Motor and Sensory Function as a Predictor of Respiratory Function Associated With Ventilator Weaning After High Cervical Cord Injury

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the respiratory function of high cervical cord injury according to ventilator dependence and to examine the correlations between diaphragm movement found on fluoroscopy and sensory and motor functions. METHODS: A total of 67 patients with high cervical spinal cord injury (SCI), admitted to our hospital were enrolled in the study. One rehabilitation physician performed sensory and motor examinations on all patients while each patient was in the supine position on the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) standard. In addition, fluoroscopic diaphragm movement studies and bedside spirometry were performed. RESULTS: Bedside spirometry and diaphragm fluoroscopic tests were analyzed according to ventilator dependence. Forced vital capacity and maximal inspiratory pressure were significantly higher in the ventilator weaned group. Natural breathing during the fluoroscopic diaphragm examinations and ventilator weaning showed statistical significance with the movement on the right, while deep breathing showed statistical significance with the movement on both sides. Deep breathing movement has correlation with the C5 key muscle. Diaphragm movement has correlation with right C3 and bilateral C4 sensory functions. CONCLUSION: The present expansion study showed that, through simple bedside physical examinations, rehabilitation physicians could relatively easily predict diaphragm movement and respiratory function recovery, which showed significance with ventilator weaning in patients with high cervical SCI.

Effect of Intra-articular Hyaluronic Acid Injection on Hemiplegic Shoulder Pain After Stroke

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of intra-articular hyaluronic acid (IAHA) injection for hemiplegic shoulder pain (HSP) after stroke. METHODS: Thirty-one patients with HSP and limited range of motion (ROM) without spasticity of upper extremity were recruited. All subjects were randomly allocated to group A (n=15) for three weekly IAHA injection or group B (n=16) for a single intra-articular steroid (IAS) injection. All injections were administered by an expert physician until the 8th week using a posterior ultrasonography-guided approach. Shoulder joint pain was measured using the Wong-Baker Scale (WBS), while passive ROM was measured in the supine position by an expert physician. RESULTS: There were no significant intergroup differences in WBS or ROM at the 8th week. Improvements in forward flexion and external rotation were observed from the 4th week in the IAHA group and the 8th week in the IAS group. Subjects experienced a statistically significant improvement in pain from the 1st week in the IAS and from the 8th week in IAHA group, respectively. CONCLUSION: IAHA seems to have a less potent ability to reduce movement pain compared to steroid in the early period. However, there was no statistically significant intergroup difference in WBS and ROM improvements at the 8th week. IAHA might be a good alternative to steroid for managing HSP when the use of steroid is limited.

Experience of Benign Multiple Symmetrical Lipomatosis

Benign symmetrical lipomatosis, also known as Madelung's disease, is a rare condition characterized by massive fatty deposits arranged symmetrically around the neck, shoulders, and arms. Patients usually complain of their cosmetic appearance, but treatment can be considered for decreased neck motion and/or aerodigestive problems. Surgical lipectomy and liposuction are treatment of choice, but recurrence is common. Because the distribution of the lesion tends to be wide and diffuse, single operation is not sufficient for improving contour and functional problems, especially in severely affected case. We experienced a progressed patient who suffered from limitation of neck motion, dyspnea including sleep apnea due to massive deposits on whole neck. We performed 2 staged operations for the purpose of removing as much lipomatous tissue as possible. After 2 staged excisions, patient's appearance and aerodigestive problems are much improved and recurrence is not observed.

Treatment of Beign Multiple Symmetrical Lipomatosis with Liposuction

PURPOSE: Benign symmetrical lipomatosis(Madelung's disease) is a disease of uncertain etiology that manifests as massive lipomatous deposits in specific area of the body. It is usually located on the neck, shoulder, proximal regions of the extremities and the abdomen. Madelung's disease is found many in middle-aged, Mediterranean man. Imaging using either computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging is often recommended. Dietary restriction provides no relief of disease. Abstinence with alcohol may delay further progression but does not regression tumor mass. The objective of this study is to prove effectiveness of liposuction for treatment of benign lipomatosis. METHODS: We conducted liposuction as a treatment for benign lipomatosis. After general anesthesia, We conducted power assisted liposuction and amount of suctioned volume was about 2500 cc. After surgery, we did compressive dressing and then followed by pressure garment. RESULTS: Six months after surgery, patient was examined for follow up at outpatient department. Recurred lipoma was not observated. Patient was satisfied with result. CONCLUSION: The only effective therapy for Madelung's disease is surgical removal but recurrence could be occurring. Also multiple surgical scars will be visible. We report a patient with multiple large lipomatosis successfully treated with liposuction.

Expression of transforming growth factor-1 in bone regeneration after the implantation of particulate dentin and plaster of paris

PURPOSE: This study was performed to investigate the expression of the transforming growth factor (TGF)-1, in a rat calvarium defect model using particulate dentin and/or plaster of Paris, and correlate the bone regeneration process with the histologic events. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-two Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 4 groups of 8 animals each. A 1.0 cm-sized calvarial defects were made and the defect was filled with different graft materials as follows : Group A, the defects were filled with a mixture of particulate dentin and plaster of Paris with a 2:1 ratio; Group B, the defects were filled with plaster of Paris only; Group C, defects were filled with particulate dentin only; Group D, untreated control group. The animals were sacrificed by 1, 2, 4, 8 weeks after implantation. Excised wound tissues were processed for histology, immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR for the analysis of TGF-1 expression. RESULTS: Gene expression of TGF-1 was detected for all experimental groups. The highest gene expression was observed in the specimen taken at the first week after implantation in Group A. According to the histologic and immunohistochemical studies, TGF- 1 positive osteoblast-like cells were found in the early stage of healing after the implantation of particulate dentin and plaster of Paris. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that TGF-1 may be related to new bone formation at the early healing process after the implantation of particulate dentin and plaster of Paris.

A Comparative Analysis of Stereotactic Evacuation & Conservative Treatment in Hypertensive Putaminal Hemorrhage

We have analysed 144 patients with hypertensive putaminal hemorrhage, admitting from January 1992 to December 1993. Surgical treated group with Komai's stereotactic system was 71 patients and medical treated group was 73 patients. The results were as follows: 1) The patients with ventricular rupture were 36 cases(25%). According to the degree of ventricular rupture, the mortality was increased and the good outcome was decreased(P40ml), the outcome in both treated group was similar. 4) According to CT classification, in class II(extending to anterior limb of internal capsule), good outcome of surgical group was better than that of non-surgical group. In class V(extending th thalamus or subthalamus), the mortality in surgical group was lower than that of non-surgical group(P<0.05) .

A Case of Lateral Ventricle Choroid Plexus Papilloma in an Infant

Choroid plexus papillomas are uncommon neoplasms of the central nervous system, accounting for 0.4% to 0.1% of all intracranial tumors. We present a choroid plexus papilloma in the trigone of the lateral ventricle in an 8 months old infant with hydrocephalus. We successfully controlled hydrocephalus and subdural fluid collection after total removal of the mass.

The Clinical Analysis of Alcohol and Creatine Kinase-BB(CK-BB) in Acute Head Injury

Patients suffering a head-injury were often drinking alcohol shortly before the trauma, and it has been suggested that the degree of brain damage may be exacerbated due to high alcohol serum levels. To evaluate this, we assessed the level of consciousness, alcohol and creatinine kinase-bb(CK-BB) serum levels in 140 consecutive head-injured patients. Level of consciousness(GCS score) was strongly correlated to outcome(p<0.001) and serum CK-BB(P<0.05), but not to alcohol serum levels.

The Clinical Significance of Serum Creatine Kinase-BB(CK-BB) in Acute Head Injury

Serial enzymatic determinations by electrophoresis were confined in serum of CK-BB(creatine kinase brain fraction), which were performed on 150 patients with acute head injury. The purpose of this study was to re-evaluate the usefulness of this serum enzyme value as a prognostic correlates. The results obtained are as follows : 1) 125 cases(83.3%) among 150 cases with head injury were revealed as CK-BB positive finding, whereas 25 cases (16.7%) with negative results have generally good outcome. 2) 3 cases (11.5%) of false positive finding were shown among 26 control group with back pain. 3) The maximum value of CK-BB(CK-BBmax) was een within 1st day(38.4%), and 3rd days (80.8%) following injury. 4) The appearance of mean CK-BBmax had two varieties of peak incidence on 1st-and 4th day following injury. 5) The Glasgow Coma Scale(GCS) Score on admission had close relationship to the value of inital CK-BB(CK-BBin) and CK-BBmax, respectively (P or =1 IU.L) to outcome (P or =1 IU/L) to outcome did not (P=0.126). 8) The Glasgow Outcoem Scale (GOS) was strongly correlated to mean GCS Score (P<0.000) and mean CK-BBin (P<0.000), but not to mean CK-BBmzs (P<0.139). 9) The correlationship between mean value of CK-BBin and CK-BBmax was statistically significant only in good recovery and moderate disability group, respectively (P<0.000 & P<0.003).