Information on work stress and mental health status of industrial workers was required for optimum staffing and health care management. This study dealt with the relationship between mental health status examined by PSI(psychiatric symptom index) and socio-demographic variables. Especially this study attempted to find relevant determinants of the stress and mental health through multiple stepwise regression analysis based on data obtained from 687 occupational workers. The findings of this study were as follows; Mean scores of symptom dimension were higher in youth, female, more educated, unmarried and divorced, and workers in the noisy condition and short duration in job. And it showed high scores in long duration in job for anxiety; college educated for anger; unmarried for cognitive disturbance. The factors affecting the mean scores of psychiatric symptom index were varied according to the types of symptom; age, sex and duration in job for anxiety; age, sex, living with parent, education and marital status for anger; sex and marital status for depression; noisy condition and sex for cognitive disorder.
Adolescent ; Anger ; Anxiety ; Delivery of Health Care ; Depression ; Divorce ; Education ; Female ; Humans ; Marital Status ; Mental Health* ; Parents ; Single Person

This study was conducted to understand health status by general characteristic, and to find out relationship between social support and worker's health status. Health status was measured using SF-36(Medical Outcome Study Short Form 36), a 36 item self administered Instrument. The finding of this study were as follow; Mean scores of health status by sex were higher in male. The younger worker reported good health on physical functioning and role limitation-physical than did the older worker, but the older worker reported good health on social functioning and mental health. Mean scores of health status were higher in high income and white worker. When the relationship between social support and health status, social functioning, role limitation-emotion, mental health, vitality, general health were significantly related. Therefore we reviewed the evidence that socio-economic condition are associated with health status in this study, and that the strength of the social support was a important to maintain health.
Humans ; Male ; Mental Health ; Outcome Assessment (Health Care)

PURPOSE: We tried to outline the incidence and characteristics of meniscal tears in recent lesions and chronic insufficiency of the ACL. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Through this retrospective study of 103 reconstructions of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) performed between Jun 1996 to Sep 1998, according to a more accurate evaluation, ACL-deficient knees can be classified into two different stages (recent, chronic injuries). RESULTS: Overall, there was a significantly increasing incidence of meniscal tears in chronic injuries (P<0.05). A predominance of lateral meniscal tears were demonstrated with recent injuries, whereas the incidence of medial meniscal tears increased significantly with chronic injuries (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the increase of lateral meniscal lesion in recent ACL rupture and increase of severe meniscal lesion, especially medial meniscus, with progressive worsening of knee instability after an ACL injury. Although not significant, meniscal tears in the recent injuries were more amenable to repair. The results suggest that maximal meniscal preservation is best achieved with ACL reconstruction shortly after injury.
Anterior Cruciate Ligament* ; Incidence ; Knee* ; Menisci, Tibial ; Retrospective Studies ; Rupture*

Functional-Below-Knee Total Contact Cast characterized by early weight bearing and free motion of affected knee joint during the cast immobilizaton has brought to significant result on trearment of tibial fractures, and is considered to take early bony union by establishment of almost physiological environment on fracture site during immobilization. For recent 2 years, writers have experienced many tibial fractures to treat with Functional Below-Knee Total Contact Cast. In them, clinical data and results of 17 cases which were studied well are reviewed, and method of cast application is illustrated.
Clinical Study ; Immobilization ; Knee Joint ; Methods ; Tibial Fractures ; Weight-Bearing

PURPOSE: Recently, there are many good reports on the arthroscopic management of tibial condylar fractures. But, it may be appropriate for selected tibial condylar fractures and also needs a skilled technique. So we report the results of the tibial condylar fractures treated by the arthroscopy and limited percutaneous fixation or the arthroscopic-assisted management with conventional internal fixation without arthrotomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From June 1996 to December 1997, we treated 22 cases of the tibial condy- lar fractures including relatively comminuted one and analysed the results of patients who have been observed at least 1 year with Porters knee evaluation criteria. RESULTS: In 18 out of 22 cases, the results were Acceptable on symptoms(excellent 3, good 15, fair 4), in 18, on function(excellent 10, good 8, fair 3), in 21, on appearance(excellent 12, good 9, fair 1) and in 20, on radiographic appearance(excellent 11, good 9, fair 2). Overall results were Acceptable in 18 cases(82%) and Unacceptable in 4 cases(18%). CONCLUSION: The arthroscopic-assisted management with conventional internal fixation without arthrotomy can be the recommendable treatment for the tibial condylar fractures, including relatively comminuted one, without complications.
Arthroscopy ; Humans ; Knee

PURPOSE: To verify the changes of segmental motion after posterolateral lumbar fusion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-eight cases of lumbar posterolateral fusion with good postoperative results and full range of motion, followed up for at least one year were reviewed. We measured the translation and angulation by the Dupuis method on flexion extension radiographs. RESULTS: 1) The motion at adjacent segments was 0.75 mm translation and 6.5 degree angulation at L1-2, 0.75 mm and 8.62 degree at L2-3, 0.95 mm and 9.67 degree at L3-4, 1.17 mm and 10.67 degree at L4-5 and 0.41 mm and 7.41 degree at L5-S1. The motion at L5-S1 was less than that in the control group, but at other levels it was not different. 2) The total range of motion of lumbar spine in the control group was 47.8 degree. In one-segment fusion the range of motion was 31.1 degree(64.9%), in two-segment fusion was 26.8 degree(56.1%) and in three-segment fusion was 14.3 degree(29.8%). The longer the fusion level was, the smaller the total range of motion of lumbar spine was. 3) The percentage of motion at adjacent mobile segments in the fusion group increased more significantly than that in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Segmental motion at adjacent segment in the fusion group was similar to the motion in the control group. The compensatory increased motion at adjacent mobile segment was not definite, however, the percentage of motion at adjacent segment increased after spinal fusion.
Range of Motion, Articular ; Spinal Fusion ; Spine

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to present the usefulness of arthrometer (KT-2000) in patients with anterior knee instability and to assist in evaluating an objective prognosis after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. MATERIAL AND METHOD: We analyzed the manual maximum anterior displacement, passive anterior displacement at 30Ib force and compliance index between 15Ib and 30Ib, measured by KT-2000 in 82 cases of patient who had unilateral anterior knee instability and 40 cases of volunteers, as control group, who had no history of knee injury. We used the Paired and Independent t-test for statistical analysis. RESULTS: In control group, the mean value of manual maximum anterior displacement is 0.8 +/- 0.9mm, passive anterior displacement, 1.4 +/- 1.3mm and compliance index, 1.1 +/- 1.1mm. In patient group, the mean value of manual maximum anterior displacement is 7.1 +/- 2.7mm, passive displacement, 6.1 +/- 2.6mm and compliance index, 3.8 +/- 1.8mm. We found that the patient group was revealed much higher degree of anterior displacement than the control group (p<0.005) . CONCLUSION: KT-2000 is objective and quantitative in diagnosis of anterior knee instability.
Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction ; Compliance ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Knee Injuries ; Knee* ; Prognosis ; Volunteers

PURPOSE: We report the results of arthroscopic ACL reconstruction using a bone-patellar tendon-bone (BPTB) autograft and a bioab-sorbable interference screw (Bioscrew, poly L-lactic acid, Linvatec co., USA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: From January 1998 to December 1998, we performed 39 cases of arthroscopic ACL reconstruction using BPTB autograft and a bioabsorbable interference screw. The average follow-up period was 2 years and 8 months. We performed KT-2000 testing and measured the IKDC, Tegner and Lysholm scores preoperatively and compared these with the results of a final evalua-tion. We performed second-look arthroscopy on 4 cases and observed the degree of degradation of the bioabsorbable interference screw. RESULTS: Preoperative evaluation revealed an average range with a KT-2000 of 8.1 +/-3.4 mm, a Lysholm score of 66.2 +/-16.3, an IKDC score below C in all cases and a Tegner score of 3.7 +/-0.9, but final results showed a KT-2000 of 2.8 +/-2.2 mm, a Lysholm score of 91.7 +/-7.5, an IKDC score above B in all except 3 cases and a Tegner score of 6.9 +/-1.1. Second-look arthroscopy at 3 and 12 months post-operatively showed no degradation of the bioabsorbable interference screw, but there was partial degradation of the bioabsorbable inteference screw at 21 and 33 months. CONCLUSION: Bioabsorbable interference screws seems a reasonable alternative to metallic screws in ACL reconstruction. Bioab-sorbablescrew implanted in humans may take much longer to degrade than expected, more study is needed.
Arthroscopy ; Autografts* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lactic Acid

PURPOSE: To report the differences between previous articles in Korea on the common occurence of lateral meniscus tears and our cases, and also which clinical symptoms and signs are the most reliable for diagnosis of meniscal tear. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analysed 118 patients who were confirmed to have a meniscal tear by arthroscopy from May 1996 to May 1998. The Chi-Square test was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: There is no statistical difference of frequency between tears of the medial meniscus and those of the lateral meniscus. The most frequent clinical symptom is feeling of subluxation and sign is McMurray test. A combination of McMurray and squatting test is the most frequent positive sign of meniscal tear in our cases. CONCLUSIONS: In our cases, the frequency of medial meniscus tears is more common than those of the previous articles in Korea. To increase the accuracy of clinical diagnosis of meniscal tear, repeated and accurate history taking and physical examination, including above symptoms and signs are very important.
Arthroscopy ; Diagnosis* ; Humans ; Knee Joint* ; Knee* ; Korea ; Menisci, Tibial ; Physical Examination

PURPOSE: Accurate diagnosis of group A streptococcal(GAS) pharyngitis and appropriate antimicrobial therapy are important, particularly to prevent nonsuppurative sequelae and to reduce the improper use of antibiotics. Because the clinical presentation of pharyngitis does not reliably predict the etiologic agent, when GAS infection is suspected, diagnosis should be based on the result of a throat swab culture or antigen-detection test with culture back-up. METHODS: We reviewed retrospectively the medical records of children diagnosed as GAS pharyngitis by throat swab culture from Jan. 1995 to Jul. 2000. Since Nov. 1998, specimens were also tested with the Abbott's Testpack+plus Strep A Kit. RESULTS: 121 patients were confirmed as GAS pharyngitis by throat culture. GAS pharyngitis predominantly occurred from 3 to 7 years of age with the peak incidence at 4 and 5 years of age. The disease was more frequent in late fall, winter and spring. Clinical manifestations were as follows; fever(89.9%), abnormal pharynx(94.3%), of which exudate in 33.6%, sore throat(85.3%), headache(78.1%), cervical lymphadenopathy(67.5%), abdominal pain(64.3%), and nausea or vomiting (55.0%). The sensitivity and specificity of rapid antigen test compared to throat culture were 96.4% and 95%, respectively. CONCLUSION: GAS pharyngitis occurred every year, and more frequently in late fall, winter and spring. It occurred with the greatest frequency in preschool children. The rapid antigen test can be a basis for clinicians to decide how to treat their patients before the culture results are proven, and can be helpful to judicious use of antibiotics as well.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Diagnosis ; Exudates and Transudates ; Humans ; Incidence ; Medical Records ; Nausea ; Pharyngitis ; Pharynx ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Vomiting