The old flexor tendon injury in the hand seen after 4 weeks from damage and associated with crushing injury, heavy scarring, fracture and infectious state has the difficulty to deliver the flexor tendon through fibro-osseous sheath and the pulleys. Treatment method depends on the circumstances of the injured flexor tendon and surgeons' judgement. We have treated twenty-three fingers of twenty-three cases, who had old flexor tendon injury, by advancement and tenolysis in 1 each, tendon graft in 5, and staged tendon graft in 16 from March 1989 through February 1994. The result was summarized as follows. 1. The old flexor tendon injury most commonly occurred in the fifth finger(11 cases, 47.8%)and in zone II (16 cases, 69.6%). 2. The most common cause was glass injury(15 cases, 69.6%). 3. 21 of 23 cases(2 thumbs excepted)were evaluated according to the original Strickland system. 14 cases of the staged tendon graft showed excellent(6 cases, 42.9%), good(5 cases, 35.7%)and fair(3 cases, 21.4%). 5 cases of the tendon graft showed excellent(2 cases, 40%), good(1 case, 20%), and fair(2 cases, 40%). 1 case of adhesiolysis and 1 case of advancement showed excellent and good results each. Little difference is observed in the method between the staged graft and tendon graft. 4. The degree of the associated soft tissue injury should be evaluated by the experienced hand surgeon before surgery and the delicate balance between protection and mobilization during the postoperative weeks is important as well as the surgical skill.
Cicatrix ; Fingers ; Glass ; Hand ; Methods ; Soft Tissue Injuries ; Tendon Injuries ; Tendons ; Thumb ; Transplants

A 34-year-old woman presented with several intensely pruritic erythematous serpiginous thread-like skin lesions which began as a small papule on the epigastrium 4 months prior to her visit and was migrating to the left chest area. The laboratory examination showed eosinophilia and the total serum IgE level was slightly increased. Histopathologic examination revealed a pustular burrow in the epidermis with a larva-like cystic lesion apart from the burrow in the epidermis. The patient was treated with topical 10 % albendazole cream 3 times daily for 1 week without recurrence for 22 months up to now. We thought this was a rare case which was confirmed by a skin biopsy showing larva in the epidermis.
Adult ; Albendazole ; Biopsy ; Eosinophilia ; Epidermis ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; Larva ; Larva Migrans* ; Recurrence ; Skin ; Thorax

No abstract available.
Chest Pain* ; Thorax*

PURPOSE: Epilepsy is generally defined as a chronic condition characterized by recurrent unprovoked seizure. It is still controversial whether the long-term antiepileptic drugs(AED) treatment will be necessary in children with first unprovoked seizure. Cognitive and behavioral side effects of AEDs are especially important in developing children. Therefore the rationale of AED treatment in the children with first unprovoked seizure depends upon the seizure recurrence rate and presence of risk factors related with seizure recurrence. We are going to evaluate the risk of seizure recurrence and risk factors after a first unprovoked seizure in children. METHODS: One hundred fifty eight patients presented with a first unprovoked seizure from July, 1994 to June, 1999 were prospectively followed by regular epilepsy clinic visit or telephone interview for a mean of 27 months. We analyzed overall recurrence risk and risk factors of seizure recurrence(EEG finding, etiology of seizure, seizure type, history of prior febrile convulsions, neurodevelopmental status prior to first seizure, presence of a Todd's paresis, family history of seizures, a seizure occuring while asleep, and duration of seizure) by Cox's proportional hazards model and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. RESULTS: In 158 patients with first unprovoked seizure, 61 (39%) patients experienced subsequent seizure. The cumulative risk of seizure recurrence was 28.5, 37.6, and 42.3% at 6, 12, and 18 months. The median time to recurrence was 3 months, with 72% of recurrence occurring within 6 months, 92% within 1 year, and 100% within 2 years. On univariate analysis, risk factors for seizure recurrence included an etiology of seizure and abnormal EEG. In idiopathic cases, the risk factor was an EEG abnormality. CONCLUSION: Many of the children with a first unprovoked seizure will not have recurrences. The recurrence risk of a first unprovoked seizure in children have statistically correlated with the etiology of seizure(cryptogenic and symptomatic) and abnormal EEG. Children with an idiopathic first seizure and a normal EEG have a particularly favorable prognosis.
Ambulatory Care ; Child ; Electroencephalography ; Epilepsy ; Humans ; Interviews as Topic ; Paresis ; Prognosis ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Prospective Studies* ; Recurrence* ; Risk Factors ; Seizures* ; Seizures, Febrile

STUDY DESIGN: Changes of morphology and phenotype of cultured cells in media added lactate were observed. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effect of lactate on morphology and phenotype of cultured intervertebral disc cell. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: It was reported that lactate and pH were important factor in the degeneration of intervertebral disc. However the effect of lactate on morphology and phenotype of cultured intervertebral disc cell have not been studied. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cells were dissociated enzymatically from rabbit nucleus pulposus. After attaining monolayer growth, the cells were incubated in media added 2mM or 5mM lactate. Total cell counts and morphological changes of the cells were periodically observed. Changes in cell phenotype were investigated by use of anti-collagen antibody stain. RESULTS: The cell groups added no lactate and 2mM lactate showed no difference in cell counts, morphology and phenotype. The cell group added 5mM lactate showed a reduction in final cell Counts and highel'ratio of fibroblastic cell in total population. Anti-collagen I Ab stained the Intra-and extra-cellular area of fibroblastic cells and intracellular area of chondrocytic cells. CONCLUSIONS: The current study suggests that high concentration of lactate inhibit intervertebral disc cell proliferation and accelerate morphological and phenotypical change to fibroblastic cell.
Cell Count ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Fibroblasts ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Intervertebral Disc* ; Lactic Acid* ; Phenotype*

Clinical history and dermatological examinations were performed in 51 patients with contact dermatitis due to metal working fluid who were working at the metal industry. Patch tests were also performed with standard series and oil cooling fluid series. Chronic lichenified eczema such as lichenified and fissured was the most common clinical type(45.1%). 19 patients had positive reaction to either one or more of the standard series and oil & cooling fluid series. We found ammoniated mercury chloride was the most common sensitizer in standard series, followed by potassium dichromate, 4-phenylendiamine dihydrochloride, cobalt chloride, nickel sulfate, quinoline mix and cabra mix. Microbiocide was the most common allergen(4 of 6 positive result in oil & cooling fluid series.
Cobalt ; Dermatitis, Contact* ; Eczema ; Humans ; Nickel ; Patch Tests ; Potassium Dichromate

Neurofibromatosis(NF) is a disorder characterized by its relative commonness, variability, and heterogeneity. It is usually expressed as a generalized form, but is rarely localized in a limited part of the body as a segmental form. In 1981, Riccardi classified NF into 8 types and a segmental form (type V) was defined by limitation of cafe-au-lait spots and/or neurofibroma on a given unilateral segment of the body. Recently we came across two cases of typical segmental neurofibromatosis. The First case was a 53-year-old woman with localized neurofibromatosis on the right T8,9 dermatome. The Second case was a 34-year-old man with localized neurofibromatosis on the right T5,6 dermatome. There were no cafe-au-lait spots, axillary frecklings, Lisch nodules or a family history in both cases. We report these rare cases with a literature review.
Adult ; Cafe-au-Lait Spots ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Neurofibroma ; Neurofibromatoses* ; Population Characteristics

Pseudocyst of the auricle presents as a non-inflammatory, fluctuant swelling on the upper half or third section of the ear, due to intracartilaginous accumulation of fluid. Histological examination shows an intracartilaginous cavity without an epithelial lining. The etilogy and pathogenesis of this disorder remains unknown, but the lesion is likely to be due to localized de-generation of cartilage. The degenerated cartilage is replaced by a vascular fibrous tissue from which there is serious exudation, and a clinical cystic swelling is formed. We describe in this report three cases of pseudocyst of the auricle, of which one was treated successfully by surgical excision and a pressure dressing, and the others by aspiration and steroid injection therapy. In all cases, the skin lesions had not recurred, and the patients were left with an excellent cosmetic result.
Bandages ; Cartilage ; Ear ; Humans ; Skin

No abstract available.
Suction* ; Tonsillectomy*