OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this retrospective study is to review the clinical results, fusion rate, quality of reduction and stabilization and effects of cages in the intervertebral space in spondylolisthesis. METHODS: Authors reviewed retrospectively 30 patients who were treated with instrumentation and posterior lumbar interbody fusion(PLIF) between April 1996 to December 1997. RESULTS: Among 30 patients, 13 patients were degenerative type and 17 were isthmic types. The most commonly involved level was L4-5(16cases, 53.3%). Fusion was obtained in 29 patients(96.7%). Clinically, 14 of 17 patients(82.3%) showed excellent or good results in isthmic group, and 11 of 13 patients(84.6%) showed excellent or good results in degenerative group. Postoperative complications developed in three cases(10%), wound infection two cases(6.6%), cage retrodisplacement one case(3.3%). CONCLUSION: PLIF combined with transpedicular instrumentation in lumbar spondylolisthesis showed in all clinical results and fusion rate.
Humans ; Postoperative Complications ; Retrospective Studies ; Spondylolisthesis* ; Wound Infection

Comprehensive prevention and treatment of burn infection should be further enhanced, as monotonous treatment is prone to fail to get satisfying curative effects. In the articles to be published in this issue, causative factors for burn infection are analyzed in depth and discussed from different angles, and they will lay the foundation for the comprehensive prevention and treatment of burn infection.
Burns ; complications ; prevention & control ; therapy ; Humans ; Infection Control ; methods ; Wound Infection ; etiology ; prevention & control

PURPOSE: Resection of the bowel or solid organs may be required for pelvic tumor surgery. The present study was performed to assess combined surgical procedures and determine the role of the general surgeon in gynecologic oncology surgery METHODS: We performed a retrospective study of 135 patients with gynecologic malignancy who underwent a combined operation with a general surgeon between January 2000 and December 2005 at Asan Medical Center. The purpose of the combined operation was categorized into 3 groups: a tumor debulking operation, a resolution of intraoperative complications by a gynecologic surgeon, or an intraoperative diagnostic change. RESULTS: The incidence of combined operations for debulking, resolution of intraoperative complications, and intraoperative diagnostic changes were 103 cases (76.3%), 22 cases (16.3%), and 10 cases (7.4%), respectively. Ovarian cancer was the most common gynecologic malignancy (74.1%) and the rate of a combined operation with a general surgeon in ovarian cancer was 18.5% during the time period. Colorectal resection was the most common procedure by a colorectal surgeon (61.5%). Twenty four patients (17.8%) experienced postoperative complications, including ileus, wound infection, pancreas leakage, and stomal necrosis, with no significant differences according to the purpose of combined operation, pathologic diagnosis, or bowel preparation. The rate of a preoperative consultation to a general surgeon by gynecologic surgeons in cases with colorectal or solid organ invasion preoperatively was 53.2%. CONCLUSION: A general surgeon is an important consultant in a debulking operation of gynecologic malignancies, especially ovarian cancer, or treatment of complications. Thorough preoperative evaluation, bowel preparation, and preoperative consultation to a general surgeon is important in gynecologic oncology surgery.
Consultants ; Humans ; Ileus ; Incidence ; Intraoperative Complications ; Necrosis ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; Pancreas ; Postoperative Complications ; Retrospective Studies ; Wound Infection

This article reports the treatment of a patient suffered from acute radiation burn covering 41% TBSA, with deep partial-thickness and full-thickness injury, produced by exposure to a large-scale industrial electron accelerator. An open wound began to appear and enlarged gradually 10 weeks after the exposure. Serious wound infection with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, pneumonia, respiratory failure, systemic inflammatory response syndrome, nephropathy and hypoproteinemia developed successively since 3 weeks after the wound formation. Skin grafts failed to survive, resulting in enlargement of the wound. After being treated with proper measures, including parenteral nutrition, respiratory support with a ventilator, appropriate antibiotics, steroid administration for nephropathy, deep debridement for wounds followed by skin grafting, the patient was cured and discharged after undergoing 15 operations in 500 days. The clinical condition of an extensive acute radiation burn is complicated. We should pay close attention to the changes in functions of organs, and strengthen the therapeutic strategies to support the function of organs to reduce the incidence of systemic complications. The control of the infection and the timely and effective repair of the wound are still the key points of the treatment of an extensive local radiation injury.
Acute Disease ; Adult ; Burns ; complications ; microbiology ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Radiation Injuries ; complications ; therapy ; Wound Infection ; therapy

Acute appendicitis is a common disease, in general, but is rare in the elderly. This report is a clinical review of 148 patients over the age of 60 who, due to acute appendicitis, underwent appendectomies at the Department of General Surgery of Saint Columban Hospital from January 1993 to December 1995. The results are as follows: 1) The overall percentage of the patients over the age of 60 was about 16.4%. 2) The male to female ratio was 1:1.6. 3) The perforation rate was 33.1%. 4) The mean duration of symptoms were 2 days in non-perforated and 4.5 days in perforated appendicitis. 5) The chief complaints were pain (86.5%) and tenderness (88.5%) on right lower quadrant. 6) This disease occurred most frequently in spring and summer. 7) The highest incidence of leukocyte count was 10,000~15,000 per cubic mm of blood (50%). 8) The most frequent postoperative complication was wound infection as 14.2%. 9) sixty-seven cases (45.3%) were accompanied by concomitant disease, the most frequent being hypertention (14.9%). 10) The mean numbers of hospital days were 7.5 in non-perforated and 14 in perforated appendicitis.
Aged ; Appendectomy ; Appendicitis* ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Leukocyte Count ; Male ; Postoperative Complications ; Saints ; Wound Infection

Experience with retropubic prostatectomy in 12 cases of benign prostatic hyperplasia is presented. The operation was technically successful in all cases, even though there were no special instruments available. Operative blood transfusions were given to 2 patients (16.7 per cent). The weight of adenomatous tissue enucleated ranged from 30 to 100 gm., with an average of 46.2 gm. Hospitalization ranged from 9 to 16 days, with a meat of 11 days, The average operating time in this series, including vasectomy, was 79.2 minutes with a range of 55 to 110 minutes. Postoperative complications consisted of one patient with wound infection and patient with severe bleeding due to inadvertent dislodgement of the catheter. The authors believe that there would be broader indication of this approach on Korean patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia.
Blood Transfusion ; Catheters ; Hemorrhage ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Meat ; Postoperative Complications ; Prostatectomy* ; Prostatic Hyperplasia* ; Vasectomy ; Wound Infection

A clinical observation was done on 58 nephrectomized patients in the Department of Urology, Capital Armed Forces General Hospital, during the period from January 1977 to December 1979, The results were as follow: 1. The total number of in-patients during above mentioned period was 779 and of which nephrectomies were performed in 58 of the 469 total urologic operations (12. 4%). 2. The most favorable age was in 20 to 29 in 28 cases (60.4%) and the youngest was 10 months and the oldest 68 years. 3. The causative diseases of the operated kidneys were renal tuberculosis in 34 cases (58. 6%). hydronephrosis in 7 cases (12. 0%), renal injury it 6 cases (10.4%) and calculous disease in 3 cases (5.2%) in order. 4. Flank approach was most frequently used (82. 8%). 5. The left kidney was nephrectomized 1.4 times more than right kidney. 6. Postoperative complications were seen in 8 cases (13. 8%), which included 3 cases of wound infection, 3 paralytic and 2 pneumothorax.
Arm ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Hydronephrosis ; Kidney ; Nephrectomy ; Pneumothorax ; Postoperative Complications ; Tuberculosis, Renal ; Urology ; Wound Infection

OBJECTIVE: This study is designed to demonstrate a relationship between reconstruction methods of the craniectomy site and the development of postoperative complications including headache, tinnitus, and operation site pain after microvascular decompression(MVD) in patients with hemifacial spasm. METHODS: This study included 44 consecutive patients who underwent MVD due to hemifacial spasm from 1995 to 2001. Craniectomy site was reconstructed with only Gelfoam(group 1) in 20, the bone dust and Gelfoam(group 2) in 11, the bone chips and Gelfoam(group 3) in 13. Group 1, 2 were studied retrospectively and group 3 was studied prospectively on the postoperative complications. RESULTS: Postoperatively, wound infection occurred in 3(6.8%), headache in 14(31.8%), operation site pain in 17(38.6%), tinnitus in 15(34.1%), hearing loss in 1(2.2%). Wound infection was noticed in 5% of group 1, 18.2% of group 2, and none of group 3. Headache developed in 45% of group 1, 27.3% of group 2, and 15.4% of group 3. Operation site pain was noticed in 50% of group 1, 27.3% of group 2, 15.4% of group 3. Tinnitus revealed in 45% of group 1, 18.2% of group 2, 30% of group 3. CONCLUSION: Reconstruction of the craniectomy site with the bone chips in patients with hemifacial spasm might have effects on diminution of the postoperative headache, operation site pain and wound infection.
Dust ; Headache ; Hearing Loss ; Hemifacial Spasm* ; Humans ; Postoperative Complications ; Prospective Studies ; Retrospective Studies ; Tinnitus ; Wound Infection

PURPOSE: To analyze the clinical and radiologic results of minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis (MIPO) for distal femur fractures using a locking compression plate (LCP) and to evaluate its usefulness. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From May 2006 to April 2011, 23 patients (24 cases) with distal femur fracture were treated by MIPO with a LCP and followed-up for at least 12 months. Mean age was 61.6 years (35-80 years). Union time and post-operative alignment were measured on radiograph, and clinical function was evaluated by range of motion (ROM), Knee Society Score and complications. RESULTS: In 22 patients (23 cases) except for 1 case, bony union was obtained after an average of 18 weeks (12-26 weeks). The mean ROM was 124 degrees (80-135 degrees). According to the Knee Society Score, there were 12 excellent, 8 good, 1 fair and 2 poor results and the mean score was 87.5 (60-98). Postoperative complications were nonunion in 1 case, ankylosis in 1 case, malunion in 2 cases and superficial wound infection in 2 cases. CONCLUSION: The treatment of distal femoral fracture with MIPO using a LCP was considered a useful method which can result in satisfactory clinical and radiologic outcomes if there is accurate understanding about the surgical techniques and appropriate procedures involved.
Ankylosis ; Femoral Fractures ; Femur ; Humans ; Knee ; Postoperative Complications ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Wound Infection

PURPOSE: Although hydrocelectomy is commonly performed in general urological practice, the incidence of complications and the outcomes of this procedure seem to be underreported in the literature. We evaluated the incidence of complications and the outcomes of patients who underwent hydrocelectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 1996 and December 2005, 289 patients with hydrocele were retrospectively assigned into three groups according to the degree of dissection or the amount of the excision of the hydrocele sac. Group 1 included 78 patients who were treated by dissection and excision of the entire hydrocele sac. Group 2 consisted of 149 patients who were treated by dissection and eversion of the hydrocele sac. The 62 patients in group 3 underwent operations in which there was little or no dissection of the hydrocele. We analyzed the complications, the effects of surgical treatment and the results according to the surgical techniques. RESULTS: The duration of recovery showed no differences among the three groups. The overall complication rate was 36.3%. Transient scrotal swelling occurred in 28.0% of the patients, hematoma in 2.7%, wound infection in 1.7%, and injury to the epididymis or testis, chronic pain and persistent swelling occurred in 1.3%. The overall incidence of postoperative complications was significantly lower among the patients in group 3. The rate of scrotal swelling was significantly correlated to the volume of the hydroceles and the amount of the excision of the hydrocele sac. CONCLUSIONS: The long term results of hydrocelectomy were good. The most common complications following scrotal surgery for hydroceles were scrotal swelling, hematoma, wound infection and injury to the epididymis and testis. Most of the complications were treated by conservative management.
Adult ; Chronic Pain ; Epididymis ; Hematoma ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Postoperative Complications ; Retrospective Studies ; Testis ; Wound Infection