We compared extrusion of the allograft after medial and lateral meniscal allograft transplantation and examined the correlation between the extent of extrusion and the clinical outcome. A total of 73 lateral and 26 medial meniscus allografts were evaluated by MRI at a mean of 32 months (24 to 59) in 99 patients (67 men, 32 women) with a mean age of 35 years (21 to 52). The absolute values and the proportional widths of extruded menisci as a percentage were measured in coronal images that showed maximum extrusion. Functional assessments were performed using Lysholm scores. The mean extrusion was 4.7 mm (1.8 to 7.7) for lateral menisci and 2.9 mm (1.2 to 6.5) for medial menisci (p < 0.001), and the mean percentage extrusions were 52.0% (23.8% to 81.8%) and 31.2% (11.6% to 63.4%), respectively (p < 0.001). Mean Lysholm scores increased significantly from 49.0 (10 to 83) pre-operatively to 86.6 (33 to 99) at final follow-up for lateral menisci (p = 0.001) and from 50.9 (15 to 88) to 88.3 (32 to 100) for medial menisci (p < 0.001). The final mean Lysholm scores were similar in the two groups (p = 0.312). Furthermore, Lysholm scores were not found to be correlated with degree of extrusion (p = 0.242).

Thus, transplanted lateral menisci extrude more significantly than transplanted medial menisci. However, the clinical outcome after meniscal transplantation was not found to be adversely affected by extrusion of the allograft.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the long-term functional and radiological outcomes of arthroscopic removal of unstable osteochondral lesions with subchondral drilling in the lateral femoral condyle. We reviewed the outcome of 23 patients (28 knees) with stage III or IV osteochondritis dissecans lesions of the lateral femoral condyle at a mean follow-up of 14 years (10 to 19). The functional clinical outcomes were assessed using the Lysholm score, which improved from a mean of 38.1 (sd 3.5) pre-operatively to a mean of 87.3 (sd 5.4) at the most recent review (p = 0.034), and the Tegner activity score, which improved from a pre-operative median of 2 (0 to 3) to a median of 5 (3 to 7) at final follow-up (p = 0.021). The radiological degenerative changes were evaluated according to Tapper and Hoover’s classification and when compared with the pre-operative findings, one knee had grade 1, 22 knees had grade 2 and five knees had grade 3 degenerative changes. The overall outcomes were assessed using Hughston’s rating scale, where 19 knees were rated as good, four as fair and five as poor.

We found radiological evidence of degenerative changes in the third or fourth decade of life at a mean of 14 years after arthroscopic excision of the loose body and subchondral drilling for an unstable osteochondral lesion of the lateral femoral condyle. Clinical and functional results were more satisfactory.

As the proximal femoral bone is generally compromised in failed hip arthroplasty, achievement of solid fixation with a new component can be technically demanding. Recent studies have demonstrated good short-term clinical results after revision total hip arthroplasty using modular distal fixation stems, but, to our knowledge, none have included clinical follow-up of greater than 5 years. The purpose of this study was to report the clinical and radiographic outcomes assessed 5 to 10 years following revision total hip arthroplasty with a modular tapered distal fixation stem.

We retrospectively evaluated 50 revision total hip arthroplasties performed using a modular tapered distal fixation stem Between December 1998 and November 2003. There were 15 men (16 hips) and 34 women (34 hips) with a mean age of 59 years (range, 36 to 80 years). The index operation was the first femoral revision for 46 hips, the second for 3 hips, and the fifth for 1 hip. According to the Paprosky classification, 5 femoral defects were Type II, 31 were Type IIIA, and 14 were Type IIIB. An extended trochanteric osteotomy was carried out in 24 (48%) of the 50 hips. Patients were followed both clinically and radiographically for a mean of 7.2 years.

The mean Harris hip score improved from 54 points preoperatively to 94 points at the time of the latest follow-up. The mean stem subsidence was 1.5mm. Three stems subsided more than 5 mm, but all have stabilized in their new positions. During follow-up, a total of 4 hips required additional surgery. One hip had two-stage re-revision due to deep infection, one had liner and head exchange for alumina ceramic head fracture, and the other two underwent isolated cup re-revision because of aseptic cup loosening and recurrent dislocation, respectively. No repeat revision was performed due to aseptic loosening of the femoral component. Complications included 6% intraoperative fractures, 4% cortical perforations, and 4% dislocations. There were no stem fractures at the modular junction.

The medium-term clinical results and mechanical stability obtained with this modular tapered distal fixation stem were excellent in these challenging revision situations with femoral bone defects.

A number of causes have been advanced to explain the destructive discovertebral (Andersson) lesions that occur in ankylosing spondylitis, and various treatments have been proposed, depending on the presumed cause. The purpose of this study was to identify the causes of these lesions by defining their clinical and radiological characteristics.

We retrospectively reviewed 622 patients with ankylosing spondylitis. In all, 33 patients (5.3%) had these lesions, affecting 100 spinal segments. Inflammatory lesions were found in 91 segments of 24 patients (3.9%) and traumatic lesions in nine segments of nine patients (1.4%). The inflammatory lesions were associated with recent-onset disease; a low modified Stoke ankylosing spondylitis spine score (mSASSS) due to incomplete bony ankylosis between vertebral bodies; multiple lesions; inflammatory changes on MRI; reversal of the inflammatory changes and central bony ankylosis at follow-up; and a good response to anti-inflammatory drugs. Traumatic lesions were associated with prolonged disease duration; a high mSASSS due to complete bony ankylosis between vertebral bodies; a previous history of trauma; single lesions; nonunion of fractures of the posterior column; acute kyphoscoliotic deformity with the lesion at the apex; instability, and the need for operative treatment due to that instability.

It is essential to distinguish between inflammatory and traumatic Andersson lesions, as the former respond to medical treatment whereas the latter require surgery.

Hip resurfacing has many advantages such as proximal bone conservation and easy revision including conversion to total hip arthroplasty. The major complication in the hip resurfacing is notching at the lateral cortical bone and fracture of the neck. In this research, we simulated the range of direction of reaming without causing notch.

One left femur model was used for the simulation. The femoral head was fitted by a sphere and the origin of Cartesian coordinate was set at the center of the sphere. The simulation was made by imposing a cylindrical cut to the femoral head in varying direction and location. The existence of notching was decided comparing the maximum distance from reaming axis to neck section contour and the radius of cylindrical cut. If the maximum distance is bigger than the radius of cut, the notching exists and vice versa. We simulated existence of notching by varying inclination(α) from 20 to 70 degrees, anteversion(β) from 0 to 30 degree and depth passing through the head center(d) from 0 to 5mm. The implant used for the simulation was Durom^®, Zimmer^©. We selected the implant size that is close to the fitted sphere of femoral head.

No notching was made for any direction when the depth d was less than 2mm. When the depth was 3mm, notching did not generate in the range of α from 43 degrees to 60 degrees and β from 0 to 25 degrees. When the range of depth was from 4mm to 5mm, notching did not generate in ranges of α from 41 degrees to 60 degrees and β from 0 to 29 degrees. The no-notching angle range had tendency increasing slightly when the depth was increased. The angle between the stem of the implant and the neck shaft axis without notching can be calculated from the angle α. When the depth was from 4mm to 5mm, the corresponding angle between stem of implant and the shaft axis was from 120 degrees to 139 degrees.

We hypothesized that navigation can help provide a well-balanced knee, through real-time feedback of alignment accuracies and gap sizes in flexion and extension. The purpose of this study was to evaluate in vivo stabilities of mediolateral laxity in full extension and anteroposterior laxities in 90° of flexion after navigation-assisted total knee arthroplasty, and to determine the nature of the correlations between these and range of motion (ROM).

Forty-two total knee arthroplasties performed using a navigation system with a minimum two-year follow-up were included. The following were measured at final follow-ups; mediolateral laxities at extension and anteroposterior laxities at 90 degrees of flexion (using stress radiographs and a Telos arthrometer), modified HSS scores (excluding laxity and range of motion), and range of motion (ROM).

At final follow-up the mean modified HSS score was 82% of total points and mean postoperative ROM was 128.1 ± 10.4°. Mean medial laxity was 3.5 ± 1.4°, mean lateral laxity 4.4 ± 2.2°, and mean anteroposterior laxity 7.1 ± 4.1 mm. We found no significant correlation between mediolateral laxity and postoperative ROM. However, a significant correlation was found between postoperative ROM and anteroposterior laxity.

In the present study, the use of a navigation system in total knee arthroplasty was found to improve in vivo stability and produce promising short-term clinical results.

Summary: Using a navigation system in total knee arthroplasty, we obtained good in vivo stability and found the positive correlation between the range of motion and anteroposterior laxity

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of decreasing tibial slope on extention gap during posterior stabilized total knee arthroplasty. 110 posterior stabilized total knee arthroplasties were studied for 2 groups;

having flexion contractures(n=35),

In each group, we measured the decrease of tibial slope and frequency of additional distal femoral resecions that were done due to insufficient extension gap in comparison with flexion gap during posterior stabilized total knee arthroplasty. We also compared frequencies of additional distal femoral resections between 2 parts having more and less slope decrease in each groups.

In each group, tibial slope decrease were 8.7 degrees, 7.4 degrees(p=0.145) and frequencies of additional resection were 51.4%, 24%(p=0.005) in average. In 2 parts having more and less slope decrease in each group, frequencies of additional resection were 44.4% vs 58.8%(p=0.505), 13.2% vs 35.1%(p=0.032). Results suggested that more decrease of tibial slope reduced frequency of additional distal femoral resection during posterior stabilized total knee arthroplasty in group having no flexion contracture.

Decreasing tibial slope can be considered as a factor influencing on extension gap during posterior stabilized total knee arthroplasty. The estimation of predictable tibia slope decrease through preoperative radiologic findings can be beneficial in performing succeful posterior stabilized total knee arthroplasty.

Rivaroxaban, an oral, direct FXa inhibitor has shown in large phase III trials to be both superior to enoxaparin a low molecular weight heparin for VTE prophylaxis in patients undergoing MOS, and to also have a good safety profile. RECORD, a pivotal clinical trial program investigating rivaroxaban for the prevention of VTE after THR and TKR surgery, consists of four multinational, randomized, double-blind, double-dummy phase III studies (RECORD1,2,3 and 4) comparing rivaroxaban 10 mg once-daily with enoxaparin 40 mg once-daily or 30 mg twice-daily. The RECORD program has consistently shown superiority of rivaroxaban to enoxaparin at preventing VTE after major orthopaedic surgery. Results from the RECORD 2 study confirmed the benefit of extended thromboprophylaxis after THR. Rivaroxaban was more effective than enoxaparin at reducing the incidence of VTE and all course mortality in patients undergoing THR, with a relative risk reduction (RRR) of 70% in total VTE (RECORD 1). In the TKR populations, rivaroxaban was superior to both once-daily (RECORD 3) and twice-daily (RECORD 4) enoxaparin, with a RRR of 49% and 31.4%, respectively. It also significantly reduced the incidence of symptomatic VTE in TKR patients (RECORD 3). Rivaroxaban groups had low and similar bleeding rates to enoxaparin across the RECORD program. Thus, with its superior efficacy and a good safety profile, oral, once-daily fixed dosing with rivaroxaban could transform the future of VTE prevention after major orthopaedic surgery and improve the quality and reliability of patients care.

Risk of impingement after total hip resurfacing arthroplasty may be great because femoral head-neck unit is preserved and there is little flexibility to adjust limb length and femoral offset, but this potentially worrisome phenomenon has been rarely reported. Impingement between femoral neck and acetabular cup was observed in a cohort of patients who underwent contemporary total hip resurfacing arthroplasty. We then questioned whether patient demographics, component features or suboptimal position of components would be risk factors for impingement.

We reviewed a consecutive series of 51 patients (61 hips) who underwent contemporary total hip resurfacing arthroplasty. The mean age at the time of the index arthroplasty was 38 years (18 to 64). The most common diagnosis leading to the total hip resurfacing arthroplasty was osteonecrosis of the femoral head in 41 hips (67%). All the procedures were performed by single surgeon through an anterolateral approach. All the patients were assessed clinically and radiographically at a mean of 32 months (24 to 53) postoperatively.

Femoro-acetabular cup impingement, defined as the presence of bony spur at the femoral neck corresponding to abutment site of the metallic cup, was observed in seven of the 61 hips (11.5%). Of these, five patients reported limitation of activities due to groin pain. The average postoperative Harris hip score of impingement hips was inferior to those of non-impingement hips (p = 0.004). No significant difference was detected between the impingement hips and non-impingement hips with regard to of patient demographics, component features and radiographic measurements including cup inclination, cup version, femoral component version, anterior femoral offset, stem-shaft angle, femoral offset and limb length discrepancy. Our multivariate analysis revealed that only acetabular cup uncoverage ratio had a significant association with femoro-acetabular cup impingement (p = 0.04, odds ratio 1.385 [95% CI, 1.014 – 1.891]). There was no aseptic loosening of components or femoral neck fracture.

We found a high incidence of impingement between retained femoral neck and metallic acetabular cup after contemporary total hip resurfacing arthroplasty in association with an increased acetabular cup uncoverage ratio. As patients with femoro-acetabular cup impingement showed inferior clinical results, it is crucial to avoid excessive protrusion of acetabular cup beyond bony margin by proper selection of acetabular component size and appropriate positioning.

Purpose: We have performed this study to compare the postoperative maximal flexion angle(MFA) of high-flex implants with that of conventional implants in PCL-substituted total knee arthroplasty(TKA).

Materials and Methods: The staged sequential bilateral TKAs were performed in Group 1, 35 patients(70 knees) with osteoarthritis of both knee. The conventional implant and the high-flex implant were both used in each patient by randomized method. The postoperative MFA of both type of implants was measured and analyzed at 1 year after surgery. To evaluate unidentified factors that might influence the results, such as the differences derived from personal characteristics during postoperative rehabilitation process achieving the range of motion of knee, we also analyzed the other patient groups, which were composed of Group 2(10 patients, 20 knees) bilaterally operated with conventional implants, Group 3(7 patients, 14 knees) bilaterally with high-flex implants, Group 4(13 patients, 13 knees) unilaterally with conventional implants and Group 5(17 patients, 17 knees) unilaterally with high-flex implant.

Results: In Group 1, the average postoperative MFA of high-flex implant and that of conventional implant showed no significant difference.(131.7 and 131.9 degree each) The average postoperative MFA in Group 1,2,3,4 and 5 showed no significant difference either.

Conclusion: This study indicates that the high-flex implant alone does not seem to improve the MFA as compared to the conventional implant. The status of the contralateral knee and the personal characteristics during rehabilitation seem to be more important factors in increasing the maximal flexion.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the clinical and radiological results of the total hip arthroplasty using the CLS stem, of which we were able to follow up for 15~20 years after operations.

Materials and Methods: Among 104 patients who underwent the total hip arthroplasty using the CLS stem from 1988 to August 1993, we evaluated the clinical and radiological results of 65 hips of 51 patients, which were able to be followed up for more than 15 years. The average age at the operation was 45 years old (22~62 years old) and the average follow-up duration was 17 years and 2 months (15 years~20 years 5 months). The majority of preoperative diagnoses was avascular necrosis of femoral head with 52 cases (80%), followed by osteoarthritis with 7 cases (11%) and the other 6 cases. Used as acetabular components were 15 cases of the Expansion cup, 26 cases of the HG II cup, 11 cases of the CLW cup, 2 cases of the Spherical cup and 11 cases of Bipolar cup (54 cases of the total hip arthroplasty and 11cases of bipolar hemiarthroplasty).

Results: No femoral stem revision was performed. The average Harris hip score improved from 52.2 preopera-tively to 94.3 at the final follow-up. There was no patient who complained a severe thigh pain. Radiographically, small osteolytic lesions were found in 23 cases (35.4%), endosteal bone formation in 63 cases (96.9%), calcar femoral atrophy in 7 cases (10.8%) and cortical hypertrophy in 15 cases (23.1%). Acetabular cup loosening occurred in 4 cases and liner dissociation occurred in 2 cases among 54 total hip arthroplasty cases, and the acetabular cup revisions were performed in those cases and a liner change was additionally performed in 1 case. The conversion total hip arthroplasty was performed in 1 case among 11 bipolar hemiarthroplasty cases due to a snap fit design failure. Complications included a periprosthetic fracture (1 case) and a dislocation (1 case). The periprosthetic fracture, which was complicated due to a slip-down injury 17 years after the THA, was treated by an open reduction and internal fixation. The dislocation, which was complicated 13 years after THA, was treated by a manual reduction.

Conclusion: Fifteen to twenty year follow-up results of total hip arthroplasty using the CLS femoral stem showed an excellent result without any femoral stem revision.

Two-stage reimplantation is currently the most widely accepted method of treatment for a periprosthetic hip infection. However, it remains controversial whether the treatment protocol may be equally effective in the eradication of resistant microorganisms. We compared the results of two-stage reimplantation performed for periprosthetic hip infection caused by resistant microorganisms with those performed for periprosthetic hip infection caused by non-resistant microorganisms.

We reviewed a consecutive series of 32 patients (32 hips) who had a culture-proven deep infection at the site of hip arthroplasty and were treated by a two-stage reimplantation protocol. Based on the antibiotic sensitivities of the infecting microorganisms, the patients were divided into two groups. Resistant microorganism group consisted of 20 patients who had an infection with antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in 11 and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis in 9). Non-resistant microorganism group consisted of 12 patients who had an infection with antibiotic-sensitive bacterial strains. The treatment was considered a failure if the patient had a persistent infection after the first-stage procedure or a recurrence of infection after reimplantation. The mean duration of follow-up after the index procedure was 45 months (24 to 123).

Among the entire series of the 32 patients, the second-stage reimplantation was able to be performed in 29 patients (91%) and the remaining three went on to a permanent resection of the hip because of persistent infections. After the two-stage reimplantation, four patients had a recurrence of infection (relapse of infection with the same microorganism in three and reinfection with different resistant microorganism in one). Thus, overall treatment failure rate was 22% and all these failures occurred among patients with resistant microorganisms. Treatment failure rate of 35% in resistant microorganism group was significantly higher than that of 0% in the non-resistant microorganism group (p = 0.029). None of the variables evaluated in this study was found to be significantly associated with the treatment failure in the resistant microorganism group.

Current two-stage reimplantation protocol showed a high rate of treatment failure in our patients who had periprosthetic hip infection caused by methicillin-resistant bacterial strains. Further study is needed to develop optimal treatment strategy for this difficult-to-treat condition.

Metal-on-metal bearing was re-introduced with the aim of eliminating polyethylene wear and resulting complications of osteolysis and aseptic loosening in total hip arthroplasty (THA). However, authors of recent studies have reported periprosthetic osteolysis and aseptic failure following second-generation metal-on-metal THA. The purpose of this study is to report the results at a minimum of five years following cementless total hip arthroplasty with a contemporary metal-on-metal articulation. Our study included findings of histologic examination on periprosthetic tissues from revised hips and wear and roughness analysis of retrieved implants.

A consecutive series of 158 cementless THAs that were performed in 154 patients using a contemporary metal-on-metal bearing were assessed at a mean of 6.5 years (5 to 8). Their mean age at surgery was 53 years (21 to 80). The patients were assessed clinically with use of the Harris hip score, and the hips were assessed radiographically. Histological analysis was performed on specimens retrieved from the revised hips, and wear and roughness measurements were made for the explanted prostheses.

The average Harris hip score improved from 45 points preoperatively to 92 points at the final follow-up examination. There was no aseptic loosening of the femoral or acetabular components. One hip was revised because of recurrent dislocation and one was managed with two-stage re-implantation for deep infection. Thirteen hips (8%) had osteolysis; 11 had osteolysis localized within the greater trochanter and two had both femoral and ace-tabular osteolysis. Of these, five patients who had a persistent pain and osteolysis underwent revision operation for the consideration of bearing exchange to a ceramic-on-ceramic or ceramic-on-polyethylene combination. All these revised hips showed extensive synovial-like tissue hypertrophy and perivascular infiltration of lymphocytes on histological examinations. Annual volumetric wear rate measured on one retrieved femoral head was 1.04mm3/yr, and roughness measured on three retrieved femoral heads was consistently very low between 8nm and 117nm. After the revision surgery, all the patients noticed disappearance of pain as well as radiographic evidence of healing of the osteolytic lesion.

Our mid-term follow-up of cementless THA using a contemporary metal-on-metal bearing revealed an unexpectedly high rate of periprosthetic osteolysis possibly in association with metal hypersensitivity. In patients with persistent hip pain and osteolysis after contemporary metal-on-metal THA, surgeons should consider an exchange of the articulation surface to a ceramic-on-ceramic or ceramic-on-polyethylene combination because they can be cured only after an elimination of the source of hypersensitivity reaction.

Purpose: In-vitro mechanical tests are often used to pre-clinically assess the primary stability of hip endopros-theses. There is no standard protocol for these tests and the test conditions used vary greatly. This study examined the effect of the abductor muscle and the anterior-posterior component of the hip contact force (Fap) on the primary stability of cementless stems.

Methods: Cementless stems were implanted in 12 composite femurs which were divided into two groups: group 1 (N=6) was loaded with the hip contact force only, whereas group 2 (N=6) was additionally subjected to an abductor force. The cranial-caudal component of the hip contact force was the same in both groups, i.e. 2.3BW at 13° from the femur long axis. Each specimen was subjected to three Fap levels: 0, 0.3BW (walking), and 0.6BW (stair climbing). The implant translation relative to the femur was measured using a custom-built system comprised of 6 LVDT sensors. The resultant migration and micromotion were analyzed using an ANOVA with the abductor a between-group factor and Fap a within-group factor, followed by SNK post-hoc analysis with a significance level of 95%.

Results: Implant motion was not significantly affected when the Fap was increased from 0 to 0.3BW. However, without abductor, increasing Fap from 0.3 to 0.6BW increased migration and micromotion by an average of 291& #956;m (285% increase), and 15& #956;m (75%) respectively. With abductor, increasing Fap to 0.6BW increased migration by 87& #956;m (79%) but did not affect micromotion. The abductor did not significantly affect stem motion at lower Fap, but at Fap = 0.6BW motion was 50% lower compared with hip contact forces only.

Conclusions: Based on these results, inclusion of either abductor and/or Fap has little effect on implant motion when simulating walking. However, stair climbing (higher Fap) generates greater bone-implant motion compared to walking loads, and this effect is greatest in the absence of an abductor force. Funding: Other Education Grant Funding Parties: The Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research

In the cementless total hip arthroplasty, the position of the stem is pretty much determined by broach and rasping with which the is required for two reasons: one is to align the stem with the femur at the desired position and the orientation. The other is to achieve the conformity between the stem and the prepared proximal cavity surface in the femur. The robotic hip surgery can be a solution for the accurate of femoral canal shaping, but recent reports about the clinical follow-up study of the robotic hip surgery indicated frequent dislocation mainly due to the excessive soft tissue damage during robotic operation. In this paper, a guide being inserted into the femoral canal is proposed to restrict the undesired motion of the rasp inside the femur without extra incision.

A set of canal guide and custom rasp for the selected stem(versys fibermetal midcoat, zimmer co.)were developed and tested with 4 synthetic femurs (model 1130, Sawbones co.). After rasping, a plastic copy of the stem was inserted into the femur and sliced at 5 mm thickness. From obtained cross sections, percentages of the gap larger than 0.3mm between the stem and the bone was measured. 6_C_Results: In average, 79% of bone-implant interface was close contact. Valgus/varus deviations of the stem were 0.40±0.45 degree, which means the angle of axis of straight reamer and axis of final cut.

In average, 79% of bone-implant interface was close contact. Valgus/varus deviations of the stem were 0.40±0.45 degree, which means the angle of axis of straight reamer and axis of final cut.

The conformity of femoral canal with the femoral stem in this approach was higher than the conventional hip surgery and comparable to those in the robotic surgery. The alignment of the stem within the femur is also as good as those in the robotic surgery(0.34±0.67 approach does require neither expensive system nor CT scan. Also this approach can be executed swiftly without extra time and unnecessary large incision compared with the robotic surgery.

Patellofemoral complications after TKA are mostly avoided with appropriate operative technique. Although most orthopedic surgeons performed using a medial parapatellar approach at TKA, but a large amount of the patellar blood flow is blocked by this procedure. A certain surgical exposure, including the midvastus and subvastus approach, has resulted in good clinical results. It is important to maintain the integrity of the extensor mechanism. But the southern or subvastus approach has inadequate exposure in some patients. And then we have had the primary total knee Arthroplasty using midvastus approach in 98 cases, 68 patients. Mean follow up is 30 months, between from 20 months to 43 months.

We estimated parameters of total blood loss, surgical time, difficulty of exposure, number of lateral releases. The clinical parameters of range of motion, ability to perform a straight leg raise, and the number of operative or postoperative complications were evaluated. The patients who had the midvastus approach had minor blood loss, resonable surgical time, no difficulty of exposure even in patients with severe varus or valgus deformities, required lateral retinacular releases only 5% of the cases. The range of motion was all above 120 degrees flexion, no extension loss, had a higher incidence of ability to straight leg raise and fewer complications as like superficial wound infection. The midvastus surgical approach have some more advantages with less pain and earlier control of the operative leg, and may be discharged from the hospital earlier. Because preserving the integrity of the vastus medialis insertion into the medial border of the quadriceps tendon and limited disruption of the extensor mechanism improves the rapid control of quadriceps muscle and improves the more stable patellofemoral articulation, and then evidenced a marked reduction in the need for lateral retinacular releases.

We recommend the mid-vastus surgical approach for total knee arthroplasty. The Midvastus approach is an efficacious alternative to the medial parapatellar approach for primary total knee arthroplasties in selected patients who are not obese and who have not had previous arthrotomy. And if needed more additional exposure, the muscle can be safely split by further dissection.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy of oral alendronate for the older children with osteogenesis imperfecta. Eight boys and 6 girls with average age of 9.7 years were given oral alendronate, 10mg everyday for those > 35kg, 10mg every other day for those 20 – 35 kg, and 10mg every three days for those < 20 kg. Treatment period averaged 3.3 years (range, 2.1 to 3.6). The number of fractures decreased by 39% in the lower extremity, although not statistically significant. Ten patients or their parents reported improved well-being during the treatment period. Z score for bone mineral density improved from −3.75 to −1.18 in the lumbar spine, and from −3.84 to −2.74 in the femur neck. Restoration of the collapsed vertebral bodies was observed, and the metaphyseal bands appeared on the simple radiographs. Urinary excretion of calcium and N-telopeptide of type I collagen were decreased by 64% and 47%, respectively. Abdominal discomfort was reported in five patients, one of which needed temporary switch to intravenous protocol. Iliac crest biopsy including the physis showed expanded primary spongiosa area with numeric multi-nucleated cells, which had heterogenous immunoreactivity for osteoclast markers.

This study revealed beneficial effects of oral alendronate in osteogenesis imperfecta patients, supported by radiological, biochemical and histological findings. We believe that oral alendronate is a more convenient method of bisphosphonate treatment for osteogenesis imperfecta, especially in older children.

We have carried out prosthetic reconstruction in six patients with malignant or aggressively benign bone tumours of the distal tibia or fibula. The diagnoses were osteosarcoma in four patients, parosteal osteosarcoma in one and recurrent giant-cell tumour in one. Five tumours were in the distal tibia and one in the distal fibula. The mean duration of follow-up was 5.3 years (2.0 to 7.1). Reconstruction was achieved using custom-made, hinged prostheses which replaced the distal tibia and the ankle. The mean range of ankle movement after operation was 31° and the joints were stable. The average functional score according to the system of the International Society of Limb Salvage was 24.2 and five of the patients had a good outcome. Complications occurred in two with wound infection and talar collapse. All patients were free from neoplastic disease at the latest follow-up.

Prosthetic reconstruction may be used for the treatment of malignant tumours of the distal tibia and fibula in selected patients.

Stable fixation after a corrective supracondylar osteotomy in adults is difficult because of the irregularity of the area of bony contact, displacement of the fragments, the predominance of cortical bone, and the need for early mobilisation.

We have used the Ilizarov apparatus for fixation in 15 patients who were treated by complex osteotomies with displacement of fragments for cubitus varus or valgus. Most patients with cubitus varus required medial displacement with rotation of the distal fragment. Those with cubitus valgus required lateral shift of the distal fragment to reduce the medial prominence of the elbow that would otherwise result.

All osteotomies united within the expected time without loss of correction, despite early mobilisation. Complications related to the fixation were few and had resolved at the long-term follow-up.