In cerebrovascular disease, the measurement of cerebral blood flow(CBF) is an important indicator of a patient's clinical status, treatment and prognosis. The main advantage of Stable Xenon CT is that it noninvasively provides three-dimensional, high resolution, quantitative local cerebral blood flow information coupled to anatomic exposition. Using this modality, we measured postoperative CBF in 50 patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage from a ruptured intracranial aneurysm. The results were as follows : 1) There was a negative relationship between age and CBF. 2) Among postoperative disability patients, global and regional CBF were markedly diminished. 3) CBF on the ipsilateral side of a craniotomy site was markedly lower than on the contralateral side. Xenon CT is a very useful method for the evaluation of postoperative CBF in intracranial aneurysm patients.
Craniotomy ; Humans ; Intracranial Aneurysm* ; Prognosis ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage ; Xenon*

BACKGROUND: Recent studies suggest that preoperative block of the N-Methyl-D-Aspartate (NMDA) receptor with NMDA antagonists may reduce postoperative pain. We infused magnesium sulfate, anatural NMDA receptor antagonist, preoperatively to evaluate the preemptive analgesic effect of magnesium. METHODS: Sixty healthy patients who underwent total abdominal hysterectomy under general sthesia were randomly divided into three groups. Group 1 was the control group, while Groups 2 and 3 received intravenous magnesium (Group 2 : 0.1 mg/kg bolus, 0.015 mg/kg/hr for 6hr, Group 3 : 0.2 mg/kg bolus, 0.03 mg/kg/hr for 6hr). Postoperative pain scorers (Visual Analog Scale: VAS and Prince Henry Score: PHS) and the amount of analgesic consumption were evaluated at 6, 24, 48 and 72 hours by a double blind manner. RESULTS: The patients in Group 3 had lower pain scores at 6 and 24 hours compared to those in Group 1, but there were no significant differences in PHS and cumulative amounts of analgesic consumption among the three groups. CONCLUSIONS: The preoperative administration of intravenous magnesium reduced postoperative pain scores. However, further study is needed before its clinical use for postoperative analgesic purposes.
Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Hysterectomy* ; Magnesium Sulfate* ; Magnesium* ; N-Methylaspartate ; Pain, Postoperative*

PURPOSE: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate and analyze the clinical outcomes of the percutaneous repair of acute achilles tendon ruptures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective study on 14 patients with acute closed rupture of the Achilles tendon and they were managed with percutaneous repair from Jan. 2006 to Jun. 2007. The clinical outcomes were analyzed according to the causes of the injury and the postoperative functional performances. RESULTS: All the cases showed good or excellent outcomes, according to the Arner-Lindholm scale for the evaluation of acute Achilles tendon rupture. The average AOFAS score was 95.6 (range: 91-100). Nine patients were very satisfied and five patients were satisfied. They were satisfied especially because of the minimal postoperative scar. Two cases of sural nerve injury were reported as complications, and these cases fully recovered at postoperative three months. No evidence of surgical wound infection, necrosis of the wound or rerupture of the tendon was seen. CONCLUSION: The percutaneous repair of acute Achilles tendon rupture achieved high functional outcomes, a successful return to previous work and high satisfaction, with a relatively low incidence of complications.
Achilles Tendon ; Cicatrix ; Humans ; Incidence ; Necrosis ; Organic Chemicals ; Retrospective Studies ; Rupture ; Sural Nerve ; Surgical Wound Infection ; Tendons

Intramedullary spinal cord metastases occurring from any malignant tumor are usually accompanied by frequent metastases in the intracranium. The clinical features of this disease have been described as the rapid progression of neurologic deficit that can lead to complete paraplegia. In this case, the authors treated a 76-year-old woman, who was diagnosed with an intramedullary spinal cord metastasis arising from a small cell lung cancer without an invasion of the brain, with decompressive surgery and posterior instrumentation. The patient suffered from weakness of her legs, walking difficulties, and urinary and fecal incontinence. Her preoperative neurologic symptoms were improved significantly after surgery. The patient did not want to have further treatment for the primary cancer, and she died from pneumonia caused by aggravation of the underlying disease 3 months after surgery. We report this rare case, which was diagnosed as a metastasis of a small cell lung cancer postoperatively, with a review of the relevant literature.
Aged ; Brain ; Fecal Incontinence ; Female ; Humans ; Leg ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Paraplegia ; Pneumonia ; Small Cell Lung Carcinoma ; Spinal Cord ; Walking

The aim of this paper is to estimate the nationwide incidence rate of lung cancer in Korea. The potential incident cases were identified by hospital visiting and mailing, based on the ICD-9 diagnostic codes on the claims as one of the following: ICD-9 162-165 (malignant neoplasms of the respiratory system), 212 (benign neoplasm), 231 (carcinoma in situ), 511 (pleurisy), or 195-199 (malignant neoplasms with uncoded sites) in beneficiaries data of the Korea Medical Insurance Corporation from January, 1988 to December, 1989. Thereafter, the identified cases were confirmed by an oncologist (Dr. DS Heo). When adjusted with age distribution of the Korean population based on the 1985 Population Census, the incidence rate was 22.3 per 100,000 in males (95% CI: 21.70-23.01) and 8.37 (95% CI: 7.97-8.78) in females in 1989. And the age-adjusted rate for the world population was 39.63 in males and 9.95 in females.
Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Comparative Study ; Female ; Human ; Incidence ; Korea/epidemiology ; Lung Neoplasms/*epidemiology/pathology ; Male ; Middle Age ; Sex Factors

PURPOSE: The complaint of infertility are found in patients with chronic prostatits. In vitro studies tend to show that the addition of massive micro organisms to semen results in decreased viability. Because such massive concentrations of pathogens seldom occur in the secretory fluids of infected prostate gland and chronic non bacterial prostatitis is more common, it seems that the chronic prostatitis produces infertility on the basis of the change in composition of seminal plasma besides a direct effect of the pathogen on spermatozoa. There is evidence that fluids from the accessory genital glands play an important role in sperm viability and fertility. The plasma membrane of spermatozoa is composed of cholesterol and phospholipid. The correlation exists between cholesterol to pohospholipids membrane ratio and cholesterol to phospholipid ratio in seminal plasma. We examined the change in the concentration of cholesterol and phospholipid of seminal plasma in patients with chronic prostatitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Semen from 14 healthy males and 23 chronic prostatitis patients were evaluated for the concentration of cholesterol and phospholipid of seminal plasma. RESULTS: The ages(mean +/- standard error) of control and patients with chronic prostatitis were 28.0 +/- 1.4 year and 27.0 +/- 0.4 year(p>0.05). The concentrations(mean +/- standard error) of cholesterol in control and patients with chronic prostatitis were 26.4+/-3.gmg/dl and 23.3+/- 1.8mg/dl(p>0.05). The concentrations(mean +/- sandard error) of phospholipid in control and patients with chronic prostatitis were 858.1 +/-23.7mg/dl and 789.9+/-6.0mg/dl(p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The decreased concentration of phospholipid of seminal plasma in patients with chronic prostatitis was found and this fact is helpful to understand the causes of functional change of sperm in patients with chronic prostatitis.
Cell Membrane ; Cholesterol* ; Fertility ; Humans ; Infertility ; Male ; Membranes ; Prostate ; Prostatitis* ; Semen* ; Spermatozoa

Coronoid impingement can cause limitation of mouth opening. In many cases, it appears to be related to the coronoid hyperplasia. We present a case of mouth opening limitation caused by coronoid impingement on the posterior surface of the zygomatic bone without coronoid hyperplasia. The bony changes in coronoid and zygoma including surface irregularity and discontinuity of the cortex and sclerotic change of inner medullary space were noted on computed tomography (CT) scans in different level of axial planes. Through another CT scans in open mouth position could demonstrate that those bony changes were caused by the contact of both surfaces against each other. In case coronoid impingement is suspected of the many possible causes, the open mouth CT scans will be needed to reveal the direct impingement of coronoid on zygoma even without coronoid hyperplasia.
Diagnosis* ; Hyperplasia ; Mouth ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Trismus ; Zygoma

BACKGROUND: To assess the radiographic results in patients who underwent transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF), particularly the changes in segmental lordosis in the fusion segment, whole lumbar lordosis and disc height. METHODS: Twenty six cases of single-level TLIF in degenerative lumbar diseases were analyzed. The changes in segmental lordosis, whole lumbar lordosis, and disc height were evaluated before surgery, after surgery and at the final follow-up. RESULTS: The segmental lordosis increased significantly after surgery but decreased at the final follow-up. Compared to the preoperative values, the segmental lordosis did not change significantly at the final follow-up. Whole lumbar lordosis at the final follow-up was significantly higher than the preoperative values. The disc height was significantly higher in after surgery than before surgery (p = 0.000) and the disc height alter surgery and at the final follow-up was similar. CONCLUSIONS: When performing TLIF, careful surgical techniques and attention are needed to restore and maintain the segmental lordosis at the fusion level.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disk Degeneration/*surgery ; Lordosis/*radiography ; Lumbar Vertebrae/pathology/*radiography/surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prosthesis Implantation ; Retrospective Studies ; *Spinal Fusion ; Spinal Stenosis/surgery ; Spondylolisthesis/surgery

We report an isolated anterior dislocation of the radial head in a 23-year-old man after a fall on the outstretched arm. At the time of the injury, the patient's elbow was in a position of mild flexion and pronation which was suddenly further pronated as he fell down. The radial head was incarcerated by the lateral portion of brachialis muscle, and annular ligament was interposed between capitellum and radial head. Open reduction was performed. During 12 months follow-up, reduction of radial head was well maintained without a limitation of range of motion.
Adult* ; Arm ; Dislocations* ; Elbow ; Follow-Up Studies ; Head* ; Humans ; Ligaments ; Pronation ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this article is to introduce the EOS imaging device, with a focus on spinal and pelvic alignment.SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: The EOS imaging device can obtain images of spinal and pelvic alignment with almost no distortion, using a low radiation dose. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We searched for studies related to the use of EOS imaging device for spinal and pelvic alignment. RESULTS: The EOS is not only capable of simultaneously obtaining paired anteroposterior and lateral X-ray images with a low radiation dose, but also can reconstruct the image as if it was acquired in the patient's reference plane, limiting the distortion to the patient's thickness instead of the whole distance between the source and detector. The EOS device also has the advantage of accurately measuring the sagittal alignment of the spine and pelvis and the torsional deformity of the lower limbs, as the subject can be imaged while standing upright in a weight-bearing posture. CONCLUSIONS EOS is a new diagnostic technique that can detect spinal and pelvic alignment and deformities of the lower limbs under weight-bearing conditions with a low radiation dose.