In orthopedic trauma surgery, treatment of intraarticular distal humerus fractures is a challenge. With development of implants and biomechanical studies, surgical strategies with recommendations including preoperative computed tomography images, proper approaches and open reduction and internal fixation with dual plates have emerged. In addition, as an effort to provide stable fixation to permit early elbow motion, different methods of internal fixation, particularly plate configuration, have evolved. Using dual plates, either oriented parallel to each other or orthogonal, stable fixation has been achieved and satisfactory clinical outcomes have been reported. With rationales and advantages/disadvantages of each plate configuration, both techniques are selected according to surgeons' preference, and, in specific cases, one could be preferred over another. The key to successful fixation by either technique is obtaining anatomical reduction with restoration of two stable columns of the distal humerus.
Elbow ; Fracture Fixation ; Humeral Fractures* ; Humerus ; Orthopedics

Complicated hepatic microabscess secondary to ascending cholangitis following ERCP (Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatogram) is rare, and needs to be differentiated from other microabscesses, metastasis or Caroli's disease. We experienced a case of hepatic microabscess associated with septic cholangitis following ERCP. Cholangiogram showed multiple sac-like abscess pockets with characteristic biliary communication, and CT scan revealed multiple low attenuated lesions. At the resolving stage of chotangitic microabscess, CT scan showed partial rim enhancement of the abscesses and disproportional dilatation of intrahepatic ducts. The residual parenchymal enhancement surrounding the resolved microabscess pockets and dilatated biliary ducts, however, remained even after clinical recovery.
Abscess ; Caroli Disease ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Cholangitis* ; Dilatation ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

For many years permanent soft denture liners has been widely used in dental practice directly or indirectly because of its function in absorbing and distributing the impact force. However, it reveals problems such as lack of permanency and decreased bond strength in long term use. The purpose of this study is to measure the bond strength and failure between denture base resin and several permanent liners. Lucitone 199 was used as denture base resin with soft acrylic liners (Triad, Tokuso Rebase) and silicone elastomers (Tokuyama, Ufi Gel C) bonded to measure the tensile strength before and after thermocycling. The thermocycling was done in 2000 cycles at 5degrees C, 26degrees C and 55degrees C and the measured tensile strength values before and after thermocycling were compared. The mode of failure was investigated in the separated specimens. The results are as follows. 1. As to tensile strength, the strongest material is Tokuso Rebase followed by Triad, Tokuyama, Ufi Gel C in before thermocycling and the order of Triad, Tokuso Rebase, Tokuyama, Ufi Gel C in after thermocycling state. There was significant difference between the values of Triad, Tokuso Rebase and Tokuyama, Ufi Gel C(p<0.05). 2. As to degree of displacement, Ufi Gel C showed most displacement with or without thermocycling treatment and also the difference was significant with the other materials(p<0.05). 3. As to comparisons before and after thermocycling, Tokuso Rebase and Tokuyama showed significant difference in bond strength, whereas Triad and Tokuso Rebase showed significant difference in the degree of displacement(p<0.05). 4. In debonded specimens, Triad and Ufi Gel C showed adhesion failure and Tokuyama showed cohesion failure. Both failures were observed in Tokuso Rebase with adhesion failure up to 70%. The results of this study showed that degree of bond strength between permanent soft denture liner and denture base resin were variable. There was a significant difference between soft acrylics and silicone elastomers with regard to bond strength. Further research in improving bond strength of widely used silicone elastomers and in developing the method of measuring bond strength between denture base resin and the lining materials is needed.
Denture Bases* ; Denture Liners* ; Dentures* ; Silicone Elastomers ; Tensile Strength

Infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis(IHPS), which occurs three of 1,000 live births, is a major cause of 1 nonbilious vomiting of early infancy but its etiology and pathogenesis are still obscure. The operation of pyloromyotomy as described by Ramstedt in 1912 remains the standard of care for the treatment of IHPS. From January 1993 to October 1996, 35 infants with IHPS were surgically treated and the following results were obtained. 1. Thirty-five patients comprised 32 males and 3 females, and the ratio of male to female was 10.7:1. 2. The most prevalent age group was between 2 weeks and 8 weeks. 3. Of 35 infants, first born babies were 23 cases(65.7%). 4. Breast feeding was in 23 cases(65.7%). 5. The body weight percentile at admission was lower than 50 percentile in all 35 cases. 11. A total of seven associated anomalies were noted in six patients. 12. All 35 cases were treated with Fredet-Ramstedt pyloromyotomy. 13. There were postoperative complications of wound infection in 2 cases. Intermittent nonprojectile vomiting was presented in 8 cases(22.9%) after operation, but one of them was relieved in 13 days and the rest were relieved within one week by adjustment of oral intake.
Body Weight ; Breast Feeding ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Live Birth ; Male ; Postoperative Complications ; Pyloric Stenosis, Hypertrophic* ; Standard of Care ; Vomiting ; Wound Infection

Pelvic fistulas may result from obstetric complications, inflammatory bowel disease, pelvic malignancy, pelvic radiation therapy, pelvic surgery, or other traumatic causes, and their symptoms may be distressing. In our experience, various types of pelvic fistulas are identified after pelvic disease or pelvic surgery. Because of its close proximity, the majority of such fistulas occur in the pelvic cavity and include the vesicovaginal, vesicouterine, vesicoenteric, ureterovaginal, ureteroenteric and enterovaginal type. The purpose of this article is to illustrate the spectrum of imaging features of pelvic fistulas.
Bladder Fistula/diagnosis/etiology ; Female ; Fistula/*diagnosis/*etiology ; Human ; Intestinal Fistula/diagnosis/etiology ; *Pelvis ; Ureteral Diseases/diagnosis/etiology ; Urinary Fistula/diagnosis/etiology ; Uterine Diseases/diagnosis/etiology ; Vaginal Fistula/diagnosis/etiology

No abstract available.
Hematoma* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging*

Localized fibrous mesothelioma of the liver is very rare benign tumor. It usually manifest large palpable hepatic mass in right upper quadrant area, and the prognosis is excellent by surgical resection. Contrast enhanced CT scan shows well defined hyperattenuating mass and celiac anglogram shows hypervascular mass. Recently we experienced 1 case of localized fibrous mesothelioma of the liver, and we report CT and anglographic findings of this tumor.
Liver* ; Prognosis ; Solitary Fibrous Tumor, Pleural* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

BACKGROUND: Depressive symptoms are common in the medically ill patients although depressive disorders are considerably underdiagnosed and undertreated. Therefore, we examined the characteristics of depressive tendency in medical inpatients. METHODS: The patient group-144 subj.cts(90 males, 54 females) were selected from medical inpatients of Kae Jung hospital. 158 subjects(106 male, 52 females) with no prior history of diseases were selected for the control group. The Beck Depression Inventory(BDI) and Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression(HRSD) was used for both groups from June to December 1997. RESULTS: The patient group had a significant higher BDI and HRSD score than controls(p<0.01). In the patients, 31.3% had scores on the BDI greater than the cutting score of 21, and 26.4% had scores on the HRSD greater than the cutting score of 22. In the patients, demographic and medical variables were evaluated with respect to depression. those in their 60's, with education level of elementary school and below. the divorced, bereaved and separated, and having duration of illness more than one year were statistically more depressed, but depression was not associated with sex, religion and medical diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that depressive tendency may be a common phenomena in medically ill patients. Therefore, we should suspect depression in the management of these patients.
Depression ; Depressive Disorder ; Diagnosis ; Divorce ; Education ; Humans ; Inpatients* ; Male

The authors present the one case of a 22-year-old man admitted with intermittent quadriparesis and respiratory difficulty. On investigation, atlantoaxial instability and upper cervical cord compression due to abnormal soft tissue were revealed. We have performed transoral decompression and biopsy, and then posterior transarticular facet screw fixation with interspinous wiring and fusion. We could obtain immediate and long-term postoperative stability with Philadelphia collar only. The pathologic examination reveald connective soft tissue hypertrophy due to chronic mechanical irritation.
Biopsy ; Decompression* ; Humans ; Hypertrophy ; Quadriplegia ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND: It has been documented that certain prognostic factors may affect the outcomes of the old aged victims by trauma. Considering that trauma is the sixth most common cause of death in people over the age of 65 years and there is a rapid growth of elderly population, it is paramount to understand the prognostic factors when dealing with geriatric trauma patients. Hypothesis and Goals : It can be hypothesized that the prognostic factors should be determined independently between populations being consisted of different races, countries, socio-economic states, cultures, or so on. Thus, study was designed to evaluate the factors affecting the outcomes of elderly Korean trauma patients. METHODS: One hundred forty six patients aged over 65 years were retrospectively reviewed, who visited the Emergency Canter of Korea University from January, 1997 to June, 1998. Of 146 patients, 7 were excluded due to discharge against advice or transfer to the other hospitals. Parameters analysed were age, sex, mechanism of injuries, body region injured, Injury Severity Score (ISS), previous medical illness, hospital morbidity, duration of hospital stay, and cost. Each patient was classified into improved or not-improved groups depending on the outcomes, and young-old or old-old group depending on the age. The factors affecting the hospital stay in improved patients were analyzed in the parameters of previous medical illness, hospital morbidity, multiple injuries, ISS, and age. All statistical tests were conducted with two-tailed levels of 0.05. RESULTS: Of 139 patients, the mean age was 74+/-7.1 years, mean ISS 9.3+/-7.26, mean hospital stay 27+/-27.1 days. Most commonly injured body region was the extremities due to fall from a level surface. Rate of previous illness showed 0.94 medical diseases per person and were aggravated after trauma in 39 patients (60.9%). Hospital morbidity rate was 0.46 incidents per person. There were no differences in age and duration of hospital stay between the improved and the not-improved group. Substantial differences were noted in affected body region, incidence of previous illness, and hospital morbidity between the groups (p=NS). Not-improved group had higher ISS (p<0.05). ISS, previous illness and hospital morbidity affected the duration of hospital stay in the improved group. Hospital stay was 40+/-25.1 days in patients with ISS over 6 while 6+/-8.6 days in those with ISS 5 (p<0.05). Hospital stay in the improved was 26+/-26.9 days while 31+/- 24.8 days in the improved old-old group (P=NS). Hospital stay in the young-old minor trauma (ISS5) patients with previous illness and hospital morbidity was 26+/-10.1 days while 4+/-7.3 days in those without previous illness and hospital morbidity (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Previous medical illness and hospital morbidity, not age, are predictive of outcomes of geriatric trauma patients with respect to hospital stay. As most of the hospital morbidity was a trauma-induced aggravation of previous medical illness and hospital morbidity contributing poor outcomes can be potentially avoidable, routine aggressive care far the geriatric trauma patients with previous medical illnesses is needed.
Aged ; Body Regions ; Cause of Death ; Continental Population Groups ; Emergencies ; Extremities ; Humans ; Incidence ; Injury Severity Score ; Korea ; Length of Stay ; Multiple Trauma ; Retrospective Studies