BACKGROUND: Even though surgery and anesthesia give stress to patients, adequate anesthesia could attenuate stress reactions and minimize side effects from these reactions. Abnormal glucose homeostasis is well documented side effect during anesthesia, especially when inhalational anesthetics are used. We planned this study to investigate and compare the effects of two popular anesthetics-between propofol, intravenous anesthetics, and enflurane, inhalational agents on blood glucose level. METHODS: Adult patients free of diabetes mellitus and any other endocrine disease were randomly allocated into two groups. In both groups, anesthesia was induced with 2.5% pentothal sodium 5 mg/kg and succinylcholine 1 mg/kg. After intubation, propofol 6~10 mg/kg with 50 % N2O-O2 mixture 4 liter were used for maintenance in one group (Group P). In other group, enflurane 1.5~2% with 50% N2O-O2 mixture 4 liter were used (Group E). Hartmann's solutions were used for maintenance fluid in both groups. Blood glucose levels were measured at preintubation period, postintubation 5, 10, 15 minutes and just-preincision period. Blood glucose level at admission was regarded as control value and statistical analysis was done by Student's t-test. RESULTS: In group E, there was significant increase of the blood glucose level about 23 minutes after induction but in group P, there was no significant increase of glucose level during entire experimental time. Blood glucose levels were higher from postintubation 5 minutes to just-preincision period with statistical significance in group E than group P. CONCLUSIONS: Propofol maintained stable blood glucose level compared to enflurane during general anesthesia.
Adult ; Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, General ; Anesthetics ; Anesthetics, Intravenous ; Blood Glucose* ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Endocrine System Diseases ; Enflurane* ; Glucose ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; Intubation ; Propofol* ; Sodium ; Succinylcholine ; Thiopental

PURPOSE: To compare the clinical results of spontaneous rupture of extensor pollicis longus tendon treated by palmaris longus tendon graft (group I) versus extensor indicis proprius tendon transfer (group II). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Out of twenty-five patients who suffer from spontaneous extensor pollicis longus tendon rupture, twelve patients were treated by palmaris longus tendon graft and thirteen patients were treated by extensor indicis proprius tendon transfer. Postoperatively thumbs were immobilized with thumb spica splint for three weeks. Active and passive movement was allowed subsequently for six weeks. The functions of the thumbs were assessed by the Geldmacher criteria and statistically compared. RESULTS: The overall outcome was excellent in 5(20%) of patients and good in 17(68%) of patients and satisfactory in 3(12%) of patients. The mean scores using the Geldmacher criteria were 18.50 for palmaris longus tendon graft and 19.69 for extensor indicis proprius tendon transfer. No significant difference was noted between two groups. CONCLUSION: Both methods establish equally good clinical results in patient with chronic extensor pollicis longus tendon rupture. Extensor indicis proprius tendon transfer seems more available methods.
Humans ; Rupture ; Rupture, Spontaneous ; Splints ; Tendon Injuries ; Tendon Transfer ; Tendons ; Thumb ; Transplants

Nonunion of comminuted distal humeral fracture is troublesome problem to orthopedic surgeon. We report a case of 59 years old woman, who suffered nonunion of comminuted distal humeral fracture previously treated by open reduction and internal fixation with plate and screws concomitantly autoiliac bone graft. We reconstructed humeral condyle with fibular inlay graft inside cortical shell of intercondylar bone fragment and obtained excellent result in radiological and functional outcome.
Female ; Fractures, Comminuted ; Humans ; Humeral Fractures ; Humerus ; Inlays ; Orthopedics ; Transplants

PURPOSE: The most common cause of failure after Steindler flexorplasty has been known insufficient power of the transferred muscles. We develop "effective muscle index" which is calculated from the actual strength of each muscle to predict postoperative flexion power of the elbow for preventing the failure of the surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed 10 patients who received Steindler flexorplasty from Aug. 1983 to Jan. 1997. We calculated "effective muscle index" with power of each transferred muscle, tension fraction2) by Brand, 1981, correction index of the magnitude of transferring muscle and correlated the "effective muscle index" with postoperative elbow flexion power. RESULTS: Excluding 4 out of total 10 patients who had grade 1 or 2 power of biceps and brachialis, "effective muscle index" has borderline significance with the postoperative flexion power of the elbow (p=0.123) . CONCLUSION: The authors concluded that the "effective muscle index" is maybe considered as a useful index for predicting the postoperative flexion power of the elbow after Steindler flexorplasty.
Elbow* ; Humans ; Muscles

Enlargement is an inherent property of X-rays which occurs when straight lines diverge from small a focal spot. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the validity of the correction of gonial angle width enlarged on frontal cephalogram, using frontal and lateral cephalograms taken orthogonally from each other. In 40 adult individuals, frontal and lateral cephalograms were taken at a 90 degrees angle using the Head Posture Aligner. The angle width was measured on the frontal cephalogram and subsequently, the corrected angle width was calculated using the magnification rate of two cephalograms. Measured and corrected angle widths were compared with the measurement from the 3D CT image. The measurement on the frontal cephalogram showed a 9.10 mm of enlargement on average, ranging from 7.92 to 11.31 mm. Corrected angle width measurement showed a 0.14 mm difference with the 3D CT image measurement, which was not statistically significant. The results of the study indicate that actual angle width can be approached through calculation using frontal and lateral cephalograms taken orthogonally with the help of the Head Posture Aligner. The study also showed that the magnitude of correction error did not show a significant correlation with the amount of menton deviation, and it suggests that the present correction method is valid even in individuals with severe facial asymmetry.
Adult ; Facial Asymmetry ; Head ; Humans ; Posture

PURPOSE: Simultaneous bilateral total hip replacement (THR) has some advantages, but the efficacy of simultaneous bilateral THR is still controversial in patients with high risk ASA grade. Presently, we compared simultaneous bilateral to staged THR in high-risk patients according to the ASA grade. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively compared 60 high risk patients (ASA grade 3 and 4) with simultaneous cementless total hip replacements with a matched group of 60 patients with staged cementless total hip replacements between January, 1991 and June, 2009. Significance was determined to be p-value < 0.05. RESULTS: Postoperative cardio-vascular complication was found in one case of simultaneous THR, and pulmonary thromboembolism was found in two cases of staged THR and in three cases of simultaneous THR. Wound infection was found in three cases of staged THR and in two cases of simultaneous THR. Delirium was found in four cases of staged THR and in five cases of simultaneous THR. Dislocation developed in two cases of staged THR and in three cases of simultaneous THR. Blood loss was higher in the staged group, but the transfusion amount was higher in the simultaneous group. Postoperative ambulation was initiated earlier in staged THR, but at the final follow-up no statistical significance was observed. Admission time and cost were reduced in simultaneous THR. CONCLUSION: It is considered safe to perform simultaneous cementless bilateral THA in patients with high anesthetic risk, if meticulous preoperative evaluation is done.
Anesthesia ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip ; Delirium ; Dislocations ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Pulmonary Embolism ; Research Design ; Retrospective Studies ; Tacrine ; Walking ; Wound Infection

Objective: The objectives of this study were to compare the time-dependent changes in occlusal contact area (OCA) and bite force (BF) of the deviated and non-deviated sides in mandibular prognathic patients with mandibular asymmetry before and after orthognathic surgery and investigate the factors associated with the changes in OCA and BF on each side. Methods: The sample consisted of 67 patients (33 men and 34 women; age range 15-36 years) with facial asymmetry who underwent 2-jaw orthognathic surgery. OCA and BF were taken before presurgical orthodontic treatment, within 1 month before surgery, and 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years after surgery. OCA and BF were measured using the Dental Prescale System. Results: The OCA and BF decreased gradually before surgery and increased after surgery on both sides. The OCA and BF were significantly greater on the deviated side than on the non-deviated side before surgery, and there was no difference after surgery. According to the linear mixed-effect model, only the changes in the mandibular plane angle had a significant effect on BF (p < 0.05). Conclusions There was a difference in the amount of the OCA and BF between the deviated and non-deviated sides before surgery. The change in mandibular plane angle affects the change, especially on the non-deviated side, during the observation period.

We report a case of two consecutive episodes of acute hemolytic transfusion reactions (HTRs) due to multiple alloantibodies in a 34-yr-old man who suffered from avascular necrosis of left femoral head. He received five units of packed red blood cells (RBCs) during surgery. Then the transfusion of packed RBCs was required nine days after the surgery because of the unexplained drop in hemoglobin level. The transfusion of the first two units resulted in fever and brown-colored urine, but he received the transfusion of another packed RBCs the next day. He experienced even more severe symptoms during the transfusion of the first unit. We performed antibody screening test, and it showed positive results. Multiple alloantibodies including anti-E, anti-c and anti-Jk(b) were detected by antibody identification study. Acute HTRs due to multiple alloantibodies were diagnosed, and the supportive cares were done for 6 days. We suggest the antibody screening test should be included in the panel of pretransfusion tests for safer transfusion, and it is particularly mandatory for the patients with multiple transfusions, pregnant women, and preoperative patients.
Adult ; Blood Group Antigens/immunology ; *Blood Group Incompatibility ; Blood Grouping and Crossmatching/methods ; Blood Transfusion/*adverse effects ; Female ; Hemolysis/*immunology ; Human ; Isoantibodies/*immunology ; Male ; Pregnancy

PURPOSE: Elderly people are thought to be more susceptible to periodontal disease due to reduced immune function associated with aging. However, little information is available on the nature of immune responses against putative periodontal pathogens in geriatric patients. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the serum IgG antibody responses to six periodontal pathogens in geriatric subjects. METHODS: The study population consisted of 85 geriatric patients and was divided into three groups: 29 mild (MCP), 27 moderate (MoCP) and 29 severe (SCP) chronic periodontitis patients. Serum levels of IgG antibody to Porphyromonas gingivalis, Tannerella forsythia, Treponema denticola, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Fusobacterium nucleatum and Prevotella intermedia were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and compared among the groups. RESULTS: All three groups showed levels of serum IgG in response to P. gingivalis, A. actinomycetemcomitans, and P. intermedia that were three to four times higher than levels of IgG to T. forsythia, T. denticola, and F. nucleatum. There were no significant differences among all three groups in IgG response to P. gingivalis (P=0.065), T. forsythia (P=0.057), T. denticola (P=0.1), and P. intermedia (P=0.167), although the IgG levels tended to be higher in patients with SCP than in those with MCP or MoCP (with the exception of those for P. intermedia). In contrast, there were significant differences among the groups in IgG levels in response to F. nucleatum (P=0.001) and A. actinomycetemcomitans (P=0.003). IgG levels to A. actinomycetemcomitans were higher in patients with MCP than in those with MoCP or SCP. CONCLUSIONS: When IgG levels were compared among three periodontal disease groups, only IgG levels to F. nucleatum significantly increased with the severity of disease. On the contrary, IgG levels to A. actinomycetemcomitans decreased significantly in patients with SCP compared to those with MCP. There were no significant differences in the IgG levels for P. gingivalis, T. forsythia, T. denticola, and P. intermedia among geriatric patients with chronic periodontitis.
Aged* ; Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans ; Aging ; Antibody Formation ; Chronic Periodontitis ; Disease Progression ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Forsythia ; Fusobacterium nucleatum ; Geriatrics ; Humans ; Immunity, Humoral* ; Immunoglobulin G ; Periodontal Diseases ; Porphyromonas gingivalis ; Prevotella intermedia ; Treponema denticola

STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective study was designed to evaluate the clinical result and difference between short segment and long segment fixation, which was undertaken by posterior approach for thoracic and lumbar spine fractures. OBJECTIVE: To determine and compare the mechanical maintenance and ability of correction, and clinical and neurologic recov-ery between short segment and long segment fusion group. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: The long segment instrumentation is a cause of decrease of motion segment in thoracic and lumbar spine. In short segment fusion, screw failures were reported. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From 1989 thorough 1997, 54 patients who had been operated on by the posterior approach with transpedicular screw fixation for spine injuries were divided into two groups. The authors applied the short segment transpedic-ular instrumentation including fractured vertebra. Short segment group included 35 cases, and long segment group, 19 cases. The mean follow-up period was one year and eight months for short segment group, two years and seven months for long segment one. The results were evaluated by comparing the anterior vertebral height, sagittal index in simple roentgenogram and neurologic recovery. RESULTS: The average of anterior vertebral height which was 50.7% at preoperation, became 78.7% after the operation and measured 74.9% at final follow-up in long segment fusion group, while in short segment fusion group it was 59.7%, 79.3% and 77.7%, respectively. The average of sagittal index of 17.5degreeat preoperation became 6.7degreeafter the operation, and measured 8degreeat final follow-up in long segment fusion group, while in short segment fusion group it was 19.9degree, 10.4degree, and 12.1degree, respectively. Overall clinical results had no statistical significant difference between two groups. Of the thirty-six patients with neurologic deficits, twenty-two improved by over the one Frankel grade. CONCLUSIONS: The authors conclude that the short segment transpedicular instrumentation including fractured vertebra is a successful method of thoracolumbar and lumbar burst fractures.
Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Retrospective Studies ; Spine