PURPOSE: To evaluate the early clinical results of lumbar microdiscectomy using minimally invasive tubular retractor (METRx-MD system, Medtronic Sofamor Danek, Memphis, TN), and to validate the merits of minimally invasive spinal surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From April, 2003 to April 2004 we retrospectively studied a consecutive series of 45 patients who underwent lumbar microdiscectomy using minimally invasive tubular retractor. In all cases, minimally invasive approach using the tubular retractor were performed with a 2 cm sized paramedian incision. The following data were collected: clinical outcomes, operative time, intraoperative blood loss, need for blood replacement, time needed before ambulation, length of hospital stay, and complications. The clinical outcomes were assessed by the modified MacNab criteria. RESULTS: Minimally invasive tubular microdiscectomy was performed in 45 patients over a 12-month period with an average follow-up of approximately 8 months. The clinical outcomes assessed by MacNab criteria were excellent in 33 patients (73%), good in 10 patients (22%). The average operative time was 63 minutes (range, 35 to 95 minutes). The average blood loss was 62 mL (range, 50 to 110 mL). None of the patients needed blood replacement. With the exception of 2 patients, all patients could walk at the day of surgery. The average hospital stay was 2.3 days. None of the patients had dural tear, wound problem, or other complications. CONCLUSION: Lumbar microdiscectomy using tubular retractor can offer a useful modality for the treatment of lumbar herniated disc with the merits of minimally invasive spinal surgery. Further long-term, randomized, prospective investigations are needed to fully evaluate the impact of this technique.
Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; Length of Stay ; Operative Time ; Wounds and Injuries

OBJECTIVES: Although compensation for occupational injuries and diseases is guaranteed in almost all nations, countries vary greatly with respect to how they organize workers' compensation systems. In this paper, we focus on three aspects of workers' compensation insurance in Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries - types of systems, employers' funding mechanisms, and coverage for injured workers - and their impacts on the actual frequencies of occupational injuries and diseases. METHODS: We estimated a panel data fixed effect model with cross-country OECD and International Labor Organization data. We controlled for country fixed effects, relevant aggregate variables, and dummy variables representing the occupational accidents data source. RESULTS: First, the use of a private insurance system is found to lower the occupational accidents. Second, the use of risk-based pricing for the payment of employer raises the occupational injuries and diseases. Finally, the wider the coverage of injured workers is, the less frequent the workplace accidents are. CONCLUSION: Private insurance system, fixed flat rate employers' funding mechanism, and higher coverage of compensation scheme are significantly and positively correlated with lower level of occupational accidents compared with the public insurance system, risk-based funding system, and lower coverage of compensation scheme.
Accidents, Occupational ; Compensation and Redress ; Financial Management ; Insurance ; Occupational Injuries ; Workers' Compensation

PURPOSE: Optic disc harmatoma is usually seen in tuberous sclerosis patients, but, it may be seen in otherwise normal people. Visual acuity is usually not affected by this lesion. METHODS: We experienced a 40-year-old woman with optic disc hamartoma who presented with acute visual defect. With oral triamcinolone 48mg/day, her visions recovered to normal in 2 weeks. RESULTS: Her age, symptom, and course of disease supported the diagnosis of optic neuritis. CONCLUSION: We report this patient as a case of optic disc hamartoma combined with optic neuritis.
Adult ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Hamartoma* ; Humans ; Optic Neuritis* ; Triamcinolone ; Tuberous Sclerosis ; Visual Acuity

Tangential vitreoretinal traction around fovea is known to be the principal cause in the pathogenesis of idiopathic macular holes. According to the recent study, the internal limiting membrane(ILM) may provide a scaffold for fibroblast proliferation and contraction, therefore play an important role in the enlargement of macular hole. We removed the ILM during macular hole surgery and assessed the anatomical and functional outcome of the macular hole surgery. Twelve consecutive patients with full-thickness macular hole were enrolled in this study. They were examed for best-corrected vision, fundus photography, fluorescein angiography, Humphrey automated perimetry, focal eletroretinogram, before and after surgery. After surgery, vision was improved in 8 eyes(67%), hole was closed in 10 eyes(83%). Macular thresholds on visual field was increased in 8 eyes and peripheral scotomas developed in 3 eyes postoperatively. The amplitude increased in 7 eyes and the implicit time decreased in 8 eyes on focal electroretinograms postoperatively. Out results suggested that the complete removal of ILM should be attempted to improve vision and to close holes during the full-thickness macular hole surgery.
Fibroblasts ; Fluorescein Angiography ; Humans ; Membranes* ; Photography ; Retinal Perforations* ; Scotoma ; Traction ; Visual Field Tests ; Visual Fields

No abstract available.
Bursitis*

Objective: High-quality cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) needs to be provided to cardiac arrest victims. The chest compression at a 5-6 cm depth and 100-120 beats per minute are recommended according to the 2015 CPR guidelines. The physical forces to the patient’s chest wall cause inevitable complications. This study analyzed the CPR-related complications based on computed tomography (CT). Methods: This was a retrospective, single-center study. The study period was from 2009 to 2019. The cardiac arrest victims received the CPR in or out-of-hospital. After the return of spontaneous circulation, CTs were performed on some survivors. The complications detected on CTs were reviewed, and the types and frequencies of complications, age, sex, arrest location, CPR duration, the survival discharge were investigated. Results: Among 1,357 cardiac arrest patients during the study period, 368 patients were enrolled. The average age was 64.2, and 66.3% were male. The average CPR duration was 24.6 minutes. The most frequent complication was rib fracture (73.6%). Lung contusion (41.3%), hemothorax (22.0%), sternal fracture (19.3%), and retrosternal hemorrhage (13.6%) were also detected. Those with rib fractures, sternal fractures, and retrosternal hemorrhage were older (P<0.001). Those with rib fractures, lung contusion, hemothorax received longer CPR (P=0.032, P=0.003, and P=0.041). Low survival discharge rates were observed in patients with rib fractures, sternal fractures, and pneumothorax (P=0.002, P=0.014, and P=0.016). Conclusion The rib fracture, sternal fracture, and retrosternal hemorrhage were frequent in older patients. Those with rib fractures, lung contusion, or hemothorax received the longer CPR. The survival discharge rates were low in the rib fracture, sternal fracture, pneumothorax patients.

Objective: High-quality cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) needs to be provided to cardiac arrest victims. The chest compression at a 5-6 cm depth and 100-120 beats per minute are recommended according to the 2015 CPR guidelines. The physical forces to the patient’s chest wall cause inevitable complications. This study analyzed the CPR-related complications based on computed tomography (CT). Methods: This was a retrospective, single-center study. The study period was from 2009 to 2019. The cardiac arrest victims received the CPR in or out-of-hospital. After the return of spontaneous circulation, CTs were performed on some survivors. The complications detected on CTs were reviewed, and the types and frequencies of complications, age, sex, arrest location, CPR duration, the survival discharge were investigated. Results: Among 1,357 cardiac arrest patients during the study period, 368 patients were enrolled. The average age was 64.2, and 66.3% were male. The average CPR duration was 24.6 minutes. The most frequent complication was rib fracture (73.6%). Lung contusion (41.3%), hemothorax (22.0%), sternal fracture (19.3%), and retrosternal hemorrhage (13.6%) were also detected. Those with rib fractures, sternal fractures, and retrosternal hemorrhage were older (P<0.001). Those with rib fractures, lung contusion, hemothorax received longer CPR (P=0.032, P=0.003, and P=0.041). Low survival discharge rates were observed in patients with rib fractures, sternal fractures, and pneumothorax (P=0.002, P=0.014, and P=0.016). Conclusion The rib fracture, sternal fracture, and retrosternal hemorrhage were frequent in older patients. Those with rib fractures, lung contusion, or hemothorax received the longer CPR. The survival discharge rates were low in the rib fracture, sternal fracture, pneumothorax patients.

In 1984, Gustilo subgrouped type III open fracture into III a, III b and III c according to the severity, soft tissue damage and vascular injury. Type III c open fracture presents serious problems especially possible amputation due to vascular insufficiency, so emergency vascular surgery with bone fixation by using plate, IM nail fixator is mandatory. We reviewed 10 cases of type III c open fracture of the forearm and evaluated the bone healing process according to fixation method, intramedullary nailing and plating treated at Orthopaedic Department of Sung-Ae General Hospital from Feb. 1986 to Aug. 1988. The folliwing results were obtained: l. All cases were industrial accidents, 9 cases in right, and the mean age was 24.1 ranging from 17 to 34. 2. There were 4 cases of the radial & ulnar artery rupture and 6 cases of the radial artery rupture, 7 cases were treated end to end anastomosis and 3 cases with vein graft. 3. The fracture level of ulna & radius was same in all cases, 7 cases in distal one-third, 2 cases in middle one-third and 1 case in proximal one-third. 4. The average time of union was 14.1 weeks in the radius and 14.5 weeks in the ulna. 5. The fixation methods were plating in 7 cases and IM nailing in 3 cases. 6. The complications were non-union in 1 case, osteomyelitis in 2 cases and refracture in 1 case. 7. The functional result was excellent in 1 case, satisfactory in 3 cases, unsatisfactory in 5 cases, and failure in 1 case according to the rating system of Anderson.
Accidents, Occupational ; Amputation ; Emergencies ; Forearm ; Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary ; Fractures, Open ; Hospitals, General ; Methods ; Osteomyelitis ; Radial Artery ; Radius ; Rupture ; Transplants ; Ulna ; Ulnar Artery ; Vascular System Injuries ; Veins

Fractures of the tibia are frequently encountered in mordern civilized society. Especially, those in distal 1/3 of the tibia have so many problems, such as angular deformity, osteomyelitis and nonunion because of anatomically scanty soft tissue. Many modalities of the treatment of fracture of distal 1/3 of the tibia were introduced. Among them, interlocking IM nailings were considered as one of the best modality. But, in interlocking IM nail, reaming of the medullary canal which destroys the endosteal circulation and causes thermal necrosis of the inner aspect of the cortical bone results in delayed union. And also, procedure for distal screw fixation is difficult and time-consuming. As for using flexible IM nails for fractures of distal 1/3 of the tibia, it was considered as not so satisfactory method due to lack of stability of fixation. However, the stability of fixation can be strengthened with fanning of the nails in distal fragment, using more than 3 nails and delay the protected weight bearing. Authors studied 25 cases of fractures of distal 1/3 of the tibia treated with closed flexible IM nailing at Sung Ae General Hospital, from July., 1987 to July., 1989, and obtained following results: 1. Among 25 cases, 4th decades were most common and males were more commonly involved. 2. Traffic accidents were the most common causes of injury and majority of 16 open fractures and 19 comminuted fractures, were caused by high energy mechanism. Among open fractures, type II were most common. 3. Two angular deformities less than 10 degrees, one proximal migration and one checkrein deformity were observed as complications, but, no clinically significant complications were noted. 4. The time for radiological union were 14.5 weeks in group without fibular fracture and 15.1 weeks in group with fibular fracture, and 14.0 weeks in closed fracture group and 17.2 weeks in open fracture group, and average in 15.6 weeks.
Accidents, Traffic ; Clinical Study ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Fractures, Closed ; Fractures, Comminuted ; Fractures, Open ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Male ; Methods ; Necrosis ; Osteomyelitis ; Tibia ; Weight-Bearing

Although pulmonary artery aneurysms are a rare vascular anomaly, they are seen in a wide variety of conditions, such as congenital heart disease, infection, trauma, pulmonary hypertension, cystic medial necrosis and generalized vasculitis. To our knowledge, mycotic aneurysms caused by pulmonary actinomycosis have not been reported in the radiologic literature. Herein, a case of pulmonary actinomycosis complicated by mycotic aneurysm is presented. On CT scans, this case showed focal aneurysmal dilatation of a peripheral pulmonary artery within necrotizing pneumonia of the right lower lobe, which was successfully treated with transcatheter embolization using wire coils.
Actinomycosis/*complications ; Aged ; Aneurysm, Infected/*etiology/*radiography/therapy ; Embolization, Therapeutic ; Human ; Male ; Pneumonia, Bacterial/*complications ; *Pulmonary Artery ; Treatment Outcome