It has been known that the inducing factors of low back pain are numerous such as songenitaI anormalies, degenerative, traumatic and inflamatory pricess of the spine and its adjacent structures. Despite many relevant literatures upon low back pain, it has been also known that to differentiate causes of low back pain is difficult but very important for treatment. Exclusive of those who had defenite trauma history of spine, 704 cases low back pain in adult, treated at Dept. of Orthopedic surgery Kyungpook University Hospital during recent 3yr & 4 months were reviewed and analyzed by the X-ray findings of lumbar spine. Anterioposterior and Iateral films of lumbar spine were available in each cases but oblique fiIms and myelography was also available as indicated, The results obtained were as follows. 1. The roentgenograms of the spine of 704 cases were reviewed. 494 cases revealed structual changes of the spine. 273 cases were non specific. 2. Of 494 cases reavold structual changes, 273 cases were disease entities, 190 cases were bony abnormalities, and combined cases were 67. 3. Among 273 cases of disease, disc herniation was most common except osteoarthritis(32cases) Tuberculous, spondylolitis, 23cases and pyogenic spondylolitis was 3 cases. 4. Among 257 cases of Bony afnormalities, spina bifida was most common (128 cases). 5. Degenerative changes of the spine was appeared in 3rd. decades (4.8%) and the incidence and severity increased with age. 6. Among 34 cases of multiple abnormalities, 33 cases were combined with spina bifida.
Abnormalities, Multiple ; Adult ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Humans ; Incidence ; Low Back Pain ; Myelography ; Orthopedics ; Spinal Dysraphism ; Spine

Dysplasia epiphysealis multiplex is a rare syndrome, first discribed by Fairbank in 1935, but numerous publications have made it a well-recognized entity. The syndrome is caused by a congenital developmental error of unknown etiology, characterized by changes in the developing epiphyses, dwarfism and stubby digits in children of normal intelligence. Diagnosis is mainly by roentgenographic apperences of the epiphyses before fusion to the shaft. The centers of ossification of the epiphyses are late in appearing, slow in developing, deformed in shape and irregular in density. The spine is never affected, blood and biochemicaI studies show no abnormality. A case of dysplasia epiphysealis multiplex which revealed typical roentgenographic pictures is presented with a brief review of a literature.
Child ; Diagnosis ; Dwarfism ; Epiphyses ; Humans ; Intelligence ; Spine

One hundred and sixty five cases of the fracture of tibial shaft in adult have been treated and managed in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Kyunghook National University Hospital during the period from January, 1965 to December, 1970. Seventy one of 165 patients were analyzed clinically and we came to the following conclusions. 1. Most of the injuries were the results of traffic accident (67.6%). 2. The incidence of trauma was high in the young man, most frequent in the 3rd decade. 3. The closed fractures were three times more than open fractures and the middle third of tibial shaft was the most frequent site of fracture. 4. The average healing period was 16 weeks in mild case and 28 weeks in severe case. 5. Of 71 cases, we experienced 4 cases of non-union, 8 cases of residual joint stiffness at the knee and the ankle and 3 cases of leg shortening (more than 2 cm.) as complication.
Accidents, Traffic ; Adult ; Ankle ; Clinical Study ; Fractures, Closed ; Fractures, Open ; Humans ; Incidence ; Joints ; Knee ; Leg ; Orthopedics

Osteogenesis Imperfecta is a rare affection characterized by fragility of the bones, blue sclerae, and deafness, less frequently by hypermobility of the joints. The etiology is unknown, but it appears to be a mesenchymaldefect. A cases of osteogencesis imperfecta (tarda form) in a 18 yesrs old male is presented with a review of the literatures. The chief complaints were bowing deformity of the all extremites and blue sclera. In this cases, other typical features such as deafness and hypermobility of the joints were not observed. X-ray showed multiple malunited fraeture, of all long bones of extremities except Ieft humerus. For the treatment of bowing deformity of right humerus, multiple corrective osteotomy and intramedullary nailing was performed and the result was good.
Congenital Abnormalities ; Deafness ; Extremities ; Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary ; Humans ; Humerus ; Joints ; Male ; Osteogenesis Imperfecta ; Osteogenesis ; Osteotomy ; Sclera

No abstract available.

To assess the influence of diabetes mellitus on the healing of segmental defect of rat, a defect measuring 5mm was made at right sciatic nerve in thirty-three adult female Wistar rats(control group:17, diabetic group:16). To induce diabetes in rats, Streptozotocin(50mg/kg body weight) was injected into tail vein after dissolution in saline solution. Both proximal and distal nerve ends were connected with 9mm long silicone tube, and the tube was filled with 10µl collagen(Vitrogen 100) solution. Two and 4 weeks after the operation, electromyographic study(latency period and amplitude) and histologic examination(the number of myelinated axon, non-neuronal cell, and vessel at mid-chamber level, the mid-chamber cross-sectional area) after toluidine blue staining were carried out. From the results, we concluded that diabetes mellitus retarded the healing process of segmental defect of sciatic nerve in rat. And we might suggest that if we meet this situation in clinical practice, we have to consider some supportive measures to overcome the bad effect of diabetes mellitus on the healing of nerve defect.
Adult ; Animals ; Axons ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Female ; Humans ; Myelin Sheath ; Rats ; Sciatic Nerve ; Silicon ; Silicones ; Sodium Chloride ; Tail ; Tolonium Chloride ; Veins

Between 1989 and 1995, 14 patients with Kienbock's disease were treated with radial shortening or a radial wedge osteotomy. Clinical and radiological changes were classified according to Lichtman's stages and ulnar variance. Seven patients were male and seven were female. The mean age was 45 years, ranging from 29 to 64. The average follow-up period was 29 months, ranging from 12 to 61. Of the ten patients with negative ulnar variance who were treated by radial shortening, two cases were in Lichtman's stage II, six cases were stage III-a and two cases were stage III-b. Of the four patients with zero or positive ulnar variance who were treated by a radial wedge osteotomy, one case was stage 11 and three cases were stage III-a. The results were evaluated in terms of diminished wrist pain, increased grip strength, increased range of wrist motion and radiologic changes of the lunate. Wrist pain had diminished in all patients and grip strength had increased on average from 54% to 70% in the unaffected side. The range of arc of the wrist had increased on average from 59degrees preoperatively to 93 postoperatively. Sclerosis of the lunate improved in 43% of cases, cystic changes of the lunate improved in 57%, fragmentation of the lunate improved in 36% and the carpal height ratio increased in 50%. Of the 14 patients, 13 patients (93%) showed satisfactory results. One patient had an unsatisfactory result, according to Lichtman's criteria. These results suggest that radial shortening or a radial wedge osteotomy is recommended in patients with stage ll, III-a or III-b Kienb ck's disease, according to the ulnar variance. Early wrist pain reduction, increased range of motion and grip strength and improved avascularity of the lunate are all positive outcomes attainable with these treatment methods.
Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hand Strength ; Humans ; Male ; Osteonecrosis* ; Osteotomy* ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Sclerosis ; Wrist

The steadily increasing frequency of car accidents and industrial injuries have contributed to increasing numbers of injuries to the femoral shaft. Fractures of the femoral shaft have always created camplicated problems associated with long periods of immobilization, resultant functional disability and economic loss. The methods of treatment are variable, therefore it is important to choose the correct form of treatment. The authors have reviewed 67 fractures of the femoral shaft in 66 patients for the 5 years period from Jan., 1972 to Dec., 1976, who were treated in the department of Orthopedic Surgery, Kyoungpook National University Hospital. The results were as follows; 1. Most of fractures occured in person who are in their third and fourth decades. Male are predominant. 2, Eliciting causes were mainly traumatic and most of them were car accidents. 3. Middle third of the femur was most prevalent location of the fracture site, and comminuted type was most frequent in the fracture type. 4. The period of immobilization for femoral shaft fracture was 7 weeks for those treated with compression plate and Kuntscher nailing; 11. 7 weeks with conventional plate and screw fixation and 17. 8 weeks with skeletal traction. 5. Postoperative infection rate was 3% and infection was treated by conservative methods.
Adult ; Clinical Study ; Femur ; Humans ; Immobilization ; Male ; Orthopedics ; Traction

The following case report concerns a rare subungual melanoma of left thumb which metastasized into the ipsilateral axilla. Subungual melanoma, or melanotic whitlow, is a malignant lesion requiring early diagnosis and urgent treatment. Unlike melanomas located elsewhere on the skin of the body, subungual melanomas are shielded by the nails, which handicaps the securing of a biopsy by the clinician. We report a case of subungual melanoma in a 61 year-old man who had a 6 months history of painful axillary mass.
Axilla ; Biopsy ; Early Diagnosis ; Melanoma ; Skin ; Thumb

Authors had analyzed 35 patients of traumatic posterior dislocation of the hip which was treated at Kyungpook National University Hospital during the period of 7 years from 1972 to 1978. 21 of the 35 dislocation of the hip had sustained the injury by automobile accidents. 33 patients were reduced by closed reduction under general anesthesia. Within one week following closed reduction, intra-articular bony fragments were removed in 4 patients and posterior fragments of acetabular fractures were reduced and fixed with screws in 8 patients. 17 of the 35 patients were followed for eight months to 91 months, average 38 months. The results were rated according to criteris of the Stewart and Milford. Satisfactory results were obtained in 11 patients and those of 9 patients were reduced within 12 hours after injury. As the complication, avascular necrosis, myositis ossificans and osteroarthritis were developed in two patients, four patients, and seven patients respectively.
Acetabulum ; Anesthesia, General ; Automobiles ; Dislocations ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Hip ; Humans ; Myositis Ossificans ; Necrosis