OBJECTIVE: We estimated the number of Korean adults with back pain and evaluated population-based associated factors of back pain from a representative sample data from the Fourth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. METHODS: The number of Korean adults who experienced back pain (experienced patients), those who experienced back pain lasting for three or more months during the past year (chronic patients), and those who were currently suffering from back pain (current patients) were estimated by analyzing the data from the fourth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted in 2007 using surveyfreq procedure of the SAS statistical package. Population-based odds ratios for being experienced, chronic, and current patient according to demographic (age and gender), socioeconomic (education and occupation), and lifestyle factors (smoking, drinking, and exercise) were estimated using surveylogistic procedure. RESULTS: It was estimated that there were 5,554,256 (proportion, 15.4%; 95% CI, 4,809,466 - 6,299,046) experienced patients, 2,060,829 (5.7%; 1,557,413-2,564,246) chronic patients, and 3,084,188 (8.5%; 2,600,197 - 3,568,179) current patients among 36,107,225 Korean adults aged 20-89 years in 2007. Each of explanatory variables was significantly associated with at least one of the response variables for back pain. CONCLUSION: Based on our study results, further efforts to investigate epidemiology of back pain, to evaluate associated factors, and to improve treatment outcomes are needed.
Adult ; Aged ; Back Pain ; Drinking ; Humans ; Korea ; Life Style ; Nutrition Surveys ; Odds Ratio ; Phenothiazines ; Stress, Psychological ; Surveys and Questionnaires

No abstract available.

A 49-year-old woman with spasmodic torticollis was treated with interventional muscle and nerve stimulation (IMNS). Her neck was tilted to the left, and her chin was rotated and tilted to the right. Based on patient history, physical examination, and X-ray findings, the right C2-3, C3-4, C4-5 and C5-6 facet joints were selected for IMNS treatment. Under ultrasound guidance, an Ahn's Needle (a specially designed needle for IMNS) was inserted from the midline of the posterior neck and advanced toward a point over the capsule of the facet joints. The needle was moved gently forward and backward within a 1-2 mm range until no resistance was felt at the tip. After undergoing three rounds of IMNS treatment, the dystonic features were grossly normal but spontaneous activities of the muscles innervated by C6 remained. Although we did not demonstrate complete improvement of spasmodic torticollis, our report suggests that IMNS has therapeutic value for spasmodic torticollis.
Chin ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Muscles ; Neck ; Needles ; Physical Examination ; Torticollis ; Zygapophyseal Joint

Spasmodic dysphonia is a voice disorder that's characterized by intermittent, involuntary tightening or constriction of the larynx during phonation.This paper describes the case of a 45-yr-old female who suffered from phonation difficulties along with posterior and anterior neck pain.She was diagnosed with adductor type spasmodic dysphonia, which is a chronic disorder involving hyperadduction of the vocal mechanism and a resultant vocal arrest.The neural innervation of the intrinsic laryngeal musculature and the cervical nerves too may well be amenable to intramuscular stimulation therapy.
Constriction ; Dysphonia ; Female ; Humans ; Larynx ; Neck ; Phonation ; Voice Disorders

Spasmodic dysphonia is a voice disorder that's characterized by intermittent, involuntary tightening or constriction of the larynx during phonation.This paper describes the case of a 45-yr-old female who suffered from phonation difficulties along with posterior and anterior neck pain.She was diagnosed with adductor type spasmodic dysphonia, which is a chronic disorder involving hyperadduction of the vocal mechanism and a resultant vocal arrest.The neural innervation of the intrinsic laryngeal musculature and the cervical nerves too may well be amenable to intramuscular stimulation therapy.
Constriction ; Dysphonia ; Female ; Humans ; Larynx ; Neck ; Phonation ; Voice Disorders

PURPOSE: The reliability and validity of a Korean version of the Obsessive-Compulsive-Inventory-Revised (OCI-R) was examined in non-clinical student samples. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Korean version of OCI-R was administered to a total of 228 Korean college students. The Maudsley Obsessive Compulsive Inventory (MOCI), Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI), and Beck's Anxiety Inventory (BAI) were administered to 228 students. RESULTS: The total and each of subscale of the Korean OCI-R demonstrated excellent internal consistency, good test-retest reliability, moderate convergent validity and good divergent validity. CONCLUSION: It was concluded that the Korean version of the OCI-R has strong psychometric properties as the original version.
Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder/*diagnosis ; *Psychological Tests/statistics & numerical data ; Psychometrics ; Questionnaires ; Reproducibility of Results ; Young Adult

The discovery of C-T scan have facilitated the detection of post-traumatic hydrocephalus cases. Of those, 6 cases of hydrocephalus of non-parenchymatous in origin, in other words, normal pressure hydrocephalus were presented. They were diagnosed by repeated brain C-T and cisternography with Iodine 131-labeled human serum albumin. The symptomatology, diagnosis procedure and surgical results were discussed. Followings are the results. 1) The RIHSA cisternogram taken after 6 hrs, 12 hrs, 24 hrs and 48 hrs from lumbar injection showed abnormal features in all cases. 2) Surgical results were thought that there is much correlation with the age and improvement of mental impairments were seen, more or less, in all cases and improvement of gait disturbance and incontinence were seen in 5 cases and 4 cases respectively. 3) In those who sustained severe head injury with delayed recovery, the authors think, repeated check of brain C-T and cisternography is necessitated to perform the V-P shunt or V-A shunt to relieve the symptomatology of normal pressure hydrocephalus.
Brain ; Cerebrospinal Fluid Pressure ; Craniocerebral Trauma ; Diagnosis ; Gait ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus ; Hydrocephalus, Normal Pressure* ; Iodine ; Serum Albumin ; Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt

No abstract available.
Breech Presentation* ; Female ; Fetus* ; Pregnancy

BACKGROUND: We developed a sonographically assisted minimally invasive release technique (entitled as interventional microadhesiolysis) of the A1 pulley to treat trigger digit. This paper introduces the procedure and evaluates the efficacy of the intervention for trigger digit. METHODS: Eleven trigger digits in nine patients were treated with a specially designed needle using ultrasonographic assistance. The technique includes subcutaneous and intrasheath release. Subcutaneous release was performed by obliquely inserting the needle into the interdigital space and advancing it to release the subcutaneous tissue overlying the affected area. If the A1 pulley was not completely released, intrasheath release was performed by advancing the needle into the flexor tendon sheath, and the operator fixed the needle while the digit was passively flexed and extended. RESULTS: After the patients underwent the technique, all of the patients reported a reduction in pain and improved range of motion. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that interventional microadhesiolysis is an effective treatment for trigger digit.
Humans ; Needles ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Subcutaneous Tissue ; Tendons ; Trigger Finger Disorder

BACKGROUND:This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of subcutaneous Botulinum toxin type A (BoNT-A) injection for treating chronic medial knee pain with osteoarthritis. METHODS:A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted at a university hospital in Korea.The subjects suffering from chronic medial knee pain with osteoarthritis were randomly allocated to either the BoNT-A (treatment, n = 23) group or the normal saline (placebo, n = 27) group.Injections were given to 10 points per unilateral knee along the course of the saphenous nerve.A total of 90 units of BoNT-A (60 units at baseline and 30 units after 1 week) was given for treating unilateral knee pain and a total of 180 units of BoNT-A was given for treating bilateral knee pain.The placebo group received the same volume of normal saline. RESULTS:The Visual Analog Scale (VAS) pain score was significantly decreased in both the BoNT-A and normal saline groups 1, 4 and 12 weeks after injection.After adjusting for covariates, BoNT-A had a 0.788 times higher effect to decrease the VAS score than did normal saline, but the effect was marginally significant (P = 0.050). CONCLUSIONS:Subcutaneous injection along the course of the saphenous nerve significantly reduces chronic medial knee pain. The pain reduction effect of BoNT-A is higher than that of placebo, but the effect is marginally significant
Botulinum Toxins ; Botulinum Toxins, Type A ; Knee ; Osteoarthritis ; Stress, Psychological