The size and configuration of the lumbar spinal canal constitute one of the important factors in the production of symptoms referable to cauda equina and nerve roots of the lumbar spine and the narrowness of the spinal canal. Numerous attempts have been made to measure the size of the lumbar spinal canal, but most of those are not sufficient to measure the oblique diameter of the lumbar spinal canal. Also, echographic diagnosis is much simple, safe, less expensive and non-invasive and furthermore demonstrates much more accuracy than other alternative and radiographic procedures. The purpose of this study is to establish the range of normal values of the oblique diameter of the lumbar spinal canal in Korean Army-aged group by echographic method in the interest of facilitating clinical evaluation of the lumbar spinal canal stenosis. The author measured oblique diamenter of the lumbar spinal canal in thirty healthy persons of both sexes of ages between nineteen and twenty-five years by ultrasound using sonolayergraphy model SSL-21A. Distance from the ligamentum flavum to the posterior longitudinal ligament was measured in millimeters with dial vernier caliper. Actual distance of oblique diameter of the lumbar spinal canal is obtained by multiplication of the distance of echogram by calibration factor 2.22. The results were as follows; 1. The mean values of the oblique diameter of the lumbar spinal canal in male and female between nineteen and twenty-five years of age were 14.77±0.85mm and 14.87±0.82mm in Ll, 13.99±0.87mm and 14.13±0.96mm in L2, 13.40±0.69mm and 13.71±0.75mm in L3, 12.88±0.69mm and 12.93±0.68mm in L4, 14.58±0.79mm and 14.42±0.84mm in L5 respectively. 2. The oblique diameter of the lumbar spinal canal was the widest at the first lumbar vertebra, the next at the fifth lumbar vertebra and the narrowest at the fourth lumbar vertebra. 3. There was no difference of diameter of the lumbar spinal canal between both sexes.
Calibration ; Cauda Equina ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Ligamentum Flavum ; Longitudinal Ligaments ; Male ; Methods ; Reference Values ; Spinal Canal ; Spine ; Ultrasonography

We have made a statistical survey on 2441 amputated limbs of 2150 patients who were treated at the Depart- ment of Orthopedic Surgery and who were prescribed the prosthetics at the Prosthetic Center of Veterans Hospital from Mar. 1972 to Feb. 1982. 1. The peak incidence was in the age group from 21 to 30 years with 1546 cases (63.3%). Of 2150 patients only 9 patients were female. 2. The main causes of amputation were trauma with 1901 cases (77.9%), vascular insufficiency with 326 cases (13.4%) and chronic osteomyelitis with 157 cases (6.4%). And the most fre#quent cause of traumatic amputation was explosive injury with 1080 cases (56.8%). 3. Of the 2441 amputated limbs, 1756 cases (71.91°) were at the lower extremity and the most frequent site was below the knee with 1000 cases (57%). 4. Minor limb amputation was performed on 326 cases (13.4%). 5. Multiple limb amputation was performed on 255 patients (11.9%) and of these 12 patients were amputated on 4 extremities. 6. Reoperation was performed on 420 cases (17.2%). It was most prevalent in the lower extremity with 365 cases (86.9%) and their main cause was neuroma with 171 cases (40.7%). The most frequent site was below the knee with 240 cases (57.2%).
Amputation ; Amputation, Traumatic ; Amputees ; Extremities ; Female ; Hospitals, Veterans ; Humans ; Incidence ; Knee ; Lower Extremity ; Neuroma ; Orthopedics ; Osteomyelitis ; Reoperation

No abstract available in English.
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Clinical Study ; Epithelial Cells ; Wounds and Injuries

Usually the histologic response of muscle to the ischemia range from mild, reversible change to extensive necrosis and fibrosis in the case of anterior tibial compartment syndrome. But dystmphic calcification in the late stages is very rare condition.Only three cases were previously reported by Gallie and Broder et al in the literature. We are reporting six cases of dystrophic calcification following anterior tibial compartment syndrome in late stages. Onsets of dystrophic calcifications after original injuries ranged from twelve years to thirty-two years. Two out of six cases revealed painless maas in the anterior tibial compartment and remaining four cases revealed painful aases. At surgery, tooth-paste like, calcified material was evacuated in one of five operated cases and yellowish grey, brittle materials were evacuated in the remaining four cases.
Compartment Syndromes ; Fibrosis ; Ischemia ; Leg ; Necrosis

In the past, arthrodesjs was a widely used procedure but in recent times, with the development of replacement arthroplasty, decreased in tuberculosis and polio. etc, it is not commonly used by orthopedic surgeons. However, for those in the young age group, people employed in hard labor and patients with acute inflammatory disease, arthrodesis is through to be more appropriate than replacement arthroplasty. From January 1980 to December 1985, 20 cases of arthrodesis of the knee joint were carried out. The results were follows.; 1. Methods of arthrodesis used were Charnley compression arthrodesis in 10 cases, Hoffman compression arthrodesis in 2 cases, cross pinning in 3 cases and and cross pinning with patella graft in 5 cases. 2. Bone union was seen in all 12 cases of compression arthrodesis at an average of 21.3 weeks while bone union was seen in 7 out of 8 cases of non-compression arthrodesis at an average 25 weeks. 3. Among the 20 cases, complication were pseudoarthrthrosis in one case, pin tract infection in 2 cases and skin necrosis in 5 cases. 4. Inconclusion of the above results, bone union was carried out in 19 cases out of total 20 cases, and compression arthrodesis showed faster bone union at an average of 3.7 weeks earlier than non-compression arthrodesis.
Arthrodesis ; Arthroplasty, Replacement ; Humans ; Knee Joint ; Knee ; Necrosis ; Orthopedics ; Patella ; Poliomyelitis ; Skin ; Surgeons ; Transplants ; Tuberculosis

The method of ankle arthrodesis is variable but compression arthrodesis has been widely used because of better results than non-compression arthrodesis. Twenty-one cases of ankle arthrodesis were carried out at department of orthopaedic surgery of Korea Veterans Hospital from January 1980 to June 1986, and were analysed clinically. The results obtained were as follows; l. Among 11 cases of compression arthrodesis, Charnleys method was done in 8 cases and Monofixateur in 3 cases. 2. Among 10 cases of non-compression arthrodesis, Chuinard-Peterson method was done in 7 cases and anterior 'sliding graft in 3 cases. 3. The average duration of immobilization after ankle arthrodesis was 11.7 weeks, and average 4.2 weeks were less needed in the compression arthrodesis than non-compression arthrodesis. 4. The postoperative complications were developed in 8 cases (38%): wound infection in 4 cases,skin necrosis in 3 cases and incisional neuroma in 1 case. 5. Bony union was obtained in 20 cases(95.2%) out of 21 cases at average 15.7 weeks, and in the non-compression arthrodesis and in the cnmpression arthrodesis, respectively, 90% at 17.7 weeks and 100% at 13.9 weeks.
Ankle Joint ; Ankle ; Arthrodesis ; Hospitals, Veterans ; Immobilization ; Korea ; Methods ; Necrosis ; Neuroma ; Postoperative Complications ; Transplants ; Wound Infection

During the rehabilitation period, traumatic fracture of the lower extremity in chronic spinal cord injured patients may be occur frequently. In the past, conservative treatment with pillow or plaster splinting was advocated by many clinician, but its treatment is still controversial. This paper presents our experience with fracture of 20 patients(5.7%) of total 350 patients who had spinal cord injuries from Jan. 1980 to Mar. 1987 at Korea Veterans Hospital. The results were as follow. 1. The incidence of fracture was not related to age, sex, type and duration of spinal cord injury. 2. The most common cause of fracture was insignificant trauma(94%). 3. The distribution of fracture was in the following order of frequency;supracondyle of femur (20%), shaft of femur (20%), shaft of tibis (16%). 4. The methods of treatment-Twenty cases were treated by conservative treatment and eleven cases were treated by operative treatment in following order; paster splint with well padded; 9 cases (20%), pillow splint; 4 eases (13%), plate and screw; 3 cases (10%). 5. Total 11 cases of complications were 8 cases in conservative treatment and 3 cases in operative treatment. 6. The duration of bone union was average 10 weeks in nonoperative treatment and average 10.2 weeks in operative treatment. Treatment should strive to achieve fracture healing with minimal danger to the patient and should cause little or no interfrence with patient's daily routine.
Femur ; Fracture Healing ; Fractures, Bone ; Hospitals, Veterans ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Lower Extremity ; Rehabilitation ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; Spinal Cord ; Splints

Chronic osteomyelitis continue to be a therapeutic challenge. The osteomyelitis also implies chronic ischemia of the diseased bone ; thus systemic antibiotic treatment may not be as effective as we want. In 1972, Klemm developed a new procedure to supplement saucerization in the treatment of chronic osteomyelitis, alternative to irrigation and suction-drainage, i.e., Gentamicin-PMMA Beads. The authors analysed 35cases of the chronic osteomyelitis which were admitted and treated by sauceriztion and Gentamicin-PMMA Beads in Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Korea Veterans Hospital from Aug. 1984 to Jan. 1988.
Gentamicins ; Hospitals, Veterans ; Ischemia ; Korea ; Osteomyelitis ; Polymethyl Methacrylate

Nonunion of fractures of forearm bone occurs frequently. These patients usually suffer from pain and functional disturbance of the hand and forearm. With the introduction of compression plate for the treatment of nonunion at the Campbell Clinic in 1959, a modification of the Nicoll graft was advised. The authors analysed 23 cases of the nonunion of forearm bone, in which military injured patients were admitted and treated by bone graft with internal fixation using various devices in Department of Orthopaedic Surgery of Korea Veterans Hospital from Sep. 1983 to Aug. 1988.
Forearm ; Hand ; Hospitals, Veterans ; Humans ; Korea ; Military Personnel ; Transplants

External fixation was improved in its material, design and techniques as a specific method of open fracture treatment. Seventy-three, tibial open fracture, patients were treated with external fixator in Korea Veterans Hospital from January 1983 to April 1988. Each fixation method was divided into two types;one-plane unilateral frame and one-plane bilateral frame. 1. The duration of external fixation was 14.3 weeks in averge, 15.4 weeks in one plane unilateral frame and 13.2 weeks in one plane bilateral frame. 2. Secondary operation for bony union was performed 19 cases in one plane unilateral frame and 8 cases in one plane bilateral frame. 3. The union time was 23.6 weeks in average, 26.8 weeks in one plane unilateral frame and 21.4 weeks in one plane bilateral frame. 4. The common complications were delayed union and nonunion (7 cases) and pin tract infection (5 cases) in one plane unilateral frame, and pin tract infection ( 9 cases), joint stiffness (4 cases) and delayed union and nonunion (3 cases) in one plane bilateral frame. 5. External fixation gave rigid fixation and easy wound access, but did not give excellent bony union. 6. One plane bilateral frame showed more or less better result than one plane unilateral frame except some complications.
External Fixators ; Fractures, Open ; Hospitals, Veterans ; Humans ; Joints ; Korea ; Methods ; Wounds and Injuries