To assess the role of anorectal physiologic study for the diagnosis of chronic idiopathic constipation. METHODS: A retrospective study of 81 constipated patients (23 male, 58 female) of mean age 48 16.6 (16~83) years who had no abnormalities in colonoscopy, barium enema, and rectal exam was done. 81 patients underwent defecography and cine-defecography, of which 66 patients underwent anal manometry, 52 patients underwent colonic transit time study (CTT), and 27 patients underwent anal plug electromyography (EMG). RESULTS: Nonrelaxing puborectalis syndrome (NRPR), rectocele, rectal intussusception, anal dyschezia, and sigmoidocele were observed in 27 (33.3%), 26 (32.1%), 14 (17.3%), 3 (3.7%), and 2 (2.5%) of the patients, respectively. Normal cinedefecography finding was observed in 21 (25.9%) patients. More than one abnormal finding was found in 11 (13.6%) patients. Abnormal findings included colonic inertia in 6 (11.5%) patients and pelvic outlet obstruction in 2 (3.8%) patients. Normal colon transit time was observed in 44 (84.6%) patients. Anal hypertonia was observed in 23 (34.8%) patients by anal monometry, of which 3 patients were diagnosed with anal dyschezia in cinedefecography. 13 (48.1%) patients were diagnosed with NRPR in anal plug EMG. The correlation rate between cinedefecography/EMG, defecography/CTT, and CTT/EMG were 81.5%, 61.5%, and 51.9% respectively in the diagnosis of NRPR. Sensitivities of the three tests were 72.7% for cinedefecography, 66.7% for EMG, and 7.7% for CTT in diagnosing NRPR (p<0.05). Positive predictive values of the three tests were 80% for anal plug EMG, 72.7% for cinedefecography, and 50% for CTT in the diagnosis of NRPR. CONCLUSIONS: Defecography and EMG were complements each of the other in diagnosis of pelvic outlet obstruction especially NRPR, but CTT has no role.
Barium ; Colon ; Colonoscopy ; Complement System Proteins ; Constipation* ; Defecography ; Diagnosis* ; Electromyography ; Enema ; Humans ; Intussusception ; Male ; Manometry ; Rectocele ; Retrospective Studies ; Time and Motion Studies

A subperiosteal ganglion has been very rarely reported, since Ollier reported first one in 1864. A subperiosteal ganglion is produced by mucoid degeneration and cyst formation within the periosteum, which results in cortical erosion. The characteristic plain radiolographic appearance of irregular cortical erosion and scalloping, with reactive periosteal bone spicules, has been considered pathognomonic of subperiosteal ganglion. Magnetic resonance imaging is performed to further characterize the soft tissue component of the mass. As in our patient, the characteristic signal intensities of magnetic resonance imaging are especially useful in identifying the lesion as a ganglion and in defining the lobular nature and the anatomical extent. We report here the case of a 35-year-old female who had a sudperiosteal ganglion of the distal radius.
Adult ; Female ; Ganglion Cysts* ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Pectinidae ; Periosteum ; Radius*

PURPOSE: To assess the effectiveness of cinedefecography (CD), anal electromyography (EMG), and anal manometry (ARM) for the diagnosis of non-relaxing puborectalis syndrome (NRPR) and to compare the outcomes for patients after biofeedback therapy (BF). METHODS: The clinical criteria used in this study for NRPR included straining, incomplete evacuation, tenesmus, and the need for enemas, suppositories, or digitation. Patients who satisfied the clinical criteria were evaluated by use of anorectal physiology tests: CD, EMG, and ARM. The EMG criteria included failure to achieve a significant decrease in the electrical activity of the puborectalis (PR) during attempted evacuation. The ARM criteria included failure to achieve a significant decrease in intra-anal pressure during attempted evacuation. The CD criteria included either paradoxical contraction or failure of the PR to relax together with incomplete evacuation. Other possible etiologies for incomplete evacuation, such as rectal intussusception or rectocele, were excluded in all cases. Fifty-eight constipated patients diagnosed as having NRPR by at least one of anorectal physiolosic tests had more than one BF session. The outcomes for fifty-one patients (mean age, 44.8 years; male-to-female ratio, 22:29) were reported as either improved or unimproved at a mean follow-up of 12.7 (range, 2~30) months. The sensitivities, the specificities, and the positive and negative predictive values for the CD, EMG, and ARM diagnoses of NRPR were calculated to assess the diagnostic accuracy of each test and to identify predictors associated with the outcome of BF. RESULTS: The sensitivities of EMG, CD, and ARM were 96%, 89%, and 85%, respectively (P>0.05). The positive predictive values of the three tests were 63% for EMG, 52% for ARM, and 51% for CD (P>0.05). The negative predictive values of the three tests were 90% for EMG, 43% for ARM, and 25% for CD (P<0.05). The specificities of the three tests were 38% for EMG, 13% for ARM, and 2% for CD (P<0.05). The positive predictive values the two-study-positive groups and the three-study-positive group were 63% for the EMG- and ARM-positive group, 61% for the CD- and EMG-positive group, 51% for the CD- and ARM-positive group, and 61% for the three-study- positive group (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: A combination of the CD and the EMG tests is suggested for the diagnosis of NRPR.
Arm ; Biofeedback, Psychology ; Diagnosis* ; Electromyography ; Enema ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Intussusception ; Manometry ; Physiology ; Rectocele ; Suppositories

Benign endobronchial tumors are rare diseases with an incidenced of between 1 and 5% of all lung tumors. An endobronchial fibroepithelial polyp is an extremely rare form of benign bronchial tumor. Clinically, an endobronchial fibroepithelial polyp causes an airway obstruction and obstructive pneumonitis as does other endobronchial tumors. Therefore, it is important to differentiate an endobronchial fibroepithelial polyp pathologically from other benign endobronchial tumors and bronchogenic carcinomas. Here, we report a case of an endobronchial fibroepithelial polyp, in a 25-year-old man who had suffered from chest discomfort upon deep breathing with a brief review of the relevant literature.
Adult ; Airway Obstruction ; Carcinoma, Bronchogenic ; Humans ; Lung ; Pneumonia ; Polyps* ; Rare Diseases ; Respiration ; Thorax

Baseball-related injuries are on the rise due to its increasing popurity as an international sports. Among them, Little League Shoulder is characterized by pain when pitching and is associated with specific roentgenographic changes in adolescent baseball pitchers. Ball thrower's fracture is defined as a fracture of the humeral diaphysis resulting from overhead throwing without any external contact but it is rare in adolescents. We report a case of Little League Shoulder with a contralateral thrower's fracture of the humeral shaft related to baseball pitching in an ambidextrous adolescent baseball pitcher with a review of the relevant literature.
Adolescent ; Baseball ; Diaphyses ; Epiphyses, Slipped ; Humans ; Humerus ; Shoulder ; Sports

Many complications after operative treatment of patella including redisplacement of fracture, refracture, weakness of extensor muscles, patellofemoral joint arthritis, metal failure, malunion, infection, avascular necrosis were reported. We report a case of transverse fracture of patella through the cannulated screw fixation site used to fix previous vertical patella fracture with a review of the literatures.
Arthritis ; Muscles ; Necrosis ; Patella* ; Patellofemoral Joint

PURPOSE: To evaluate and compare the outcome in fracture of distal tibial metaphyseal fractures involving ankle joint and not involving the ankle joint treated by interlocking imtramedullary nailing. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty six cases of distal tibial metaphyseal fractures treated by interlocking intramedullary nailing whom were able to follow up for more one year were selected and 10 cases involved ankle joint and the rest 16 cases did not. In all cases, more than 2 distal locking screws were inserted after reaming for the nailing, and cannulated screws or K-wires fixation were inserted for 8 cases of fractures involving ankle joint out of 10. We analyzed preoperative fracture type, union time, function of joint, and complications at final follow up. RESULTS: According to Robinson's classification for distal tibial metaphyseal fractures, there were 9 cases of type I, 7 of 2A, 4 of 2B, 6 of 2C. Union time taken for distal tibial fractures involving ankle were average of 17 weeks (12~20 weeks) and for the fractures not involving ankle joint were average of 19 weeks (12~28 weeks). Klemm and Borner's functional evaluation showed above good in 8 cases (80%) of fracture involving ankle joint and 13 cases (81%) of fracture not involving the ankle joint, and functional evaluation did not show significant differences as well as the complication rate in both group. CONCLUSION: Interlocking intramedullary nailing is one of the effective methods for treatment of distal tibial metaphyseal fracture involving articular surface of the ankle.
Ankle ; Ankle Joint ; Classification ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary* ; Joints ; Tibia ; Tibial Fractures

Dislocations of the interphalangeal joint of the thumb are rather uncommon as a result of the inherent stability of the interphalangeal joint. Irreducible dislocations of these joint are rare. The authors report a case of irreducible dislocation of the interphalangeal joint of the thumb with interposed palmar plate, and reduced by open reduction.
Dislocations ; Joints ; Thumb ; Palmar Plate

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical results of double tension band wiring for communited olecranon fractures involving proximal 1/3. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed 9 cases of communited olecranon fractures involving proximal 1/3 treated with double tension band wiring followed for minimum 10 months. There were 2 cases of olecranon fractures involving only proximal 1/3, 6 cases of olecranon fractures involving from proximal 1/3 to middle 1/3 and 1 case of olecranon fractures involving from proximal 1/3 to distal 1/3. We analyzed the bone union time, radiologic results for gap, reduction loss, pin migration, pain, range of motion, complications and functional outcomes at last follow up. RESULTS: All patients had solid bone union without additional surgery and average union time was 10.3 weeks. Anatomical reduction could be obtained in 8 of 9 cases but there was 1 mm step off in one case. 36 pins were used to fix the fractures, 1 pin of 18 distal pins and 2 pins of 18 proximal pins were migrated to backward but there was no reduction loss. Only 1 distal pin needed early removal due to skin irritation. Average range of motion ranged from flexion contracture 3.3 degrees to further flexion 137.8 degrees. On functional analysis, we got 8 cases of good result, 1 case of fair result and there was no poor result. CONCLUSION: Double tension band wiring for comminuted olecranon fracture involving proximal 1/3 was concluded to give a firm fixation of the fracture site as bone union could be acquired without serious pin problems.
Contracture ; Humans ; Olecranon Process ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Skin

Hemolytic anemia is recognized as a rare complication of mitral valve replacement or repair. We report on a 44-year-old man with shortness of breath and hemolytic anemia, 23 years after mitral valve replacement (Hall-Kaster), and a 63-year-old woman diagnosed of hemolytic anemia, 4 years after mitral and tricuspid annuloplasty (Tailor ring, An-core ring). Routine 2-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography revealed paravalvular leakage around the prosthesis. Subsequent real-time 3-dimensional (3D)transesophageal echocardiography helped the perceptional appreciation of the leakage and the measuring of the regurgitant orifice area using the anatomically correct plane. Surgical findings of each case fit those of 3D volumetric images.
Adult ; Anemia, Hemolytic ; Dyspnea ; Echocardiography ; Echocardiography, Three-Dimensional ; Echocardiography, Transesophageal ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Mitral Valve ; Prostheses and Implants