PURPOSE:The purpose of this study was to examine the surgical outcomes of double free muscle transfer (DFMT) performed in patients with complete brachial plexus injury (BPI). METHODS:We retrospectively analyzed the outcomes of DFMT for 12 patients with complete BPI who were followed up for more than 2 years after the final muscle transplantation. Their mean age was 29 years (range, 18-41). Three patients underwent contralateral C7 nerve root transfer before the DFMT. The range of motion (ROM) of the shoulder, elbow, and fingers was measured. Patient-reported outcome measures, including Disability of the Shoulder, Arm, and Hand (DASH) scores and visual analog scale (VAS) scores for pain, were also examined. RESULTS:The mean shoulder ROM against gravity was 22° ± 8° in abduction and 33° ± 5° in flexion. Seven patients underwent phrenic nerve (PhN) transfer to the suprascapular nerves, and five exhibited asymptomatic lung impairment on spirography more than 2 years after PhN transfer. The mean elbow ROM against gravity was 111° ± 9° in flexion and -32° ± 7° in extension. All patients obtained elbow flexion >90° against a 0.5-kg weight. All patients obtained touch sensation and two recognized warm and cold sensations in the affected palm. The mean total active motion of the affected fingers was 44° ± 11°. All patients exhibited hook function of the hands. The mean preoperative and postoperative DASH scores were 70.3 ± 13.4 and 51.8 ± 15.9, respectively. The mean pain VAS score was 28 ± 31 at the final follow-up. CONCLUSIONS:Double free muscle transfer provided patients with complete brachial plexus palsy with good elbow flexion and hand hook functions. TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE:Therapeutic IV.

Abstract Background K-line is widely recognized as a useful index for evaluating cervical alignment and the size of the cervical ossification at the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL). The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the K-line could be a useful clinical tool for predicting the prognosis of laminoplasty (LP) for cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM). Methods Adult CSM patients scheduled for cervical LP were recruited for this study. C2-7 angle, local kyphosis angle, and K-line was evaluated by T2-weighted sagittal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Clinical findings were evaluated by the JOA score and the recovery rate. Clinical and radiological findings were evaluated preoperation and final follow-up. Patients were grouped into K-line ( +) and K-line (-). Patients with Kline (-) were further divided into two sub-groups: disc type (anterior cord compression due to disc protrusion with kyphosis) and osseous type (due to osseous structure such as osteophyte). Results Sixty-eight patients were included in the analysis. The recovery rate of K-line (-) group (n = 11,19.4%) was significantly worse than that of K-line ( +) group (n = 57, 50.6%, p<0.05). Among 11 K-line (-) patients, 7 were disc type and 4 were osseous type. Over the period of follow-up, the disc type K-line (-) patients changed to K-line ( +) and showed significantly better recovery rate (27.6%) compared to the osseous type K-line (-) group (5.0%, p < 0.05). Conclusion The present of this study indicate that K-line may have a predictive value for clinical outcome in patients undergoing LP for CSM. K-line (-) of osseous type was worse than k-line (-) of disc type.

The details of the pathogenesis of intraosseous lipomas are not fully elucidated, although most cases do not require surgical treatment. The present report describes the case of a 79-year-old female patient diagnosed with intracapsular lipoma who also exhibited an extraosseous extension. Chest computed tomography revealed an abnormal shadow or a mass in the right scapula and destruction of the glenoid bone. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a high-intensity mass on T1-weighted and T2-weighted images in the same area. Marginal resection of the mass was performed. The histopathology confirmed that the mass was a lipoma. No postoperative recurrence was observed. Oncologists must be aware that lipoma arising within the scapula may extend outside the bone.

Previous reports on the outcome of conservative treatment for dropped head syndrome (DHS) are scarce. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the efficacy of conservative treatment for DHS and to identify possible predictive factors relating to the outcome. Among 76 DHS patients, conservative treatment (2–3 months collar application, active neck range of motion exercise, and occasional prescription of analgesics) succeeded in 17 patients (22.4

Abstract. Introduction:. A giant cell tumor of soft tissue (GCST) is a benign soft tissue tumor that often occurs subcutaneously in the extremities. Rare cases of malignant GCST have been reported, but its pathogenesis remains unclear. Patients concerns:. We report a case of a 68-year-old man who noticed a painless mass on his second toe one and a half years ago. He visited the Department of Dermatology at our hospital. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a soft tissue tumor, surrounding the distal aspect of the second toe. Diagnosis:. A biopsy of the tumor was performed by a dermatologist, and it revealed a malignant giant cell tumor of the toe. Interventions:. He was referred to our department and underwent lay amputation for wide-margin resection. Outcomes:. No recurrence or metastasis was observed 5 years after treatment. Conclusion. : Malignant GCST should be treated with wide-margin resection immediately after its diagnosis.

Introduction and importance:Iliopsoas and iliacus abscesses are caused by hematogenous and lymphatic infections and the spread of inflammation in neighboring organs. A small number of cases have been reported in which inflammation spread not only within the iliopsoas muscle but also to the thigh. Here we report a case of retroperitoneal infiltration and perforation of cecal cancer that caused extensive abscess formation from the iliacus muscle to the thigh.Case presentation:An 80-year-old man who had undergone chemotherapy for cecal cancer had abdominal pain and right thigh pain without any particular attraction. CT images showed extensive abscess formation from the iliacus muscle to the subcutaneous part of the thigh due to retroperitoneal infiltration and perforation of cecal cancer. Ileocecal resection, colostomy, and retroperitoneal abscess drainage were performed for perforation of cecal cancer and pelvic abscess. Although the thigh was initially drained by a small incision, the infection did not heal. Extensive debridement and drainage were required for all of the contaminated areas, and after all the infection was completely cured.Clinical discussion:The optimal treatment for an abscess that has spread from the inguinal region to the thigh is unclear. In this case, active debridement and drainage of the infected area were effective and should have been done early.Conclusion:We believed that debridement and drainage should have been performed from the time of the first surgery not only by the small incision drainage but also for all of the contaminated areas when the infection had been widespread.

Myxoid liposarcoma (MLPS) is known to have a variety of metastatic manifestations. We report a MLPS originating in the pelvis with metastasis to the calcaneus. The patient was a 72-year-old man who developed lumbar pain and right lower extremity pain 2 years ago. He visited a nearby clinic and underwent a radiographic examination. Computed tomography (CT) revealed a tumor in the right retroperitoneum. A CT-guided needle biopsy was performed, and pathological examination revealed myxoid liposarcoma. Wide surgical resection was not performed due to the patients’ wishes, technical difficulties, and magnitude of the invasion, and the patient received heavy particle radiation therapy (HPRT) of 70.4 Gy. After HPRT, the tumor mass was slightly reduced. However, 11 months after HPRT, a recurrent lesion in the liver was observed. Although HPRT was performed again for the metastatic liver lesion (70.4 Gy), the tumor increased in size. Furthermore, 1 month later, the patient complained of pain in the left foot, and CT and magnetic resonance imaging revealed an osteolytic lesion in the calcaneus. A biopsy was performed, and pathological examination showed a metastatic lesion of myxoid-type liposarcoma. The patient wore a short lower limb orthosis and was able to walk but died 1 month later. Oncologists should note that MLPS can metastasize to the calcaneus.

To promote nerve regeneration within a conduit (tubulation), we have performed studies using a tube model based on four important concepts for tissue engineering: vascularity, growth factors, cells, and scaffolds. A nerve conduit containing a blood vascular pedicle (vessel-containing tube) accelerated axon regeneration and increased the axon regeneration distance; however, it did not increase the number or diameter of the axons that regenerated within the tube. A vessel-containing tube with bone-marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell (BMSC) transplantation led to the increase in the number and diameter of regenerated axons. Intratubularly transplanted decellularized allogenic nerve basal lamellae (DABLs) worked as a frame to maintain the fibrin matrix structure containing neurochemical factors and to anchor the transplanted stem cells within the tube. For the clinical application of nerve conduits, they should exhibit capillary permeability, biodegradability, and flexibility. Nerbridge® (Toyobo Co. Ltd., Osaka, Japan) is a commercially available artificial nerve conduit. The outer cylinder is a polyglycolic acid (PGA) fiber mesh and possesses capillary permeability. We used the outer cylinder of Nerbridge as a nerve conduit. A 20-mm sciatic nerve deficit was bridged by the PGA mesh tube containing DABLs and BMSCs, and the resulting nerve regeneration was compared with that obtained through a 20-mm autologous nerve graft. A neve-regeneration rate of about 70%–80% was obtained in 20-mm-long autologous nerve autografts using the new conduits. Graphical Abstract

Sarcopenia is an aging-associated attenuation of muscular volume and strength and is the major cause of frailty and falls in elderly individuals. The number of individuals with sarcopenia is rapidly increasing worldwide; however, little is known about the underlying mechanisms of the disease. Sarcopenia often copresents with obesity, and some patients with sarcopenia exhibit accumulation of peri-organ or intra-organ adipose tissue as ectopic fat deposition, including atrophied skeletal muscle. In this study, we showed that transplantation of the perimuscular adipose tissue (PMAT) to the hindlimb thigh muscles of young mice decreased the number of integrin α7/CD29-double positive muscular stem/progenitor cells and that the reaction was mediated by PMAT-derived exosomes. We also found that the inhibition of cell proliferation was induced by Let-7d-3p miRNA that targets HMGA2, which is an important transcription factor for stem cell self-renewal, in muscular stem/progenitor cells and the composite molecular reaction in aged adipocytes. Reduction of Let-7 miRNA repressor Lin28 A/B and activation of nuclear factor-kappa B signaling can lead to the accumulation of Let-7d-3p in the exosomes of aged PMAT. These findings suggest a novel crosstalk between adipose tissue and skeletal muscle in the development of aging-associated muscular atrophy and indicate that adipose tissue-derived miRNAs may play a key role in sarcopenia.

There is no consensus on a treatment strategy for spinal giant cell tumor of bone (GCTB) because of the difficulty in their treatment. Treatment options often include the use of the controversial denosumab, an antibody therapy aimed at tumor shrinkage, different curettage techniques, resection, or a combination of these therapies. The current study aimed to identify treatment methods associated with favorable outcomes in patients with spinal GCTB. We retrospectively reviewed 5 patients with spinal GCTB, including patients with tumors of the sacrum, treated at our hospital between September 2011 and November 2020. Two men and 3 women were included in the study. The median follow-up period was 74 months (range: 14-108 months). We surveyed the tumor site, treatment method, denosumab use, and outcomes. The median age was 17 years (range: 17-42 years). There were 2 cases of sacral GCTB and 1 case each of lumbar, cervical, and thoracic vertebral GCTB. The comorbidities observed included hepatitis, malignant lymphoma, atopic dermatitis, and asthma. The treatment method included zoledronic acid after embolization and denosumab, denosumab only, curettage and posterior fusion, and curettage resection after embolization and anterior and posterior fusion. Denosumab was used in all cases. Three patients were continuously disease-free, 1 patient with no evidence of disease, and 1 patient alive with disease. Aggressive treatment, especially surgical treatment, may lead to good results in spinal GCTB.

Abstract Purpose There is no consensus on intraoperative references for the posterior tibial slope (PTS) in medial unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA). An arthroscopic hook probe placed on the medial second quarter of the medial tibial plateau (MTP) in an anteroposterior direction may be used as a direct anatomical reference for the PTS. The purpose of this study is to investigate the availability and accuracy of this method. Methods Marginal osteophyte formation and subchondral depression of the MTP and angles between the bony MTP and the cartilage MTP were retrospectively evaluated using preoperative sagittal MRI of 73 knees undergoing medial UKA. In another 36 knees, intraoperative lateral knee radiographs with the probe placed on the MTP were prospectively taken in addition to the preoperative MRI. Then, angles between the bony MTP and the probe axis and angles between the preoperative bony MTP and the postoperative implant MTP were measured. Results Among 73 knees, one knee with grade 4 osteoarthritis had a posterior osteophyte higher than the most prominent point of the cartilage MTP. No subchondral depression affected the direct reference of the MTP. The mean angle between the bony MTP and the cartilage MTP was −0.8° ± 0.7° (−2.6°–1.0°, n = 72), excluding one knee with a “high” osteophyte. The mean angle between the bony MTP and the probe axis on the intraoperative radiograph was −0.6° ± 0.4° (−1.7–0.0, n = 36). The mean angle between the pre- and postoperative MTP was −0.5° ± 1.5° (−2.9°–1.8°). The root-mean-square (RMS) error of these two PTS angles was 1.6° with this method. Conclusion Cartilage remnants, osteophyte formation and subchondral bone depression do not affect the direct referencing method in almost all knees for which medial UKA is indicated. When the posterior “high” osteophyte of the MTP is noted on preoperative radiography, preoperative MRI or CT scan is recommended to confirm no “high” osteophyte on the medial second quarter. The accuracy of this method seems equal to that of robotic-assisted surgery (the RMS error in previous reports, 1.6°–1.9°).

A 68-year-old man with a right distal radius fracture treated with volar locking plate fixation previously was unable to flex his right thumb and four fingers without experiencing any adverse event. The flexor pollicis longus was reconstructed with a tendon graft using the lengthened flexor digitorum superficialis. The flexor digitorum profundus (FDP) of the ring finger was reconstructed with a tendon graft using the palmaris longus. The FDP of the index and little fingers was reconstructed using the interconnected tendon graft to the ring finger. Postoperatively, active flexion of all fingers and thumb was restored; however, he was unable to grasp thin objects because of the absence of full finger flexion. This is the first case wherein all nine flexor tendons being involved after volar locking plate fixation for a distal radius end fracture. We demonstrated a reconstructive procedure for long-standing multiple flexor tendon rupture after volar locking plate fixation.

INTRODUCTION:Nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) infections of the musculoskeletal system are uncommon. Such infections are typically acquired by direct inoculation after penetrating trauma, surgical procedures, or needle injections. There are no reported cases of NTM infection after arthrocentesis for idiopathic hemarthrosis of the knee. Here we report a case of NTM infection in the knee that developed after arthrocentesis for idiopathic hemarthrosis of the knee.PRESENTATION OF CASE:The patient was an 85-year-old woman who experienced swelling of the left knee. An arthrocentesis was carried out, and hemarthrosis was found. The patient was referred to our hospital for repeated recurrence of hematoma of the knee. Significant swelling was observed in the suprapatellar sac. Magnetic resonance imaging examination revealed a mass at the suprapatellar sac. Laboratory data showed elevation of inflammatory markers. Debridement was performed under arthroscopy and samples were collected for culture. Although routine microbiological cultures were negative, the patient continued to experience knee swelling and laboratory data showed high C-reactive protein levels. Therefore, open debridement was carried out. At 4 weeks after the first surgical treatment, intraoperative cultures yielded Mycobacterium intracellulare. At this point, we diagnosed septic arthritis of the knee due to NTM infection. The patient showed an excellent prognosis with three-drug medical treatment for 1 year.CONCLUSION:Clinically, diagnosis of septic arthritis due to NTM infection is not easy. Because selection of examination depends on clinical suspicion, NTM infections should be considered for patients with elevation of inflammatory markers after episodes of surgical procedures, and/or needle injections.

Androgen deficiency is known to cause both osteoporosis and sarcopenia. Myokines, humoral factors secreted from the skeletal muscles, have recently been getting attention as the key factors related to the interactions between muscle and bone. Dickkopf (Dkk) 2 is known as an inhibitor of canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling, and Wnt/β-catenin signaling is crucial for the maintenance of muscle and bone. The present study was therefore performed to investigate the roles of Dkk2 in the alterations of muscle and bone of androgen-deficient mice with orchidectomy (ORX). ORX significantly enhanced Dkk2 mRNA levels, but not other Dkks and secreted frizzled related proteins, in the soleus muscles of mice. Moreover, ORX enhanced serum Dkk2 levels, but not Dkk2 mRNA levels in the tibial bone tissues, the white adipose tissues and liver of mice. In simple regression analyses, serum Dkk2 levels were negatively related to trabecular bone mineral density at the tibias in mice employed in the experiments. In vitro experiments, testosterone suppressed Dkk2 mRNA levels in mouse muscle C2C12 cells. In conclusion, we showed that androgen deficiency enhances Dkk2 expression and secretion in the muscles of mice. Dkk2 might be involved in androgen deficiency-induced muscle wasting and osteopenia as a myokine linking muscle to bone.

We use the capsular suture (CS) and trans-osseous suture (OS) techniques to treat patients with triangular fibrous cartilage complex (TFCC) injury associated with distal radio-ulnar joint (DRUJ) instability.The purpose of this study was to compare the outcomes between the two techniques with a minimum of 2 years of follow-up and to identify whether any pre-operative assessment factors correlated with post-operative Disability of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) scores.This study included 46 patients with TFCC injury with manually reducible DRUJ instability.Arthroscopic CS (n = 26) or OS (n = 20) was performed.Arcs of the wrist extension-flexion and radio-ulnar deviation, forearm supination-pronation, grip strength, DRUJ instability, and DASH and visual analogue scale scores for wrist pain were assessed pre-operatively and at the final follow-up.Spearman's correlation coefficients were calculated between the pre-operative assessments and the DASH scores at the final follow-up.The CS and OS techniques provided good stability of the DRUJ, increase in grip strength, and decrease in wrist pain and DASH scores.The results did not differ significantly between the CS and OS groups.Only the pre-operative DASH score correlated with the DASH score at the final follow-up.The results did not differ significantly between the CS and OS techniques performed on manually reducible TFCC injuries.Patients with a higher pre-operative DASH score were more likely to have a higher DASH score at the final follow-up.

Salmonella infection predominantly causes four clinical syndromes: enteric fever, gastroenteritis, bacteremia, and asymptomatic carrier state. Salmonella osteomyelitis is an extremely rare manifestation of salmonella infection except in children with hemoglobinopathies. Salmonella osteomyelitis has been reported to mostly affect the diaphysis of long bones and lumbar spine. Here, we describe a case of salmonella osteomyelitis of the right 6th rib in a 74-year-old woman who presented with breast pain, swelling, high fever and local heat. Her medical history showed myocardial infarction; namely, at the age of 71, the patient had undergone the drug-eluting stent placement in the left anterior descending artery. A computed tomography (CT) scan at the first visit to another hospital showed a mass in the chest that invaded the ribs. 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography-computed tomography imaging showed a lesion suspected to be a mammary malignant tumor. A needle biopsy revealed mesenchymal cells and suspected mammary sarcoma. However, the osteomyelitis of the rib was diagnosed when pyogenic tissue was observed during an open biopsy. The bacterial culture examination identified Salmonella enterica. Surgical drainage and antibiotic treatment were performed. Importantly, there was no evidence for any underlying disease that could lead to an immunocompromised status of the patient. To our knowledge, this is the first report of salmonella osteomyelitis of the rib presenting in an older female that required differentiation from a mammary tumor. Clinicians should consider rib osteomyelitis when they find swelling and local heat in the female's breast tissue and detect no cancerous tissue.

Synovial osteochondroma (SO) is a relatively uncommon tumor affecting the synovial joints that is characterized by the development of hyaline cartilage from the synovial membrane. The basic pathophysiology of SO is thought to be the metaplastic change of the synovium to hyaline cartilage. Large extra- or para-articular lesions in the Hoffa's fat pad are relatively uncommon. A 56-year-old woman complained of knee pain associated with a large lesion on the anterior of the right knee. She also had restricted range of motion in the knee. Examination revealed an elastic hard 8x9-cm lesion involving the patellar tendon. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a mosaic-intensity mass lesion in the inferior side of the Hoffa's fat pad as well as the patellar tendon. The patient underwent needle biopsy. Histological analysis revealed a solitary SO. There were no atypical features suggestive of malignancy and the mass was resected marginally. The patient had no recurrence or knee functional disorder 3 years postoperatively. There are no reports of SO involving the patellar tendon with restriction of range of motion. Removal of the mass lesion for management for SO, as in the present case, is unusual. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of extra-articular SO in the Hoffa's fat pad involving the patellar tendon causing a restriction of range of motion of the knee. Marginal surgical resection improved knee function.

Figure 1.A-B.Plain lateral radiograph showing a vertebral fracture at C4. C-D.Sagittal CT showing a vertebral fracture at C4 (A).Coronal CT of C4 showing destructive changes of the vertebra body, the right-side facet, and the right-side lamina (B).E-G.Magnetic resonance images showing heterogenic low-intensity lesions at the C4 vertebra in T1and T2-wighted images.

Background Angiolymphoid hyperplasia with eosinophilia is a rare nodular skin tumor characterized by eosinophilic invasion and vascular proliferation. Previous reports suggested that irritation and inflammation are the causative factors of this disease. Most cases of angiolymphoid hyperplasia with eosinophilia occur around the auricle, forehead, and scalp; the hand is rarely affected. Moreover, the tumor seldom presents as multiple nodules. Case presentation A 67-year-old Japanese woman presented with a complaint of skin masses on her left thumb and index finger, which had gradually grown in size over the past few months. A biopsy was performed confirming a diagnosis of angiolymphoid hyperplasia with eosinophilia. The aponeurosis on her index finger was resected and tissue was reconstructed using a reverse palmar digital island flap harvested from the base of her index finger. The thumb lesion was also resected and covered with collagen-based artificial skin. Gradual progression of skin epithelialization followed by healing was noted 2 months after the surgery. Conclusion Angiolymphoid hyperplasia with eosinophilia is a rare tumor; it is seldom seen in the hands. It is generally treated by surgical resection. It is important to resect a sufficiently large area of the tissue due to the possibility of relapse in some cases. Furthermore, appropriate reconstruction is mandatory after wide margin tumor resection.