The fibrosis involved in gluteus maximus causing limitation of flexion and adduction of the hip has become a recognized clinical entity since the first report by Fernandez de Valderrma in 1969. Its most constant and characteristic histologic feature was substitution of the fibrous tissue in the definitive etiology was unknown but presumed to be multiple intramuscular injections. Authors present three cases of the fibrosis involving gluteus maximus. In two cases Z-lengthening was performed on the thickened fibrous bands with good results.
Fibrosis ; Hip ; Injections, Intramuscular

Various kinds of bone cements mixed with antibiotics have been widely used for treatment and prevention of infections, especially combined with bone defects. But bone cements have some disadvantages in that they are rather expensive and capable of incurring some complications such ss fibrosis of surrounding soft tissue or local erosion of bone, and furthermore, they must be removed after infection is controlled for bone graft to fill up the defects because they do not have properties of osteoconduction or osteoinduction. So we have come to the idea of using theoretically advantageous plaster of paris to take place of bone cements, and performed in-vitro experiment upon the effectiveness of plaster of paris pellets containing antibiotics, then obtained good results comparable to those from many experimental studies using bone cements. By this, we think that it would be possible in the future to treat and prevent infections supervening bone defects with plaster of paris mixed up with antibiotics. The results are as follows : 1. Sustained release of large amount of antibiotics from plaster of paris enough to exert inhibitory activity on abcterial growth, and there was a direct relationship between concentrations of eluted antibiotics and diameters of inhibitory zones. 2. Tobramycin was capable of inhibiting the growth of S. aureus, E. coli, and Ps. aeruginosa for 7 days at maximum. 3. Cephradine inhibited the growth of S. aureus and E. coli but did not affect that of Ps. aeruginosa. 4. The maximum antibacterial activity wss reached within first 24 hours from the start of elution of antibiotics from plaster of paris.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Bone Cements ; Bone Regeneration ; Calcium Sulfate ; Cephradine ; Fibrosis ; Tobramycin ; Transplants

Malignant growth of the small bowel accounts for approximately 1 to 3 percent of malignant tumors of the gastrointestinal tract. Leiomyosarcomas are the second most common primary tumor of the small bowel, their frequency being one-third to one-half of adenocarcinoma. The common clinical symptoms of leiomyosarcoma of the small intestine are hemorrhage and abdominal pain. Accurate diagnosis cannot be based on solely on the roentgenographic finding, although in certain situations the dignosis of leiomyosarcoma may be suggested strongly. We report a case of bleeding leiomyosarcoma located in the second portion of the duodenum which was first recognized by endoscopic examination and confirmed by explolaparotomy.
Abdominal Pain ; Adenocarcinoma ; Diagnosis ; Duodenum* ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Hemorrhage ; Intestine, Small ; Leiomyosarcoma*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Several prognostic factors are known to be related to the recovery of sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL). Recent studies have suggested that cardiovascular risk factors (CVRFs) are associated with the occurrence of SSNHL. However, the value of CVRFs as a predictor of recovery in patients with SSNHL has been rarely evaluated. We aim to evaluate the prognostic value of CVRFs in relation to hearing recovery of SSNHL. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: A total of 278 patients who were diagnosed and treated for SSNHL and who underwent blood sampling and follow-ups for more than 3 months were reviewed retrospectively. We reviewed CVRFs such as age, body mass index, blood pressure, cholesterol, smoking history, the presence of diabetes mellitus and other related underlying diseases. Patients were divided into three groups (low, medium, and high CVRF groups) according to the CVRF grades. Hearing thresholds were repeatedly measured on the initial visit, 1 week, 1 month and 3 months after treatment. Treatment outcome was analyzed by comparing hearing recovery rate and post-treatment audiometric changes among the three CVRF groups. RESULTS: Seventy (25.2%), 129 (46.4%) and 79 (28.4%) patients were included into the low, medium and high CVRF groups, respectively. The hearing threshold was significantly reduced at 3 months after treatment in all three groups (p<0.001). The hearing recovery rate of the low CVRF group was significantly higher than that of the medium and high CVRF group (p=0.011). On the last visit, the high CVRF group significantly showed more poor hearing improvement than the low CVRF group did (p=0.045). CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that the presence of CVRFs may be a poor prognostic sign for hearing recovery in patients with SSNHL.
Blood Pressure ; Body Mass Index ; Cholesterol ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural* ; Hearing* ; Humans ; Methods ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors* ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Treatment Outcome

Inflammatory pseudotumor is a rare, benign lesion of various organ and tissue that usually occurs in children and young adults. We report on a 35-year-old male patient with retroperitoneal inflammatory pseudotumor who was completely cured by surgical resection and steroid therapy.
Adult ; Child ; Granuloma, Plasma Cell* ; Humans ; Male ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND: Cryptotia correction by V-Y advancement of a temporal triangular flap was introduced in 2005. However, despite the several advantages of V-Y advancement, visible scars at the donor site are problematic. As a result, a Z-plasty technique was considered for skin deficiency in mild cases. Therefore, we introduce a new surgical scheme for cryptotia correction based on considerations of techniques and complications that arose in our clinic. METHODS: Between 2000 and 2013, 26 patients (35 cases) of cryptotia were treated. Seventeen patients had unilateral cryptotia and nine had bilateral cryptotia. Two corrective methods were used, Z-plasty or V-Y advancement, based on the severity. In mild cases, Z-plasty was used for correction and in severe cases, V-Y flap advancement was used for more skin supplement. RESULTS: Follow-up periods ranged from 6 months to 1.5 years. The results obtained were relatively favorable. Nine cases of mild deformity were corrected by Z-plasty, and the other 26 cases with mild or severe deformities were corrected by V-Y advancement. In Z-plasty cases, there was one hypertrophic scar and in V-Y advancement cases, seven resulted in visible scarring and three in skin sloughing. CONCLUSION: The main advantage of Z-plasty is a lower likelihood of visible scarring at the donor site. In mild cases, Z-plasty may be a good alternative, but in severe cases, V-Y advancement is probably the best option for more skin supplement.
Cicatrix ; Cicatrix, Hypertrophic ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Skin ; Tissue Donors

Tracheoesophageal fistula is a rare disease of abnormal communication between esopha- gus and respiratory system. The common causes are the acquired origins in adult such as trauma, infection of the adjacent organs, malignant tumor, and foreign body. Among the traumatic origins, chemical drug, the procedure of the dilatation on the stenotic area, blunt trauma(fall, collisions), penetrating trauma(bullet, knife), and pressure injury are much more common than others. Recently, trauma and foreign body in the esophagus and bronchus are becoming the main cause of the tracheoesophageal fistula, however the frequency of the development of tracheoesophageal fistula caused by the infectious diseases is getting decreased. Fibrinogen-thrombin glue stimulates the healing process of the wound and the ulcer. We treated a 52-year-old male patient with nan-inalignant tracheoesophageal fistula, who had symtoms of pharyngolaryngeal and chest discomfort concomitant with a paroxysmal cough on swallowing food which were caused by fish bone. The diagnosis of tracheoesophageal fistula was made by the esophagogram, chest CT, and esop aecopy. By using the therapeutic endoscopy with an injection of the fibrinogen-glue, the tracheoesopeal fistula was obliterated completely with dramatic symptomatic improvement. Here we conqluded that this method would be the one of the best methods for the treatment of tracheoesophageal fistula.
Adhesives* ; Adult ; Bronchi ; Communicable Diseases ; Cough ; Deglutition ; Diagnosis ; Dilatation ; Endoscopy ; Esophagus* ; Fibrinogen* ; Fistula ; Foreign Bodies ; Humans ; Intestines* ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Rare Diseases ; Respiratory System ; Stomach* ; Thorax ; Thrombin* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Tracheoesophageal Fistula* ; Ulcer ; Wounds and Injuries

Cryptococcosis is a disease caused by Cryptococcus neoformans, that most commonly affects immunosuppressed patients. Cutaneous cyptococcosis occurs in 10-15% of disseminated cases and its clinical manifestation is variable. We have presented an unusual manifestation of cutaneous cryptococcosis in a patient with iatrogenic Cushing syndrome. Clinically, the ulcers were considered to be pyoderma gangrenosum but the tissue biopsy and culture revealed cryptococcosis. This case illustrates that in making the diagnosis of pyoderma gangrenosum, one must exclude deep fungal infection.
Biopsy ; Cryptococcosis* ; Cryptococcus neoformans ; Cushing Syndrome ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Pyoderma Gangrenosum* ; Pyoderma* ; Ulcer

OBJECTIVE: Morphometric data for the sympathetic ganglia (SG) of the upper thoracic spine was investigated to identify the exact location of the SG in order to reduce normal tissue injury in the thoracic cavity during thoracoscopic sympathectomy. METHODS: In 46 specimens from 23 formalin-fixed adult cadavers, the authors measured the shortest distance from the medial margin of the T1, T2 and T3 SG to the most prominent point and medial margin of the corresponding rib heads, and to the lateral margin of the longus colli muscle. In addition, the distance between the most prominent point of the rib head and the lateral margin of longus colli muscle and the width of each SG were measured. RESULTS: The shortest distance from the medial margin of the SG to the prominent point of corresponding rib head was on average 1.9 mm on T1, 4.2 mm, and 4.1 mm on T2, T3. The distance from the medial margin of the SG to the medial margin of the corresponding rib head was 4.2 mm on T1, 5.9 mm, and 6.3 mm on T2, T3. The mean distance from the medial margin of the SG to the lateral margin of the longus colli muscle was 6.7 mm on T1, 8.8 mm, 9.9 and mm on T2, T3. The mean distance between the prominent point of the rib head and the lateral margin of the longus colli muscle was 4.8 mm on T1, 4.6 mm, and 5.9 mm on T2, T3. The mean width of SG was 6.1 mm on T1, 4.1 mm, and 3.1 mm on T2, T3. CONCLUSION: We present morphometric data to assist in surgical planning and the localization of the upper thoracic SG during thoracoscopic sympathectomy.
Adult ; Cadaver ; Ganglia, Sympathetic ; Head ; Humans ; Muscles ; Ribs ; Spine ; Sympathectomy ; Thoracic Cavity ; Thoracic Vertebrae ; Thoracoscopy

Paecilomyces lilacinus is an ubiquitous saprophytic fungus and very rarely pathogenic to the human. Although it has been reported to cause endophthalmitis, orbital cellulitis, prosthetic valve endocarditis, and pulmonary infection, cutaneous infection caused by Paecilomyces lilacinus has been rarely reported. A 46-year-old Korean man had asymptomatic slowly growing multiple cutaneous nodules on the left arm and wrist for 8 months. He received a renal transplantation in 1991 because of end-stage renal disease. Postoperatively, he has taken cyclosporin and deflazacort for immunosuppression. Physical examination revealed that the lesions were discrete or confluent, firm, elevated, well-defined fluctuating nodules. Histologic section showed multiple well-encapsulated intradermal abscesses with some foci of chronic granulomatous changes composed of lymphocytes, histiocytes and giant cells. PAS positive fungal hyphae and spores were also found. On the Sabouraud's dextrose agar media, the organism grew rapidly to form velvety lilac-colored colonies with shallow radiating furrows. Slide culture showed brush-like conidiophores ending in flask-shaped phialides carrying chain of conidia. Because of the poor response to the oral antifungal drug for 2 months, all the lesions were completely excised.
Abscess* ; Agar ; Arm ; Cyclosporine ; Endocarditis ; Endophthalmitis ; Fungi ; Giant Cells ; Glucose ; Histiocytes ; Humans ; Hyphae ; Immunosuppression ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Kidney Transplantation ; Lymphocytes ; Middle Aged ; Orbital Cellulitis ; Paecilomyces* ; Physical Examination ; Spores ; Spores, Fungal ; Wrist