Even though the brachial plexus injury causes catastrophic loss of function of the corresponding upper extremity, it must be treated by conservative method for a long duration of time. But recently more challengeable surgical approaches such as neurorrhapy, nerve grafting, neurotization, muscle transfer and myocutaneous flap are being attempted. We have managed 26 cases of brachial plexus injury since 1979, and have obtained results as follows: 1. The most common cause was traffic accident(10 cases) including motor cycle accident. 2. The most frequent injury was due to traction mechanism(9 cases). 3. It required an average of 7.2 weeks for the diagnosis and therapeutic evaluation of brachial plexus injury. 4. Humerus fractures were the most common associated injury(7 cases). 5. Electromyography was conducted in most cases(20 cases), and cervical myelography was done in 5 cases. 6. The most common single injuries occured at the root level(7 cases) and next common site was trunk level(5 cases). But it happened most often in mixed type injury(12 cases). 7. Loss of motor power was most severe in finger flexors, and wrist flexors and extensors after brachial plexus injuries. But recovery was more rapid and complete in elbow flexors and deltoid. 8. If pain persisted for more than 6 months, the prognosis was relatively poor. 9. Surgical procedures were performed in 6 cases, one case of neurorrhapy, 2 cases of neurolysis, 2 cases of myocutaneous flap and one case of muscle transfer. 10. For the cases which did not improve with conservative mangement, operative procedures led to better results after determining appropriate indication.
Brachial Plexus ; Diagnosis ; Elbow ; Electromyography ; Fingers ; Humerus ; Methods ; Myelography ; Myocutaneous Flap ; Nerve Transfer ; Prognosis ; Surgical Procedures, Operative ; Traction ; Transplants ; Upper Extremity ; Wrist

No abstract available.
Knee*

Traumatic afflication of the elbow are so common in both adults and children that the frequency of elbow dislocation is in second to that of the shoulder. Its treatment is so standardized and its complications are well recognized. But there are some differences in biomechsnics of elbow structure of children and adult. We had analized clinically 68 cases of acute dislocation of elbow joint who were treated at Orthopedic Department, medical College of Yon Sei University. The results were as follows 1. The most prevalent age were 4–7 years old in children snd 26–35 years old in sdult. 2. The major mode of injury was slip down accident. 3. The most common type was posterior dislocation. 4. Accessory fractures were more common in child and associated injuries were more common in adult. 5. Good results were obtained from closed reduction and long arm cast immobilization. 6. Immobilization period was shorter in child even though in cases combined with accessory fracture. 7. There were few limitation of motion in children which were immobilized within 3 weeks and in adult which were immobilized within 1 week. But the more prolonged immobilization period, the severe limitation of motion was note. 8. There were less complications in child. 9. The most common mode of limitation of motion was extension.
Adult ; Arm ; Child ; Clinical Study ; Dislocations ; Elbow Joint ; Elbow ; Humans ; Immobilization ; Orthopedics ; Shoulder

Osteitis condensans ilii is one of the rare disease which represents an alteration in the normal bony architecture of that portion of the ilium alongside the sacro-iliac joint: namely condensation without involvement of joint space or adjacent sacrum. We analyzed clinically 9 cases of osteitis condensans ilii who were treated at the Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Medial college of Yonsei University. The results were as follows :l. All patients were women and oldest patient was 47, the youngest 23 years of age. 2. The pain occured following delivery in 3 cases and in one case ofter trauma. There was urinary tract infection in one case. 3. All patients complained low back pain and the pain extended to buttock in 2 cases whereas the radiating pain to lower extremity in 4 cases. 4. In 4 cases was a positive straight leg raising test elicited. 5. In 3 cases the blood sedimentation rate was increased above normal. 6. All patient succeed in relieving pain with conssrvative treatment. In 2 instances steroid was used. 7. There were combined diseases in 4 cases : herniated nucleus pulposus in 2 cases, rheumatoid arthritis in 1 case, osteoarthritis in 1 case.
Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Blood Sedimentation ; Buttocks ; Clinical Study ; Female ; Humans ; Ilium ; Joints ; Leg ; Low Back Pain ; Lower Extremity ; Orthopedics ; Osteitis ; Osteoarthritis ; Rare Diseases ; Sacrum ; Sclerosis ; Urinary Tract Infections

From September 1992 to April 1994, we reviewed 7 patients after arthroscopic surgery for anterior impingement in the ankle, who complained ankle pain and limitation of motion. All patients were mem and main symptoms were severe pain at full dorsiflexion of ankle and limitation of motion. Bony spur was located on the anterior aspect of tibia, and it was possible to resect the tibial bony spur arthroscopically without distraction devices. Mean operation time was 55 minutes. Pain, swelling and limitation of motion were much improved. There was no postoperative complication. Arthroscopic resection of the anterior tibial bony spur is an effective treatment for anterior impingement in the ankle.
Ankle ; Arthroscopy ; Humans ; Postoperative Complications ; Tibia

Avascular osteonecrosis has frequently occured in patients who have undergone transplantation of a kidney and generally has been considered to be a complication of the use of corticosteroids. But there are controversies regarding their dosage and duration of use in its influence on prevalence of avascular osteonecrosis. We analyzed the cases of our patients who underwent transplantation of a kidney and who we were able to follow up more than 8 months. l. Of a total of 300 patients, osteonecrosis developed in 24 joints of 12 patients. 2. Osteonecrosis was more frequently found in group of patients who were administered with larger doses of steroid. 3. Rejections of the transplanted kidney occured more frequently in those groups with osteonecrosis. 4. Most of rejections occured within 3 months after renal transplantation. 5. It took 4–26 months (average 12.3 months) the osteonecrosis could be found. 6. There were no differences in blood concentration of calcium phosphate and creatinine between osteonecrosis and non-osteonecrosis group. 7. Replacement arthroplasties were done in 10 joints without significant complication.
Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; Arthroplasty, Replacement ; Calcium ; Creatinine ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Joints ; Kidney ; Kidney Transplantation ; Osteonecrosis ; Prednisolone ; Prevalence

Sarcocystis spp is a causative agent of sarcocystosis. They have a characteristic life cycle infecting both prey and predator. Sarcocystis can cause myositis, atrophy of the adjacent cells and abortion in cattle. In mice, sarcocystosis causes mild cellular reactions without clinical disease. Severe haemorrhage and abortion were also reported. For monitoring the disease in wild rodents of the Korean peninsula, we captured Apodemus agrarius chejuensis on Jeju island and examined the specimen histopathologically. Intramuscular cysts were found and diagnosed as Sarcocystis. Sarcocystic infection has been reported in worldwide. There have been many reported infections in cattle and pigs in Korea. To our knowledge, this is the first report of Sarcocystis in Apodemus agrarius chejuensis captured in Korea.
Animals ; Atrophy ; Cattle ; Korea ; Life Cycle Stages ; Mice ; Murinae ; Myositis ; Rodentia ; Sarcocystis ; Sarcocystosis ; Swine

Adiaspiromycosis is caused by pulmonary infection with Emmonsia. Inhalated spores of Emmonsia cause asymptomatic infection to necrogranulomatous pneumonia, depending on the burden of adiaspore and host immunity. For disease monitoring of wild rodents captured on Jeju Island in Korea, we examined the lung tissue of wild rodents histopathologically. Spores composed of thick three-layered walls were found following histopathological examination and were diagnosed as adiaspiromycosis. Adiaspiromycosis has been found in mammals in many parts of the world. To our knowledge, this is the first report of adiaspiromycosis of an Apodemus agrarius captured in Korea.
Animals ; Asymptomatic Infections ; Chrysosporium ; Korea ; Lung ; Mammals ; Murinae ; Pneumonia ; Rodentia ; Spores