In this study, the number of physicians presently living in Korea thoroughly estimated by several means and, on this bases, their productivity and level of supply were estimated. The results were as follows : First, the number of physicians who did not notify the Korea Medical Association in May 1987 were 10,110, including 4,093 emigrant physicians(40.5%), 861 military medical officers, 745 public health doctors, and 107 decreased physicians. A total of 1,330 physicians could not be identified by any effort. Second, among the 34,897 registered physicians as of May 1987, 29,933(85.8%) were residing in Korea, 4,115 physicians(11.8%) had emigrated to other countries, and 849 physicians(2.4%) were decreased. Practicing physicians defined as those in Korea who were not retired, serving in the military, or completing residencies or internships, comprised 78.6%(27,414 physicians) of the total number of registered physicians. Third, it is estimated that in the year 2000 the number of registered physicians, physicians residing in Korea, and practicing physician will be 75,040, 64,038 and 57,655, respectively and these are increases of 115.0%, 113,9%, and 110.3%, respectively, compared to 1987. Fourth, the population physician ratio will be 759 to one physician in the year 2000. Fifth, the productivity of physicians, as calculated by relative values defining the productivity of 35 to 44 year-old male physicians as 10, will increase 110.7% in the year 2000 compare to that of 1987, and this increment is almost the same level as that of physicians supply. From the results of the present analysis of physicians manpower and supply projection, it can be recognized that the development of a regular notification system is necessary in order to identify precisely the number of physicians. Also a policy a physician supply is essential in order to adjust in advance the number of physicians, otherwise there will be surplus to the medical demand.
Adult ; Efficiency ; Emigrants and Immigrants ; Humans ; Internship and Residency ; Korea* ; Male ; Military Personnel ; Public Health

To provide the information necessary for the insurance medicine management plan, price discount rates among the insurance medicines were studied. A total of 2,107 items of insurance medicine of which prices were discounted via government inspections of real transactional process of insurance medicine were analysed. The conclusions are as follows; 1. Among the variables relevant to the characteristics of manufacturers, price discount rates of insurance medicines were statistically significant with production rankings of manufacturers, incorporation year, existence of investments by foreign corporation, existence of a research institute, and enrollment in the exchange. And among the variables relevant to the properties of medicines, the number of enrolled items which have the same components, classification, the date of new enrollment, the sales of items, and the number of raw materials in the items were statistically significant. 2. Stepwide multiple regression was done to identify the factors which affect the price discount rates of insurance medicines. The number of enrolled items which have the same components, production rankings of manufactures, classification number (medicines for function of tissue cells), incorporation year (1940-1949), existence of investments by foreign corporations, classification number (anti-germ medicines), number of raw materials in the items, the sales of items, and medicines whose major objective is not treatment were significant variables and the R2-value for these variables was 21.2%. Considering all of the above results, for management of insurance medicines, it seems important that the real transactional prices of insurance medicines should be identified systematically, focusing on the properties which affect the price discount rates of insurance medicines.
Academies and Institutes ; Classification ; Commerce ; Insurance* ; Investments

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the clinical outcomes and associated repair integrity in patients treated with arthroscopic repair for a transtendinous rotator cuff tear followed by resection of the remnant rotator cuff tendon. METHODS: Between July 2007 and July 2011, we retrospectively reviewed patients who were treated for transtendinous full-thickness tears in the tendinous portion of the rotator cuff by arthroscopic repair. Clinical outcomes were evaluated using the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score, the Shoulder Rating Scale of the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), the Constant-Murley score, a visual analogue scale (VAS) pain score, and range of motion (ROM). The repair integrity was determined by magnetic resonance imaging or ultrasonography. RESULTS: There were 19 shoulders with transtendinous full-thickness tears in the tendinous portion of the rotator cuff. The ASES, UCLA, Constant-Murley, and VAS pain scores showed significant improvements in function and symptoms (all p<0.001). The active ROM for forward flexion and abduction was also significantly improved (p=0.002 and p<0.001, respectively). The postoperative radiological examination showed cuff integrity without a re-tear in 68.4% of patients. However, the UCLA, ASES, and Constant-Murley scores were not significantly different between healed and re-torn group (p=0.530, p=0.885, and p=0.262, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Although repair of transtendinous rotator cuff tears followed by resection of the remnant rotator cuff tendon in the footprint has a relatively high re-tear rate, no significant difference was observed in the short-term clinical results between the re-tear and healed groups.
Arthroscopy ; California ; Elbow ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Retrospective Studies ; Rotator Cuff* ; Shoulder ; Surgeons ; Tears* ; Tendons ; Ultrasonography

BACKGROUND: The growth of elderly population increased the need for oral health care. Elderly patients with poor teeth alignment needs more attention with orthodontic treatment METHODS: Elderly patients visiting department of orthodontics, Kangdong Sacred Heart Hospital between 2000-2004 were treated with fixed appliances in one or both dental arches. Treatment plans were different from than that of younger patients and included uncommon and strategic removals of teeth and prosthesis. RESULTS: There was decrease in orthodontic treatment forces with increasing age, and the observation made from this study was favorable in the patients' as well as in the orthodontist's, point of view. It was possible to move the remaining teeth considerably, and the retention was made with various fixed appliances. CONCLUSIONS: Orthodontic treatment is not limited by patient age. However, it is wise not to extend treatment goals too far beyond the patients' objective needs
Aged* ; Dental Arch ; Heart ; Humans ; Oral Health ; Orthodontics ; Prostheses and Implants ; Tooth

The percutaneous pinning is a simple, effective method for the treatment of displaced supracondylar fractures of the humerus in children. But there is some controversy in the number of pins used and the method of pin insertion. The cross pinning method provides more stability at the fracture site but the risk of ulnar nerve damage is higher than in lateral pinning method, The senenty-one displaced extension type supracondylar fractures were treated by closed reduction and percutaneous cross pinning from January 1991 to October 1994. Among them, the medial pin was inserted in elbow extension in twenty-eight cases and in forty- three cases the medial pin was inserted in elbow flexion. Ulnar nerve injury occured postoperatively in six cases, in which the pin was inserted with the elbow in flexion position. These results may suggest that when percutaneous cross pinning method is selected to fix the supracondylar fracture of the humerus, it would be safer to insert one or two lateral pins with the elbow in full flexion position followed by one medial pin in extension position in order to reduce the risk of loss of reduction and ulnar nerve damage.
Child ; Elbow ; Humans ; Humerus ; Methods ; Ulnar Nerve

PURPOSE: The authors applied modified Bilhaut-Cloquet procedure to convergent type of Wassel type IV duplicated thumb. In order to avoid secondary Z-deformity and dysfunction of the reconstructed thumb, the authors modified operative techniques of Bilhaut-Clopuet procedure. METHODS: Fourteen patients received Bilhaut-Cloquet procedures to correct duplicated thumbs from October 2008 to May 2013. Five patients were balanced type and nine patients were unbalanced type. Mean age at the operation was 20.1 month-old (range, 12-52 month-old). Angular deformity, joint stability, range of joint motion and cosmetic outcome were estimated based on Tada score. Postoperative subjective satisfaction score of the parents was evaluated using a 100-points scale. RESULTS: Mean subjective satisfaction score was 75 points at 28 months after the operation. Radiologic study showed bony union of proximal phalangeal bone and stable joint in all patients. Mean range of motion was 20 degrees in interphalangeal joint and 73 degrees in metacarpophalangeal joint. Based on Tada score, the results were good in ten patients (72%), fair in two (14%) and poor in two (14%). Seven patients who were able to follow up for a long term showed no significant difference in length of proximal and distal phalangeal bones compared to the opposite thumb. CONCLUSION: Modified Bilhaut-Cloquet procedure can be applied not only to balanced type of convergent Wassel type IV duplicated thumb, but also to unbalanced type, that focused on functional reconstruction and cosmetic improvement.
Congenital Abnormalities ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Joints ; Metacarpophalangeal Joint ; Parents ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Thumb*

PURPOSE: The purpose was to evaluate the efficiency of vein repair on flap survival in distally based avulsion flap injury of the hand and forearm. METHODS: Sixteen cases of distally based avulsion flap injury larger than 30 cm2 in size of the hand and forearm in which vein repair was done were enrolled. All had a avulsion injury by rolling machine. To survive the flap, extensive debridement was done to reduce the size of distally based flap injury as little as possible. Thereafter, an average of 1.4 vein were repaired. Postoperatively, hyberbaric oxygen therapy was performed for 2 weeks. The flap survival was assessed at three weeks after operation. RESULTS: When comparing the size of distally based avulsion flap injury and flaps that survived after operation, excellent results were observed in 12 cases, and good results in 4 cases. Additional operation was required including split thickness skin graft in 4 cases. A reverse island fasciocutaneous flap was performed in one case, and elbow joint arthrolysis was performed in another one. CONCLUSION: Treatment of distally based avulsion flap injury of the hand and forearm using vein repair lead to relatively satisfying results in flap survival by allowing earlier motion of the joint, providing favorable functional results.
Debridement ; Elbow Joint ; Forearm* ; Hand* ; Joints ; Oxygen ; Skin ; Transplants ; Veins*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this prospective study is to examine the anatomical variations of the branches of the medial antebrachial cutaneous nerve in Koreans encountered during cubital tunnel surgery. METHODS: Ninety two patients with cubital tunnel syndrome were treated with a standard approach from December 2008 to July 2012. The position of the branches of medial antebrachial cutaneous nerve was evaluated based on the medial humeral epicondyle with the elbows fully extended. RESULTS: At least one medial antebrachial cutaneous nerve branch was found during the surgeries in all patients. The average number of crossing medial antebrachial cutaneous nerve branches per patient was 1.6. Thirty-eight percent of the cases showed that the medial cutaneous nerve branches cross proximal to the medial humeral epicondyle within 1 cm. Eighty-two percent showed that the medial antebrachial cutaneous nerve branches cross distal to the medial humeral epicondyle within 1.9 cm. CONCLUSION: When using standard approach during cubital tunnel surgery, more than one medial forearm cutaneous nerve is found. Therefore, understanding the general position of medial antebrachial cutaneous nerve branches helps avoid iatrogenic damage to this nerve during cubital tunnel surgery.
Cubital Tunnel Syndrome ; Elbow ; Forearm ; Humans ; Prospective Studies

PURPOSE: We present the clinical results and operative method of the immediate eponychium of nail fold set back for lengthening of nails caused by acute fingertip injuries. METHODS: The research was conducted with a total of 172 patients during the period from January 2014 to June 2016. The operation method was performed in a way to fold down the two sides of the nail eponychium and had suture. A survey of the patients' subjective satisfaction was conducted and the relative nail length was compared before and after the operation as well as the nail length of the uninjured contralateral finger. The mean follow-up period was 18.2 weeks. RESULTS: In all cases, the operation time was under 3 minutes. There were no specific complications such as nail eponychium's necrosis or congestion. The new nail did not have any additional deformation. On average, the extended nail length was 3.2 mm. Compared with preoperation, the average extension ratio of the nail length was 48%, even with 75% of nail length recovery in comparison with the uninjured contralateral finger. The subjective self-satisfaction score was 92.5 on average. The satisfaction score was higher for patients who had greater remnant nail length. CONCLUSION: Immediate nail lengthening with the eponychial folding is a simple, safe and useful method with high subjective satisfaction in aesthetics for the patients with acute fingertip injuries.
Esthetics ; Estrogens, Conjugated (USP) ; Fingers* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Methods ; Necrosis ; Sutures

PURPOSE: To investigate the characteristics of the limbal epithelial cells auto-cultivated in vivo on amniotic membrane (LIVAMs) designed for the treatment of limbal stem cell deficiency. METHODS: We removed the epithelium of AM with a No.15 blade after it was blotted with 20% ethanol and made a 360 degrees stromal flap along the epithelial defect. We then mounted over-sized AM (1 mm larger in diameter than the defect) over the defect with the border of AM inserted under the flap, and performed interrupted suture with 10-0 nylon. A therapeutic contact lens was fitted over the AM and a temporary tarsorrhaphy was performed. To examine whether the limbal epithelial cells grew well onto AM, we observed the cornea after fluorescein dye staining using a slit lamp. To explore the characteristics of LIVAMs, we performed hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining, immunochemical staining with AK-2, AE-5, AM-3 monoclonal antibodies, and transmission electron microscopy. RESULTS: Three of four rabbits had successful epithelial growth on the amniotic membrane. The epithelial growth on the amniotic membrane was stained using immunohistochemical staining (AK-2, AE-5). Electron microscopy showed a structure similar to that of a normal corneal epithelium. CONCLUSIONS: The technique of auto-cultivation of limbal epithelial cells in vivo on amniotic membrane can be an efficient and convenient method and preserves the characteristics of limbal epithelial cells for the treatment of limbal stem cell deficiency.
Amnion* ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Cornea ; Epithelial Cells* ; Epithelium ; Epithelium, Corneal ; Ethanol ; Fluorescein ; Microscopy, Electron ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Nylons ; Rabbits* ; Stem Cells ; Sutures