PURPOSE: To demonstrate the MR findings of large Schmorl's nodes(>1 cm). Method and Materials: Six hundredpatients underwent MRI and the results were retrospectively analysed. Eleven patients(1.83%) had 12 largeSchmorl's nodes. We analyzed the size, contour, location, signal changes and enhancement of these, as well asmarrow changes in adjacent vertebral bodies. RESULTS: Twelve large Schmorl's nodes were found in eleven of 600patients(1.83%) with a mean age of 46.1 years and a female : male ratio of 4 : 7. Their mean size was 1.35 cm(AP)x 0.99 cm(height) x 1.23 cm(transverse), and they were observed at various sites, namely lower(n=7) and upperend-plate locations(n=5). Central locations(n=8) on end-plates were most common. A semi-lunar appearance was notedin seven cases, and in most, a well-demarcated irregular margin was seen. All large Schmorl's nodes were enhanced; peripheral forms(n=8) were more common than diffuse(n=4). Adjacent discs showed no intranuclear enhancement butin seven cases there was flat-contoured enhancements in the annulus fibrosus. In disks with large Schmorl's nodes,degeneration was noted on T2WI regardless of the degree of diskal herniation. In nearly all cases, signalintensity on T1WI was low, but on T2WI, this was variable. Large Schmorl's nodes showed characteristic marrowchange in adjacent vertebral bodies ; the most common pattern was fatty and sclerotic(n=8). Especially onT1-weighted axial images, target appearances were visible in ten cases. CONCLUSION: MR findings of Schmorl'snodes will be very useful for differentiating nodes from other vertebral or diskal lesions, especially spondylitiscombined with diskitis or vertebral body tumor.
Discitis ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Retrospective Studies

Spinal stenosis was defined as any type of narrowing of the vertebral canal, nerve canals or intervertebral foramina. It is difficult to diagnose spinal stenosis due to obscure symptoms and signs, and there is not established theory on its surgical treatment. Two hundred and three patients who had been treated surgically for lumbar spinal stenosis between 1979 and 1985 at Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Seoul National University Hospital, were studied in an attempt to define the etiology and the diagnosis, and to assess the results of surgical treatment. They were followed up from 1 year to 8 years with average duration of 3.5 years. 1. Degenerative change in the lumbar spine was the principal etiologic factor in 142 patients (70.0%) Spondylolisthesis was found in 47 patients (23 1%). 2. Back pain(81.3%) and intermittent claudication(71.4%) were the predominant symptoms, and sensory (61.1%) and motor(59.6%) deficit were the leading signs. Limitation of straight leg raising was observed only in 12.3%. 3. The most common myelographic finding was hourglass defect(38.4%) and that of CT was facet joint hypertrophy(97.6%). Preoperative CT with myelographic findings were confirmed intraoperatively in 97.4%, revealing their diagnostic significance. 4. Total laminectomy combined with foraminotomy and posterolateral fusion was the most frequently employed procedure and performed in 153 patients(75.4%). 5. The results were classified as excellent or good in 88.2%. Whether or not Knodt rod was used for internal fixation, there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in reation to the results(P>0.05). Factors for satisfactory results were adequate decompression and posterolateral fusion with sufficient bone graft.
Decompression ; Diagnosis ; Foraminotomy ; Humans ; Laminectomy ; Leg ; Orthopedics ; Seoul ; Spinal Stenosis ; Spine ; Spondylolisthesis ; Transplants ; Zygapophyseal Joint

Hip fusion has provided disease eradication, stabilization, pain relief and strenuous activity, but the possible complication of pseudarthrosis as well as loss of all motion is a drawback. Total hip replacement arthroplasty has not been a good procedure for active young patients. This study was perforrned to clarify the indications, the best position, the functional results of hip fusion and the effect of hip fusion on the adjacent joint. The authors reviewed 32 cases of hip fusion performed at the Department of Orthopedic Sugery, Seoul National University Hospital during the period of 11 years from April 1973 to June 1984 and the following results were obtained. 1. The average age of the patients at the time of operation was 20.3 years. 2. Tuberculosis of the hip was the most common cause (56.2%). 3. The satisfactory fusion was obtained in 26 cases (81,2 %). 4. The average position of fusion was 20±9 degrees of flexion, 1±5 degrees of abduction and 10±4 degrees of external rotation. 5. Although there was a disability due to limitation of motion after hip fusion, leg length discrepancy was reduced from 3cm (preoperative) to 2.5cm (postoperative) and scoliosis was decreased from 18' of Cobbs angle (preoperative) to 12' of Cobbs angle (postoperative). 6. After hip fusion, walking capacity was increased and back pain was reduced. 7. Age was barely correlated with absolute clinical scores, but better functional results were obtained in younger patients than in older patients. 8. The results were excellent or good in 24 cases (75%).
Arthroplasty ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip ; Back Pain ; Disease Eradication ; Hip ; Humans ; Joints ; Leg ; Orthopedics ; Pseudarthrosis ; Scoliosis ; Seoul ; Tuberculosis ; Walking

The carpal injury is difficult to diagnose due to anatomical complexity and the like. So, in order to get radiological knowledge of normal wrist, the authors measured the values which will be described on the wrist PA and lateral roengenogram obtained from 440 normal wrists(male : 188 cases, female : 252 cases) in randomly selected patients. The following results were obtained. l. Ulnar variance(mm±standard deviation): Total 1.1±1.2 : negative variance : 9.3%, positive variance : 56.1%, 2. Scapholunate Gap(mm±standard deviation): Total 0.4±0.7, 3. Ulnar Tilt(degrees±standard deviation): Total 23.6±5.3, 4. Volar Tilt, 5. Carpal height rstio : Total 0.52±0.05 male 0.53±0.04 female 0.51±0.05 : Total 13.1±5.9, 6. Carpal ulnsr distance ratio Total 0.05±0.05, 7. Scapholunate Angle : Total 49.9'±10.1', 8. Capitatolunate Angle Total 17.5'±10.0', 9. Radiolunate Angle Total 8.8'±6.7', 10. Carpal width ratio Total 0.72±0.08 11. Carpal thickness ratio Total 0.49±0.07.
Female ; Humans ; Male ; Wrist

Local steroid injection is applied for the various problems in orthopaedic fields. Its not well known whether local steroid injection can induce or aggrevate the tuberculous lesion of the injection site. Tuberculous lesion of the shoulder and posterior compartment of the lumbar spine is rare, but rather commonly noted in the steroid injection group. Fifteen patients of tuberculous lesion(8 in shoulder and 7 in posterior compartment of the lumbar spine) after local steroid injection were treated surgically at the Department of the Orthopaedic Surgery, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, from Jan. 1980 to Agu. 1986, and following results were obtained; 1. The highest incidence was in the 6th decade and male to female ratio was 2: 13. 2. The average number of the injection was 16 times and the average duration was 6 months. 3. The duration from the last steroid injection to the first sign of the tuberculous lesion was from 2 weeks to 3 months and average 2.4 months. 4. Of the 15 cases, active tuberculous lesion at other sites were associated in 6 patients. 5. All cases were treated by complete curettage. It took 5.2 months for the primary wound healing. 6. Local steroid injection could induce or aggrevate the local tuberculous lesion. Radical extirpation of the lesion is the treatment of choice, but with high recurrence rate.
Curettage ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Recurrence ; Seoul ; Shoulder ; Spine ; Tuberculosis ; Wound Healing

Spinal fixation using pedicle screws has recently been the focus of increased attention, but the adequate size of pedicle screw and maximum percentage fill as related to the pedicle diameter and are not well known. The objects of this study were to determine the ideal ratio among pedicle, drill and screw diameter, and to determine the maximum percentage fill of the screw without significant decrease of pull-out strength. The materials used for the experiments were 376 thoracic pedicles obtained from the 38 young pigs, and the diameters of pedicles ranged from 3.0 to 8.5mm. After 40% to 100% drilling as compared to pedicle diameter, screws were inserted carefully, and measurements were taken of the outer pedicle changes and pull-out strengths, and adequate drill and screw sizes as related to the diameters of given pedicles were determined. It was found that pull-out strength was the strongest after 60% drill, and the larger the drill diameter, the smaller the holding power, and the larger the screw diameter, the greater the holding power. Maximum pull-out strength was seen at 80-90% fill with 60% drill. After sequentially drilling each pedicle with increasingly larger drill bits, larger screws could be inserted with pedicle changes such as expansion, cutout, split fracture, and comminuted fracture. after larger drilling up to 100%, pedicle screws with diameters smaller than 115% of measured pedicle diameters could be safly inserted without fracture and significant decrease of pull-out strength. It is concluded that effective percentages of drill and screw diameters to the pedicle diameter are 60% and 80-90% respectively, and pedicle screw up to 115% of measured pedicle diameter can be safely inserted into pedicle without significant decrease of pull-out strength. It is thought that fresh pedicle has elasticity and larger screw can be inserted to the pedicle with strong holding after larger drilling.
Elasticity ; Fractures, Comminuted ; Pedicle Screws ; Swine

Animal experiment was carried out to measure the physiologic changes of thoracic or thoracolumbar spine that occurred as a result of electrical stimulation, and to evaluate the usefulness of electrical stimulation as a possible treatment for scoliosis. Unilateral electrical stimulations were applied to the back muscle of immature rabbits.They were subgrouped into medial, intermediate, and lateral muscle stimulated groups in order to observe the effects of various electrode placements. The radiograms were taken every other week to observe the changes of the spinal curvatures for the period of 12 weeks. The histological studies of the muscles, which were obtained from the stimulated(right) and the nonstimulated(left) sides at the same level, also were carried out to determine the response of the muscles to the electrical stimulation. The results were as follows. l. A significant scoliotic curvature was observed two weeks after electrical stimulation, and those curvatures did not change more for the next six weeks in spite of prolonged stimulation. 2. Scoliotic curvature induced by electrical stimulation for eight weeks remained unchanged for another four weeks after stopping stimulation. 3. There were no statistical differences in the induced scoliotic curvature among the three groups stimulated at different sites of the medial, intermediate, and lateral regions respectively. 4. A prolonged unilateral electrical stimulation could induce the scoliosis, and may be used as a method for treatment of scoliosis.
Animal Experimentation ; Back Muscles ; Electric Stimulation ; Electrodes ; Methods ; Muscles ; Scoliosis ; Spinal Curvatures ; Spine

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the incidcnce of extrapericardial fat in the left cardiacborder, and with regard to left extrapericardial fat, to correlate chest radiographs with CT scans. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study involved 132 consecutive patients who underwent chest PA and lateral radiographs, and chestCT scans. According to the results of chest PA radiograph, patients were divided into three groups: those with aclear left cardiac border; those with an indistinct left cardiac border; and those with an indistinct left cardiacborder with increased density; cardiophrenic angle, as seen on lateral radiograph, the presence of increaseddensity in the anterior cardiophrenic angle, as seen on lateral radiograph radiographs was evaluated. On the basisof the results of CT scanning, patients were classified into four groups according to the amount of leftextrapericardial fat: negative, minimum, moderate, and maximum. Left extrapericardial fat, as seen on CT, wascorrelated with the conspicuity of left cardiac border seen on PA radiograph and the presence of increased densityin the anterior cardiophrenic angle, as seen on lateral radiograph. RESULTS: On CT, left extrapericardial fat wasobserved in 51 patients (38.6%). In 38 of these (28.8%), the amount was minimal, in 12 (9.1%), it was moderate,and in one (0.8%), it was maximal. On posteroanterior chest radiograph, clear, indistinct, and indistinct andincreased density of the left cardiac border was seen in 89 (67.4%), 28 (21.2%), and 15 cases (11.4%),respectively. On lateral radiograph, increased density of the anterior cardiophrenic angle was seen in 115 cases(87.1%) but in 17 (12.9%), increase density was not apparent. There was significant correlation between chestradiographs and CT(p<0.001) (sensitivity: 53%; specificity: 100%; positive predictive value: 100%; negativepredictive value: 84%). CONCLUSION: The conspicuousness of the left cardiac border, as seen on PA chestradiograph, correlated with the presence of left extrapericardial fat, as seen on CT, and was related to theamount of left extrapericardial fat. Increased density of the anterior cardiophrenic angle, as seen on lateralradiographs, correlated with the presence of left extrapericardial fat on CT, but the absence of increased densityon lateral radiograph corresponds to the absence or a minimal amount of left extrapericardial fat, as seen on CT.
Humans ; Radiography, Thoracic* ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Thorax* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Benign laryngeal injuries have been usually differentiated by the clinical finding. Traditionally the pathologic findings between the polyps and nodules by hematoxylin and eosin(H and E) staining looks alike. So we have used immunohistochemical technique to differentiate the laryngeal response to injury. We have studied 25 paraffin embedded tissues(20 cases: vocal polyps, 5 cases: vocal nodules) to compare their distribution of fibronectin and type IV collagen in vocal fold lamina propria by using their monoclonal antibodies. We have chosen fibronectin, a critical structural glycoprotein in the lamina propria, because of its deposition as a result of tissue injury and type IV collagen because of its location only in the basement membrane zone. The results were as follows: 1) In vocal polyps there were sparse fibronectin(less than normal) staining in superficial layer of lamina propria and the type IV collagen staining in basement membrane zone shows thin, normal thickness band form. These suggests that the injury often seems to be confined to the lamina propria only without basement membrane zone disruption. 2) In voal nodules there were intense fibronectin staining(more than normal) in the superficial layer of the lamina propria and the type IV collagen band in basement membrane shows thick and often coupled with disruption injury. The above results represent only two structural proteins, but it may be possible to suggest that the pathogenesis and the development origin of these laryngeal injuries are different. The deposition of fibronectin may explain why some nodules do not respond to voice therapy and suggest the following better treatment.
Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Basement Membrane* ; Collagen Type IV* ; Fibronectins* ; Glycoproteins ; Hematoxylin ; Mucous Membrane* ; Paraffin ; Polyps ; Vocal Cords ; Voice

OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to investigate the association between the dopamine D2 receptor (DRD2) genetic polymorphism [TaqIB (rs17294542) and TaqID (rs1800498)] and patients with schizophrenia. METHODS: TaqIB (rs17294542) and TaqID (rs1800498) polymorphism of the DRD2 gene were typed in 100 patients with schizophrenia and 109 normal controls. RESULTS: There were no statistical differences in genotype and allele distribution of TaqIB (rs17294542) and TaqID (rs1800498) genetic polymorphism between patients with schizophrenia and normal controls. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the TaqIB (rs17294542) and TaqID (rs1800498) polymorphisms of the DRD2 gene may not be associated with schizophrenia in the Korean population.
Alleles ; Genotype ; Humans ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Receptors, Dopamine D2 ; Schizophrenia