PUPPOSE: The purposes of the study were 1) to examine what relationships exist between PTE(perceived treatments effect) and PPS (perceived physical suffering) as the independent variables and hope as the dependent variable and 2) to examine whether PTE and PPS predict hope in cancer patients in their post-operative period within the Stotland's hope theory. METHOD: The Visual Analog Scale was used for measuring PTE and PPS and the Kim and Lee's Hope Scale which had acceptable reliability and validity was used for measuring hope. The data was collected from 38 hospitalized cancer patients who were in the post-operative period with a convenient sampling method. RESULT: There was a significant positive relationship between hope and the PTE in the low PTE group. There was a significant negative relationship between hope and the PPS in the low PPS group. There were no significant relationships between hope and the PTE in the high PTE group, and between hope and the PPS in the high PPS group. And the PTE explained hope with 71.2% of the variance in the low PTE group. CONCLUSION: PTE in the low PTE group and PPS in the low PPS group were identified as the factors to explain hope.
Hope* ; Humans ; Reproducibility of Results ; Visual Analog Scale

BACKGROUND: Various kinds of methods had been tried to reduce pain on injection of propofol. In this study, the effect of lidocaine pretreatment and that of temperature controlled injections were compared and evaluated its clinical utility. METHODS: One hundred and twenty patients were randomly allocated into 4 groups after permission. Room temperature propofol was used as induction agent in group P,. In group C, cooling (4 degrees C) propofol was used and warming propofol (37 degrees C) in group H. And room temperature propofol following lidocaine (1 mg/kg) was used in group L. Injection dosage of propofol was 2 mg/kg and injection speed was 2 ml/sec in all groups. In each patients, pain score and visual analog scale were measured and tested by ANOVA or Kruskal-Wallis test. RESULTS: There were no statistical significant difference in pain score among the 4 groups. But in visual analog scale analysis, group L markedly reduced values than the other groups by statistically significant manner (in Duncan grouping). CONCLUSION: The alleviating effect of lidocaine pretreatment on painful injection was better than that of changing temperature of propofol itself. More over effectiveness, in view of simplicity, we recommend lidocaine pretreatment.
Humans ; Lidocaine ; Propofol* ; Visual Analog Scale

PURPOSE: Coccygodynia is a painful condition localized in the region of the coccyx. Most cases of coccygodynia are treated conservatively. However, we conducted an analysis of patients who underwent coccygectomy, with chronic intractable coccygodynia and assessed the results of their treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From March 2003 to August 2013, this study was conducted in order to investigate the benefit of coccygectomy in cases where conservative treatment has failed. We compared preoperative and postoperative visual analog scales (VAS) scores and confirmed duration of symptom free, complications. RESULTS: The average duration of symptom free was 3.4 months, and VAS score improved from 7.3 to 1.6. There was one wound infection. CONCLUSION: We can obtain satisfactory results through coccygectomy for chronic intractable coccygodynia.
Coccyx ; Humans ; Visual Analog Scale ; Wound Infection

OBJECTIVE: According to the recent development of minimally invasive spinal surgery, direct lumbar interbody fusion (DLIF) was introduced as an effective option to treat lumbar degenerative diseases. However, comprehensive results of DLIF have not been reported in Korea yet. The object of this study is to summarize radiological and clinical outcomes of our DLIF experience. METHODS: We performed DLIF for 130 patients from May 2011 to June 2013. Among them, 90 patients, who could be followed up for more than 6 months, were analyzed retrospectively. Clinical outcomes were compared using visual analog scale (VAS) score and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). Bilateral foramen areas, disc height, segmental coronal and sagittal angle, and regional sagittal angle were measured. Additionally, fusion rate was assessed. RESULTS: A total of 90 patients, 116 levels, were underwent DLIF. The VAS and ODI improved statistically significant after surgery. All the approaches for DLIF were done on the left side. The left and right side foramen area changed from 99.5 mm2 and 102.9 mm2 to 159.2 mm2 and 151.2 mm2 postoperatively (p<0.001). Pre- and postoperative segmental coronal and sagittal angles changed statistically significant from 4.1degrees and 9.9degrees to 1.1degrees and 11.1degrees. Fusion rates of 6 and 12 months were 60.9% and 87.8%. Complications occurred in 17 patients (18.9%). However, most of the complications were resolved within 2 months. CONCLUSION: DLIF is not only effective for indirect decompression and deformity correction but also shows satisfactory mechanical stability and fusion rate.
Congenital Abnormalities ; Decompression ; Humans ; Korea ; Retrospective Studies ; Visual Analog Scale

OBJECTIVE: The cervicothoracic junction (CTJ) is a biomechanically and anatomically complex region that has traditionally posed problems for surgical access. In this retrospective study, we describe our clinical experiences of the treatment of metastatic spinal tumors at the CTJ and the results. METHODS: From June 2006 to December 2011, 23 patients who underwent surgery for spinal tumors involving the CTJ were enrolled in our study. All of the patients were operated on through the posterior approach, and extent of resection was classified as radical, debulking, and simple neural decompression. Adjuvant radiation therapy (RT) was also considered. Visual analog scale score for pain assessment and Medical Research Council (MRC) grade for motor weakness were used, while pre- and post-operative performance status was evaluated using the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG). RESULTS: Almost all of the patients were operated using palliative surgical methods (91.3%, 21/23). Ten complications following surgery occurred and revision was performed in four patients. Of the 23 patients of this study, 22 showed significant pain relief according to their visual analogue scale scores. Concerning the aspect of neurological and functional recovery, mean MRC grade and ECOG score was significantly improved after surgery (p<0.05). In terms of survival, radiation therapy had a significant role. Median overall survival was 124 days after surgery, and the adjuvant-RT group (median 214 days) had longer survival times than prior-RT (63 days) group. CONCLUSION: Although surgical procedure in CTJ may be difficult, we expect good clinical results by adopting a palliative posterior surgical method with appropriate preoperative preparation and postoperative treatment.
Decompression ; Humans ; Pain Measurement ; Retrospective Studies ; Visual Analog Scale

Clozapine has been demonstrated to be useful for treating refractory schizophrenia. However, hypersalivation occurs in 31.0-97.4% of the patients treated with clozapine. Accordingly, some patients who are disturbed by their hypersalivation refuse to continue with clozapine treatment. This study investigated the efficacy of the anticholinergic agent scopolamine butylbromide against clozapine-induced hypersalivation. Five schizophrenia patients were coadministered scopolamine butylbromide (30-60 mg/day) for 4 weeks. At the baseline and after 4 weeks' treatment, we subjectively evaluated hypersalivation using a visual analog scale and objectively assessed it using the Drooling Severity Scale and Drooling Frequency Scale. As a result, improvements in the patients' Drooling Severity Scale and Drooling Frequency Scale scores, but no improvements in their visual analog scale scores, were observed after scopolamine butylbromide treatment. These results indicate that at least some schizophrenic patients with clozapine-induced hypersalivation would benefit from scopolamine butylbromide treatment. We conclude that clozapine-induced hypersalivation is one factor of stress to patients. Subjective hypersalivation was not improved, but objective hypersalivation was, by scopolamine butylbromide treatment. However, scopolamine butylbromide and clozapine possess anticholinergic effects so clinicians should closely monitor patients who take scopolamine butylbromide.
Clozapine ; Humans ; Schizophrenia ; Scopolamine Hydrobromide* ; Sialorrhea* ; Visual Analog Scale

OBJECTIVE: In Korea, direct lateral interbody fusion (DLIF) was started since 2011, using standard cage (6degrees lordotic angle, 18mm width). Recently, a new wider cage with higher lordotic angle (12degrees, 22mm) was introduced. The aim of our study is to compare the clinical and radiologic outcomes of the two cage types. METHODS: We selected patients underwent DLIF, 125 cases used standard cages (standard group) and 38 cases used new cages (wide group). We followed them up for more than 6 months, and their radiological and clinical outcomes were analyzed retrospectively. For radiologic outcomes, lumbar lordotic angle (LLA), segmental lordoic angle (SLA), disc angle (DA), foraminal height change (FH), subsidence and intraoperative endplate destruction (iED) were checked. Clinical outcomes were compared using visual analog scale (VAS) score, Oswestry disability index (ODI) score and complications. RESULTS: LLA and SLA showed no significant changes postoperatively in both groups. DA showed significant increase after surgery in the wide group (p<0.05), but not in the standard group. Subsidence was significantly lower in the wide group (p<0.05). There was no difference in clinical outcomes between the two groups. Additional posterior decompression was done more frequently in the wide group. Postoperative change of foraminal height was significantly lower in the wide group (p<0.05). The iED was observed more frequently in the wide group (p<0.05) especially at the anterior edge of cage. CONCLUSION: The new type of cage seems to result in more DA and less subsidence. But indirect foraminal decompression seems to be less effective than standard cage. Intraoperative endplate destruction occurs more frequently due to a steeper lordotic angle of the new cage.
Decompression ; Humans ; Korea ; Retrospective Studies ; Visual Analog Scale

OBJECTIVE: To assess the health-related quality of life (HRQOL), the correlation among each measurement, and to identify the predictors for HRQOL in Korean patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). METHODS: The HRQOL and clinical and laboratory parameters were assessed by Short Form Health Survey-36 (SF-36), EuroQol5 Dimensions (EQ-5D), time trade off (TTO), standard gamble (SG), Centers for Epidemiologic StudiesDepression (CES-D), social support, self-efficacy scale, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI), Schober test, occiput to wall test, ESR, and CRP from 90 patients with AS. RESULTS: 78 patients (86.7%) were men with a mean (+/-SD) age of 28.4 (+/-7.9) years. The mean years of disease onset was 10.44 (+/-6.95). The mean scores of SF-36 global, mental component summary (MCS) and physical component summary (PCS) were 53.4 (+/-21.2), 61.8 (+/-26.3), and 51.7 (+/-24.4), respectively. The mean EQ-5D utility and visual analog scale (VAS) score were 0.63 (+/-0.2) and 57.1 (+/-18.6). The mean scores of the TTO and SG were 0.46 (+/-0.6) and 0.46 (+/-0.6). The scores of the SF-36 and EQ-5D in AS patients were lower than those in healthy control. The mean scores of CES-D, self-efficacy scale, social support and social network were 10.5 (+/-6.8), 65.3 (+/-14.6), 2.46 (+/-0.22), and 2.33 (+/-0.47), respectively. The mean score of BASFI was 2.48 (+/-2.13). The BASFI total score was negatively correlated with the scores of SF-36, MCS, PCS, EQ-5D utility and VAS score, social network, and self-efficacy scale, and positively correlated with CES-D. In multivariate models, the predicting variables of SF-36 global and PCS were BASFI and self-efficacy scale and the predicting variables of SF-36 MCS were BASFI, social support, and self-efficacy scale. CONCLUSION: In this study, we observed that HRQOL in Korean patients with ankylosing spondylitis is decreased compare to healthy control. And the efforts to improve HRQOL should be designed to improve the self-efficacy and social support in addition to active treatment to prevent functional disability.
Baths ; Humans ; Male ; Quality of Life* ; Spondylitis, Ankylosing* ; Visual Analog Scale

To determine the therapeutic effect of closed-needle irrigation of knee for pain from osteoarthritis(OA), we conducted a randomized, single blind, 8 week prospective trial study. A comparison was done between the closed-needle irrigation of knee and standard conservative treatment in 30 patients with non-end stage OA of the knee. Statistically significant differences (P<0.05) favoring closed-needle irrigation of knee over conservative treatment were noted by the Visual Analog Scale for pain in these patients. Overall assessments on effectiveness of therapy by patients(Patient's global assessment) and physician(Knee rating scale) were also statistically superior among closed-needle irrigation group. We conclude that the closed-needle irrigation of knee for the treatment of pain from osteoarthritis is an effective treatment and is superior than the traditional conservative treatment in therapeutic effect.
Humans ; Knee* ; Osteoarthritis* ; Prospective Studies ; Visual Analog Scale

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to investigate the correlation between the lateral scapular slide test (LSST) and shoulder subluxation, scapular position, pain on movement, Brunnstrom stage in hemiplegic patients. METHOD: 20 hemiplegic patients (right: 10, left: 10) were evaluated LSST in resting position at three different points (T2-Superior Angle, T3-Scapular Spine, T7-Inferior Angle) in three times of the both shoulder. Muscle power of shoulder, Brunnstrom stages, spasticity, subluxation degrees using X-ray studies and ROM pain degrees using Visual Analog Scale (VAS) were also evaluated to examine the clinical correlation RESULTS: This study showed the evidence of positive correlation with LSST and shoulder subluxation, ROM pain degrees using VAS at T7-inferior angle (p<0.05), and negative correlations with LSST with shoulder abduction muscle power and Brunnstrom stage. But, there were no correlations with shoulder spasticity and hemiplegic side. CONCLUSION: This study provided LSST can be a useful predictor of shoulder subluxation and it supposed that the glenoid fossa on the affected side was upward rotated compared to the unaffected side.
Hemiplegia ; Humans ; Muscle Spasticity ; Shoulder* ; Spine ; Visual Analog Scale