Symphyseal injury is increasing in number together with today's speed of development of car industry in Korea. However, this injury is not common in practice. Some authors reported that symphyseal injury is only 4 to 6% of all pelvic fractures. Symphysis pubis has characteristicsl anatomy to maintain mechanical integrity of the pe1vis with circumferential ligament. The pelvis is a ring structure with strong ligaments. This support include the symphysis pubis, the anterior and posterior sacroiliac ligaments, and the strong sacrotuberous ligaments. According to Peltier(1964), when symphysis is separated more than 1.0cm, pubic instability will be developed. However, Wild(1982) reported that pelvic instability develops when separation of the symphysis exceeds more than 2.5cm. Tile(1984) reported that anterior pubic rami acts as a strut to prevent anterior collapse of the pelvic ring during weight bearing. However, in the presence of intact posterior structures, it gives little effect on pelvic stability. In addition to trauma, pelvic instability develops congenitally or by pregnancy. During pregnancy, pregnancy-related hormones relsx the ligameritous stuctures of the pelvic girdle. In most instances, the major pelvic ring returns to normal when the effect of the relaxin hormones disappear. However, in rare instances, a major symphysis disruption may continuously persist. To evaluste the trauma-induced separation of the symphysis pubis, we analyzed the 19 cases with 15 months follow-up on an average, who were treated at the Orthopaedic Department, Kang-Nam St. Marys Hospital, from June 1981 to June 1986. The results were as follows 1. Among 19 cases, 9 cases(47.4%) were male, 10 cases(52.6%) were female. And average age of the patients was 30.2 years. 2. The main cause of the fracture was traffic accident in 18 out of 19 cases. 3. In cases of symphyseal separation more than 3.4cm, fracture-separation of both sacroiliac joint was certainly occured. However, in cases with separation more than 2.2cm, unilalateral fracture-dislocation of sacroiliac joint occurred. 4. Open reduction and interal fixatiopn including external fixation was performed in 9 og cases. As an indication of surgery, separation of the symphysis, which exceeds more than 2.2cm and which associated (1) with sacroiliac fracture-dislocation, (2) failed conservative treatment, and (3) when simultaneously emergency urological operation is indicated.
Accidents, Traffic ; Emergencies ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Korea ; Ligaments ; Male ; Pelvis ; Pregnancy ; Pubic Bone ; Relaxin ; Sacroiliac Joint ; Weight-Bearing

Senile entropion is caused by following pathophysiologic changes ; disinsertion or weakness of lower lid retractor, upward migration and overriding of the preseptal orbicularis oculi muscle over pretarsal orbicularis muscle, horizontal lid laxity, and relative enophthalmos from absorption of orbital fat. There have been numerous procedures to correct senile entropion, but the difficulty of adequate and concurrent correction of all of the underlying defect result in high recurrence rate. Therefore, authors performed a combined procedure including reattachment of disinserted lower lid retractor or tucking of weakened lower tarsus, and the extirpation of overriding preseptal orbicularis oculi muscle. At the same time we performed the correction of the lower lid laxity using lateral tarsal strip procedure of full-thickness wedge resection. Authors performed this method in 21 cases of 17 patients and the cosmetic and functional result were satisfactory.
Absorption ; Ankle ; Enophthalmos ; Entropion* ; Humans ; Orbit ; Recurrence

PURPOSE: This study undertaken to evaluate the clinical results between the fixation of both bones and the fixation of the only tibia for extra-articular distal tibial and fibular fracture, and to know if the fixation of both bones could be needed. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a retrospective study from 1994 to 1999, thirty-seven patients who underwent internal fixation with plate and screws for both bones (Group I : 17 cases) and only tibia (Group II : 20 cases) for extra-articular distal 1/3 tibial and distal 1/4 fibular fractures, which were above distal tibio-fibular syndesmosis, were evaluated the period of union, range of motion and operative time. RESULTS: The union period of tibia was 124 days (Group I) and 126 days (Group II) and the cases of full ROM were 16 / 17 cases (94.1%) in Group I and 18 / 20 cases (90.0%) in Group II. The mean score was 94.6 points in Group I and 91.3 points in Group II by Baird scoring system (P>0.05), and the operative time was 147 minutes (Group I) and 106 minutes (Group II) (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The clinical results in extra-articular distal tibial and fibular fractures, which were distal 1/4 and above distal tibio-fibular syndemosis, treated with internal fixation of the only tibia were as good as internal fixation of both bones. We thought that there is no need to fix distal fibular fracture in these cases.
Humans ; Operative Time ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Retrospective Studies ; Tibia*

BACKGROUND: Although the same treatment strategy has been applied for patients with aortic intramural hematoma (AIH) as typical aortic dissection (AD), the natural history of AIH with medical treatment is not known clearly. The purposes of this study were to test the hypothesis that absence of direct flow communication through intimal tear in AIH has different impact on clinical course compared with typical AD and to clarify the natural history of AIH. METHODS: Total 181 patients of acute aortic pathology (AD / AIH =57 / 124) were enrolled from 5 institutions. Patients received medical treatment without surgical intervention regardless of the affected site in acute stage, and follow-up imaging studies (FUIS) were performed in 105 patients with AIH. Clinical data of these patients were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: Fifty-four patients showed involvement of the ascending aorta (AD / AIH =13 / 41) and 127 revealed distal pathology (AD / AIH =44 / 83). Compared to the patients with AD, those with AIH were older regardless of the type and showed higher incidence of pleural effusion and mediastinal hemorrhage. In-hospital mortality of proximal AIH was 7 %, which was significantly lower than that of proximal AD (62 %); mortality of distal AIH was also lower than that of distal AD (1.2 Vs 9 %, p < 0.05). In proximal AIH, FUIS confirmed resorption of AIH in 67 %(24/36) and development of AD in 25 %(9/36). In distal AIH, resorption was confirmed in 78 %(54/69) and development of AD in 16 %(11/69). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with AIH showed excellent clinical course and high rate of resorption with medical treatment regardless of the affected site; typical AD developed only in limited cases. Absence of direct flow communication through intimal tear in AIH might explain more favorable response to medical treatment than typical AD.
Aorta ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Hematoma* ; Hemorrhage ; Hospital Mortality ; Humans ; Incidence ; Mortality ; Natural History ; Pathology ; Pleural Effusion ; Retrospective Studies

BACKGROUND: Rifampin is sometimes used in combination with other anti-staphylococcal agents to treat methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections but few reports are available about the usefulness of rifampin against MRSA infections, especially in soft tissue and bone infections. Thus, we evaluated the efficacy of rifampin as switch therapy for soft tissue and bone infections caused by MRSA and assessed the risk factors for treatment failure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively studied 44 patients who had soft tissue and bone infections caused by MRSA and were treated with rifampin in combination or as monotherapy as switch therapy from January 2001 to September 2004. RESULTS: The mean age of the subjects was 50.2 years and the number of male and female were 34 and 10, respectively. Median duration of rifampin use was 32 days and 25% of the patients had artificial prostheses. Thirty one patients (79.5%, 31/39) were cured with parenteral glycopeptide followed by rifampin in combination or as monotherapy. Eight patients (8/39) recurred after the completion of treatment. The presence of hip prosthesis was the only significant risk factor (P= 0.027) in multivariate logistic regression test. Rifampin was tolerable in all cases. CONCLUSION: Rifampin as switch therapy for soft tissue and bone infection caused by MRSA was effective in 79.5% (31/39) of sujects. The treatment failure seems to be associated with unremovable infected prosthesis.
Female ; Hip Prosthesis ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Methicillin Resistance* ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus* ; Prostheses and Implants ; Retrospective Studies ; Rifampin* ; Risk Factors ; Treatment Failure

BACKGROUND: Rifampin is sometimes used in combination with other anti-staphylococcal agents to treat methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections but few reports are available about the usefulness of rifampin against MRSA infections, especially in soft tissue and bone infections. Thus, we evaluated the efficacy of rifampin as switch therapy for soft tissue and bone infections caused by MRSA and assessed the risk factors for treatment failure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively studied 44 patients who had soft tissue and bone infections caused by MRSA and were treated with rifampin in combination or as monotherapy as switch therapy from January 2001 to September 2004. RESULTS: The mean age of the subjects was 50.2 years and the number of male and female were 34 and 10, respectively. Median duration of rifampin use was 32 days and 25% of the patients had artificial prostheses. Thirty one patients (79.5%, 31/39) were cured with parenteral glycopeptide followed by rifampin in combination or as monotherapy. Eight patients (8/39) recurred after the completion of treatment. The presence of hip prosthesis was the only significant risk factor (P= 0.027) in multivariate logistic regression test. Rifampin was tolerable in all cases. CONCLUSION: Rifampin as switch therapy for soft tissue and bone infection caused by MRSA was effective in 79.5% (31/39) of sujects. The treatment failure seems to be associated with unremovable infected prosthesis.
Female ; Hip Prosthesis ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Methicillin Resistance* ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus* ; Prostheses and Implants ; Retrospective Studies ; Rifampin* ; Risk Factors ; Treatment Failure

No abstract available.
Peptic Ulcer*

Asbestos exposure may cause asbestosis, pleural plaques and benign pleural disease, and may give a predisposition to malignant mesothelioma in occupationally exposed workers. This case report describes a 50-year-old man, dying from histologically confirmed, diffuse, malignant mesothelioma after asbestos exposure. As a young man, he had been exposed at the workplace to crocidolite for 2 years, but he had no other known history of occupational or environmental asbestos exposure. The patient presented with chest pain and general weakness. Computed tomography showed bilateral irregular pleural thickening along both lower lateral chest walls and a low attenuating mass in the anterior portion of the left lobe. Pathological examinations revealed that it was an epithelial type with tubulopapillary structures and it tested immunohistochemically positive for antibodies against cytokeratin, calretinin and vimentin. The patient was started on chemotherapy but he died to the disease at ten months after the first onset of the symptoms. Mesothelioma is a rare neoplasm in the general population. Nevertheless, the importance of close medical surveillance of the high-risk population is emphasized, because of increased asbestos exposure.
Antibodies ; Asbestos ; Asbestos, Crocidolite* ; Asbestosis ; Calbindin 2 ; Chest Pain ; Drug Therapy ; Humans ; Keratins ; Mesothelioma* ; Middle Aged ; Occupations ; Pleural Diseases ; Thorax ; Vimentin

Dimethylformamide (DMF), a widely used industrial solvent, has been reported to induce subtle to clinically overt hepatotoxicity. Liver injury due to occupational exposure through inhalation and skin contact has been sporadically reported. We report a 23-year-old male who developed intermittent abdominal pain, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, chest discomfort, and general weakness for 4 days after working in a plastic-coated-glove factory. An acute hepatitis episode occurred after working in an enclosed workplace for 3 days. Other causes of hepatitis such as viral, drug induced or alcoholic hepatitis, could be excluded or were considered to be unlikely. Based on occupational history, serological examination and serial liver function examinations, the case was compatible with DMF-induced acute toxic hepatitis. Hepatotoxicity due to occupational exposure to solvents (e.g., DMF) should be considered in any patient with unexplained hepatitis. The fast improvement of the clinical symptoms and the progressive normalization of the liver function tests once the DMF exposure has been stopped, supports the diagnosis.
Abdominal Pain ; Anorexia ; Diagnosis ; Dimethylformamide* ; Drug-Induced Liver Injury* ; Hepatitis ; Hepatitis, Alcoholic ; Humans ; Inhalation ; Liver ; Liver Function Tests ; Male ; Nausea ; Occupational Exposure ; Skin ; Solvents ; Thorax ; Vomiting ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: To investigate the rate of lateral retinacular release and the contributing factors between the patellar resur- faced total knee arthroplasty(TKA) and patellar retained TKA. MATERIAL AND METHODS: From Jan. 2003 to Jan. 2006, 179 cases(90 patella retained, PR; 89 patellar resurfaced, PS) were enrolled in this study. To investigate the contributing factors on the lateral retinacular release along the patellar replacement, the preoperative and postoperative radiographic evaluation was done. Patellar height, congruence angle and medial displacement was measured with the Merchant view. Anterior-posterior knee distance was measured at a lateral film. The statistical significance between two groups was analyzed using the student's t-test. RESULTS: Lateral retinacular release was done in 59 of 179 cases. Thirty-six cases of PR group and 23 cases of PS group were undertaken. The rate of lateral retinacular release was higher in PR group(p<0.05). The difference between preoperative and postoperative patellar height at a Merchant was 2.5, 0.5mm reduction in PS and PR group respectively. PS group showed more medial displacement(mean 2.5mm) than PR group(mean 1.2mm)(p<0.05). CONCLUSION: In PR group, higher rate of a lateral retinacular release was shown than PS group. Less reduction of patellar height and less medial displacement of patella might be related with the high rate of a lateral retinacular release in PR group.
Arthroplasty* ; Knee* ; Patella*