Injury of the hand has been progressively increasing with industrial development in recent years. In spite of careful and proper surgical treatment, orthopedic surgeon is frequently faced with a hand which fails to function properly because of limited flexion or extension in the metacarpophalangeal and interphalangeal joints. The author has experienced 13 cases of stiff fingers from 1968 to 1973 and the result of the treatment is reported in this paper. 1. 12 cases out of 13 were in age group between 11 to 30 years of age. 2. The types of injury were variable as; 5 cases of laceration, 5 cases of crushing injury, 2 cases of wringer injury, and 1 case of open fracture. Those were injuried by roller, glass, pressor, drill and gun-shot. 3. Involved anatomical structurs in stiff finger joints were much variable, mainly depending upon varying degrees of intial injury. We have classified them roughly in 4 groups; 1 Ruptured or sutured tendon adhesion. 2. Intrinsic muscles and tendon adhesion, and capsule and collateral contracture. 3. Resultant massive scar contracture including joints, and ligaments. 4. Osseus adhesion with soft tissues including tendon. 4. 17 times of reconstructive surgery were performed in 14 stiff joint with skin graft, Z-plasty, adhesiolysis, capsulotomy, capsulectomy, resection of cord portion of collateral ligament, tenolysis and arthroplasty alternatively or unitedly except of tenodesis and arthrodesis in remained 2 joints. 5. Post-operative immobilization was performed with plaster splint, stein mann pin and K-wire accordingly. The period of immobilization was variable from 2 weeks to 4 weeks. Physical therapy is enforced to begin as soon as possible. The period of follow-up was from 2 months to 19 months and average 6 1/2 month.. 6. Consequently, the range of active motion is increased to 55° and passive motion to 61° from preoperative status in PIP and MP joints. 7. The preoperative position of the joints and cause of the joint stiffness don't gave no significant influence to the end result. Satisfactory end result was obtained by proper, careful and meticulous surgery with early and extensive physical therapy.
Arthrodesis ; Arthroplasty ; Cicatrix ; Collateral Ligaments ; Contracture ; Finger Joint ; Fingers ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fractures, Open ; Glass ; Hand ; Humans ; Immobilization ; Industrial Development ; Joints ; Lacerations ; Ligaments ; Muscles ; Orthopedics ; Skin ; Splints ; Tendons ; Tenodesis ; Transplants

237 patients with Legg-Calve-Perthes disease were treated during past 12 years. Among them, a comparative study was done for 87 patients who were followed up over 2 years. They were analyzed according to Catteralls classification and divided into a group of conservative treatment and of surgical treatment. 74 patients were boys and 13 patients were girls and the ratio of boys to girls was 5.7 to 1. The mean age was about 6.9-year-old. Bilateral involvement was observed in 6 patients. According to Catterall classification. 1(1.1%) was classified as group I, 27(29.0%) as group II, and 36(38.7%) as group III, and 29(31.2%) as group IV. According to assessment by Harrison et al., satisfactory result was achieved in 63.2% of cases of conservative treatment and 34.3% of cases of operative treatment. The measurement of epiphyseal quotient and femoral head sphericity(by Mose) were considered meaningful methods for assessing the result of the treatment. The most frequent one of “Head-at-Risk” factors was lateral subluxation of femoral head. The result of treatment was not always coincided with the classification by Catterall. In bilateral involvement, the first affected hip had better prognosis than contralateral one.
Classification ; Female ; Head ; Hip ; Humans ; Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease ; Prognosis

Experimental osteoarthritis has been studied by various methods such as local compression of the joint, immobilization of the joint, relief of the contact and incision of the meniscus. The instability caused by the ligament injuries of the knee joints of the rabbits induced degenerative changes of the articular cartilages. After excision of the medial collateral ligament, medial meniscus and both cruciate ligament, the articular cartilages were observed serially after 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 weeks, grossly and microscopically. The results obtained are as follows; 1. Loss of transluscency and luster was observed even in the early group of the first week, and was followed by erosion and fissure on the articular cartilage in the groups of the third and later weeks grossly. 2. Microscopically, cluster formation of the chondrocytes on the articular cartilage was observed in the group of the first week and there was tendency of increase in its numbers and extents in the subsquent groups. Fibrillation and cleft formation was also observed in these groups. 3. Loss of metachromasia was observed in the groups of the second and subsquent weeks, but it was most prominant in the groups of the sixth and eighth weeks. 4. The tendancy of cluster formation was more prominent, compared with those of fibrillation or erosion.
Cartilage, Articular ; Chondrocytes ; Collateral Ligaments ; Immobilization ; Joints ; Knee Joint ; Knee ; Ligaments ; Menisci, Tibial ; Osteoarthritis ; Rabbits

The skin defect with sensory impairment of volar aspect of fingers should be reconstructed for the better function of hand. The Neurovascular island graft has been used to provide sensation to volar surface the thumb and to replace pulp tissues avulsed from thumb or index finger. Authors performed neurovascular island graft for defective sensibility of finger tip loss in 14 cases since Jun. 1979 to Mar. 1985. The donor flaps were obtained from the ring finger in 9 cases and middle finger in 5 cases. Among 14 cases, the donor flaps were taken from the ulnar side of 3rd and 4th finger in 11 cases. We followed up the the patients from 7 months to 4 years and 6months and in last follow-up, recovery of protective sensation such as sharp/blunt discrimination, temperature discrimination, and touch/stroke discrimination, was good but two point discrimination and reorientation of sensa-tion were poor. Cold intolerance was developed in 11 cases, and longitudial linear scar band of donor digit was demonstrated in 12 cases.
Cicatrix ; Discrimination (Psychology) ; Fingers ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hand ; Humans ; Sensation ; Skin ; Thumb ; Tissue Donors ; Transplants

Actinomycosis, in which the principal causative agent in man is known to Actinomyces israelii, is a chronic, suppurative diseases characterized by extensive fibrosis, multiple abscesses, and formation of sinus tracts that drain suppurative exudates. On the basis of the anatomical sites involved; it can be subclassified into the cervicofacial form, which is the most common form, pulmonary form and abdominal form. Kidneys are rarely affected. Clinically, radiologically, and at operation it is difficult to differentiate the renal actinomycosis from renal tuberculosis and renal carcinoma. The prognosis is excellent after nephrectomy followed by appropriate antibiotic therapy. We presented a case of renal actinomycosis with a brief review of the literatures.
Male ; Humans

Antiseptics are substances that kill or prevent the growth of microorganisms when applied to living tissue. They must be effective against microorganisms but must also retain their activity in presence of body fluids without being harmful locally or systemically. Among many antiseptics, Betadine(R) has been widely used because of its low toxicity and high germicidal efficacy. We reported 2 cases of allergic contact dermatitis to Betadine(R) in surgical patients. They had eczematous eruption along the Betadine(R) applying sites. Path tests Betadine(R) confirmed the diagnosis.
Anti-Infective Agents, Local ; Body Fluids ; Dermatitis, Allergic Contact* ; Diagnosis ; Humans

The purpose of this study was to assess the needs for nutrition programs in the public health centers by general characteristics and body mass index (BMI) of community residents. Information of general characteristics of study participants including age, education, income, marital status, residence, and job, and resident's interest in nutrition programs, the preferred educational methods and the willingness to participate in nutrition programs were collected by an interview. Weight and height were measured and were used to calculate the BMI. The program that resident's were most interested in was 'diet therapy for chronic disease and counseling' (28.5%), followed by 'nutritional management for the elderly' (21.1%), and 'obesity and weight control' (17.1%). 'Education and counseling by nutrition professionals' was the most preferred educational method. Among the programs that the subjects would participate in, if they were offered in public health centers, 65.8% subjects would participate in 'diet therapy for chronic disease and counseling' programs, 64.9% would participate in 'nutritional management for the elderly' programs and 52.2% would participate in 'obesity and weight control' programs. The contents of programs that the subjects were interested in, the preferred methods and their willingness to participate nutrition programs differed significantly by age, income, education, marital status, and body mass index. The results imply that the planning of nutrition interventions in the public health centers must be tailored and targeted group specific by taking the participants general characteristics and body mass index into consideration. This would surely increase the nutrition program's effectiveness
Body Mass Index* ; Chronic Disease ; Counseling ; Education ; Marital Status ; Needs Assessment* ; Public Health*

With dramatic transitions from a traditionally food-insecure to a food-sufficient society, over weight and/or obesity are an increasing health concern in Korea. In 2000, 35.9% of Korean adults were over weight (BMI>25) with increasing trends. It is well known that obesity is highly correlated with chronic diseases, such as diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, cancer and high cholesterol. In 2003, the social cost of obesity is estimated at 529.5~799.3 billion won (direct cost) and at 1,200~1,817 billion won (including indirect cost). The share of the direct cost is estimated at 2.6~3.9% of total medical bill 20,742 billion won. These costs are underestimated and would surely be higher if the expenditures outside of the official medical insurance system of Korea were included. Based on the rapid increase of obesity rate among the Korean youth, it is crucial to develop and implement appropriate policies to curb the obesity epidemic.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Cholesterol ; Chronic Disease ; Health Expenditures ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Insurance ; Korea* ; Obesity* ; Overweight

Sixty-eight discoid meniscus in sixty-seven patients confirmed by arthroscope have been analysed and operated upon at Kyung Hee University Hospital between 1976 and 1984. It is the purpose of this paper to study the clinical characteristics of the discoid meniscus and classify the type of tom discoid meniscus for the accurate diagnosis and the effective treatment. The types of torn discoid meniscus could be classified into 6 types, which had specific clinical, arthrographic and arthroscopic findings, respectively. The type Vwas most common. Of 52. 2% of cases of the discoid meniscus, the patients were in the second decade of life at the time of operation, varying in age from 7 years to 53 years. In the 55. 2% of cases of the torn discoid meniscus, there were no history of specific trauma. The clinical diagnostic accuracy was 61.8% and the diagnostic accuracy of arthrography was 86%. Partial and total meniscectomy through arthroscope showed better results in follow-up study.
Arthrography ; Arthroscopes ; Diagnosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Knee Joint ; Knee

14 Cases of delayed and nonunion of the carpal scaphoid fractures who were treated at Department of the Orthopedic Surgery, College of medicine, Kyungpook National University, Taegu, Korea during the period of April, 1984. to March, 1986 were analysed. The results were as follows; l. Of the total 14 cases, there were 13 male and 1 female patients. This result showed marked predominence of right hand (10 cases) over the left and most commonly occured between 21 and 40 of age (11 case). 2. The site of fracture were confined to the middle one third in 12 cases (85.7%), the fracture lines were transverse in 6 cases (42.9%). 3. In 14 cases, union was obtained from 13 cases (92.9%) that were treated with Herbert screw,from 2 cases of delyed union after 2.3 months and from 12 cases of nonunion after 4.3 months. 4. Postoperatve cast immobilization was done for 2 weeks in the cases that were treated with Herbert screw and for 4 weeks in the cases that were treated with Herbert screw and bone graft. 5. The results of treatment were excellent in 7 cases (50%), good in 6 cases (42.9%) and fair in 1 case so that all of 14 patient could treturn to their work.
Daegu ; Female ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Hand ; Humans ; Immobilization ; Korea ; Male ; Orthopedics ; Transplants