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Biomedical subjects

K Bak

Publications and source records attributed to K Bak.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Swimmers' painful shoulder arthroscopic findings and return rate to sports.

Shoulder pain is the most common musculo-skeletal complaint in competitive swimmers. It remains one of the shoulder pain syndromes in overhead athletes where no golden standard of treatment exists. Eighteen competitive swimmers who all had undergone shoulder arthroscopy for therapy-resistant shoulder pain were retrospectively evaluated with respect to operative findings and ability to return to their sport after the operation. The most common finding at arthroscopy was labral pathology in 11 (61%) and subacromial impingement in five shoulders (28%). Operative procedures included debridement in 11 swimmers, partial release of the coraco-acromial ligament in four, and bursectomy in four. Sixteen (89%) responded to the follow-up evaluation. Nine swimmers (56%) were able to compete at preinjury level after 4 (2-9) months. Findings at arthroscopy suggest that the term "Swimmer's shoulder" covers a variety of pathologies including labral wearing and subacromial impingement. Arthroscopic debridement of labral tears or bursectomy in swimmers with shoulder pain has a low success rate with regard to return to sport. Further understanding and investigation of this syndromes complex pathophysiology is needed.

Adolescent↗

Usefulness of silicone plate for sellar floor reconstruction.

During the transsphenoidal approach (TSA), the proper sellar floor reconstruction plays an important role in the surgical results. The authors have evaluated the usefulness of a silicone as a substitute for bone splint in sellar floor reconstruction. Silicone plates were used in 10 patients who had 7 pituitary adenomas, 2 Rathke's cleft cysts, and 1 metastatic tumor. Among the ten cases, seven underwent standard TSAs and three received extended TSAs. The silicone plate was cut to a size slightly larger than that of bone window, inserted with a three-pronged fork, and then adjusted precisely. In nine patients, complications that related to surgical repair did not occur. A postoperative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) rhinorrhea occurred in one pituitary macroadenoma, and no infection was observed in any case. From the authors' experience, advantages of the silicone plate are its simplicity to shape for any size of defects, and the easy detectability of the previous bone window at reoperation.

Adult↗

Reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament with the iliotibial band autograft in patients with chronic knee instability.

We performed combined internal and external anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction with the iliotibial band autograft in 169 consecutive patients with chronic ACL insufficiency who were followed up for 24-61 months. Of these, 155 (91%) agreed to an additional independent observer follow-up after 24-92 months. Eight patients (5%) had sustained a rerupture/elongation of the graft and were operated on again; nine (6%) had sustained a tear of the contralateral ACL. Knee function and activity increased after the reconstruction. Lysholm scores improved from median 81 preoperatively to 99 at follow-up and Tegner scores from median 4 to 7. At follow-up 97 (71%) were active at the same level as prior to injury. In 17 of the 40 patients (12%) dropping to a lower activity level this was due to knee problems. The side-to-side difference in anterior-posterior knee laxity was more than 3 mm in 18 knees (13%) and more than 5 mm in 3 knees (2%). Including eight reruptures, this results in a "stability" failure rate of 8.8%. The overall IKCD rating showed normal knee function in 88 (73%) and nearly normal knee function in 30 (25%). Anterior knee pain was present in 14 (10%) of the patients at follow-up. Patients with isolated ACL injury had higher Lysholm scores and Tegner scores than patients with associated injuries. No clinical signs of varus knee development were seen. Of the 155 patients 94% would have the procedure repeated if necessary with the knowledge that they have today. The combined internal and external iliotibial band procedure can restore knee stability and function in the majority of chronic ACL-insufficient knees.

Activities of Daily Living↗

Reconstruction of anterior cruciate ligament deficient knees in soccer players with an iliotibial band autograft. A prospective study of 132 reconstructed knees followed for 4 (2-7) years.

One hundred and thirty-two consecutive soccer players (117 males and 15 females, median age 23, range 16-39 years) underwent primary reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) with an iliotibial band (ITB) autograft. All patients were followed prospectively for a minimum of 2 years. One hundred and eighteen patients (89%) attended an independent observer follow-up after a median of 47 (24-92) months. The time before participating in soccer was a median of 7 (5-24) months. At a median of 4 years, 80 (68%) were still active soccer players, while 38 had changed activity to a lower level. Twenty-five gave up soccer playing for reasons unrelated to the knee, and 13 (11%) gave up due to problems from the reconstructed knee. The Lysholm score improved from a median of 82 (range 42-99, mean [SD] 80.5 [+/-11.9]) points prior to the operation to a median of 99 (range 57-100, mean [SD] 94.6 [+/-8.5]) at follow-up. The Tegner score improved from a median of 3.5 (0-7) preoperatively to 9 (1-10). Four patients (3%) sustained a rupture of the graft: three ruptures occurred among the 15 females (20%), and one was seen among the 117 males (0.8%) (P=0.01). Eight per cent had predominantly minor cosmetic complaints from the donor-site hernia, while 51% had temporary discomfort from the staples used for graft fixation. Using the ITB autograft for ACL reconstruction, we found excellent and good results in soccer players with ACL deficiency and high demands for optimal knee function. The failure rate in general was comparable with other methods, and the majority was still active in soccer sports at a median of 4 years after surgery. An unacceptably high rerupture rate was registered in female players.

Adolescent↗

Rupture of the pectoralis major: a meta-analysis of 112 cases.

Of about 150 cases reported in the literature on pectoralis major ruptures, 108 were selected as presenting enough data to be analyzed for cause, rupture site, injury mechanism, and treatment outcome. We added data on four of our own cases reported here. All patients yet reported have been men. Rupture of the PM occurs most commonly in sports during weight training, weight lifting, or wrestling when the arm is externally rotated and abducted. Most reported ruptures are complete and are located at the insertion to the humerus. Work-related injuries occur more often at the musculo-tendinous junction. The prognosis is related neither to the age of the patient nor to the location of the rupture. Surgical treatment, preferably within the first 8 weeks after the injury, has a significantly better outcome than conservative treatment or delayed repair.

Adolescent↗

Transsphenoidal supradiaphragmatic intradural approach: technical note.

Presellar extension of the bone window combined with removal of the sellar floor results in the transsphenoidal supradiaphragmatic intradural approach. One tuberculum sella meningioma and another suprasellar Rathke's cleft cyst confined to the pituitary stalk were removed via this approach. The presellar extension of the bone window was performed with the sublabial transseptal transsphenoidal technique. Furthermore, the dissection of the anterior intercavernous sinus, diaphragma sella, and arachnoid trabecula has allowed a wide surgical field of pre- and suprasellar areas and facilitates safe removal of lesions without significant surgical complications in selected cases.

Adult↗

Results of reconstruction of acute ruptures of the anterior cruciate ligament with an iliotibial band autograft.

Forty patients with an acute complete tear of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) underwent primary reconstruction with an iliotibial band autograft after median 15 (range 0-90) days. Objective and functional evaluation was performed after median 37 (range 24-87) months by two independent observers using the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) knee evaluation form, the Lysholm knee function score, and the Tegner activity score. During the observation period 5 patients sustained an ACL tear in the contralateral knee, and 1 patient (2.5%) sustained a graft rupture and underwent re-reconstruction. For the remaining 34 knees the Lysholm score at follow-up was median 100 (range 84-100, mean 97 [+/- 4]), all patients scoring excellent (n = 28) or good (n = 6). Three patients (9%) had more than 3 mm side-to-side difference in anteroposterior laxity. All 4 ligament failures occurred in patients operated on within the first 2 weeks after the injury. Twenty-six patients (76%) returned to the same level of activity as prior to the injury. Of 8 who dropped to a lower activity level, only one ascribed this to problems with the operated knee, meaning that 26 of 27 (96%) returned to their desired level of activity. According to the overall IKDC evaluation, 14 patients (40%) had a normal knee (A), 13 (37%) had a nearly normal knee (B), 5 (14%) had an abnormal knee (C), and 2 (9%) had a severely abnormal knee (D). Ten patients (25%) had the staples removed due to local irritation, and further 6 (15%) had local symptoms from the tibial staples. The harvest site gave 8 (20%) patients cosmetic complaints, but all graded this as slight, and 3 (8%) had slight pain during activity from the lateral muscular hernia. In selected individuals performing vigorous knee activities, autologous reconstruction of acute ACL disrupted knees with a combined internal and external iliotibial band transfer demonstrates excellent results after median 3 years. The failure rate is comparable to other techniques.

Acute Disease↗

Recurrent post-traumatic anterior shoulder dislocation--open versus arthroscopic repair.

A total of 41 consecutive patients (11 women and 30 men, median age 29 (18-51) years) with unilateral, isolated, posttraumatic, recurrent anterior shoulder dislocation and a Bankart lesion were operatively repaired, either by an arthroscopic technique including a capsular plication, or by an open procedure with Mitec anchors. All the patients were followed prospectively and evaluated after a median of 36 (30-52) months follow-up by a "blind" observer. Nineteen patients in each group had excellent or good results, and one in each group was graded as fair. One patient in the arthroscopic group had a traumatic dislocation 5 months after the operation and was graded as poor. Three patients experienced subluxations postoperatively, one in the arthroscopic and two in the open group. There was no significant difference in anterior-posterior shoulder laxity measured objectively with Donjoy. The open Bankart repair group had a statistically significantly longer hospitalization (P = 0.001), a slight decrease in external range of motion, and more frequent cosmetic complaints. Apart from this, the results revealed no major differences between the two methods after a median of 36 months in this selected group of patients with longstanding problems.

Adolescent↗

Isolated total ruptures of the anterior cruciate ligament--a clinical study with long-term follow-up of 7 years.

Seventy patients met our inclusion criteria in this retrospective study, all with an arthroscopic/arthrotomic-verified isolated total anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)-rupture and a minimum follow-up period of 3 years and no associated lesions. Due to emigration/death, 3 patients were not available for follow-up. Of the remaining 67, 25 patients underwent secondary ACL-reconstruction, equivalent to a failure rate of the initial non-operative treatment of 37%. All patients were initially treated conservatively. This left 42 patients for follow-up--9 answered a questionnare and 33 went through follow-up examination after a median of 7.1 years (range 3.3 14.6) including IKDC-evaluation form, Lysholm & Tegner score, ES-SKA-score, clinical examination and Stryker Laxity test. In the present study all values represent the 33 patients available for follow-up. Soccer, handball and alpine skiing were most frequently responsible for the injury. We observed in the 33 patients a decline in median Lysholm score from 100 (90-100) pretraumatic to 86 (42-100) at follow-up, and a decrease in median Tegner values from 7 (3-9) pretraumatic to 5 (2-7) at follow-up. All but 2 patients demonstrated a decline in Lysholm score, and only 3 patients returned to their preinjury level. According to the ESSKA-classification, the number of "cutting-sports performers" declined dramatically from 24 to 2. All but one patient ascribed their decline in activity to their knee status. The Stryker-measured AP-translocations were significantly higher on the injured knee (7.27) compared to the healthy knee (4.80) (P < 0.05). Intermittant rest pain was suffered by 63% of the patients. During the time from inclusion until follow-up, 13 (39%) patients sustained an additional ipsilateral knee lesion, most commonly a tear of the medial meniscus. The overall outcome was expressed in a low frequency of return to unrestricted preinjury level of function, and a high level of instability complaints resulting in many secondary ACL-reconstructions. Naturally some have adapted to their ultimate functional disability, but only through modification of activities, and the overall outcome after conservative therapy of these ACL-ruptures was not satisfactory.

Adolescent↗

Interventions in a heart transplant recipient with a histrionic personality disorder.

Organ transplantation is a psychosocially demanding process. Patients must undergo a comprehensive evaluation to await a donor organ that may never become available. After transplantation, recipients must deal with the acceptance of a new organ and comply with a medical regimen that includes numerous medications, follow-up exams, and procedures. Emotional well-being is monitored throughout the transplant process. However, despite the best of efforts and thorough pretransplant bio-psycho-social evaluations, it is possible for patients to have significant psychopathology that remains undetected. Following the stress of transplantation, such patients may present with exacerbation of symptomatology, which has the potential to negatively affect compliance and long-term outcome.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

A comparison of role expectations and communication styles between transplant coordinators and transplant staff nurses.

The role of the transplant coordinator is multifaceted and demanding, requiring advanced clinical skills in addition to patient management responsibilities. Although much is known about the clinical skills of these coordinators, there is virtually no information available about their management abilities. A comparison of the beliefs of transplant coordinators and transplant staff nurses confirms that the coordinators have the role expectations and communication styles to allow them to function effectively in managing patient care as well as in working with physicians and other health professionals.

Adult↗

An enzyme immunoassay for advanced glycosylation end-products in serum.

We successfully developed an in-house, competitive enzyme immunoassay to measure advanced glycosylation end-products (AGE) in serum. The assay involved coating microtitre wells with AGE-BSA at 8 micrograms/ml for 4 hours, followed by overnight incubation of 20 microliters sample (prediluted at 1:6) with 80 microliters antiserum (1:8000). HRP-labelled goat anti-rabbit was used as the second antibody and 3,5',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine dihydrochloride as the substrate. Incubation was carried out at 4 degrees C. As suggested in an earlier study, we standardised the AGE units against normal human serum (NHS). Thus, one AGE unit was defined as the inhibition that resulted when the 1:6 diluted NHS was assayed. Mean (+/- SD) AGE level in normal subjects (n = 37) was significantly lower than in diabetes subjects with microalbuminuria (n = 57) (6.0 +/- 0.7 versus 10.2 +/- 4.7 units/ml, p = 0.0001). With the availability of in-house assay and by standardising the AGE unit with the other laboratories, more studies could be undertaken and results compared, and possibly, further elucidate the roles of AGE in the pathogenesis of diabetic complications.

Adolescent↗

Isolated partial rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament. Long-term follow-up of 56 cases.

The majority of previous studies on partial ruptures of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) include a relatively large proportion of knees with associated intra-articular injury or collateral ligament tear that contributes to an increase in the symptoms of instability and further deterioration of knee function. In the present study only patients with isolated, partial ruptures of the ACL were evaluated. Fifty-six patients with one injured knee were examined after a median of 5.3 (range 2.0-12.7) years using the IKDC evaluation form, Lysholm knee function score and Tegner activity score. Of the 56 knees, 6 underwent autologous reconstruction due to early progression to complete rupture. Of 34 knees evaluated for laxity, 25 had a negative Lachman test and 7 a positive (+) Lachman. In 2 knees a Lachman ++ result and a positive pivot shift were found. With instrumented laxity testing 24 knees had 2 mm or less difference in laxity compared with the contralateral uninjured knee. The largest side-to-side difference in knee laxity was 4.5 mm. Lysholm score was median 86 (range 52-100) points, and 62% had good or excellent knee function. A significant decline in activity was seen. Only 10 patients (30%) resumed their preinjury activities. We find that the majority of patients with an isolated, partial rupture of the ACL have an acceptable knee function and a stable knee after a median 5 years follow-up. There is, however, a marked reduction in activity.

Adolescent↗

Epiphysiodesis for bilateral irregular closure of the distal radial physis in a gymnast.

Wrist pain is a common complaint in gymnasts. Repetitive stress on the distal radial physis may lead to either gradual slipping of the epiphysis or growth disturbances. In some cases growth disturbances of the distal radial physis lead to triangulation of the distal radius and secondary ulnar overgrowth, and eventually a Madelung-like deformity. The present case report is the first to describe the outcome of epiphysiodesis of the distal radial and ulnar growth plates in a skeletally immature gymnast as a surgical treatment to prevent Madelung's deformity.

Adolescent↗

[Supinator syndrome. Entrapment of the posterior interosseous nerve].

Activity related pain on the lateral side of the elbow or proximal on the forearm may be caused by compression of the posterior interosseous nerve in the radial tunnel. A number of different specialties can be involved in this patient. Often there is no effect of conservative treatment. Several investigations show that the condition can be treated surgically with good to excellent results in the majority of patients. Often the patients suffer a number of concomitant overuse syndromes. The clinical characteristics and the surgical approach to the problem is described and illustrated by two case stories.

Adult↗

Nontraumatic glenohumeral instability and coracoacromial impingement in swimmers.

Competitive swimming is one of the most demanding and time-consuming sports. Swimmers at elite level practice 20-30 h per week. During 1 year's practice, the average top level swimmer performs more than 500,000 stroke revolutions per arm. These innumerable repetitions over many years of hard training together with an increasing muscular imbalance around the shoulder girdle seem to be the main etiological factors in the development of the over-use syndrome swimmer's shoulder. Shoulder pain in swimmers has in general been regarded as synonymous with coracoacromial impingement, i.e. anterior shoulder pain due to rotator cuff tendinitis, but new knowledge suggests that a concomitant glenohumeral instability plays an additional role. The diagnostic complexity of the problem is as challenging as the search for the gold standard of treatment. The condition should ideally be diagnosed as early as possible, and intensive functional rehabilitation of the shoulder girdle including the scapular muscles should be started in order to restore muscle balance. The surgical possibilities include subacromial decompression in cases of purely mechanical impingement. If a painful glenohumeral instability persists after intensive functional rehabilitation, anterior capsulolabral reconstruction can be performed. Still, however, short- and long-term results show that surgery is less successful in elite athletes involved in overhead sports. Prevention protocols include education of coaches in primary injury prophylaxis and the institution of resistance strength training in prepubescent swimmers. Emphasis should be made to improve muscular balance around the glenohumeral and scapulothoracic joints.

Adolescent↗

Dissociation between exertional symptoms and circulatory function in patients with heart failure.

BACKGROUND: Patients with heart failure frequently report exertional dyspnea and fatigue. These symptoms are usually attributed to circulatory dysfunction and therefore are typically treated with cardiovascular medications. Serial assessment of exertional symptoms has also become the principal method used to assess drug efficacy in heart failure. Nevertheless, the relation between exertional symptoms in heart failure and circulatory dysfunction remains uncertain. METHODS AND RESULTS: This study was undertaken to investigate the relation between exertional symptoms, ventilatory and skeletal muscle dysfunction, and circulatory function in patients with heart failure. To this end, 52 ambulatory patients with heart failure underwent hemodynamic monitoring during maximal treadmill exercise testing. During exercise, the severity of dyspnea and fatigue was evaluated on a scale of 6 to 20 (Borg scale). The level of perceived exercise intolerance during daily activities was evaluated with the Minnesota Living With Heart Failure Questionnaire and the Yale Dyspnea-Fatigue Index. Maximal treadmill exercise increased the VO2 to 13.4 +/- 2.8 mL.min-1.kg-1, the dyspnea score to 15.7 +/- 2.3, the fatigue score to 14.8 +/- 3.4, the pulmonary wedge pressure to 28 +/- 11 mm Hg, and the pulmonary artery lactate concentration to 34.5 +/- 16.3 mg/dL and decreased the pulmonary artery hemoglobin oxygen saturation to 30 +/- 9%. The level of perceived dyspnea had no relation to the pulmonary wedge pressure and correlated only minimally with the level of excessive ventilation (r = 39). The level of perceived fatigue correlated only weakly with blood lactate concentration (r = .55). Eleven patients (21%) exhibited a normal cardiac output and wedge pressure < 20 mm Hg during exercise, 22 (42%) exhibited a normal cardiac output but wedge pressure > 20 mm Hg during exercise, and 19 (37%) exhibited reduced cardiac output and wedge pressure > 20 mm Hg during exercise. Despite these markedly different hemodynamic responses, all three groups exhibited similar levels of fatigue and dyspnea at comparable workloads and had comparable total scores for the Minnesota Living With Heart Failure Questionnaire and the Yale Dyspnea-Fatigue Index. There was no relation between the Living With Heart Failure Questionnaire and peak exercise VO2 and only a weak correlation between the Dyspnea-Fatigue Index and peak VO2 (r = .48). CONCLUSIONS: The level of exercise intolerance perceived by patients with heart failure has little or no relation to objective measures of circulatory, ventilatory, or metabolic dysfunction during exercise. In patients who report severe exertional symptoms, it may be desirable to directly measure hemodynamic response to exercise to ensure that these symptoms are due to circulatory dysfunction.

Adult↗