No abstract available.

Purpose: This study investigated the differences between patients with acute carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning who visited the emergency department (ED) before and during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Methods: This was a single-center retrospective observational study. Patients with CO poisoning who visited the ED during the period from February 2020 to January 2023 were classified as the COVID-19 pandemic group, and those from February 2019 to January 2020 were classified as the non-pandemic group. Patients’ medical records were reviewed, their demographic and clinical characteristics were compared, and the length of stay in ED was checked. The time from admission to the ED to the start of hyperbaric oxygenation (HBO) was defined as the door-to-HBO time, and this parameter was compared between both groups. Results: In total, 672 patients were included in this study. The proportion of intentional poisoning was significantly higher in the COVID-19 pandemic group than in the non-pandemic group (p=0.028). The proportion of intentional poisoning significantly increased in the 20- to 29-year-old age group during the COVID-19 pandemic (p<0.001). In addition, it took longer to initiate HBO in the COVID-19 pandemic group than in the non-pandemic group (p=0.001). Conclusion These findings suggest that pandemics of infectious diseases, such as COVID-19, increase the proportion of intentional CO poisoning, and it may take longer to initiate HBO after visiting the ED. Efforts will be needed to decrease intentional CO poisoning and length of stay in ED.

Synovial cysts of the lumbar spine are an uncommon cause of back and radicular pain. These cysts most frequently present as back pain, followed by chronic progressive radiculopathy or gradual onset of symptoms secondary to spinal canal compromise. Although less common, they can also present with acute spinal cord or root compression symptoms. We report of a case in which hemorrhaging into a right L2-3 facet synovial cyst caused an acute onset of back pain and radiculopathy, requiring surgical excision.
Back Pain ; Hemorrhage ; Radiculopathy ; Spinal Canal ; Spinal Cord ; Spine ; Synovial Cyst

PURPOSE: This study was carried out to evaluate the postural intraocular pressure (IOP) change in Trendelenburg, reverse Trendelenburg, and supine positions in healthy young males. METHODS: We measured the IOP values of 5 healthy young male volunteers (10 eyes) using an Icare PRO rebound tonometer in sitting, Trendelenburg, reverse Trendelenburg, and supine positions. RESULTS: The mean IOP in the supine position (18.63 mm Hg) was significantly higher (p < 0.01) than in the sitting position (15.31 mm Hg). When maintaining the Trendelenburg position, IOP gradually increased. CONCLUSIONS: In our study, the Trendelenburg position significantly increased the IOP compared to that in the supine position. The effects of increased IOP should be considered in situations that require Trendelenburg positioning, such as exercise or surgery.
Head-Down Tilt ; Humans ; Intraocular Pressure* ; Iron-Dextran Complex ; Male ; Supine Position ; Volunteers

Retrospective analysis of reoperation and complication was made for 186 patients with lumbar herniated disc. The results showed complication rate of 7%(13 cases) and reoperation rate of 10.2%(19 cases). The primary complications were infections(9 cases), technical errors(2 cases), and scores(2 cases). Rate of discitis was 1.6%(3 cases). The outcomes of reoperation resulted in excellent recovery of 16%(3 cases) and good recovery of 58%(11 cases). The most common intraoperative findings of reoperation were inadequate disectomy or missed disc fragments 31.6% or 6 cases;epidural fibrosis 26.3% or 5 cases;and new herniation at other level 15.8% or 3 cases. Excellent and good results could be achieved in patients operated within 1 month or more than 6 months after while the patients who underwent reoperation between 1 month and 6 months showed poor results. The delicate perioperative menagement and complete discectomy, adequate bleeding control and laminectomy were considered to be essential in reducing the chance of complication and reoperation.
Discitis ; Diskectomy ; Fibrosis ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; Laminectomy ; Reoperation* ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: This study evaluated mid-term clinical and radiological results of autologous bone marrow transplantation (BMT) for early stage osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) and analyzed prognostic factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From November 2003 to April 2008, 101 hips of 93 patients with early stage ONFH who underwent autologous BMT were followed for at least five years. For clinical results, preoperative and postoperative Harris hip scores (HHS) were evaluated and survival rate was obtained at the point of performing total hip arthroplasty or femoral head collapse progression. Radiologic results were assessed by changes in necrosis size on magnetic resonance imaging performed preoperative and postoperatively. For evaluation of prognostic factors, survival rate was analyzed according to age, gender, etiology, stage, necrosis size, and location. RESULTS: Averaged HHS at latest follow up showed no significant change in comparison with preoperative HHS. Of 101 hips, 35 hips required arthroplasty and six hips were running head collapse. Groups with use of steroid, lateral location of necrosis, large size of necrosis, or large necrotic angles showed lower survival rate. However, age, gender, and stage had no effect. CONCLUSION: In early days, autologous BMT for early ONFH can be considered as a treatment for improvement of clinical features and delay of radiologic progress. However, after some years, there was no effect compared with the natural course of ONFH.
Arthroplasty ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip ; Bone Marrow Transplantation* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Head* ; Hip ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Necrosis ; Osteonecrosis* ; Risk Factors ; Running ; Survival Rate

Objective: To investigate the clinical factors associated with successful gastrostomy tube weaning in patients with prolonged dysphagia after stroke. Methods: This study involved a retrospective medical chart review of patients diagnosed with prolonged dysphagia after stroke who underwent gastrostomy tube insertion between May 2013 and January 2020. Forty-seven patients were enrolled and consequently divided into gastrostomy tube sustaining and weaning groups. The numbers of patients in the sustaining and weaning groups were 31 and 16, respectively. The patients’ demographic data, Korean version of Mini-Mental State Examination (K-MMSE) score, Korean version of the Modified Barthel Index (K-MBI), Functional Dysphagia Scale (FDS) score, and Penetration-Aspiration Scale (PAS) score were compared between the two groups. A videofluoroscopic swallowing study was performed before making the decision of gastrostomy tube weaning. The clinical factors associated with gastrostomy tube weaning were then investigated. Results: There were significant differences in age; history of aspiration pneumonia; K-MMSE, FDS, and PAS scores; and K-MBI between the groups. In the multiple logistic regression analysis, the FDS (odds ratio [OR]=0.791; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.634–0.987) and PAS scores (OR=0.205; 95% CI, 0.059–0.718) were associated with successful gastrostomy tube weaning. In the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, the FDS and PAS were useful screening tools for successful weaning, with areas under the curve of 0.911 and 0.918, respectively. Conclusion In patients with prolonged dysphagia, the FDS and PAS scores are the only factors associated with successful gastrostomy tube weaning. An evaluation of the swallowing function is necessary before deciding to initiate gastrostomy tube weaning.

We present a rare case of fracture-dislocation at the level of the first sacral (S1) and second sacral (S2) vertebrae. The S1 was displaced forward into the pelvic cavity and was located just in front of the S2. Because the patient also had extensive neurological injury to the lumbar plexus and instability of the pelvic ring, surgery to stabilize the pelvis and to decompress the lumbar plexus was performed. The surgery was successful and the patient experienced marked improvement in neurological function.
Dislocations ; Humans ; Lumbosacral Plexus ; Pelvis ; Sacrum ; Spine

The authors report an extremely rare case with intraventricular and subarachnoid fat developed after trauma to spine and soft tissue in a 54-year-old male. The initial computed tomography (CT) showed multiple low attenuation lesions, which were thought to be pneumocephalus. Cerebral magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed lesions with high signal intensity on T1-weighted magnetic resonance images and high signal intensity on T2-weighted images, indicating fat globules within the CSF. In this report, the clinical presentation, radiological findings, and a review of the literature are presented.
Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pneumocephalus ; Spinal Injuries ; Spine

Vertebroplasty (VP) is a well-known therapeutic modality used to treat pain associated with vertebral compression fractures. Major complications such as cord or root compression, epidural and subdural hematomas (SDH) and pulmonary emboli, occur in less than 1% of patients who undergo VP after compression fracture. Spinal SDH is an extremely rare complication that usually happens a few hours after the procedure. We report a case of spinal SDH that developed at two weeks after a successful VP. We also reviewed related literatures and discussed its possible pathogenesis.
Fractures, Compression ; Hematoma, Subdural ; Hematoma, Subdural, Spinal ; Humans ; Spine ; Vertebroplasty