Several observation suggest that the antimelanocyte autoantibodies could play a role in melanocyte destruction. Some experiments indicate that melanocyte antibodies from patients with vitiligo can kill melanocyte in vitro. In these experiments, we demonstrated that vitiligo patient's sera containing antimelanocyte antibodies can lyse cultured human melanocytes by complement activation. Melanocyte cytotoxicity was measured using the ethidium bromide/ acridine orange viability assay. Significant melanocyte cytotoxicity was seen in sera from patients with both active and inactive vitiligo(p<0.01). Melanocyte cytotoxicity measured with complement-mediated cytotoxicity decreased after systemic steroid treatment(p<0.05) ; however melanocyte cytotoxicity showed no significant change with systemic PUVA therapy.
Acridine Orange ; Antibodies ; Autoantibodies* ; Complement Activation ; Ethidium ; Humans ; Melanocytes ; PUVA Therapy ; Vitiligo*

Spinal epidural abscess is an uncommon, but a significant disease due to its high morbidity and mortality rate if not diagnosed in time. Although early diagnosis and prompt surgical intervention is needed for better prognosis of this disease, the diagnosis of spinal epidural abscess is often elusive despite modern medical advances, and depends on a high index of suspicion. we report a case of lumbar spinal epidural abscess of unknown origin complicated by cauda equina syndrome.
Cauda Equina* ; Diagnosis ; Early Diagnosis ; Epidural Abscess* ; Mortality ; Polyradiculopathy* ; Prognosis

Tarsometatarsal injury has not been paid much attention due to it is unusual frequency. But the cases of tarsometatarsal injuries are on the increase in proportion to the increasing "high energy trauma injury" resulted from the traffic and industrial accidents. The purpose of this study is both assessing the relative effects among clinical results, final radiologic findings, treatment results and symtoms. In view of the results so far achieved from 20 cases of tarsometatarsal fracture dislocation which had been treated at Sung-Ae general hospital from January 1990 to December 1993, the results were as follows: 1. Thirteen cases were treated by open reduction and 3 cases were treated by closed reduction with smooth pins but no reduction loss were experienced. 2. Traumatic arthrosis could be observed in 14 cases but there were no influences on the functional end results. 3. Anatomical results correlated with pain. 4. Anatomical or neraly anatomical reduction was considered as most important factor of prognosis.
Accidents, Occupational ; Dislocations ; Hospitals, General ; Prognosis

Due to the instability of intertrochanteric fractures in elderly patients, various methods of reduction and fixation were introduced to obtain stable reduction and solid union, But there have been many controversies regarding advantages between anatomical reduction group and non-anatomical reduction group. The authors analyzed the 68 unstable intertrochanteric fractures out of total 94 cases of intertrochanteric fractures treated from Jan. 1988 to Jan. 1994 with mean follow-up 17 months and evaluated the radiologic and clinical results between those two groups. The results were obtained as follows: 1. The most common cause was low energy injury and according to the Tronzo classification, the type III was most common in 54 cases (79.4%). 2. The average union time was 14.0wks (84%), the union rate was low in the medialized reduction group(A-P) and anterior displaced reduction group(A-P), anterior displaced and anatomical reduction groups(Lateral). 3. The compression length more than 10mm of lag screw was deep in medialized reduction group(A-P), another displaced and anatomical reduction groups(Lateral). 4. The average length of lag screw sliding was 9.2mm and depth sliding of 6.8mm (74%) was occurred within immediate postoperative 1 month.
Aged ; Classification ; Femur ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hip Fractures ; Hip ; Humans

Fractures involving both tibial plataeus result form high energy trauma such as a traffic accidents or falls, and it is frequently accompanied by soft tissue injuries. Thus it is very difficult to treat these fractures satisfactorily and severe complications can be caused. The purpose of study is to analyze the clinical results, complication and factors influencing the results after open reduction and internal fixation of tibial bicondylar fractures. Twenty cases(19 patients) of tibial bicondylar fractures which had been treated by open reduction and internal fixation from January 1989 to December 1994 were analyzed after 1 to 5 years follow-up. The results were as follows. 1. By AO classification, the most common type was C3(13 cases). 2. According to Blokker's criteria, 5 cases was unsatisfactory and all of these cases were C3. 3. Unsatisfactory results were 3 cases of reduction loss(angular deformity), one case of deep infection and one case of unresolved peroneal nerve palsy. 4. Tibial tubercle osteotomy, bone graft and medial buttress plate were important for anatomical reduction and maintenance.
Accidental Falls ; Accidents, Traffic ; Classification ; Follow-Up Studies ; Osteotomy ; Paralysis ; Peroneal Nerve ; Soft Tissue Injuries ; Tibia ; Transplants

PURPOSE:We report the results of image-guided percutaneous biopsies with a biopsy gun and evaluate the clinical usefullness. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred and five biopsies under ultrasonographic or fiuoroscopic guidance were performed. Various anatomic sites were targeted (liver;50, chest;22, kidney;12, pancreas;8, intraperitoneum;7, retroperitoneum; ). RESULTS:Obtained tissue was diagnostic in 98 of the 105 biopsies(93%). In each instance, representative core tissue specimens were obtained. Evaluation of the core tissue by pathologist revealed consistent, uniform specimens that contained significant crush artifact in no case. Five biopsies yielded inadeguate tissues which were too small for histopathologic interpretation or were composed of necrotic debris. Two biopsies yielded adequate tissues, but tissues were not of the target. The diagnoses were malignancy in 77 biopsies and benign disease in 21 biopsies. No complications other than mild, localized discomfort were encountered except a transient hemoptysis and pneumothorax which was observed in two patients. CONCLUSION:Cutting biopsy with a biopsy gun provided sufficient amount of target tissue for an accurate diagnosis of malignant and benign disease. It was a safe and useful procedure for percutaneous biopsy.
Artifacts ; Biopsy* ; Diagnosis ; Hemoptysis ; Humans ; Pneumothorax

It is usually difficult to obtain an exact reduction of bony mallet finger involving more than one third of the articular surface by closed manipulation and extension splinting and needs the operative treatment to obtain an exact anatomical reduction. Operative treatment of a mallet finger is a difficult procedure, fraught with many potential problems, including intraoperative fragmentation of dorsal lip fracture, difficulty of exposure and anatomical reduction of the fragment, skin slough, and postoperative loss of fixation. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the fixation technique and to reduce intraoperative complications. We retrospectively reviewed 13 patients of bony mallet fingers, who were treated by tension wire fixation between January 1994 and August 1995 at the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kwangmyung Sung Ae Hospital. There were 6 male and 7 female pateints. The most common cause was sports injury (6 cases). According to Wehbe and Schneider classification, 8 cases were type II and subtype B, 7 cases were the other types. According to modified Abouna and Brown criteria, the clinical results were success in 10 cases and failure in 3 cases. Postoperative complications were superficial infeciton (2 cases), skin necrosis (1 case), nail deformity (1 case) and secondary extensor tendon rupture (1 case). In conclusion, tension wire fixation of bony mallet finger was a simple and effective fixation of the fragment under the direct vision, which make it possible to exercise early and fix sturdily. But it should be avoided some pitfalls associated with internal fixation of small bony fragments.
Athletic Injuries ; Classification ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Female ; Fingers* ; Humans ; Intraoperative Complications ; Lip ; Male ; Necrosis ; Postoperative Complications ; Retrospective Studies ; Rupture ; Skin ; Splints ; Tendons

Displaced fracture of the ankle are probably the most common skeletal injury managed today by open reduction and internal fixation. But, it is recommended that metallic implant might be removed to restore normal biomechanical forces on hone and to reduce discomfort directly under the skin. in order to reduce the resources needed for the removal of metallic fixation devices, absorbable impiants of biodegradable synthetic polymers were deveioped. However reports of clinical application of such implants have so far been very few. This prospective study represents the good resuits in 15 displaced non-comminuted closed malleolar fractures of the ankle treated using hiodegradahle internal fixation in department of orthopedic surgery of Kwang Myung Sung Ae general hospitai from June I 995 to December 1996. The results were as follows 1. All cases were united and the average time for union was 7.6 weeks. 2. As a results of comparison with normal side, a restriction of 10 degrees or more of dorsiflexion of the ankle joint was present in 4 cases, a restriction of 20 degrees or more of plantar tlexion was present in 2 cases, a restriction of supination was present in 3 cases and a restriction of plantar flexion was present in 4 cases. 3. According to Phillips functional scoring scale, 4 cases were excellent, 7 cases good, 4 cases fair and no cases were poor. 4. There were no complications in all cases.
Ankle ; Ankle Joint ; Orthopedics ; Polymers ; Prospective Studies ; Skin ; Supination

Transient synovitis of the hip is non-specific inflammation and self limited condition, which is most common cause of painful limping in children under 10 years of age. Ultrasonography presents some merits, simple, rapid, non-invasive, low cost, repetitive to assess soft structures in and around the hip joint compared to other diagnostic methods. We prospectively studied 32 cases of unilateral transient synovitis at OPD from Jan. 1988 to Oct. 1989 using 5-7.5 MH, probe ultrasonography. 2-times serial check up in symptomatic and asymptomatic stage about capsule thickness and bone-capsule distance in 3 different positions of the both hips were performed for comparision. The following results were obtained; 1. Boys were 25 cases (78%) and 26 cases (83%) were between 3 and 7 years old of age. 2. Bone-capsule distance in ultrasonography revealed abnormal increase in 72%. 3. External rotation position showed wider bone-capsule distance than other position. 4. Capsule thickness was 3.3mm in diseased and 3.0mm in sound, 0.3mm decrease after treatment. 5. Bone-capsule distance was 4.5mm in symptomatic stage, 2.7mm in asymptomatic stage, 1.8mm decrease after treatment in averge.
Child ; Hip Joint ; Hip ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Prospective Studies ; Synovitis ; Ultrasonography

From January 1988 to December 1991, 39 fractures of the lateral condyle of humerus in children were treated at the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Sung-Ac General Hospital. It was possible to follow up from one year to four years and eleven months. The authors have analyzed the method of treatment on the basis of the degree of displacement in the change of Carrying angle and Baumann's angle. The results were as follows; 1. Of the 39 cases, the age incidence was confined to 2 to 12 years of age and the average age of the patients were 5 years. 2. Most fractures were Milch type II (29 cases) in contrast to Milch type I (10 cases). 3. According to the initial displacement of the fracture, 8 cases were Jokob's stage I, 21 cases of stage II & 10 cases of stage III. 4. There were no significant difference in the range of change of Carrying angle and Baumann's angle according to initial displacement of fracture site. However, significant difference in outcome were noticed from open reduction and internal fixation in comparison to closed reduction and percutaneous pinning. 5. In all 39 cases, lateral condylar overgrowth (10 cases), cubitus varus (1 cases) and cubitus valgus (3 cases) were noticed as complications but clinical significance was not noted. 6. The above results suggest that internal fixation is recommended for firm fixation although displacement is not severe. In case of Jakob's stage III, anatomical reduction is required in order to reduce additional damage on articular surface and epiphyseal plate caused by excessive manipulation.
Child ; Clinical Study ; Follow-Up Studies ; Growth Plate ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Humerus ; Incidence ; Methods