OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare the success rates of the manual and motor-driven mini-screw insertion methods according to age, gender, length of mini-screws, and insertion sites. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 429 orthodontic mini-screw placements in 286 patients (102 in men and 327 in women) between 2005 and 2010 at private practice. Age, gender, mini-screw length, and insertion site were cross-tabulated against the insertion methods. The Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel test was performed to compare the success rates of the 2 insertion methods. RESULTS: The motor-driven method was used for 228 mini-screws and the manual method for the remaining 201 mini-screws. The success rates were similar in both men and women irrespective of the insertion method used. With respect to mini-screw length, no difference in success rates was found between motor and hand drivers for the 6-mm-long mini-screws (68.1% and 69.5% with the engine driver and hand driver, respectively). However, the 8-mm-long mini-screws exhibited significantly higher success rates (90.4%, p < 0.01) than did the 6-mm-long mini-screws when placed with the engine driver. The overall success rate was also significantly higher in the maxilla (p < 0.05) when the engine driver was used. Success rates were similar among all age groups regardless of the insertion method used. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, the motor-driven insertion method can be helpful to get a higher success rate of orthodontic mini-screw placement.
Female ; Hand ; Humans ; Male ; Maxilla ; Private Practice ; Retrospective Studies

A 60-year-old man with bilateral corneal opacity underwent cataract extraction surgery involving the use of a limbal relaxing incision in his left eye. He had lower lid ectropion and lagophthalmos in both eyes. Eleven days after the surgery, a slit-lamp examination revealed a neurotrophic corneal ulcer with a punch-out epithelial defect and rolled edges at the center of the pre-existing corneal opacity. The patient was treated with sodium hyaluronate, autologous serum, and oral doxycycline. Six weeks after the surgery an improvement in corneal sensation was observed and the neurotrophic corneal ulcer subsequently healed over the course of one year. In this report, we present a case of neurotrophic keratitis that occurred after performing cataract surgery concurrent with a limbal relaxing incision. As such, we suggest that limbal relaxing incisions should be performed cautiously in patients with causative risk factors for corneal hypesthesia.
Cataract Extraction/*adverse effects/*methods ; Corneal Diseases/etiology ; Corneal Ulcer/*etiology/*pathology/physiopathology ; Humans ; Hypesthesia/etiology ; Limbus Corneae/*surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Ophthalmologic Surgical Procedures/*adverse effects ; Phacoemulsification ; Wound Healing

PURPOSE: To report a case of nasal-type NK/T cell lymphoma occurring in the sphenoid and ethmoid sinuses of an orbital apex syndrome patient. CASE SUMMARY: A 61-year-old male patient visited our hospital for the impairment of vision in the right eye for the previous month, and for right-side blepharoptosis, pain around the eyeball, and limitation of extraocular movement in the right eye for three days earlier. In MRI (magnetic resonance image) and CT (computed tomography), shades with vague boundaries were observed in the right sphenoid and ethmoid sinuses, and open biopsy and decompression were performed for the lesions. After the surgery, the vision of the right eye increased, and improvement was observed in the right blepharoptosis, the pain around the eyeball, and in the limitation of motility of the extraocular muscle in the right eye. The patient was diagnosed with nasal type NK/T cell lymphoma in biopsy, and radiotherapy and chemotherapy were performed.
Biopsy ; Blepharoptosis ; Decompression ; Ethmoid Sinus ; Eye ; Humans ; Lymphoma ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Muscles ; Orbit ; Vision, Ocular

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine the utility of cementless extensively porous coated femoral stem in the patients older than 70 years, who had received a bipolar hemiarthroplasty. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From June 1996 to June 2001, this study reviewed the clinical and radiographic results of 31 femoral neck fracture patients (31 hips, 9 men and 22 women), who underwent a bipolar hemiarthroplasty using a cementless extensively porous coated femoral stem, were 70 years or older and were followed up more than 2 years. The mean age at surgery was 79.3 (70-84). The mean follow up period was 31.2 months (range, 24 to 52). The clinical and radiological results were evaluated by the Harris Hip Score (HHS) and the serial X-ray findings, respectively. RESULTS: Clinically, the mean HHS at the last follow up was 84.1 (69-92). Radiographically, there was no evidence of subsidence, pedestal and osteolysis of the femoral stem. A radiolucent line was observed in 11 cases, but there was no evidence of progression. Therefore, all femoral stems were confirmed to be stable. Stress shielding was observed in 22 cases, mild in 20 cases and moderate in 2 cases. CONCLUSION: Bipolar hemiarthroplasty using a cementless extensively porous coated femoral stem inpatients 70 years or older showed good clinical and radiological results. Therefore it is a useful prosthesis for bipolar hemiarthroplasty in patients 70 years or older.
Femoral Neck Fractures* ; Femur Neck* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemiarthroplasty* ; Hip* ; Humans ; Inpatients ; Male ; Osteolysis ; Prostheses and Implants

PURPOSE: This study attempted to determine whether serial measurements of serum C-reactive protein (CRP) and albumin levels can be used for prediction of prolonged mechanical ventilation (PMV) in patients with pesticide intoxication. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 36 pesticide-intoxicated patients who were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) and received mechanical ventilation for >72 hours between January 2010 and December 2011. Patients were divided into two groups: patients on mechanical ventilation for > or =15 days (PMV group; n=9) and patients on mechanical ventilation for <15 days (non-PMV group; n=27). Clinical and laboratory parameters were measured at presentation to the emergency department (ED). CRP and albumin levels were measured at presentation and thereafter for nine days. RESULTS: A higher Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score, a longer time to reach peak CRP level (CRP duration), and a larger decrease in albumin levels (DeltaAlbumin) were observed in the PMV group, compared with the non-PMV group. Of these parameters, duration of continuous increasing CRP levels for >4 days [odds ratio (OR), 2.06; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.10-3.86] and DeltaAlbumin >2.0 g/dL (OR, 7.81; 95% CI, 1.04-58.67) showed an independent association with PMV. CONCLUSION: Serial measurements of serum CRP and albumin levels can be used for identification of patients at risk for PMV. Increase in serum CRP level for more than four consecutive days and decrease in albumin level greater than 2.0 g/dL could discriminate PMV patients from non-PMV patients.
APACHE ; C-Reactive Protein ; Emergencies ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Respiration, Artificial ; Retrospective Studies

Liposclerosing myxofibrous tumor (LSMFT) is a benign fibro-osseous lesion that is characterized by a complex mixture of histologic elements, including its fibrous dysplasia-like features and its lipoma, myxofibroma, xanthoma and pseudo-Paget's bone patterns. However, this lesion is considered by some researchers as a variant of fibrous dysplasia or as the non-specific end result of degenerative change, while it is considered by others as a definite clinicopathologic entity. Here, we report on a case of LSMFT occurring in tibia, which is a very uncommon location for this tumor, and we review the related literatures. The case presented here shares features with those described for LSMFT, except for the location of this tumor. We believe that more studies on a larger scale that compare LSMFT with other benign bone lesions, including fibrous dysplasia, are required to clarify the origin and behavior of this lesion.
Fibroma ; Lipoma ; Tibia* ; Xanthomatosis

PURPOSE: This study investigated the compliance of the general public to the guidance conveyed by hospital emergency medical information centers. METHODS: This study included the incidences of inquiry on hospitals and clinics to Busan Emergency Medical Information Center by the general public for a 2-week period from January 4-17, 2009. Information obtained included general characteristics, time of hospital arrival and departure, length of hospitalization, hospitals visited, and treatment outcome. RESULTS: A total of 939 incidences of hospital guidance to the general public were examined. The degree of compliance was 71.2%, the ratio of the primary and secondary facility that the participants visited were 88.6% and 93.5% of the participants in this study were discharged from hospitals after their visit. Patients who complied with the information received displayed a shorter period of hospitalization than non-compliant patients. CONCLUSION: Emergency medical information centers may help ease the unnecessary use of emergency rooms by providing information on diseases to the general public and effectively distributing medical resources with guidance to proper hospitals according to the degree of symptoms.
Access to Information ; Compliance ; Emergencies ; Emergency Medical Services ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Incidence ; Information Centers

PURPOSE: This study investigated the compliance of the general public to the guidance conveyed by hospital emergency medical information centers. METHODS: This study included the incidences of inquiry on hospitals and clinics to Busan Emergency Medical Information Center by the general public for a 2-week period from January 4-17, 2009. Information obtained included general characteristics, time of hospital arrival and departure, length of hospitalization, hospitals visited, and treatment outcome. RESULTS: A total of 939 incidences of hospital guidance to the general public were examined. The degree of compliance was 71.2%, the ratio of the primary and secondary facility that the participants visited were 88.6% and 93.5% of the participants in this study were discharged from hospitals after their visit. Patients who complied with the information received displayed a shorter period of hospitalization than non-compliant patients. CONCLUSION: Emergency medical information centers may help ease the unnecessary use of emergency rooms by providing information on diseases to the general public and effectively distributing medical resources with guidance to proper hospitals according to the degree of symptoms.
Access to Information ; Compliance ; Emergencies ; Emergency Medical Services ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Incidence ; Information Centers

Hepatocellular calcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common cancer and the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. It is important to diagnose HCC exactly before management is attempted. But, the clinical presentations and radiologic findings of liver abscess, HCC, and metastatic tumor to the liver may be quite similar, and procedures such as serum tumor marker assay, computerized tomography, and ultrasonography of the liver cannot make a specific diagnosis. We report a case of HCC successfully diagnosed by surgery which was misconceived as liver abscess and not improved by medical treatment.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/complications/*diagnosis/pathology ; Humans ; Liver/ultrasonography ; Liver Abscess/complications/*diagnosis/pathology ; Liver Neoplasms/complications/*diagnosis/pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of head rotation and leg elevation as it impacts the depth from the skin surface to the internal jugular vein (IJV), the diameter of the IJV, and the relative anatomical location of the IJV to the carotid artery (CA). METHODS: A total of 20 volunteers were enrolled in this study. In a supine position with/without 30degrees head rotation to the left, and with/without 30degrees leg elevation, the depth from skin surface to IJV, the IJV diameters, and the anatomical relationship between IJV and CA were measured using 2-dimensional ultrasound from the right side of the neck. The relative position of the IJV to the CA was depicted as an angle ranging from -180degrees to +180degrees. The measurements observed in each position were compared. RESULTS: As the head was rotated to the left, the depth of the IJV from the skin surface decreased and the anteroposterior IJV diameter increased significantly (all p<0.001). The relative position of the IJV to the CA tended to move in an anterior and medial direction during head rotation. Leg elevation had a significant impact on the transverse diameter of the IJV, but only when the head was rotated (p=0.027). With leg elevation, there was no consistent locational change of the IJV relative to the carotid artery, and there were no significant changes observed for IJV depth relative to the surface of the skin or IJV anteroposterior diameter. CONCLUSION: Our results indicated that head rotation increases the risk of carotid artery puncture by increasing the overlap of the carotid artery and the IJV. To decrease the risk of carotid artery puncture, a neutral head position should be maintained during IJV catheterization, with a central approach.
Carotid Arteries ; Carotid Artery Injuries ; Catheterization ; Catheterization, Central Venous ; Catheters ; Head ; Jugular Veins ; Leg ; Neck ; Punctures ; Skin ; Supine Position