Island flaps have been widely used for the management of soft tissue defects in reconstructive surgery. The necrosis of the flap has been a catastrophe in clinical fields. It is well known that revascularization to the flap after ligation of its pedicle comes from the recipient bed and flap margins. The authors investigated the effects of the ischemic recipient bed on island flap survival after the ligation of its pedicle in the rats. One hundred and thirty inferior epigastric island flaps were divided into three groups (Group I, Group II, and Group III) according to the degree (0%,20%, and 60%) of interruption of contact of flap with the recipient bed, respectively. In Group I,the vascular pedicles were ligated before and on the 0, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th days after flap elevation, and in Group II & III, the vascular pedicles were ligated on the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th days after flap elevation. Flap survival was assessed on the 3rd day after pedicle ligation. Microangiographic studies were also performed on the 3rd day after pedicle ligation to study revascularization within the flap and the change of blood vessels around the flap margins. The results were as follows: 1. Flap survival was increased significantly in the flaps with pedicle ligation on the 4th and 5th postoperative days compared to those at the 2nd and 3rd postoperative days. 2. From the 3rd postoperative day, flap survival was not influenced significantly by the degree of limited bed contact and the date of pedicle ligation. 3. In spite of limited bed contact, the flap will likely survive with abundant revascularization from the flap margins. In conclusion, the flaps with limited bed contact were revascularized significantly from the flap margin by the 3rd postoperative day.
Animals ; Blood Vessels ; Ligation ; Necrosis ; Rats ; Surgical Flaps

Massive ovarian deema is a tate conditian. It is a benign enlargement of the ovary caused by accumulation of fluid, which is thought to result from intermittent partial toraion of the ovarian pedicle. Histologically, the ovaries were characterized by diffuse edema of medulla and inner cortex. Two cases of massive ovanan edema are reported with brief review of the literatures.
Edema* ; Female ; Ovary

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to analyze the flow signal chracteristics of 3 dimensional time of flight MR angiography (3D TOF MRA) by using a flow phantom model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Nonpulsatile flow phantom and tap water were used in this experiment. We performed FISP 3D TOF MRA with various values of parameters (repetition time ; 34-100 msec, flip angle ; 10degrees-50degrees, flow velocity ; 14.7-73.6 cm/sec, Gd-DTPA concentration ; 0.6-3.6 mmol/liter). The values of flow signal intensity (SI), signal to noise ratio (SNR) and contrast to noise ratio (CNR) were measured from base images of each MRA. The measured values were displayed graphically and analyzed statistically in relation to various parameters. RESULTS: A prolongation of repetition time resulted in a decrease of CNR of flow. As flip angles increased, SNR and CNR of flow also increased but larger flip angles of more than 40degrees rapidly saturated exit flow. As the flow velocities increased in a range of 14.7-73.6 cm/sec, SNR and CNR of flow decreased. This may be related to the phase dispersion effect of laminar flow, more dominat than the TOF effect. The addition of Gd-DTPA to water increased SNR and CNR of exit flow. There were however, no significant differences of SI, SNR or CNR of flow among the various concentrations of Gd-DTPA. CONCLUSION: An experimental MRA study using a flow phantom model was useful in understanding the flow signal characteristics of 3D TOF MRA within various MRA parameters. Our preliminary results can be used as basic data for refined flow experiments.
Angiography* ; Gadolinium DTPA ; Noise ; Signal-To-Noise Ratio ; Water

Traumatic hip joint dislocations account for 2–5% of total joint dislocations. Bilateral asymmetric hip joint dislocation with anteriorly and posteriorly dislocation is an even more rare case because it was according to G. Loupasis reported in 11 cases only since 1879. We want to report 2 cases of bilateral asymmetric hip joint dislocation with unilateral acatabulum fracture which happened in our hospital. Bilateral asymmetric dislocation of hip joint accompanied by unilateral fracture of acetabulum is a very rare case so statistical verification cannot be done. However, close examinations are required at early treatment and follow-up because the patterns of dislocation and fracture of hip joint are variable and an orthopedic emergent condition and several complications may occur at both hip joints.

Bisphosphonate is used widely for osteoporosis management. On the other hand, some studies have reported that prolonged use of bisphosphonate without a proper resting period can cause insufficiency fracture and, in rare cases, fractures on the femur neck. This paper reports a case of an elderly patient who suffered bilateral femur neck insufficiency fractures induced by non-stopped long-term bisphosphonate therapy. The patient complained of pain in her buttocks at the first visit. During the admission period, inguinal area pain newly developed. Both a femur neck insufficiency fracture was observed on the hip radiographic image. Hip pinning and postoperative parathyroid hormone treatment were performed. The patient was discharged without specific complications and reported improvement in symptoms on the last follow-up. Several authors have reported one-sided femoral neck insufficiency fractures due to bisphosphonate use, but the present case is uncommon in that it occurred simultaneously in both femur necks. In addition, in the case of bilateral femur fractures, the walking ability after surgery is lower than that of one-sided fracture cases, so active rehabilitation is necessary.

Necrotizing fasciitis is a relatively rare disease which mainly affects the extremities, inguinal area, and the trunk area, and it is by definition a severe acute bacterial infection which affects the fascia. One can misdiagnose the disease as simple cellulitis, thereby delaying an appropriate treatment, and the disease can rapidly spread through the fascia, causing complication such as sepsis, leaving severe loss of tissue as a sequelae. Necrotizing fasciitis of the cervical area is even a rarer disease. Once a person contracts, the disorder can spread through superficial musculoaponeurotic system and cervical fascia, quickly infecting important vascular systems and mediastinum of the craniocervical and thoracic area, which cause a serious complication from direct spread unto main organs. Therefore, in case of necrotizing fasciitis of the cervical area, active surgical treatment such as wide excision of necrotizing tissue and proper drainage of abscess and early administration of broad range antibiotics are necessary in order to prevent serious complications in main vascular system, mediastinum, or craniocervical system. We have experienced a case of necrotizing fasciitis of the cervical region in 2002, and obtained satisfactory results from wide excision, abscess drainage, local flap with skin graft, and hereby report the case with references.
Abscess ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Bacterial Infections ; Cellulitis ; Drainage ; Extremities ; Fascia ; Fasciitis, Necrotizing* ; Humans ; Mediastinum ; Rare Diseases ; Sepsis ; Skin ; Transplants

OBJECTIVES: To compare the multiple outcomes of patients with cataract surgery at perioperative time, 3-4 months and 12 months after surgery and to assess patient outcomes associated with visual improvement(visual acuity of operated eye, visual function-14(VF-14), symptom score). METHODS: For this assessment, a prospective study was conducted with 389 patients who had undergone cataract surgery for either one eye or both eyes. The surgery was performed by 20 ophthalmologists who were practicing at university hospitals and general hospitals. Patients were interviewed and clinical data were obtained. Doctors were questioned with self-reported questionnaire forms. Medical records were examined in order to measure variables related to the surgical process such as surgical methods and ocular comorbidity. The survey was conducted at 4 stages : preoperative time(389 cases), perioperative time(344 cases, 88.4%), postoperative 3-4 months (343 cases, 88.2%), and postoperative 12 months (281 cases, 72.2%). After excluding cases with incomplete data, 198 cases were enrolled in the study. Patient outcomes was measured for any improvement in the functional outcomes(visual acuity of operated eye, visual function, symptom score) at postoperative 3-4 months. RESULTS: The visual acuity(operated, weighted average), symptom score, VF-14 score, satisfaction with vision, and subjective health status were shown to be improved at the perioperative time, postoperative 3-4 months and 12 months. An improvement in the Snellen visual acuity score was observed in 190 patients(96.0%), whereas improvements of the VF-14 score and cataract symptom score were observed in 151 patients(76.3%) and 179 patients(90.4%), respectively. All three outcome measures demonstrated improvement in 137 patients(69.2%). The improvement of the three functional outcomes at 3-4 months after receiving surgery was associated with a lower level of visual function and a higher level of cataract symptom score at perioperative time, as well as a greater experience level of the surgeon. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, the estimates of the proportion of patients benefiting from cataract surgery varied with the outcome measure of benefit. Preoperative VF-14 score, a measure of functional impairment related to vision, and symptom score may be better measures of the benefit derived from cataract surgery than the change in visual acuity.
Cataract* ; Comorbidity ; Hospitals, General ; Hospitals, University ; Humans ; Medical Records ; Outcome Assessment (Health Care) ; Prospective Studies ; Questionnaires ; Visual Acuity

PURPOSE: The osmolar gap increases in proportion to the ethanol level. Some previous studies have shown that the correlation between the osmolar gap and the ethanol level is weak in trauma patient by using an indirect comparison with other patients. We conducted a direct comparison of the correlation of the osmolar gap to the ethanol level between trauma patients and non-trauma patients. We also analyzed the accuracy of the estimated ethanol level between the two groups. METHODS: The research candidates were adult patients who had visited the emergency department of our hospital from December 2003 to November 2008. By using a retrospective chart review, we classified them into three subgroups: non-trauma without shock, trauma without shock, and trauma with shock. In each group, we compared the correlation between the osmolar gap and the measured ethanol level, and we analyzed the accuracy of the estimated ethanol level by using Lin's concordance correlation coefficient. RESULTS: Four hundred forty-seven patients were enrolled in this study. For correlation of the osmolar gap and the measured ethanol level, Pearson's correlation coefficient was 0.916 in all patients, 0.939 in non-trauma without shock patients, 0.917 in trauma without shock patients, and 0.844 in trauma with shock patients. In the analysis of the accuracy of the estimated ethanol level by using Lin's concordance correlation coefficient, the accuracy in trauma with shock patients was lower than that in non-trauma without shock patients. CONCLUSION: We found that the correlation between the osmolar gap and the measured ethanol level in the patient group with trauma was lower than it was in the patient group without trauma. Moreover trauma patients with shock had a lower accuracy of the estimated ethanol level than non-trauma patients.
Adult ; Emergencies ; Ethanol ; Humans ; Osmolar Concentration ; Retrospective Studies ; Shock

This article describes methods used to produce a RBRVS (resource-based relative value scales), a common scale from two specialties (internal medicine and general surgery) and explains the newly developed extrapolation process within each specialty. To produce a common scale, we selected six 'same' services as linking services common to both specialties. Then we used the bi-weighted least squares method to locate all the same services on a single, common scale. By using the same method, we tried to extrapolate all the services within each specialty, not by the method of Kelly et al, dividing all the services within the specialty into families (small homogeneous groups of services) to apply charge-based ratios. To compare both methods, we extrapolated all the services of general surgery according to each method. With the correlation analysis to compare both results to American RVUs, we found that general surgery's RVUs from our own extrapolation method turned out to be more highly correlated with American RVUs than from Kelly's extrapolation method. Consequently, extrapolation with bi-weighted least squares method gave reasonable results.
Human ; *Internal Medicine ; Least-Squares Analysis ; *Relative Value Scales

OBJECTIVES: The clinical manifestations of gout in Korea would be changed lately according to the rapid economical development and the development of diagnostic methods. This study was done to reveal the late clinical features of gout in Korea. METHODS: A retrospective study was done for the 90 gout patients who had been treated in Seoul Paik Hospital from March 1974 to August 1994. Age of onset, sex, duration of disease, serum uric acid level, uric acid concentration of 24 hour urine, joint of first attack, recurrently involved joints, X-ray of involved joint, frequency of tophi, renal ultrasonography, and associated diseases were analyzed. The uric acid levels of the 808 civilians who visited our hospital for the periodic health examination were used as a control value. RESULTS: 1) The serum uric acid level in Korean adults was 5.2+/-1.1mg/dL in male, 3.8+/-0.7mg/dL in female, and 4.7mg/dL in general. The serum uric acid concentration of the gout patients was 8.6+/-2.2mg/dL in male, 6.1+/-2.1mg/dL in female, and 8.5+/-2.3mg/dL in general. The age of onset was 46.4+/-12.9 years old and male to female ratio was 44: 1 2) The renal excretion of uric acid was 470+/-173 mg/day in gout patients. 3) The sites of first attack were first MTP joint(76%), tarsal joint(13%), knee(5%), and other MTP joints(5%) 4) The involved joints during the repeated attacks were first MTP joint(84%), tarsal joint(23%), and fingers(23%), The duration of disease was significantly longer and the serum uric acid concentration was higher in the patients with tophi than they are in the patients without. 5) The 4l% of patients showed hone change in X-ray. 6) The renal ultrasound examinations were abnormal in 42% of the patients and the serum uric acid concentrations were significantly higher. 7) Obesity was found in 68% of patients, hypertension in 39%, hyperlipidemia in 16%, and chronic renal disease in 12%. CONCLUSION: The clinical features of gout in our study were similar to those of others done in and out of Korea, except that the frequency of hypertringlyceridemia was much lower than that of the foreign countries.
Adult ; Age of Onset ; Arthritis, Gouty ; Female ; Gout* ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias ; Hypertension ; Hyperuricemia ; Joints ; Korea* ; Male ; Obesity ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic ; Retrospective Studies ; Seoul ; Ultrasonography ; Uric Acid