The AMC knee orthosis was developed by the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at Asahikawa Medical College. We evaluated the results of 37 knees in 29 patients who wore the AMC knee orthosis for medial unicompartmental osteoarthrosis of the knee. The subjects, four men and 25 women, had an average age of 63.6 years (range: 48-72 years). The mean length of follow-up was 6.5 years (range: five to nine years). An earlier assessment had revealed that 89 percent of the knees had relief of pain. At the time of the current study, however, only 22 knees (59per cent) still had relief of pain. Five knees had to be revised to high tibial osteotomy in two cases, and to total knee arthroplasty in three cases. The orthosis no longer fit or was uncomfortable in another seven knees. We believe that the AMC knee orthosis is a suitable orthosis for patients who have medial unicompartmental osteoarthrosis of the knee.

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Forty-two patients with thoracic and lumbar spinal injuries were studied in this series. They were divided into four groups according to their initial treatments. Ten patients were treated without surgery. Ten patients were treated with Harrington rod instrumentation, ten with Luque instrumentation, and twelve with Anterior Two-rod Plate. All of the patients showed neurological deficits on admission. These four groups were evaluated based on four items, 1) neurological recovery by the treatment, 2) progression of rehabilitation during stay at hospital, 3) function of their trunks, and. 4) social activities and employment.
Following results were obtained.
1) Neurological recovery was evaluated according to Jacobs' method based on Frankel's calssification. There was no significant difference between the four groups.
2) Surgically treated patients could sit on the bed earlier than those treated conservatively. Their admission period was also shorter than the conservative group. However, there was no difference in finally obtained ADL level between them. Recovery of ADL was significantly influenced by the initial neurological function and facilities of the hospital. It was especially delayed in old patients and those with complications such as a bed sore.
3) Isometric strength of the trunks was measured by Cybex II system. Flexion was stronger than extention in the complete paraplegics, which was contrary to normal subjects. The range of motion of trunk bending and hips flextion with legs straightened was obviously larger in paraplegic patients than in normal subjects. Rotation was restricted both subjectively and objectively in patients treated with a long posterior instrumentations.
4) Independence of ADL at home was influenced by the ages and reconstruction of their houses. The working status was also influenced by the ages. As far as social problems were concerned, there was almost no difference between the four groups.

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[in Japanese]

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