Vascular injury is a serious but rare complication of hip procedures. Most of vascular complications reported in articles occured in vessels around hip joint and femoral artery. To date, report of popliteal artery occlusion during or after total hip arthroplasty was absent. The authors have experienced one case of popliteal artery occlusion after total hip arthroplasty. It was suspected that the cause of occlusion of this particular case was a excessive maneuvering of limb during operation and then, artheromatous plaque fracture or thrombosis made occulusion in popliteal artery. Angiographic embolectomy using a catheter was performed and circulation of limb was recovered. To reduce the risk of vascular complications after total hip arthroplasty procedure, we recommend a thorough evaluation of lower extremity circulation in risky patient. And if a vascular insult is suspected either during or soon after the procedure, then a vascular consultation with arteriography including popliteal artery should be obtained urgently. Delay in treatment could result in a deleterious outcome.
Angiography ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip* ; Catheters ; Embolectomy ; Extremities ; Femoral Artery ; Hip ; Hip Joint ; Humans ; Lower Extremity ; Popliteal Artery* ; Thrombosis ; Vascular System Injuries

BACKGROUND: The fast EMS helicopter was introduced to Korea in 1996 and from Dec. 1. 1997, it was used far transporting emergent patients. Authors, here upon, report the transporting experiences. METHODS: From Dec. 1, 1996 to Dec. 31,1997, Samsung Medical Centers EMS helicopter was used for air evacuation of critically ill patients. The patients data prospectively analyzed. RESULT: A total of 65 patients were transported. Male to female ratio was 1.95 : 1. The mean transport time was 64.1min(10-160 min). Majority of the evacuated patients was surgical patients (General Surgery'16, Orthopedic surgery : 10, Neurosurgery : 6, Infernal medicine 13, Pediatrics : 3, and others : 3). Twenty-one of the 65 patients transported were admitted to ICU and 31 did not require ICU care. During the air evacuation, one physician and one nurse trained for air evacuation amended The patients. No medical problems or deaths developed during the air evacuation period. CONCLUSION: The first EMS helicopter was introduced to Korea in 1996. From Dec. 1, 1996 to Dec. 31, 1997, Samsung Medical Center's EMS helicopter was used for air evacuation of critically ill patients. The patients data reported.
Aircraft* ; Critical Illness ; Emergencies* ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Neurosurgery ; Orthopedics ; Pediatrics ; Prospective Studies

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral in the Earth's crust, and it is not confined to the historic and current asbestos mining areas, but rather quite commonly encountered in certain geological environments across the world. The middle-west side of the Korean Peninsula (Chungnam province) has been composed of numerous talc and asbestos ore deposits derived from serpentine and dolomite. These areas have experienced epidemics of malignant mesothelioma and pleural plaques as a result of non-occupational "neighborhood" exposure and naturally occurring asbestos (NOA) exposure. However, asbestosis epidemics from environmental exposure were rare because asbestosis needs relatively high concentration of asbestos exposure. This review summarizes asbestosis epidemics which occurred in the residents who have lived past or current asbestos mining areas and natural in-place asbestos deposits (or asbestos-like mineral deposits) in the world, including Korean asbestosis endemics that occurred in Chungnam province, which has many historic asbestos mining. Also, this manuscript will describe effective public policies for managing NOA, minimizing potential hazards, and protecting public health from asbestos exposure.
Asbestos ; Asbestosis ; Calcium Carbonate ; Environmental Exposure ; Magnesium ; Mesothelioma ; Mining ; Public Health ; Public Policy ; Residence Characteristics ; Talc

No abstract available.
Lichen Nitidus* ; Lichens*

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficacy of cervical expansive laminoplasty for patients with quadriplegia due to traumatic cervical spinal cord injury (SCI) without skeletal injury. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: There are a few studies on the surgical results for acute cervical SCI without bony injury. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From 2003 to 2010, among the patients who visited emergency room with post-traumatic quadriplegia, 12 patients who had underwent cervical expansive laminoplasty for acute cervical SCI without body injury and cord compression on MR images were included in this study. We evaluate the pre-operative swelling on MRI, the change of neurologic symptoms at pre-, post operative state, respiration state, complication and survival period. RESULTS: The average of motor index scores at the time of admission to the emergency room was 23 (4–30), and the average was changed to 29(4–43) during the follow-up period. No significant neurological improvement was observed in 11 cases except 1 case. The average time for operation after the injury was 26 hours(9–72). 4 patients showed paradoxical respiration when they first visited emergency room and the symptom continued after the operation and during follow-up periods. Another 4 patients showed paradoxical respiration after the operation. In all 8 cases who showed paradoxical respiration, tracheostomy and occasional ventilation were needed. In the follow-up period, 6 patients died due to respiratory failure within 1 year after the surgery. All these patients presented severe spinal cord edema on preoperative MRI with paradoxical respiration. CONCLUSIONS: Efficacy of expansive laminoplasty for quadriplegic patients due to acute cervical SCI without bony injury may be limited. In many patients, no significant neurological recovery was observed but it was clearly identified that prognosis was related to the grades of spinal cord edema and paradoxical respiration.
Cervical Cord ; Edema ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Laminoplasty* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Prognosis ; Quadriplegia ; Respiration ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Cord ; Tracheostomy ; Ventilation

Endometriosis is defined as the presence of endometrial tissue(gland and stroma) outside the uterus. The incidence of scar endometriosis is quite rare, and must differentiate with cellulitis and abscess. We have experienced one case of perineal endometriosis and one case of abdominal wall endometriosis at the site of postoperative wound scar. The possible pathogenesis of endometriosis and treatment were discussed.
Abdominal Wall ; Abscess ; Cellulitis ; Cicatrix* ; Endometriosis* ; Female ; Incidence ; Uterus ; Wounds and Injuries

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to analyze the endotracheal intubation cases performed in the emergency department. METHODS: We investigated retrospectively 326 cases of endotracheal intubation performed in the emergency department of a tertiary care center from April 1, 1998 to March 31, 1999. We focused on operators, medications used, its success rate and immediate complications, and the relationship between its success rate and medications. RESULTS: Of 326 consecutive intubations, 193 patients(59.2%) were done by emergency medicine residents or attending physician. While 320 patients(98.2%) were successfully intubated, 6 patients could not be intubated and 2 patients underwent tracheostomy. Of 50 cases of intubations(15.3%) attempted with paralyzing agents, 48 cases were done with succinylcholine and 46 cases underwent by emergency physicians. Intubations with neuromuscular paralysis resulted in high success rates at the first attempt. Of 55 immediate adverse events were encountered in 47 patients(desaturation=17, bronchial intubation=15, hypotension=8, bradycardia=4, cardiac arrest=2, others=5). CONCLUSION: At this institution, paralyzing agents were used infrequently, but almost all of them were used by emergency physicians.
Emergencies* ; Emergency Medicine ; Emergency Service, Hospital* ; Humans ; Intubation ; Intubation, Intratracheal* ; Paralysis ; Retrospective Studies ; Succinylcholine ; Tertiary Care Centers* ; Tertiary Healthcare* ; Tracheostomy

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the clinical and radiological outcomes of posterior interbody fusion using pedicle screw fixation after posterior decompression for high-grade spondylolisthesis. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: The surgical treatment of high-grade spondylolisthesis has been controversial. However, few reports on the results of reduction and posterior interbody fusion after posterior decompression have been published. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirteen patients with L5-S1 high-grade spondylolisthesis (Meyerding grade III, IV) who underwent reduction and posterior interbody fusion were analyzed with at least 2 years of follow-up. The mean age of the patients (male 2, female 11) was 51 years. Classified by the type of spondylolisthesis, 10 cases were isthmic, 2 cases dysplastic, and 1 case degenerative. A visual analogue scale (VAS), the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) score, bone union, anterior slippage, and slip angle were used in comparing clinical and radiographic outcomes. RESULTS: All cases showed improvement of preoperative symptoms. The VAS and ODI score improved from a mean of 8.9 points and 36.2 points preoperatively to 2.1 points and 10.2 points, respectively, at last follow-up. The degree of anterior slippage measured by Taillard's method was improved from a mean of 57.7% before surgery to mean of 14.6% at last follow-up. The slip angle also changed from a mean of 2.4° kyphosis before surgery to a mean of 7.6°C lordosis at last follow-up. There were two complications: infection and new radiating pain. CONCLUSIONS: Reduction and posterior interbody fusion using pedicle screw fixation after posterior decompression was a useful surgical method for high-grade spondylolisthesis that corrected lumbosacral kyphosis, filled the structural space of the anterior column, and acheived fusion of interbody movement.
Animals ; Decompression ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Kyphosis ; Lordosis ; Methods ; Pedicle Screws ; Retrospective Studies ; Spondylolisthesis*

PURPOSE: To compare clinical results and radiologic changes after arthroscopic and microscopic discectomy of lumbar disc herniation in teenagers who have no degenerative change. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From Jan 1990 to Aug 2001. 70 lumbar disc herniations were performed in patients below 20 years old who were admitted to our department, among these 67 cases (49:male, 18:female) were evaluated for at least 1 year. Their aver-age age was 18.1 years (13 ~20 years). Forty-six received microscopic discectomy and 21 arthroscopic discectomy. Mean follow-up duration was 26.4 months (12 ~88 months). RESULTS: Clinical results and disc height change were compared between the arthroscopic and microscopic discectomy groups using the criteria of MacNab, and the relationship between disc height change and clinical results, excised disc volume, opera-tive technique, body mass index and symptom duration were investigated. Clinically there was no significant difference between the two groups (p=0.425), and their results were the same as those of adults. At the 1 year-follow up, disc height changes showed no correlation with the method of operation (p=0.996) or the volume of the excised disc. Postoperative disc height in teenagers of lumbar disc herniation who showed no degenerative change significantly decreased with time, but no significant relation was observed between disc height changes and clinical results, operative technique, excised disc volume, body mass index, involved disc site or symptom duration between the two groups. CONCLUSION: We believe that arthroscopic discectomy is an effective method, if the patients status permits, because it has the advantages of non-invasiveness, short hospitalization period and earlier return to normal life.
Adolescent* ; Adult ; Body Mass Index ; Diskectomy* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Young Adult

STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective study OBJECTIVES: To examine the influence of cervical spondylosis on an acute cervical spinal cord injury. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: There are no reports on the relationship between cervical spondylosis and acute cervical spinal cord injuries. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty six patients who underwent operative treatment for acute cervical injuries with spinal cord injury were evaluated. The mean age and follow-up period was 58 years and 2.2 years, respectively. The evaluation was performed by examining the causes of the injuries, and the classification of fractures according to the presence of cervical spondylosis. This study compared the degrees of postoperative neurological recovery with motor index score in the groups with and without cervical spondylosis. RESULTS: Cervical cord injuries were more prevalent in the group 60 years and older; 17 cases vs. 9 cases in the group under 60 years. Eleven (65%) and 6 (35%) cases in the group 60 years and older had sustained a high and low energy injury, respectively. In contrast, mostly high energy injuries (8 in 9 cases) were encountered in the group under 60 years of age. A low energy injury could cause a acute cervical cord injury in the group 60 years and older, who also had cervical spondylosis. In those cases, previous cervical spondylosis might be one of the etiologic factors. CONCLUSIONS: The cases with cervical spondylosis in the group 60 years and older tended to show incomplete cord injury and good postoperative neurological recovery when they had sustained cervical cord injuries.
Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Cord ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; Spondylosis