We studied the results in forty-three knees in thirty patients-three male and twenty seven femalewho had rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, traumatic arthritis and osteonecrosis in the knee and were treated by total knee joint replacement. The average age of the patients was 56.7 years. The results were anaysed after follow-ups ranging from one year to three years and seven months, average being 23.6 months. The assessment was made upon the knee rating system of the Hospital for Special Surgery; the results were excellent in 29 knees, good in 12, fair in one and poor in one. The improvement of the flexion contractures was significant (postoperative average 1.7 degrees compared with preoperative average 20.1 degrees). The postoperative active flexion ranged from 70 degrees to 140 degrees (mean 110.2 degrees). One knee had a deep wound infection. The radiological loosening demonstrated in three cases, two of them had incomplete, nonprogressive radiolucent line, being less than one millimeter in width in the tibial component, one who had a deep infection showed three millimeters radiolucent line.
Arthritis ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Arthroplasty ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee ; Contracture ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Knee ; Knee Joint ; Male ; Osteoarthritis ; Osteonecrosis ; Wound Infection

The publisher and authors would like to draw the reader's attention to an error in the article.The running head of the article is changed to “Tissue Microvascular US in Children.”

PURPOSE: Cecal diverticulitis is rare but relatively common in Asians including Koreans. Furthermore, most case of cecal diverticulitis can be diagnosed as an acute appendicitis preoperatively. The purpose of this study was to evaluate antibiotic treatment for cecal diverticulitis, identified during laparotomy under the diagnosis of acute appendicitis. METHODS: From January 1995 to June 2001, we reviewed 52 patients with cecal diverticulitis, who were diagnosed as having acute appendicitis preoperatively and treated by conservative treatment, i.e. appendectomy only and postoperative antibiotics. RESULTS: The results were as follows. The male to female ratio and mean age was 1.2:1 and 33.4 respectively. The mean operative time was 55.4 minutes. The mean hospital stay was 5.9 days. The site of the diverticulitis was mostly located at the cecum (92.3%). Other sites of diverticulitis were the ascending colon in 2 patients, and the cecum and ascending colon in another 2 patients. The number of diverticulitis found was one in 44 patients (84.6%) and multiple in 8 patients (15.4%). Postoperative complications occurred in 6 patients (11.5%). The most common postoperative complication was wound infection, which occurred in 4 patients. There was no recurrence during follow-up. CONCLUSION: When cecal diverticulitis is found incidentally at the time of an emergency operation for acute appendicitis, we conclude that an appendectomy only combined with postoperative antibiotics is a safe, effective, cost-efficient and cosmetic method.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Appendectomy ; Appendicitis ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Cecum ; Colon, Ascending ; Diagnosis ; Diverticulitis* ; Emergencies ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Laparotomy ; Length of Stay ; Male ; Operative Time ; Postoperative Complications ; Recurrence ; Wound Infection

Functional myelography, applying spinal movements(flexion-extension) in myelography, has been frequently used for accurate diagnosis of posture-related disorders such as herniated lumbar disc or spinal stenosis. Measurements were performed on functional myelographic findings of 62 patients, and in 24 cases surgically verified herniated lumber discs were present. The object of this study was to analyze changes in position and shape of the dural sac in spinal movements and confirm the clinical importance of functional myelography. The present study demonstrated that: 1) The anterior border of the dural sac was straight with flexion, but indented at the level of intervertebral space and this indentation was less prominent at L5-S1. 2) With extension, posterior indentation of the dural sac was more prominent at the level of the intervertebral space than the body, the A-P diameter of the dural sac was narrowed at all levels of the intervertebral spaces except L5-S1, and the dural sac moved anteriorly at the level of L5-S1 and all spinal bodies. 3) In surgically verified disc patients, anterior indentation of the dural sac was persistent in both flexion and extension views, and was more exaggerated with extension, but less prominent at L5-S1. In patient at L5-S1, anterior movement of the anterior dural border at the level of surgery was much decreased.
Diagnosis ; Humans ; Myelography* ; Spinal Stenosis

PURPOSE: To analyze the characteristics of defendants, court rulings and the compensation received in medical disputes relating to ophthalmology. METHODS: Retrospective analyses of ophthalmic claims obtained from websites between 1989 and 2014 were performed. RESULTS: Among 42 cases, 26 cases were ruled partially in favor of plaintiffs and 16 cases, ruled in favor of the defendant. Regarding the type of hospital, private clinics accounted for 22 claims, tertiary referral hospitals took 16 claims, and the secondary hospitals took 6 claims. The judgment amount of all of the lawsuits was Won1,770,466,250 and average amount was Won66,743,168 (Won5,000,000-Won455,869,936). The condition with the highest mean payment per claim was glaucoma (Won223,788,608). The consolation money for emotional distress due to violation of liability for explanation comprised a large proportion of the compensation, accounting for 62% of total payment. The conditions most likely to result in payment were those related to the retina, which occurred in 7 cases (70%). The conditions most likely to be appealed to a higher court were those involving oculoplasty (100%). Mismanagement of tests and misdiagnosis occurred in 8 cases (62%), mismanagement of treatment occurred in 3 cases (23%), and mismanagement of anesthesia and recovery occurred in 1 case (9%). CONCLUSIONS: Among all claims, those involving private clinics were most commonly involved (52%) and 62% of all claims were decided partially in favor of plaintiffs. Violation of liability during the explanation of the condition and negligence during the act of diagnosis and treatment were significant reasons for payment. Examination of these cases will help to promote patient safety and reduce repeated medical disputes.
Anesthesia ; Compensation and Redress ; Diagnosis ; Diagnostic Errors ; Dissent and Disputes ; Glaucoma ; Hospitals, Private ; Judgment ; Jurisprudence* ; Korea ; Malpractice ; Ophthalmology* ; Patient Safety ; Retina ; Retrospective Studies ; Tertiary Care Centers

PURPOSE: To analyze the characteristics of defendants, court rulings and the compensation received in medical disputes relating to ophthalmology. METHODS: Retrospective analyses of ophthalmic claims obtained from websites between 1989 and 2014 were performed. RESULTS: Among 42 cases, 26 cases were ruled partially in favor of plaintiffs and 16 cases, ruled in favor of the defendant. Regarding the type of hospital, private clinics accounted for 22 claims, tertiary referral hospitals took 16 claims, and the secondary hospitals took 6 claims. The judgment amount of all of the lawsuits was Won1,770,466,250 and average amount was Won66,743,168 (Won5,000,000-Won455,869,936). The condition with the highest mean payment per claim was glaucoma (Won223,788,608). The consolation money for emotional distress due to violation of liability for explanation comprised a large proportion of the compensation, accounting for 62% of total payment. The conditions most likely to result in payment were those related to the retina, which occurred in 7 cases (70%). The conditions most likely to be appealed to a higher court were those involving oculoplasty (100%). Mismanagement of tests and misdiagnosis occurred in 8 cases (62%), mismanagement of treatment occurred in 3 cases (23%), and mismanagement of anesthesia and recovery occurred in 1 case (9%). CONCLUSIONS: Among all claims, those involving private clinics were most commonly involved (52%) and 62% of all claims were decided partially in favor of plaintiffs. Violation of liability during the explanation of the condition and negligence during the act of diagnosis and treatment were significant reasons for payment. Examination of these cases will help to promote patient safety and reduce repeated medical disputes.
Anesthesia ; Compensation and Redress ; Diagnosis ; Diagnostic Errors ; Dissent and Disputes ; Glaucoma ; Hospitals, Private ; Judgment ; Jurisprudence* ; Korea ; Malpractice ; Ophthalmology* ; Patient Safety ; Retina ; Retrospective Studies ; Tertiary Care Centers

Artifacts ; Blood Vessels ; Brain ; Child ; Female ; Hemangioma ; Humans ; Kidney ; Lymph Nodes ; Microvessels ; Ovary ; Testis ; Thyroid Gland ; Ultrasonography ; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color ; Urinary Bladder

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to analyze the clinical significance of preoperative renal dysfunction in patients with living donor liver transplant (LDLT). METHODS: We analyzed data collected retrospectively from 327 consecutive LDLT performed at Department of Surgery, Catholic University of Korea from Jan. 2000 to Dec. 2007. Based on creatinine clearance rate (CCR) calculated before LDLT, the patients were classified in three groups: normal renal function(CCR > or =70 ml/min, 273 patients, 83.5%), mild renal dysfunction (CCR<70 ml/min and CCR > or =40 ml/min, 38 patients, 11.6%) and severe renal dysfunction (CCR<40 ml/min, 16 patients, 4.9%). The mean follow up period was 47.5 months. RESULTS: The patient with severe renal dysfunction had higher incidence of postoperative dialysis and longer hospital stay (P<0.001). During the 3 months follow up period, the mean serum creatinine level in patients with severe renal dysfunction were not normalized and the incidence of renal dysfunction (serum creatinine, >1.5 mg/dl) was up to 46.2%. Even in patient with normal renal function, the incidence of postoperative hemodialysis and renal dysfunction 3 months postoperatively was about 5%. Multivariate analysis showed that preoperative serum creatinine, MELD score and postoperative diabetes predicted postoperative renal dysfunction. There was no statistical difference in survival curve between normal and mild renal dysfunction group but the patient with severe renal dysfunction showed worse survival compare with other groups (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggested that the patient with preoperative severe renal dysfunction have had poor recovery of renal dysfunction and high incidence of hemodialysis postoperatively and showed worse survival rate after transplantation.
Adult ; Creatinine ; Dialysis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Length of Stay ; Liver ; Living Donors ; Multivariate Analysis ; Renal Dialysis ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate ; Transplants

Primary malignant lymphoma is very rare and represents less than 1.5% of all intracranial neoplasms. The authors have experienced a case of primary malignant lymphoma of the brain in a 66 year-old woman who presented with presistent headache, nausea and generalized weakness. Brain CT scan demonstrated typical deep seated tumor masses in the right temporal and left frontal lobes with strong contrast enhancement. We obtained a good result after surgery followed by radiation and chemotherapy and report our case with review of the articles.
Aged ; Brain Neoplasms ; Brain* ; Drug Therapy ; Female ; Frontal Lobe ; Headache ; Humans ; Lymphoma* ; Nausea ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

PURPOSE: Konkuk University Hospital (KUH), which opened in September 2005, is currently categorized as a secondary hospital. Early on after its establishment, the surgical residents and nurses were relatively inexperienced in the treatment of stomach cancer. Therefore, the quality of surgery for stomach cancer at KUH may be different from that of the existing large-scale tertiary hospitals. The purpose of this study is first to investigate the clinicopathological characteristics of the gastric cancer patients at the KUH, and second to compare our morbidity & mortality rates with those of previous studies, and we also analyzed the risk factors of morbidity at the early stage of a training hospital. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study retrospectively collected the clinicopathological characteristics and the post-operative morbidity rates and mortality rates with using the electronic medical records of all the patients who went under a gastric cancer operation at KUH from September 2005 to April 2008. RESULTS: The total number of gastric cancer patients who underwent operation was 201. The morbidity rate and death rate at KUH were 10.4% and 0.5%, respectively. The morbidity has increased with an older age. The other variables had no influence on morbidity. CONCLUSION: The morbidity rate, death rate and the clinicopathological characteristics of gastric cancer patients at KUH were similar to those of the previous reports. We found that age is the main factor affecting the morbidity rate after stomach cancer surgery. For further surgical qualification of stomach cancer surgery at KUH, it is necessary to collect the survival data of patients who undergo stomach cancer surgery.
Electronic Health Records ; Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Tertiary Care Centers