Design modifications of high-flexion TKA do not improve short term clinical and radiographic outcomes.

Background: The prosthesis of contemporary total knee arthroplasty (TKA) has been modified to provide a more familiar environment for higher flexion angle of the replaced knee. The design modifications continue based on evidence reported in the literature. However, whether these modifications of the prosthesis design lead to improvements in clinical results needs further investigation.

Prevention of pseudo-patella baja during total knee arthroplasty.

Purpose: Pseudo-patella baja (PPB) is a surgical complication that can arise from total knee arthroplasty and occurs when the patella tendon is not shortened but the level of the femorotibial joint line is elevated. The goal of this study was to assess the performance of a technique specifically designed to prevent the occurrence of PPB and its radiological results.

Methods: Ninety-nine patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty were included.

Easy identification of mechanical axis during total knee arthroplasty.

Purpose: We devised an intraoperatively identifiable mechanical axis (IIMA) as a reference of alignment in total knee arthroplasty (TKA).

Materials And Methods: Between February 2010 and January 2011, primary TKAs were consecutively performed on 672 patients (1007 knees) using an IIMA as a reference in the coronal plane.

Results: The alignment of the lower extremity improved from a mean of 11.

Soft Tissue Balancing of Varus Arthritic Knee in Minimally Invasive Surgery Total Knee Arthroplasty: Comparison between Posterior Oblique Ligament Release and Superficial MCL Release.

Purpose: To assess proper soft tissue balancing of the varus arthritic knee between posterior oblique ligament (POL) release group and superficial medial collateral ligament (SMCL) release group.

Materials And Methods: This retrospective study was performed on 186 patients who underwent minimally invasive surgery (MIS) total knee arthroplasty (TKA) from January 2011 to December 2011. Eighty-three patients were in the group of SMCL release and 103 patients were in the POL release group.

Assessment of the correlation between TIMP4 SNPs and schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorders.

Tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) are involved in synaptic plasticity, neuronal cell differentiation and neuroprotection in the central nervous system. To investigate whether TIMP4 polymorphisms are associated with schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), 480 patients (schizophrenia, n=287; ASDs, n=193) and 296 controls were enrolled. Clinical symptoms of schizophrenia and ASDs were assessed using the operation criteria checklist for psychotic illness (OPCRIT) and Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS), respectively.