The purpose of this study was to evaluate the results and complications in difficult periarticular fractures of the knee treated with a circular(Ilizarov) external fixator. The mean follow-up period was 34 months(range: 12-55 months). Of the 27 cases, 12 cases involved fractures of distal femur (two M ller type A3, four type C2, six type C3) and 15 cases involved fractures of the proximal tibia (one Schatzker type V, eight type VI, two segmental, four metaphyseal comminuted fractures). Twenty-two cases(81%) were open fractures and most of the cases were open intra-articular comminuted fractures. The average duration of external fixation was 7.7 months (9.8 months for the distal femur cases, 6.5 months for the proximal tibia cases and 11.5 months for the cases which required lengthening, and 6 months in the non-lengthening group). In 8 cases, in which bone lenthening was done, no leg length discrepancy occurred after lengthening. The mean length gained was 5.9 cm and the mean healing index was 1.8 months/cm (1.8months/cm in distal femur cases and 1.9 months/cm in proximal tibia cases). According to Neers criteria, the treatment results for cases involving distal femur fracture were as follows: six satisfactory, three unsatisfactory, three failures; cases with proximal tibia fractures had these results: nine excellent, three satisfactory, three unsatisfactory. Average range of motion was 67 degrees in distal femur fracture cases and 114 degrees in proximal tibia fracture cases. According to Paleys complication grading system, six problems, six obstacles, and eight com- plications occurred. In conclusion, the Ilizarov external fixator can be a useful treatment method in periarticular fractures of the knee with severe intra-articular or metaphyseal comminution, bone loss, severe soft tissue injury, or multiple associated injury. Its use can reduce the associated complications such as leg length discrepancy, infection, and nonunion.
External Fixators* ; Femur ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fractures, Comminuted ; Fractures, Open ; Knee* ; Leg ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Soft Tissue Injuries ; Tibia

Injuries and pains of musculoskeletal joint in human body is common onset in industrialized world. However, muscle fatigue plays a very significant role in contributing causes of many pains associated with musculoskeletal joints. Based on this hypothesis, degree of muscle fatigue was investigated using electromyography measurement technique during isometric and concentric/eccentric muscle contractions. Different response of the muscle fatigue between two different muscle contractions (isometric and concentric/eccentric contractions) was examined by comparison of parameters which were median frequency, median power and RMS value. Healthy 16 young persons without previous musculoskeletal diesease history were tested with Noraxon Myosystem 2000 EMG measurement system. In this study, two different exercises were performed. First exercise was concentric/eccentric exercise. Second exercise was isometric muscle contraction. In the case of the isometric exercise, median frequency was decreased, but median power and RMS were increased. However, during the concentric/eccentric exercse, median frequency was increased, but median power and RMS were decreased. Both of those revealed that the pattern of the median frequency was W type, but median power and RMS were M type as time passed. In this study, the patterns of the muscle fatigue during concentric/eccentric exercise as well as isometric exercise were identified. It will be helpful to prevent musculoskeletal injury from over-working andexercising.
Electromyography* ; Exercise ; Human Body ; Humans ; Joints ; Muscle Contraction ; Muscle Fatigue*

No abstract available.
Dermoid Cyst*

The Diego blood group system consists of two pairs of antigens, Dia and Dib The incidence of Dia is low among pure Caucasian, Blacks, Polynesian and Eskimo, however, the rnongolians and American indians have both Dia and Dib. We report a case of two days old male who was admitted on first day of life for jaundice and subsquently exchange transfusion was performed on second day of life for bilirubin of 20 mg/dl. The blood groups of patient and his mother were both Rh D positive 0 type. Direct and indirect Coombstest were strong positive in the patient and indirect Coombstest was positive in his mother. We found anti-Dib antibody in his rnother's serum. The phenotype of Diego blood group system of the patient and his mother were Di (a+b+) and Di (a+b- ), respectively and hemolytic anemia in this case was due to anti-Dib antibody.
African Continental Ancestry Group ; Anemia, Hemolytic ; Bilirubin ; Blood Group Antigens ; Humans ; Incidence ; Indians, North American ; Inuits ; Jaundice ; Male ; Mothers ; Phenotype

Objective: Percutaneous vertebroplasty (VP) has been used for the safe treatment of osteoporotic compression fracture. However, cement leakage is the most common complication. To reduce the leakage of bone cement, we did the gelfoam embolization during VP. The purpose of this study is to compare the safety and feasibility of different two gelfoam embolization technique during VP. Methods: Total 127 patients (146 level) who had the thoracolumbar osteoporotic compression fracture were enrolled. Group A was treated by gelfoam-only technique and, Group B was treated by gelfoam with venography technique. We compared the incidence of bone cement leakage between two groups using post-operative computed tomography scan and X-ray. Results: Seventy-four patients (81 levels) were treated with gelfoam-only technique (A), and 53 patients (65 levels) were treated with gelfoam with venography technique (B). There were 22 leakages on group A, and 19 leakages on group B. There was no statistical significant difference between two groups (Chi-square test, p-value =0.958). Incidence of leakage to spinal canal was 11 levels in Group A, 3 levels in group B, and there was statistical significant difference (Fisher's exact test, p-value=0.027). Conclusion Complication induced by the bone cement leakage are the most careful point during VP. Gelfoam embolization with venography is very easy and safe method. Gelfoam with venography technique could make lower the incidence of cement leakage to spinal canal.

A 23-year-old medical student showed a positive reaction on a skin test for Paragonimus westermani, and two Tarsonemus floricolus mites were subsequently found by sputum examination and identified morphologically. Our report is the first human case of Tarsonemus floricolus in Korea.
Adult ; Animals ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Mite Infestations/*parasitology ; Pyroglyphidae/anatomy & histology/*growth & development ; Sputum/*parasitology

A 5-year-old boy was admitted to the hospital with a high fever and abnormal gait. Magnetic resonance imaging showed extensive swelling of the quadriceps and adductor muscles around the right hip and anterior thigh. A duplex scan demonstrated a thrombus from the external iliac vein to below the popliteal vein. The blood culture revealed Streptococcus pyogenes. The patient was immediately treated with antibiotics and anticoagulants. Follow-up sonography demonstrated complete disappearance of the venous thrombosis. We report a case of streptococcal myositis complicated by deep vein thrombosis.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Anticoagulants ; Fever ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gait ; Hip ; Humans ; Iliac Vein ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Muscles ; Myositis ; Popliteal Vein ; Preschool Child ; Streptococcus ; Streptococcus pyogenes ; Thigh ; Thrombosis ; Veins ; Venous Thrombosis

BACKGROUND: Intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP)is well known for its hemodynamic benefit but still has its own complications.Proper use of IABP is the best way t o obt ai n maximum benefit with low complication rate. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Twenty one(men 10,female 11) patients were included in this study among the 100 consecutive adult cardiac surgery patients in our hospital.Eighteen(85.7%)were ischemic heart disease patients.They all received IABP therapy due to postcardiotomy cardiogenic shock according to the well-known indications.Their preoperative conditions,intraoperative factors including hemodynamics, postoperative conditions and IABP-related complications were analyzed. RESULT: Nineteen patients(90.5%)were successfully weaned from IABP.There were 2 patients of operative death and the mortality rate was 9.5%.Duration of IABP use was 40.7+/-24.3 hours.There were 2 cases(9.5%)of IABP-related vascular complications that required surgical intervention. CONCLUSION: We concluded that IABP could be used effectively and safely for postcardiotomy cardiogenic shock patients with low complication rate.
Adult ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Mortality ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Shock, Cardiogenic* ; Thoracic Surgery

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of occlusion therapy in amblyopia patients older than 9 years of age. METHODS: A retrospective study on 16 amblyopes older than 9 years was performed to evaluate initial best-corrected visual acuity, final best-corrected visual acuity, the type of amblyopia, and compliance. RESULTS: The average age at initiation of amblyopia therapy was 10.5 years and the average follow-up 24 months. Anisometropia was present in 11 patients, strabismus in 2, and both anisometropia and strabismus in 3 patients. The initial visual acuity was 0.2 or less in three, 0.3 to 0.5 in seven, 0.6 to 0.7 in six patients. The refractive errors of amblyopic eye were myopic in seven, hyperopic in seven and astigmatism in two patients. The amount of anisometropia was 2.56 diopters. Strabismus was exotropia in 5 patients. Initial therapy consisted of optical correction for the amblyopic eye and full-time occlusion for the nonamblyopic eye in 14, and part-time occlusion in two patients. Maintenance therapy of part-time occlusion with a patch in 11 patients and with Min's glasses in 3 patients followed improvement of visual acuity. Fifteen out of 16 patients improved their visual acuity over 3 lines of visual acuity and one remaining patient showed poor compliance. Final visual acuities were 0.7 or better in 14 patients, and 0.5 and 0.4 in each remained patient. CONCLUSIONS: Given compliance, occlusion therapy for anisometropic and strabismic amblyopia can be successful even if started after 9 years of age.
Amblyopia* ; Anisometropia ; Astigmatism ; Compliance ; Exotropia ; Eyeglasses ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glass ; Humans ; Refractive Errors ; Retrospective Studies ; Strabismus ; Visual Acuity

No abstract available.
Diabetes Mellitus* ; Syringoma*