It is difficult to determine the pathoanatomical correlates of dystonia because of its complex pathophysiology, and most cases with secondary dystonia are associated with basal ganglia lesions. Moreover, it is a challenging issue that patients with abnormal postures accompanied by other neurological findings in the affected body part (e.g., sensory loss) can be diagnosed with true dystonia or pseudodystonia. Here, we report a case of abnormal postures with loss of proprioception in the left extremities after right dorsal pontine hemorrhage.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical results of double tension band wiring for communited olecranon fractures involving proximal 1/3. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed 9 cases of communited olecranon fractures involving proximal 1/3 treated with double tension band wiring followed for minimum 10 months. There were 2 cases of olecranon fractures involving only proximal 1/3, 6 cases of olecranon fractures involving from proximal 1/3 to middle 1/3 and 1 case of olecranon fractures involving from proximal 1/3 to distal 1/3. We analyzed the bone union time, radiologic results for gap, reduction loss, pin migration, pain, range of motion, complications and functional outcomes at last follow up. RESULTS: All patients had solid bone union without additional surgery and average union time was 10.3 weeks. Anatomical reduction could be obtained in 8 of 9 cases but there was 1 mm step off in one case. 36 pins were used to fix the fractures, 1 pin of 18 distal pins and 2 pins of 18 proximal pins were migrated to backward but there was no reduction loss. Only 1 distal pin needed early removal due to skin irritation. Average range of motion ranged from flexion contracture 3.3 degrees to further flexion 137.8 degrees. On functional analysis, we got 8 cases of good result, 1 case of fair result and there was no poor result. CONCLUSION: Double tension band wiring for comminuted olecranon fracture involving proximal 1/3 was concluded to give a firm fixation of the fracture site as bone union could be acquired without serious pin problems.
Contracture ; Humans ; Olecranon Process ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Skin

OBJECTIVES: Cartilage reshaping by laser irradiation is used to correct septal and auricular cartilage deformities. Chondrocyte viability following laser irradiation and reshaping has been well established. However, the regeneration process of chondrocyte after laser irradiation has not been revealed yet. The aims of this study were to determine the mechanism of cartilaginous thermal injury and the regenerative process of damaged cartilage following laser irradiation. METHODS: Laser irradiation was performed on human septal cartilage and rabbit auricular cartilage using a 1,460-nm diode laser. We observed change in the shape of cartilage and evaluated the extent of cartilage injury using live/dead cell assay via confocal microscopy. Hoechst and propidium iodide (PI) staining was used to evaluate the mechanism of chondrocyte injury after laser irradiation. To evaluate the regeneration of cartilage, laser irradiated cartilages were reimplanted into a subperichondrial pocket and were harvested at 1, 2, and 4 weeks after reimplantation for viability assessment and histologic examination. RESULTS: Laser irradiation using a 1,460-nm diode laser produced a marked shape change in both human septal and rabbit auricular cartilages. Thermal damage on cartilage was correlated with the exposure time and the laser power. Hoechst and PI staining showed that chondrocyte death by laser irradiation was due to mainly necrosis, rather than apoptosis. In lower power treatment group (0.3 W and 0.5 W), all the chondrocytes regenerated within 4 weeks, however, in 1 W treatment group, chondrocytes could not regenerate until 4 weeks. CONCLUSION: Reshaping of cartilage using 1,460 nm diode laser was attained concurrently with the thermal injury to the chondrocytes. The extent of thermal damage on chondrocytes was dependent on the exposure time and the laser power and the damaged chondrocytes irradiated with lower level of laser power could be regenerated after reimplantation into subperichondrial pocket.
Apoptosis ; Cartilage ; Chondrocytes ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Ear Cartilage ; Humans ; Lasers, Semiconductor ; Microscopy, Confocal ; Necrosis ; Propidium ; Regeneration ; Replantation

Purpose: Given the morphological characteristics of schistocytes, thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) score can be beneficial as it can be automatically and accurately measured. This study aimed to investigate whether serial TMA scores until 48 h post admission are associated with clinical outcomes in patients undergoing targeted temperature management (TTM) after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). Materials and Methods: We retrospectively evaluated a cohort of 185 patients using a prospective registry. We analyzed TMA scores at admission and after 12, 24, and 48 hours. The primary outcome measures were poor neurological outcome at discharge and 30-day mortality. Results: Increased TMA scores at all measured time points were independent predictors of poor neurological outcomes and 30-day mortality, with TMA score at time-12 showing the strongest correlation [odds ratio (OR), 3.008; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.707–5.300; p<0.001 and hazard ratio (HR), 1.517; 95% CI, 1.196–1.925; p<0.001]. Specifically, a TMA score ≥2 at time-12 was closely associated with an increased predictability of poor neurological outcomes (OR, 6.302; 95% CI, 2.841–13.976; p<0.001) and 30-day mortality (HR, 2.656; 95% CI, 1.675–4.211; p<0.001). Conclusion Increased TMA scores predicted neurological outcomes and 30-day mortality in patients undergoing TTM after OHCA. In addition to the benefit of being serially measured using an automated hematology analyzer, TMA score may be a helpful tool for rapid risk stratification and identification of the need for intensive care in patients with return of spontaneous circulation after OHCA.

Langerhans cell histiocytosis of the central nervous system (CNS) usually involves the hypothalamic-pituitary axis, and T1-weighted MR images normally demonstrate infundibular thickening and/or a mass lesion in the hypothalamus and the absence of a posterior pituitary "bright spot". We recently encountered a case of CNS Langerhans cell histiocytosis with no posterior pituitary "bright spot" and with lesions involving the cerebellum and basal ganglia but not the hypothalamic-pituitary axis.
Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Basal Ganglia ; Central Nervous System* ; Cerebellum ; Histiocytosis ; Histiocytosis, Langerhans-Cell* ; Hypothalamus

The complications following paediatric femur fracture are leg length discrepancy, angulation deformity, rotational deformity, ischemic limb. But, stiff knee is rarely expressed after trauma like paediatric femur fracture. We report a case of stiff knee due to entrapment of quadriceps femoris tendon at displaced fracture site after conservative treatment by Russel traction and hip spica cast in paediatric femur fracture. We treated successfully by resection of distal end of proximal segment of femur and release of quadriceps femoris tendon for flexion contracture of the knee.
Congenital Abnormalities ; Contracture ; Extremities ; Femur* ; Hip ; Knee* ; Leg ; Quadriceps Muscle* ; Tendons* ; Traction

The complications following paediatric femur fracture are leg length discrepancy, angulation deformity, rotational deformity, ischemic limb. But, stiff knee is rarely expressed after trauma like paediatric femur fracture. We report a case of stiff knee due to entrapment of quadriceps femoris tendon at displaced fracture site after conservative treatment by Russel traction and hip spica cast in paediatric femur fracture. We treated successfully by resection of distal end of proximal segment of femur and release of quadriceps femoris tendon for flexion contracture of the knee.
Congenital Abnormalities ; Contracture ; Extremities ; Femur* ; Hip ; Knee* ; Leg ; Quadriceps Muscle* ; Tendons* ; Traction

PURPOSE: We are reporting the result of comminuted midshaft fractures of clavicle treated by reconstruction plate fixation and PDS augmentation easily fixing butterfly fragments with minimal soft tissue dissection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed 42 cases of operatively treated displaced comminuted midshaft fractures of clavicle at our hospital from March, 2001 to May 2004 whom were followed up for more than one year after the operation. According to Robinson classification, we grouped simple fractures as group A, and comminuted fractures as group B. Internal fixation using reconstruction plate has been chosen for type A fracture. Type B has been treated by reconstruction plate fixation with PDS augmentations. Shoulder function, union time and complications has been studied according to the fracture type retrospectively. RESULTS: All cases had complete bone union with average union time of 8.6 weeks for type A and 8.9 weeks for type B. Weitzman functional evaluation did not show significant differences. CONCLUSION: PDS augmentation in comminuted midshaft fracture of clavicle easily fix the butterfly fragments with least soft tissue damage and lessen the bone graft. Therefore it considered to be one of the available treatment methods for comminuted midshaft fracture of clavicle.
Butterflies ; Classification ; Clavicle* ; Fractures, Comminuted ; Retrospective Studies ; Shoulder ; Sutures* ; Transplants

PURPOSE: In Korea, tree pollens are known to be prevalent in spring, grass pollens in summer and weed pollens in autumn. However, few studies have revealed their seasonal specificity for allergic rhinitis symptoms. An ARIA (Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma) classification of allergic rhinitis was recently introduced and its clinical validation has not been well proved. The aim of this study was to evaluate the seasonal specificity of seasonal allergens and to validate the ARIA classification with the conventional seasonal and perennial allergic rhinitis (SAR/PAR) classification. METHODS: Two hundred twenty six patients with allergic rhinitis were included in this study. The patients were classified according to the sensitized allergens and the ARIA classifications. A questionnaire survey was performed and the data on the seasonal symptom score, the severity of symptoms and the SNOT (sinonasal outcome test)-20 score was obtained and the data was analyzed and compared between the conventional SAR/PAR classification and the ARIA classification. RESULTS: Seasonal pollens (tree, grass, weed) were not specific to the pollen peak season and the patients' symptoms were severe during spring and autumn regardless of the offending pollens. More than 60% of the patients with SAR showed persistent symptoms and 33% of the patients with perennial allergic rhinitis (PAR) had intermittent symptoms, showing the lack of association between the SAR/PAR/PAR+SAR classification and the ARIA classification. The ARIA classification showed better association not only with the symptomatic score, but also with the SNOT-20 score, which showed better validity than the conventional SAR/PAR classifications. CONCLUSIONS: Seasonal pollens were not specific to their season of prevalence in terms of the severity of symptoms, and the ARIA classification showed better representation of allergic symptoms and quality of life (SNOT-20 score) than did the SAR/PAR classification.
Allergens ; Humans ; Korea ; Poaceae ; Pollen ; Prevalence ; Quality of Life ; Rhinitis ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal ; Seasons ; Sensitivity and Specificity* ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: The delta neutrophil index (DNI) corresponds to the calculated immature granulocyte counts and the severity of sepsis. The aim of this study was to investigate the diagnostic value of DNI as a predictable laboratory marker for septic shock in patients with severe community-acquired pneumonia in emergency department. METHODS: The present study was a retrospective analysis of patients with pathologically confirmed community-acquired pneumonia from December 2011 to February 2012 at a hospital. The DNI was automatically calculated as a subset of routine complete blood count test. The diagnostic performance of DNI for septic shock in patients with community-acquired pneumonia was evaluated. RESULTS: During the study period, 105 patients were enrolled. Among them, 27 patients (25.7%) were confirmed as having septic shock according to predetermined criteria. The initial value of DNI was significantly higher in septic shock group than in non-shock group (8.7% vs 2.3%, p=0.008). The peak value of DNI was also significantly higher in septic shock group (18.6% vs 4%, p<0.001). The sensitivity and specificity of the initial and peak DNI values for predicting septic shock in patients with community-acquired pneumonia were 48.2%, 96.2%, 74.1%, and 87.2%, respectively, at initial and peak cutoff levels of 11.2% and 8.7% with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.72 and 0.81 on the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve. The AUC to predict septic shock was 0.74 for the CURB-65 scale. The AUC was significantly increased when peak DNI was added to CURB-65 scale (p=0.007). CONCLUSION: This study suggested that the DNI is associated with septic shock in patients with community-acquired pneumonia. Clinically, the peak value of DNI added to CURB-65 scale could improve predictable performance of septic shock in patients with community-acquired pneumonia.
Area Under Curve ; Biomarkers ; Blood Cell Count ; Community-Acquired Infections ; Emergencies ; Granulocytes ; Humans ; Neutrophils ; Pneumonia ; Retrospective Studies ; ROC Curve ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Sepsis ; Shock, Septic