Unique patellofemoral alignment in a patient with a symptomatic bipartite patella.

Background: A symptomatic bipartite patella is rarely seen in athletic adolescents or young adults in daily clinical practice. To date, only a limited number of studies have focused on patellofemoral alignment. The current study revealed a unique patellofemoral alignment in a patient with a symptomatic bipartite patella.

Evaluation of single-bundle versus double-bundle PCL reconstructions with more than 10-year follow-up.

Background: Posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) injuries are not rare in acute knee injuries, and several recent anatomical studies of the PCL and reconstructive surgical techniques have generated improved patient results. Now, we have evaluated PCL reconstructions performed by either the single-bundle or double-bundle technique in a patient group followed up retrospectively for more than 10 years.

Methods: PCL reconstructions were conducted using the single-bundle (27 cases) or double-bundle (13 cases) method from 1999 to 2002.

Morphologic evaluation of remnant anterior cruciate ligament bundles after injury with three-dimensional computed tomography.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the morphological patterns of remnant anterior cruciate ligament bundles after injury (ACL remnant) on three-dimensional computed tomography (3DCT) and compare them with those on arthroscopy.

Methods: Sixty-three patients (33 males and 30 females; mean age 25.2 ± 10.

Articular cartilage repair with magnetic mesenchymal stem cells.

Background: Cell therapies are hampered by the difficulty of delivering cells to and retaining them in target tissues long enough to repair or regenerate local tissues.

Hypothesis: Magnetic-assisted delivery of magnetically labeled mesenchymal stem cells (m-MSCs) would be rapid, allowing for chondrogenic differentiation and functional joint repair without replacement.

Study Design: Controlled laboratory study.

A new distraction arthroplasty device using magnetic force; a cadaveric study.

Background: It is difficult for an articular cartilage injury to repair spontaneously. There are many procedures for treating cartilage injury, however there is no standard procedure for middle-aged patients who have diffuse knee osteoarthritis, especially of the lateral compartment. Therefore, Ochi developed a new distraction device that uses magnetic power to enlarge a joint space and promote cartilage regeneration with microfracture.

Evaluation of magnetic resonance imaging and clinical outcome after tissue-engineered cartilage implantation: prospective 6-year follow-up study.

Background: Autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI) is an important procedure when repairing cartilage defects of the knee. We previously reported several basic studies on tissue-engineered cartilage, and conducted a multicenter clinical study in 2009. In this clinical study, we evaluated the patients' clinical scores and MRI findings before and after tissue-engineered cartilage implantation, and compared the data obtained at 1 year and approximately 6 years post-implantation.

Characteristic shape of the lateral femoral condyle in patients with osteochondritis dissecans accompanied by a discoid lateral meniscus.

Background: There are various indirect signs of a discoid lateral meniscus in radiographs, for example lateral joint space widening, hypoplasia of the LFC, etc. There has, however, been no previous report of the characteristic shape of the lateral femoral condyle (LFC) in patients with osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) accompanied by a discoid lateral meniscus. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the characteristic shape of the LFC in patients with OCD accompanied by a discoid lateral meniscus, and sex differences associated with the shape of the LFC in those patients.