PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the postoperative outcomes of elderly patients with stable 2-part intertrochanteric femur fractures surgically treated using dynamic hip screw with 2-hole side plate. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From February 2008 to January 2014, 50 patients older than the age of 65 years, who had been followed-up for more than 6 months after the operation at The Catholic University of Korea, Bucheon St. Mary's Hospital were enrolled. A clinical evaluation of the skin incision length, operating time, and ambulatory status, using Clawson's Ambulation Capacity Classification, was performed, and a radiologic evaluation of Fogagnolo reduction quality, tip-apex distance (TAD), Cleveland index, sliding extent of lag screws, time duration till bony union, and complications was also done. RESULTS: The mean skin incision length was 9.8 cm (range, 8-13 cm), the mean operating time was 41.4 minutes (range, 30-60 minutes), and 32 patients recovered their ambulatory function. Forty-eight patients gained bony union, and the time lapsed till union was average 10.6 weeks (range, 8-16 weeks). The evaluation of postoperative radiologic images showed the following reduction statuses by the Fogagnolo classification: 46 cases of "Good", 3 cases of "Acceptable," and 1 case of "Poor." Moreover, the mean TAD was 18.9 mm (range, 9.0-24.9 mm). While 45 cases fit into the zone 5 of the Cleveland index, other 3 were within zone 8 and the other 2 were within zone 6. The mean sliding length of the lag screws were 4.9 mm (range, 0.1-19.4 mm). There were a case of nonunion and a case of periprosthetic infection with nonunion as complications. CONCLUSION: Using dynamic hip screws with 2-hole side plate for stable 2-part intertrochanteric femur fractures in elderly patients showed satisfactory results with respect to the recovery of ambulatory functions and bony union.
Aged* ; Classification ; Femur* ; Gyeonggi-do ; Hip Fractures ; Hip* ; Humans ; Korea ; Skin ; Walking

To determine the effects of excessive drinking and alcohol dependency on mortality and chronic health problems in a rural community in South Korea, this study represents a nested case-control study. In 1998, we conducted the Alcohol Dependence Survey (ADS), a population survey of a village in Korea. To measure the effects of alcohol on chronic health conditions and mortality over time, in 2004, we identified 290 adults from the ADS sample (N=1,058) for follow-up. Of those selected, 145 were adults who had alcohol problems, either alcohol dependence as assessed in the ADS by the Severity of Alcohol Dependence Questionnaire (N=59), or excessive drinking without dependency (N=86). Further 145 nondrinkers were identified, matching those with alcohol problems in age and sex. We revisited the village in 2004 and completed personal interviews with them. In multivariate logistic regressions, the rates of mortality and morbidity of chronic health conditions were three times greater for alcohol dependents compared with the rate for nondrinkers. Importantly, however, excessive drinking without dependency was not associated with the rates of either mortality or morbidity. Future investigations would benefit by attending more specifically to measures for alcohol dependence as well as measures for alcohol consumption.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Alcohol-Related Disorders/epidemiology ; Alcoholism/complications/*mortality ; Chronic Disease ; Female ; Humans ; Korea/epidemiology ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Rural Population ; Sex Factors ; Smoking/epidemiology

PURPOSE: Isolated greater trochanteric (GT) fractures are often identified using plain radiography of patients with post-traumatic hip pain. In many cases, the fracture extends to form an occult intertrochanteric fracture. We conducted a study to determine the frequency of occult intertrochanteric fractures in patients diagnosed with isolated GT fractures using plain radiographs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Among 3,017 individuals who visited our emergency department with a trauma-induced pertrochanteric femur fracture between July 2004 and March 2018, 100 patients diagnosed with isolated GT fractures using plain radiographs were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into two groups, those with: i) isolated GT fractures (group A) and ii) occult intertrochanteric fractures (group B). In addition, plain radiographs, magnetic resonance imaging results, and treatment methods were further analyzed in each group. If surgery treatment was needed, it was performed by one surgeon, and in all cases, a 2-hole dynamic hip screw was used. RESULTS: Among the 100 cases of isolated GT fractures diagnosed using plain radiograph, additional examinations revealed that 10 (10.0%) were suffering from isolated GT fractures alone, while the remaining 90 (90.0%) were further diagnosed with occult intertrochanteric fracture. Gender, age, mechanism of injury, and bone mineral density did not correlate with fracture type. CONCLUSION: In our analysis, 90% of injuries initially diagnosed as isolated GT fractures were found to extend into occult intertrochanteric fractures upon further examination with additional imaging modalities. Therefore, additional evaluation should be performed to test for the potential presence of occult intertrochanteric fractures and to establish appropriate treatment plans.
Bone Density ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Femur ; Fractures, Closed ; Hip ; Hip Fractures ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Radiography ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: The purpose of current study is to evaluate the midterm results of cementless primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) using a dual offset titanium tapered stem. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 102 cases (84 patients), with a minimum of 7-year clinical follow-up, was performed. All of the cases consisted of patients who underwent primary cementless THA, using a dual offset titanium tapered stem in The Catholic University of Korea, Bucheon St. Mary's Hospital between July 2004 and May 2009. Clinical results were analyzed via the Harris hip score, level of thigh pain, squeaking around hip joint, and complication rate. Radiologic results were examined with stability and location of inserted prosthesis, hypertrophy of femoral cortex, and osteolysis. RESULTS: Out of the 102 cases (84 patients; 47 males and 37 females), with the mean age of 55.9 years (range, 27–79 years) and mean follow-up period of 99.2 months (range, 84–132 months). The mean Harris hip score was 53.8 preoperatively (range, 26–75) and improved to 93.5 postoperatively (range, 74–100) (p=0.000). All of the cases gained stable bony fixation on the final follow-up, including 2 cases of intra-operative proximal femur fracture. Calcar remodeling was observed in 94 cases, however, they were irrelevant with stem stability. Cortical hypertrophy of femur was seen in 12 cases and thigh pain in 4 cases; nonetheless, they were not relevant (p=0.067). There was 1 case of squeaking sound during joint movement. Hip dislocation occurred in 1 case early after the procedure, but the event was due to excessive anteversion of the acetabular cup, in which a revisional replacement procedure of the acetabular cup was conducted. No sign of ceramic breakage was observed. There were 2 cases of heterotrophic ossification. CONCLUSION: Results from a 7-year follow-up of cementless THA using dual offset titanium tapered stem were encouraging in both clinical and radiologic evaluations.
Acetabulum ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip* ; Ceramics ; Femur ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Gyeonggi-do ; Hip ; Hip Dislocation ; Hip Joint ; Humans ; Hypertrophy ; Joints ; Korea ; Male ; Osteolysis ; Prostheses and Implants ; Retrospective Studies ; Thigh ; Titanium*

Genetic alterations have been recognized as an important event in the carcinogenesis of gastric cancer (GC). We conducted high resolution bacterial artificial chromosome array-comparative genomic hybridization, to elucidate in more detail the genomic alterations, and to establish a pattern of DNA copy number changes with distinct clinical variables in GC. Our results showed some correlations between novel amplified or deleted regions and clinical status. Copy-number gains were frequently detected at 1p, 5p, 7q, 8q, 11p, 16p, 20p and 20q, and losses at 1p, 2q, 4q, 5q, 7q, 9p, 14q, and 18q. Losses at 4q23, 9p23, 14q31.1, or 18q21.1 as well as a gain at 20q12 were correlated with tumor-node-metastasis tumor stage. Losses at 9p23 or 14q31.1 were associated with lymph node status. Metastasis was determined to be related to losses at 4q23 or 4q28.2, as well as losses at 4q15.2, 4q21.21, 4q 28.2, or 14q31.1, with differentiation. One of the notable aspects of this study was that the losses at 4q or 14q could be employed in the evaluation of the metastatic status of GC. Our results should provide a potential resource for the molecular cytogenetic events in GC, and should also provide clues in the hunt for genes associated with GC.
Stomach Neoplasms/genetics/*pathology ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction/methods ; Receptors, Thyrotropin/genetics ; Nucleic Acid Hybridization/*methods ; Neoplasm Staging ; Middle Aged ; Male ; MafB Transcription Factor/genetics ; Lymphatic Metastasis/genetics ; Humans ; Genome, Human/genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Female ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 20/genetics ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 14/genetics ; *Chromosome Aberrations ; Aged, 80 and over ; Aged ; Adult

OBJECTIVE: We examined changes in general health status, the prevalence of depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, and the existence of pre-trauma contributing factors in an agricultural population following a massive flood. METHODS: Eighty-three of 160 residents of Garisan-ni, Inje-gun, Gangwon-do, were assessed using the Korean version of the 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36-K) between April and June 2006, just prior to a massive flood. Among those initially assessed, 58 residents were available for follow-up 18 months after the flood. Participants completed the SF-36-K, Beck Depression Index (BDI), Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI)-PTSD, and the Korean version of the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) to detect depression and PTSD. Trauma experiences were also assessed. Factors related to changes in health status were then analyzed. RESULTS: SF-36-K total scale scores decreased significantly, suggesting a significant reduction in health-related quality of life. The largest reductions were noted in physical and social functioning. Fifty-three percent of the subjects were at least mildly depressed, and 17% had severe depression. In addition, 22% had PTSD on both the IES-R and MMPI-PTSD. Factors that contributed to the deterioration of health status following the flood were the number of disaster events and existence of depression (as assessed by the BDI). CONCLUSION: The flood was found to lead to deterioration of health status and to provoke depression and PTSD among the agricultural population in the mountainous region. We suggest that the number of disaster event experiences and existence of depression contriuted to changes in health status after the flood.
Depression ; Disasters* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gangwon-do ; Health Surveys ; MMPI ; Prevalence ; Prospective Studies* ; Quality of Life ; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic