Fracture of the metal base of tihial components of total knee arthroplasty has heen occasionally reportecl. The most common cause of the failure of the metal hase plate was known to be a fatigue fracture around the screw hole where the strength of the metal hase plate was the weakest. We experienced a case of the fracture of the metal hase plate secondary to the t'racture of the posteromedial corner of the metal tihial condyle which was weakened due to the shoil peg hole for the base plate of MG II implant. Since the proximal portion of the posterior tihial condyle was normally thin, cutting the hone for the base plate made it thinner and wcaker than normal. Therefore stress fracture of the bone occurred and the overlying metal plate was subsequently hroken. From this experience. we concluded that the posterior peg hole may cause unwanted failure of the posteromedial corner of the tibial base plate.
Arthroplasty* ; Fractures, Stress ; Knee*

Computed tomographic findings in fifteen cases of anterior mediastinal teratoma are presented and comparedwith radiographic , pathologic findings. Specific CT characteristics of anterior mediastinal teratoma arepredominantly fatty mass with a denser dependent element and globular calcification in a solid protuberance intothe cystic cavity. Six cases presented above described characteristic CT findings. Four cases presented waterdensity mass with surrounding thick wall. Fat and calcific densities were present in nine and seven respectively,so these findings are frequently absent. Thick wall was present in all cases. So thick walled cyst even in theabsence of fatty or calcific densities is highly suggestive of anterior mediastinal teratoma.
Teratoma

Biopsy has proved to be of value in the diagnosis of many inflammatory and malignant diseases, and needle biopsy of the synovial membrane in arthritis is well established and often employed as the final diagnostic aid in patient with joint disease. Authors have carried out synovial needle biopsy in 76 joints with Franklin-Silverman needle used commonly in liver biopsy. The results obtained were as followa; 1) Of seventy five biopsies attempted, adequate amount of tiasue was obtained in 51 of 53 knee cases (96.2%), 11 of 14 wrists (78.6%). 3 of 5 elbows (60%), 1 of 3 ankles (33.3%). Adequate amount of tissue was obtained in 66 cases and the overall succese rate was 88%. 2) Histopathological diagnosis was made in 53 of 75 cases (70.7%). In 12 cases, correct specimens were obtained but proved to be incompatible with the diagnosis done by either clinical data or open biopsy. 3) Histopathological diagnoses were made in 25 of 35 cases of rheumatoid arthritis (71.4%) 14 of 18 cases of tuberculous arthritis (77.8%), 7 of 13 cases of degenerative arthritis (53,8%), 4 of 6 cases of suppurative arthritis (66.7%), 2 cases of traumatic arthritis (100%), and one case of villonodular synovitis (100%). 4) The complications resulting from this proedure were pare; mild transient hemarthrosis was found in only 5 cases We also discovered that for an accurate diagnosis multiple specimens should be obtained because otherwise the specimens were too small to interprete histopathologically. In addition we concluded that the success rate depended not upon the sorts of needle used but rather more upon the biopsy technique. Franklin-Silverman needle biopsy proved to be a simple, safe and reliable procedure for diagnosis of the synovial diseases in which conventional arthrotomy is inadvisable and other diagnostic procedures are inadequate.
Ankle ; Arthritis ; Arthritis, Infectious ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Biopsy ; Biopsy, Needle ; Diagnosis ; Elbow ; Hemarthrosis ; Humans ; Joint Diseases ; Joints ; Knee ; Liver ; Needles ; Osteoarthritis ; Synovial Membrane ; Synovitis ; Wrist

The fungus aspergillus can cause a variety of pulmonary disorders. Aspergilloma is a noninvasive aspergillus colonization of virtually any type of preexisting pulmonary cavity or Cystic space. Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis is serious, usually fatal infection in patients being treated with immunosuppressants or who have chronic debilitating disease. Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis is charaterized clinically by asthma, blood and sputum eosinophilia and positive immunologic reaction to aspergillus antigen. Awareness of the radio-graphic and CT findings of pulmonary aspergillosis is important in making the diagnosis of aspergillus-caused pulmonary disorders. In this pictorial essay, we illustrated various radiological findings of pulmonary aspergillosis focused on CT findings correlated with gross pathologic specimens.
Aspergillosis, Allergic Bronchopulmonary ; Aspergillus ; Asthma ; Colon ; Diagnosis ; Eosinophilia ; Fungi ; Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis ; Pulmonary Aspergillosis* ; Sputum

The fungus aspergillus can cause a variety of pulmonary disorders. Aspergilloma is a noninvasive aspergillus colonization of virtually any type of preexisting pulmonary cavity or Cystic space. Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis is serious, usually fatal infection in patients being treated with immunosuppressants or who have chronic debilitating disease. Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis is charaterized clinically by asthma, blood and sputum eosinophilia and positive immunologic reaction to aspergillus antigen. Awareness of the radio-graphic and CT findings of pulmonary aspergillosis is important in making the diagnosis of aspergillus-caused pulmonary disorders. In this pictorial essay, we illustrated various radiological findings of pulmonary aspergillosis focused on CT findings correlated with gross pathologic specimens.
Aspergillosis, Allergic Bronchopulmonary ; Aspergillus ; Asthma ; Colon ; Diagnosis ; Eosinophilia ; Fungi ; Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis ; Pulmonary Aspergillosis* ; Sputum

A 49-year-old woman with anemia who developed headache and seizure after blood transfusion was diagnosed with posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES). Magnetic resonance imaging showed typical PRES findings including lesions in bilateral parieto-occipital subcortical white matter and overlying cortex. Only a few cases of PRES after transfusion have been reported and this case is unique in that there was a latent period between infusion and development of PRES. We postulate that rapid change of hemoglobin level may disrupt cerebral autoregulation and result in delayed PRES. We suggest that neurological symptoms after blood transfusion should be appropriately investigated.

STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective review of the patients who have a fixation failure of instrumentalion for the spinal fusion in lumbar region. OBJECTIVES: To assess the incidence and different types of the mechanical failure of fixation and to evaluate their managements and their influences on the progression of a spinal fusion and to the clinical outcomes. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: Most of the spine surgeons have been experiencing the mechanical failures after instrumentations for a spinal fusion, eden though the incidence is decreasing with a modification of the implants. Reports on this problem are sporadic in conjunction with the other topics, rarely focusing on their management and their influences on the final outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 338 consecutive patients who had a lateral fusion in the lumbar region with an instrumentation of pedicle screws and rods, mostly with decompression, were reviewed to analyse the fixation failures of instrumentation after surgery. RESULTS: There were 26 patients (7.7%) who had the fixation failures of instrumentation, in terms of loosening around the pedicle screws in 18 patients (5.3%), the breakage of the pedicle screws in fide patients (1.5%), and the migration of a rod in three patients (0.9%). They were managed by prolonged use of brace and ergonomic back cares. Even with the fixation failures, 19 patients (73.1%) disclosed solid union uneventfully, but one patient had re-operation to obtain solid fusion. The final outcomes were satisfactory in 22 patients (84.6%), including four of six patients who had pseudoarthrosis. CONCLUSIONS: The fixation failure of instrumentation after a spinal fusion in lumbar region was not rare, but the progression of a spinal fusion usually quite well achieved and the final outcomes were not so bad, even with the implant failures and pseudoarthrosi s. Except for the persistently symptomatic pseudoarthrosis, only a prolonged use of brace and the ergonomic back cares are recommended for symptomatic patients.
Braces ; Decompression ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lumbosacral Region* ; Pseudarthrosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Fusion* ; Spine

STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective analysis of the patients who had cauda equina syndrome caused by a herniated lumbar disc. OBJECTIVES: To assess the clinical debates concerning the diagnosis, treatment, and results of treatment. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: This syndrome has been considered as an absolute indication of surgical treatment in the herniated lumbar disc and poor prognosis after surgery were reported. Although there are debates on the timing of surgery, early recognition early surgical treatment are recommended for a better results of treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 23 consecutive patients having a cauda equina syndrome caused by herniated lumbar disc were reviewed retrospectively. They were 14 males and 9 females having ages of 41.6 in average. The incidence of this syndrome was 3.8% of the patients who had surgical treatment of herniated lumbar disc. RESULTS: All patients had bladder dysfunction in addition to the low back pain and radicular pain in the leg, but five patient did not recognize their urinary retention which were shaded by severe leg pain. A surgical treatment were performed for all patients at 6.8 days in average after onset of the bladder dysfunction. At follow-up of 3 years and 3 months in average after surgery, 20 patients(86.9%) had satisfactory resolution of the low back pain and leg pain, and all patients had complete recovery of motor weakness except one patients who had residual foot drop. Bladder function recovered satisfactorily in 18 patients (78.3%), but 4 patients had some difficulty of urination and one patient needed a sphinterotomy for urination. CONCLUSIONS: The cauda equine syndrome in herniated lumbar disc was often not recognized early and a poor result of treatment was not rare, particularly in the patients who had acute onset and severe bladder dysfunction. So, early diagnosis and active surgical treatment are recommended for a better results of treatment.
Cauda Equina* ; Diagnosis ; Early Diagnosis ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Foot ; Humans ; Incidence ; Leg ; Low Back Pain ; Male ; Polyradiculopathy* ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Urinary Bladder ; Urinary Retention ; Urination

OBJECTIVES: The purposes of this study are to investigate the reliability and validity of shortened premenstrual assessment form and the applicability to internet interface. METHOD: The total of 55 subjects were included in this study. Among them, 28 subjects had premenstrual dysphoric disorder, and the other 27 subjects did not. All subjects performed the shortened premenstrual assessment form through internet interface in the homepage of Severance Woman Clinic. The diagnosis of premenstrual dysphoric disorder was determined by prospective assessment for 2 months. RESULTS: The shortened premenstrual assessment form consists of 3 factors: affect, pain and water retention. The test-retest reliability of this scale was 0.80, and internal consistency (Cronbach alpha) was 0.91. The correlation coeffeciecy between scores of the premenstrual assessment form and the shortened premenstrual assessment form was 0.92. The difference of the scores of the shortened premenstrual assessment form between the group of premenstrual dysphoric disorder and the group of non-premenstrual dysphoric disorder was significant (t=5.57, p<0.001). Discriminant analysis also revealed that the shortened premenstrual assessment form was useful to differentiate between premenstrual dysyphoric disorder and non-premenstrual dysphoric disorder (eigenvalue: 0.60, canonical correlation coefficiency: 0.61, Wilk's lambda: 0.63). The cut-off point to differentiate between two groups was 27, and sensitivity (75.0%) and specificity (76.9%) of this scale for premenstrual dysphoric disorder was acceptable. CONCLUSION: In summary, the shortened premenstrual assessment form appeared to be reliable and valid for the assesment of premenstrual dysphoric disorder. And the results of this study also suggest that the shortened premenstrual assessment form is a useful tool for internet interface application.
Diagnosis ; Equidae ; Female ; Humans ; Internet* ; Prospective Studies ; Reproducibility of Results ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Water

OBJECTIVES: The cognitive model has been suggested to explain the pathogenesis of premenstrual syndrome. In this model, it is suggested that negative cognitive style may contribute to the experience of severe premenstrual symptoms. We conducted this study to examine the relationship among cognitive style, perceived stress, and premenstrual symptoms. METHOD: Eighty six reproductive aged women older than 18 years were included in this study, to complete the Premenstrual Assessment form, Korean version of automatic thoughts Ques-tionnaire-Positive, Korean version of Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire-Negative, Korean version of Dysfunctional Attitude Scale, Perceived Stress Questionnaire. Among the subjects, twenty one were diagnosed to have a premenstrual dysphoric disorder which was determined by prospective assessment for two months. The relationships among the variables were analyzed by examining Pearson correlation coefficiency. REULTS: In the subjects without premenstrual dysphoric disorder, there exist significant correlation between the premenstrual symptom and the score of Korean-version of automatic thoughts Questionnaire-Negative(r=.36, p<.01). In the subjects with premenstrual dysphoric disorder, premenstrual symptoms had significant correlation to automatic thoughts Questionnaire-Negative(r=.65, p<.01) and Perceived Stress Questionnaire(r=.52, p<0.01). CONCLUSION: Our findings show the significant relationship between negative cognitive style and premenstrual symptoms. This relationship was more prominent in the subjects with premenstrual dysphoric disorder compared to ones without it. Our findings suggest that cognitive style and stress perception may influence on the severity of symptoms of premenstrual syndrome or premenstrual dysphoric disorder, and that cognitive behavior therapy is a possible effective therapeutic strategy for those with severe premenstrual symptoms.
Cognitive Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Premenstrual Syndrome ; Prospective Studies ; Surveys and Questionnaires