OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to determine the factors that have effects on the neurological deficit in the patients with thoracolumbar fracture. METHODS: Forty-eight patients were included. Cause of injury, type of injury, time interval, combined injury, kyphotic angle, spinal canal compromise, sagittal diameter, the most narrow sagittal diameter, transverse diameter, the most narrow transverse diameter, and remained height of vertebra body were concerned as the factors. The patients with American Spinal Injury Association(ASIA) impairment scale grade A to D were considered as having neurology while others with ASIA grade E were considered to be without neurology. The patients with ASIA grade A were classified to paraplegia group and the patients with ASIA grade B to E were not thought to be paraplegia. Statistical analysis for these groups were performed. RESULTS: Spinal canal compromise (P<0.001) have correlation with neurological deficit. The most narrow sagittal diameter was smaller in the group with deficit than that in the group without deficit (P=0.004). Also, combined injury have correlation with neurology (P=0.028). Spinal canal compromise (P<0.001), sagittal diameter (P=0.032), the most narrow sagittal diameter (P=0.025), and Denis type (P<0.001) also have correlation with paraplegia. CONCLUSION: The factors of percentage of spinal canal compromise, the most narrow sagittal diameter, and combined injury are predictive of neurological deficit. The patients with paraplegia may be predicted by the factors such as type of injury, spinal canal compromise, sagittal diameter, the most narrow sagittal diameter, and Denis type.
Asia ; Humans ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Neurology ; Paraplegia ; Spinal Canal ; Spinal Fractures ; Spinal Injuries ; Spine

C2–3 disc herniation is rare and a definitive treatment of choice has not been established.The purpose of this case report is to suggest posterior approach as one of the best options.A 49-year-old man visited our clinic with a 7-year history of neck pain and occipital headache and a 2-month history of right arm pain. C2–3 intervertebral disc herniation of the central type was diagnosed on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and surgery was performed, including C1 laminectomy, C2–3 laminoplasty, and C2–3 posterior fixation. The posterior approach was used because the patient's neck was difficult to operate anteriorly. After 3 months postoperatively, MRI showed widened cerebrospinal fluid space at the C2–3 level.The visual analogue scale score for pain improved in the occipital area and right arm.However, the untouched protruded central disc, subjective weakness in right hand grasping, and numbness persisted. In conclusion, this case highlights posterior decompression and fixation as a good treatment of choice for decompression at the C2–3 level disc herniation, from where it is difficult to remove compressive lesions directly via the anterior corridor.

Cervical spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma (CSSEH) is a rare condition that can be potentially fatal if not properly diagnosed and managed. While prompt surgical decompression and evacuation of the hematoma are generally considered as the first line of treatment, mild cases that were managed through observation and conservative treatment have been reported. Our patient was a 24-year-old man who experienced two CSSEH events 8 months apart, both of which were managed conservatively. This was a rare case of recurrent CSSEH in which recovery was achieved without surgical intervention. We believe conservative treatment with close observation may be effective in CSSEH patients presenting with mild neurologic symptoms who have a tendency towards spontaneous neurologic improvement.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to confirm whether brain disease or brain trauma actually affect psychopathology in young male group in Korea. METHODS: The authors manually reviewed the result of Korean military multiphasic personal inventory (KMPI) in the examination of conscription in Korea from January 2008 to May 2010. There were total 237 young males in this review. Normal volunteers group (n=150) was composed of those who do not have history of brain disease or brain trauma. Brain disease group (n=33) was consisted of those with history of brain disease. Brain trauma group (n=54) was consisted of those with history of brain trauma. The results of KMPI in each group were compared. RESULTS: Abnormal results of KMPI were found in both brain disease and trauma groups. In the brain disease group, higher tendencies of faking bad response, anxiety, depression, somatization, personality disorder, schizophrenic and paranoid psychopathy was observed and compared to the normal volunteers group. In the brain trauma group, higher tendencies of faking-good, depression, somatization and personality disorder was observed and compared to the normal volunteers group. CONCLUSION: Young male with history of brain disease or brain trauma may have higher tendencies to have abnormal results of multiphasic personal inventory test compared to young male without history of brain disease or brain trauma, suggesting that damaged brain may cause psychopathology in young male group in Korea.
Anxiety ; Brain ; Brain Diseases ; Brain Injuries ; Depression ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Military Personnel ; Personality Disorders ; Personality Inventory ; Personality Tests ; Physical Examination ; Psychopathology ; Young Adult

Pyoderma gangrenosum is an extremely rare chronic cutaneous disease causing severe ulceration. It can be developed after minor trauma or surgical procedure. The typical features mimic acute infection site, however the treatment methods are opposing since pyoderma gangrenosum is improved with the use of corticosteroids, not antibiotic therapy. We here report a patient who had been diagnosed for acute infection after cesarean delivery in 2011 and treated with a number of antibiotics, but failed to recover. The patient had suffered from pain of the disease and also renal failure caused by antibiotics. Ultimately she had been diagnosed as pyoderma gangrenosum and managed successfully with steroids. For her next pregnancy in 2013, we tried vaginal delivery after prior cesarean section and it was uneventful during and after delivery.
Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Cesarean Section* ; Female ; Humans ; Parturition* ; Pregnancy ; Pyoderma Gangrenosum* ; Pyoderma* ; Renal Insufficiency ; Steroids ; Ulcer ; Vaginal Birth after Cesarean ; Wound Infection

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of different experience level and different light source on shade selection ability comparing prosthodontist group and dental student group under 4,000 K and 5,500 K light. MATERIALS AND METHODS: After color difference of Vitapan 3D-master shade guides was measured, 3 sets of 5 shade tabs were selected with similar value but have different chroma (set a, b, c). Also 3 sets of 5 shade tabs were selected with similar chroma but have different values (set d, e, f). Under 4,000 K and 5,500 K light sources, ten prosthodontists and ten dental students were allowed to match in one set of 5 tabs the same shade tab with the tab which was originally selected in the other set of 5 tabs. Color differences of original tab and matched tab were measured by spectrophotometer and the shade selection ability was evaluated with those data. Evaluation of color difference value was performed in regard to different light conditions and different level of experience, followed by t-test with 95% confidence interval. RESULTS: Color difference values under 4,000 K and 5,500 K light source were 1.62 +/- 2.0, and 1.33 +/- 1.7 respectively. In addition, color difference values of prosthodontist group and dental student group were 1.34 +/- 1.7, and 1.61 +/- 2.0 respectively. Difference of shade selection ability was not found under either different light sources (P=.398), or different experience level (P=.221). CONCLUSION: Level of experience did not affect on the shade selection ability when prosthodontists and dental students matched the shades with the same shade tab under the same light source.
Ceramics ; Dental Porcelain ; Humans ; Light ; Prosthesis Coloring ; Spectrophotometry ; Students, Dental

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the psychopathological influence of congenital heart disease (CHD) in Korean 19-year-old males. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The authors compared the Korean military multiphasic personal inventory (KMPI) military profiles of 211 CHD cases (atrial septal defect, ventricular septal defect, patent ductus arteriosus, or combined CHD) with the KMPI profiles of 300 normal controls. The CHD group was also divided according to whether or not the subjects had undergone open cardiac surgery in order to evaluate the psychopathological effects of an operation among the subjects. RESULTS: A decreased result on the faking-good response scale and an increased result on the faking-bad response were observed in the CHD group compared to the control (p<0.01). The neurosis scale results, including anxiety, depression and somatization symptoms, were markedly increased in the CHD group compared to the control (p<0.01). The severity level of personality disorder was also increased in the CHD group (p<0.001). Differences in KMPI scale scores were not related to open cardiac surgery history. CONCLUSION: In this study, young males with CHD tended to report more abnormal results on the multiphasic personal inventory test in comparison to normal subjects, suggesting that CHD may be related to psychopathology in young males in Korea. Therefore, clinicians are recommended to evaluate the psychopathological traits of patients with CHD.
Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Heart Defects, Congenital/*psychology ; Humans ; Male ; *Personality Inventory ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the therapeutic effects of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) on post-traumatic growth (PTG). METHODS: This study was conducted using a sample of ten survivors of a large-scale maritime disaster that occurred in the Yellow Sea, South Korea, in April 2014. A total of eight EMDR sessions were administered by a psychiatrist at two-week intervals over a period of five months, starting two or three months after the accident. Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI), Stress-Related Growth Scale (SRGS), Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS), and Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC) were measured before treatment, after sessions 4 and 8, and at three months after treatment completion. RESULTS: After three months from treatment completion, significant increases were observed in PTG (PTGI: Z(8)=−2.380, p=0.017; SRGS: Z(8)=−2.380, p=0.017) and resilience (CD-RISC: Z(8)=−2.386, p=0.017). A decrease in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) level was also significant (CAPS: Z(8)=−2.176, p=0.030). The reduction of CAPS scores was correlated with increases of PTGI (rho=0.78, p=0.023) and SRGS (rho=0.79, p=0.020) scores. The changes in CAPS, PTGI, and SRGS scores between time point of end 8-session and three months follow-up was not significant (all p>0.05). Subjects with higher pre-treatment CD-RISC scores showed more significant improvements in PTGI (rho=0.88, p=0.004) and SRGS (rho=0.83, p=0.010) scores after treatment than did those with lower pre-treatment CD-RISC scores. CONCLUSION: EMDR therapy using standard protocol for trauma processing helped facilitating PTG in disaster survivors. To generalize these findings, further controlled studies comparing with other treatment modalities for PTSD are needed.
Disasters* ; Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing ; Eye Movements* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Korea ; Pilot Projects* ; Prospective Studies* ; Psychiatry ; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic ; Survivors* ; Therapeutic Uses

OBJECTIVE: Routine use of prophylactic antiepileptic drugs (AED) has been debated. We retrospectively evaluated the effects of prophylactic AED on clinical outcomes in patients with a good clinical grade suffering from aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between September 2012 and December 2014, 84 patients who met the following criteria were included: (1) presence of a ruptured aneurysm; (2) Hunt-Hess grade 1, 2, or 3; and (3) without seizure presentation. Patients were divided into two groups; the AED group (n = 44) and the no AED group (n = 40). Clinical data and outcomes were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Prophylactic AEDs were used more frequently in patients who underwent microsurgery (84.1%) compared to those who underwent endovascular surgery (15.9%, p < 0.001). Regardless of prophylactic AED use, seizure episodes were not observed during the six-month follow-up period. No statistical difference in clinical outcomes at discharge (p = 0.607) and after six months of follow-up (p = 0.178) were between the two groups. After six months, however, favorable outcomes in the no AED group tended to increase and poor outcomes tended to decrease. CONCLUSION: No difference in the clinical outcomes and systemic complications at discharge and after six months of follow-up was observed between the two groups. However, favorable outcomes in the no AED group showed a slight increase after six months. These findings suggest that discontinuation of the current practice of using prophylactic AED might be recommended in patients with a good clinical grade.
Aneurysm* ; Aneurysm, Ruptured ; Anticonvulsants* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Intracranial Aneurysm ; Microsurgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Seizures ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage*

OBJECTIVE: Routine use of prophylactic antiepileptic drugs (AED) has been debated. We retrospectively evaluated the effects of prophylactic AED on clinical outcomes in patients with a good clinical grade suffering from aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between September 2012 and December 2014, 84 patients who met the following criteria were included: (1) presence of a ruptured aneurysm; (2) Hunt-Hess grade 1, 2, or 3; and (3) without seizure presentation. Patients were divided into two groups; the AED group (n = 44) and the no AED group (n = 40). Clinical data and outcomes were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Prophylactic AEDs were used more frequently in patients who underwent microsurgery (84.1%) compared to those who underwent endovascular surgery (15.9%, p < 0.001). Regardless of prophylactic AED use, seizure episodes were not observed during the six-month follow-up period. No statistical difference in clinical outcomes at discharge (p = 0.607) and after six months of follow-up (p = 0.178) were between the two groups. After six months, however, favorable outcomes in the no AED group tended to increase and poor outcomes tended to decrease. CONCLUSION: No difference in the clinical outcomes and systemic complications at discharge and after six months of follow-up was observed between the two groups. However, favorable outcomes in the no AED group showed a slight increase after six months. These findings suggest that discontinuation of the current practice of using prophylactic AED might be recommended in patients with a good clinical grade.
Aneurysm* ; Aneurysm, Ruptured ; Anticonvulsants* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Intracranial Aneurysm ; Microsurgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Seizures ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage*