The surgical technique for removal of ruptured lumbar intervertebral disc has changed very little since it was introduced by Mixter and Barr in 1934. The technique of the interlaminar operation used by most neurosurgeons was used successfully in early cases to relieve the sciatica, but many patients were unable to return to heavy work because of low back pain. Cloward described a different surgical technique for removal of a ruptured lumbar intervertebral disc. The operation utilizes a transverse skin incision and a wide bilateral stlipping and retraction of fascia and muscles. The ligamentum flavum is not removed but detached and reflected medially in a flap. Only the bone margins of the adjacent facets are removed. A complete laminectomy is never done except for spondylolisthesis when the separate neural arch is disarticulated and removed. Using a "Vertebral Spreader", and interlaminar exposure is developed two to three times larger than that obtained y the "standard" technique. The advantages are obvious: 1. Both operations were done through a single transverse incision. A wider lateral exposure for the skin wound, being made parallel to the lumbar operation was possible and the normal skin lines, heals better with less scar. 2. The entire ligament is preserved, by separating its attachments from the lamina and reflecting in a flap, a larger opening into the spinal canal is obtained and the replaced flap protects the dura and prevents scarring. 3. Cloward recommends the use of a narrow, sharp chisel and hammer, but we used the spinal rongeurs including the Kerrison punch to remove part of the laminal edge. We leave the articular facets of the lumbar disc surgery because the articular facets are considered important major elements in the articulation of the vertebral joints, and as an essential bony surface to be used in posterior spinal fusion operation. 4. The routine use of intrathecal cortisone after lumbar disc operation has not been used in our cases because of increased pressure of the cerebrospinal fluid in modified prone position of the patient.
Cerebrospinal Fluid ; Cicatrix ; Cortisone ; Fascia ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc ; Joints ; Laminectomy ; Ligaments ; Ligamentum Flavum ; Low Back Pain ; Muscles ; Prone Position ; Sciatica ; Skin ; Spinal Canal ; Spinal Fusion ; Spondylolisthesis ; Wounds and Injuries

We report a diabetic woman who developed paroxysmal hemichorea during an episode of non-ketotic hyper-glycemia. A MRI showed a high signal intensity on T1-weighted images and a low signal intensity on T2-weighted images in the contralateral putamen. SPECT on the 30th day after the onset revealed an increased blood flow in the contralateral striatum. Although these abnormalities in the left putamen are considered to be the cause of her involuntary movement, the exact pathophysiological mechanisms of these abnormalities are not yet clear and further investigations are needed.
Dyskinesias ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperglycemia* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Putamen ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the clinical and functional outcomes of arthroscopic-assisted reduction and percutaneous screw fixation for glenoid fractures with scapular extension, and investigate the radiologic and clinical benefits from the results. METHODS: We evaluated patients treated with arthroscopic-assisted reduction and percutaneous screw fixation for glenoid fractures with scapular extension from November 2008 to September 2015. Fractures with displacement exceeding one-fourth of the anterior-articular surface or more than one-third of the posterior-articular surface in radiographic images were treated by surgery. Clinical assessment was conducted based on range of motion, Rowe score, and Constant score of injured arm and uninjured arm at last follow-up. RESULTS: Fifteen patients with Ideberg classification grade III, IV, and V glenoid fracture who underwent arthroscopic-assisted reduction using percutaneous screw fixation were retrospectively enrolled. There were no differences in clinical outcomes at final follow-up compared to uninjured arm. Bone union was seen in all cases within five months, and the average time to bone union was 15.2 weeks. Ankylosis in one case was observed as a postoperative complication, but the symptoms improved in response to physical therapy for six months. There was no failure of fixation and neurovascular complication. CONCLUSIONS: We identified acceptable results upon radiological and clinical assessment for the arthroscopic-assisted reduction and percutaneous fixation. For this reason, we believe the method is favorable for the treatment of Ideberg type III, IV, and V glenoid fractures. Restoration of the articular surface is considered to be more important than reduction of fractures reduction of the scapula body.
Ankylosis ; Arm ; Arthroscopy ; Classification ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fracture Fixation ; Glenoid Cavity ; Humans ; Methods ; Postoperative Complications ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Retrospective Studies ; Scapula

Sick sinus syndrome comprises a variety of conditions involving sinus node dysfunction and commonly affects elderly persons. Though sudden cardiac death accounts for as much as 15% of all cause mortality in uremia, requiring permanent cardiac pacing in end-stage renal disease hemodialysed patients are very few. Most cases of sick sinus syndrome are idiopathic, and the cause can be multifac- torial. A-V conducton defects were attributed to extensive metastatic calcifications, involving the cardiac skeleton, conservative to severe hyperparathyroidism and inadvertent use of calcitriol and calcium carbonate as phosphate binders. If optimal hemodialysis is provided, benefits of permanent pacing are equal in uremic or non uremic patients and pacemaker implantation should be instituted. We report a case of sick sinus syndrome derived in elderly patient on hemodialysis.
Aged* ; Calcitriol ; Calcium Carbonate ; Death, Sudden, Cardiac ; Humans ; Hyperparathyroidism ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Mortality ; Renal Dialysis* ; Sick Sinus Syndrome* ; Skeleton ; Uremia

Eight patients, with brain abscess or localized cerebritis proved histologically, were seen at The National Medical Center from 1971 to 1972, and 3 died, which is 37.5% mortality. Evidence of infection was often minimal in patients with brain abscess. The presence of increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate, highly suggestive of a cerebral abscess when an intracranial space-occupying lesion is suspected. The cerebral angiography and EEG were the best diagnostic tests. Early accurate diagnosis and early intracranial relieving with surgical procedure were most important factor in management of brain abscess. Primary excision of the abscess was considered to be the most satisfactory therapy.
Abscess ; Blood Sedimentation ; Brain Abscess* ; Brain* ; Cerebral Angiography ; Diagnosis ; Diagnostic Tests, Routine ; Electroencephalography ; Humans ; Mortality

In order to investigate the efficacy and safety of oral cilazapril, a new angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor, on essential hypertension, a single daily dose of 2.5 to 5.0mg cilazapril was administered in 30 hypertensive patients with diastolic blood pressure in the range of 95??15mmHg while off all other anti-hypertensive agents for 10 weeks. Blood pressure and heart rate were measured every 2 weeks. The complete blood count with platelet count, blood chemistry by SMA-12 including lactic dehydrogenase and serum electrolytes, and urinalysis were performed at 4th and 10th week of therapy. The electrocardiography was performed at the beginning and the end of treatment period. Any kinds of side effects were actively questioned by the examining physicians. The following results were obtained : 1) The mean age was 49.2 years, and the ratio of male-to-female was 1 : 1.3. 2) Blood pressure started to fall significantly within 2 weeks of treatment with cliazpril 2.5mg(M+/-S.E., 15.4+/-17.4mmHg vs 138.5+/-23.3, 100.3+/-6.2 vs 89.4+/-6.6, p<0.05), and after 6 weeks of treatment with a mean dosage of 2.84mg. diastolic blood pressure of all subjects was maintained below 90mmHg throughout the rest of trial. 3) Pulse rate or body weight were not significantly changed during the entire treatment period(69.3+/-6.0/min vs 10th week : 69.0+/-7.7, 64.7+/-7.4kg vs 63.6+/-6.7, p>0.05). 4) There were no significant changes in blood chemistry including blood sugar, cholesterol and electrolytes, except mild changes of serum creativine and alkaline phosphatase values. 5) Hematologic findings, urinalysis and electrocardiographic findings remained unchanged. 6)Side effects were mostly mild in nature without potentially serious episodes(dry cough : 20%, indigestion, headache, dizziness, in order), but there was 1 cases in whom the dosage was redyced due to postural hypotension. From the above results, cilazapril with the dosage of 2.5 to 5.0mg was effectvie and well tolerated in essential hypertensive patients with diastolic blood pressure of 95 to 115mmHg, and cilazapril seems to be appropriate for monotherapy of mild to moderate hypertensive patients.
Alkaline Phosphatase ; Antihypertensive Agents ; Blood Cell Count ; Blood Glucose ; Blood Pressure ; Body Weight ; Chemistry ; Cholesterol ; Cilazapril* ; Cough ; Dizziness ; Dyspepsia ; Electrocardiography ; Electrolytes ; Headache ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Hypotension, Orthostatic ; Oxidoreductases ; Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A ; Platelet Count ; Urinalysis

A 36-year-old man, who had undergone thoracoscopic anterior spinal fusion using the plate system and posterior screw fusion three months previously, presented to our hospital with left flank pain and fever. Computed tomography indicated the presence of a psoas muscle abscess. However, after two days of percutaneous catheter drainage, a mycotic abdominal aortic pseudoaneurysm was detected via computed tomography. We performed in situ revascularization using a prosthetic graft with omental wrapping. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus was identified on blood and pus culture, and systemic vancomycin was administered for one month. Although the abscess recurred, it was successfully treated with percutaneous catheter drainage and systemic vancomycin administration for three months, without the need for instrumentation removal. The patient remained asymptomatic throughout two years of follow-up.
Abscess ; Adult ; Aneurysm, False* ; Aneurysm, Infected ; Catheters ; Drainage ; Fever ; Flank Pain ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus ; Psoas Abscess* ; Psoas Muscles ; Spinal Fusion* ; Suppuration ; Transplants ; Vancomycin

PURPOSE: To see the stability and error in the diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) imaging technique in the experimental models and to observe the signal intensities in the early cerebral lesions of the animal models. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Diffusion coefficients of acetone and distilled water were measured by diffusion-weighted MR image and were compared with actual values. Differentiation of diffusion from perfusion were done at the resin flow phantom. The signal intensities caused by early parenchymal changes were measured in normal, hypovolemic, and embolic, and dead animal models by using diffusion-weighted image and compared with pathoIogic finding and vital staining. RESULTS: Diffusion coefficients of acetone and distilled water were 4.48 x 10-3 and 2.72 x 10-3 which were very close to the actual values. Diffusion-weighted MR image obtained at flow phantom was not affected by flow (perfusion) at the 100-400 of b-factor range. Animal study done at that b-factor range revealed a significant signal difference between the left and right sides only at the embolic model induced by polyvinyl alchol particles (p<0.05). These changes were not detected in microscopic finding but could be identified in vital staining. CONCLUSION: Diffusion-weighted MR image can be used to detect early parenchymal change when the appropriate b-factor range was applied.
Acetone ; Animals ; Diffusion* ; Hypovolemia ; Models, Animal ; Models, Theoretical* ; Perfusion ; Polyvinyls ; Water

Aortic and pulmonary valve endocarditis with patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is uncommon in adult. A 60-year-old woman was diagnosed with aortic and pulmonary valve endocarditis and PDA. We describe our surgical experience for treating PDA with double valve endocarditis.
Adult ; Ductus Arteriosus, Patent ; Endocarditis ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Pulmonary Valve