Visual Evoked Potentials in Premature Infants

Visual evoked potentials(VEPs) are the cerebral electrical activities recorded from the occipital scalp following a flash or pattern stimulation and can detect the lesions of sensory visual pathways. Although the VEPs change with the maturation of CNS in children, a few studies have documented the maturational changes in premature infants. Using the light- emitting diode goggles, VEPs were studied in 131 neurologically intact infants of 28~41 weeks gestational age or 34~59 weeks postmenstrual age. The VEPs were analysed by three waveforms; normal, abnormal, and flat, and four patterns; N300, P200-N300, P100-N155-P200-N300, and P100 pattern. Normal waveforms were 63 of 131 VEPs(48.1%). Of the normal waveforms, N300 patterns were 38.1%, P200-N300 36.5%, P100-N155-P200-N300 19.0%, and P100 6.4%. Each pattern correlated with the postmenstrual age. These findings support the hypothesis of VEP pattern changes according to the maturation of the visual system with age.

Comparative Study of Absorbable Suture Material and Nonabsorbable Suture Material in Micro / 대한정형외과학회잡지

The suture materials influence the success of microvascular anastomosis importantly. The purpose of this experiment is to observe the effect of absorbable suture material and nonabsorbable suture material in microvascular anastomosis. The study was carried out on one side of carotid arteries of fourty rats which were anesthetized intraperitoneally with urethane. The experimental procedures differed in two groups, Group A in which the carotid artery was sutured with 10-0 monofilament polyglycolic acid, Group B in which the carotid artery was sutured with 10-0 monofilament nylon. Gross and histological examination were used to compare the results of end to end suture above two suture material. The results were as follows. 1. Nylon had greater tensile strength and ease of handling than polyglycolic acid, but held knots poorly. 2. Polyglycolic acid had difficult handling and lesser tenslie strength than nylon, but held knots hardly. 3. Polyglycolic acid had high patency rate, some lesser tissue response than nylon.

Heel Pad Reconstruction using Doresalis Pedis Free Flap or Rotation Flap / 대한정형외과학회잡지

Eleventh heel pad reconstruction with neurovascularized dorsalis pedis free flap or rotation flap have performed during recent three years in department of Orthopedic Surgery, Kyung Hee University Hospital. Neurovascularized dorsalis pedis free flaps were seven and neurovascularized dorsalis pedis rotation flaps were four. All patients had complained of painful limping and ulceration in grafted heel. In 5 months to 34 months follow up study, the following results were obtained. The success rate of dorsalis pedis flap was 100% except one partial peripheral necrosis. The weight bearing function and tactile protective sensation on reconstructed heel pads were excellent. Neurovascularized dorsalis pedis free flap or rotation flap is recommended to satisfactory methods in heel pad reconstruction. Neurovascularized dorsalis pedis rotation flap easier and safer technique than neurovascularized dorsalis free flap.

The Rate of Bone Union in Replanted Limbs / 대한정형외과학회잡지

In view of the problems with infection, traditional orthopedic teaching has held that the use of metalic fixation in open fractures is contraindicated. But the bone shortening and internal fixation of amputated limb is a principle for replantation. The authors experienced 23 patients of replanted limbs including femur, tibia, humerus, radius and ulnar among total 142 replantations and also analysed them in the respect of the relationship among soft tissue injury, fixatives, bone union and infection rate from February, 1975 to July, 1981 in this department. The rate of delayed union, nonunion and infection were 22.6%, 6.5% and 25.8% respectively. It seems that the union process of bone in replanted limbs is similar to that of the open fracture and also rigid internal fixation is the most useful for bony union.