Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with a single hamstring tendon graft and tape locking screw (TLS) fixation leads to good clinical outcome in two years of follow-up.

Background: There are many fixation methods for hamstring tendon autograft available for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. The intention of this study was to report clinical follow-up data of the Tape Locking Screw (TLS) reconstruction technique.

Hypothesis: Does TLS method give good long term results in patient satisfaction and in clinical knee tests.

A prospective comparison of 3 hamstring ACL fixation devices-rigidfix, bioscrew, and intrafix-randomized into 4 groups with a minimum follow-up of 5 years.

Background: ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) reconstruction remains the gold standard surgical option for patients with ACL tears. There are many fixation devices available for ACL reconstruction. Recent ACL reconstruction strategies are aiming to reproduce the native anatomy and normal kinematics of the knee.

Comparison of clinical results of anteromedial and transtibial femoral tunnel drilling in ACL reconstruction.

Background: A femoral bone tunnel in ACL reconstruction can be constructed from the outside in or from the inside out. When doing it inside out, the approach can be via the anteromedial (AM) portal or through the tibial bone tunnel. It has been suggested that better results might be expected by doing it anteromedially.

Efficacy of a novel PCR- and microarray-based method in diagnosis of a prosthetic joint infection.

Background And Purpose: Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods enable detection and species identification of many pathogens. We assessed the efficacy of a new PCR and microarray-based platform for detection of bacteria in prosthetic joint infections (PJIs).

Methods: This prospective study involved 61 suspected PJIs in hip and knee prostheses and 20 negative controls.

Joint use of drugs and alcohol.

Aims: To determine the relationships between the different patterns of drinking and drug use in the general population.

Design: The data from three nationwide surveys conducted in Finland in 1998, 2002 and 2004 were pooled into one dataset (n = 7,227).

Participants: Population aged 15-69.

Relationship between negative experiences and drinking experience among 15- to 16-year-old adolescents in Finland.

Aims: To assess the relationship between negative experiences and frequency of alcohol drinking and drunkenness among 15- to 16-year-old adolescents in Finland.

Methods: A school-based survey as part of the European School Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs (ESPAD) conducted in Finland in 2003. Nationally representative sample of Finnish adolescents, aged 15-16 (n = 3,321).

The reliability of self-reported drinking in adolescence.

Aims: To study the reliability of adolescents' self-reported drinking and perceived drunkenness in surveys.

Methods: The data from two cross-sectional school-based questionnaire surveys with representative cluster samples (the European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs, ESPAD) in Finland were used; there were 2161 (1995) and 3109 (1999) 15-year-old respondents. The response rates were 94% and 90% respectively.