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Biomedical subjects

O Korkala

Publications and source records attributed to O Korkala.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Osteosynthesis and allogeneic bone grafting in complex osteoporotic fractures.

Thirty patients with osteoporotic fractures were treated operatively. An allogeneic bone transplant was used in combination with a conventional osteosynthesis in each patient. The bone graft was pulverized in a bone mill and used as a substitute graft to fill the bone defect, add stability, and enhance bone union. Fractures healed without complications in 20 patients. The osteosynthesis failed in 4 patients. The fracture failed to unite in an additional 3 patients. One deep infection occurred. A biopsy taken from the allogeneic bone at plate removal after fracture union demonstrated mature bone and new bone formation. The use of pulverized allograft bone for large bone defects in patients with osteoporotic fractures yields acceptable results with no adverse effects.

Aged↗

Hip arthroscopy in osteoarthritis. A review of 68 patients.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: A few studies have investigated therapeutic effect of hip arthroscopy in osteoarthritis, and therefore the use of hip arthroscopy in osteoarthritis has remained controversial. The aim of this study was to evaluate diagnostic and therapeutic aspects of hip arthroscopy in primary osteoarthritis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: During a time period from 1995 to 1999, a total of 68 patients had an arthroscopic evaluation of primary hip osteoarthritis at the Päijät-Häme Central Hospital, Lahti, Finland. The mean (range) follow-up was 1.3 (0.3 to 4) years. Arthroscopy was diagnostic in 38 (56%), while six (9%) patients received either long-lasting anaesthetic or prednisolone, and in 24 (35%) debridement was possible. Partial synovectomy was performed in two (3%). RESULTS: Three months after the arthroscopy, 49 (72%) patients reported that their hip pain had decreased. One year after the arthroscopy, 18 (26%) patients stated that their hip pain was less pronounced than before the arthroscopy. The severity of hip osteoarthritis in preoperative x-rays correlated significantly (p = 0.035) with the subjective result: the milder the osteoarthritis, the more often patients reported that their hip pain had decreased after arthroscopy. No association was observed between age, sex, modified Outerbridge grade of chondropathy, or whether a debridement was done or not and the symptomatic relief after the arthroscopy. CONCLUSIONS: Hip arthroscopy with or without debridement of loose cartilage may, at least temporarily, reduce the pain of mild or moderate osteoarthritis of the hip. Still, repeated arthroscopies had no therapeutic effect.

Adult↗

Biodegradable screw fixation of the syndesmosis together with metallic osteosynthesis. Preliminary experience of 7 ankles.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: In ankle fractures with separation of the tibiofibular mortise a metallic syndesmosis screw is generally used. As a rule, this transfixing screw is removed by a separate operation 6 to 8 weeks later. Usually the fracture fixation implants are removed by a second operation later on. In order to eliminate separate removal of the transfixing screw, we used a biodegradable syndesmosis screw in a pilot clinical study. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We treated seven consecutive patients with malleolar fractures and separation of the syndesmosis by an ordinary metallic plating and screw fixation of the fractures and biodegradable polyglycolic acid (PGA) screw transfixation of the syndesmosis. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: All the patients ended up with an acceptable result and stable ankle mortise. One of the ankles, which was the only one fixed by two transfixing PGA screws instead of one screw, had transient sinus formation and intraosseal osteolysis. The final result was good also in this case. The ankle mortise can be fixed safely by biodegradable screws in connection with metallic osteosynthesis of malleolar fractures. Thus a separate removal of the transfixing material is possible to eliminate.

Adult↗

Intrapelvic cyst formation after hip arthroplasty with a carbon fibre-reinforced polyethylene socket.

Carbon fibre-reinforced polyethylene cups were inserted in total hip arthroplasties for both hips of a male patient. Ten years after the arthroplasty of the right hip, an intrapelvic cyst was observed. The cyst was connected to the inner acetabular wall. The endoprosthetic cup showed gross loosening with a marked osteolysis of the acetabulum. Revision arthroplasty with allograft bone and an uncemented endoprosthesis was successfully performed. The fibrotic tissue at the bone-cement interface showed numerous histiocytic cells with cytoplasmic infiltrates of carbon and polyethylene particles. The left hip was also later revised for loosening, but no cyst formation was observed on that side.

Acetabulum↗

Complications after treatment of proximal femoral fractures.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The number of fractures of the proximal femur is increasing faster than the number of elderly people. The aim of the study was to record all complications after operative treatment of proximal femoral fractures in order to reduce the incidence of these complications in the future. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The files of 334 patients with proximal femoral fractures were retrospectively analyzed. The number of all general and operative complications were recorded. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The primary mortality was 8 percent. The most common general complication was a thromboembolic one. Local complications were recorded in 66 cases. Thirty-eight percent of femoral neck fractures treated by internal fixation were complicated. Increased attention should be focused on the sufficient antithrombosis prophylaxis, which should be continued at least during the whole convalescence period at the hospital. It remains to be clarified, if improved technical skill may improve the results of femoral neck osteosynthesis, which in this group of patients appeared far from satisfactory. The development of post-operative care and selection of right patients to an appropriate rehabilitation program is perhaps the most important factor today, in order to reduce complications in general.

Adult↗

Serum C-reactive protein levels after total hip and knee arthroplasty.

Any operation induces an elevation in the level of serum C-reactive protein (CRP). After hip and knee arthroplasty the maximal values are seen on the second and third postoperative days, after which the CRP decreases rapidly. There is no difference between patients with cemented or uncemented prostheses. Major postoperative complications may cause a further increase in CRP levels at one and two weeks.

Adult↗

Simple ligation vs stump inversion in appendicectomy.

Although modern gastrointestinal surgery has abandoned the invagination of stapler closures, the traditional technique for appendicectomy with appendix stump invagination is still in common use. In a prospective study altogether 200 patients operated on for acute appendicitis were treated either by simple ligation or ligation and inversion of the appendix stump. The complication rates between the two groups were equal. Thus, we recommend the simple ligation technique for conventional as well as for laparoscopic appendicectomy because it is simpler and faster, and it preserves the intact anatomy of the caecal wall.

Acute Disease↗

Autotransfusion of drained blood after total knee arthroplasty.

Osteoarthritic knees were treated by cemented (20 knees) or uncemented (five knees) total knee arthroplasty. The drained blood of the first six postoperative hours was collected, filtered and autotransfused. The blood loss of 20 first postoperative hours averaged 970 ml in the cemented and 1360 ml in the uncemented arthroplasties. An average of 60% of the shed blood was returned to the patients. Transient fever reaction took place during the autotransfusion of three patients, all in the cemented arthroplasty subgroup. No other complications were recorded. The amount of drained blood and transfused blood was compared with a similar series of 16 arthroplasties, treated without autotransfusion. Autotransfusion of filtered blood appears safe and useful in arthroplasty of the knee. Marked reduction of foreign blood transfusion but no direct financial benefit was attained by autotransfusion in these cases. Autotransfusion after uncemented arthroplasty of the knee appears advisable, because of the lack of side-effects, possibly caused by acrylic monomers and because the bleeding (and collection of shed blood) was more extensive than after cemented arthroplasty.

Aged↗

Straight leg raising test and lumbar cerebrospinal fluid levels of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide and somatostatin in patients with low back pain.

STUDY DESIGN: Straight leg raising was recorded before myelography in 77 patients. At myelography, samples of cerebrospinal fluid were drawn and later analyzed for neuropeptides vasoactive intestinal polypeptide and somatostatin. OBJECTIVES: The study sought to examine correlations, if any, between a positive straight leg raising test and cerebrospinal fluid neuropeptide levels. METHODS: The straight leg raising test was recorded for all patients before a myelography examination was performed because of intractable leg pain symptoms. Forty-seven of the patients were men and 30 were women. Cerebrospinal fluid samples were obtained from all patients upon myelography. Levels of the neuropeptides vasoactive intestinal polypeptide and somatostatin were analyzed in a blind manner by radioimmunoassay, using commercially available radioimmunoassay kits. RESULTS: The results are compatible with previous observations that suggest cerebrospinal neuropeptide levels are altered in conjunction with neural injury or pain syndromes. In the present mixed back pain patient population, which included radicular pain symptoms due to disc herniation and lumbar stenosis, alterations in vasoactive intestinal peptide levels in particular were observed with a positive straight leg raising test. CONCLUSIONS: Nerve root injury, as suggested by a positive straight leg raising test, appears to be neurochemically linked to altered cerebrospinal fluid vasoactive intestinal peptide levels.

Female↗

Three years' audit of a bone bank.

A three years' practice of a hospital-based non-commercial bone bank is presented. Altogether 121 allografts were collected from primary hip arthroplasties for osteoarthritis. Altogether 41 of the grafts were used in our hospital, 47 grafts were transported to other hospitals at a non-profit basis. The grafts were stored fresh-freezed at -80 degrees C. The allograft recipient patients in our hospital were reviewed. Main indication for the use of allografts was revision arthroplasty of the hip or knee. Other indications included difficult nonunions, arthrodeses of the knee or spine, difficult major primary fractures in osteoporotic bone and a large bone cyst. Of the nonunions, 3/10 failed to unite and of the revision arthroplasties, 1/19 had to be reoperated on. Three infections were recorded, all of which were unrelated to the allograft transplantation. The infections all healed without surgical intervention.

Aged↗

Bacterial contamination and closed suction drainage in open meniscectomy of the knee.

A prospective study was undertaken to investigate the occurrence and possible sources of microbial contamination in association with open meniscectomy of the knee. Sixty patients were randomized into three closed suction drainage regimens of 12, 24 and 48 hours' postoperative suction drainage, respectively. Specimens for bacterial culture were taken from the joint at the time of surgery, from the surgical suction tips, from the subcutaneous part of the drain surface and from the drain-contained fluid at the time of drain removal. The airborne bacterial contamination showed no marked role in this bacterial invasion into the joint, nor did the use of suction increase the risk. The vacuum suction drain, on the other hand, appeared to carry an obvious risk of bacterial invasion, as a parallel of time. In the present comparison this risk was minimal when the drain was removed 12 hours postoperatively.

Acinetobacter Infections↗

Lumbar disc herniation in the elderly: a rare and rewarding object for surgery.

We carried out a four to twelve year follow-up study in thirteen patients aged 63 years and over who were operated on for lumbar disc herniation. In eleven cases the herniation was at the L 4-5 level and in two at the L 5--S 1 level. Additional bony entrapment was present in eight cases. Simple disc removal through a small laminotomy was performed in eight patients, with a good or excellent result in four cases. Disc removal through a hemilaminectomy or laminectomy with the necessary lateral decompression of the bony entrapment gave a good or excellent result in each of the five patients. It is concluded that disc operation in the elderly usually gives acceptable late results. When even a minor bony stenosis is present at the disc herniation level, hemilaminectomy or even laminectomy should be considered.

Aged↗

Autogenous osteoperiosteal grafts in the reconstruction of full-thickness joint surface defects.

Free, autogenous periosteal grafts from the medial metaphysis of the proximal tibia have been used to reconstruct full thickness cartilage defects of the articular surfaces of the knee joint. If there was a bone defect, it was initially filled with cancellous bone graft. The method is illustrated by six patients, three with acute traumatic patellar defects and three with local sclerotic osteochondritis of the medial femoral condyle. The latter had loose fragments unsuitable for fixation and single excision would have left a large and deep defect. The grafts have given satisfactory results, 14 to 59 months after the procedures. Clinical grading of the defects has been monitored by radiographs with arthroscopy of two knees and CT scan of one knee.

Adult↗

Silver impregnation and immunohistochemical study of nerves in lumbar facet joint plical tissue.

Impingement of plical synovial tissue in a facet joint could cause pain. Plical tissue was removed during surgery for recurrent disc herniation or spinal stenosis. The presence of nerves was studied with silver impregnation, immunofluorescence, and avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex (ABC) immunostaining. Heterologous antisera to protein gene product (PGP) 9.5, substance P, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), and galanin were used to stain nerves. After silver impregnation, nerve-like structures were observed perivascularly. Such nerves located close to blood vessels were also immunoreactive for PGP 9.5, a more general cytoplasmic neural marker, whereas only few perivascular small varicosities were seen with antisera to substance P and galanin and none with antiserum to CGRP. In addition, PGP-9.5-, substance-P-, and galanin-immunoreactive nerves were occasionally seen very near to fat globules. Very few peptide-immunoreactive nerve varicosities were seen with immunofluorescence, and none of the PGP-9.5-immunoreactive nerves that were observed with ABC immunostaining were immunoreactive for neuropeptides as well. One mechanism for pain production could be mechanical compression of fatty tissue, but it is considered more likely that nerves in this particular tissue are mainly involved in local vasoregulation and that they are not sensory nociceptive nerves.

Adult↗

Long-term results of the Evans procedure for lateral instability of the ankle.

We studied the late outcome of 40 ankles (from a consecutive series of 42) treated by a modified Evans procedure. The peroneus brevis tendon was used to fashion a static tenodesis. All the patients had suffered from persistent lateral instability following an ankle sprain. The follow-up period was between nine and 12 years. Excellent or good results were achieved in 33 ankles (82.5%), three had a fair result, and four were poor. The clinical results were matched by the radiographic results which showed significant talar tilt or anterior talar translation in only three ankles. The functional result showed no positive correlation with the stress-radiographic analysis. We concluded that this modification of the Evans operation gives satisfactory long-term results, which show little change from the good results at 24 to 35 months reported in an earlier paper from our department.

Adolescent↗

Immunoreactive neuropeptides in nerves in ligamentous tissue. An experimental neuroimmunohistochemical study.

A search for neuropeptide nerves in the healing of the experimentally ruptured medial collateral ligament (MCL) of the rabbit knee used specific antisera to the neuropeptides Substance P, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), and galanin. Sutured and unsutured MCLs were studied four and 14 weeks postoperatively. Both fluorescent thin nerve strands and small dotlike nerve terminals were regularly seen in the healing zone and in the adjacent normal ligamentous tissue, suggesting innervation of such structures by neuropeptide nerves. All three neuropeptides were more abundant in sutured ligaments than in unsutured ligaments, which may suggest beneficial effects of the apposition of the torn ligament ends on local nerve regeneration. Active involvement of the neural elements in the healing process was also suggested by kinetic studies showing a decrease in Substance P and CGRP staining as well as an increase in galanin staining during the study period. These changes in the periphery parallel the reactive changes earlier described in the dorsal root ganglion and dorsal horn cells occurring after a peripheral nerve injury. This may depend on the antidromic transport to the periphery of neuropeptides synthesized in the central nervous system. This experimental neuroimmunohistochemical mapping study and the known effects of neuropeptides on blood vessels, macrophages, and fibroblasts should stimulate further work on the role of innervation in ligamentous healing.

Animals↗

Three cancellous bone screws versus a screw-angle plate in the treatment of Garden I and II fractures of the femoral neck.

A consecutive clinical series of 33 patients with either an undisplaced (Garden I) or minimally displaced (Garden II) femoral neck fracture was randomly divided into two operative protocols. Half of the fractures were treated with three cannulated cancellous bone screws, while the other half were treated with a standard screw-angle plate device. After a mean follow-up of 2 years, 4 patients had died, while 20 of the remaining 29 hips showed excellent or good, 3 fair and 6 poor functional results. The three-screw fixation seemed to yield more technical complications as compared to the screw-angle plate fixation. However, the differences in functional end-results were of no clear statistical significance. We conclude that the screw-angle plate device gives acceptable results in this group of fractures. The use of cannulated hip screws may be more advantageous in the treatment of dislocated femoral neck fractures, where the torsional strength of fracture fixation and femoral head viability are more critical.

Adult↗