No abstract available.
Lower Extremity*

No abstract available.
Knee* ; Physical Examination*

Synovial cysts are uncommon lesions that may occur within the spinal canal. Most commonly synovial cysts arise from degenerative apophyseal joints, in particular at the L4-5 level, and are associated with spondylolisthesis. We present one case of lumbar synovial cyst located both intraspinally and extraspinally and originated from the defect of the pars interarticularis. The content of the synovial cyst was infected. The patient progressively developed low back pain and fever. The lesion was diag nosed by computed tomography and a magnetic resonance imaging. The synovial cyst was presented a huge lobulacted intraspinal and extraspinal mass and connected with the L4-5 facet joint on the right side. The dural sac was displaced by the intraspinal mass. Relieve of symptoms was achieved with decompressive laminectomy and removal of the mass. The content of the synovial cyst was infected with Staphylococcus aureus confirmed by the synovial fluid culture. The reasons for our report are to describe the previously unreported appearance of this lesion that was huge lobulated intraspinal and extraspinal mass with infected fluid content originated from the defect of the pars interarticularis.
Fever ; Humans ; Joints ; Laminectomy ; Low Back Pain ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Nose ; Spinal Canal ; Spine* ; Spondylolisthesis ; Staphylococcus aureus ; Synovial Cyst* ; Synovial Fluid ; Zygapophyseal Joint

PURPOSE: To evaluate surface configuration of intervertebral disc on three dimensional CT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three dimensional surface images reconstructed from CTscans(1 mm thick) of 20discs in 14 healthy adults were reviewed. Disc surface was classified into peripheral and central zones in contact with consecutive peripheral ring and central endplate. Local irregularity incidence, pattern in radial, concentric, or mixed form, size, location, and extension were observed. Incidence and severity ranges in 4 grades of general irregularity, and peripheral width relative to central radius were evaluated. RESULTS: Normal disc mostly showed smooth surface with few display of small local irregularity(6/20) which was mainly radial in pattern(4/5), posterolaterally located(4/6), and confined within peripheral zone(5/6). General irregularity displayed(5/20) was all grade I and peripheral width was 0.82 of central radius. CONCLUSION: Normal disc shows smooth surface but few may display small local irregularity maybe due to very early degenerative change.
Adult ; Humans ; Incidence ; Intervertebral Disc* ; Radius

A preliminary study was conducted to evaluate the immediate postoperative recovery and socioeconomic efficacy with the surgical release of Carpal tunnel syndrome by double incision technique. Sixty cases of carpal tunnel syndrome were operated by one surgeon between 1993 and 1995 and 44 cases in 39 patients were available for this study. Surgery was done under axillary block and patients were evaiuated preoperatively, 3 weeks and 6 weeks each postoperatively. The evaluation was focused on the immediate recovery in terms of subjective symptoms of pain and paresthesia, local tenderness, strength of grip power and pinch power and postoperative disability. 1l was noted that surgical release of carpal tunnel syndrome utilizing double incision technique was as effective as seen in the endoscopic release in terms of quicker recovery of pain, local tenderness and strength. It was also noted that this double incision technique was as safe and economically beneficial as observed in the conventional open procedure.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome ; Hand Strength ; Humans ; Paresthesia

Osteoporosis is a metabolic bone disease characterized by decrease of bone matrix, resulting in generally reduced bone mass, and the diagnosis and grading of progression are assessed by many methods. There are Singh Index as a simplest method, for grading the trabecular pattern of the femur in pelvis anteroposterior X-ray, and the recently developed Dual Photon Absorptiometry which measures the bone mineral contents in the lumbar spine(L2-L4), femur neck, Ward's triangle and trochanteric area. Study for correlation between the Singh index and bone mineral contents measurements by Dual Photon Absorptiometry was performed in 36 normal Korean persons and 35 persons with osteoporosis. The results and conclusion were as follows; 1. A significant difference in bone mineral density at each area was noted between the control group and osteoporosis group. 2. A significant difference in Singh Index at each area was noted between the control group and osteoporosis group. 3. Positive correlation was noted between the mineral density and Singh Index. 4. We think Singh Index is a useful method in the diagnosis and grading of progression of osteoporosis.
Absorptiometry, Photon ; Bone Density ; Bone Diseases, Metabolic ; Bone Matrix ; Diagnosis ; Femur ; Femur Neck ; Humans ; Methods ; Miners ; Osteoporosis ; Pelvis

Spondylolisthesis is defined as the anterior slippage of one vertebra on another. Spondylolisthesis is a common painful condition but can also be an incidental radiographic finding in asymptomatic persons. Mild spondylolisthesis predisposes to chronic low back pain. The purpose of surgical treatment are to reduce low back pain and radiating pain, to relieve the neurologic symptoms, and to improve the posture by eliminating the instability of the lumbosacral region. The operative procedures include anterior interbody fusion, posterior fusion, posterolateral fusion, Gill's procedure, and repair of the pars interarticularis. The biomechanics of anterior interbody fusion are based on the restoration of the intervertebral disc space and fusion on the intantaneous axis of ratation of the functional vetebral unit. The advantages of anterior interbody fusion are indirect decompression of the spinal canal, decreased posterior muscle injury, reduced bleeding from the operative site, early postoperative ambulation; reduced hospital days, and high fusion rate.
Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Decompression ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc ; Low Back Pain ; Lumbosacral Region ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Posture ; Spinal Canal ; Spine ; Spondylolisthesis* ; Surgical Procedures, Operative ; Walking

STUDY DESIGN: A prospective clinical study with radiologic assessment was conducted. OBJECTIVES: To analyze the height changes of the intervertebral disc and neural foramen and width changes of the neural foramen after anterior lumbar interbody fusion and posterior fixation in the lumbar spine. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW : Anterior lumbar interbody fusion distracts the height of the intervertebral disc and neural foramen and the width of the neural foramen. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Minimal anterior lumbar interbody fusion and posterior fixation were performed in 20 cases from January 1999 to January 2001. The measuring factors were the height of the anterior and posterior discs, and the height and width of the neural foramen, measured with a caliper in 1mm reconstructive, computed tomography, sagittal images before and 6 months after anterior lumbar interbody fusion. The factors were independently measured by three different persons. RESULTS: The height of the anterior and posterior discs was increased by mean 32.2% and 40.5%, respectively. The height of the right and left neural foramen was increased by mean 15.7% and 18.3%, respectively. The width of the superior, middle and inferior neural foramen was increased by mean 20.6%, 30.3% and 38.6%, respectively. There were significant increases in all measuring factors after minimal anterior lumbar interbody fusion. CONCLUSIONS: Minimal anterior lumbar interbody fusion significantly increased the height of the anterior and posterior intervertebral discs, and the height and width of the neural foramen, and produced neural decompression.
Decompression ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc* ; Prospective Studies ; Spine*

No abstract available.
Spinal Fusion*

A study to evaluate the diagnostic significance of M. pneumoniae Infection by measurements of cold agglutinin and antimycoplasma antibody titers is performed with 191 pediatric patients who have visited Yeungnam University Hospital during the period through January to July, 1987. Forty eight of 191 cases made follow up tests feasible. The results obtained are as follows: 1. It is necessary to perform routine combined measurements of cold agglutinin and antimycoplasma antibody titers for the all pediatric pneumonia caser since a large proportion of pneumonia in children is caused by M. pneumonia. 2. For the diagnosis of M. pneumoniae Infection, measurements of cold agglutinin titer alone seems to be less significant than to check both cold agglutinin and antimycoplasma antibody titers. 3. The measurement of antimycoplasma antibody titer appeared to be more specific than cold agglutinin test in the diagnosis of M. pneumoniae Infection. 4. The present study urges the necessity of follow up study of cold agglutinin and antimycoplasma antibody titer for those who initially presented with normal titers in both tests, but are clinically suspected for M. pneumoniae Infection.
Child ; Diagnosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Mycoplasma pneumoniae* ; Mycoplasma* ; Pneumonia ; Pneumonia, Mycoplasma*