Clinical orthopaedics and related research
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Clin. Orthop. Relat. Res. · Feb 2001
Comparative StudyDisplaced femoral neck fractures in the elderly: outcomes and cost effectiveness.
The optimal treatment for displaced femoral neck fractures in elderly patients is a matter of controversy. Four surgical options are well supported in the orthopaedic literature: reduction with internal fixation, unipolar hemiarthroplasty, bipolar hemiarthroplasty, and total hip arthroplasty. Based on a review of the outcomes literature regarding treatment of femoral neck fractures and a cost-effectiveness analysis, an algorithm for surgical treatment of displaced femoral neck fractures in elderly patients is presented. ⋯ These data were strongly supported by a two-way sensitivity analysis that varied the effectiveness of the interventions and the costs. Literature derived outcome studies show that elderly patients with displaced femoral neck fractures achieve the best functional results with a well healed femoral neck without osteonecrosis after reduction and internal fixation. Achieving this result may be difficult, and it is not as cost effective as arthroplasty.
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This retrospective study evaluated the diagnostic value of computed tomography in patients with sacroiliac pain. Computed tomography scans of the sacroiliac joints of 62 patients with sacroiliac joint pain were reviewed. The criteria to include the patient in the current study were pain relief after a local injection in the sacroiliac joint under computed tomography guidance, a physical examination consistent with a sacroiliac origin of the pain, and negative magnetic resonance imaging of the lumbar spine. ⋯ The sensitivity of computed tomography was 57.5 % and its specificity was 69%. The finding of the current study suggests limited diagnostic value of computed tomography in sacroiliac joint disease because of its low sensitivity and specificity. With clinical suspicion of a sacroiliac origin of pain, intraarticular injection is currently the only means to confirm that diagnosis.
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Clin. Orthop. Relat. Res. · Jan 2001
Comparative StudyPerceptions of outcomes after unicompartmental and total knee replacements.
An independent measurement of the quality of outcome of 31 consecutive Oxford medial unicompartmental knee replacements in 28 patients and 130 total knee replacements in 104 patients performed between 1993 and 1997 is reported. The indications for surgery were anteromedial osteoarthritis for unicompartmental replacement and more extensive osteoarthritis for total knee replacement. All patients were treated by one surgeon. ⋯ The tibial component of one total knee replacement appeared loose, but the patient had no symptoms. In comparison with total knee replacement, implantation of meniscal bearing unicompartmental replacement technically is demanding and unforgiving. However, revision of a failed Oxford unicompartmental replacement is easier than revision of a failed total knee replacement, and the authors recommend this device for younger patients in whom one could expect a total knee replacement to fail within their lifetime.
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Clin. Orthop. Relat. Res. · Dec 2000
Total sacrectomy and reconstruction: oncologic and functional outcome.
The oncologic and functional outcomes of nine patients who were treated by total sacrectomy through L5 (three cases) or L5-S1 (six cases) were reviewed. Histologic diagnoses were one osteosarcoma, two giant cell tumors, two chondrosarcomas, and four chordomas. Patients' ages ranged from 17 to 70 years (mean age, 44.5 years). ⋯ At followup, six patients had no evidence of disease (mean followup, 73 months; range, 30-120 months). Functionally, there was no correlation between patients who had a reconstruction and those who had not. Total sacrectomy is a valuable procedure to secure local tumor control and overall survival, despite potential complications and neurologic and sexual dysfunction.
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Information is lacking in the literature on the precise anatomy of the iliolumbar ligament and its individual differences. The morphologic pattern, length, and width of the iliolumbar ligament were determined in 56 embalmed lumbosacral spines from human cadavers. ⋯ The angle of the posterior iliolumbar ligament in Type A was oriented significantly more posteriorly than that in Type B. The posterior iliolumbar ligament was significantly shorter and oriented more posteriorly in male anatomic specimens than in female ones.