PURPOSE: This study aims to determine the correlation between the fracture patterns and the complications in patients with femoral neck fracture treated with internal fixation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study comprises 45 patients with femoral neck fracture treated with multiple screws or compression hip screw between May 2008 and April 2012. The mean age was 48 years at the time of the surgery and the mean duration from initial injury to surgery was 20 hours. The fracture patterns were identified according to the anatomical location, the Garden classification and the Pauwels classification. The occurrence of nonunion and avascular necrosis were reviewed with clinical results including Harris hip score and Lunceford hip function test. The correlation between the fracture pattern and occurrence of complications were analyzed. RESULTS: Fracture site union was achieved in 40 hips with the average union time of 17 weeks. Five nonunions occurred which showed high likelihood to occur in subcapital type, displaced (Garden stage III or IV) and Pauwels type III fractures (P<0.05). Avascular necrosis was developed in 10 hips which was mostly in subcapital type and Pauwels type III fracture but no statistical significance was found (P>0.05). The mean Harris hip score was 91 points, and Lunceford functional results were excellent in 15 hips, good in 24, fair in 4 and poor in 2. CONCLUSION: There was high risk of nonunion in subcapital type fracture, displaced fracture (Garden stage III and IV) and vertically oriented fracture (Pauwels type III). Careful attention is needed in these fracture types.
Classification ; Femoral Neck Fractures* ; Femur Neck* ; Hip ; Humans ; Necrosis

PURPOSE: We evaluated the usefulness of an additional, 2.7 mm mini-locking plate for tibial pilon fractures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied 21 patients (14 males and 7 females), who were treated with a 2.7 mm mini-locking plate via the anterolateral approach for tibial pilon fractures between September 2012 and April 2014. The mean age was 43.85 years, and the mean follow-up period was 16.6 months. The radiologic outcomes were graded by the Burwell and Charnley modified system and clinical outcomes were evaluated by the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hind foot score and visual analogue scale (VAS) score. RESULTS: The mean union period was 14.3 weeks. At the final follow-up, radiologic results showed 16 excellent results, 4 fair results, and 1 poor result. The average VAS was 3.4 points; the average AOFAS score was 81.8 points. During the follow-up period, there were three cases of posttraumatic osteoarthritis and one case of superficial skin infection. CONCLUSION: Additional anterolateral, 2.7 mm mini-locking plate may be a good treatment method to manage tibial pilon fractures.
Ankle ; Follow-Up Studies ; Foot ; Humans ; Male ; Methods ; Osteoarthritis ; Skin

BACKGROUND: Although core needle biopsy (CNB) is considered to be the standard technique for histological diagnosis of breast lesions, it is less reliable for diagnosing atypical ductal hyperplasia (ADH). We therefore assessed the characteristics of CNB-diagnosed ADH that are more likely to be associated with more advanced lesions on subsequent surgical excision. METHODS: We retrospectively examined 239 consecutive CNBs, 127 of which were diagnosed as ADH following surgical excision, performed at Asan Medical Center between 1995 and 2010. Archival slides were analyzed for the number of cores per specimen, the number of ADH foci, and the ratio of ADH foci to number of cores (FC ratio). RESULTS: We found that ADH foci in 3 or more cores (p=0.003) and the presence of ADH in 3 or more foci (p=0.002) were correlated with malignancy following excision lesion. Moreover, an FC>1.1 was significantly associated with malignancy in the subsequent excision (p=0.000). CONCLUSIONS: Including the number of ADH foci, the number of cores involved according to ADH, FC ratio, and histologic type in a pathology report of CNB may help in making clinical decisions about surgical excision.
Biopsy, Large-Core Needle ; Breast ; Breast Neoplasms ; Hyperplasia ; Needles ; Retrospective Studies

Squamous cell carcinoma infrequently occurs at the soft palate. Although various methods can be used for reconstruction of soft palate defects that occur after resecting squamous cell carcinoma, it is difficult to obtain satisfactory results from the perspective of the functional restoration of the soft palate. A combination of bilateral palatal mucomuscular flap for the oral side and superiorly based posterior pharyngeal flap for the nasal side were performed on two patients who were diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma of the soft palate in order to reconstruct the soft palate defects after surgical resection. After surgery, the patients were followed-up for a mean period of 11 months. The flaps were well maintained in both patients. The donor site defects were epithelialized and completely recovered. Additionally, no recurrence of the primary sites was shown. Slight hyponasality was observed in the voice assessments that were conducted 6 months after surgery. No food regurgitation or aspiration was observed in the swallowing tests. We used a combination of bilateral palatal mucomuscular flap and superiorly based posterior pharyngeal flap to reconstruct the soft palate defects that occurred after resecting the squamous cell carcinomas. We reduced the donor site complications and achieved functionally satisfactory outcomes.
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Deglutition ; Head and Neck Neoplasms ; Humans ; Palate, Soft ; Recurrence ; Surgical Flaps ; Tissue Donors ; Voice

PURPOSE: People with a family history of mood disorder are more likely to have depression. This study compared the characteristics of non-psychotic major depression disorder according to family history of depression. METHOD: Subjects were total of 817 persons recruited for the CRESCEND-K multicenter trial. Characteristics of depression and suicide history of patients with and without a family history of depression were assessed. Family history was determined through self-report. RESULTS: Of 817 participants, 12.4% had a positive family history of depression. Those with family history of depression reported an earlier age at onset of MDD, and more psychiatric comorbidity. Severity of depression and anxiety were not different according to family history of depression. There were no difference in attempted suicide history, number of attempted suicide and age at onset of 1st attempted suicide according to such a family history. CONCLUSION: Patients with family history of depression reported earlier onset of MDD and more history of psychiatric comorbidity.
Anxiety ; Comorbidity ; Depression ; Depressive Disorder, Major ; Humans ; Mood Disorders ; Suicide ; Suicide, Attempted

After skin grafting, to prevent hematoma or seroma collection at the graft site, a tie-over dressing has been commonly used. However, although the conventional tie-over dressing by suture is a useful method for securing a graft site, refixation is difficult when repeated tie-over dressing is needed. Therefore, we recommend a redoable tie-over dressing technique with multiple loops threads and connecting silk threads. After the raw surface of each of our cases was covered with a skin graft, multiple loop silk thread attached with nylon at the skin graft margin. We applied the ointment gauze and wet cotton/fluffy gauze over the skin graft, then fixed the dressing by connecting cross-counter multiple loop thread with connecting silk threads. When we opened the tie-over dressing by cutting the connecting silk threads, we repeated the tie-over dressing with the same method. The skin graft was taken successfully without hematoma or seroma collection or any other complications. In conclusion, we report a novel tie-over dressing enabling simple fixation of the dressing to maintain proper tension for wounds that require repetitive fixation. Further, with this reliable method, the skin grafts were well taken.
Bandages ; Hematoma ; Nylons ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; Seroma ; Silk ; Skin ; Skin Transplantation ; Surgical Fixation Devices ; Sutures ; Transplants

A 40-year-old man who underwent 2 times of operation for the graft interposition with aortic valve replacement because of aortic dissection was admitted due to high fever and multiple petechiae on extremities for several days. We performed Transthoracic echocardiogram and MRI, revealed vegetation in the aortic arch and descending aorta. Re-do operation of aortic segment replacement and vegetation removal was carried out. Histological evaluation of vegetatation found fungal mass of aspergillus fumigatus.
Adult ; Aorta, Thoracic ; Aortic Valve ; Aspergillus fumigatus ; Extremities ; Fever ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Purpura ; Transplants*

OBJECTIVES: Although the prevalence of depressive disorders in South Korea's general population is known, no reports on the prevalence of depression among patients who visit primary care facilities have been published. This preliminary study was conducted to identify the prevalence of depressive disorder in patients that visit two primary care facilities. METHODS: Among 231 consecutive eligible patients who visited two primary care settings, 184 patients consented to a diagnostic interview for depression by psychiatrists following the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-IV criteria. There were no significant differences in sociodemographic characteristics such as gender, age, or level of education between the groups that consented and declined the diagnostic examination. The prevalence of depressive disorder and the proportion of newly diagnosed patients among depressive disorder patients were calculated. RESULTS: The prevalence of depressive disorder of patients in the two primary care facilities was 14.1% (95% confidence interval [CI], 9.1 to 19.2), with major depressive disorder 5.4% (95% CI, 2.1 to 8.7), dysthymia 1.1% (95% CI, 0.0 to 2.6), and depressive disorder, not otherwise specified 7.6% (95% CI, 3.7 to 11.5). Among the 26 patients with depressive disorder, 19 patients were newly diagnosed. CONCLUSIONS: As compared to the general population, a higher prevalence of depressive disorders was observed among patients at two primary care facilities. Further study is needed with larger samples to inform the development of a primary care setting-based depression screening, management, and referral system to increase the efficiency of limited health care resources.
Adult ; Aged ; Depressive Disorder, Major/*epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Interviews as Topic ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Outpatients ; Prevalence ; Primary Health Care ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology

OBJECTIVES: Banha-sasim-tang (BST), which consists of seven different herbs, is one of the most popular herbal formulae for treating gastrointestinal disorders in Eastern Asia. The commonly used herbal medicine is often co-administered with other therapeutic drugs, which raises the possibility of herb–drug interactions and may modify the clinical safety profile of therapeutic drugs. METHODS: We investigated the potential herb–drug interactions between BST extract and midazolam (MDZ) in mice. The area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) of MDZ and 1ʹ-hydroxymidazolam (1ʹ-OH-MDZ) was evaluated for both oral and intraperitoneal administration of MDZ, following oral administration of BST (0.5 and 1 g/kg). RESULTS: It was found that the AUC of MDZ and 1ʹ-OH-MDZ was lower in case of oral administration of MDZ. Administration of BST extract was not associated with hepatic cytochrome P450 activity. BST extract induced a strong reduction in pH and it has been reported that oral mucosal absorption of MDZ is lower at low pH. The decreased absorption rate of MDZ might be caused by the ingredients of BST and may not be related to other factors such as increased excretion of MDZ by P-glycoprotein. CONCLUSIONS: The altered pharmacokinetics of midazolam caused by co-administration with BST in vivo could be attributed to a decrease in pH and subsequent reduction of MDZ absorption rate.
Absorption* ; Administration, Oral ; Animals ; Area Under Curve ; Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System ; Far East ; Herb-Drug Interactions ; Herbal Medicine ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration* ; Mice ; Midazolam* ; Oral Mucosal Absorption ; P-Glycoprotein ; Pharmacokinetics ; Plasma ; Stomach*

BACKGROUND: Atopic dermatitis is a global public health concern owing to its increasing prevalence and socioeconomic burden. However, few studies have assessed the economic impact of atopic dermatitis in Korea. OBJECTIVE: We conducted a cost analysis of atopic dermatitis and evaluated its economic impacts on individual annual disease burden, quality of life, and changes in medical expenses with respect to changes in health related-quality of life. METHODS: The cost analysis of atopic dermatitis was performed by reviewing the home accounting records of 32 patients. The economic impact of the disease was evaluated by analyzing questionnaires. To handle uncertainties, we compared the results with the data released by the Health Insurance Review & Assessment Board on medical costs claimed by healthcare facilities. RESULTS: The direct cost of atopic dermatitis per patient during the 3-month study period was 541,280 Korean won (KRW), and expenditures on other atopic dermatitis-related products were 120,313 KRW. The extrapolated annual direct cost (including expenditures on other atopic dermatitis-related products) per patient was 2,646,372 KRW. The estimated annual indirect cost was 1,507,068 KRW. Thus, the annual cost of illness of atopic dermatitis (i.e., direct+indirect costs) was estimated to be 4,153,440 KRW. CONCLUSION: The annual total social cost of atopic dermatitis on a national level is estimated to be 5.8 trillion KRW.
Cost of Illness ; Costs and Cost Analysis ; Delivery of Health Care ; Dermatitis, Atopic* ; Health Expenditures ; Humans ; Insurance, Health ; Korea ; Prevalence ; Public Health ; Quality of Life ; Surveys and Questionnaires