No abstract available.
Rheumatic Diseases*

No abstract available.
Rheumatic Diseases*

Panniculitis, Lupus Erythematosus*

BACKGROUND: PUVA photochemotherapy has been accepted as an effective treatment modality in the treatment of psoriasis. Many combination therapies have been tried to reduce the long-term side effects of UV radiation. OBJECTIVE: We performed conventional PUVA and calcipotriol-PUVA combination therapy to compare the effectiveness between two treatment modalities. METHODS: We treated 38 Korean patients with conventional PUVA and 54 with D-PUVA. We compared the total number, duration and total UVA dose of PUVA therapy to reach grade 4 between two groups. We categorized each patient into clearing, improvement, or failure groups based on the therapeutic efficacy, and evaluated PASI score at patient`s visits. RESULTS: The irradiation number and total cumulative dose of D-PUVA phototherapy to achieve grade 4 were significantly smaller than PUVA phototherapy. CONCLUSION: Combining PUVA with a vitamin D analogue, calcipotriol, in the treatment of psoriasis may lead to lowering the risk of long-term exposure to UV radiation with higher efficacy.
Humans ; Photochemotherapy ; Phototherapy ; Psoriasis* ; PUVA Therapy ; Vitamin D

No abstract available.
Hydralazine*

No abstract available.
Child* ; Humans

PURPOSE: To cmpare the clinical results of complex tibial plateau fractures treated by hybrid external fixation and dual plate fixation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied forty patients with Schatzker type V and VI fractures respectively and selected twenty seven patients who were followed at least one year between January 2000 and December 2005. We evaluated the clinical results in which fourteen fractures with hybrid external fixation were compared with thirteen fractures with dual plate fixation. The clinical results were evaluated according to Knee Society Clinical Rating System and the statistical analysis was performed by Student t-test. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in terms of bone union time (average union time: dual plate fixation 13.8 weeks, hybrid external fixation 14.2 weeks). The quality of osseous reduction was superior in the fractures with dual plate fixation than those with hybrid external fixation. There were significant differences in functional score (average functional score: dual plate fixation 73, hybrid external fixation 62), but not in average knee score. CONCLUSION: The hybrid external fixation can be a useful modality for treatment of complex proximal tibial plateau fractures. But the good quality of the fracture reduction by dual plate fixation may be a indicator for favorable prognosis for satisfactory knee function.
Chimera ; External Fixators ; Humans ; Knee ; Prognosis

Congenital radial clubhand is a rare deformity, which is characterized by total or partial absence of the radial ray of forearm and hand. We experienced 9 radial clubhands in 7 patients during the last 12 years. Excluding 3 clubhands in 2 patients which were very mild in their deformity, 6 clubhands in 5 patients were operated. Radialization was done in 5 clubhands, and centralization in one. Concomitant corrective osteotomy of ulna was combined in all. The results of the surgical treatment were evaluated by ; radiological findings including Hand-forearm angle(HFA), Hand-forearm position(HFP) and Ulnar bowing(UB) range of motion of the wrist ; and parents' satisfaction. Patients were followed up for average 2 years and 6 months, ranging from 1 to 6 years. All the radiological findings were improved. Although their range of wrist motion was not increased, this was changed into more functional position, that is the radial deviation decreased but ulnar deviation increased. Most parents were satisfied with the surgical results.
Congenital Abnormalities ; Forearm ; Hand ; Humans ; Osteotomy ; Parents ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Ulna ; Wrist

The authors reviewed 85 knees in 59 patients(9 males, 50 females) who had preoperative flexion contracture(FC) greater than 20° and taken total knee arthroplasty(TKA) at the Seoul National University Hospital from Jan.1987 to Dec.1992. We reviewed the surgical methods according to preoperative FC, changes of postoperative FC and range of motion, and clinical and radiologic findings. In our series, 48 knees were degenerative arthritis(average FC: 26°), 34 knees, rheumatoid arthritis(average FC: 40°)and 3 knees, others(average FC:28°). The average follow-up period was 2 years(range, 1 to 4(+8) years). Seventy three knees with FC less than 45 (Group I)had been treated with TKA accompanied with adequete soft tissue release, removal of osteophyte and appropriate bone resection. Eleven knees with FC greater than 50° (Group II) had been treated with skin traction followed by TKA. One knee with 65° of FC(Group III)was treated with posterolateral and posteromedial release including tendon lengthening at first, and then TKA in second stage. Preoperative FC was significantly greater in RA group than in DA group. Flexion contracture improved until postoperative 3 years in DA group and improved until postoperative 2 years and slightly deteriorated after then in RA group, but statistically insignificant(p>0.05). There was no difference of FC at postoperative 2 weeks and final follow-up between Group I and II. Range of motion improved until postoperative 2 years in DA group significantly(p < 0.05). In RA group, range of motion improved until postoperative 2 years(p>0.05) and deteriorated after then(p < 0.05). With TKA, range of motion increased significantly in both Group I and II and there was no difference of range of motion between Group I and II at final follow-up. Postoperative HSS score and pain score improved in DA and RA groups significantly, and final HSS score with greater in DA group than RA group(p < 0.05). Preoperative HSS score and pain score of Group I were significantly higher than those of Group II, but final follow-up, there was no difference between two groups. There was no correlation between final FC and HSS score. There was no difference in score of radiolucency between two groups in which final FC was greater and lesser than 10°. We thought that in knees with fixed flexion contracture, successful correction of moderate to severe flexion contracture and satisfactory result of total knee arthroplasty can be achieved by adequate soft tissue release, appropriate bone resection, and/or preoperative management.
Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee ; Contracture ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Knee ; Male ; Osteophyte ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Seoul ; Skin ; Tenotomy ; Traction

BACKGROUND: Narrow-band UVB phototherapy using 311+-2nm wavelength is in widespread use due to its greater efficacy and, possibly, safety compared with broad-band UVB sources. OBJECTIVE: We performed emollient narrow-band UVB(NBUVB) phototherapy to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety in Korean psoriasis patients. METHODS: Fifteen psoriasis patients received narrow-band UVB phototherapy. We categorized each patient into clearing, improvement, or failure groups based on the therapeutic efficacy, and measured the PASI score every two weeks. RESULTS: 1. Among patients who received narrow-band UVB phototherapy, clearing was shown in 40.0% and improvement in 27.7%, and failure in 33.3%. 2. The total number, duration, final and cumulative doses to achieve grade IV were 16.3, 39 days, 1,050mJ/cm2 and 12,125mJ/cm2 respectively. 3. There were some side effects of NBUVB phototherapy such as pruritus(53.3%) and mild burning(13.3%). CONCLUSION: Narrow-band UVB phototherapy is a effective treatment modality which is convenient and less erythemogenic in psoriasis. It will be used more and more and play an important role in the treatment of psoriasis.
Humans ; Phototherapy* ; Psoriasis*