PURPOSE: To evaluate the treatment results of geriatric intertrochanteric fractures by using Asian-Pacific Gamma nails. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From June 1994 to June 1997, 58 cases of the intertrochanteric fractures were treated with Asian-Pacific Gamma nail, particularly compression hip screw fixation complications such as communited fracture involving lesser trochanter, transverse or reverse oblique intertrochanteric fracture. We evaluated the bone union time, neck-shaft angle, lag screw sliding by follow up radiographs, and studied complications and intraoperative cautions. RESULTS: The average age was 74.4 years old, the mean duration of follow-up was 17 months, the mean duration of bone union was 14.2 weeks, the average neck-shaft angle was postop. 133+/-2.78 degree and last follow-up was 129.5+/-3.37 degree, and the average lag screw sliding was 4.7+/-3.16 mm. Intraoperative complications were difficulty in distal drilling (posterior drilling) in 4 cases, fracture displacement by nail insertion in 3 cases, and postoperative complications were coxa vara in 13 cases, superior cutting out of lag screw with nonunion in 1 case and superficial infection in 1 case. The entry portal must be formed by awling. The fracture displacement when inserting nail could be prevented by proper reaming after inserting the C-shaped guide pin, and posterior drilling could be avoided by confirming the locking between target device and nail. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that the Asian-Pacific Gamma nail could appropriately treat the osteoporotic, communited intertrochanteric fracture in elderly patients and we obtained satisfactory results.
Aged ; Coxa Vara ; Femur* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hip ; Hip Fractures ; Humans ; Intraoperative Complications ; Postoperative Complications

Pulmonary Fibrosis*

Damages on central nervous system induced by the exposure of microwave. However, the effects of microwave on ICP are not studied yet. The ICP affected by the condition of the condition of the brain has an significant effect on vital sign. So we investigated the changes of ICP of the rabbits after exposure. Twenty four rabbits were divided into 3 groups depending on the amount of exposure to microwave. One group was composed with 8 rabbits were exposed to microwave for 10 miniutes. Other were composed to microwave for 20 miniutes, 30 miniures, respectively. Intracranial pressure on each group were measured by subdural type ICP monitoring catheter immediately, first day, 3rd day, 5th day and 7th day after exposure of microwave. Results indicates that intracranial pressure of rabbits are not affected with statistical significance by exposure of microwave.
Brain ; Catheters ; Central Nervous System ; Intracranial Pressure ; Microwaves* ; Rabbits ; Vital Signs

The authors report a rare case of gunshot injury to the head by a nail-gun which was treated by stereotactic surgery. In the case, a 23-year-old male patient, presented with semicomatose mentality and decerebrated rigidity. The large nail was located in the 3rd ventricular area in the mid-line with vertical stature. The entry point was identified 1cm anterior to the coronal suture line and just lateral to the sagittal suture line. The foreign body was removed stereotactically with the guidance of gluoroscope. But the died of initial severe brain damage.
Brain ; Craniocerebral Trauma ; Foreign Bodies ; Head* ; Humans ; Male ; Sutures ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: Cystoscopy is very common and is one of the major office based procedures used in urologic clinics. However, a majority of patients complain of fear, pain, and discomfort when performing the procedure in an alert state. Routine administration of sedative and analgesic drugs is widely provided for gastorintestinal endoscopy to prevent patient discomfort and increase tolerance. Based on this, we investigated the safety and efficacy of midazolam induced sedative cystoscopy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred and twenty patients were enrolled in this study. They were divided into two groups; group I (n=80) consisted of patients who were sedated by midazolam 2.5mg IV before cystoscopy, and group II (n=40) consisted of patients who were not sedated and diclopenac 90mg was injected in them intramuscularly before cystoscopy to prevent pain. All patients in group I were reversed from the sedative state by flumazenil 0.5mg IV right after the completion of the cystoscopic procedure. The two groups were not significantly different in their age, sex, and weight distribution (p>0.05). Blood pressure, pulse, and respiratory rates were monitored pre-, intra-, and post procedure. The status of consciousness was monitored every three minutes by the OAA/S (Observer's Assessment of Alertness/Sedation) scale. Pain scale, anxiety scale, satisfaction score from patients and operators were measured using a specified questionnaire. RESULTS: In group I, the pain scale and anxiety scale were significantly reduced compared to group II (p<0.001). There were temporary changes in blood pressure and pulse rate in group I, but they were not clinically significant and no specific management was required. Group I patients were significantly more satisfied with their procedures compared to the patients of group II (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Midazolam induced sedative cystoscopy can be applied safely and effectively as an outpatient base procedure. Further, we expect to apply this sedative procedure to other urologic procedures.
Analgesics ; Anxiety ; Blood Pressure ; Conscious Sedation ; Consciousness ; Cystoscopy* ; Endoscopy ; Flumazenil ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Midazolam* ; Outpatients ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Respiratory Rate

No abstract available.
Angioplasty*

Conventional radiographs and simple CT scans fail to provide accurate information about the structural integrity of a fracture site. In recent years, special 3-dimensional CT scanning has been progressively developed, and we applied this technique to thoracolumbar compression fractures. Posterolateral spinal fusion with iliac bone graft was attempted in all patients; Comparative pre- and post-operative change in these fractures was then an-alysed, using 3-dimensional CT. The results of this study suggest that this imaging is a useful non-invasive technique to assess compression fracture and determine prognosis.
Fractures, Compression* ; Humans ; Prognosis ; Spinal Fusion ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Transplants

Between March 1995 and March 1996, we used a newly-designed neurosurgical procedure, based on 'keyhole surgery', to operate on 20 patients diagnosed as suffering from lumbar spinal stenosis without instability. The unique surgical steps involved in this procedure are: 1) three-quarter prone position of the patient; 2) small paramedian skin incision; 3) half-way incision of the spinous process; 4) small turnover funnel shaped unilateral laminectomy and wide forminotomy using high speed drills; 5) extensive ligament flavectomy; 6) microsurgical decompression without using nerve root retractor; 7) cosmetic wound closure. In some cases, if bilateral radicular symptom was present, the contralateral nerve root was explored through the unilateral laminectomy opening; this was achieved by changing the inclination of the base of the spinous process and extensively removing of the ligamentum flavum. Compared with conventional procedures, these technical innovations offer both procedural adventages and a better clinical outcome. Because of the small patient populations and short follow-up period, this technique requires further investigation, but we hope it will provide another option for future lumbar stenosis surgery. Further technical refinements and long-term follow-up results will be reported elsewhere.
Constriction, Pathologic* ; Decompression* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hope ; Humans ; Laminectomy ; Ligaments ; Ligamentum Flavum ; Neurosurgical Procedures ; Prone Position ; Skin ; Spinal Stenosis ; Wounds and Injuries

This study was designed to investigate the effect of diazepam on the spontaneous contraction and oxytocin induced contraction of the isolated rat uterus. Female rat (Sprague-Dawley) pretreated with oophorectomy and 4 days administration of estrogen. Weighing about 200 g, was sacrificed by cervical dislocation, and the uteruses were isolated. A longitudinal muscle strip was placed in temperature controlled (37℃) muscle chamber containing Locke's solution and myographied isometrically. Diazepam inhibited the spontaneous contraction and oxytocin induced contraction of the isolated rat uterus in a concentration-dependent manner. GABA, muscimol, a GABA A receptor agonist, bicuculline, a competitive GABA A receptor antagonist, picrotoxin, a non competitive GABA A receptor antagonist, baclofen, a GABA B receptor agonist, and delta-aminovaleric acid, a GABA B receptor antagonist, did not affect on the spontaneous and oxytocin induced contraction of the isolated rat uterus. The inhibitory actions of diazepam on the spontaneous and oxytocin induced contraction were not affected by all the GABA receptor agonists and antagonists, but exceptionally potentiated by bicuculline. This potentiation-effect by bicuculline was not antagonized by muscumol. In normal calcium PSS, addition of calcium restored the spontaneous contraction preinhibited by diazepam and recovered the contractile of oxtrocin preinhibited by diazepam. A23187, a calcium inophore, enhanced the restoration of both the spontaneous and oxytocin induced contraction by addition of calcium. In calcium-free PSS, diazepam suppressed the restoration of spontaneous motility by addition of calcium but allowed the recovery of spontaneous motility to a considerable extent. Diazepam could not inhibit some development of contractility by oxytocin in calcium-free PSS, but inhibited the increase in contractility by subsequent addition of calcium. These results suggest that the inhibitory action of diazepam on the rat uterine motility does not depend on or related to GABA receptors and that diazepam inhibits the extracellular calcium influx to suppress the spontaneous and oxytocin induced contractilities.
Animals ; Baclofen ; Bicuculline ; Calcimycin ; Calcium ; Diazepam* ; Dislocations ; Estrogens ; Female ; GABA Agonists ; GABA-A Receptor Agonists ; GABA-A Receptor Antagonists ; GABA-B Receptor Agonists ; GABA-B Receptor Antagonists ; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid ; Humans ; Muscimol ; Ovariectomy ; Oxytocin* ; Picrotoxin ; Rats* ; Receptors, GABA ; Uterus*

The authors report a rare case of air gunshot wound to the thoracic spinal cord in Korea. A case of 17 year-old girl with a air-gunshot wound to the thoracic spine was presented with paraplegia. Radiologic studies revealed a bullet in the fifth thoracic spinal canal. The cerebrospinal fluid leaked through the entry point of the bullet was noted. After laminectomy and dural opening, a intramedullary hematoma with lodged bullet in the contused cord was found. They are removed successfully with any postoperative complications. The bullet was composed of lead. We report this case focusing on the pathophysiology and surgical treatment with review of literatures.
Adolescent ; Cerebrospinal Fluid ; Female ; Hematoma ; Humans ; Korea ; Laminectomy ; Paraplegia ; Postoperative Complications ; Spinal Canal ; Spinal Cord ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; Spine* ; Wounds and Injuries* ; Wounds, Gunshot