PURPOSE: To cmpare the clinical results of complex tibial plateau fractures treated by hybrid external fixation and dual plate fixation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied forty patients with Schatzker type V and VI fractures respectively and selected twenty seven patients who were followed at least one year between January 2000 and December 2005. We evaluated the clinical results in which fourteen fractures with hybrid external fixation were compared with thirteen fractures with dual plate fixation. The clinical results were evaluated according to Knee Society Clinical Rating System and the statistical analysis was performed by Student t-test. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in terms of bone union time (average union time: dual plate fixation 13.8 weeks, hybrid external fixation 14.2 weeks). The quality of osseous reduction was superior in the fractures with dual plate fixation than those with hybrid external fixation. There were significant differences in functional score (average functional score: dual plate fixation 73, hybrid external fixation 62), but not in average knee score. CONCLUSION: The hybrid external fixation can be a useful modality for treatment of complex proximal tibial plateau fractures. But the good quality of the fracture reduction by dual plate fixation may be a indicator for favorable prognosis for satisfactory knee function.
Chimera ; External Fixators ; Humans ; Knee ; Prognosis

Kerion celsi caused by Trichophyton(T.) rubrum is rare endemically and there has been no report of it in Korean literatures. We report a case of karion celsi caused by T. rubrum in a 71-year-old male, who showed anindurated, swollen, boggy mass exuding pus on the right parietal scalp for about 7 weeks. The colonies and microconidia were identified as T. rubrum by fungus culture in potato dextrose agar. After administration of itraconazole for 11 weeks, the lesion was healed and the regrowing of new hairs was observed.
Adult* ; Agar ; Aged ; Fungi ; Glucose ; Hair ; Humans ; Itraconazole ; Male ; Rabeprazole ; Scalp ; Solanum tuberosum ; Suppuration ; Tinea Capitis* ; Trichophyton*

No abstract available.
Apoptosis* ; Caspase 3* ; Endothelial Cells* ; Perforin* ; Vibrio vulnificus* ; Vibrio*

No abstract available.
Arthrography* ; Wrist*

BACKGROUND: Hearing loss is associated with environmental noises. Not only the strength of the noise but also the exposure time of that seems important. We investigated to find the factors associated with hearing loss in pilots. METHOD: For the anlysis of hearing loss in pilots in the air force, we performed an audiometiric test on 563 pilots from 2000 to 2001 and analysed the results. REUSLT: The type of aircraft or regiment is not associated with hearing loss. The age, tenure and total flight time are the factors associated with hearing loss, especially in the high frequency zone. The flight time in the recent six months is shown not to be associated with hearing loss which means an exposure to noise in a longer term is important. In this study, the hearing threshold increased at 6,000 Hz regardless of age. CONCLUSION: The reason may be due to the noise environment of pilots. Therefore an additional study about pilots' normal limits of hearing threshold at 6,000 Hz and clinical meanings of that is necessary.
Aircraft ; Hearing Loss* ; Hearing* ; Noise

BACKGROUND: Benzoic acid contained in some food can hinder the biological monitoring of hippuric acid in urine, which is frequently used as an exposure index of toluene and xylene. METHOD: 20 male examinees who are not exposed to organic solvents in their jobs were given a bottle of drink containing benzoic acid(70 mg/dl) and took it. Urine samples were taken from every person just before, in 1.5 hrs after, and in 3 hrs after taking the drink. Hippuric acid in urine was analyzed with improved Ogata and Taguchi method and creatinine with Jaffe method. RESULT: Mean hippuric acid concentrations in urine just before, in 1.5 hrs after, and in 3 hrs after taking the drink were 0.59+/-0.21 g/g creatinine, 2.75+/-0.98 g/g creatinine, 1.04+/-0.58 g/g creatinine, respectively. And, each group had statistically significant differences (p<0.01). There were no statistically significant differences between two groups categorized by age, smoking, and drinking. CONCLUSION: From the results, we suggest that when hippuric acid concentration in urine is used as a exposure index of toluene, it should be surveyed whether the food containing benzoic acid was taken or not.
Benzoic Acid* ; Creatinine ; Drinking ; Environmental Monitoring ; Humans ; Male ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Solvents ; Toluene ; Xylenes

No abstract available.
Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color*

No abstract available.
Candidiasis* ; Paget Disease, Extramammary* ; Vulva

Hydrogen sulfide poisoning is frequently encountered in the workplace. Two workers lost their consciousness in an underground tank at a factory producing paper. The tank contained liquid mixture of used paper, sodium oxygenate chloride(NaOC1), and sodium thiosulfate pentahydrate(NaSO3 5H90). A worker(worker A; 36-year-old man) entered tank to remove sludge. When worker A lost his consciousness, worker B entered the tank to rescue worker A, however he lost consciousness inside the tank. We discuss in detail the clinical features of this condition. Hydrogen sulfide poisonings have occurred in industries involving petroleum refining, the manufacture of heavy water, tanning of hides, vulcanization of rubber, and the manufacture of rayon. And it is necessary to stress the health education for workers and managers in these industries.
Adult ; Consciousness ; Deuterium Oxide ; Health Education ; Humans ; Hydrogen Sulfide* ; Hydrogen* ; Oxygen ; Petroleum ; Poisoning* ; Rescue Work ; Rubber ; Sewage ; Sodium ; Tanning ; Triacetoneamine-N-Oxyl

OBJECTIVES: To know the present conditions of industrial accidents in automobile factories in Korea and make the basic materials essential to prevention of industrial accidents METHODS: We reviewed and analyzed the records of industrial accidents occurred in an automobile factory in 1997 by time of occurrence, job categories(fixed production, skilled trades, mechanical material handling, and clerical 8r technical), type of injury, kind of accident, and location of injury. RESULTS: 1. By age groups, the accident rate was the highest in age 45-49(1.6 %o) followed by age 35-39(1.3 %), 40-44(0.9 %), 30-34(0.9 %), 25-29(0.6 %), and 20-24(0.4 %) and by working duration, it was highest in group of experience over 25 years, and so we could see that the more age or working duration increases the more accident rate increases. 2. By work time, the accident rate was the highest in 10-11 a.m. (21.4 %) followed by 2-3 p.m. (17.9%). By the day of the week, it was as follows, Friday(20.5%) Wednesday (17. 9%), Monday (16. 2 %), Thesday (15. 4 %), Saturday (12. 0 %), Thursday(11.1 %), Sunday(6.8 %) in order. By the month, it was high in May(17.9 %), March(11.1 %), and April(11.1 %) followed by August(10.3 %) and January(9.4 %), so we could see it was high in spring. 3. The most frequent injury was in the back by 41.0 % followed by 17 cases in fingers(14.5 %), legs(9.4 %), hands(7.7 %), head(6.0 %) in order. And by the type of injuries, the sprain was most frequent by 38. 5% followed by fracture(22. 2 %, lumbar HNP(11.1 %), and contusion(9.4 %) in order. The causes of accident were handling heavy materials(34.2 %), upset(17.1 %), stenosis(16.2 %), and falling(6.8 %) in order. CONCLUSIONS: By the above results, to prevent the industrial accidents in automobile factories in Korea, preventive activities for handling heavy materials and back injury, and continuous industrial education are necessary.
Accidents, Occupational* ; Automobiles* ; Back Injuries ; Education ; Humans ; Korea ; Sprains and Strains