Extensor pollicis longus tendon rupture is well known as a complication of fracture of the distal radius. There is a higher risk that the tendon of extensor pollicis longus will rupture in undisplaced distal radius fracture than in those which are displaced. We have experienced three cases of rupture of the extensor pollicis longus tendon after undisplaced distal radius fracture. Those were treated by tendon graft and tendon transfers. The results were satisfactory without complications. The patients with undisplaced distal radius fracture should be careful concerned about possibility of rupture of extensar pollicis tendon.
Humans ; Radius Fractures ; Radius* ; Rupture* ; Tendon Transfer ; Tendons ; Transplants

No abstract available.
Herpesvirus 3, Human* ; Korea*

A-59-year old man was admitted to the hospital with a 2-month history of the right pleuritic chest discomfort and mild dyspnea. Seven years earlier, he was operated on left pneumonectomy for squamous cell carcinoma of left upper lobe (Stage IIb, T2N1M0). The computed tomographic scan revealed an anterior herniation of the right lung in the left hemithorax. A single thorax after receiving pneumonectomy is called a "buffalo chest" because the absence of an anatomical separation of the two hemithoraxes resembles that of the North American buffalo or bison. A possible pneumothorax should be catastrophic for the patient, so he should be closely monitored regarding any invasive procedure or trauma. He improved after symptomatic treatment.
Bison ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Dyspnea ; Humans ; Lung ; Pneumonectomy ; Pneumothorax ; Thorax*

Primary hyperparathyroicism is a state of hypersecretion of PTH by the parathyroid. The etiology has not been established. The three possible etiologies of piimary hyperparathyroidism and incidences are adencena(83%), hyperplasia(15%), and carcinoma(1~2%). Parathyroid carcinoma usually presents in the fourth decades. The hallmark preoperative signs are hypercalcemia(serum calcium 15mg/dl). Palpable neck mass and bane and renal disease. Patients may present with multiple signs and syrnptoms, including recurrent nephrolithiasis, peptic ulcers, mental change, less frequently, extensive bone resorption. However, with greater awareness of the disease and wider use of screening tests, including blood calcium determinations, the diagnosis is frequently made in patients who have no symptoms and minimal, if any, signs of the disease ather than hypercalcemia and elevated levels of parathyroid Hormone. An 38-years-old woman was admitted to the hospital due to pain on the left knee joint. We experienced full-brown symptom pertaining to hyperpara- thyroidism. Thus we report a case herein and also discuss clinical anifestation, histologic features and treatment.
Bone Resorption ; Calcium ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Hypercalcemia ; Hyperparathyroidism ; Incidence ; Knee Joint ; Mass Screening ; Neck ; Nephrolithiasis ; Parathyroid Hormone ; Parathyroid Neoplasms ; Peptic Ulcer ; Thyroid Gland

OBJECTIVE: Acute subdural hematoma (ASDH) with good initial Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score 13-15 is generally regarded as a mild head injury. However, the risk increases when significant amount of hematoma with midline shift exists. This study is to evaluate the clinical outcomes of patients with good neurological scores in spite of significant amounts of ASDH, and to compare the outcomes according to the treatment modalities. METHODS: Sixty patients with initial GCS score 13-15 in spite of significant amounts of ASDH and midline shifts were enrolled. They were divided into groups according to age, sex, side of location, initial GCS score, midline shift, and hematoma thickness. According to the therapeutic modalities, early craniotomy and initially conserved groups were identified, and initially conserved group was further classified into persistently conserved and delayed operation groups. The outcomes were measured by Glasgow Outcome Scale. RESULTS: Initial GCS score was a significant factor that influenced the final outcome (p=0.001). The outcomes were good in both early craniotomy and initially conserved groups without significant differences (p=0.268). Fifteen of initially conserved 49 patients underwent delayed operations from neurological deteriorations, but the outcomes were good without significant differences from persistently conserved group (p=0.481). CONCLUSION: Initial GCS score is an important factor that influences the clinical outcome. These patients can be conserved under close observations without early preventive craniotomies if no deteriorations are seen in the acute stage. Only those with delayed deteriorations may require simple operations such as burr hole trephinations which still guarantee good outcomes.
Craniocerebral Trauma ; Craniotomy ; Glasgow Coma Scale ; Glasgow Outcome Scale ; Hematoma ; Hematoma, Subdural, Acute ; Humans

OBJECTIVE: Keyhole craniotomy is a modification of pterional craniotomy that allows for use of a minimally invasive approach toward cerebral aneurysms. Currently, mini-pterional (MPKC) and supraorbital keyhole craniotomies (SOKC) are commonly used. In this study, we measured and compared the geometric configurations of surgical exposure provided by MPKC and SOKC. METHODS: Nine patients underwent MPKC and four underwent SOKC. Their postoperative contrast-enhanced brain computed tomographic scans were evaluated. The transverse and longitudinal diameters and areas of exposure were measured. The locations of the anterior communicating artery, bifurcation of the middle cerebral artery (MCAB), and the internal carotid artery (ICA) terminal were identified, and the working angles and depths for these targets were measured. RESULTS: No significant differences in the transverse diameters of exposure were observed between MPKC and SOKC. However, the longitudinal diameters and the areas were significantly larger, by 1.5 times in MPKC. MPKC provided larger operable working angles for the targets. The angles by MPKC, particularly for the MCAB, reached up to 1.9-fold of those by SOKC. Greater working depths were required in order to reach the targets by SOKC, and the differences were the greatest in the MCAB by 1.6-fold. CONCLUSION: MPKC provides larger exposure than SOKC with a similar length of skin incision. MPKC allows for use of a direct transsylvian approach, and exposes the target in a wide working angle within a short distance. Despite some limitations in exposure, SOKC is suitable for a direct subfrontal approach, and provides a more anteromedial and basal view. MCAB and posteriorly directing ICA terminal aneurysms can be good candidates for MPKC.
Aneurysm ; Arteries ; Brain ; Carotid Artery, Internal ; Craniotomy ; Humans ; Intracranial Aneurysm ; Middle Cerebral Artery ; Skin

A basilar artery dissection (BAD) is an extremely rare disease. It can lead to hemorrhage or infarction involving the brain stem, and is often associated with grave outcome. However, little is known about the pathophysiology of BAD, and its proper managements are yet in controversy. Herein, we report on two rare cases of basilar artery dissection from strenuous physical effort; one from sexual intercourse and another from defecation. The treatment modalities and the outcomes are also discussed.
Basilar Artery* ; Brain Stem ; Coitus* ; Defecation* ; Hemorrhage ; Infarction* ; Physical Exertion* ; Rare Diseases

A basilar artery dissection (BAD) is an extremely rare disease. It can lead to hemorrhage or infarction involving the brain stem, and is often associated with grave outcome. However, little is known about the pathophysiology of BAD, and its proper managements are yet in controversy. Herein, we report on two rare cases of basilar artery dissection from strenuous physical effort; one from sexual intercourse and another from defecation. The treatment modalities and the outcomes are also discussed.
Basilar Artery* ; Brain Stem ; Coitus* ; Defecation* ; Hemorrhage ; Infarction* ; Physical Exertion* ; Rare Diseases

Infraoptic anterior cerebral artery (ACA) is an extremely rare congenital anomaly. This anomalous artery usually arises from the intradural internal carotid artery (ICA) near the level of the ophthalmic artery (OA) or rarely from the extradural ICA. This anomaly frequently harbors a cerebral aneurysm, and may involve other coexisting vascular anomalies. In the case of this anomaly, surgical treatment of the aneurysm at the proximal ACA or anterior communicating artery (ACoA) may sometimes be difficult, because the veiled proximal ACA by the optic nerve would make proximal control inconvenient and the vertical midline segment of the proximal ACA would frequently form a superiorly directing aneurysm with a relatively high position. We report on an extremely rare case of a ruptured aneurysm at the infraoptic azygous ACA, possibly having an extradural origin, accompanied by contralateral ICA agenesis, and also introduce a feasible method for treatment by Y-stent assisted coil embolization.
Aneurysm ; Aneurysm, Ruptured ; Anterior Cerebral Artery ; Arteries ; Carotid Artery, Internal ; Intracranial Aneurysm ; Ophthalmic Artery ; Optic Nerve

OBJECTIVE: Electrodiagnostic test has shown diagnostic sensitivity and specificity in carpal tunnel syndrome(CTS). This study was to evaluate the correlation between clinical outcome of endoscopic carpal tunnel ligament release(ECTR) and the predictive value of sensory nerve conduction. METHODS: From January 1998 to December 2004, 87 patients (44 right hand, 37 left hand, 6 bilateral hands) with CTS who underwent ECTR were followed up in our hospital for an average of 2.4 months. We retrospectively analyzed the results with previous medical records. All patients underwent electrodiagnostic test and ECTR. The patients were divided into three groups according to the electrodiagnostic test results. Group (A) was normal sensory nerve response, Group (B) was slowing sensory response and Group (C) was no sensory response. Improvement of the symptom after ECTR was assessed using a visual analogue scale(VAS) score. RESULTS: Differences between the three groups on the correlation of severity of sensory potential and duration of preoperative symptoms were significant. The mean value of improved VAS scores for the three groups were 6.0+/-0.96 in the Group A, 6.11+/-0.48 in the Group B and 6.14+/-0.53 in the Group C. There was no statistically significant difference between the severity of sensory nerve response and improvement in VAS score after ECTR. Complications included a wound infection, a case of skin necrosis, and two patients with persistent symptoms without any improvement. CONCLUSION: Although electrodiagnostic test has been known to be useful, sensory nerve response is considered not to be a good prognostic value for carpal tunnel syndrome after ECTR.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome* ; Hand ; Humans ; Ligaments ; Medical Records ; Necrosis ; Neural Conduction* ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Skin ; Wound Infection