BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of ketorolac, paracetamol, and paracetamol plus morphine on pain relief after thyroidectomy. METHODS: Eighty patients were randomly allocated to one of the 4 groups: normal saline (group C), ketorolac 30 mg (group K), paracetamol 1 g (group P), and paracetamol 700 mg plus morphine 3 mg (group PM). Each regimen was administered intravenously (IV) 30 min. before the end of surgery. If pain was not relieved, patients received an IV bolus of pethidine hydrochloride 25 mg. Pain intensity using a visual analogue scale (VAS) was recorded at 0.5, 1, 2, 4, and 6 hr after the end of surgery. RESULTS: VAS at 0.5 and 1 hr after the end of surgery were significantly lower in group K, group P, and group PM than in group C (P < 0.05). The number of patients receiving pethidine hydrochloride at 0.5 and 1 hr after the end of surgery was significantly lower in group K, group P, and group PM than in group C (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference among the groups in the incidences of adverse events associated with study medications and patient satisfaction (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Paracetamol 1 g IV possesses a similar analgesic efficacy to ketorolac 30 mg IV after thyroidectomy. Paracetamol may represent an alternative to ketorolac for pain prevention after mildly to moderately painful surgery in situations where the use of NSAIDs is unsuitable.
Acetaminophen ; Analgesics ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal ; Humans ; Incidence ; Ketorolac ; Meperidine ; Morphine ; Patient Satisfaction ; Thyroidectomy

No abstract available.
Foot* ; Hand*

No abstract available.
Nerve Regeneration*

PURPOSE: To evaluate the usefulness of Gd-DTPA enhanced MR imaging in determining the metastatic lymph nodes in uterine cervical carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty nine patients with histologically proven cervical carcinoma underwent Gd-DTPA enhanced MR imaging. One hundred and thirty-eight pelvic regions(69 right,69 left) in 69 patients were analyzed for lymph node metastases. Pelvic lymph nodes were considered to be abnormal if they were greater than lcm in diameter and were enhanced on postcontrast T1 weighted images. RESULTS: Metastatic lymph nodes were found in 22 pelvic regions by surgicopathologic examinations. On MR imaging there were 14 true positives, 106 true negatives, 10 false positives and 8 false negatives. Gd-DTPA enhanced MR image had an accuracy of 86.9%, a sensitivity of 58.3%, a specificity of 91.4%, a positive predictive value of 58.3% and negative predictive value of 92.9% in evaluation of pelvic lymph node metastases. CONCLUSION: MR imaging with contrast enhancement may be useful in the evaluation of pelvic lymph node metastases in patients with uterine cervical carcinoma.
Gadolinium DTPA ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Pelvis ; Sensitivity and Specificity

In carpal injury, a good functional end result seems to correlate with final anatomic alignment of carpus after treatment. Some cases are often misdiagnosed and result in inadequate treatment. Forty six cases of carpal injuries were analysed which were treated for 9 years from 1975 to 1984 at the Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Seoul National University Hospital. The observations can be summarized as follows. 1. The male to female ratio was 3.5: 1 and 82% of total cases were in the third and fourth decades. 2. The most frequent cause of injury was fall from height with outstretched hand. 3. Trans-scaphoid perilunar dislocation and its variant were the most common diagnosis in this analysis. 4. All of the scapho-lunate dissociation showed volar flexion intercalated segmental instability with scapho-lunate gap more than 2 mm in our series. 5. In 11 cases of trans-scaphoid perilunar dislocation and its variant, carpal collapse was found in 10 cases. In 5 cases dorsiflexion intercalated segmental instability pattern and in one case volar flexion intercalated segmental instability pattern were found to be present. 6, There was an increase in scapho-lunate angle in all cases of dorsiflexion intercalated segmental instability, but a decrease in scapho-lunate angle is not a consistent finding in volar flexion intercalated segmental instability. 7. In 24 cases more than 6 months follow-up, excellent and good results were obtained in 20 cases. 8. As a result of above findings, authors conclude that scapho-lunate gap more than 2mm has diagnostic value in scapho-lunate dissociation but that dorsiflexion intercalated segmental instability or volar flexion intercalated segmental instability only means the changes in the relationship between carpal bones and does not have definite or specific diagnostic value for a specific carpal injury.
Carpal Bones ; Diagnosis ; Dislocations ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hand ; Humans ; Male ; Orthopedics ; Seoul ; Wrist

BACKGROUND: The Cobra Perilaryngeal Airway (CobraPLA) and the Laryngeal Mask Airway (LMA) Classic are supraglottic airway devices. We compared the performance of the CobraPLA and the LMA Classic devices during volume-controlled ventilation in children. METHODS: Eighty children, ASA physical status I-II, aged 1-10 years were randomly assigned with either the CobraPLA or the LMA Classic for airway management. Anesthesia was induced with 1 mg/kg ketamine and 2.0 mg/kg propofol, and muscle relaxation was obtained with the use of 0.5 mg/kg rocuronium. All patients were mechanically ventilated with a tidal volume of 10 m/kg in 1-3% sevoflurane, oxygen and air. The number of insertions, oropharyngeal leak pressure, and fiberoptic airway position were measured. Measurements of blood pressure, heart rate, oxygen saturation, end-tidal carbon dioxide, and peak inspiratory pressure were recorded every 5 minutes. Postoperative adverse events were assessed. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between the use of the two devices with respect to the number of insertions, time of insertion, and fiberoptic score. The oropharyngeal leak pressure was significantly higher for the CobraPLA than the LMA Classic (25.4 +/- 4.9 cmH2O versus 20.3 +/- 5.4 cmH2O; P < 0.001). Hemodynamic and respiratory variables were similar with the use of both devices. The incidence of adverse events was not different with the use of both devices. CONCLUSIONS: Both airway devices provided an adequate airway and effective ventilation during volume-controlled ventilation in children. The CobraPLA had a higher sealing pressure than the LMA Classic.
Aged ; Airway Management ; Androstanols ; Anesthesia ; Blood Pressure ; Carbon Dioxide ; Child ; Elapidae ; Heart Rate ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Incidence ; Ketamine ; Laryngeal Masks ; Methyl Ethers ; Muscle Relaxation ; Oxygen ; Propofol ; Tidal Volume ; Ventilation

PURPOSE: Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide with approximately 75,000 cancer deaths in Korea alone in 2013. Cancer screening is an important method of prevention; however, only 63.4% of Koreans sought cancer screening in 2012 even though it was widely offered at no cost. We focused on part time workers because they often experience job instability and relative discrimination. Therefore, we investigated the correlation between job status and cancer screening. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data from the 2013 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) were used for selection of individuals who participated in the national cancer screening program. A total of 1,326 wage earners were selected for our study. The association between cancer screening and part time job status was examined using logistic regression models. RESULTS: Of the 1,326 individuals selected for the study, 869 (64.5%) had participated in the cancer screening program; among these, 421 (48.4%) were part time workers and 448 (51.6%) were full time workers. Lower prevalence of cancer screening was observed for part time workers compared to full time workers (odds ratio, 0.72; confidence interval, 0.53 to 1.00; p=0.0495). Factors including age, marital status, private insurance, chronic disease, smoking, and residential area emerged as showed significant association with participation in screening programs. CONCLUSION: We found that part time workers had difficulty participating in prevention programs. Change in the workplace environment as well as development of positive social programs targeted to part time workers is necessary in order to encourage participation of part time workers in prevention programs.
Cause of Death ; Chronic Disease ; Discrimination (Psychology) ; Early Detection of Cancer* ; Employment ; Health Promotion ; Insurance ; Korea ; Logistic Models ; Marital Status ; Mass Screening ; Nutrition Surveys ; Occupational Health ; Prevalence ; Salaries and Fringe Benefits ; Smoke ; Smoking

PURPOSE: Authors investigated the associated findings and their value in the diagnosis of anterior cruciate ligament(ACL) injury in MR image. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The knee MR images of 47 patients with ACL injury(complete; 24, partial; 23) and 61 patients with normal ACL confirmed by the knee arthroscopy or operation were reviewed retrospectively. The degree of anterior translocation of tibia and the degree of posterior cruciate ligament(PCL) buckling were evaluated. The prevalence and pattern of associated adjacent bone, ligament and meniscus injuries were studied. RESULTS: The means( +/- 2standard errors) of anterior translocation were different significantly in statistical analysis(p<0.001, student t-test) between injury group(7.51 +/- 1.16mm) and normal group(-0.56 +/- 0.92mm). In the level of 5mm of anterior translocation for the criteria of ACL injury, the sensitivity, specificity, accuracy were 78.7%, 89.5%, 84.3% for each. The means of PCL buckling ratio were also different statistically b. etween injury group(0.23 +/- 0.02) and normal group(0.17 +/- 0.01)(p<0.001). In the level of 0.20 for diagnostic criteria of ACL injury, the sensitivity, specificity, accuracy were 71.4%, 83.6%, 78.4% for each. Thirty one medial meniscus tear(66%), thirteen lateral meniscus tear(28%), ten medial collateral ligament injury(28%), one PCL injury (2%) were associated with ACL injury. The twenty nine bone marrow changes were found in twenty patients {43%) which included acutely injured seven patients. In acute cases, the bone marrow changes were depicted as diffuse or focal high signal intensity lesions in lateral femoral or tibial condyles in contrast to the changes in chronic cases depicted as focal low signal intensity lesions in variable location. Lateral femoral condylar notch depression were found in nine patients(19%) and avulsion fractures of anterior tibial spine in four patients(9%). CONCLUSION: The associated findings with ACL injury (anterior translocation, buckling of PCL, associated bone, ligament and meniscus injuries) are considered to be helpful in the diagnosis of ACL injury on Knee MR images, when the findings of anterior cruciate ligament itself are not confirmative.
Anterior Cruciate Ligament* ; Arthroscopy ; Bone Marrow ; Collateral Ligaments ; Depression ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Knee ; Ligaments ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Menisci, Tibial ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Spine ; Tibia

PURPOSE: Authors investigated the associated findings and their value in the diagnosis of anterior cruciate ligament(ACL) injury in MR image. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The knee MR images of 47 patients with ACL injury(complete; 24, partial; 23) and 61 patients with normal ACL confirmed by the knee arthroscopy or operation were reviewed retrospectively. The degree of anterior translocation of tibia and the degree of posterior cruciate ligament(PCL) buckling were evaluated. The prevalence and pattern of associated adjacent bone, ligament and meniscus injuries were studied. RESULTS: The means( +/- 2standard errors) of anterior translocation were different significantly in statistical analysis(p<0.001, student t-test) between injury group(7.51 +/- 1.16mm) and normal group(-0.56 +/- 0.92mm). In the level of 5mm of anterior translocation for the criteria of ACL injury, the sensitivity, specificity, accuracy were 78.7%, 89.5%, 84.3% for each. The means of PCL buckling ratio were also different statistically b. etween injury group(0.23 +/- 0.02) and normal group(0.17 +/- 0.01)(p<0.001). In the level of 0.20 for diagnostic criteria of ACL injury, the sensitivity, specificity, accuracy were 71.4%, 83.6%, 78.4% for each. Thirty one medial meniscus tear(66%), thirteen lateral meniscus tear(28%), ten medial collateral ligament injury(28%), one PCL injury (2%) were associated with ACL injury. The twenty nine bone marrow changes were found in twenty patients {43%) which included acutely injured seven patients. In acute cases, the bone marrow changes were depicted as diffuse or focal high signal intensity lesions in lateral femoral or tibial condyles in contrast to the changes in chronic cases depicted as focal low signal intensity lesions in variable location. Lateral femoral condylar notch depression were found in nine patients(19%) and avulsion fractures of anterior tibial spine in four patients(9%). CONCLUSION: The associated findings with ACL injury (anterior translocation, buckling of PCL, associated bone, ligament and meniscus injuries) are considered to be helpful in the diagnosis of ACL injury on Knee MR images, when the findings of anterior cruciate ligament itself are not confirmative.
Anterior Cruciate Ligament* ; Arthroscopy ; Bone Marrow ; Collateral Ligaments ; Depression ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Knee ; Ligaments ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Menisci, Tibial ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Spine ; Tibia

BACKGROUND: The aim of our study was to review the findings of health insurance fraud investigations and to evaluate their impacts on medical costs for target and non-target organizations. An interrupted time series study design using generalized estimation equations was used to evaluate changes in cost following fraud investigations. METHODS: We used National Health Insurance claims data from 2009 to 2015, which included 20,625 medical institutions (1,614 target organizations and 19,011 non-target organizations). Outcome variable included cost change after fraud investigation. RESULTS: Following the initiation of fraud investigations, we found statistically significant reductions in cost level for target organizations (−1.40%, p < 0.001). In addition, a reduction in cost trend change per month was found for both target organizations and non-target organizations after fraud investigation (target organizations, −0.33%; non-target organizations of same region, −0.19%; non-target organizations of other regions, −0.17%). CONCLUSION: This study suggested that fraud investigations are associated with cost reduction in target organization. We also found similar effects of fraud investigations on health expenditure for non-target organizations located in the same region and in different regions. Our finding suggests that fraud investigations are important in controlling the growth of health expenditure. To maximize the effects of fraud investigation on the growth of health expenditure, more organizations needed to be considered as target organizations.
Cost Savings ; Delivery of Health Care ; Fraud ; Health Expenditures ; Health Policy ; Insurance, Health ; Interrupted Time Series Analysis ; Korea ; National Health Programs