Validation of the Korean Ankylosing Spondylitis Quality of Life Questionnaire

Background@#Measuring accurate and reliable scores of quality of life in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is important in both decision-making and treatment planning for the disease. Questionnaire, The ankylosing spondylitis quality of life (ASQoL), is one of the representative tools for assessing how seriously AS patients view their disease severity, activity, as well as their overall health. To make these types of questionnaires readable and understandable, local language translation of surveys should be required. A Korean version of the ASQoL questionnaire has accordingly been developed. This study assessed the Korean version of the ASQoL survey to evaluate the reliability and validity of it. @*Methods@#Translation and reverse translation of the English ASQoL survey were conducted. A total of 120 consecutive AS patients received a mail including the Korean-translated 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36), the ASQoL survey, and the visual analog scale (pain). The coefficient of intraclass correlation and Cronbach’s alpha were computed, and factor analysis, as well as reliability assessments utilizing the kappa agreement statistics for each item, was undertaken. By analyzing the responses to SF-36 and ASQoL questionnaire utilizing Pearson’s correlation coefficient, construct validity was calculated. @*Results@#Factor analysis was performed regarding pain, physical function, and mental function. The kappa statistic of agreement was larger than 0.6 for all items. The ASQoL questionnaire had adequate test and re-test reliability (0.814). Furthermore, Cronbach’s α, the internal consistency, was very good (0.877). The Korean-translated ASQoL questionnaire demonstrated a significantly strong correlation between the single domain and total SF-36 scores. @*Conclusions@#The Korean version of the ASQoL questionnaire showed acceptable properties of measurement and successful translation. Thus, it can be said that the questionnaire is appropriate for evaluating the outcomes of Korean patients with AS.

Relationships between Clinical Status and Gait Parameters in Ankylosing Spondylitis

Background@#This study aimed to identify the relationship between gait parameters and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). @*Methods@#The study group comprised 134 patients with AS and 124 patients were enrolled as controls. All study participants underwent instrumented gait analysis and completed clinical questionnaires. The kinematic parameters of gait were walking speed, step length, cadence, stance phase, single support, double support, phase coordination index (PCI), and gait asymmetry (GA). For each patient, a visual analog scale (VAS; 0–10) score was used to assess back pain, 36-item short form survey (SF-36) questionnaire was administered to evaluate the HRQOL, and Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) was calculated.Using kinematic parameters and questionnaires, statistical analyses were done to investigate significant differences between the groups. Relationship of gait kinematic data and questionnaires of clinical outcome was also evaluated. @*Results@#Among the 134 patients with AS, 34 were women and 100 were men. In the control group, 26 were women and 98 were men. The patients with AS and control group patients had significant differences in terms of walking speed, step length, single support, PCI, and GA. However, such differences were not observed in cadence, stance phase, and double support (p > 0.05). In correlation analyses, gait kinematic parameters and clinical outcomes were significantly related with each other. In multiple regression analysis performed to identify predictive factors for clinical outcome, walking speed was found to predict VAS, and walking speed and step length were found to predict the BASDAI and SF-36 scores. @*Conclusions@#Patients with and without AS had significant differences in the gait parameters. Correlation analysis showed significant correlation between the gait kinematic data and clinical outcomes. In particular, walking speed and step length successfully predicted clinical outcomes in patients with AS.

Comparison of Korean Body Image Questionnaires in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis

Methods@#Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) patients ages 10 to 19 years completed the Korean version of the Quality of Life Profile for Spinal Deformities (K-QLPSD), the Scoliosis Research Society-22 self-image subscale (K-SRS-22-si), Korean version of the Spinal Appearance Questionnaire (K-SAQ), Korean version of the Body Image Disturbance Questionnaire-Scoliosis (K-BIDQ-S), and Korean version of the Italian Spine Youth Quality of Life (K-ISYQOL). Four body image questionnaires were compared with K-ISYQOL and radiographic major curve magnitude, coronal balance, and sagittal balance. Spearman’s correlation was performed to compare the four body image questionnaires. @*Results@#The study included 84 AIS patients, with a mean age of 12.6 years and a major Cobb angle of 29.4°. The four surveys were correlated with major curve magnitude and K-ISYQOL. K-SAQ and K-BIDQ-S were correlated better than K-QLPSD, and K-SRS-22-si was correlated with K-ISYQOL. The four surveys were moderately correlated with major curve magnitude, but there was no correlation with age, coronal balance, and sagittal balance. @*Conclusions@#K-SAQ and K-BIDQ-S correlate better with K-ISYQOL than K-QLPSD and K-SRS-22-si.

Update on genetic screening and treatment for infertile men with genetic disorders in the era of assisted reproductive technology / 대한생식의학회지

A genetic etiology of male infertility is identified in fewer than 25% of infertile men, while 30% of infertile men lack a clear etiology, resulting in a diagnosis of idiopathic male infertility. Advances in reproductive genetics have provided insights into the mechanisms of male infertility, and a characterization of the genetic basis of male infertility may have broad implications for understanding the causes of infertility and determining the prognosis, optimal treatment, and management of couples. In a substantial proportion of patients with azoospermia, known genetic factors contribute to male infertility. Additionally, the number of identified genetic anomalies in other etiologies of male infertility is growing through advances in whole-genome amplification and next-generation sequencing. In this review, we present an up-to-date overview of the indications for appropriate genetic tests, summarize the characteristics of chromosomal and genetic diseases, and discuss the treatment of couples with genetic infertility by microdissection-testicular sperm extraction, personalized hormone therapy, and in vitro fertilization with pre-implantation genetic testing.

Medical Issues and Opinions of Obstetrics Regarding Abortion Law Amendment

There have been ongoing social discussions on revision of the abortion law since the Constitutional Court ruled it nonconformity to the constitution on April 11, 2019. Thus, Korean Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Korean Society of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Korean College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and Korean Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists organized 'special committee for abortion law' to support social discussion on the revision of the abortion law, and they prepared official opinions of obstetrics for medical issues including doctors' right to refuse abortion. In the future, the committee will continue to adapt to changes of medical environment especially after the revision of the abortion law by collecting its members' feedbacks.

Medical Issues and Opinions of Obstetrics Regarding Abortion Law Amendment

There have been ongoing social discussions on revision of the abortion law since the Constitutional Court ruled it nonconformity to the constitution on April 11, 2019. Thus, Korean Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Korean Society of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Korean College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and Korean Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists organized 'special committee for abortion law' to support social discussion on the revision of the abortion law, and they prepared official opinions of obstetrics for medical issues including doctors' right to refuse abortion. In the future, the committee will continue to adapt to changes of medical environment especially after the revision of the abortion law by collecting its members' feedbacks.

Delayed recovery of a patient with obstructive azoospermia and a history of acute epididymitis / 대한생식의학회지

Obstructive azoospermia caused by acute epididymitis is usually permanent, and microsurgical vasoepididymostomy is the only reconstructive treatment option. There have been no reports of delayed recovery of sperm count after over 1 year in a patient with obstructive azoospermia related to history of acute epididymitis. We present a young male patient who had azoospermia and a history of acute epididymitis who experienced delayed recovery, with complete restoration of sperm production and the ability to conceive naturally.

Massive Duodenal Bleeding after the Migration of Endovascular Coils into the Small Bowel

Among gastrointestinal emergencies, acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding remains a challenging clinical problem owing to significant patient morbidity and costs involved in management. Endoscopic hemostatic therapy is the mainstay of treatment and decreases the incidence of re-bleeding, the need for surgery, morbidity, and mortality. However, in 8%–15% of patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding, endoscopic hemostatic therapy does not successfully control bleeding. Trans-arterial coil embolization is an effective alternative treatment for endoscopic hemostatic failure; however, this procedure can induce adverse outcomes, such as non-target vessel occlusion, vessel dissection and perforation, and coil migration. Coil migration is rare but causes severe complications, such as re-bleeding and bowel ischemia. However, in most cases, coil migration is local and involves spontaneous healing without serious complications. Here, we report the case of a patient who underwent trans-arterial coil embolization of the gastroduodenal artery with the purpose of controlling massive duodenal bleeding, resulting in a fatal outcome caused by coil migration.

Misuse of testosterone replacement therapy in men in infertile couples and its influence on infertility treatment / 대한생식의학회지

OBJECTIVE: We investigated the clinical characteristics of men with testosterone replacement therapy (TRT)-induced hypogonadism and its effect on assisted reproductive technology (ART) in infertile couples.METHODS: This study examined the records of 20 consecutive male patients diagnosed with azoospermia or severe oligozoospermia (<5×10⁶/mL) who visited a single infertility center from January 2008 to July 2018. All patients were treated at a primary clinic for erectile dysfunction or androgen deficiency symptoms combined with low serum testosterone. All men received a phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitor and TRT with testosterone undecanoate (Nebido®) or testosterone enanthate (Jenasteron®). Patients older than 50 years or with a chronic medical disease such as diabetes were excluded.RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 37 years and the mean duration of infertility was 16.3±11.6 months. At the initial presentation, eight patients had azoospermia, nine had cryptozoospermia, and three had severe oligozoospermia. Serum follicle-stimulating hormone levels were below 1.0 mIU/mL in most patients. Three ongoing ART programs with female factor infertility were cancelled due to male spermatogenic dysfunction; two of these men had normal semen parameters in the previous cycle. After withholding TRT, serum hormone levels and sperm concentrations returned to normal range after a median duration of 8 months.CONCLUSION: TRT with high-dose testosterone can cause spermatogenic dysfunction due to suppression of the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis, with adverse effects on infertility treatment programs. TRT is therefore contraindicated for infertile couples attempting to conceive, and the patient's desire for fertility must be considered before initiation of TRT in a hypogonadal man.

Macroprolactinoma in a young man presenting with erectile dysfunction / 대한생식의학회지

Hyperprolactinemia due to a pituitary adenoma is a rare cause of erectile dysfunction (ED). The prevalence of clinically apparent prolactinomas is reported to be from 6–10 to 50 per 100,000. A few reports have been published of prolactinoma presenting with ED. Here, we report a rare case of a young man who presented with ED as a chief complaint and who was diagnosed with a huge prolactinoma, and we discuss a related fertility issue.

Normal Korean Femoral Neck Anteversion, Acetabular Anteversion and Combined Anteversion Measured with Computed Tomography / 대한정형외과학회잡지

PURPOSE: The authors measured the anteversion of the femoral neck and acetabulum and the sum of the two values in normal Korean people by computed tomography. The authors examined the normal range of the values to analyze the difference in sex and sides as well as the relationship between the femoral neck and acetabular anteversion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The authors measured the anteversion of the femoral neck and acetabulum in 118 normal Korean adult males and 114 females aged between 21 and 49 on both the right and left sides by computed tomography and calculated the sum of anteversion. The authors analyzed the mean and standard deviation, and investigated the sex differences and side differences, as well as the relationship between the acetabular anteversion and femoral neck anteversion statistically. RESULTS: The anteversion of the acetabulum in males was 15.3°±6.1° on the right side and 15.3°±6.6° on the left side. The anteversion of the femoral neck in males was 5.3°±7.6° on the right side and 1.5°±9.2° on the left side according to the Hernandez et al. method. The anteversion of acetabulum in females was 16.8°±5.4° on the right side and 16.3°±5.8° on the left side. The anteversion of femoral neck in females was 10.3°±8.2° on the right side and 7.9°±8.2° on the left side according to Hernandez et al. method. No difference in acetabular anteversion, and a significant difference in the femoral neck anteversion on both the right and left sides were observed between males and females. No difference of acetabular anteversion was observed between the right and left sides, but a significant difference in femoral neck anteversion was noted between the right and left sides measured by either the Hernandez et al. method or Weiner et al. method. The Pearson coefficient revealed no correlation between the femoral neck anteversion and acetabular anteversion. CONCLUSION: No difference in the acetabular anteversion was observed, but there was a significant difference in femoral neck anteversion between males and females. A significant difference in femoral neck anteversion was observed between the right and left sides. No correlation was noted between the anteversion of the femoral neck and acetabulum.

Long-Term Experience of Sperm Cryopreservation in Cancer Patients in a Single Fertility Center

PURPOSE: Sperm cryopreservation before cancer treatment is the most effective method to preserve the fertility of male patients. We present our 21 years experience with sperm cryopreservation for cancer patients, including an examination of semen quality, the current status of cryopreserved sperm, and the rate of sperm use for assisted reproductive technology (ART). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 721 cancer patients at Fertility Center of CHA Gangnam Medical Center successfully performed sperm cryopreservation for fertility preservation from January 1996 to December 2016. Medical chart review was used to analyze patient age, marital status, cancer type, semen volume, sperm counts and motility, length of storage, and current banking status. RESULTS: The major cancers of the 721 patients were leukemia (28.4%), lymphoma (18.3%), testis cancer (10.0%). The mean age at cryopreservation was 27.0 years, and 111 patients (15.4%) performed sperm cryopreservation during or after cancer treatment. The mean sperm concentration was 66.7±66.3 ×106/mL and the mean sperm motility was 33.8%±16.3%. During median follow-up duration of 75 months (range, 1–226 months), 44 patients (6.1%) used their banked sperm at our fertility center for ART and 9 patients (1.2%) transferred their banked sperm to another center. The median duration from cryopreservation to use was 51 months (range, 1–158 months). CONCLUSIONS: Sperm cryopreservation before gonadotoxic treatment is the most reliable method to preserve the fertility of male cancer patients. Sperm cryopreservation should be offered as a standard of care for all men planning cancer therapy.

Spinopelvic Orientation on Radiographs in Various Body Postures: Upright Standing, Chair Sitting, Japanese Style Kneel Sitting, and Korean Style Cross-Legged Sitting

BACKGROUND: Several previous studies reported on the impact of upright standing and chair sitting on the sagittal spinopelvic alignment. However, there are no studies on the impact of the two Asian (Korean and Japanese) style floor-sitting positions on the sagittal spinopelvic alignment. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of four different body postures (standing, chair sitting, kneel sitting, and cross-legged sitting) on the sagittal spinopelvic alignment. METHODS: Sixteen selected healthy volunteers (10 males and six females) were subjects of this pilot study. In all subjects, radiographs were taken in comfortable standing and sitting positions. All spinal curvatures including lumbar lordotic angle (LLA), sacral slope (SS), pelvic tilt (PT), and pelvic incidence (PI) were measured on the radiographs. RESULTS: In standing position, the average LLA, SS, PT, and PI were 37.1°, 35.3°, 15.7°, and 51.0°, respectively. In chair sitting, the average LLA, SS, PT, and PI were 17.9°, 20.3°, 28.2°, and 49.5°, respectively. In kneel sitting (Japanese style), the average LLA, SS, PT, and PI were 31.8°, 38.3°, 14.2°, and 52.5°, respectively. In cross-legged sitting (Korean style), the average LLA, SS, PT, and PI were 9.8°, 13.4°, 38.3°, and 51.7°, respectively. LLA in standing (37.1°) and kneel sitting (31.8°) were very similar. Remarkable reduction in LLA was observed in Korean-style cross-legged sitting (9.8°), and LLA in chair sitting (17.9°) was about half of that in standing. SS was similar in standing (35.3°) and kneel sitting (38.3°), and it was reduced remarkably in cross-legged sitting (13.4°). PT was largest in cross-legged sitting (38.3°), and it was similar between standing (15.7°) and kneel sitting (14.2°). PIs were similar in all positions. CONCLUSIONS: The kneel sitting position did not show significant differences with the standing position when assessed using four parameters related to the sagittal spinopelvic alignment, whereas chair sitting and cross-legged sitting positions significantly altered the spinopelvic alignment compared to the standing position.

Prevalence of Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis Diagnosed by Whole Spine Computed Tomography: A Preliminary Study

BACKGROUND: Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) is characterized by ossification of the enthesis. The diagnosis has been mainly based on the chest or whole spine lateral plain film. Recently, chest or thoracolumbar computed tomography (CT) has been reported to be more reliable for the diagnosis of DISH. The purposes of this study were to investigate the prevalence and location of DISH and evaluate the prevalence of comorbidities, such as ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) and ossification of the ligamentum flavum (OLF), using whole spine CT. METHODS: Whole spine CT scans of patients over 16 years of age who were examined at Cheju Halla General Hospital between February 2011 and December 2016 were reviewed for this study. The diagnosis of DISH was made according to the modified Resnick criteria. The prevalence of DISH in each age decade and its location were evaluated. Also, the prevalence of OPLL and OLF in DISH patients was investigated. RESULTS: The overall incidence of DISH was 24.4% (40 of 164 cases). There was no case of DISH in patients in their 40s and younger. The percentile incidences of DISH in patients in their fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, and ninth decades were 20.0% (4 of 20 cases), 32.3% (10 of 31 cases), 40.0% (10 of 25 cases), 34.5% (10 of 29 cases), and 27.3% (6 of 22 cases), respectively. A strong positive correlation between the age decade and the incidence of DISH was noted (r = 0.853, p = 0.007). DISH patients had higher incidences of OLF (22.5%) and OPLL (37.5%). The most common location of DISH was the middle thoracic spine (90.0%) followed by the lower thoracic spine (87.5%). There was one case of DISH involving only the cervical spine. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of DISH diagnosed by CT was higher than we expected. Whole spine CT can be a valuable modality to evaluate the location of DISH in the cervical and lumbar spine and the comorbidity rates of OLF and OPLL.

Male Infertility Associated with a Supernumerary Marker Chromosome

A marker chromosome (mar) is a structurally abnormal chromosome in which no part can be identified. The significance of a marker varies, depending on the material contained within the marker. Very few reports have been published of marker chromosomes associated with male infertility. Here, we report the case of an infertile man with a rare variant of a marker chromosome of a mos 47,XY,+mar[25]/46,XY[25] karyotype.

Discontinuing Antiepileptic Drugs after Pediatric Epilepsy Surgery for Focal Cortical Dysplasia

PURPOSE: Antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) can be discontinued in a subset of patients after surgery. We aimed to identify the factors related to successful AED withdrawal after surgery in pediatric patients with focal cortical dysplasia (FCD). METHODS: The study included 134 patients who underwent resective surgery for FCD at Severance Hospital between 2003 and 2014. Age of seizure onset, epilepsy duration, and location and histopathological classification of the FCD were compared between patients who experienced seizure recurrence and those who did not. The interval between surgery and initiation of AED reduction was also compared. RESULTS: In total, 134 patients were included. The median age at seizure onset was 1.0 year (interquartile range [IQR], 0.3–5.0). The median follow-up duration was 6.0 years (IQR, 1.0–13.0). AED withdrawal was attempted in 89 (66%), and 61 (69%) patients remained seizure-free. Of 61 patients, 38 (62%) were successfully weaned off all AEDs. Seizures recurred in 28 (31%) patients. The mean duration between surgery and initiation of AED reduction did not significantly differ between the seizure recurrence (4.5 months, IQR, 2.7–8.7) and non-recurrence groups (1.9 months, IQR, 0.5–5.4) (P<0.006). Patients who had FCD type IIb (39% vs. 7%, P=0.004) were more likely to be in the non-recurrence group than in the recurrence group (P=0.031). CONCLUSION: Surgical resection offers patients with FCD an opportunity to completely discontinue their AEDs. Early AED discontinuation may be pursued in patients with FCD in cases of complete resection.

Hypopituitarism Secondary to Paraclinoid Internal Carotid Artery Aneurysm / 대한내과학회지

Pituitary insufficiency due to a sellar aneurysm is relatively uncommon. The prevalence of this disorder was <0.2% in a large cohort of patients with panhypopituitarism. While uncommon, a vascular sellar lesion should be included as a differential diagnosis for a sellar mass resulting in hypopituitarism. We report herein a case of hypopituitarism with hyperprolactinemia secondary to a large (1.7-cm) saccular aneurysm at the left paraclinoid internal carotid artery.

Relationship Between Serum Vitamin D Levels and Symptoms of Depression in Stroke Patients

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the correlation between depressive symptoms and serum vitamin D levels in stroke patients. METHODS: In total, 126 stroke patients were analyzed. The 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) concentration of each patient was used to determine their vitamin D status. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II) and the Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9). Functional status was evaluated with the Korean version of the Modified Barthel Index (K-MBI). We compared the clinical questionnaires of a vitamin D-deficient group and a normal group, and evaluated the correlations between BDI-II, PHQ-9, K-MBI, and serum 25-OHD levels. RESULTS: In the vitamin D-deficient group, BDI-II (16.0±12.1) and PHQ-9 (7.4±4.2) scores were significantly higher than those of the normal group (BDI-II, 9.1±7.2; PHQ-9, 4.2±2.9; p<0.01). In a Spearman correlation analysis, a significant negative correlation was found between serum 25-OHD levels and BDI-II (Spearman r=0.177, p=0.048), but there were no significant correlations between serum 25-OHD levels and PHQ-9 or K-MBI. CONCLUSION: Vitamin D deficiency was correlated with the symptoms of depression in stroke patients.

Usage and perceptions of phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors among the male partners of infertile couples / 대한생식의학회지

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to investigate the prevalence of erectile dysfunction (ED) and the usage of phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors for ED treatment in infertile couples. METHODS: A total of 260 male partners in couples reporting infertility lasting at least 1 year were included in this study. In addition to an evaluation of infertility, all participants completed the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF)-5 questionnaire to evaluate their sexual function. The participants were asked about their use of PDE5 inhibitors while trying to conceive during their partner's ovulatory period and about their concerns regarding the risks of PDE5 inhibitor use to any eventual pregnancy and/or the fetus. RESULTS: Based on the IIEF-5 questionnaire, 41.5% of the participants (108/260) were classified as having mild ED (an IIEF-5 score of 17-21), while 10.4% of the participants (27/260) had greater than mild ED (an IIEF-5 score of 16 or less). The majority (74.2%, 193/260) of male partners of infertile couples had a negative perception of the safety of using a PDE5 inhibitor while trying to conceive. Only 11.1% of men (15/135) with ED in infertile couples had used a PDE5 inhibitor when attempting conception. CONCLUSION: ED was found to be common in the male partners of infertile couples, but the use of PDE5 inhibitors among these men was found to be very low. The majority of male partners were concerned about the risks of using PDE5 inhibitors when attempting to conceive. Appropriate counseling about this topic and treatment when necessary would likely be beneficial to infertile couples in which the male partner has ED.

Suprascapular Nerve Block versus Intra-articular Hyaluronic Acid Injection in Hemiplegic Shoulder Pain

OBJECTIVE: To compare the pain and functional improvement of suprascapular nerve block (SSNB) and intra-articular hyaluronic acid (HA) injection in post-stroke patients with hemiplegic shoulder pain. METHOD: In total, 24 stroke patients were randomly assigned in the SSNB group (n = 12) or the HA group (n = 12). Ultrasound (US) guided SSNB with 10 cc of 1% lidocaine and US guided intra-articular injection with 2 cc of HA was done in each group 3 times weekly. Visual analogue scale (VAS), Fugl-Meyer scale (FMS), Wolf motor function test (WMFT), Brunnstrom stage, modified Ashworth scale (MAS), range of motion (ROM) of shoulder joint and brief pain inventory (BPI) concerning the interference of patient's function (activity, mood, walking, work, relationship, sleep and enjoy) were assessed before the injection, one week and four weeks after first injection. RESULTS: Both groups showed significant improvements in pain assessed by VAS, but the changes between the two groups were not significantly different. There were no significant improvements and did not show any significant differences between the two groups in FMS, WMFT, Brunnstrom stage, MAS and ROM of shoulder joint. On several items of the BPI concerning the interference of patient's function (activity, mood, work, and enjoy), only SSNB group showed significant improvement, even though the differences between the two groups were not significant. CONCLUSION: Both SSNB and intra-articular HA injection were safe and effective in pain and functional ability in hemiplegic shoulder pain. But comparing the interference of patient's function caused by pain, only SSNB showed significant improvement.