Serum C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and erythrocyte sedimentation rates (ESR) were measured in 46 patients treated with uncomplicated primary hip replacements, 39 total tip replacements and 7 bipolar hip replacements. In uncomplicated primary hip replacements, ESR levels were slightly elevated preoperatively and were variable postoperatively. But CRP was normal before surgery and elevated in postoperative course, but back to normal within three weeks in most cases. Early success of hip arthroplasty is in indicated by normalization of CRP within three weeks, regardless of ESR. Since ESR seems to react somewhat differently from the CRP, both methods are useful in the monitoring of complications after hip arthroplasty.
Arthroplasty* ; Blood Sedimentation* ; C-Reactive Protein* ; Erythrocytes* ; Hip* ; Humans

Talus is an important structure of the ankle joint and its function is critical for ambulation and weight bearing. The talus fracture is rare, but the complications of fracture and dislocation are serious and resulting in avascular necrosis, osteoarthritis. So its treatment is carefully considered at initial status. Authors reviewed 11 cases of fracture and dislocation of the talus treated at Yeungnam university hospital from 1984 to 1991. The longest follow up was 8 years and shortest, 1 years. The results were as follows. 1. There were all males, the average age was 30 years old. 2. The most common cause was fall down (8 cases), and next traffic accident (2 cases), sports injury (1 case). 3. According to Marti-Weber classification, 1 case was type I, 1 in type II, 4 in type III and 5 in type IV. 4. The method of treatment were open reduction and internal fixation in 6 cases, the others were closed reduction in 5 cases. 5. Final results (by Hawkins grading system) were as follows, 3 cases were excellent, 4 cases were good, 1 case was fair and 3 cases were poor. 6. Complications were AVN in 2 cases, degenerative arthritis in 8 cases, malunion in 1 case. 7. The range of motion of the ankle joint was relatively preserved (74%), but in the subtalar joint it was decreased (43%)
Accidents, Traffic ; Ankle Joint ; Athletic Injuries ; Classification ; Dislocations ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Methods ; Necrosis ; Osteoarthritis ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Subtalar Joint ; Talus* ; Walking ; Weight-Bearing

No abstract available.
Follow-Up Studies* ; Lower Extremity*

BACKGROUND: The improved technique for cardiopulmonary resuscitation(CPR) has resulted in the survival of many patient who experienced cardiac arrest. However, mortality in resuscitated patients is high, and the survival rate without brain damage is very low. Various neurological examination models, neuro-imaging techniques, electrophysiological procedures, and biochemical tests have been studied with respect to the detection of cerebral damage and outcome, but an early, reliable prediction of individual outcomes is still uncertain. METHODS: We studied twenty patient who had been in a coma for more than 24 hours after CPR, Somatosensory evoked potentials(SEP) were measured within the first three days after CPR. RESULTS: Of the twenty patients, seven patients(35%) had a good outcome, and thirteen patients(65%) had a bad outcome. Of the eleven patients with loss of the cortical evoked potential's N20 peak, all had a bad outcome. CONCLUSION: SEPs are of great benefit in prognostic evaluation after CPR.
Brain ; Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation* ; Coma* ; Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory* ; Heart Arrest ; Humans ; Mortality ; Neurologic Examination ; Survival Rate

BACKGROUND: Doxylamine succinate(DS) is an antihistamine commonly used as an over-the-counter medication to relieve insomnia and frequently involved in overdoses. Its overdoses are dominated by anticholinergic effect. Recently it was revealed that DS had a direct effect on muscle, while its exact mechanism is not clear yet. We evaluated the patients with rhabdomyolysis induced by DS overdose for patients disposition based upon clinical decision, especially by creatinine phosphokinase(CPK). METHODS: We reviewed retrospectively the medical records of patients admitted by DS overdose from Jan. 1998 to Oct. 1999. Seventy and nine cases of DS overdose were evaluated with respect to age and sex distribution, amount ingested, clinical symptomatology, time from ingestion to visit, pattern of CPK, amount of bicarbonate used as therapy, complication and prognosis, especially in patients complicated rhabdomyolysis. RESULTS: Rhabdomyolysis, diagnosed as more than 1,000I. U/L of CPK, has been noted in 25(31.6%) of 79 cases of DS overdose visited to our emergency department(ED). In patients diagnosed rhabdomyolysis, the number of man was 10 cases(40%) and the number aged between 20 and 40 years was 22 cases(88%). The average time from DS ingestion to ED visit was 459 minutes. The amount of DS ingested was 500-5,000mg(mean, 1,980mg). 13(52%) cases ingested less than 2,250mg of DS. The initial levels of CPK(range, 48-14900I. U/L; normal range, 26-200I. U/L) after admitting to our emergency department were normal in 15 cases(60%) of rhabdomyolysis patients. The range of peak CPK levels after ingestion was 607 to 412,500I. U/L(mean, 33,550I. U/L). Its peak time was 6 to 96 hours(mean, 28.96 hours). In 14 cases(67%) of 21 visiting within 24 hours after ingestion, peak time of CPK ranged 12 to 24 hours after ingestion. The amount of bicarbonate used as therapy of rhabdomyolysis ranged 100 to 2,740mEq(mean, 656mEq) and all patients was discharged after improvement without other complication including acute renal failure. CONCLUSIONS : Although patients ingested less than 2,250mg of DS, emergency physicians should observe them more than 24 hours after DS ingestion with CPK follow-up after gastric irrigation and charcoal administration.
Acute Kidney Injury ; Charcoal ; Creatinine ; Doxylamine* ; Eating ; Emergencies ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gastric Lavage ; Humans ; Medical Records ; Prognosis ; Reference Values ; Retrospective Studies ; Rhabdomyolysis* ; Sex Distribution ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders ; Succinic Acid*

Generalized pustular psorissis which is originary described by von Zumbusch in 1910, is the most intense form of the acute exanthematic variant among psoriasis and it is to be occured as a rare disease. We presented a case of generalized pustular psoriasis of a 16 year-old girl, who suddenly developed wide spread pustules during the acute exacerbating course of the psoriasis which had started from the primary plaque on her left anterior chest one month ago. She was free from subjective symptom. As the objective sign, the leukocytosis was only one of the significant laboratory findings. All skin lesions were almost eleared by the oral administration of methotrexate in 3 months.
Administration, Oral ; Adolescent ; Female ; Humans ; Leukocytosis ; Methotrexate ; Psoriasis* ; Rare Diseases ; Skin ; Thorax

We have reviewed seven cases of fracture-separation of the distal humeral epiphysis, one of which was initially misdiagnosed as a fracture of the lateral condyle. There were difficulties in making the diagnosis. The injury must be distinguished from an elbow dislocation and a fracture of the lateral humeral condyle. All seven patients revealed posteromedial displacement of the distal humeral epiphysis on initial x-rays. Three patients were treated by closed reduction and cast immobilization, and four patients by open reduction and internal fixation. All three patients with conservative treatment had slight cubitus varus (under 5 degrees). Two patients with operative treatment had significant deformities of the elbow, one 25 degrees of valgus and one 20 degrees of varus. In treatment of these injuries, accurate evaluation of the state of reduction is most important. We got acceptable results with a conservative treatment.
Child* ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Diagnosis ; Dislocations ; Elbow ; Epiphyses* ; Humans ; Immobilization

No abstract available.
Empyema* ; Lymphoma*

Recently, the Supracondyle fracture of the femur is so severe and comminuted that it is difficult to treat open reduction and rigid fixation sufficiently due to violent traffic accident and external forces. The associated injuries are accompanied variously. So compliactions of the supracondyle fractures 'including joint.. stiffness, delayed union, infection are serious. However development of internal implant and operation skill result in relatively satisfactory function than conservative management. The authors reviewed. 20 cases of the supracondyle fracture of the femur treated at Yeungnam University Hospital from 1989. Dec. To 1992. Jan. The results were as follows 1. The male was common(70%). The 2nd-4th decade was most(87%). 2. The most common cause of injuries was traffic accident. The rate of open fracture was 35%, most of it was traffic accident. 3. According to the ASIF group classification, 4 cases were type A, 4 in type B, 12 in type C (10 in type C2&C3). 4. Accompanied injuries included multiple fractures in 9 cases and femoral artery injury in 1 case. 5. Among the 20 cases, conservative treatment was done in 5 cases and operative treatment was done in 15 cases. 6. Functional results (by Schatzker criteria) were as follows. The satisfactory results were achieved in 40% of cases in consevative treatment and 67 in operative treatment. 7. The average time of partial weight bearing was 15 weeks. 8. Complications were knee stiffness in 6 cases and 4 in delayed union.
Accidents, Traffic ; Classification ; Femoral Artery ; Femur* ; Fractures, Open ; Humans ; Joints ; Knee ; Male ; Weight-Bearing

During the period from March 1990 to November 1993, 22 children with diplaced supracondylar fracture of humerus were treated by closed reduction and percutaneous K-wire fixation at department of Orthopaedic surgery in Yeungnam University. All fracture were treated with closed reduction under the general anesthesia and percutaneous pinning. After the fracture was internally fixed, intraoperative anteroposterior reontgenograms of each distal humerus were compared. Only anatomical reduction ensured good result,, because the main cause of late cubitus varus was medial tilting of distal fragment. We could follow up 10 patients more than one year. By Flynn's criteria, satisfactory result were obtained in 9 of the 10. Unsatisfactory one had a limitation in flexion of elbow joint, but had no problem in cosmetic feature. In short term follow up of 7 patients, 5 patients had a satisfactory result, too. There were no neurovascular complication and hospitalization was shortened to 11.4 days. Closed reduction and percutaneous pinning provided stabillity, vascular safty, simplified management, reduced hospital stay. This is safe and reliable technique for obtaining and maintaining an exellent reduction.
Anesthesia, General ; Child* ; Elbow Joint ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Humerus* ; Length of Stay