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BACKGROUND Opioids are recently recommended for those who do not gain adequate pain relief from the use of acetaminophen or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Medical opioids are administered in various routes, and transdermal opioid products that can make up for the weaknesses of the oral or intravenous products have been developed. This study is to evaluate the clinical usefulness of fentanyl matrix in terms of the long-term improvement in pain and physical and mental functions. METHODS This was a multicenter, open, prospective, observational study that was conducted in 54 institutions in Korea. Patients with non-cancerous chronic pain completed questionnaires, and investigators also completed questionnaires. A total of 1,355 subjects participated in this study, and 639 subjects completed the study. Subjects received transdermal fentanyl matrix (12 µg/hr, 25 µg/hr, or 50 µg/hr depending on the patient's response and demand). Subjects visited at 29 ± 7 days, 85 ± 14 days, and 169 ± 14 days after administration, respectively, to receive drug titration and fill out the questionnaires. The results were analyzed using the intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis, full analysis set (FAS), and per-protocol (PP) analysis. The FAS analysis included only 451 participants; the PP analysis, 160 participants; and the ITT analysis, 1,355 participants. RESULTS The intensity of pain measured by the Numeric Rating Scale decreased from 7.07 ± 1.78 to 4.93 ± 2.42. The physical assessment score and mental assessment score of the Short-Form Health Survey 12 improved from 28.94 ± 7.23 to 35.90 ± 10.25 and from 35.80 ± 11.76 to 42.52 ± 10.58, respectively. These differences were significant, and all the other indicators also showed improvement. Adverse events with an incidence of ≥ 1% were nausea, dizziness, vomiting, and pruritus. CONCLUSIONS The long-term administration of fentanyl matrix in patients with non-cancerous pain can reduce the intensity of pain and significantly improves activities of daily living and physical and mental capabilities.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze complications after reverse total shoulder arthroplasty and report the clinical outcomes with review of previously reported studies. Materials and Methods: Complications after reverse total shoulder arthroplasty were analyzed for 98 patients who underwent reverse total shoulder arthroplasty and were followed-up for at least 6 months. Of 98 patients, 22 were men and 76 were women. The mean age was 75.0±6.5 years (range, 59-92 years) with a mean follow-up period of 22±19 months (range, 6-74 months). The types and time of occurrence of complications, methods of treatment, and clinical outcomes at the final follow-up were analyzed. Results: Complications occurred in 18 of 98 patients (18.4%). Seven of them received operative treatment and 11 were treated conservatively. Two cases had postoperative dislocations and were addressed with open reduction. In 2 cases, periprosthetic fractures occurred and were treated with open reduction and plate fixation. Two acromial stress fractures and 8 cases of heterotopic ossification were managed conservatively. Infection and humeral component loosening occurred in one case, respectively, and were treated with revision arthroplasty. Glenoid component loosening occurred in 2 cases, one of which was treated with revision arthroplasty and the other was managed conservatively. At the final follow-up, clinical outcomes showed a statistically significant improvement. Compared to groups with no complications, there were no significant differences in final clinical outcomes. Scapular notching occurred in 43.9% (43/98 cases). No statistically significant differences of clinical outcomes were observed between the scapular notching group and the no notching group (p＞0.05). Conclusion: In our study, 18% of complications occurred after reverse total shoulder arthroplasty and final clinical outcomes of these complications showed significant improvement. Scapular notching developed in 44% and did not provide a significant clinical effect at short term follow-up.

Degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine caused leg pain with associated calf weakness and atrophy. However, an unusual case of leg pain and calf atrophy due to neural compression is reported. We reported a rare case of a Baker's cyst causing common peroneal nerve and tibial nerve entrapment neuropathy. Initially, after arthroscopic menisectomy and cyst decompression, Baker's cyst was recurred and then open excision was done. Until 1 year after surgery, the cyst was not recurred, increased muscle bulk was noted and EMG showed improved findings. But she continued to complain of lower leg weakness and sole paresthesia owing to delayed diagnosis and cyst decompression.

Purpose: We reviewed the clinical result of two techniques of anterior fixation method for unstable pelvic ring injuries, which are external and internal fixation. Materials and Methods: A retrospective clinical analysis was performed on 33 cases which had been operated from September 1998 to February 2003. Mean follow-up period is 29 months (range, 12-54 months). Previous to anterior fixation percutaneous iliosacral screw fixation was applied on iliosacral joint in Type C injury. After then plate and screw fixation were done in 17 cases and external fixation in 16 cases as an anterior fixation method. The patient’™s functional outcome was evaluated by Postel score and comparison between two groups was performed. Results: In external fixator group the complaints are long duration of application of external fixator, excessive scar formation due to pin tract infection, pain and discomfort (Postel score 9.9; range, 8-11) due to malunion. In internal fixation group all of them showed more than good result and satisfactory to the postoperative condition and clinically (Postel score 11.6; range, 10-12). Conclusion: An open reduction and internal fixation technique is better than external fixation for the treatment of injured anterior pelvic ring in unstable pelvis fracture.