Background: When performing reduction of zygomatic arch fractures, locating the inward portion of the fracture can be difficult. Therefore, this study investigated the discrepancy between the locations of the depression on the soft tissue and bone and sought to identify how to determine the inward portion of the fracture on the patient’s face. Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of chart with isolated zygomatic arch fractures of type V in the Nam and Jung classification from March 2013 to February 2022. For consistent measurements, a reference point (RP), at the intersection between a vertical line passing through the end point of the root of the ear helix in the patient’s side-view photograph and a transverse line passing through the longest horizontal axis of the external meatus opening, was established. We then measured the distance between the RP and the soft tissue depression in a portrait and the bone depression on a computed tomography (CT) scan. The discrepancy between these distances was quantified. Results: Among the patients with isolated zygomatic arch fractures, only those with a fully visible ear on a side-view photograph were included. Twenty-four patients met the inclusion criteria. There were four types of discrepancies in the location of the soft tissue depression compared to the bone depression: type I, forward and upward discrepancy (7.45 and 3.28 mm), type II, backward and upward (4.29 and 4.21 mm), type III, forward and downward (10.06 and 5.15 mm), and type IV, backward and downward (2.61 and 3.27 mm). Conclusion This study showed that discrepancy between the locations of the depressions on the soft tissue and bone exists in various directions. Therefore, applying the transverse and vertical distances measured from a bone image of the CT scan onto the patient’s face at the indicated RP will be helpful for predicting the reduction location.

Background: There have been many reports of nasal bone fractures in adults, but there are few clinical reports of them in adolescents, although adolescence is the main growth period of the nasal bone. In addition, previous studies have tended to classify and describe child and adolescent nasal fractures in the same category. The aim of this study was to identify the clinical aspects of nasal fractures in adolescents, and to evaluate the characteristics of nasal fractures in the growth period. Methods: Our institution’s database was reviewed to extract data on adolescent patients between the age of 13 to 18 who had isolated nasal bone fractures from March 2012 to February 2020. The study excluded patients with other facial fractures, previous facial fractures, or congenital deformities. Results: This study included 243 boys and 26 girls. Interpersonal violence and sports-related accidents accounted for 85 and 79 cases, respectively. There were 128 frontal impact injuries and 132 lateral impact injuries, and 97 patients had accompanying septal fractures. An accompanying septal fracture was present in 36.06% of all patients, but in 51.20% of those who underwent surgery. Conclusion The prevalence of adolescent nasal fractures was significantly higher in boys, to a greater extent than observed for pediatric or adult fractures. The main causes of fractures were interpersonal violence and sports-related accidents. An explanation for these results is that adolescent boys are more prone to have violent accidents or companionship with active sports than other age or sex groups, leading to substantially more fractures.

Background: Pediatric nasal fractures, unlike adult nasal fractures, are treated surgically as early as 7 days after the initial trauma. However, in some cases, a week or more elapses before surgery, and few studies have investigated the consequences of delayed surgery for pediatric nasal fractures. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the postoperative outcomes of pediatric nasal fractures according to the time interval between the initial trauma and surgery. Methods: The records of pediatric patients under 12 years old who underwent closed reduction of nasal bone fracture from March 2012 to February 2020 were reviewed. The interval between trauma and surgery was divided into within 7 days (early reduction) and more than 7 days (delayed reduction). Postoperative results were classified into five grades (excellent, good, moderate, poor, and very poor) based on the degree of reduction shown on computed tomography. Results: Ninety-eight patients were analyzed, of whom 51 underwent early reduction and 47 underwent delayed reduction. Forty-two (82.4%) of the 51 patients in the early reduction group showed excellent results, and nine (17.6%) showed good results. Thirty-nine (83.0%) of the 47 patients in the delayed reduction group showed excellent results and eight (17.0%) showed good results. No statistically significant difference in outcomes was found between the two groups (chi-square test p= 0.937). However, patients without septal injury were significantly more likely to have excellent postoperative outcomes (chi-square test p< 0.01). Conclusion No statistically significant difference was found in the outcomes of pediatric nasal fractures between the early and delayed reduction groups. Successful surgical results were found even in patients who received delayed reduction (more than 7 days after trauma).

Background: Although prompt surgery after an orbital fracture is preferable, the actual timing of surgery in real-world settings varies. Therefore, this study investigated the outcomes of implant surgery for inferior orbital wall fractures by comparing three groups according to the time interval between the injury and surgery. Methods: A retrospective review was conducted of patients’ medical charts and initial computed tomography images from 2009 to 2020. The time to treatment was chosen by patients or their guardians based on the patients’ comorbidities and the physician’s explanation. The patients were divided into three groups according to the time of surgery (group 1: 3–7 days, group 2: 8–14 days, group 3: 15 or more days). Data were collected on age, the time interval until surgery, the dimensions of the defect, the operation time, the follow-up period, and the postoperative paresthesia score (ranging from 0 to 10). The outcomes were evaluated using a 4-point scale: 4= good (no complications), 3 = fair (no subjective symptoms), 2 = poor (remaining paresthesia), and 1 = very poor (strabismus and/or enophthalmos). Results: The study included 85 patients with unilateral fractures who underwent surgery from 3 to 93 days after injury. The overall score distribution of the surgical outcomes was as follows: good= 63, fair= 7, poor= 6, and very poor= 9. The three groups showed no significant differences in the transverse dimension of the injury (p= 0.110) or the anteroposterior dimension (p= 0.144). In groups 1, 2, and 3, the postoperative outcome scores were 3.84± 0.37, 3.63± 0.87, and 2.93± 1.33 (p= 0.083), and the percentage of patients with good outcomes was 84%, 81.25%, and 57.14%, respectively. Conclusion Performing surgery using an artificial implant within 2 weeks of the injury showed better outcomes and fewer postoperative complications than when treatment was delayed.

Background: Pediatric nasal fractures, unlike adult nasal fractures, are treated surgically as early as 7 days after the initial trauma. However, in some cases, a week or more elapses before surgery, and few studies have investigated the consequences of delayed surgery for pediatric nasal fractures. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the postoperative outcomes of pediatric nasal fractures according to the time interval between the initial trauma and surgery. Methods: The records of pediatric patients under 12 years old who underwent closed reduction of nasal bone fracture from March 2012 to February 2020 were reviewed. The interval between trauma and surgery was divided into within 7 days (early reduction) and more than 7 days (delayed reduction). Postoperative results were classified into five grades (excellent, good, moderate, poor, and very poor) based on the degree of reduction shown on computed tomography. Results: Ninety-eight patients were analyzed, of whom 51 underwent early reduction and 47 underwent delayed reduction. Forty-two (82.4%) of the 51 patients in the early reduction group showed excellent results, and nine (17.6%) showed good results. Thirty-nine (83.0%) of the 47 patients in the delayed reduction group showed excellent results and eight (17.0%) showed good results. No statistically significant difference in outcomes was found between the two groups (chi-square test p= 0.937). However, patients without septal injury were significantly more likely to have excellent postoperative outcomes (chi-square test p< 0.01). Conclusion No statistically significant difference was found in the outcomes of pediatric nasal fractures between the early and delayed reduction groups. Successful surgical results were found even in patients who received delayed reduction (more than 7 days after trauma).

Background: Although prompt surgery after an orbital fracture is preferable, the actual timing of surgery in real-world settings varies. Therefore, this study investigated the outcomes of implant surgery for inferior orbital wall fractures by comparing three groups according to the time interval between the injury and surgery. Methods: A retrospective review was conducted of patients’ medical charts and initial computed tomography images from 2009 to 2020. The time to treatment was chosen by patients or their guardians based on the patients’ comorbidities and the physician’s explanation. The patients were divided into three groups according to the time of surgery (group 1: 3–7 days, group 2: 8–14 days, group 3: 15 or more days). Data were collected on age, the time interval until surgery, the dimensions of the defect, the operation time, the follow-up period, and the postoperative paresthesia score (ranging from 0 to 10). The outcomes were evaluated using a 4-point scale: 4= good (no complications), 3 = fair (no subjective symptoms), 2 = poor (remaining paresthesia), and 1 = very poor (strabismus and/or enophthalmos). Results: The study included 85 patients with unilateral fractures who underwent surgery from 3 to 93 days after injury. The overall score distribution of the surgical outcomes was as follows: good= 63, fair= 7, poor= 6, and very poor= 9. The three groups showed no significant differences in the transverse dimension of the injury (p= 0.110) or the anteroposterior dimension (p= 0.144). In groups 1, 2, and 3, the postoperative outcome scores were 3.84± 0.37, 3.63± 0.87, and 2.93± 1.33 (p= 0.083), and the percentage of patients with good outcomes was 84%, 81.25%, and 57.14%, respectively. Conclusion Performing surgery using an artificial implant within 2 weeks of the injury showed better outcomes and fewer postoperative complications than when treatment was delayed.

Background: Insulin resistance (IR) and inflammation are closely related to each other and share common pathophysiological and metabolic mechanisms. We aimed to investigate the combined effect of IR and inflammation on comorbidities of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods: A total 3,758 patients with T2DM were recruited through Huh’s Diabetes Center from January 2003 to June 2009. Insulin sensitivity was measured by a rate constant for plasma glucose disappearance (Kitt , %/min) using short insulin tolerance test. High sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) was used as a surrogate for inflammation. Results: Patients with the lowest tertile of Kitt (IR group) showed worse cardio-metabolic parameters while those with the highest tertile of hs-CRP levels had worse cardio-metabolic parameters. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome, fatty liver, albuminuria, and carotid atherosclerosis decreased with Kitt tertile, but increased with hs-CRP tertile. In multiple regression analysis, both Kitt and hs-CRP were independent risk factors for comorbidities of T2DM. In addition, they showed synergistic effects on these comorbidities. Conclusion Both IR and inflammation were significantly associated with comorbidities of T2DM in a dose dependent manner. In addition, the coexistence of IR and inflammation may synergistically contribute to increased comorbidities of T2DM.

Background: Impaired diastolic heart function has been observed in persons with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and/or with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, it is unclear whether NAFLD fibrotic progression, i.e., non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, poses an independent risk for diastolic dysfunction in T2DM. We investigated the association between liver fibrosis and left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction in T2DM. Methods: We analyzed 606 patients with T2DM, aged ≥50 years, who had undergone liver ultrasonography and pulsed-wave Doppler echocardiography. Insulin sensitivity was measured by short insulin tolerance test. Presence of NAFLD and/or advanced liver fibrosis was determined by abdominal ultrasonography and NAFLD fibrosis score (NFS). LV diastolic dysfunction was defined according to transmitral peak early to late ventricular filling (E/A) ratio and deceleration time, using echocardiography. Results: LV diastolic dysfunction was significantly more prevalent in the NAFLD versus non-NAFLD group (59.7% vs. 49.0%, P=0.011). When NAFLD was stratified by NFS, subjects with advanced liver fibrosis exhibited a higher prevalence of diastolic dysfunction (49.0%, 50.7%, 61.8%; none, simple steatosis, advanced fibrosis, respectively; P for trend=0.003). In multivariable logistic regression, liver fibrosis was independently associated with diastolic dysfunction (odds ratio [OR], 1.58; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.07 to 2.34; P=0.022) after adjusting for insulin resistance and cardiometabolic risk factors. This association remained significant in patients without insulin resistance (OR, 4.32; 95% CI, 1.73 to 11.51; P=0.002). Conclusions Liver fibrosis was associated with LV diastolic dysfunction in patients with T2DM and may be an independent risk factor for diastolic dysfunction, especially in patients without systemic insulin resistance.

Growth hormone (GH) deficiency is caused by congenital or acquired causes and occurs in childhood or adulthood. GH replacement therapy brings benefits to body composition, exercise capacity, skeletal health, cardiovascular outcomes, and quality of life. Before initiating GH replacement, GH deficiency should be confirmed through proper stimulation tests, and in cases with proven genetic causes or structural lesions, repeated GH stimulation testing is not necessary. The dosing regimen of GH replacement therapy should be individualized, with the goal of minimizing side effects and maximizing clinical improvements. The Korean Endocrine Society and the Korean Society of Pediatric Endocrinology have developed a position statement on the diagnosis and treatment of GH deficiency. This position statement is based on a systematic review of evidence and expert opinions.

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated whether serum bilirubin levels can predict the progression of carotid atherosclerosis in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). METHODS: This observational study included 1,381 subjects with T2DM in whom serial measurements of carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) were made at 1- to 2-year intervals for 6–8 years. The progression of carotid atherosclerosis was defined as newly detected plaque lesions on repeat ultrasonography. After dividing total serum bilirubin levels into tertiles, the association between total serum bilirubin at baseline and plaque progression status was analyzed. RESULTS: Among 1,381 T2DM patients, 599 (43.4%) were categorized as having plaque progression in their carotid arteries. Those with plaque progression were significantly older; showed a higher prevalence of hypertension, abdominal obesity, and chronic kidney disease; and had a longer duration of T2DM, higher levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides, and insulin resistance, and lower total bilirubin concentrations than those with no plaque progression. When total serum bilirubin levels were divided into tertiles, the highest tertile group was younger than the lowest tertile group, with higher levels of TC and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Multiple logistic regression analysis demonstrated that higher serum bilirubin levels were associated with a significantly lower risk of CIMT progression (odds ratio, 0.584; 95% confidence interval, 0.392–0.870; p=0.008). Age (p<0.001), body mass index (p=0.023), and TC (p=0.019) were also associated with the progression of carotid atherosclerosis in T2DM patients. CONCLUSION Total serum bilirubin is independently associated with progression of atherosclerosis in the carotid arteries in T2DM patients.