A cross-sectional survey was conducted to determine the prevalence rate of scoliosis in elementary, middle and high school boys in May 1988. The study population included 1,393 male students in Pusan ; 463 students of 4th grade in two elementary schools, 543 students of 1st grade in one middle school and 387 students of 1st grade in one high school. The students of elementary school were screened with inspection by two physicians at the same time and the students of middle and high schools were screened with both inspection by the same physicians and 70mm chest X-ray. Positive students in any one of the two screening tests were measured for height and body weight and asked for the shoulder side on which he carries the school bag. The angle of curvature on X-ray film was measured by Cobb's method. The number of positive students in any one of the two tests were 15(3.2%) in elementary schools, 174(32.0%) in middle school and 92(23.8%) in high school. However, positive rates in both tests were only 2.2% for the middle school students and 2.6% for the high school students and among these students 1.1% out of total middle school students and 2.3% of high school students had a curvature equal to or greater than 5 degrees of Cobb's angle on 70mm chest X-ray film. There was a statistically significant association between the direction of spinal curve and the shoulder side on which one carries school bag among positive students in both screening tests (p<0.05). Mean height and body weight of 281 positive students in any one of two screening tests were compared with the Korean standard for the same age. Mean weight of elementary school students was nearly the same as the standard weight but the height was slightly shorter than the standard. However, both mean height and weight of the middle school students were lower than the standard while those of the high school students were higher. The prevalence rate of scoliosis for the 2nd 3rd grades of high school is presumed to be higher than that of the 1st grade of high school and the rate for girls will be even higher than the rate for boys of the same age. Thus, scoliosis seems to be an important school health problem. To prevent scoliosis, it is recommended to reduce the weight of school bag, educate the students to keep a right posture and exercise periodically.
Body Weight ; Busan* ; Cross-Sectional Studies* ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mass Screening ; Posture ; Prevalence* ; School Health Services ; Scoliosis* ; Shoulder ; Thorax ; X-Ray Film

he carpal tunnel syndrome is the most common perripheral nerve entrapment syndrome. Many tests have been used for diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome. A new test, called the instrumented carpal tunnel and the Tinel percussion test, the Phalen wrist-flexion test, tourniquet test, and the trodiagnostically proved carpal tunnel syndrome and in a group of 49 patients(79 hands) during the period from October 1994 to July 1995. The results were as follows; 1. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy results of each provocative test were 53%, 88%, 70% on Tinel test, 72%, 66%, 69% on tourniquet test, 62%, 91%, 76% on Phalen test, 85%, 95%, 90% on the instrumented carpal compression test. 2. For the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome, the instrumented carpal compression test was found to be the most sensitive, specific and accuracy results. 3. As a results, the new, instrumented carpal compression test with Durkan's CTS gauge was thought to be the most useful provocative diagnostic method & a simple, rapid & inexpensive technique for screening for carpal tunnel syndrome, and consisted of lightweight device.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome ; Diagnosis ; Mass Screening ; Methods ; Nerve Compression Syndromes ; Percussion ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Tourniquets

No abstract available.

Between 1982 and 1991, 33 cases(47 patients) with Ficat stage I and II avascular necrosis of the femoral head which had decompression with fibular strut grafting were followed up for average 62 months ranging from 36 to 136 months, The authors analyzed the results by Harris Hip Score(H.H.S) clinically and according to Ficat stage progression radiologically and evaluated the effectivencess of this procedure in the early stage of atraumatic avascular necrosis of the femoral head. The results were as follows. 29 hips were mon, 4 hips were women and 11 patients were bilateral. The ages ranged from 26 to 75 years and the mean age was 46.6 years. By the radiological classification of Japnese Investigation Committee, 23 hips(79%) of stage II showed diffuse involvement of the femoral heads(type 1-C, 2, 3-B). By Ficat stage, stage I were 4(12%) and stage II were 29(88%). At follow up, 2 hips were in stage I(6%), 15 hips were in stage II(46%), 11 hips were in stage III(33%) and 5 hips showed stage IV (15%). Two hips were converted to total hip arthroplasty due to failure. Preoperative Harris Hip Score was 84 points in average and at most recent follow up, the score was 89 points in average. The clinical surccess rate was 73% and radiological success rate was 52%, but 83% of the patients were satisfied with the procedure subjectively. There noted some disparity between the clinical and raiological results, but the effect of the decompression with fibular strut grafting will be known if more long term follow up is available.
Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip ; Classification ; Decompression ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Head ; Hip ; Humans ; Necrosis ; Transplants

Fractures of the patella are predominantly intra-articular fractures of a sesamoid bone. The options of treatment vary from closed treatment to total patellectomy, in the middle of the spectrum are osteosynthesis and partial patellectomy. In this series, we experienced 59 cases of patellar fractures from October 1974 to October 1983 at the Department of the Orthopedic Surgery, College of Medicine, Kyungpook National University. The results were as follows:1. Most fractures were encountered in man from twenties to forties. 2. The most common cause of fractures was traffic accident(34 cases, 59.7%), followed by slip down or falling down(15 cases, 26.3% ). 3. The most frequent configuration of fractures was the comminuted. 4. 36 cases were treated with osteosynthesis (32 cases), partial excision (1 case) or total excision (3 cases). Of the 32 cases treated with osteosynthesis, most were treated by modified tension band wiring (16 cases). And as compared with other fixation techniques, the best results were obtained by this method. 5. Modified tension band wire fixation has given accepatable results even in severely comminuted, displaced patellar fractures. Excision was sometimes unavoidable.
Accidental Falls ; Clinical Study ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Intra-Articular Fractures ; Methods ; Orthopedics ; Patella ; Sesamoid Bones

Acute bacterial infection of bone and joint presents a real challenge to orthopedist because early diagnosis and treatment are difficult and also essential. In almost all practices, fever and erythrocyte sedimentation rate(ESR) are widely used for monitoring the course, for estimating the effectiveness of treatment, and for the recovery of such illnesses. However, interpreting body temperature is difficult and ESR is nonspecific, is not not sensitive, normalizes slowly. Otherwise, C-reactive protein(CRP) is very sensitive and normalizes fast. CRP, body temperature, and ESR were sequentially measured until a normal value was reached in twenty seven patients in whom acute osteomyelitis (17 patients), acute exacerbation of chronic osteomyelitis(4 patients), and septic arthritis(6 patients) had been diagnosed by positive bacterial culture at Kyungpook National University Hospital from June 1984 to May 1985. The results were as follows: 1. CRP normalized within 8.8 days on average. 2. Fever lasted 4.5 days on average. 3. ESR normalized within 41.6 days on average. 4. Initial mean value of CRP was 4.2 positive in acute in acute osteomyelitis and septic arthritis and 3.5 positive in acute exacerbation of chronic osteomyelitis, therefore CRP can be considered as a very sensitive indicator for early detection of acute bacterial infection of bone and joint. Also sequential CRP determination can be used for monitoring the course, for estimating the effectiveness of treatment, and for the recovery of such illnesses.
Arthritis, Infectious ; Bacterial Infections ; Blood Sedimentation ; Body Temperature ; C-Reactive Protein ; Early Diagnosis ; Fever ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Humans ; Joints ; Osteomyelitis ; Reference Values

The usage of electromyography is customized in the diagnosis of the neuromuscular disorder and the determination of motor conduction velocity is important in the diagnosis of the peripheral nerve lesion and in the posing of the site and severity of nerve damage. Although the radial nerve is frequently involved in generalized neuropathy and in entrapment syndrome, relatively fewer reports have appeared in the literature regarding the radial nerve. The purpose of this study is to determine the normal data of the motor conduction velocity of the proximal and distal segments of the radial nerve. The radial nerve fibers supplying the extensor indicis muscls muscle was stimulated at Erb's point, above the elbow and in the distal forearm and its muscle action potential was sampled. Seventy-four radial nerve were studied in thirty-seven healthy young subjects. The results obtained were as follows; 1. The mean proximal velocity was 70.7±6.8m/sec and the mean distal velocity was 57.6±4.3m/sec. 2. In any case tested, the proximal velcity was over 55m/sec. 3. The proximal velocity was faster than the distal velocity and the mean difference was 13.1m/sec In only 7 of the 74 nerves tested, the proximal velocity was slower than the distal velocity and the difference of Sm/sec was the most reversal. 4. The velocity in dominant limb was faster than that in nondominant limb. 5. There were no significant difference between the sexes.
Action Potentials ; Diagnosis ; Elbow ; Electromyography ; Extremities ; Forearm ; Peripheral Nerves ; Radial Nerve

Operative repair of mallet fracture is a technically difficult operation because fracture of fragment and the difficulty in visualizing the articular congruity. The problems with these methods include soft tissue scar formation and subsequent joint stiffness. From January 1993 to April 1994, eight cases of mallet fingers with displaced large fracture fragment and/or subluxed distal phalanx were treated by closed reduction using extension-block Kirschner wire. The follow-up evaluation took place after a mean of 6 months. The results according to Crawford's criteria were four excellent, two good and two fair. This technique is simple, and easier than other techniques for reduction of mallet fractures, and is associated with a low morbidity.
Cicatrix ; Fingers ; Follow-Up Studies ; Joints

The os calcis is most frequently fractured than any other tarsal bone and the displaced intraarticular fractures account for 60-75% of them. Because of complex contour of calcaneous, it is difficult to evaluate the pattern of fracture exactly by conventional roentgenograms. But recently, more detailed understanding of fracture pattern can be possible with CT scan, which is thought to be one of the most important factor in deciding method of treatment and predicting prognosis. From Jan. 1992 to Dec. 1992, intraarticular calcaneal fractures of 31 cases treated in Kyungpook university hospital were analysed preoperatively with CT scan and classified by Sanders classification system. The results were obtained as follows: 16 cases of 31 cases were classified as type II and this type were sudivided as IIA in 7 cases, IIb in 4 cases, IIC in 5 cases. Type III fractures were found in 9 cases and subdivided as III AB in 3 cases, III BC in 4 cases IIIAC in 2 cases. Type IV fractures were found in 6 cases.
Classification ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Intra-Articular Fractures ; Methods ; Prognosis ; Tarsal Bones ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Anatomically flexor pollicis longus is different from deep finger flexors. Flexor pollicis longus tendon is unique in that it may be advanced without disturbing its blood supply, since it has no vinculum. From January 1990 to December 1992, 17 cases of patients with laceration of the flexor pollicis longus tendon were treated at Kyungpook National University Hospital. The follow up period ranged from 3 to 36 months. The results were as follows; 1. agents causing the laceration were broken bottles in 10 cases(58.8%), knives in 3 cases(17.6%) and machinary like saw in 2 cases(11.8%). 2. Totally 17 cases, 9 cases of them were located at distal to metacarpophalageal joint. 3. As associated injuries, digital nerve injuries were 4 cases(23.5%) and the recurrent branch of median nerve injuries was 1 case. 4. The surgical treatment was direct suture with or without proximal lengthening in 13 cases(76%) as primary or secondary repair and distal advancement with or without proximal lengthening in 4 cases(24%) as secondary repair. 5. Distal to metacarpophalangeal joint, the surgical treatment was direct suture with or without proximal lengthening in 3 cases as primary or secondary repair and distal advancement with or without proximal lengthening in 4 cases as secondary repair. 6. The result by Urbaniak method was excellent in 8 cases(47.0%), good in 7 cases(41.2%) and fair in 2 cases(11.8%). 7. Based on the results in these patients, it was recommended that secondary treatment for lacerations distal to the metacarpophalangeal at the wrist, as needed is bettewr than free tendon graft.
Fingers ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Humans ; Joints ; Lacerations ; Median Nerve ; Metacarpophalangeal Joint ; Methods ; Sutures ; Tendon Injuries ; Tendons ; Transplants ; Wrist