Compression brace for secondary pectus carinatum in infants and toddlers undergoing cardiac surgery with midline sternotomy.

Purposes: This study aimed to retrospectively assess the response to a newly developed compression brace for improving the deformity of the secondary pectus carinatum in infants and toddlers undergoing cardiac surgery with midline sternotomy. Factors affecting the response to the brace were identified.

Methods: Fifty-one children were enrolled.

Developing an Educational Program for Ultrasound Hip Screening during Newborn and Infant Home Visits: A Protocol Paper.

Ultrasound hip screening is suitable for the early identification of developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH). Newborn and infant home visits are good opportunities for hip screening in the community, but studies focusing on nurse-led screenings are lacking. Based on a pre-post design, this study aims to develop and evaluate an ultrasound training program to improve nurses' assessment skills in detecting DDH cases during newborn and infant home visits.

Incidence and causes of instrument-related complications after primary definitive fusion for pediatric spine deformity.

Objective: Various complications have been reported in the treatment of pediatric spinal deformities. Among these, instrument-related complications could be critical concerns and risks of reoperation. This study aimed to identify the incidence and causes of complications after primary definitive fusion for pediatric spine deformities.

Sonographic evaluation of the abductor pollicis brevis muscle reflects muscle strength recovery after carpal tunnel release.

Purpose: This study aimed to examine the associations between sonographic measurements of the abductor pollicis brevis (APB), grip and pinch strength, and distal motor latency (DML) in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) before and after surgery.

Methods: We prospectively studied patients (46 hands) who underwent 1 year of postoperative follow-up after endoscopic carpal tunnel release. The patients underwent ultrasound (US) scans, grip and pinch strength assessment, a nerve conduction study, and patient-reported outcome measures (Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Instrument and Michigan Hand Outcomes Questionnaire) before and 1 year after surgery.

Dynamic balance ability in single-leg drop jump landing in junior female athletes after shin splints-assessment from a preventive perspective.

[Purpose] To develop assessment/rehabilitation indices for prevention of chronic and recurrent shin splint injuries among sport athletes, we analyzed the plantar center of pressure trajectories after drop-jump landing on one leg, and compared the foot function on the injured and healthy sides. [Participants and Methods] The participants were 10 female athletes who received consultation at our facility due to shin splints of the lower leg. The exercise task was the "single-leg drop jump landing test", in which the participants maintained a static posture on one leg for 8 s after landing.

Decompression status of the spinal cord after cervical laminoplasty in various body positions and neck postures observed using percutaneous ultrasonography: Relationship with neurological recovery.

Background: Percutaneous ultrasonography (PUS) is used to evaluate the status of the spinal cord after cervical laminoplasty (CLP). This technique helps assess real-time movements of the spinal cord and provides immediate information regarding the decompression status. Additionally, it can also be utilized to evaluate the status of the spinal cord in various body positions and neck postures.

Surgical Site Infection Following Primary Definitive Fusion for Pediatric Spinal Deformity: A Multicenter Study of Rates, Risk Factors, and Pathogens.

Study Design: A retrospective multicenter study.

Objective: To determine the surgical site infection (SSI) rate, associated risk factors, and causative pathogens in pediatric patients with spinal deformity.

Summary Of Background Data: There have been no extensive investigations of the risk factors for SSI in Japan.

Incidence and Risk Factors for Unplanned Return to the Operating Room Following Primary Definitive Fusion for Pediatric Spinal Deformity: A Multicenter Study with Minimum 2-year Follow-Up.

Study Design: A retrospective multicenter cohort study.

Objective: The aim of this study was to identify the incidence and risk factors for UPROR within minimum 2-year follow-up in primary definitive fusion for pediatric spinal deformity.

Summary Of Background Data: Several previous reports have elucidated the incidence of complications after pediatric scoliosis surgery; however, there has been no study that described the incidence and risk factors for unplanned return to the operating room (UPROR) with long-term follow-up in surgery for pediatric scoliosis with every etiology.

Novel Hump Measurement System With a 3D Camera for Early Diagnosis of Patients With Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis: A Study of Accuracy and Reliability.

Background Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is a potentially progressive deformity, and early detection is crucial for timely intervention. However, the methods and criteria justifying screening for pediatric scoliosis remain controversial. We have, therefore, independently developed a Digital Moiré (DM) as a tool for scoliosis screening.

Health-related quality of life, including marital and reproductive status, of middle-aged Japanese women with posterior spinal fusion using Cotrel-Dubousset instrumentation for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: Longer than 22-year follow-up.

Background: Few studies have examined long-term outcomes after posterior spinal fusion using Cotrel-Dubousset instrumentation (CDI) for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). Most patients with AIS are female, and their main concern is how spinal fusion will affect their future life. This study aimed to investigate the long-term health-related quality of life (HRQOL), including marital and reproductive status, of middle-aged Japanese women who underwent posterior spinal fusion using CDI for AIS in its earliest days in Japan.

Sonographic morphometry of abductor pollicis brevis: can direct contact yield images comparable with those obtained by the water bath technique?

Purpose: This study sought to compare ultrasound-guided measurements of the abductor pollicis brevis (APB) using the water bath technique (WBT) and the direct contact method (DM) and investigate whether the DM can reproduce the measurements that would be obtained with a non-contact method, such as the WBT.

Methods: The APB muscles of 80 hands (40 healthy adults) were measured. The WBT was performed in a plastic container filled with water.

Interbody Bone Graft via Transdiskal Screw Holes as Treatment for High-Grade Spondylolisthesis.

Background: Controversy exists regarding surgical treatment of high-grade spondylolisthesis (HGS) in terms of decompression with surgical reduction or in situ fusion. In situ fusion has the advantage of being less technically demanding. However, the residual bone graft area is extremely limited, and posterolateral bone grafting is complex as the transverse process of the slipped vertebrae is located anterior to the sacral ala, which correlates with high rates of pseudoarthrosis.

The findings of musculoskeletal ultrasonography on primary Sjögren's syndrome patients in childhood with articular manifestations and the impact of anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody.

We researched the findings of musculoskeletal ultrasound sonography (MSUS) on primary Sjogren's syndrome in childhood (pSS-C) with articular manifestations. The correlation of rheumatoid factor (RF) and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody (ACPA) were investigated to evaluate the usefulness of MSUS on their articular prognosis. The objective patients are pSS-C cases who visited our hospital complaining joint pain and/or joint swelling and for whom MSUS was performed.

Percutaneous ultrasonographic evaluation of the spinal cord after cervical laminoplasty: time-dependent changes.

Purpose: The first purpose of this study is to confirm whether the spinal cord and the surrounding tissues can be visualized clearly after laminoplasty using percutaneous ultrasonography. And second purpose is to evaluate the changes in the status of the spinal cord over time.

Methods: Fifty patients who underwent cervical laminoplasty with suture anchors were evaluated using intraoperative ultrasonography and postoperative (1 week, 2 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year) percutaneous ultrasonography.

The Evaluation of Indirect Neural Decompression After Lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusion Using Intraoperative Computed Tomography Myelogram.

Background: The effect of indirect decompression after lateral lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF) is widely acknowledged; however, its details remain unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the immediate effects of indirect decompression just after LLIF cage placement but just before posterior instrumentation, using intraoperative computed tomography myelogram (iCTM).

Methods: Fifty-three levels from 28 patients undergoing LLIF with iCTM, were included in this retrospective study.

Influence of age on clinical outcomes of three-dimensional transfer of the tibial tuberosity for patellar instability with patella alta.

Purpose: To evaluate the clinical outcomes of three-dimensional (3D) transfer of the tibial tuberosity for patellar instability with patella alta, with a focus on the influence of age at initial surgery.

Methods: Three-dimensional surgery was performed on 28 knees with a mean follow-up of 46 months. Patients were separated into three groups based on the age at initial surgery: group A, 10 knees and an average age of 16.

Accuracy of Pedicle Screw Placement with Robotic Guidance System: A Cadaveric Study.

Study Design: A cadaveric study.

Objective: To investigate the accuracy of pedicle screw placement using a robotic guidance system (RGS).

Summary Of Background Data: RGS is a unique surgery assistance-apparatus.

Efficacy of add-on therapy of aliskiren to an angiotensin II receptor blocker on renal outcomes in advanced-stage chronic kidney disease: a prospective, randomized, open-label study.

Background: Combination therapy of aliskiren and an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) has been reported to be effective for reducing the level of proteinuria. However, it remains unclear whether this combination therapy contributes to suppression of kidney disease progression. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of aliskiren on hard renal endpoints, when added to an ARB, in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Three-dimensional transfer of the tibial tuberosity for patellar instability with patella alta.

Background: Although patellar instability can be treated with several surgical procedures, the appropriate surgical treatment for patellar instability with patella alta has not yet been investigated. The objective of this study is to find out whether three-dimensional transfer of the tibial tuberosity elicits good knee functionality with improved patella alta and prevents further patellar dislocation.

Methods: Twelve knees (10 patients) underwent surgery for patellar instability with patella alta from 2007 to 2011.

Functional and structural outcomes of single-row versus double-row versus combined double-row and suture-bridge repair for rotator cuff tears.

Background: Although previous biomechanical research has demonstrated the superiority of the suture-bridge rotator cuff repair over double-row repair from a mechanical point of view, no articles have described the structural and functional outcomes of this type of procedure.

Hypothesis: The structural and functional outcomes after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair may be different between the single-row, double-row, and combined double-row and suture-bridge (compression double-row) techniques.

Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.

An elderly patient with severe acute renal failure due to sodium bromate intoxication.

Accidental or deliberate ingestion of bromate solution has been reported in pediatric as well as adult cases; however there have been no reports of such intoxication in the elderly. We report a 78-year-old woman who suffered severe acute renal failure due to the accidental ingestion of sodium bromate solution. The patient was successfully treated with hemodialysis therapy and renal function recovered without hearing loss.