Incidence and clinical features of sacral insufficiency fracture in the emergency department.

This study demonstrates that accurate diagnosis of SIF may be delayed because of difficulties in detecting this type of fracture on plain X-ray and the non-specific nature of the presenting complaints. Emergency physicians should keep SIF in mind when investigating patients who complain of low back pain or gluteal pain. Findings at the second sacral segment on MRI targeting the lumbar spine may aid early diagnosis of this type of pelvic fracture.

The American Journal of Emergency Medicine


Clinical Outcome of Arthroscopic Treatment for Posteromedial Elbow Impingement in Adolescent Baseball Players.

This retrospective study evaluated the clinical outcome of arthroscopic treatment for posteromedial elbow impingement in adolescent baseball players. Patients were eligible for participation if they had undergone surgery at least 2 years earlier and excluded if they had arthritis, loose bodies, osteochondritis dissecans, ulnar collateral ligament tear, flexor/pronator injuries or medial epicondylitis, or nerve problems. Patients were also excluded if they had undergone prior elbow surgery, were younger than 13 years, or were older than 19 years. Arthroscopic treatment included debridement of posteromedial synovitis, fragment removal, and olecranon spur excision. At a mean follow-up of 26.7 (range 24-42) months, patients were evaluated based on a questionnaire, examination, and the previously reported elbow outcome score.

Arthroscopy : the Journal of Arthroscopic & Related Surgery


Morphological alterations of the tendon and pulley on ultrasound after intrasynovial injection of betamethasone for trigger digit.

The injection of a single dose of betamethasone improved clinical symptoms by reducing the volume of both the tendon and pulley, which may be related to the fact that tendon and pulley ruptures are delayed by corticosteroid injections.


Total calcanectomy for metastasis of renal cell carcinoma in the calcaneus: A case report.

We present a rare case of metastasis of renal cell carcinoma to the calcaneus in a 59-year-old man who presented with pain and inability to bear weight on the left foot 3 years after right nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma. He successfully underwent en bloc resection of his right calcaneus with a limb salvage procedure, total calcanectomy without bony reconstruction. Histological findings identified the lesion as a metastasis originating from a renal cell carcinoma. Recent follow-up examination showed no recurrence. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case to be treated with total calcanectomy for renal cell carcinoma metastasis.


Bilateral osteochondritis dissecans of the capitellum in fraternal twins: A case report

We report the cases of 15-year-old male fraternal twins with bilateral osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) of the capitellum in the absence of syndromic features. At the time of presentation, they had been actively engaged in competitive rhythmic gymnastics for 3 years. Both patients had chronic symptoms in the right elbow, and both underwent arthroscopic evaluation and management. The cases of these 2 patients provide evidence to support the theory that the etiology of OCD may have a genetic background.


Screening for nasal carriage of Staphylococcus aureus among patients scheduled to undergo orthopedic surgery: Incidence of surgical site infection by nasal carriage.

Subjects were 4148 patients who underwent preoperative screening for nasal carrier and subsequently underwent orthopedic surgery during a 7-year period between April 2007 and March 2014. The incidence of SSI among patients who were operated in our department was investigated, and the rates were compared between patients with and without nasal carriage to reveal the effect of preoperative nasal carriage on SSI.

It was difficult to reduce the incidence rate of SSI in eradication group to the same level as nasal culture negative group. However, nasal carriage of S. aureus or MRSA may be a risk factor for SSI in orthopedic surgery.


Pediatric isthmic spondylolisthesis showing radiologic evidence of slippage after physis injury.

The pathogenesis of slippage in pediatric spondylolisthesis is still unclear, although epiphyseal injury may account for many cases based on preclinical studies. However, no reports have described a pediatric case of isthmic spondylolisthesis showing radiologic evidence of epiphyseal injury. We report such evidence in a 13-year-old boy with low-back pain. Radiography revealed rounding of the S1 surface, a fracture line below the S1 endplate surface, and a bone marrow lesion in addition to slippage. Slippage and the rounding deformity were partially reversed (from 20 to 14% and from 42 to 27%, respectively) with conservative treatment and natural bone remodeling.

Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics. Part B


Degenerative Changes of the Facet Joints in Adults with Lumbar Spondylolysis.

Degenerative changes of the facet joints in patients with lumbar spondylolysis were more severe than those without spondylolysis.


Anatomical considerations of the iliac crest on percutaneous endoscopic discectomy using a transforaminal approach.

From the results of this study, the trajectory of TF-PED can be limited by the surrounding anatomical structures. The maximum inclination angle indicated that treatment for the central type of LDH at the L5-S1 disc level was considered more difficult than that at the L4-L5 disc level because of the iliac crest. In the clinical setting, such anatomical particularities can be overcome by using a more perpendicular approach (hand-down technique) with the possible addition of a foraminoplasty. Moreover, we found that we must consider the laterality of the trajectory of TF-PED in terms of the patients' age or sex.

Percutaneous endoscopic discectomy is a minimally invasive procedure for the surgical treatment of lumbar disc herniation (LDH). It can be performed under local anesthesia and requires a skin incision of only 8 mm, with minimal disruption of the spinal structures including ligaments and muscles. However, performing percutaneous endoscopic discectomy with a transforaminal approach (TF-PED) for the lower lumbar spine is associated with some anatomical problems, such as interference from the iliac crest. This study sought to assess the operability of TF-PED for the lower lumbar spine.


Conservative Treatment for Bony Healing in Pediatric Lumbar Spondylolysis.


Custom-Made Alumina Ceramic Total Talar Prosthesis for Idiopathic Aseptic Necrosis of the Talus: Report of Two Cases.

Two women aged 65 years and 78 years presented to our center with idiopathic necrosis of the talus. In both cases, imaging examinations showed collapse and sclerotic changes of the talar body caused by the necrosis. Both women underwent resection and placement of a third-generation custom-made alumina ceramic total talar prosthesis. Immobilization of the ankle in a short-leg cast for 3 weeks was followed by early rehabilitation. One year and 6 months after surgery, both women were able to walk without pain. Their Japanese Society for Surgery of the Foot ankle-hindfoot scale scores improved from 22 and 29/100 points to 90 and 95/100 points, respectively. To the best of our knowledge, the successful treatments of these two rare cases of idiopathic necrosis of the talus are among only a few reported cases of using a third-generation alumina ceramic prosthesis.


Pseudoaneurysm of the Anterior Tibial Artery following Ankle Arthroscopy in a Soccer Player.

Ankle arthroscopy carries a lower risk of vascular complications when standard anterolateral and anteromedial portals are used. However, the thickness of the fat pad at the anterior ankle affords little protection for the thin-walled anterior tibial artery, rendering it susceptible to indirect damage during procedures performed on the anterior ankle joint. To our knowledge, only 11 cases of pseudoaneurysm involving the anterior tibial artery after ankle arthroscopy have been described in the literature. Here we reported a rare case of a 19-year-old soccer player who presented with pseudoaneurysm of the anterior tibial artery following ankle arthroscopy using an ankle distraction method and underwent anastomosis for the anterior tibial artery injury. Excessive distraction of the ankle puts the neurovascular structures at greater risk for iatrogenic injury of the anterior tibial artery during ankle arthroscopy. Surgeons should look carefully for postoperative ankle swelling and pain after ankle arthroscopy.


Fracture of the Tibial Baseplate 16 Years after Miller-Galante II Total Knee Arthroplasty.

We report a rare case of tibial baseplate fracture of Miller-Galante II (MG II) prosthesis. We examine the factors that may cause such late fracture and review the literature on radiographic analysis and retrieval studies. A 76-year-old woman, who had undergone bilateral MG II total knee arthroplasty due to rheumatoid arthritis 16 years earlier, presented to our department with a 3-month history of left knee pain. Plain radiographs revealed severe distortion of the medial tibial component. During revision knee arthroplasty, we observed severe metallosis in the knee joint, polyethylene insert deformation, and posteromedial coronal baseplate fracture. After removal of the fractured tray, a bone deficit due to osteolysis was noted. The revision prosthesis (LCCK, Zimmer-Biomet) was implanted uneventfully. Four months after revision surgery, the patient was ambulating and had no complications. The implants on the right side had survived without complications for 17 years. We speculate that the primary causative factor of the fatigue fracture of the base plate due to loss of bony support most likely secondary to osteolysis was varus malalignment at primary implantation. This case highlights the importance of paying close attention to the correct alignment of each component at primary implantation.


Ulnolunate Ligament Avulsion Fracture of the Lunate: A Case Report.

Traumatic lunate fractures are very rare and those treatments require an understanding of anatomical features. We present a case of an ulnolunate ligament avulsion fracture of the lunate that was successfully repaired by surgical fixation with open reduction and internal fixation. We believe that restoration of ulnolunate ligament function is important to prevent further deterioration of wrist function after this injury.


Risk factors for shoulder and elbow pain in youth baseball players.

This study sought to quantify the 1-year cumulative incidence of shoulder and elbow pain among youth baseball players and identify risk factors associated with the occurrence of shoulder and elbow pain. In total, 900 youth baseball players (aged 7-11 years) were enrolled in a 1-year prospective follow-up study. One year later, the players were asked whether they had experienced episodes of shoulder or elbow pain and the following risk factors for such pain were investigated: age, position, length of baseball experience, training hours per week, and history of shoulder or elbow pain. Data for the groups with and without shoulder or elbow pain were analyzed using multivariate logistic regression models. Episodes of shoulder pain were reported by 18.3% of players and episodes of elbow pain were reported by 35.2% of players. Multivariate analysis showed that shoulder pain was associated with pitcher position, catcher position, longer training hours per week, and history of shoulder and elbow pain, and that elbow pain was associated with age, pitcher position, catcher position, longer training hours per week, and history of elbow pain. Length of baseball experience was not associated with shoulder or elbow pain. History of elbow pain, pitcher position, catcher position, and longer training hours per week were associated with both types of pain. History of shoulder pain was associated with shoulder pain but not elbow pain. Age was associated with elbow pain but not shoulder pain.


Pediatric Patient with Incidental Os Odontoideum Safely Treated with Posterior Fixation Using Rod-Hook System and Preoperative Planning Using 3D Printer: A Case Report.

Os odontoideum is often found incidentally. Surgical treatment is recommended for patients with atlantoaxial instability or neurologic deficits. Although various techniques have been used for C1-C2 fusion in adults, the use of these procedures in children is not widely accepted. We present a 12-year-old boy with incidental os odontoideum and obvious C1-C2 instability, in which bony union was achieved safely and successfully by posterior fixation using a rod-hook system and perioperative planning using a three-dimensional printer. At the 2-year follow-up, bone formation around the gap of the dens, which has been generally considered as pseudoarthrosis, was obtained after union of the posterior element of C1-C2.

Journal of Neurological Surgery. Part A, Central European Neurosurgery


Answer to the Letter to the Editor of C. Birkenmaier concerning "Rehydration of a degenerated disc on MRI synchronized with transition of Modic changes following stand-alone XLIF" by K. Kita, T. Sakai, M. Abe, Y. Takata and K. Sairyo (Eur Spine J; 2017). doi:10.1007/s00586-017-4945-6.


Prognostic value of dynamic MRI positive enhancement integral color mapping in osteosynthesis of undisplaced femoral neck fractures.

PEICM precisely detected femoral head perfusion. Primary prosthetic replacement should be considered for older patients with Type C to minimize the chances of revision surgery, even in undisplaced femoral neck fractures.


Etiology of Adult-onset Stress Fracture in the Lumbar Spine.

Although lumbar spondylolysis is generally recognized to occur in childhood or adolescence, fresh lumbar spondylolysis should be included in the differential diagnosis of adult low back pain when patients are high-level athletes. Conservative treatment should be attempted for adult patients.


Radiation Exposure to the Hand of a Spinal Interventionalist during Fluoroscopically Guided Procedures.

Our findings indicated that the cumulative radiation dose measured at the dominant hand may exceed the annual dose limit specified by the International Commission on Radiological Protection. Spinal interventionalists should take special care to limit the duration of fluoroscopy and radiation exposure.


Surgical Removal of Circumferentially Leaked Polymethyl Methacrylate in the Epidural Space of the Thoracic Spine after Percutaneous Vertebroplasty.

Background The major complication of percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) using polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) is epidural leakage of PMMA that damages the spinal cord. Methods This is a case report. Result A 77-year-old man presented to our institution with a 6-month history of muscle weakness and an intolerable burning sensation of both lower limbs after PVP with PMMA for thoracic compression fracture at T7 at another hospital. His past medical history was significant for hypertension. He had no history of smoking and alcohol. Computed tomography revealed massive leakage of PMMA into the T6 and T7 spinal canal circumferentially surrounding the spinal cord that caused marked encroachment of the thecal sac. Magnetic resonance images revealed cord compression and intramedullary signal change from T6 to T7 level. After we verified that the leaked PMMA could be easily detached from the dura mater in the cadaveric lumbar spine, surgical decompression and removal of epidural PMMA was performed. The leaked PMMA was carefully thinned down with a high-speed diamond burr. Eight pieces of PMMA were detached from the dura mater easily without causing a dural tear. No neurologic deterioration was observed in the postoperative period. The burning sensation resolved, but the muscle weakness remained unchanged. One and a half years postoperatively, the muscle weakness has improved to ⅘ on the manual muscle strength test, but he could not walk without an aid because of spasticity. Conclusion This report demonstrates the catastrophic epidural extrusion of PMMA following PVP. Extravasated PMMA can be removed through a working space created by means of laminectomy and subtraction of the affected pedicle. Spine surgeons should recognize the possible neurologic complications of PVP and be prepared to treat them using suitable approaches.


Rehydration of a degenerated disc on MRI synchronized with transition of Modic changes following stand-alone XLIF.

Lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration (LDD) is known to be associated with low back pain (LBP) and leads to degenerative lumbar disease. LDD is considered to be irreversible, and no truly effective treatment that suppresses LDD or regenerates the degenerated disc has been established thus far. Here, we report the case of a 42-year-old woman with a 10-year history of persistent LBP. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated degenerative changes (Pfirrmann classification: grade IV) in the L4-5 intervertebral disc with type I and III mixed Modic changes adjacent to the disc. Conservative treatments were not effective, so we opted for stand-alone extreme lateral interbody fusion (XLIF). One year after the operation, the LBP had almost disappeared. Follow-up MRI revealed transition of the Modic changes from type I to type III. In addition, rehydration of the degenerated disc behind the XLIF cage was evident (Pfirrmann classification changed from grade IV to grade II). To our knowledge, this is the first report of a change in LDD. Several factors are likely responsible for the regenerative response, including curettage of the hyaline cartilaginous endplates and auto-iliac cancellous bone grafting, which were considered to have affected nucleus pulposus cells in the residual disc.


Cementless calcar-replacement stem with integrated greater trochanter plate for unstable intertrochanteric fracture in very elderly patients.

Hemiarthroplasty using the MOD-Centaur stem for unstable intertrochanteric fracture in very elderly patients offers favorable outcomes. These findings encourage early walking without any loading limitations, despite severe osteoporosis, and emphasize the importance of greater trochanteric fixation, which reconstructs the mechanism of the gluteus medius muscle.

Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery (Hong Kong)


Changes of posture and muscle activities in the trunk and legs during walking in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis after decompression surgery. A preliminary report.

Neurogenic intermittent claudication is a main symptom in lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS), and postural change is often observed during walking. This study aimed to identify the changes in posture and muscle activity in the trunk and legs during walking in patients with LSS by examining 6 patients who had undergone decompression surgery. None of them had significant paralysis. Gait analysis using Vicon motion capture system(®) with electromyographic recordings of the paravertebral muscles (PVM) and vastus lateralis muscle (VL) was performed preoperatively and 2 weeks postoperatively. Results showed that the thorax angle indicating the degree of trunk flexion after walking decreased significantly and the pelvic angle tended to decrease after surgery. However, there were no difference in the spine angle, which is a measure of the motion of the thoraco-lumbar spine among the evaluations. The knee angle increased significantly after surgery both at the beginning and at the end of walking, but the angles of the hip and ankle did not change significantly after surgery. Knee torques increased significantly after surgery both at the beginning and at the end of walking. The activity of the PVM decreased and that of the VL increased after surgery. The results indicate that patients with LSS walk in a forward-bending position without flexing the spine, which can be one of the neurologic symptoms. Increases in knee torque and VL activity seemed to reflect the increase of walking speed, and the decrease of PVM activity appeared to be caused by postural improvement after surgery.


Eight-year follow-up findings of surgical treatment for severe dystrophic changes in the cervical spine associated with neurofibromatosis type I: a case report.

Long-term follow-up findings for dystrophic changes in the cervical spine caused by neurofibromatosis type 1 have been rarely reported. A 13-year-old boy with severe dural ectasia in the cervical spine underwent cervical posterior fusion from C1 to C5 for prevention of cervical spine fracture and spinal injury. We followed him up for 8 years after surgery. We measured the progression of the destruction on yearly MRI. The dural ectasia gradually progressed until 3 years postoperatively. Subsequently, no further enlargement of the dural sac occurred. At the 8-year follow-up examination, the patient had no limitations in the activities of daily life.

Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics. Part B


非特異的腰痛診断に陥りやすい椎間板性腰痛

非特異的腰痛診断に陥りやすい椎間板性腰痛

Japanese Journal of Orthopaedic Sports Medicine

日本整形外科スポーツ医学会雑誌


Radiographic changes in coronal alignment of the ankle joint immediately after primary total knee arthroplasty for varus knee osteoarthritis.


Signal intensity changes of the posterior elements of the lumbar spine in symptomatic adults.


Can intraoperative kinematic analysis predict postoperative kinematics following total knee arthroplasty? A preliminary.

The preliminary study analyzed the relationship between intraoperative navigation-based kinematics and postoperative 2-dimensional/3-dimensional (2D/3D) image registration-based kinematics in total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Six knees in 5 patients were analyzed. All TKA procedures were performed using an image-free knee navigation system. Tibial internal rotation was assessed by intraoperative knee kinematics. At 1 year after surgery, tibial internal rotation was evaluated using a 2D/3D image registration technique under loaded and unloaded conditions. The correlation between intraoperative and postoperative data for the tibial internal rotation angle at 10 increments of knee flexion was then assessed. Difference in the knee flexion angle between the intraoperative and postoperative evaluations was adjusted to account for the sagittal cutting angle of the distal femur and proximal tibia. A correlation was found between the intraoperative and postoperative data for loaded knee flexion with this adjustment (Pearson's r = 0.725, p = 0.012). However, intraoperative kinematics was not significantly correlated with postoperative kinematics in the absence of loading. Larger adequately powered prospective studies are now needed to confirm our preliminary finding that postoperative loaded kinematics can be predicted by intraoperative evaluation. J. Med. Invest. 65:21-26, February, 2018.

The Journal of Medical Investigation : JMI


The reduction and direct repair of isthmic spondylolisthesis using the smiley face rod method in adolescent athlete: Technical note.

Presently, lumbar spondylolisthesis did not have the indication of direct repair surgery because of the difficulty to reduce the slippage. In this report, we presented a case and described a minimally invasive direct repair surgery to reduce and repair the pars interarticularis defects of lumbar spondylolisthesis. First, curettage and removal of the synovium of the pars interarticularis and decompression of nerve root are conducted. Next, cancellous bone is harvested from the iliac crest. And then the Percutaneous Pedicle Screws are inserted bilaterally. A rod is bended and placed just caudal to the spinous process. We can make reposition of slipped vertebra and stabilize the loose lamina more firmly using a reduction tool and a rod pusher. Finally, bone grafts are implanted onto the pars defects. The Smiley face rod method is very useful to reduce the slippage and repair the pars defects in the lumbar spondylolisthesis especially in adolescent athletes. J. Med. Invest. 64: 168-172, February, 2017.


Natural Correction and Adaptation of a Severely Deformed Sacral Dome in an Adolescent with Isthmic Spondylolisthesis: A Case Report.

Vertebral deformity in children can be reversible. Orthopaedic surgeons should be aware that pediatric patients with a severe deformity of the sacral dome and vertebral slippage can be managed nonoperatively.


Accurate diagnosis of chronic low back pain in a high-level college athlete: a case report.

A 21-year-old woman who was high-level college softball player presented with a 6-month history of low back pain that had been treated unsuccessfully by medication at local clinics. There was tenderness in the left paravertebral muscle at the lower lumbar level. X-ray and computed tomography revealed congenital scoliosis and an L6 hemivertebra. Short tau inversion recovery magnetic resonance imaging showed a fluid collection at the left L6-S1 facet joint. We performed a diagnostic facet injection, consisting of 1% lidocaine and steroids, that was infiltrated into the left facet joint at L6-S1. Her persistent low back pain disappeared immediately after the facet block. We diagnosed left-sided facet arthritis at L6-S1. Due to her multiple congenital anomalies, excessive loading occurred at the facet joint. Therefore, we opted for conservative management, including mobilization of the thoracic spine and stretching of hamstrings and quadriceps. This case report underscores the importance of accurate diagnosis of low back pain and of the diagnostic utility of short tau inversion recovery magnetic resonance imaging and lumbar facet block in young athletes with chronic spinal pain. J. Med. Invest. 64: 313-316, August, 2017.


Percutaneous full endoscopic lumbar foraminoplasty for adjacent level foraminal stenosis following vertebral intersegmental fusion in an awake and aware patient under local anesthesia: A case report.

Percutaneous endoscopic surgery for the lumbar spine has become established in the last decade. It requires only an 8 mm skin incision, causes minimal damage to the paravertebral muscles, and can be performed under local anesthesia. With the advent of improved equipment, in particular the high-speed surgical drill, the indications for percutaneous endoscopic surgery have expanded to include lumbar spinal canal stenosis. Transforaminal percutaneous endoscopic discectomy has been used to treat intervertebral stenosis. However, it has been reported that adjacent level disc degeneration and foraminal stenosis can occur following intervertebral segmental fusion. When this adjacent level pathology becomes symptomatic, additional fusion surgery is often needed. We performed minimally invasive percutaneous full endoscopic lumbar foraminoplasty in an awake and aware 50-year-old woman under local anesthesia. The procedure was successful with no complications. Her radiculopathy, including muscle weakness and leg pain due to impingement of the exiting nerve, improved after the surgery. J. Med. Invest. 64: 291-295, August, 2017.


Radiographic changes of cervical destructive spondyloarthropathy in long-term hemodialysis patients: A 9-year longitudinal observational study.

Analyses of radiographic changes and clinical symptom of destructive spondyloarthropathy (DSA) on consecutive 42 patients managed with long-term hemodialysis were performed to elucidate radiographic changes of DSA and the factors that influence to the destructive changes. Patients underwent plain radiographs of the cervical spine with 9 years interval. Grading of radiological feature from lateral view was classified into grade 0 to grade 3. Clinical symptom was evaluated using modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association scoring system for cervical myelopathy (mJOA score). Destructive changes were observed in 3 patients at the first examination, and those were observed in 15 patients 9 years after the first examination. There is no statistically significant difference between the duration of hemodialysis and the grade. The mean age at the onset of hemodialysis, however, was significantly higher in patients of grade 2 and 3 than those of grade 1. Older patients with long-term hemodialysis had destructive changes. Destructive changes commonly observed in lower cervical spine. The average numbers of the involved disc level were 1.6 in grade 2 and 1.0 in grade 3. Clinical symptoms were varied in each grade and there was no statistically significant difference in total mJOA score among these grades. J. Med. Invest. 64: 68-73, February, 2017.


High intensity zone in lumbar spine and its correlation with disc degeneration.

Purpose; To investigate the prevalence, clinical significance of high intensity zone (HIZ), and associated disc degeneration. Materials and methods; We undertook retrospective analysis of 228 patients, aged from 15 to 55 years, who had undergone magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of lumbar spine in outpatient clinic from 2013 to 2014. HIZ was defined as a presence of high intensity signal in the annulus on T2-weighted images. All HIZ positive discs were classified according to Pfirrmann grading system for presence of disc degeneration. Results; Forty-three patients (18.8%) with 53 intervertebral discs demonstrated HIZ. There was no significant predominance about age and gender for the presence of HIZ. HIZ occurred mainly at L4-5 (43.3%) and L5-S1 (30.2%) levels, infrequently at L3-4 (17%) and rarely at upper levels. The prevalence of disc degenerations with Pfirrmann grade 3, 4, and 5 were significantly higher in HIZ positive patients than in randomly selected 35 HIZ negative patients (64% vs. 46%, respectively). Conclusion; In this study we identified that the presence of HIZ was directly proportional to increased incidence of disc degeneration in remaining lumbar discs. The prevalence of significant degeneration was significantly higher in HIZ positive patient at lower three lumbar levels. J. Med. Invest. 64: 39-42, February, 2017.


The Posterior Condylar Cartilage Affects Rotational Alignment of the Femoral Component in Varus Knee Osteoarthritis.

Rotational alignment of the femoral component in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is important for patellar tracking and ligament balance. Preoperative planning based on radiography might have a potential risk for over-rotation because these X-ray based measurements can not detect asymmetric cartilage wear on posterior condyle. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of the posterior condylar cartilage of varus osteoarthritic knee on rotational alignment of the femoral component in TKA. We established two different condylar twist angles (CTA) from intraoperative multiplanar reconstruction (MPR) images and intraoperative information of navigation system. The CTA measured by a navigation system that includes the cartilage (4.8±2.0°) was smaller than those measured by MPR images, which does not include the cartilage (6.6±2.1°) (p<0.05). The difference between these two angles that corresponds to the remaining posterior condylar cartilage was 1.7±1.2°. This result demonstrated that the posterior condylar cartilage might lead to over-rotational of the femoral component in varus osteoarthritic knee. Therefore, when determining rotational alignment of the femoral component, surgeons should consider the effect of the remaining posterior condylar cartilage to avoid the over-rotation of the femoral component, especially in severe varus knees. J. Med. Invest. 64: 24-29, February, 2016.


Fibroma of tendon sheath on the medial side of the knee: a case report.

Fibroma of tendon sheath, which is a benign soft tissue tumor, primarily affects the finger, hand, or wrist. It rarely involves the knee and only a few cases appear in the literature. Here, we report a case of fibroma of tendon sheath on the medial side of the knee, in a previously hardly reported location, and provide detailed imaging and histological findings. A 54-year-old man presented with his right knee pain and a palpable mass that had developed 3 months earlier. Magnetic resonance imaging showed isointensity in the soft tissue tumor on T1-weighted images, variable intensity on T2-weighted images, and contrast enhancement. The specimen obtained by needle biopsy showed no histological findings of malignancy. Marginal resection was performed and the microscopic diagnosis was fibroma of tendon sheath. Since fibroma of tendon sheath is relatively rare, the radiological feature is not specific, and a rate of local recurrence following excision is high, careful diagnosis, surgical treatment and long-term follow-up are necessary. J. Med. Invest. 64: 173-176, February, 2017.

The Journal of Medical Investigation : JMI


Active stretching for lower extremity muscle tightness in pediatric patients with lumbar spondylolysis.

Home-based active stretching was effective for relieving muscle tightness in the leg in a pediatric population. Adolescent athletes should perform such exercise to maintain flexibility and prevent lumbar disorders. J. Med. Invest. 64: 136-139, February, 2017.


A new concept of transforaminal ventral facetectomy including simultaneous decompression of foraminal and lateral recess stenosis: Technical considerations in a fresh cadaver model and a literature review.

Percutaneous endoscopic surgery for the lumbar spine, which was established in the last decade, requires only an 8-mm skin incision and causes minimal damage to the paravertebral muscles; thus, it is considered to be a minimally invasive technique for spinal surgery. It has been used to perform percutaneous endoscopic discectomy via two main approaches: the TF approach is a posterolateral one through the intervertebral foramen and can be done under local anesthesia; the IL approach is a more traditional one through the interlaminar space and is difficult to perform under local anesthesia. Recently, these techniques have been applied for lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS), the TF method for foraminal stenosis under local anesthesia, and the IL method for central and lateral recess stenosis under general anesthesia. In this study, using a fresh human cadaver model, we performed simultaneous decompression of the lateral recess and foraminal stenosis at L4-5 using the TF approach. Computed tomography confirmed enlargement of the lateral recess and intervertebral foramen. This technique, which can be performed under local anesthesia, should benefit elderly patients with LSS and poor general condition due to multiple comorbidities. Finally, we introduce the concept of percutaneous transforaminal ventral facetectomy using a spinal percutaneous endoscope. J. Med. Invest. 64: 1-6, February, 2017.


Diffusion tensor imaging and tractography of the sciatic nerve: assessment of fractional anisotropy and apparent diffusion coefficient values relative to the piriformis muscle, a preliminary study.

Piriformis muscle syndrome (PMS) is underdiagnosed. To evaluate the potential of diffusion tensor imaging and diffusion tensor tractography as innovative tools for the diagnosis of PMS by functional assessment of the sciatic nerve, the aims of this study are to assess the reproducibility and to evaluate the changes in the parameters at levels proximal and distal to the piriformis. Fractional anisotropy (FA) and the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) of the sciatic nerve at three levels were quantified twice each by two examiners using the fiber-tracking method. In the first part of the study, laterality and reproducibility were evaluated using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) in ten healthy volunteers. In the second part of the study, the healthy side and symptomatic side were assessed in ten consecutive patients with sciatica. There were three patients with no findings on lumbar magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). There was no laterality in either FA or ADC values in asymptomatic patients at any level. The mean intra-rater ICC was 0.90 and the mean inter-rater ICC was 0.87. FA was significantly lower and ADC significantly higher on the symptomatic side at each level in patients with sciatica. In the three sciatica patients with no findings on lumbar MRI, FA was significantly lower and ADC was significantly higher only at levels distal to the piriformis. These patients experienced full pain relief after ultrasound-guided injection of local anesthesia. Diffusion tensor imaging and diffusion tensor tractography might be innovative tools for the diagnosis of PMS.


Variations in arterial supply to the lower lumbar spine.

Various distributions of arteries around the lower spine were identified.

Each segmental artery was visible at the L1-4 spinal levels, running from the vertebra through the lamina in 91.0 % on the right side, in 90.7 % on the left side, while it was visible in 4.6 % on the right side, in 8.7 % on the left side at the L5 level. The extra-osseous arterial supply to the L5 lamina was basically provided by two vessels on each side. One was mostly derived from the L4 segmental artery (right: 92.6 %; left: 92.0 %) that was distributed around the superior articular process, the other was derived from the iliolumbar artery (right: 62.9 %; left: 55.7 %) that was distributed around the inferior articular process through the lamina. There were mainly four combination patterns of those arteries. These combinations, which had been considered as regular patterns in textbooks, were observed in approximately 50 % (right: 55.7 %; left: 48.6 %) of patients.


Pigmented villonodular synovitis of the knee joint in a 5-year-old girl treated with combined open and arthroscopic surgery: a case report.

Pigmented villonodular synovitis is an extremely rare disease in skeletally immature patients. Erosive destruction of the involved joint leads to early arthritis, and its high recurrence rate makes treatment challenging. Multiple surgical approaches exist, but it is unclear as to which among them achieves the lowest possible recurrence rate and morbidity. We report the case of a 5-year-old girl with left knee pain and swelling who was diagnosed with diffuse pigmented villonodular synovitis of the left knee based on MRI findings. Combined open and arthroscopic surgery was performed to completely remove the tumor. Postoperative histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of diffuse pigmented villonodular synovitis. The postoperative course was uneventful, with a gradual improvement in symptoms. There were no signs of recurrence on postoperative MRI performed at the 8-month follow-up, with neither knee pain nor limitation of range of motion. The favorable outcome in this case suggests that combined open and arthroscopic surgery may be an effective method for treating pigmented villonodular synovitis in skeletally immature patients.

Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics. Part B


Proteomic Analysis of Human Tendon and Ligament: Solubilization and Analysis of Insoluble Extracellular Matrix in Connective Tissues.

Connective tissues such as tendon, ligament and cartilage are mostly composed of extracellular matrix (ECM). These tissues are insoluble, mainly due to the highly cross-linked ECM proteins such as collagens. Difficulties obtaining suitable samples for mass spectrometric analysis render the application of modern proteomic technologies difficult. Complete solubilization of them would not only elucidate protein composition of normal tissues but also reveal pathophysiology of pathological tissues. Here we report complete solubilization of human Achilles tendon and yellow ligament, which is achieved by chemical digestion combined with successive protease treatment including elastase. The digestion mixture was subjected to liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. The low specificity of elastase was overcome by accurate mass analysis achieved using FT-ICR-MS. In addition to the detailed proteome of both tissues, we also quantitatively determine the major protein composition of samples, by measuring peak area of some characteristic peptides detected in tissue samples and in purified proteins. As a result, differences between human Achilles tendon and yellow ligament were elucidated at molecular level.


Insertional Torque in Cervical Vertebrae Lateral Mass Screw Fixation: Magerl Technique Versus Roy-Camille Technique.


CT-based morphological assessment of the hip joint in Japanese patients: association with radiographic predictors of femoroacetabular impingement.

The prevalence of radiographic FAI was common in Japanese patients who are generally considered to have dysplastic hips. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2016;98-B:1167-74.


Failure rates of Asian-type anatomic medullary locking stemmed metal-on-metal total hip replacement: A cause for adverse tissue reactions to metal debris (ARMD).

We conclude that the major cause of failure of Asian-type AML stemmed MoM THR is likely the breakage of the fixation between the taper neck and metal head at the head-neck junction.


A Rare Case of Progressive Palsy of the Lower Leg Caused by a Huge Lumbar Posterior Endplate Lesion after Recurrent Disc Herniation.

A lesion of the lumbar posterior endplate is sometimes identified in the spinal canal of children and adolescents; it causes symptoms similar to those of a herniated disc. However, the pathology of the endplate lesion and the pathology of the herniated disc are different. We present a rare case of a 23-year-old woman who developed progressive palsy of the lower leg caused by huge lumbar posterior endplate lesion after recurrent disc herniation.


Metallosis after Exchange of the Femoral Head and Liner following Ceramic Acetabular Liner Dissociation in Total Hip Arthroplasty with a Modular Layered Acetabular Component.

The type of bearing material that should be used in revision surgery after the failure of ceramic-on-ceramic total hip arthroplasty (THA) remains controversial. In the case of ceramic fracture, the residual ceramic particles can cause consequent metallosis when metal implants are used for revision THA. On the other hand, in the case of THA failure without ceramic fracture, revision THA with a metal femoral head provides satisfactory results. We report an unusual case of progressive osteolysis due to metallosis that developed after revision THA for ceramic liner dissociation without a liner fracture performed using a metal femoral head and polyethylene liner. The residual metal debris and abnormal pumping motion of the polyethylene liner due to the breakage of the locking system or the aspherical metal shell being abraded by the ceramic head seemed to be the cause of the progressive osteolysis.


Vacuum Phenomenon of the Sacroiliac Joint: Correlation with Sacropelvic Morphology.

These data suggest that differences in sacropelvic morphology can influence the biomechanical environment and contribute to SJVP in men. Presence of SJVP did not affect JOA or RDQ scores.


Variations in the obturator artery around the obturator foramen assessed by three-dimensional computed tomographic angiography and prevention of vascular-related complications in rotational acetabular osteotomy.

Extensive care should be taken during rotational acetabular osteotomy in patients showing variations of the obturator artery with corona mortis.

The prevalence of arterial anastomosis of the obturator artery (corona mortis) was 14.3 %, with the obturator artery being located closer to the superior pubic ramus and the osteotomy site in these subjects.


Comparison of femoroacetabular impingement-related radiographic features in a convenience sample of Japanese patients with and without herniation pits.

We revealed the prevalence of HPs and showed it has a predilection for men in this Japanese cohort. Femoral head asphericity or small head-neck offset was more common in subjects with HPs than those without HPs.

Intraclass and interclass reproducibility of all radiographic measurements was acceptable (ICC: 0.71-0.98). The prevalence of HPs was 13.9 % in all subjects and was significantly higher in men (18.1 %) than in women (7.8 %; p < 0.001). HPs were larger in male (p < 0.001) and elderly subjects (p < 0.005). In subjects with HPs, the alpha angle was larger and femoral head-neck offset and offset ratio were smaller in the cohort overall and in men. Logistic regression analysis revealed the association between radiological cam-type FAI and HPs in all subjects (odds ratio: 1.86, p < 0.001).


Radiation Exposure to the Surgeon and Patient During a Fluoroscopic Procedure: How High is the Exposure Dose? A Cadaveric Study.

Seven fresh cadavers were irradiated for 1, 3, and 5 min with C-arm fluoroscopy. The X-ray source was positioned under the table, over the table, and laterally. Radiation exposure doses were measured at different simulated areas such as the center area, and the surgeon's hand or thyroid gland.


The Pullout Strength of Pedicle Screws following Re-direction after Lateral Wall Breach or End-plate Breach.


Correlation between coxa profunda and morphological parameters of acetabular coverage in a Japanese cohort: A CT study.

Coxa profunda is a common radiographic feature in Japanese patients, especially in women. Coxa profunda may be less useful for diagnosing acetabular overcoverage because of its common occurrence with various hip morphologies and its poor specificity for detecting acetabular overcoverage. However, men with coxa profunda have greater acetabular coverage, so coxa profunda may contribute to acetabular coverage in men. We should take into account that coxa profunda may have different implications between the sexes.


Lumbar Posterior Apophyseal Ring Fracture Combined with Spondylolysis in Pediatric Athletes: A Report of Three Cases.

In patients with severe low back and radicular pain in whom spondylolysis is suspected, it is important to perform not only magnetic resonance imaging and radiography but also computed tomography for identifying posterior apophyseal ring fractures.


Tendon retraction with rotator cuff tear causes a decrease in cross-sectional area of the supraspinatus muscle on magnetic resonance imaging.

To avoid the influence of retraction of the supraspinatus tendon, sufficient medial slices from the musculotendinous junction should be used for evaluation of muscle atrophy.


Influence of Medial collateral ligament release for internal rotation of tibia in posterior stabilized total knee arthroplasty: a cadaveric study

Previous studies suggested that changes in kinematics in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) affected satisfaction level. The aim of this cadaveric study was to evaluate the effect of medial collateral ligament (MCL) release by multiple needle puncture on knee rotational kinematics in posterior-stabilized TKA. Six fresh, frozen cadaveric knees were included in this study. All TKA procedures were performed with an image-free navigation system using a 10-mm polyethylene insert. Tibial internal rotation was assessed to evaluate intraoperative knee kinematics. Multiple needle puncturing was performed 5, 10, and 15 times for the hard portion of the MCL at 90° knee flexion. Kinematic analysis was performed after every 5 punctures. After performing 15 punctures, a 14-mm polyethylene insert was inserted, and kinematic analysis was performed. The tibial internal rotation angle at maximum knee flexion without multiple needle puncturing was significantly larger (9.42°) than that after 15 punctures (3°). Negative correlation (Pearson r = -0.715, P < .001) between tibial internal rotation angle at maximum knee flexion and frequency of puncture was observed. The tibial internal rotation angle with a 14-mm insert was significantly larger (7.25°) compared with the angle after 15 punctures. Tibial internal rotation during knee flexion was reduced by extensive MCL release using multiple needle puncturing and was recovered by increasing of medial tightness. From the point of view of knee kinematics, medial tightness should be allowed to maintain the internal rotation angle of the tibia during knee flexion which might lead to patient satisfaction.


Compression Myelopathy due to Proliferative Changes around C2 Pars Defects without Instability.

We report a case with compression myelopathy due to proliferative changes around the C2 pars defects without instability. A 69-year-old man presented with progressive clumsy hands and spastic gait. Plain radiographs showed bilateral spondylolysis (pars defects) at C2 and fusion between C2 and C3 spinous processes. Dynamic views revealed mobility through the pars defects, but there was no apparent instability. Computed tomography showed proliferative changes at the pars defects, which protruded into spinal canal. On magnetic resonance imaging, the spinal cord was compressed and intramedullary high signal change was found. A diagnosis of compression myelopathy due to proliferative changes around the C2 pars defects was made. We performed posterior decompression. Postoperatively, symptoms have been alleviated and images revealed sufficient decompression and no apparent instability. In patients with the cervical spondylolysis, myelopathy caused by instability or slippage have been periodically reported. The present case involving C2 spondylolysis is extremely rare.


Subchondral insufficiency fracture of the femoral head caused by excessive lateralizatioin of the acetabular rim

We present a case of a 53-year-old woman with subchondral insufficiency fracture (SIF) of the femoral head without history of severe osteoporosis or overexertion. Plain radiographs showed acetabular overcoverage with excessive lateralization of the acetabular rim. A diagnosis of SIF was made by typical MRI findings of SIF. The lesion occurred at the antipodes of the extended rim. Increased mechanical stress over the femoral head due to impingement against the excess bone was suspected as a cause of SIF. The distinct femoral head deformity is consistent with this hypothesis. This is the first report of SIF associated with acetabular overcoverage.


Prevalence of Symptomatic Lumbar Spondylolysis in Pediatric Patients.

Lumbar spondylolysis, a stress fracture of the pars interarticularis, is prevalent in adolescent athletes. Recent advances in diagnostic tools and techniques enable early diagnosis before these fractures progress to complete fractures through the pars. However, because patients often consult family physicians for primary care of low back pain and these physicians may not have access to diagnostic modalities such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography, stress fractures can be missed. This study surveyed the prevalence of symptomatic spondylolysis in pediatric patients who consulted an orthopedic clinic for primary care and investigated whether such acute stress fractures may be overlooked without MRI. The prospective study investigated 264 patients who were younger than 19 years and had low back pain. Of the 153 patients (58.0%) with low back pain persisting for longer than 2 weeks, 136 who agreed to undergo MRI were included in the study. This group included 11 elementary school students, 71 junior high school students, and 54 high school students. The overall prevalence of lumbar spondylolysis was 39.7% (54 of 136) and was 9.3% in elementary school students (5 of 11, 45.5%), 59.3% in junior high school students (32 of 71, 45.1%), and 31.5% in high school students (17 of 54, 31.5%). All 54 patients with spondylolysis had a history of athletic activity. Primary care physicians should recognize that approximately 40% of pediatric patients presenting with low back pain persisting for longer than 2 weeks may have spondylolysis and should consider MRI in those with a history of athletic activity. Because the spine is immature in this age group, almost half of affected elementary school and junior high school students may have lumbar spondylolysis. [Orthopedics.].


State-of-the-art management of low back pain in athletes: Instructional lecture.

In this paper, we describe "state of the art" on the diagnosis and treatment for low back pain in athletes. Lumbar motion that induces specific pain would be a clue to the exact diagnosis. In the flexion pain group, lumbar herniated nucleus pulposus is the most common disorder. Discogenic pain and type 1 Modic endplate inflammation may also cause flexion pain; however, the diagnosis is sometimes difficult. In children and adolescents, apophyseal ring fracture is prevalent. In the extension pain group, lumbar spondylolysis is very common, especially in pediatric athletes. In adults, facet pain due to overloading would be the pathology, while low back pain with trunk rotation is not common. However, throwing athletes, such as pitchers and hammer throwers, may experience this kind of pain; facet arthritis contralateral to the throwing arm would be the origin of the pain. Low back pain on lumbar lateral bending is rare, but we experienced some cases in golfers in whom type 1 Modic change at the lateral corner was the source of pain. In this article, we explained strategies for state-of-the-art diagnosis and minimally invasive treatment.


Risk Assessment of Lumbar Segmental Artery Injury During Lateral Transpsoas Approach in the Patients with Lumbar Scoliosis.

This study demonstrated that female patients with lumbar scoliosis with an intersegmental Cobb angle > 14.5° would be at high risk for potential injury to the lumbar artery during a transpsoas approach for XLIF from the concave side.


Sacral fatigue fractures in children with sacral spina bifida occulta.

In this report, we present two cases of 9-year-old children with spina bifida occulta (SBO) of the sacrum, who were diagnosed with sacral fatigue fractures. In both patients, MRI showed a linear signal void and high signal in sacral ala on the short tau inversion recovery sequence. Sacral SBO at the same level of the sacral fracture was observed in each patient on computed tomography images. These lesions healed with rest. This is the first literature reporting cases with sacral stress fractures who had SBO at the same level of fracture.This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives License 4.0 (CCBY-NC-ND), where it is permissible to download and share the work provided it is properly cited. The work cannot be changed in any way or used commercially. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/.

Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics. Part B


Clinical features of patients with pars defects identified in adulthood.

Lumbar spondylolysis is considered a stress fracture of the pars interarticularis that occurs during growth. However, it is sometimes insidious and identified in adults as pseudoarthrosis, the terminal-stage of spondylolysis. The purpose of this study was to identify the clinical features of patients with terminal-stage spondylolysis that first manifested during adulthood.

Approximately 90 % of patients with terminal-stage spondylolysis that was first diagnosed in adulthood involved the L5. Also, about 40 % had no history of athletic activity or experience of LBP during their growth period. In addition, only some patients with L5 spondylolysis had SBO, and all but one of these patients was male. This suggests that male patients with L5 spondylolysis may have some congenital predisposition.

European Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery & Traumatology


Risk Management for Avoidance of Major Vascular Injury due to Lateral Transpsoas Approach.

At the L3-4 level, the dorsal tangential line of the major vein located in zone A was found in 18% of subjects, in zone I in 74%, and in zone II in 8%. The line of the major artery was located in zone A in 92.6% of subjects and in zone I in 7.1%. At the L4-5 level, the line of the major vein was located in zone A in 5% of subjects, in zone I in 75%, in zone II in 20%, and in zone III in only 1 subject. The line of the major artery was identified in zone A in 87% of subjects, in zone I in 12%, and in zone II in 1%. Women had significant dorsal-migrated veins and arteries at both spinal levels (p < 0.01).


Epidemiology of shoulder and elbow pain in youth baseball players.

There are relatively few published epidemiological studies examining the differences in the risk of shoulder and elbow pain in young baseball players. The purpose of this study was to investigate risk factors for shoulder and elbow pain in child and adolescent baseball players.

In over 1000 baseball players aged 7 to 12 years, 15.9% reported episodes of shoulder pain, while 29.2% reported elbow pain in the throwing arm. The associated risk factors were different for each type of pain. Shoulder pain was associated with increased age while elbow pain was associated with increased age, increased years of baseball experience, and playing catcher.


Motion Analysis of the Trapeziometacarpal Joint Using Three-dimensional Computed Tomography

Zancolli theorized that the first metacarpal bone axially rotates on the semispheroidal part of the trapezium, which is controlled by ligaments. This study used three-dimensional computed tomography (3D-CT) to describe the motion of the first metacarpal bone on the trapezium. 3D-CT images were taken of the left hand of 30 healthy volunteers (mean age [Formula: see text] years, 15 men and 15 women). They were divided into five groups: radial abduction, retroposition, adduction, palmar abduction, and opposition. The range of motion of radial abduction and palmar abduction of the trapeziometacarpal joint was measured from the first metacarpal bone to the second metacarpal bone. The range of motion of pronation was measured following Cheema's method. The main contacts of the joint surface of trapezium and the first metacarpal bone were determined on the 3D-CT images. Pronation of the trapeziometacarpal joint was [Formula: see text] in radial abduction, [Formula: see text] in retroposition, [Formula: see text] in adduction, [Formula: see text] in palmar abduction, and [Formula: see text] in opposition. Radial abduction was [Formula: see text] in radial abduction, [Formula: see text] in retroposition, [Formula: see text] in adduction, [Formula: see text] in palmar abduction, and [Formula: see text] in opposition. Palmar abduction was [Formula: see text] in radial abduction, [Formula: see text] in retroposition, [Formula: see text] in adduction, [Formula: see text] in palmar abduction, and [Formula: see text] in opposition. The contact surfaces of the trapezium and the first metacarpal bone were dorsal and ulnar in radial abduction, radial and ulnar in retroposition, and volar-ulnar and volarradial in opposition, respectively, while they were both central in adduction and both radial in palmar abduction. The range of motion of the trapeziometacarpal joint was 44° for radial abduction/adduction, 48° for palmar abduction/adduction, and 57° for pronation/supination. The varying contact surfaces of the trapezium and the first metacarpal bone enabled a wide range of motion.

The Journal of Hand Surgery, Asian-Pacific Volume


Postoperative discal cyst: An unusual complication after microendoscopic discectomy in teenagers.

Various complications after microendoscopic discectomy (MED) are well known, but postoperative discal cyst is a unique and relatively unknown complication. Here, we report on two teenage patients who presented with postoperative discal cyst after MED for herniated nucleus pulposus (HNP), which resolved after conservative treatment. The patients were diagnosed with HNP at L4-5 and L5-S1 based on MRI and then treated by MED. Postoperative discal cyst was diagnosed on MRI after recurrence of symptoms. Both patients were managed conservatively. T2-weighted MRI demonstrated hyperintense collections adjacent to the operated intervertebral disc level, which were communicating with the corresponding disc annulus. Because the clinical symptoms were relatively mild, the patients were managed conservatively; both made a complete clinical recovery with radiological evidence of improvement. Postoperative discal cyst is a relatively unknown complication after MED for HNP. Surgeons should be aware of this postoperative complication when operating on young individuals with HNP.


Percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy utilizing ventral epiduroscopic observation technique and foraminoplasty for transligamentous extruded nucleus pulposus: technical note.

Percutaneous endoscopic discectomy (PED) is a minimally invasive disc surgery that can be performed under local anesthesia and requires only an 8-mm skin incision. For transligamentous extruded nucleus pulposus with foraminal stenosis, it is very hard to remove the migrated mass with a simple transforaminal approach. For such difficult cases, foraminoplasty and an epiduroscopic technique is useful. A 29-year-old man visited the authors' hospital, complaining of low-back and right leg pain. MRI revealed a massive herniated nucleus pulposus with foraminal stenosis. A transforaminal PED was planned to remove the herniated mass. Through the inside-out technique, the base of the herniated mass was removed. Following the foraminoplasty, the cannula was moved into the epidural space. With epidural observation just beneath the nerve root, the extruded transligamentous fragment was confirmed and removed en bloc. Immediately after the surgery, the patient's symptoms resolved. The combination of foraminoplasty and epiduroscopic observation during the transforaminal approach for PED is a useful and reliable technique to remove extruded transligamentous disc fragments.


Characteristics of lumbar spondylolysis in elementary school age children.

Lumbar spondylolysis in elementary school age children was commonly a terminal-stage bone defect at L5, which was not necessarily related to history of athletic activity and was sometimes asymptomatic. It was often associated with SBO, indicating a possible congenital predisposition. These findings may provide further insight into the pathogenesis of lumbar spondylolysis.

Among the 30 patients, 27 (21 boys, 6 girls) had L5 spondylolysis (90.0 %). Only 2 patients had no history of athletic activity at the first consultation. All patients, except for 2 whose diagnosis was incidental, complained of low back pain. In the 27 patients with L5 spondylolysis, 17 (63.0 %) had terminal-stage fracture and 25 (92.6 %) had spina bifida occulta (SBO) involving the S1 lamina. Sixteen of the 27 (59.3 %) had SBO involving the affected lamina (L5) and S1 lamina. In contrast, the 3 patients with L3 or L4 spondylolysis had no evidence of SBO. With respect to skeletal age, 23 of the 27 L5 spondylolysis patients (85.2 %) were in the cartilaginous stage while the remaining 4 patients were in the apophyseal stage.


Measurement of rotational and coronal alignment in total knee arthroplasty using a navigation system is reproducible.

Manual intraoperative kinematic analysis using a navigation system in TKA showed excellent reproducibility. This result may encourage further studies about intraoperative kinematic analysis using a navigation system in TKA.

Fifty-one knees in 45 patients who received TKA, performed by a single surgeon (the senior consultant) with the resident, were included in this retrospective study. There were 7 men and 38 women and the mean age was 74.3 years. Cruciate retaining (CR) type and posterior stabilized (PS) type implants were inserted into 38 and 13 knees. The senior consultant and the resident analyzed initial kinematics, the axial rotation of the tibia and the coronal alignment of the lower limb, three times in each knee on manual passive knee flexion intraoperatively using the navigation system. Intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC) with 95 % confidence intervals were calculated to determine the reproducibility of this analysis.

Archives of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery


Outcome of an elbow check-up system for child and adolescent baseball players.

About 30% of youth baseball players had episodes of elbow pain, and 64.1% of players with elbow pain had abnormal findings on physical examination. Furthermore, 85.2% of subjects who underwent radiographic examination exhibited radiographic abnormalities. About 4% of young baseball players had an abnormal finding on initial ultrasonography screening, and nearly 50% of them had OCD of the capitellum on radiographs. J. Med. Invest. 63: 171-174, August, 2016.

The Journal of Medical Investigation : JMI


Delayed Diagnosis of Primary Bone and Soft Tissue Tumors Initially Treated as Degenerative Spinal Disorders.

Background Symptoms of primary bone and soft tissue tumors located in the trunk mimic those of degenerative spinal disorders such as low back pain or pain or numbness of the legs. Due to their rarity, especially in sarcoma located in the trunk, diagnosis is sometimes delayed. Methods A retrospective review was performed of the records of 383 patients with primary bone and soft tissue tumors who visit our out patient clinic from 2011 to 2013 at a single institution. Patients with delayed diagnosis of primary bone and soft tissue tumors initially treated as degenerative spinal disorders for more than 2 months were identified. Results Of the 383 patients, 5 (1.3%) were initially diagnosed as having degenerative spinal disorders. All 5 patients had bone or soft tissue tumors in the lumbar spine or pelvis. Three patients had a malignant tumor (osteosarcoma, chondrosarcoma, or small round cell sarcoma) at the progressive stage, and 1 died of lung metastasis. Two patients had a benign tumor (aneurysmal bone cyst or simple bone cyst). Conclusions Our findings suggest that when low back pain and leg pain are refractory to conservative treatment, further radiological examination should be conducted. J. Med. Invest. 63: 274-277, August, 2016.


Efficacy of Achilles Suture Bridge Technique for Insertional Achilles Tendinosis in an Obese and Athletic Patient.

Here, we report the efficacy of the suture bridge technique for treating insertional Achilles tendinosis in an obese and athletic patient. A 48-year-old man presented to our department with a 6-month history of left posterior heel pain. The patient was an athlete (triathlon) and appeared obese (height: 197 cm, body weight: 120 kg, body mass index: 30.9). A diagnosis of insertional Achilles tendinosis was made. Because 6 months of conservative treatments had failed, we performed open resection of the calcaneal exostosis and Haglund's deformity along with debridement of the degenerative tissue of the tendon. Wide detachment of the insertion of the Achilles tendon was necessary, and reattachment of the tendon was performed using the Arthrex SpeedBridge(TM) system (Arthrex, Inc., Naples, FL). Six weeks postoperatively, this patient was allowed to walk with full weight bearing. Twelve weeks after surgery, this patient started jogging with neither pain nor evidence of Achilles tendon rupture. The suture bridge technique was effective for the reconstruction of the Achilles tendon in an obese and athletic patient. J. Med. Invest. 63: 310-314, August, 2016.


Complete spontaneous regression of a subpubic cartilaginous cyst: a case report.

Subpubic cartilaginous cyst was recently reported as a rare degenerative mass on the pubic symphysis. We report here a 59-year-old woman who presented with a vulvar mass that showed complete spontaneous regression 48 months after the initial visit. Treatment was only wearing brace. This is the first report of complete spontaneous regression of a subpubic cartilaginous cyst. In the case of small subpubic cyst, observation and follow-up alone may be sufficient. J. Med. Invest. 63: 319-322, August, 2016.


The effect of dynamic stretching on hamstrings flexibility with respect to the spino-pelvic rhythm.

Dynamic stretching could change the spino-pelvic rhythm to a pelvis-dominant motion, indicating that flexible hamstrings are important for preventing low back pain. J. Med. Invest. 63: 85-90, February, 2016.


Complete Fracture-Dislocation of the Thoracolumbar Spine with No Critical Neurological Deficit: A Case Report.

Fractures at the thoracolumbar junction are the most common spinal column fractures. Among type C fractures in the Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Osteosynthesefragen Spine Classification, cases with complete fracture-dislocations of the spinal column often result in a critical neurological deficit despite surgical treatment. We present a case of an 18-year-old man who had a complete fracture-dislocation of the T12 vertebral body and multiple injuries following high-energy trauma but no critical neurological deficits. Because of active bleeding in the left thoracic cavity, the patient underwent open reduction of the T12 vertebral body and anterior spinal fusion of the T11-L1 vertebral bodies via an anterior approach between the T9 and T10 ribs within 24 h of the accident. Four months postoperatively, the patient could ambulate independently, with a slight disturbance of light touch. At 6 months postoperatively, plain computed tomography scans showed bony union of the T12 vertebral body. We postulated two reasons for the absence of critical neurological dysfunction: (1) spontaneous spinal canal sparing because of the fracture of the right superior articular process in the L1 vertebral body and (2) fracture morphology, that is, a rotational fracture with mild to moderately strong shearing stress to the dura mater. J. Med. Invest. 63: 122-126, February, 2016.


Arthroscopic excision of unstable os acromiale associated with impingement syndrome: a case report.

Os acromiale is a rare anatomical variant that is caused by failure of fusion of the acromial apophysis and is usually asymptomatic. We report a case of impingement syndrome of the left shoulder secondary to unstable os acromiale, which was initially overlooked and confirmed only during arthroscopic examination. Arthroscopic excision of the unstable fragment was successful without residual dysfunction of the deltoid muscle. J. Med. Invest. 63: 131-134, February, 2016.


Revision percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy under the local anesthesia for the recurrent lumbar herniated nucleus pulposus in a high class athlete: A case Report.

Percutaneous endoscopic discectomy (PED) is a minimally invasive spinal technique and has several advantages compared with open surgery. We describe repeat PED surgery for recurrent herniated nucleus pulposus (HNP). The patient was a 33-year-old handball high level player. Previously, he underwent transforaminal PED under local anesthesia for intracanalicular HNP at L4-5 level about 2 years ago. He could return to his original competitive level. Two years later, he felt low back and right leg pain again when he was playing handball. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed the recurrence of HNP at the same level. We conducted transforaminal PED again using the exact same route as the previous surgery. Although there was a little adhesion around the L5 nerve root, we could easily identify and remove the herniated mass using endoscopic forceps. Immediately after the surgery, the low back and leg pain disappeared. Repeat PED surgery for recurrence of lumbar disc herniation is effective especially for athletes because of the benefits of PED, including surgery under local anesthesia, preservation of normal posterior structures, less postoperative pain, early discharge, and faster return to sports. J. Med. Invest. 63: 135-139, February, 2016.


Optimizing baseplate position in reverse total shoulder arthroplasty in small-sized Japanese females: technical notes and literature review.

The management of cuff tear arthropathy (CTA) has always been a challenge for shoulder surgeons. Introduction of reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA) helped in providing pain relief and improved shoulder function in patients with CTA. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the short-term clinical results and some clinical details regarding the types of available prosthesis, positioning, and size of the components for RTSA in a population of short-stature female Japanese. In our seven cases, the average glenoid size was 23.9 mm in width and 34.2 mm in height. The average width was smaller than the size of all available baseplates. We implanted reverse shoulder prostheses with baseplate that measured 28 mm in diameter and two locking screws. The center of the baseplate was shifted to allow slight anterior overhang relative to the anatomical center to avoid breakage of the posterior cortex and to achieve firm fixation. One case of humeral shaft fracture occurred while inserting the humeral stem and required encircling wiring. In our experience, the short term clinical results of RTSA were excellent, but a new prosthesis that is designed to fit the short stature of Asians with smaller glenoid and humerus should be considered. J. Med. Invest. 63: 8-14, February, 2016.

The Journal of Medical Investigation : JMI


Clinical Significance of High-intensity Zone for Discogenic Low Back Pain: A Review.

High-intensity zone (HIZ) was originally described as a high-intensity signal on T2-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) images, located in the posterior annulus fibrosus, clearly separated from the nucleus pulposus. Among symptomatic patients with low back pain, HIZ is present in 28-59% of cases. In morphologically abnormal discs, high sensitivity and specificity of 81% and 79%, respectively, were reported for HIZs and concordant pain during discography. In contrast, another report indicated low rates. Although most papers reported high sensitivity and specificity for this relationship, it remains controversial. Regarding the pathology of HIZs, inflammatory granulation tissues are found at sites showing HIZs. Such inflammatory tissues produce pro-inflammatory cytokines and mediators, which sensitize the nociceptors within the disc and cause pain. An effective treatment for this condition is yet to be established. Recently, minimally invasive surgery using percutaneous endoscopic discectomy (PED) under local anesthesia was introduced. After removal of the degenerated disc material, the HIZ is identified with the endoscope and then coagulated and modulated with a bipolar radio pulse. This technique is called thermal annuloplasty. In conclusion, HIZs is an important sign of painful intervertebral disc disruption, if identified precisely based on factors such as location and intensity. J. Med. Invest. 63: 1-7, February, 2016.


Stress fracture of the thoracic spine in an elite rhythmic gymnast: A case report.

Spondylolysis, a defect or stress fracture of the vertebral pars interarticularis, occurs most frequently in the lower lumbar spine and occasionally in the cervical spine, but is extremely rare in the thoracic spine. We report the case of a 17 year-old girl, an elite rhythmic gymnast, who reported with early-stage thoracic spondylolysis at T10 and T11 levels. Physicians should be aware that performance of unusual athletic movements, such as those by gymnasts, may lead to spondylolysis in rare locations. J. Med. Invest. 63: 119-121, February, 2016.


Hysterical conversion paralysis in an adolescent boy with lumbar spondylolysis.

We describe a case of recurrent hysterical paralysis triggered by low back pain because of lumbar spondylolysis. A 16-year-old male soccer player was referred to our institution with five previous episodes of acute paralysis triggered by severe low back pain. We performed direct surgical repair of the terminal-stage bilateral spondylolysis at L4 using a hook-rod system. His chronic low back pain was completely resolved, and no further episodes of hysterical paralysis have occurred after surgery. Spine surgeons should be aware of possible hysterical conversion paralysis when there is discrepancy between radiological and neurological findings.

Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics. Part B


An Unusual Cause of Posterior Elbow Impingement: Detachment of a Hypertrophied Posterior Fat Pad.

We report a case of a 47-year-old woman who developed posterior impingement of the elbow due to detachment of a hypertrophied posterior fat pad. She reported acute left elbow pain after leaning back onto a hard object with her hand and subsequently experienced a "catching" sensation. Comparison with the magnetic resonance images of a normal elbow revealed a hypertrophied posterior fat pad interposed between the olecranon and olecranon fossa in both elbows, with the fat pad in the left elbow located more inferiorly than that in the right elbow. Elbow arthroscopy showed the olecranon fossa covered by the fat pad, a portion of which was detached from the rest of the pad. Debridement of the detached portion was performed until no impingement was evident. Postoperatively, full extension of the elbow did not elicit pain. Clinicians should include this pathology among the differential diagnoses for posterior elbow pain.


This article presents a narrative review of cystic lesions around the hip and primarily consists of 5 sections: Radiological examination, prevalence, pathogenesis, symptoms, and treatment. Cystic lesions around the hip are usually asymptomatic but may be observed incidentally on imaging examinations, such as computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. Some cysts may enlarge because of various pathological factors, such as trauma, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, or total hip arthroplasty (THA), and may become symptomatic because of compression of surrounding structures, including the femoral, obturator, or sciatic nerves, external iliac or common femoral artery, femoral or external iliac vein, sigmoid colon, cecum, small bowel, ureters, and bladder. Treatment for symptomatic cystic lesions around the hip joint includes rest, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug administration, needle aspiration, and surgical excision. Furthermore, when these cysts are associated with osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and THA, primary or revision THA surgery will be necessary concurrent with cyst excision. Knowledge of the characteristic clinical appearance of cystic masses around the hip will be useful for determining specific diagnoses and treatments.


Detached Anterior Horn of the Medial Meniscus Mimicking a Parameniscal Cyst.

We report a case of a detached anterior horn of the medial meniscus with anterior knee pain. Preoperative magnetic resonance images of the knee were initially interpreted as a parameniscal cyst. Arthroscopic examination revealed subluxation of the anterior horn of the medial meniscus due to detachment from its anterior tibial insertion. Arthroscopic fixation with a suture anchor was successful and the cystic lesion was no longer visible on postoperative images.


A Huge Capital Drop with Compression of Femoral Vessels Associated with Hip Osteoarthritis.

A capital drop is a type of osteophyte at the inferomedial portion of the femoral head commonly observed in hip osteoarthritis (OA), secondary to developmental dysplasia. Capital drop itself is typically asymptomatic; however, symptoms can appear secondary to impinge against the acetabulum or to irritation of the surrounding tissues, such as nerves, vessels, and tendons. We present here a case of unilateral leg edema in a patient with hip OA, caused by a huge bone mass occurring at the inferomedial portion of the femoral head that compressed the femoral vessels. We diagnosed this bone mass as a capital drop secondary to hip OA after confirming that the mass occurred at least after the age of 63 years based on a previous X-ray. We performed early resection and total hip arthroplasty since the patient's hip pain was due to both advanced hip OA and compression of the femoral vessels; moreover, we aimed to prevent venous thrombosis secondary to vascular compression considering the advanced age and the potent risk of thrombosis in the patient. A large capital drop should be considered as a cause of vascular compression in cases of unilateral leg edema in OA patients.


スポーツによる腰部障害∼非特異的腰痛に陥らない方程式∼

スポーツによる腰部障害∼非特異的腰痛に陥らない方程式∼

第2回県南 脊椎・スポーツ懇話会

第2回県南 脊椎・スポーツ懇話会


Intradural lumbar disc herniation after percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy: case report.

A 64-year-old man was referred to the authors with low-back pain (LBP) and right leg pain with a history of previously diagnosed lumbar disc herniation (LDH) at L4-5. He had undergone 2 percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomies (PELDs) for the herniation at another institution, and according to the surgical record of the second surgery, a dural tear occurred intraoperatively but was not repaired. Postoperative conservative treatments such as an epidural block and blood patch had not relieved his persistent LBP or right leg pain. Upon referral to the authors, MRI and myelography revealed an intradural LDH. The herniated mass was removed by durotomy, and posterior lumbar interbody fusion was performed. His symptoms were partially improved after surgery. Primary suture is technically difficult when a dural tear occurs during PELD. Therefore, close attention should be paid to avoiding such tears, and surgeons should increase their awareness of intradural LDH as a possible postoperative complication of PELD.


Percutaneous Endoscopic Discectomy via Transforaminal Route for Discal Cyst.

Background. Discal cyst has been identified as a rare cause of low back pain and radiating leg pain. The pathogenesis and management of this condition are still debated. The largest number of reported cases had undergone microsurgery while very few cases have been treated with percutaneous endoscopic discectomy (PED). Methods. An 18-year-old boy complained of low back pain radiating to right leg after a minor road traffic accident. Diagnosis of a discal cyst at L4-L5 level was made based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Despite conservative management for 6 months, the low back pain and radiating leg pain persisted so surgical treatment by PED was performed under local anesthesia. As the patient was a very active baseball player, his physician recommended a minimally invasive procedure to avoid damage to the back muscles. Results. The patient's low back pain and leg pain disappeared immediately after surgery and he made a rapid recovery. He resumed mild exercise and sports practice 4 weeks after surgery. Complete regression of the cystic lesion was demonstrated on the 2-month postoperative MRI. Conclusion. A minimal invasive procedure like PED can be an effective surgical treatment for discal cyst, especially in active individuals who play sports.


Collateral ligament repair augmented by an A2 pulley flap for chronic ligament rupture of the finger metacarpophalangeal joint.

The Journal of Hand Surgery, European Volume


Pseudotumor associated with cemented bipolar hemiarthroplasty: an unusual presentation as a granulomatous thigh mass.

Although polyethylene wear-induced osteolysis is a common complication of hip arthroplasty, extensile osteolysis developing into a large granulomatous thigh mass at a site distant from the joint is rare. We report a case of a thigh pseudotumor 25 years after cemented bipolar hemiarthroplasty, in which x-rays revealed a radiolucent line around the stem at the proximal site only, not at the diaphysis of the femur. We initially suspected a real tumor because it had a unique appearance, as if the mass resorbed the posterior cortex of the femur, and it was located at a site distant from the proximal osteolytic lesions. We clearly showed the existence of a connection between the thigh mass and the joint space by performing intra-articular injection of contrast medium with continuous pressure. It seemed that polyethylene wear particles were transported distally along the stem-cement interface by fluid pressure, and an osteolytic reaction against polyethylene wear particles had occurred at the posterior middle third of the stem where the cement mantle was nonuniform and polyethylene particles first came into contact with the bone. Our findings suggest that nonuniform cemented prosthesis with osteolysis, even if it is low grade in a limited area, carries the risk of extensile osteolysis with asymptomatic development of an extra-articular granulomatous mass.


Tenosynovial Giant Cell Tumor, Diffuse Type/Pigmented Villonodular Synovitis in a Pars Defect: A Case Report.


Irreducible Palmar Dislocation of the Distal Interphalangeal Joint Due to Closed Degloving of the Distal Phalanx of the Little Finger.

Since irreducible dislocation of the distal interphalangeal joint (DIP joint) is dorsal dislocation, irreducible palmar dislocation of the DIP Joint is very rare. This case was associated with a closed degloving injury of the distal phalanx of the little finger and required operative treatment.


An adjustable device to keep the thumb in opposition and prevent adduction contracture after surgery or injury.


腰椎のスポーツ障害の病態と診断

腰椎のスポーツ障害の病態と診断

POアカデミージャーナル

POアカデミージャーナル


Effect of preservation of corticoperiosteal attachment on bone healing at osteotomy sites after ulna-shortening osteotomy.

Preservation of the corticoperiosteal attachment significantly shortened the endosteal union time. Our results indicate that preservation of the periosteum may accelerate bone healing after ulna-shortening osteotomy.

All osteotomies achieved complete union except in one case in the control group. The mean interval to complete cortical union was 7.7 weeks in the periosteum-preserved group and 9.5 weeks in the control group. The corresponding mean times for endosteal union were 15.6 and 21.8 weeks. The periosteum-preserved group had reduced times for both types of union but only the endosteal union time was significantly different from the control group.


Osteoactivin attenuates skeletal muscle fibrosis after distraction osteogenesis by promoting extracellular matrix degradation/remodeling.

The aim of this study was to determine whether osteoactivin attenuated skeletal muscle fibrosis caused by distraction osteogenesis. Tibial osteotomies were performed on wild-type and osteoactivin-transgenic (OA-Tg) mice, and tibiae were distracted for 2 weeks. Ankle plantar flexion torque and the gastrocnemius muscles were analyzed. The amount and area of collagenous tissue and the passive torque were reduced in the OA-Tg group at 8 weeks after osteotomy. Transcript levels of matrix metalloprotease (mmp)-3 and MMP-9 were upregulated, and MMP-3 and MMP-9 proteins were increased in the OA-Tg group. Osteoactivin-mediated increase in MMPs may attenuate skeletal muscle fibrosis.

Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics. Part B


Correction of a Hyperextension Deformity at the Metacarpophalangeal Joint by Arthroplasty for Osteoarthritis of the Thumb Carpometacarpal Joint Followed by External Fixator: A Case Series: Modified Ilizarov Method for Correction of a Collapsed Thumb Deformity Due to Carpometacarpal Osteoarthritis.

A hyperextension deformity in the advanced stages of carpometacarpal (CMC) arthritis of the thumb could affect the outcomes of thumb CMC joint arthroplasty. We introduce the interesting approach for treating severely collapsed thumb deformities with gradual distraction and coordinated correction of the MCP and CMC joints by means of external fixators. We divided 8 cases into 3 groups according to the angle of passive flexion of the hyperextended MCP joint: group 1, 10-20°, group 2a, 20-40°, and group 2b, >40°, retrospectively. We first performed CMC arthroplasty with trapezium excision. In group 1, we corrected the MCP hyperextension deformity by manual passive flexion and fixed the joint with an extension block Kirshner wire (K-wire) for 2 months. However, deformities recurred in 2 of 5 cases after removing the K-wire. These patients received corrective percutaneous osteotomy with external fixators at the metacarpal neck. In groups 2a and 2b, we performed CMC arthroplasty and set external fixators at the same time. All cases in groups 1 and 2a have been without recurrence for more than 2 years, while a deformity recurred in group 2b. The results of this small case series encouraged us to propose an interesting approach for collapsed zigzag thumb deformity. Good outcomes with excellent maintenance of active MCP movement and no recurrence are highly anticipated if the hyperextended thumb has no obvious degenerative changes and can be corrected by <40° of passive flexion. Our results also indicate a risk of recurrence associated with extension block by K-wire.


Diverse muscle architecture adaptations in a rabbit tibial lengthening model.

this study demonstrated that muscle belly length largely adapted to the lengthening. The increase in sarcomere number did not match the increase in muscle belly length. We estimated that elongation of the intramuscular aponeuroses is another mechanism of the adaptation in addition to the increase in sarcomere number.


Transient severe hypotension with once-weekly subcutaneous injection of teriparatide in osteoporotic patient : a case report and insight for the drug interaction between hypotensive agents and teriparatide

Teriparatide, a recombinant form of parathyroid hormone, were well recognized as a useful option for the treatment of the osteoporosis. Although some side effects of teriparatide include headache, nausea, dizziness, and limb pain were reported. Here we present a 80-year-old woman of transient asymptomatic hypotension with once-weekly subcutaneous injection of teriparatide for the treatment of osteoporosis with hypertension disease as acute-phase reactions. Systolic blood pressure decreased in both 30 min and 60 min after injection compared with before injection. Heart rate increased with passage of time. Statistically significant were observed among before, 30 min, 60 min after injection of teriparatide. Slight nausea was seen as subjective symptoms with the first and second injection after 30 min. This case indicates careful attention, at least 1 hr, was recommended with weekly subcutaneous injections of teriparatide in the treatment for osoteoproteic patient with hypertension decreases. This is a first report, to the best of our knowledge, to demonstrate the transient asymptomatic hypotension after once-weekly injection of teriparatide with hypertension disease. Transient hypotension occurred after injection of teriparatide during the treatment period and was asymptomatic except for the first 2 injections.

The Journal of Medical Investigation : JMI


A review of the pathomechanism of forward slippage in pediatric spondylolysis : The Tokushima theory of growth plate slippage

Spondylolysis is a stress fracture of the pars interarticularis, which in some cases progresses to spondylolisthesis (forward slippage of the vertebral body). This slip progression is prevalent in children and occurs very rarely after spinal maturation. The pathomechanism and predilection for children remains controversial despite considerable clinical and basic research into the disorder over the last three decades. Here we review the pathomechanism of spondylolytic spondylolisthesis in children and adolescents, and specifically the Tokushima theory of growth plate slippage developed from our extensive research findings. Clinically, we have observed the slippage site near the growth plate on MRI; then, using fresh cadaveric spines, we found the weakest link against forward shear loading was the growth plate. We subsequently developed an immature rat model showing forward slippage after growth plate injury. Moreover, finite element analysis of the pediatric spine clearly showed increased mechanical stress at the growth plate in the spondylolytic pediatric spine model compared with the intact pediatric spine. Thus, spondylolysis progresses to spondylolisthesis (forward slippage) in children and adolescents with the growth plate as the site of the slippage. Repetitive mechanical loading on to the growth plate may serve to separate the growth plate and subsequently progress to spondylolisthesis.


Salmonella osteomyelitis of the distal radius in a healthy young adult patient : Report of a rare case and literature review

Salmonella osteomyelitis of the radius in a healthy individual is very rare. We present such a case involving the distal radius of a healthy 23-year-old man without underlying disease or possible episode. He had right wrist pain for approximately 3 years, and osteolytic lesion was seen in the right distal radius. He underwent surgical treatment, and salmonella was isolated from pus in the lesion. Postoperative antibiotics successfully treated his infection. He had no sign of recurrence, but the point of entry for infection remains unknown.


Percutaneous Endoscopic Lumbar Discectomy for a Huge Herniated Disc Causing Acute Cauda Equina Syndrome : A Case Report

Microsurgery for lumbar disc herniation that requires surgical intervention has been well described. The methods vary from traditional open discectomy to minimally invasive techniques. All need adequate preanesthetic preparation of patients as general anesthesia is required for the procedure, and nerve monitoring is necessary to prevent iatrogenic nerve injury. Conventional surgical techniques sometimes require the removal of the corresponding lamina to assess the nerve root and herniated disc, and this may increase the risk for posterior instability of the vertebral body. Should this occur, fusion surgery may be needed, further increasing morbidity and cost. We present here a case of lumbar herniated disc fragments causing acute cauda equina syndrome that were endoscopically resected through a transforaminal approach in an awake patient under local anesthesia. Percutaneous endoscopic discectomy under local anesthesia proved to be a better alternative to open back surgery as it made immediate intervention possible, was associated with fewer perioperative complications and morbidity, minimized soft tissue damage, and allowed early rehabilitation with a better outcome and greater patient satisfaction. In addition to these advantages, percutaneous endoscopic discectomy protects other approaches that may be needed in subsequent surgeries, whether open or minimally invasive.


Local administration of zoledronic Acid for giant cell tumor of bone.

Giant cell tumor of bone is a locally aggressive tumor with a high local recurrence rate. Several adjuvant therapies have been employed to reduce the recurrence rate, but their effectiveness remains controversial. The authors attempted local administration of zoledronic acid, a nitrogen-containing bisphosphonate that strongly inhibits bone resorption, as an adjuvant treatment for histologically proven giant cell tumor of bone in 5 patients at their institution. After biopsy, 4 patients were treated with local administration of zoledronic acid with artificial bone and 1 was treated with zoledronic acid without artificial bone. Histologic response to the treatment was evaluated with surgically resected specimens. The 4 patients treated with artificial bone showed local control, with histologic tumor necrosis rates of 90%, 90%, 50%, and 10%. Magnetic resonance imaging showed poor gadolinium enhancement, and histologic examination after local zoledronic acid treatment showed tumor necrosis. One patient without artificial bone showed no histologic tumor necrosis and had local recurrence in soft tissue 18 months after tumor resection. A 3-week waiting period between biopsy and zoledronic acid treatment appears reasonable from the histological study. Complication of this therapy was delayed wound healing and it occurred in 2 cases. Taken together, this case series suggests that local administration of zoledronic acid with artificial bone is a potential adjuvant therapy for giant cell tumor of bone. On the other hand, effective local administration of zoledronic acid requires some bone matrix, including artificial bone. Campanacci's grading is important for predicting the effect of local administration of zoledronic acid. [Orthopedics. 2015; 38(1):e25-e30.].


Radiographic follow-up study of Little Leaguer's shoulder.

Little Leaguer's shoulder is a syndrome involving the proximal humeral epiphyseal plate. Conservative treatment usually resolves the symptoms. However, there are no reports of a radiographic follow-up study of this disease. The purpose of this study was to show the radiographic healing process of Little Leaguer's shoulder.

The healing process of Little Leaguer's shoulder advanced from medial to lateral, and healing was achieved about 5 months after initial examination.


Fracture of a persistent olecranon physis in an adult


State-of-the-art ultrasonographic findings in lower extremity sports injuries.

Athletes sometimes experience overuse injuries. To diagnose these injuries, ultrasonography is often more useful than plain radiography, computed tomography (CT), or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Ultrasonography can show both bone and soft tissue from various angles as needed, providing great detail in many cases. In conditions such as osteochondrosis or enthesopathies such as Osgood-Schlatter disease, Sinding-Larsen-Johansson disease, bipartite patella, osteochondritis dissecans of the knee, painful accessory navicular,and jumper's knee, ultrasonography can reveal certain types of bony irregularities or neovascularization of the surrounding tissue. In patients of enthesopathy, ultrasonography can show the degenerative changes at the insertion of the tendon. Given its usefulness in treatment, ultrasonography is expected to become essential in the management of overuse injuries affecting the lower limb in athletes. J. Med. Invest. 62: 109-113, August, 2015.


Epidemiology of shoulder injuries in young baseball players and grading of radiologic findings of Little Leaguer's shoulder.

Relatively few epidemiological studies have examined shoulder injuries. This study aimed to investigate the epidemiology of such injuries in young baseball players. A total of 2,055 players aged 9-12 years who participated in a regional championship between 1983 and 1985 were the subjects of this investigation. They were assessed by questionnaire and radiographic examination. Prevalence of shoulder pain was determined according to position, years of baseball playing experience, and training hours per week. Radiographic examination was recommended to all players who complained of shoulder pain. Of the 2,055 subjects, 275 (13.4%) reported episodes of pain in the throwing shoulder. Years of baseball experience, but not player position or training hours per week, was significantly associated with shoulder pain. Forty-one of the 275 subjects reporting shoulder pain agreed to undergo radiography and 15 exhibited findings of Little Leaguer's shoulder. Their lesions could be classified into three distinct grades based on radiographic findings: grade I, widening of the epiphyseal plate in the lateral area (n=9); grade II, widening at all areas of the epiphyseal plate and demineralization of the metaphysis (n=5); and grade III, a slipped epiphysis (n=1). J. Med. Invest. 62: 123-125, August, 2015.