BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to make a comparative analysis of the clinical outcomes after the operative treatment of refractory medial epicondylitis between the suture anchor group and the non-suture anchor group. METHODS: We enrolled 20 patients (7 men and 13 women) with recalcitrant medial epicondylitis who were able to receive operative treatment in a minimum of an 18-month follow-up. The mean age was 48.6 years (range, 36-59 years). The patients were allocated into either the suture anchor group (7 patients) or the non-suture anchor group (13 patients). We evaluated clinical outcomes using the visual analog scale (VAS), the pain grading system of Nirschl and Pettrone, and postoperative grip strength. RESULTS: The VAS score decreased from 8.8 to 2.0 for the suture anchor group and from 8.6 to 1.3 for the non-suture anchor group (p=0.16). The postoperative grip strength was 95%, 93% of the non-treated arm in both groups (p=0.32). The postoperative satisfaction level was good in 5 patients and fair in 2 for the suture anchor group and excellent in 5 patients, good, in 4, and fair, in 4 for the nonsuture anchor group (p=0.43). The clinical outcomes did not show a statistically significant difference between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: We found that patients with recalcitrant medial epicondylitis were treated reliably with satisfactory clinical outcomes whether or not suture anchors were used. We believe the use of suture anchors when more than 50% of the tendon origin is affected provides an effective and favorable treatment modality.
Arm ; Elbow ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hand Strength ; Humans ; Male ; Suture Anchors* ; Sutures* ; Tendons ; Visual Analog Scale

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to make a comparative analysis of the clinical outcomes after the operative treatment of refractory medial epicondylitis between the suture anchor group and the non-suture anchor group. METHODS: We enrolled 20 patients (7 men and 13 women) with recalcitrant medial epicondylitis who were able to receive operative treatment in a minimum of an 18-month follow-up. The mean age was 48.6 years (range, 36-59 years). The patients were allocated into either the suture anchor group (7 patients) or the non-suture anchor group (13 patients). We evaluated clinical outcomes using the visual analog scale (VAS), the pain grading system of Nirschl and Pettrone, and postoperative grip strength. RESULTS: The VAS score decreased from 8.8 to 2.0 for the suture anchor group and from 8.6 to 1.3 for the non-suture anchor group (p=0.16). The postoperative grip strength was 95%, 93% of the non-treated arm in both groups (p=0.32). The postoperative satisfaction level was good in 5 patients and fair in 2 for the suture anchor group and excellent in 5 patients, good, in 4, and fair, in 4 for the nonsuture anchor group (p=0.43). The clinical outcomes did not show a statistically significant difference between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: We found that patients with recalcitrant medial epicondylitis were treated reliably with satisfactory clinical outcomes whether or not suture anchors were used. We believe the use of suture anchors when more than 50% of the tendon origin is affected provides an effective and favorable treatment modality.
Arm ; Elbow ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hand Strength ; Humans ; Male ; Suture Anchors ; Sutures ; Tendons ; Visual Analog Scale

OBJECTIVE: This study was to investigate the factors that influence the propensity of Koreans in choosing care settings of dementia patients. METHODS: This study analyzed the data from the '2014 Nationwide Survey on Dementia Awareness of Koreans' that was conducted by the National Institute of Dementia. Korean's perception of care burden for dementia was measured with grading on its types. Also its influences on preference for care between facilities and homes were evaluated using multivariate analysis with socio-demographic characteristics. RESULTS: In terms of preferred care settings, respondents preferred facilities over homes in case of themselves and their family, respectively 77.5% and 68.2%. The preference for facilities was significantly influenced by the respondents' age for both themselves and their family. Additionally, the perception of relatively higher emotional and physical burden compared to economic burden significantly influenced preference for facilities for their family. CONCLUSION: Improving public awareness and setting-up a practical social supporting system are needed to reduce emotional and physical burden as well as economic burden of dementia. Furthermore, building up an appropriate and safer communities for dementia patients and their caregivers is much demanded for reducing their burdens.
Caregivers ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Dementia* ; Humans ; Multivariate Analysis

PURPOSE: Our purpose was to assess the results of lunate excision and tendon ball implantation with temporary scaphocapitate fixation for Lichtman stage IIIB Kienbockos disease in middle-aged patients. METHODS: Ten patients with Lichtman stage IIIB Kienbock's disease who underwent lunate excision and tendon ball implantation and followed up at least 24 months were analyzed. There were 4 males and 6 females. The mean age at the time of surgery was 55.4 years (range, 48-67 years), and follow-up period ranged from 24 to 68 months (mean, 46 months). Radiocarpal joint pain, grip strength, return to daily living activity, range of motion were evaluated and radiologic findings of preoperative, postoperative and last follow-up were evaluated. RESULTS: All patients returned to daily living activity after 6 months of surgery. At the last follow up, 8 patients had no pain and 2 patients experienced mild pain occasionally. The mean improvement of extension arc was 14.5degrees, and the mean flexion arc improved 8.5degrees. The mean grip strength was 88% of unaffected side. The mean carpal height ratio was 0.49 preoperatively, 0.47 at final follow-up. No patients showed osteoarthritis change at the last follow-up. The mean Cooney's wrist function were 83, 4 patients had excellent, 4 had good, and 2 had fair. CONCLUSION: Lunate excision and tendon ball implantation with temporary scaphocapitate fixation for Lichtman stage IIIB Kienbock's disease in middle-aged patients showed satisfactory clinical, functional and radiological results. So this can be a reasonable treatment option.
Activities of Daily Living ; Arthralgia ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hand Strength ; Humans ; Male ; Osteoarthritis ; Osteonecrosis* ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Tendons* ; Wrist

PURPOSE: Although the diagnosis of foreign bodies in the airway can be made early, retained and neglected foreign bodies are a common occurrence. The objective of this study was to characterize the clinical features of children diagnosed beyond 14 days following inhalation of a foreign body, long-standing foreign body in airway(LFB). METHODS: We reviewed the records of 180 cases of airway foreign body, noting the age, symptoms and signs, types and location of foreign body, chest radiographs, and lung perfusion scan findings, and compared these findings of children diagnosed within 14 day(short-term foreign body in airway : SFB, n=130) with those of LFB(n=50). RESULTS: Of chief complaints on admission, sputum was more frequent in LFB(24.0%) than in SFB(6.9%). The age distribution was similar, but the proportion of patients aged 3 to 6 years was higher in LFB(16.0%) compared with SFB(3.9%). Of the types of foreign body, plastic was more common in LFB. Abnormal chest radiographic findings were more frequent in LFB(94.0%) than in SFB(80.6%), while the location within the bronchial tree was similar. Hypoperfusion on lung scan was noted in all patients except one in LFB(93.8%). CONCLUSION: There was some difference in age distribution, sputum production, type of foreign body, and abnormal radiographic and perfusion scan findings between SFB and LFB. This suggests that retained foreign bodies may present atypical clinical manifestation and physicians should be alert to the possibility of airway foreign body in children with chronic respiratory symptoms or signs.
Age Distribution ; Child ; Diagnosis ; Foreign Bodies* ; Humans ; Inhalation ; Lung ; Perfusion ; Plastics ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Sputum

Objectives: This review aims to present relevant considerations for the surgical treatment of spinal deformities accompanied by osteoporosis, how surgeons are trying to overcome the challenges posed by osteoporosis in patients with spinal deformities, and directions of further development.Summary of literature Review: Various trials have been done to overcome the short- and long-term complications associated with osteoporosis in order to achieve successful clinical results in the surgical treatment of spinal deformities. Materials and Methods: Review of the relevant articles. Results: The surgical goal of treating spinal deformities is to reverse neurological compromise and to restore balanced spine alignment. To achieve these goals, several surgical considerations should be kept in mind. Osteoporosis is an important issue related to early and long-term complications following surgery. As ways of overcoming the challenges posed by osteoporosis, rigid fixation techniques, proper selection of the fusion level, perioperative medical treatment, and effective bone grafting materials are described herein; however, further development in these domains is also necessary. Conclusions Osteoporosis may be a major obstacle in spinal deformity surgery. Although several effective attempts have been made to overcome these limitations, further research and trials are needed to obtain better results.

Antithrombin III deficiency is an autosomal dominant disorder, which is manifested by recurrent venous thromboembolisms, such as: deep vein thrombosis and/or pulmonary embolism, but arterial embolisms are very rare. We report a case of a patient with hereditary antithrombin III deficiency, manifested by myocardial infarction and deep vein thrombosis.
Antithrombin III Deficiency* ; Antithrombin III* ; Embolism ; Humans ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Pulmonary Embolism ; Thromboembolism ; Venous Thrombosis*

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study. OBJECTIVES: To compare surgical outcomes such as the ambulatory period and survival according to different surgical excision tactics for metastatic spine tumors (MSTs). SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: Surgical outcomes, such as pain relief and survival, in patients with MSTs have been reported in several studies, but the effects of differences in surgical extent on the ambulatory period have rarely been reported. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ninety-six patients with MSTs who underwent palliative (n=60) or extensive wide excision (n=36) were included. Palliative excision was defined as partial removal of the tumor as an intralesional piecemeal procedure for decompression. Extensive wide excision was defined as a surgical attempt to remove the whole tumor at the index level as completely as possible. The primary outcome was the ambulatory period following surgery. Other demographic and radiographic parameters were analyzed to identify the risk factors for loss of ambulatory ability and survival. Perioperative complications were also assessed. RESULTS: The mean postoperative ambulatory period was longer in the extensive wide excision group (average 14.8 months) than in the palliative excision group (average 11.7 months) (p=0.021). The survival rates were not significantly different between the two surgical excision groups (p=0.680). However, postoperative ambulatory status and major complications within 30 days postoperatively were significant prognostic factors for survival (p=0.003 and p=0.032, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The extent of surgical excision affected the ambulatory period, and the complication rates were similar, regardless of surgical excision tactics. A proper surgical strategy to achieve postoperative ambulatory ability and to reduce perioperative complications would have a favorable effect on survival.
Decompression ; Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Spine ; Survival Rate ; Walking

OBJECTIVES: To compare surgical outcomes such as the ambulatory period and survival according to different surgical excision tactics for metastatic spine tumors (MSTs).SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: Surgical outcomes, such as pain relief and survival, in patients with MSTs have been reported in several studies, but the effects of differences in surgical extent on the ambulatory period have rarely been reported. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ninety-six patients with MSTs who underwent palliative (n=60) or extensive wide excision (n=36) were included. Palliative excision was defined as partial removal of the tumor as an intralesional piecemeal procedure for decompression. Extensive wide excision was defined as a surgical attempt to remove the whole tumor at the index level as completely as possible. The primary outcome was the ambulatory period following surgery. Other demographic and radiographic parameters were analyzed to identify the risk factors for loss of ambulatory ability and survival. Perioperative complications were also assessed. RESULTS: The mean postoperative ambulatory period was longer in the extensive wide excision group (average 14.8 months) than in the palliative excision group (average 11.7 months) (p=0.021). The survival rates were not significantly different between the two surgical excision groups (p=0.680). However, postoperative ambulatory status and major complications within 30 days postoperatively were significant prognostic factors for survival (p=0.003 and p=0.032, respectively). CONCLUSIONS The extent of surgical excision affected the ambulatory period, and the complication rates were similar, regardless of surgical excision tactics. A proper surgical strategy to achieve postoperative ambulatory ability and to reduce perioperative complications would have a favorable effect on survival.

Purpose: This study evaluates the radiation shielding performance of a new lead-free tungsten-based sheet to reduce the radiation exposure of operators and patients under C-arm fluoroscopy. Materials and Methods: A non-lead radiation shielding sheet (ROO201128; Pentas, Korea) was fabri-cated using tungsten and bismuth. The dose measurements were conducted using a C-arm fluoroscopy machine at 64 kVp and 1.5 mA, assuming two possible scenarios according to the position of the sheet. In each scenario, measurements were conducted at three distances (30, 60, and 90 cm) away from the beam center and in three directions (cephal, caudal, and operator’s direction). Results: In the area within a radius of 60 cm from the beam center, the measured doses were reduced by 66.3% on mean, and the doses measured at distances more than 60 cm were less than 0.1 mSv/h in both scenarios. The most beneficial utilization of the lead-free shielding sheet was verified during C-arm fluoroscopy by placing the sheet on the X-ray tube. The operator’s radiation exposure was reduced by 56.6% when the sheet was placed under the phantom, and by 81.0% when the sheet was placed on the X-ray tube. Conclusion The use of lead-free radiation shielding sheets under C-arm fluoroscopy was effective in reducing radiation exposure, and the most beneficial scenario in which the sheet can be utilized was verified when the sheet was placed on the X-ray tube.