Clinical Evaluation of Stable Thoracolumbar Vertebral Fractures / 대한정형외과학회잡지

One hundred and fifteen thoracolumbar vertebrel fractures Out. of 85 patients were avaluated in this study. In 97 cases out of 65 patients, angular deformity and loss of height of the fractured vertebral bodies were measured, and for 6. 3 months in average follow up study was made in 23 cases out of 18 patients. The angular deformity became increased from 18.4 degrees to 21. 0 degrees wheroas loss of height has also increased from 38.6 to 40.8%, showing little statical value. Incidence was higher in male than in female without seasonal differences. Age incidence ranged from 16 to 78, and most frequent in third and fourth decades. Causes of injury were industrial accident, traffic accident, home accident and fall from height. Location of injury was mainly twelfth thoracic and first lumbar vertebrae. As associated injury, fracture of the rib, ulna, malleolus and calcaneus in order. Conservative treatment was a method of choice, while operstive treatment was performed in 7%.

A Clinical Observation of Limitation of Joint Motion of Extremities / 대한정형외과학회잡지

In spite of decreasing the rate of industrial accident, the number of injured work people has been rising up tendency in Korea recently. Above twe third of the accident was involved in extremities and many of them were obtained limitation of range of motion of joint. The authores analyse the 325 cases with limitation of joint who were treated at Industrial Rehabilitation Center during the two years of period from May 1973 to April 1975 and the results were as follows: 1. Most cases were male (94.5%) and age group of predominance was 3rd and 4th decades. 2. The highest incidence of causative injury was fracture (80.9%) 3. The greatest number of involved joints occured at knee (31%), and higher incidence in joints of lower limb and of right side. 4. Among the 325 cases, 40% was treated for 9–12 weeks and average duration of treatment was 87 days. 5. There was marked increasing range of motion in 31% but not improved in 13.5%. 6. 137 out of 325 cases was able to move more than 75% of full range of motion of joint involved. 7. Surgery for the restoration was performed in 39 cases (12.0%).