Mercedes Benz Pattern Craniosynostosis: A Case Report

PURPOSE: Craniosynostosis of three or more cranial sutures was not common. "Mercedes Benz pattern," named by Moore1 was a rare form of craniosynostosis and had an atypical pattern of premature closure of cranial suture. It was not reported in Republic of Korea. We report this case with literature review. METHODS: A 13-months-old male patient visited our clinic due to exophthalmos. He showed normal developmental course. Other neurological tests were normal but he was Crouzon syndrome patient. CT scans showed bilateral lambdoid and posterior sagittal sutures were fused and the length of the skull was extended. Cranioplasty with pi craniotomy & Barrel-Stave osteotomy and recombination of the bone flap was performed. RESULTS: The patient was discharged after post operative 10 days without any complications. In follow up visit after 2.7 years, he was in good state without recurrence and functional abnormality of skull. CONCLUSION: This was the first case of Mercedes Benz pattern craniosynostosis with Crouzon syndrome in Korea. This type of craniosynostosis has to be considered differently from single type of craniosynostosis or typical syndromic craniosynostosis clinically and surgically.

Usfullness of Partial Muscle Flaps and Combination Method for Coverage of Prosthetic Material in Chest Wall Reconstruction

PURPOSE: Reconstruction of chest wall has always been a challenging problem. Muscle flaps for chest wall reconstruction have been helpful in controling infection, filling dead space and covering the prosthetic material in this challenge. However, when we use muscle flaps, functional and cosmetic donor site morbidities could occur. The authors applied and revised various partial muscle flaps and combination use of them to cover the prosthetic material for the chest wall reconstruction and evaluated the usefulness of partial muscle flaps. METHODS: This study included 7 patients who underwent chest wall reconstruction using partial muscle flap to cover prosthetic material from 2004 to 2008. The pectoralis major muscle was used in anterior 2/3 parts of it leaving lateral 1/3 parts of it. The anterior 2/3 parts of the pectoralis major muscle were used while lateral 1/3 parts were left. In case of the rectus abdominis muscle flap, we used upper half of it, or we dissected it around its origin and then advanced to cover the site. The latissimus dorsi muscle flap was elevated with lateral portion of it along the descending branch of the thoracodorsal artery. If single partial muscle flap could not cover whole prosthetic material, it would be covered with combination of various partial muscle flaps adjacent to the coverage site. RESULTS: Flap coverage of the prosthetic material and chest wall reconstructions were successfully done. There occurred no immediate and delayed post operative complications such as surgical site infection, seroma, deformity of donor site and functional impairment. CONCLUSION: When we use the muscle flaps to cover prosthetic material for chest wall reconstruction, use of the partial muscle flaps could be a good way to reduce donor site morbidity. Combination of multiple partial flaps could be a valuable and good alternative way to overcome the disadvantages of partial muscle flaps such as limitation of volume and size as well as flap mobility.

The Prevalence and Risk Factors for Erectile Dysfunction in Korean Young Men: a Web-based Survey / 대한남성과학회지

PURPOSE: To obtain basic information for studies of male sexual dysfunction, we investigated the prevalence and the risk factors of erectile dysfunction(ED) in Korean young men via an Internet survey. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In June 2006, 23594 subjects aged from 20 to 59, who had registered with an internet research company, were asked to join our study if they had had stable sexual activities more than once a month for the past 6 months. Questions covered demographic characteristics, sexual life, International Index of Erectile Function(IIEF), and International Prostatic Symptom Score(IPSS). RESULTS: A total of 601 subjects completed the questionnaires. The prevalence of self-reported ED was 6.7%. The proportion of men with self-reported ED was 3.7% in the 20-29 age group, 6.0% in the 30-39 age group, and 9.5% in the 40-49 age group. The overall prevalence of ED assessed by IIEF-EF domain score of < or = 25 was 41.0%. We found a statistically significant correlation between men with self-reported ED and lower IIEF-EF domain scores. Self-reported ED was significantly associated with aging, smoking, lower education, and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). Lower IIEF-EF domain scores were correlated with higher IPSS total, voiding and storage scores. CONCLUSIONS: ED in Korean young men is common and closely associated with LUTS. An Internet survey requires less man power, less time, and less research funds than classical survey methods such as mail or interview surveys. These study results will be useful as basic data for future studies of young Korean men's sexual function

The Prevalence and Risk Factors for Erectile Dysfunction in Korean Young Men: a Web-based Survey / 대한남성과학회지

PURPOSE: To obtain basic information for studies of male sexual dysfunction, we investigated the prevalence and the risk factors of erectile dysfunction(ED) in Korean young men via an Internet survey. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In June 2006, 23594 subjects aged from 20 to 59, who had registered with an internet research company, were asked to join our study if they had had stable sexual activities more than once a month for the past 6 months. Questions covered demographic characteristics, sexual life, International Index of Erectile Function(IIEF), and International Prostatic Symptom Score(IPSS). RESULTS: A total of 601 subjects completed the questionnaires. The prevalence of self-reported ED was 6.7%. The proportion of men with self-reported ED was 3.7% in the 20-29 age group, 6.0% in the 30-39 age group, and 9.5% in the 40-49 age group. The overall prevalence of ED assessed by IIEF-EF domain score of < or = 25 was 41.0%. We found a statistically significant correlation between men with self-reported ED and lower IIEF-EF domain scores. Self-reported ED was significantly associated with aging, smoking, lower education, and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). Lower IIEF-EF domain scores were correlated with higher IPSS total, voiding and storage scores. CONCLUSIONS: ED in Korean young men is common and closely associated with LUTS. An Internet survey requires less man power, less time, and less research funds than classical survey methods such as mail or interview surveys. These study results will be useful as basic data for future studies of young Korean men's sexual function