of the 5 cases were grand mal seizures, infection (high fever), heat stroke, diabetes mellitus with hyperosmolar nonketotic coma and cerebral infarction treated by barbiturate. In this investigation, however, any single cause was not enough as the etiologies of rhabdomyolysis. There were multiple factors responsible to rhabdomyolysis in each case, such as hypokalemia, hypophosphatemia, shock, arteriosclerosis, etc. Some cases could not be classified as traumatic or non-traumatic rhabdomyolysis. Thus, in one case, acute renal failure due to rhabdomyolysis induced by the combination of grand mal seizures and serum potassium/phosphate depletion. 2 cases recovered without hemodialysis. 3 cases died in multiple organ failure, included a case treated by hemodialysis. We conclude that acute renal failure due to rhabdomyolysis induced easily by numerous diseases and early diagnosis is recommended.     

Surgical treatment of syphilitic ascending aortic aneurysm: a case report

A 67-year-old man with positive serum reaction for syphilis had been followed by cardiologist for his moderate-sized saccular ascending aortic aneurysm and small-sized abdominal aortic aneurysm. Because of his transient ischemic attack probably secondary to the thrombo-embolism of the aneurysm and rapid growing of its size, surgical treatment was recommended. Resection of the saccular aneurysm with patch plasty of the ascending aorta was performed under the cardiopulmonary bypass associated with right side cerebral perfusion. At the time of operation, the mildly dilated ascending aorta and arch with multiple intimal ulceration were noted. Although his postoperative hemodynamic condition was stable, he suffered from multiple cerebral infarction, probably due to embolism migrated from the fragile aortic intima. His neurological condition was improved promptly, trivial hemi-paralysis was remained. The specimen of resected aneurysmal wall revealed syphilitic changes microscopically. We concluded that the extent of the aortic replacement with prosthetic graft should be deceived not only with its external appearance, but also with the changes of its inside.