Cholangiocarcinoma is relatively rare, but high incidence rates have been reported in Eastern Asia, especially in Thailand. The etiology of this cancer of the bile ducts appears to be mostly due to specific infectious agents. In 2009, infections with the liver flukes, Clonorchis sinensis or Opistorchis viverrini, were both classified as carcinogenic to humans by the International Agency for Research on Cancer for cholangiocarcinoma. In addition, a possible association between chronic infection with hepatitis B and C viruses and cholangiocarcinoma was also noted. The meta-analysis of published literature revealed the summary relative risks of infection with liver fluke (both Opistorchis viverrini and Clonorchis sinensis), hepatitis B virus, and hepatitis C virus to be 4.8 (95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 2.8-8.4), 2.6 (95% CI: 1.5-4.6), and 1.8 (95% CI: 1.4-2.4), respectively -liver fluke infection being the strongest risk factor for cholangiocarcinoma. Countries where human liver fluke infection is endemic include China, Korea, Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. The number of infected persons with Clonorchis sinensis in China has been estimated at 12.5 million with considerable variations among different regions. A significant regional variation in Opistorchis viverrini prevalence was also noted in Thailand (average 9.6% or 6 million people). The implementation of a more intensive preventive and therapeutic program for liver fluke infection may reduce incidence rates of cholangiocarcinoma in endemic areas. Recently, advances have been made in the diagnosis and management of cholangiocarcinoma. Although progress on cholangiocarcinoma prevention and treatment has been steady, more studies related to classification and risk factors will be helpful to develop an advanced strategy to cure and prevent cholangiocarcinoma. (Cancer Sci 2010; 101: 579-585) C holangiocarcinomas (CCAs) -primarily cancers of the epithelial cells (mostly adenocarcinoma) in the bile ducts arising anywhere along the intrahepatic or extrahepatic biliary tree (1,2) -are relatively rare, but high incidence rates have been reported in Eastern Asia, especially in Thailand.(3) CCAs are highly fatal tumours, as they are clinically silent in the majority of cases.(4-9) Fortunately, survival of this cancer is improving.CCA occurs with a highly varying frequency in different areas of the world. CCA is second-most common primary liver cancer and accounted for an estimated 15% of primary liver cancer worldwide;(3) however, it varies widely by region from 5% in Japan (11) and 20% in Pusan (Busan), Korea (12) to 90% in Khon Kaen in Thailand. Recently, a rising tendency of intrahepatic CCA incidence was reported in Western countries. (13)(14)(15)(16) The reasons for this increase are not clear, but some of these increases were attributed to the switch between coding systems going from International Classification of Disease-Oncology-2 (ICD-O-2) to ICD-O-3.The etiology of CCA in Asian countries appears to be mostly linked to infections, especially infections wi...

The objective of this study was to determine whether the modified Stoppa approach or the ilioinguinal approach is better for the treatment of acetabular fractures by comparing the results of those 2 approaches. A randomized trial was undertaken of 60 consecutive patients with acetabular fractures treated with either the modified Stoppa or the ilioinguinal approach. In addition to the patients' demographics, the assessed preoperative parameters included fracture pattern, associated injuries, time to surgery, and Injury Severity Score; intraoperative parameters included blood loss and operative time for each procedure; and postoperative parameters included wound drainage, blood transfusion, perioperative complications, early operative complications, late operative complications, quality of reduction, radiological results, and clinical outcomes. The study showed no significant differences in all measured preoperative variables between the 2 groups (all P>.05). In addition, no significant differences were found in the intraoperative complication rate, early operative complication rate, late operative complication rate, quality of reduction, radiological results, and clinical outcomes (all P>.05). However, compared with the ilioinguinal approach, the modified Stoppa approach reduced intraoperative blood loss-and in doing so decreased wound drainage and the need for blood transfusion-and shortened operative time (all P<.05). The authors recommend using the modified Stoppa approach rather than the classical ilioinguinal approach to treat acetabular fractures when anterior exposure of the acetabulum is required.

Level II.

A prospective study is presented of 87 unstable intertrochanteric fractures treated with the proximal femoral nail anti-rotation (PFNA) with a follow-up of one year. Of the patients 76% were female. The average age was 75.3 years. The fracture was treated by closed reduction and intramedullary fixation. Pre-injury activity level was recovered in 77% of the patients. Fractures united in all patients. Mechanical failure and cut-out were not observed. A technical problem related to the mismatch of the proximal end of the nail was observed in 11 cases. Nine patients presented with thigh pain due to the redundant proximal end of the nail. The results of the PFNA were satisfactory in most elderly Chinese patients. However, the proximal end of the nail was not matched with the specific anatomy of some short elderly patients. Further modifications of the nail are necessary for the elderly Chinese population.

Purpose The aim of this study was to compare the results of a new technique for low, multidirectional locked nailing with closed reduction and minimally invasive plating in the treatment of distal tibial metadiaphyseal fractures. Methods Forty-six matched patients were divided according to age, gender, Injury Severity Score, and fracture pattern into group A (expert tibial nailing) and group B (minimally invasive plating). Then, the patients were followed up, and the clinical and radiographic results were retrospectively analysed.

No abstract

Purpose Treatment of talar neck fractures is challenging. Various surgical approaches and fixation methods have been documented. Clinical outcomes are often dissatisfying due to inadequate reduction and fixation with high rates of complications. Obtaining satisfactory clinical outcomes with minimum complications remains a hard task for orthopaedic surgeons. Methods In the period from May 2007 to September 2010, a total of 31 cases with closed displaced talar neck fractures were treated surgically in our department. Injuries were classified according to the Hawkins classification modified by Canale and Kelly. Under general anaesthesia with sufficient muscle relaxation, urgent closed reduction was initiated once the patients were admitted; if the procedure failed, open reduction and provisional stabilisation with Kirschner wires through an anteromedial approach with tibiometatarsal external fixation were performed. When the soft tissue had recovered, definitive fixation was performed with plate and screws through dual approaches. The final follow-up examination included radiological analysis, clinical evaluation and functional outcomes which were carried out according to the Ankle-Hindfoot Scale of the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS), patient satisfaction and SF-36. Results Twenty-eight patients were followed up for an average of 25 months (range 18-50 months) after the injury. Only two patients had soft tissue complications, and recovery was satisfactory with conservative treatment. All of the fractures healed anatomically without malunion and nonunion, and the average union time was 14 weeks (range 12-24 weeks). Posttraumatic arthritis developed in ten cases, while six patients suffered from avascular necrosis of the talus. Secondary procedures included three cases of subtalar arthrodesis, one case of ankle arthrodesis and one case of total ankle replacement. The mean AOFAS hindfoot score was 78 (range 65-91). According to the SF-36, the average score of the physical component summary was 68 (range 59-81), and the average score of the mental component summary was 74 (range 63-85). Conclusions Talar neck fractures are associated with a high incidence of long-term disability and complications. Urgent reduction of the fracture-dislocation and delayed plate fixation through a dual approach when the soft tissue has recovered may minimise the complications and provide good clinical outcomes.

Background The primary goal of this study was to create a frequency map of a series of surgically treated both-column fractures and to explore its implications on surgical management. Methods We used a consecutive series of 71 both-column fractures to create 3-dimensional reconstruction images, which were superimposed and oriented to fit a model hemipelvis template by aligning specific pelvis landmarks. Fracture lines were identified and traced to create a fracture map of both-column fractures. Then the possible clinical implications of fracture line map were explored. Results Fracture location is closely related to the distribution of fracture line. Of 71 fractures that met the criteria for inclusion, we found the most common pattern demonstrated by coexisting fracture lines. The anterior column was involved by 66% of the fractures extending obliquely from the anterior superior spine to the ischial spine, while 62% of the fractures involved the anterior column extending approximately vertically from the iliac crest to the acetabular roof. Additionally, 39% of the fractures involved the posterior column traversing posterior wall. Furthermore, the high fracture line intensity ( n = 65, 92%) formed a Y-shaped pattern, which highlighted the consistency of the patterns. Conclusions Surgically treated both-column fractures display very common patterns. The most common pattern is the low anterior column fracture in nearly two thirds of cases, the high anterior column fracture in three fifths of cases and the posterior column fracture with posterior wall involvement in nearly two fifths of cases. These study results may help surgeons to yield insight relevant to surgical approaches, reduction, fixation strategies and even implant design for both-column fractures.