No abstract available.
Signal Transduction*

No abstract available.
Catheters* ; Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt*

OBJECTIVES: Nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP) is the treatment of choice and has been shown to reduce the frequency of nocturnal respiratory events, improve sleep architecture, and decrease daytime sleepiness in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). However, little is known about the compliance of nCPAP treatment in Korea. Our objective was to look into the nCPAP compliance and examine the factors influencing it. METHODS: We reviewed the records of one hundred and twenty consecutive patients with OSAS referred for nocturnal polysomnography with nCPAP pressure titration during the period of January 1995 through April 1999 to the Seoul National University Hospital. We performed a telephone interview and obtained data from eighty-three patients. RESULTS: In sixty patients who had accepted nCPAP treatment, twenty-six patients (43.3%) were still using nCPAP device, while thirty-four patients (56.7%) stopped using it. Fifteen patients (25%) were using nCPAP device everyday. In thirty-four patients who discontinued nCPAP use, twenty-five patients (73.5%) did within the first three months, and thirty-one (91.2%) within the first year. Significant predictor of long-term nCPAP use was the presence of subjective daytime sleepiness before nCPAP application. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term compliance with nCPAP treatment appears to be associated with the presence of subjective daytime sleepiness before nCPAP application. Long-term compliance with nCPAP may be mostly predicted from the usage pattern within the first three months of use.
Compliance* ; Continuous Positive Airway Pressure* ; Humans ; Interviews as Topic ; Korea ; Polysomnography ; Seoul ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive*

No abstract available.
Intestinal Atresia*

No abstract available.
Intestinal Atresia*

No abstract available.
Nephrectomy*

PURPOSE: To compare the functional and radiographic results of the treatment in unstable intra-articular fractures of distal radius by closed reduction and external fixation versus open reduction and internal fixation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty cases of unstable intra-articular fractures of distal radius were treated either by application of closed reduction and external fixation (CREF) or by open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) between March 1989 and June 1997. They were followed up for more than one year. To assess the functional results, we used Green and O' Brien' s score system and for the radiographic results, measured volar tilt, radial inclination and radial length. RESULT: In functional results, excellent to good results were obtained in 19 cases (76%) in the CREF group and 10 cases (80%) in the ORIF group, and the average score was 81.4 and 82.8 by the Green and O' Brien' s score system. In radiographic results, mean loss of volar tilt, radial inclination and radial length were 1.4 degree (13.4%), 2.0 degree (9.0%), 1.3 mm (10.3%) in the CREF group and 1.2 degree (10.8%), 1.6 degree (6.1%) and 1.2 mm (11.5%) in the ORIF group on last follow-up radiographs. There was no evidence of statistical difference between two groups in functional and radiographic results (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: If an appropriate operative method is selected according to the presence of several properties, including the pattern of fracture, the general condition and activity of patient and the degree of soft tissue injury, the two operative managements are considered useful to restoring articular congruity and alignment and to allow early postoperative range of motion exercise
Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Intra-Articular Fractures* ; Radius* ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Soft Tissue Injuries

A total of 15 revision total knee arthroplasties in infected cases had been followed for an average 31.4 moths(ranging between 1 year 4 months and 10 years) from 1983 to 1992 at Kyung Hee University Hospital. Average age of the patients was 60 years old (ranging between 27 and 80 years). Of the total 15 infected total knee arthroplasties, original diagnosis was osteoarthritis in 11 patients, rheumat,oid arthritis in three patients, and tuberculosis in one patient. In nine of 15 patients, causative orgamisms were not found. But such clinical evidences as increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate, draining sinus, local heating, intraoperative findings, and pathologic findings demonstrated the infection of total knee arthroplasty. In 15 cases, seven cases were early infection and eight were late infection. Two cases of tuberculosis were diagnosed with intraoperative pathology. The majority of prosthetic loosening was found on the tibial side. Several methods of treatment were applied to the infected cases. One-stage or two-stage reimplantation were used in seven cases, knee fusion in six cases, and conservative treatment was used in two cases. Average period from initial total knee arthroplasty to prosthesis removal of fusion is 20. 3 months(ranging between 11 months and 64 months). In cases of two stage reimplantation, antibiotic-mixed bone cement was implanted after removal of prosthesis to increase the local concentration of antibiotics. The average interval from prosthesis removal to revision in 4 cases of two stage reimplantation was 9.9 weeks(ranging between 43 days and 122 days). All patients were evaluated according to the knee rating Scale of Hospital for Special Surgery. Prior to revision operation in 7 reimplantation cases, the average knee score was 50.1 points, and the average range of motion was 70°. After revision, the average knee score was 81. 1 points. The average range of motion was 98°. Complete union was obtained in all cases of knee fusion. Even though at the time of follow up there has been no recurrence of infection after revision or fusion, long term follow up is needed. Interrmittent knee joint swelling and pus drainage were observed in conservatively treated cases.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Arthritis ; Arthroplasty ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee ; Blood Sedimentation ; Diagnosis ; Drainage ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heating ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Knee ; Knee Joint ; Osteoarthritis ; Pathology ; Prostheses and Implants ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Recurrence ; Replantation ; Suppuration ; Tuberculosis

No abstract available.
Drug Therapy* ; Humans ; Retreatment*

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to assess the complications, duration of admission, cost effectiveness, radiologic stabilization of the anterior cervical bone fusion in the treatment of cervical disc disease with and without plating. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-two surgically treated patients for cervical disc disease were reviewed. Group I consisted of consecutive treated patients with iliac auto-bone graft without instrumentation after anterior cervical discectomy. Group II consisted of consecutive treated patients with iliac autologous-bone graft with CASPER cervical plate fixations. Radiologic fusion was decided when loss of end plate boundary between graft bone and vertebral body and immobile, maintenance of the disc space were evident on simple dynamic plain films. The patients were discharged after the stabilization of cervical motion by films was of tained. These groups were analysed multiple variably with Mann-Whitney U-test. RESULTS: Group I consisted of 18 patients, group II consisted of 34 patients. Mean age was 49.0+/-8.1 years, mean duration of admission was 17.27+/-10.51 days, mean costs for treatment was 1,970,000+/-475,000 won. In group I, mean age was 47.7(34-60) years, 16 patients had undergo on one-level operation, 2-patients had undergo on two-level operation, mean duration of admission was 28.7+/-10.4 days, mean costs for treatment was 2,194,473+/-561,639 won. The periods of stabilization was 6.6+/-3.36 weeks on radiologic study. Mean periods of out patient follow up was 16.8(6-64) weeks after discharge. Mean period of radiologic follow up was 17.3(4-6) weeks after surgical operation. In group II, mean age was 49.7(37-62) years and 18 patients one-level operation, 14-patients had undergo on two-level operation and 2-patients three-level operation. Mean duration of admission was 11.24+/-3.29 days, mean costs for treatment was 1,850,823+/-389,372 won. The periods of stabilization was 5.88+/-7.07 weeks on radiologic study. Mean period of out patients follow up was 16.7(4-60) weeks after discharge. Mean period of radiologic follow up was 12.4(3-52) weeks after surgical operation. The duration of admission showed statistical significance in Group II but other items showed no significant difference between two groups. CONCLUSIONS: The more economic, early life return and effective method of cervical disc disease in our series were evident in patients who had undergone, iliac bone graft and plate fixations after anterior discectomy.
Cost-Benefit Analysis ; Diskectomy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Outpatients ; Transplants*