No difference in clinical outcome after posterolateral lumbar fusion between patients with isthmic spondylolisthesis and those with degenerative disc disease using pedicle screw instrumentation: a comparative study of 112 patients with 4 years of follow-up.

We compared the clinical outcome after spinal fusion between patients with isthmic spondylolisthesis and those with degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, using multiple logistic regression analysis. A questionnaire describing medication, pain, vocational status and patient satisfaction was mailed to all the patients at a median interval of 4 years after their operation. Fusion was evaluated on plain radiographs at a minimum of 12 months after surgery, and patients were classified as fused or not fused.

Nonorganic pain drawings are associated with low psychological scores on the preoperative SF-36 questionnaire in patients with chronic low back pain.

The Short Form 36 questionnaire (SF-36) measures general health and well-being. Within the last 5 years it has been used increasingly to characterise patients in the medical literature. Relatively few studies have used the SF-36 on patients with chronic low back pain undergoing preoperative evaluation, but results suggest that it may be predictive of surgical outcome.

[Percutaneous fixation of sacral fractures. Primary experiences with a new technique].

A number of techniques have been introduced to obtain reduction and fixation of rotational and vertical unstable sacral fractures and sacro-iliac (SI) joint disruptions. The purpose of this study is to report our primary experience with percutaneous cannulated screw fixation across the joint or fracture line. Fifteen consecutive patients, seven males and eight females, were operated.

Clinical outcome after spinal fusion with a rigid versus a semi-rigid pedicle screw system.

Several biomechanical studies have evaluated the quality of fusion obtained with a rigid versus a semi-rigid pedicle screw implant. Some studies indicate that increased rigidity of the implant system results in an increased strength of the fusion mass. Other reports have underlined the risk of stress shielding due to rigid implant systems.

Subtrochanteric fractures following osteosynthesis of femoral neck fractures with the VLC-femoral system.

Twenty-two patients with femoral neck fracture were treated with the VLC (Variable Length Cannulated)-femoral screw system. In four patients, the osteosynthesis had complications with ipsilateral subtrochanteric femoral fractures in relation to the screw holes in the lateral cortex. The problem seemed to be excessive stress on the lateral cortex during insertion of the screws.

Effect of functional bracing, quadriceps and hamstrings on anterior tibial translation in anterior cruciate ligament insufficiency: a preliminary study.

Anterior tibial translation was measured in six patients with anterior cruciate ligament insufficiency. The tests were done in 15, 45, and 90 degrees of knee flexion, partly with activated quadriceps or hamstrings, and partly with subjects wearing a 4-point functional DonJoy brace. The translation was evaluated with a computerized electrogoniometer (Acufex KSS).

Pressure-position relations in the glenohumeral joint.

The intra-articular pressures in the glenohumeral joint in different positions were measured in 12 cadaveric shoulders. The lowest pressure was found in abduction combined with traction. A significant rise in pressure was seen in positions combining flexion or abduction with rotation.

Pes anserinus and iliotibial band transfer for anterior cruciate insufficiency.

Twenty-one patients with chronic anterior cruciate ligament insufficiency were treated with a combined iliotibial band (Ellison) and pes anserinus (Slocum-Larson) transfer procedure. Preoperatively, the most prominent instabilities were drawer laxity in 16 patients and anteromedial rotation in 5 patients. After a median of 34 months of followup, 15 patients were absolutely satisfied with the result, 2 were fairly satisfied, and 4 were not satisfied at all, including 2 patients who had been reoperated.

The influence of skeletal traction on intraarticular pressure of the hip.

Patients with a femoral neck fracture often undergo skeletal traction until surgery. These patients may develop hip joint tamponade that can lead to necrosis of the femoral head. We have measured the pressure variations in 20 cadaveric hips using a semiflexion frame and various loads of skeletal traction.

Epidemiology of meniscal lesions in the knee. 1,215 open operations in Copenhagen 1982-84.

In a suburban area of Copenhagen with approximately 620,000 inhabitants, all the openly operated on meniscal lesions of the knee joint between 1982 and 1984 inclusive were reviewed. The mean annual incidence of meniscal lesions per 10,000 inhabitants was 9.0 in males and 4.

Ultrasonographic detection of foreign bodies in soft tissue. A human cadaver study.

The usefulness of ultrasound in the detection of foreign bodies was examined in a blind study in human cadavers using glass, plastic and wood as foreign bodies. Of 65 foreign bodies placed in 102 cicatrices, 58 were found using a 5 MHz transducer. The sensitivity was 89% and the specificity 93% making ultrasound a useful clinical tool for this purpose.

Subcapital fracture of the femoral neck following internal fixation with a dynamic hip screw.

A case of subcapital femoral neck fracture following osteosynthesis of a trochanteric fracture is described. The implant used was the dynamic hip screw. This kind of fracture is very rare, and has to our knowledge never been described with the use of the dynamic hip screw.

Snapping knee from biceps femoris tendon. A case report.

Painful snapping of the knee was caused by the long tendon of the biceps femoris muscle sliding over the fibular head to an abnormal insertion on the tibia. Removal of the fibular head gave immediate relief.

Rupture of the knee capsule from articular hyperpressure. Experiments in cadaver knees.

We used 10 cadaver knees to estimate the safe pressure during arthroscopy by measuring the volumes and pressures of irrigation fluid at different flexion angles. Maximum volumes could be contained at 35 degrees of flexion. Pressures of 200 to 450 mmHg were measured, and all the knees ruptured by extension or flexion after they were filled to 100 mmHg at 35 degrees of flexion.