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We aimed to compare the modified transtibial and anteromedial (AM) portal techniques of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with respect to femoral tunnel position and length, as well as to identify factors associated with tunnel length.After exclusions, 105 primary anterior cruciate ligament reconstructions (55 in transtibial group and 50 in AM portal group) were studied. Femoral tunnel positions were assessed on postoperative tunnel-view radiographs, and tunnel lengths were measured during surgery. Differences between femoral tunnel positions in the coronal plane and lengths in these 2 groups were examined, and factors associated with tunnel lengths were investigated.The AM portal group had a significantly more oblique femoral tunnel position than the transtibial group. However, femoral tunnels in the AM portal group were substantially shorter than tunnels in the transtibial group (34.2 v 43.3 mm, P.001); the proportions of knees with femoral tunnels measuring less than 30 mm in the AM portal and transtibial groups were 26% and only 2%, respectively. In addition, a more oblique femoral tunnel position and a shorter distal femur mediolateral width were found to be significantly associated with a shorter femoral tunnel.This study shows that the AM portal technique can achieve a more oblique femoral tunnel position but that resultant tunnels are substantially shorter than tunnels produced by the modified transtibial technique.

Study design Retrospective study. Objectives To investigate the 10-year survival of a large number of elderly patients who underwent spine surgery for lumbar spinal stenosis, and to identify significant risk factors and compare them with age- and gender-matched controls from the general population. Summary of background data There have been many studies on treatment options and surgical outcomes for lumbar spinal stenosis. However, survival outcomes after lumbar spinal stenosis surgery have not previously been studied. Because these operations are usually performed for elderly patients, we consider patient survival or life expectancy to be a significant outcome measure. Methods Between January 1997 and June 2006, patients underwent spine surgery for lumbar spinal stenosis. The date of death was verified using records from the National Health Insurance Corporation. Cumulative 10-year survival was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method, and the survival of patients who had undergone spine surgery was compared to that of age- and sex-matched members of the general population. A Cox multivariate regression analysis was used in order to compare the survival rates for different covariates. Results Using Kaplan-Meier curves, the overall 10-year survival was 87.8% in patients 60 to 70 years old at surgery, and 83.8% in patients 70 to 85 years old at surgery. The 10-year survival rate of female patients and patients who underwent fusion surgery were higher than those of male patients and patients with nonfusion surgery. Compared to the adjusted corresponding portion in general population, the standardized mortality ratios were 0.21, 0.53, and 0.45 in patients aged 50 to 59, 60 to 69, and 70 to 85, respectively. Conclusion Elderly patients who underwent spine surgery for spinal stenosis had reduced mortality compared to the corresponding portion of the general population. Therefore, surgery for spinal stenosis is a justifiable procedure even in elderly patients.

The main aim of the present study was to assess the differences in EEG between gifted and average students. Another aim of the present study was to investigate which brain areas are related to a Rey-Osterrieth complex figure (ROCF) memorizing using a functional cluster (FC) analysis and how the complexity of cortical activities changes in both gifted and average students. The EEG was recorded from 16 electrodes in both 18 right-handed healthy gifted and age-matched average students before and during ROCF memorizing. FC was estimated to characterize the joint interactions among many brain regions and neural complexity. The study assessed the visuo-spatial memory abilities through examining EEG profiles using the measure of FC, and planning and executive function using recall score. The gifted students made a significantly high score compared to the average students during ROCF memorizing. Both groups showed very different FC patterns. ROCF memorizing is related to the visual mental process, thus simultaneous neuronal activities appears on the right central, temporal, occipital, and bilateral prefrontal regions. One of the notable characteristics of gifted students' FC map is the dominance of the right hemisphere compared with that of average students, and it is accordance with the characteristics of gifted brain.