Short umbilical cord syndrome, also known as the limb-body wall malformation complex and the body stalk anomaly, is a poorly defined sporadic group of congenital anomaly charaterized by a complex set of disruptive abnormalities having in common the failured closure of the ventral body wall. This disorder is charaterized by a short or absent umbilical cord and disruption of the lateral body wall, spine, limbs, face, and cranium, isolated or in combination. Recently, we present a case of short umbilical cord syndrome which found in a term baby, so we report a case of short umbilical cord syndrome with brief review of literature.
Extremities ; Skull ; Spine ; Umbilical Cord*

Testicular torsion is the most common cause of acute scrotal pain in prepubertal and adolescent boys. The overall testicular salvage rate with acute torsion is only 20 to 50 per cent. However, up to 50 percent of the patients with acute torsion have experienced previous episodes of acute testicular pain. Intermittent testicular torsion is a separate entity that should be considered in all young males with a history of scrotal pain and swelling. interspersed with long interval without symptoms. Most males with testicular torsion have aberrant anatomy for the testes to be more susceptible to torsion. Bell-clapper deformity and long mesorchium have been typically described at exploration. On reviewing the medical records. elective orchiopexy was performed on l2 patients under the diagnosis of intermittent testicular torsion during the recent 5 years at Yonsei University Hospital. The features and pathological anatomy of intermittent testicular torsion in these l2 patients are described. Awareness of intermittent testicular torsion as a definite entity and early elective orchiopexy will improve testicular salvage rate.
Adolescent ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Male ; Medical Records ; Orchiopexy ; Spermatic Cord Torsion* ; Testis

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to evaluate efficacy on symptoms and memory function of mirtazapine treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder. METHODS: Thirty Vietnam veterans were collected for this study, among whom fifteen were PTSD patients and fifteen were combat control subjects. We used Mississippi Scale for CombatRelated PTSD, Combat Exposure Scale (CES), Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) and Clinician Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS). Digit Span, Paired Association Learning Test (PALT) and Rey-Osterrith Complex Figure Test (CFT) were assessed for memory function. We also evaluate HDRS, CAPS and memory function tests intervals of baseline, 2 week and 6 week in PTSD patients during mirtazapine treatment. RESULTS: There were significant differences between PTSD and Non-PTSD veterans in Mississippi Scale for Combat-Related PTSD, CES, HDRS and CAPS. Significant difference was found in memory function tests between PTSD and Non-PTSD veterans. PTSD veterans showed significant improvement in HDRS and CAPS at 2 week and 6 week during mirtazapine treatment and in memory function tests at 6 week during mirtazapine treatment. There was no significant correlation between symptoms and memory function. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that mirtazapine improve symptoms and memory function of PTSD. There was no significant correlation between PTSD sysmtoms and memory function.
Association Learning ; Depression ; Humans ; Memory* ; Mississippi ; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic* ; Veterans ; Vietnam

STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective study. OBJECTIVES: To assess the efficiency of undercorrection and transpedicular screw fixation through a posterior approach in osteoporotic spine fractures with a thoracolumbar kyphotic deformity. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: The surgical treatment of osteoporotic spine fractures with a thoracolumbar kyphotic deformity requires extensive surgical procedures to obtain complete restoration of the sagittal alignment, but it has a few technical limitations due to insufficient mechanical stability at the bone-screw interface. A special strategy is essential for transpedicular screw fixation for osteoporotic spine fractures with a thoracolumbar kyphotic deformity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed 14 osteoporotic spine fracture cases, with a thoracolumbar kyphotic deformity, which had undergone undercorrection and transpedicular screw fixation through a posterior approach, between March 2000 and June 2003, with an average follow-up period of 15. 2 months. According to the Jikei grade of the osteoporosis, 9 and 5 cases were grades 2 and 3, respectively. As a radiographic assessment, we measured the kyphotic angles of the fused segments on the preoperative, postoperative and last follow up thoracolumbar lateral views on standing using Cobb's method, and also assessed the kyphotic angle correction (KAC). The clinical results were evaluated at the last follow-up. RESULTS: The kyphotic angles at the preoperative, postoperative and last follow-up were 33.5 degrees +/- 9.3, 22.4 degrees +/- 6.9 and 24.7 degrees +/- 6.8, respectively. We obtained a mean KAC gain of 11.1 degrees postoperatively (p<0.05), but a loss of 2.3 degrees at the last follow-up (p>0.05). The clinical results were analyzed as good, fair and poor in 8, 5 and 1 case, respectively. Fusions were achieved in all cases. CONCLUSIONS: Undercorrection and transpedicular screw fixation for a thoracolumbar kyphotic deformity in osteoporotic spine fractures can be one of the alternatives to avoid fixation failure and an extensive surgical procedure.
Congenital Abnormalities* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Kyphosis ; Osteoporosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Spine*

PURPOSE: This is a retrospective study to analyze the functional results of closed reduction and external fixation of unstable fractures of the proximal humerus. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten unstable proximal humerus fractures were managed with closed reduction and external fixation in which other operative methods are not proper due to comminution, osteoporosis or poor general condition of patients. 4 cases of 2-part and 6 cases of 3-part fracture were included. Radiologically union of fracture, malunion and the evdence of avascular necrosis of humeral head were assessed and the functional results were analyzed with Neer scoring system. RESULTS: Radiologically all fractures were healed but in 2 cases malunion was resulted because of reduction loss in proximal fragment. Pin site infection was developed in 7 cases and oral antibiotics were needed. The functional results were excellent in 4, satisfactory in 3 and unsatisfactory in 3 cases. 2 cases with malunion and one case with lack of postoperative cooperation resulted in functionally unsatisfactory. CONCLUSION: External fixation is an alternative method in the treatment of unstable proximal humerus fractures in which open reduction or percutaneous pinning are not proper due to comminution, osteoporosis or poor general condition of patient.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Humans ; Humeral Head ; Humerus* ; Necrosis ; Osteoporosis ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: This study was performed to evaluate the results of surgical treatment of Nirschl procedure for intractable lateral epicondylitis of the elbow. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the functional records of surgically treated 21 cases from the 196 cases of lateral epicondylitis, which had been followed up at least 12 months from March 2000 to May 2003. Surgery was generally considered to be indicated if six months of conservative treatments since the first diagnosis had led to no improvement of the symptoms. The patients were evaluated by assessing of Pain Analog Scales (PAS) score. The objective outcomes of all patient after surgery were investigated according to the criteria by Roles and Maudsley. RESULTS: The mean PAS score followed up for 12 months postoperatively, had indicated significant improvements (p<0.001): 0.31 points (range, 0-2) at rest, 1.22 points (range, 0-3) at daily activities, and 2.25 points (range, 0-5) at sports and occupational activities. According to the Roles and Maudsley scores, there were 12 excellent, 7 good, 2 fair from the total of 21 cases; therefore, 19 (90%) cases showed the satisfactory results. CONCLUSION: The surgical treatment using the Nirschl procedure for intractable lateral epicondylitis of the elbow is considered as one of recommendable methods for the cases of no response at the conservative treatment.
Diagnosis ; Elbow ; Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Sports ; Weights and Measures

No abstract available.
Carcinoma, Renal Cell*

No abstract available.
Polychondritis, Relapsing*

No abstract available.
Polychondritis, Relapsing*

While systemic steroid therapy is most widely considered as a main treatment for idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSHL), the disadvantages of its use are numerous side effects. Intratympanic steroid injection (ITS) delivers steroids through transtympanic route, hence avoids possible side effects with higher perilymph concentration. We conducted a reviewed 47 clinical studies after an online search of the PubMed databases for the following terms "sudden hearing loss, intratympanic steroid". Although the study settings are varied among reviewed articles, most studies in this review consistently showed some benefit of hearing in salvage cases. In addition, it is suggested that intratympanic steroids are equivalent to systemic steroid therapy as initial treatment for SSHL. In patients with contraindications against the use of systemic steroid, ITS may be considered as valuable option for primary therapy. Further studies are necessary to elucidate the optimal protocol of administration.
Hearing ; Hearing Loss ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural ; Hearing Loss, Sudden ; Humans ; Perilymph ; Steroids