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STUDY DESIGN A retrospective study. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to investigate proximal junctional kyphosis (PJK) after lumbosacral long fusion according to preoperative Roussouly and lumbar degenerative kyphosis (LDK) types. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA Although previous studies have suggested some risk factors for PJK, the effects of preoperative grade of sagittal imbalance and paraspinal muscles degeneration on PJK remain unclear. METHODS Eighty-seven patients who had undergone lumbosacral fusion more than five levels with available clinical and radiological data were enrolled. The presence of PJK defined as sagittal Cobb angle ≥20° between the uppermost instrumented vertebra (UIV) and two supra-adjacent vertebrae at postoperative 2-year radiographs was recorded. Its occurrence was compared according to preoperative Roussouly and LDK types (Takemistu type) and the degree of paraspinal muscle degeneration at the upper level of UIV. Other sagittal radiographic parameters were also measured. RESULTS In this series, 28 patients (group I, 32.2%) showed radiological PJK, whereas 59 patients did not show radiological PJK (non-PJK patients, group II, 67.8%) at postoperative 2 years. PJK presented more prevalence in type III and type IV of LDK types (26/27, 96.3%). However, Roussouly types did not show any significant difference in PJK prevalence. In radiological parameters, a larger preoperative SVA (P = 0.018) and PI-LL (P = 0.015) were associated with PJK. Also, smaller quantity and lower quality of paraspinal muscles at T12-L1 level showed significant (P

Study design A propensity score-matched cohort study. Objective The objective of this study was to compare the radiologic and clinical outcomes of camptocormia in Parkinson disease (PD) with degenerative sagittal imbalance (DSI) patients. Summary of background data Camptocormia in PD and DSI could be characterized by a dynamic deformity. However, no study has directly evaluated the outcomes of patients with camptocormia and DSI. Methods Thirteen consecutive PD patients undergoing surgical correction for camptocormia were matched in a 1-to-2 format with 26 patients in the DSI group by propensity score-matching. Radiologic outcomes, including paravertebral muscle changes, and clinical outcomes were compared between the 2 groups. The rate of proximal junctional problems and reoperations were assessed. Results PD patients with camptocormia had significantly greater preoperative coronal and sagittal malalignments (29.9 vs. 16.9 mm, P=0.019; 142.8 vs. 64.4 mm, P=0.0001, respectively) and weakness of paravertebral muscles compared with the DSI patients. Regarding the clinical outcomes, reoperations were significantly higher in the camptocormia group, compared with the DSI group (53.8% vs. 7.7%, P=0.001). Moreover, proximal junctional failure was developed in 8 patients in the camptocormia group, while 1 patient in the DSI group (61.5% vs. 3.8%, P=0.0001). In subgroup analysis, independent risk factors for the proximal junctional failure were the total fusion levels (hazard ratio=0.26, P=0.018) and the degree of fatty changes of the paravertebral muscles (hazard ratio=1.15, P=0.048). Conclusions PD patients undergoing spinal surgery for camptocormia had global malalignment and higher rates of complications compared with DSI patients. Patients should be appropriately counseled regarding the increased risk of operative complications and closely followed for incipient failure.

Authors assumed that the stability of iliac screw (IS) fixation could affect the development of proximal junctional kyphosis (PJK). The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship between IS loosening and PJK after long fusion surgery for adult spinal deformity (ASD). Sixty-eight ASD patients (6 males, 62 females; mean age, 68.1 years) who underwent long fusion surgery with IS fixation were reviewed. The incidence and risk factors of IS loosening were investigated. The relationship between IS loosening and PJK was also analyzed. IS loosening and PJK appeared in 33 and 19 patients, respectively. The median time for IS loosening and PJK to develop was 6.0 months (range 1.3–59.2) and 9.1 months (range 1.3–73.2), respectively. PJK developed in patients without IS loosening more frequently than in patients with IS loosening. PJK did not develop in 28 patients who presented with IS loosening first. IS loosening developed 5 months postoperatively in those 28 patients, whereas IS loosening was present 11 months postoperatively in 4 patients who presented with PJK first. Preoperative PT (OR = 1.091) and IS loosening (OR = 0.343) were significantly related with the development of PJK. IS loosening was significantly associated with postoperative PI-LL > 10° (OR = 0.957), postoperative SVA (OR = 1.023), and postoperative PT (OR = 1.072). Postoperative sagittal malalignment should be avoided to prevent IS loosening and PJK. IS loosening occurred earlier than PJK and seemed to affect the development of PJK. This relationship supports the hypothesis that distal stability of long constructs may increase proximal junctional stress. III. These slides can be retrieved under Electronic Supplementary Material.

Little information is available on the relationship between cervical sagittal alignment and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) patients. The aim of this study was to identify relationships between postoperative cervical sagittal alignment and HRQOL in AIS. The study and control groups comprised 67 AIS patients (51 girls and 16 boys). All underwent anteroposterior and lateral plain radiography and completed clinical questionnaires. The radiographic parameters investigated were pre- and postoperative C2–C7 lordosis, C2–C7 sagittal vertical axis (SVA), T1 slope, T1 slope minus C2–C7 lordosis (TS-CL), thoracic kyphosis (TK), lumbar lordosis (LL), pelvic tilt (PT), sacral slope (SS), and pelvic incidence (PI). The Korean version of the SRS-22 questionnaire and the previously validated Short Form-36 (SF-36) outcome questionnaire were administered to evaluate HRQOL at last follow-up visits. Statistical analysis was performed to determine the significances of differences between preoperative and last follow-up radiological findings. In addition, correlations between radiological parameters and clinical questionnaire scores were sought. Radiological sagittal parameters were found to be significantly increased after surgical correction in terms of C2–C7 lordosis (3.5 ± 11.4), C2–C7 SVA (1.5 ± 6.0), T1 slope (3.5 ± 6.1), and TK (6.0 ± 8.1). However, no significant difference was observed for TS-CL, LL, PT, SS, and PI (P > 0.05). Correlation analysis revealed significant relationships between radiographic parameters and questionnaire scores. Multiple regression analysis was performed to identify predictors of HRQOL, and the results obtained revealed that postoperative T1 slope significantly predicted SRS, PCS, and MCS scores and that postoperative C2–C7 SVA predicted SRS scores. Changes in cervical sagittal parameters were significant after deformity correction in AIS patients. Correlation analysis revealed significant relationships between postoperative radiographic parameters and HRQOL. In particular, T1 slope and C2–C7 SVA were found to be significant predictors of HRQOL in AIS patient.

Background: The The purpose of this study was to make a comparative analysis of the clinical outcomes after the operative treatment of refractory medial epicondylitis between the suture anchor group and the non-suture anchor group. Methods: We enrolled 20 patients (7 men and 13 women) with recalcitrant medial epicondylitis who were able to receive operative treatment in a minimum of an 18-month follow-up. The mean age was 48.6 years (range, 36–59 years). The patients were allocated into either the suture anchor group (7 patients) or the non-suture anchor group (13 patients). We evaluated clinical outcomes using the visual analog scale (VAS), the pain grading system of Nirschl and Pettrone, and postoperative grip strength. Results: The VAS score decreased from 8.8 to 2.0 for the suture anchor group and from 8.6 to 1.3 for the non-suture anchor group (p=0.16). The postoperative grip strength was 95%, 93% of the non-treated arm in both groups (p=0.32). The postoperative satisfaction level was good in 5 patients and fair in 2 for the suture anchor group and excellent in 5 patients, good, in 4, and fair, in 4 for the nonsuture anchor group (p=0.43). The clinical outcomes did not show a statistically significant difference between the two groups. Conclusions: We found that patients with recalcitrant medial epicondylitis were treated reliably with satisfactory clinical outcomes whether or not suture anchors were used. We believe the use of suture anchors when more than 50% of the tendon origin is affected provides an effective and favorable treatment modality. (Clin Shoulder Elbow 2015;18(4):221-228)

This study aimed to evaluate the clinical outcomes and structural integrity of arthroscopic repair of intratendinous rotator cuff tear. Patients who were diagnosed with an intratendinous tear but in whom conservative treatment failed were selected and underwent arthroscopic repair. Between 2008 and 2014, a total of 30 patients (6 men, 24 women; mean age, 59 ± 3.7 years) met the inclusion criteria and were followed up. The mean follow-up period was 26.3 ± 0.7 months. The results were evaluated using the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) score, the Society of the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons rating scale (ASES) questionnaire, and the visual analog scale (VAS) and range of motion (ROM) were measured preoperatively and at final follow-up. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed preoperatively and at 6.7 ± 0.2 months postoperatively. Postoperative MRI was performed on 27 out of 30 patients and analysed using the Sugaya classification. Corresponding to the preoperative MRI findings, arthroscopic findings of intratendinous tears were observed in all 30 patients. The mean active forward elevation ROM was 137.3° ± 15.4° before surgery and 168.8° ± 15.2° at the final follow-up. The internal and external rotations at abduction were 31.7° ± 5.1° and 63.0° ± 11.6° before surgery, respectively, and 60.5° ± 8.0° and 75.2° ± 10.8° after surgery, respectively. The UCLA score improved from of 20.1 ± 7.4 points preoperative to 28.4 ± 5.5 points at the final follow-up. The ASES score improved from 55.7 ± 15.3 points preoperative to 82.6 ± 9.7 points postoperatively. The VAS for pain score decreased from 6.4 ± 1.2 points preoperative to 1.6 ± 0.9 points postoperative. Satisfactory outcomes (excellent/good) in terms of UCLA and ASES scores were observed in 29 of 30 patients. Based on Sugaya classification, grades I, II, and III structural integrities were observed in 9, 14, and 4 patients, respectively. Successful clinical outcomes and structural integrity can be achieved with arthroscopic repair of intratendinous rotator cuff tears involving more than half thickness (> 50%). Therefore, arthroscopic repair is a practical next treatment option for patients with intratendinous rotator cuff tears in whom conservative treatment fails. IV.

3D microscopy images contain abundant astronomical data, rendering 3D microscopy image processing time-consuming and laborious on a central processing unit (CPU). To solve these problems, many people crop a region of interest (ROI) of the input image to a small size. Although this reduces cost and time, there are drawbacks at the image processing level, e.g., the selected ROI strongly depends on the user and there is a loss in original image information. To mitigate these problems, we developed a 3D microscopy image processing tool on a graphics processing unit (GPU). Our tool provides efficient and various automatic thresholding methods to achieve intensity-based segmentation of 3D microscopy images. Users can select the algorithm to be applied. Further, the image processing tool provides visualization of segmented volume data and can set the scale, transportation, etc. using a keyboard and mouse. However, the 3D objects visualized fast still need to be analyzed to obtain information for biologists. To analyze 3D microscopic images, we need quantitative data of the images. Therefore, we label the segmented 3D objects within all 3D microscopic images and obtain quantitative information on each labeled object. This information can use the classification feature. A user can select the object to be analyzed. Our tool allows the selected object to be displayed on a new window, and hence, more details of the object can be observed. Finally, we validate the effectiveness of our tool by comparing the CPU and GPU processing times by matching the specification and configuration.

Received: June 11, 2015 Revised: [1] July 22, 2015 [2] July 26, 2015 Accepted: July 27, 2015 Correspondence to: Sang Jin Cheon Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Pusan National University Hospital, Pusan National University School of Medicine, 179 Gudeok-ro, Seo-gu, Busan 49241, Korea TEL: +82-51-240-7531 FAX: +82-51-247-8395 E-mail: scheon@pusan.ac.kr Purpose: Our purpose was to assess the results of lunate excision and tendon ball implantation with temporary scaphocapitate fixation for Lichtman stage IIIB Kienbock’s disease in middle-aged patients. Methods: Ten patients with Lichtman stage IIIB Kienbock’s disease who underwent lunate excision and tendon ball implantation and followed up at least 24 months were analyzed. There were 4 males and 6 females. The mean age at the time of surgery was 55.4 years (range, 48-67 years), and follow-up period ranged from 24 to 68 months (mean, 46 months). Radiocarpal joint pain, grip strength, return to daily living activity, range of motion were evaluated and radiologic findings of preoperative, postoperative and last follow-up were evaluated. Results: All patients returned to daily living activity after 6 months of surgery. At the last follow up, 8 patients had no pain and 2 patients experienced mild pain occasionally. The mean improvement of extension arc was 14.5°, and the mean flexion arc improved 8.5°. The mean grip strength was 88% of unaffected side. The mean carpal height ratio was 0.49 preoperatively, 0.47 at final followup. No patients showed osteoarthritis change at the last follow-up. The mean Cooney’s wrist function were 83, 4 patients had excellent, 4 had good, and 2 had fair. Conclusion: Lunate excision and tendon ball implantation with temporary scaphocapitate fixation for Lichtman stage IIIB Kienbock’s disease in middleaged patients showed satisfactory clinical, functional and radiological results. So this can be a reasonable treatment option.