Soft tissue mixed tumor of the hand

Mixed tumors are relatively common in the skin and salivary glands, but extremely rare in soft tissues, often resulting in diagnostic problems. The occurrence of these tumors in the hand is especially limited. In this article we report the clinical, radiological, and histological features of a mixed tumor of the hypothenar region of the right hand

Low-power, small-size transmitter module with metamaterial antenna

Development of a low-power, small-size transmitter is needed for wireless sensor networks. An effective way to reduce power consumption is to reduce the operating time in a voltage-controlled oscillator. In this study, a 2.4 GHz on-off keying transmitter circuit is designed and implemented with an electrically small antenna using a left-handed transmission line. The transmitter circuit was fabricated with a standard 0.18 mu m CMOS technology, while the antenna was fabricated with a 3.0 x 4.5 cm printed circuit board, chip capacitors, and chip inductors. Measured output power was -6.8 dBm with a power consumption of 3.59 mW when the baseband signal was always "high". The power consumption was reduced to 1.96 mW for the baseband signal with a mark ratio of 0.5

Middle and Long -term Clinical Results of Dorsiflexion Osteotomy for Severe Hallux Rigidus

Category: Bunion Introduction/Purpose: Total arthroplasty or arthrodesis is often used as a surgical procedure for severe case of hallux rigidus. However, because these procedures involve problems such as loss of joint function, age, and postoperative motion restriction, joint-preserving surgery is desirable for achieving a better quality of life. To resolve these problems, we have performed dorsiflexion osteotomy of the first metatarsal head since 2000, yielding favorable outcomes. We report about middle to long-term follow-up for our clinical results and radiographic findings. Methods: The study involved 31 feet of 30 patients (20 male,11 female) with Grade 2 (joint space narrowed to about 1/2 or less) or Grade 3 according to the Hattrup and Johnson classification. The mean age at surgery was 61.6 years (range: 53-77). Surgical techniques: We have used dorsal approach and conducted closed wedge osteotomy of the first metatarsal bone neck. Then, the bone head was flexed dorsally to form an articular surface and fixation. PWB was permitted 3 weeks after surgery. Mean postoperative follow-up period was 4 years and 2 months (range: 3-13 years). Clinical outcomes, range of motion (ROM), and radiographic findings were investigated. Results: Clinical outcomes were rated as excellent in 24 feet, good in 7, and fair/poor in none. All patients returned to normal daily life. Stiffness while walking was noted in 10 feet. As for ROM, most patients had a 1/2 to 2/3 of the normal range. No complications such as infection, nonunion, or transfer metatarsalgia were seen in any case. An X-ray film showed joint space narrowing in about half of all cases. None of the patients experienced pain relapse requiring arthrodesis again. Conclusion: The mechanism of pain relief is Dorsiflexion osteotomy is by bone shortening, make a decreasing joint pressure and regaining of normal articular to the dorsal side so that it faces the articular surface of the proximal phalanx. The postoperative restriction of ROM may be attributable to changes in the bone alignment and in the tension of soft tissue around the joint as compared to the healthy condition. None of the patients experienced pain relapse. Our procedure appears to be useful as joint- preserving surgery for severe cases with hallux rigidus

The Predicting Factor for Avascular Necrosis After Talus Fracture — the Study Based on CT Findings

Category: Trauma Introduction/Purpose: Treatment of talus fracture is difficult. Because talus fracture often cause the avascular necrosis, and necessitate a prolonged non-weight-bearing period or arthrodesis in these cases. Identification of the fracture type that results in necrosis before a surgery may help in the determination of the planning of treatment and the prognosis. However, necrosis cannot be identified directly by a conventional fracture classification. We investigated the sites in which fracture lines of the talus are visible by using CT to determine the association between fracture of the talus and the occurrence of necrosis. Methods: Twenty-five patients (25 feet; 18 men and 7 women; mean age at the first visit, 48.4 years [range, 15–80 years]) treated through 2003 to 2013 were included in this study. Fracture lines were assessed using radiography and CT. According to the conventional classification, 12 neck fractures and 13 body fractures were found. The Inokuchi–Ogawa classification was used to assess the fracture line on the subtalar joint surfaces. A fracture line was defined as the line connecting 1 with the other point as follows: (a) the sulcus tali ; (b) the sinus tarsi; (c) between the lateral process and the lateral tubercle; and (d) the medial tubercle. MRI was used for the assessment of necrosis. The subjects were divided into the non-necrosis group (group A) and the necrosis group (group B), and relationship between fracture lines and appearance of necrosis was examined. Results: With the exclusion of 2 unclassifiable cases, group A consisted of 15 feet, whereas group B consisted of 8 feet. At the Inokuchi–Ogawa classification, 1fracture line was found in 8 feet,2:5, and and 3:1 in group A. In group B, all cases showed multiple fracture lines. Among the lines connecting a-b, a-c, and b-d, fracture was observed in more than 2 lines in the all cases . Conclusion: The most important factor for determining the prognosis of talus fracture is the presence or absence of necrosis. The results of this study indicate that fracture lines connecting a-b, a-c, and b-d interrupt major blood routes, and talus fracture more than 2 fracture lines were highly likely to develop avascular necrosis. Thus, fracture lines may predict the occurrence of necrosis and possible sites of its occurrence