Endoscopic sympathicotomy is the choice of the treatment for hyperhidrosis. There are some recognized risks such as Honer's syndrome and Hemopneumothorax; however, Chylothorax has very rarely been reported after thoracic sympathicotomy. We recently encountered a case of chylothorax. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment is noteworthy.
Chylothorax* ; Early Diagnosis ; Hemopneumothorax ; Hyperhidrosis

The objective of this study was to find out whether the unilateral distraction of mandible has an influence on temporomandibular joint and if it does, how significant the influence is. Four beagle dogs were used in this study. Each dog had two implants placed into the left mandible. The mandible was distracted for 14days with an distraction device as an amount of 0.75mm, twice per day after osteotomy between two implants. Each animals were sacrificed at the second, fourth, sixth and eighth week after the total distraction amount of 10.5mm were gotten. Upon embedding and staining, the specimens were evaluated with a light microscope. The results were as follows. 1. For the second week group, the articular cartilage and osteoid seam of temporal bone and condyle were relatively well maintained. There were not any significant differences between distraction side and non distraction side. 2. For the fourth week group, the periosteal reaction was activated and the articular cartilage and osteoid seam of temporal bone and condyle were severely thickened-especially at posterior portion of distraction side. This findings revealed that the unilateral distraction forces has more influence on distraction side than on non distraction side, and on posterior portion than on anterior portion. 3. For the sixth and eighth week group, the thickness of meniscus in distraction side gradually recovered to the initial level. The thickened articular cartilage and osteoid seam of temporal bone and condyle were decreased in distraction side and showed relatively stable in non distraction side. From this results, we suggest that several considerations are required such as using an occlusal splint, maintaining the stability of bone distraction device and evaluating bone distraction rate to minimize the damages of temporomandibular joint tissues in early stage of distraction side.
Animals ; Cartilage, Articular ; Dogs ; Mandible* ; Occlusal Splints ; Osteotomy ; Temporal Bone ; Temporomandibular Joint*

A thyroglossal duct cyst (TGDC) is the most common congenital anomaly of the neck. However, carcinoma arising from TGDC is extremely rare. We report 2 cases of TGDC carcinoma. In the first case, a 21-year-old male patient complained of an anterior cervical mass; computed tomography (CT) and sonography revealed cystic mass that was suspected to be a TGDC. Sistrunk operation was performed. Papillary carcinoma was confirmed in pathologic examination. Additionally, he underwent total thyroidectomy and central neck dissection. After radioactive iodine ablation (RAI) was performed. In the second case, a 28-year-old male patient visited our out-patient department complaining of submental mass. He had already been diagnosed TGDC carcinoma 13 years ago and had undergone Sistrunk operation and total thyroidectomy. Malignancy was confirmed using fine-needle aspiration; thus, lateral neck dissection was performed and following this, he underwent RAI. Till date, no evidence of recurrence has been observed in these patients.
Adult ; Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Carcinoma, Papillary ; Humans ; Iodine ; Male ; Neck ; Neck Dissection ; Outpatients ; Recurrence ; Thyroglossal Cyst ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyroidectomy ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVE: To find out the most useful method among three electrodiagnostic tests for carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) in patients with diabetic peripheral polyneuropathy (PPN). METHOD: Eighty-three hands out of seventy-four patients who had diabetic PPN and tingling sensation in their hands were included in this study. They were divided into two groups: Group A, PPN with CTS; Group B, PPN only. Fifty-four hands with CTS in patients without diabetes were included as a control group (Group C). Another forty normal hands were also included as a healthy control group (Group D). Clinical and electrophysiologic information was gathered from those subjects. Sensitivity, specificity and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves of the three electrodiagnostic tests, namely, the difference between the median nerve latency to the second lumbrical muscle and the ulnar nerve latency to the second interosseous muscle (L-I difference), ratio of distoproximal latency in median sensory nerve (MW ratio), and difference of distoproximal latency in median sensory nerve (MW difference) to diagnose clinical CTS were obtained. RESULTS: The specificity of L-I difference as a diagnostic test for CTS was highest (87.0%). The area of ROC curve of L-I difference was also highest (0.949) among three different electrodiagnostic tests of CTS with diabetic PPN. CONCLUSION: We suggest that L-I difference as the most useful test with highest specificity for the diagnosis of CTS in the patients with diabetic PPN.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome ; Diabetic Neuropathies ; Diagnostic Tests, Routine ; Hand ; Humans ; Median Nerve ; Muscles ; Polyneuropathies ; ROC Curve ; Sensation ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Ulnar Nerve

Peduncular hallucinosis that rarely reported in patients with brain stem lesion has several characteristics. The hallucination tends to be vivid, nonstereotypical images of person or animal. All the patients are aware that the hallucination is not part of reality. One of the suggested mechanisms of peduncular hallucinosis is imbalance among the cholinergic, serotonergic and other transmitting systems in the brain stem. We report two cases with typical features of peduncular hallucinosis which appeared about 30 and 12 months after pontine hemorrhage, respectively. We chose antipsychotics and selective serotonergic reuptake inhibitors for their medications, and their hallucinations disappeared about 2 months and 3 weeks after the medication, respectively. We suggest that peduncular hallucinosis should be considered in the patients with pontine hemorrhage if they complain of typical visual hallucinations.
Animals ; Antipsychotic Agents ; Brain Stem ; Hallucinations ; Hemorrhage ; Humans

Thoracoscopic sympathectomy is a common technique used to treat plamar hyperhiodrosis. The complications of thoracoscopic sympathectomy are rare. Recently, we experienced a complex regional pain syndrome(CRPS) after thoracoscopic sympathecotomy in a patient with hyperhidrosis. The treatment of this complication was chemical epidural sympathetic block and conservative pain control. The result of this treatment was good. The patient was recovered after one month.
Humans ; Hyperhidrosis* ; Pain, Postoperative ; Sympathectomy* ; Thoracoscopy

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of balance control of affected lower extremity on berg balance scale and gait in hemiparetic patients, using the newly developed balance control trainer of lower extremity. METHOD: Thirty five hemiparetic patients who could stand and ambulate more than 10 meters without assist on even surface were included in this study. The balance control trainer of lower extremity was designed to measure weight shift and knee flexion angle of hemiparetic side and to play a game named "Board cleaner" which use these data, so considering the vertical movement of the center of gravity. We measured above three parameters, and also evaluated with clinical tests including berg balance scale (BBS). We evaluated correlations between parameters on the balance control trainer of lower extremity and clinical parameters. RESULTS: Weight shifting to affected side statistically significantly correlated only with BBS. Affected knee flexion had statistically significant correlations with all clinical tests examined, especially 10 meters walking time (10mWT), timed up and go test (TUG), and BBS. Scores earned from board cleaner game also had statistically significant correlations with all clinical tests examined, especially 10mWT, TUG, and BBS. CONCLUSION: Correlation exists between the ability to control the affected knee measured by balance control trainer of lower extremity and clinical parameters including 10mWT, TUG, and BBS, so we think the balance control trainer can be a useful tool for the evaluation in hemiparetic patients.
Gait ; Gravitation ; Humans ; Knee ; Lower Extremity ; Walking

Pachydermoperiostosis (PDP) is a primary hypertrophic osteoarthropathy characterized by digital clubbing, pachydermia, and periostosis, which is inherited as an autosomal dominant or recessive trait. We report on a patient suffering from bilateral knee arthritis for 6 years who was newly diagnosed as PDP. PDP was confirmed by bilateral digital clubbing, hyperhidrosis, and cutis verticis gyrata, findings of pachydermatosis on the forehead and scalp, X-ray findings of proliferative periostitis. This case indicates that PDP is one of several possible rare diseases that should be considered in patients with undifferentiated arthritis.
Arthritis* ; Forehead ; Humans ; Hyperhidrosis ; Knee ; Osteoarthropathy, Primary Hypertrophic* ; Periostitis ; Rare Diseases ; Scalp

PURPOSE: Toxic alcohols are responsible for accidental and suicide motivated poisonings, resulting in death or permanent sequelae for the afflicted patients. Major therapeutic modalities in these cases include treatment with alcohol dehydrogenase inhibitors and extracorporeal elimination. There have been a number of case reports of toxic alcohol intoxication in Korea. The purpose of this study was to review the clinical characteristics of patients suffering toxic alcohol intoxication. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients who presented with toxic alcohol intoxication at 8 emergency departments (ED) from Jun 2005 to Nov 2011. Patients who ingested methanol, isopropyl alcohol, ethylene glycol, and other alcohols except ethanol, were included in this study. The clinical characteristics of these patients were analyzed to include anion and osmolar gap, and estimated concentration of alcohol in the body. RESULTS: During the study period, 21 patients were identified who had ingested toxic alcohol (methanol; 12 patients, ethylene glycol; 9 patients). At ED arrival, the mean anion gap was 18.7+/-6.9 and the osmolar gap was elevated in 13 patients. Oral and IV ethanol were administrated to 11 patients in order to inhibit alcohol dehydrogenase. Extracorporeal elimination procedures such as hemodialysis were performed in 9 patients. There were no fatalities, but the one patient suffered permanent blindness. CONCLUSION: This study found that ethylene glycol and methanol were the substances ingested which produced toxic alcohol intoxication. The patients presented with high anion gap metabolic acidosis and were typically treated with oral ethanol and hemodialysis.
2-Propanol ; Acid-Base Equilibrium ; Acidosis ; Alcohol Dehydrogenase ; Alcohols ; Emergencies ; Ethanol ; Ethylene Glycol ; Ethylenes ; Humans ; Korea ; Medical Records ; Methanol ; Renal Dialysis ; Retrospective Studies ; Stress, Psychological ; Suicide

The use of laparoscopic surgical techniques is now being applied to a variety of operations traditionally performed in an open fashion. The indication for surgery included polyps, obstruction, bleeding, and perforation. Small bowel perforation was usually treated with open surgery, but now, laparoscopic-guided bowel surgery is technically feasible and should translate into shorter hospitalization and less patient discomfort. Recently, we successfully treated a case of laparoscopic assisted suture of small bowel perforation. Here we report this case with a brief review of literature.
Hemorrhage ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Polyps ; Sutures