Which Criterion Is More Reliable for Selecting the Distal Fusion Level in Cases of Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis with Structural Thoracolumbar/Lumbar Curves: Static or Dynamic?

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective comparative study.OBJECTIVES: To compare the reliability of 2 criteria to predict the radiological outcomes of corrective surgery in cases of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) with structural thoracolumbar/lumbar (TL/L) curves.SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: Distal fusion level selection in AIS with structural TL/L curves is debatable.MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study included 131 AIS patients with structural TL/L curves who underwent corrective surgery in which distal fusion was stopped at L3. Whole-spine standing radiographs and bending radiographs were obtained preoperatively. The patients were divided into 2 groups according to their findings on bending radiographs (dynamic criterion) and by the last touching vertebra and the lower end vertebra (static criterion). Radiological outcomes were assessed by reviewing postoperative radiographs. Reliability tests were conducted to compare the predictability of radiological outcomes using these 2 methods. In addition, radiological parameters were compared between both criteria.RESULTS: Among 131 patients, 25 showed radiologically poor outcomes (19.1%). The sensitivity of the dynamic and static criteria was 0.69 and 0.50, respectively. The specificity of each criterion was 0.49 and 0.64, respectively. Overall, the dynamic criterion showed superior reliability (p=0.03). However, no significant difference in radiological parameters could be found in a comparison of both criteria.CONCLUSIONS: Although the dynamic criterion was more sensitive for predicting poor radiological outcomes when stopping fusion at L3 in patients with structural TL/L curves, its specificity was lower than that of the static criterion. Thus, both dynamic and static criteria should be considered when selecting the distal fusion level in cases of AIS with structural TL/L curves.

A Study on the Validity of College of Dentistry Transfer System / 한국의학교육

The purpose of this study is to examine the validity of the College of Dentistry transfer system. The study focused on the correlation between entree examination results and class achievement of transfer students and double major students, grades difference according to school year and their major of previous schools. Also, there was the comparison of school life satisfaction among the transfer students, double major students and ordinary students of dentistry school. The result of the research is as follows; First, there was no significant relation between the entree examination results and class achievement of transfer students and double major students, suggesting the entree examination results cannot be a reasonable prediction for class achievements. Second, there was no significant difference in the grades according to school year and their major of previous schools, showing that students can well adjust themselves no matter what their majors are. Third, there was a significant difference in transfer and double major students' grades, and showed higher achievement as their school year passed. Fourth, the transfer and double major students were more satisfied in school life than the ordianry students. On the basis of the above findings we can conclude the transfer student system of college of dentistry was successful, but needs some improvements in such as student selection, welfare facilities and school culture.

Analysis of the Validity and Reliability about Double Major Data for Admission / 한국의학교육

This study is related to analysis the validity and reliability of double major data for admission in college of medicine yonsei university. The 69 applicants and 37 of those who had been admitted were sampled and then the GPAs of previous major, the interview scores and the GPAs of medical college were used as sources of analysis. This study is estiamted descriptive statistics, concurrent-related evidence of validity between GPAs previous college and interview scores, predictive-related evidence of validity of GPAs of previous college and interview scores, inter-scorer reliability of interview scores. The results of this study are like this: First, all of 69 students applied and 37(53.6%) applicants were admitted. Eleven students who were admitted graduated bio-chemical department of the college of science. The percentile rank of learning achievement of successful candidates show 64.5~98.2(1995), 43.6~86.6(1996), 22.8~96.9(1997). Second, the result of the estimation of the concurrence-related evidence of validity appear 0.729(1994), 0.673(1995), 0.562(1996), 0.876(1997). Therefore the candidates who got high GPAs also took high interview scores. Third, the predictive-related evidence of validity show insignificant. Forth, generalizability of inter-scorer reliability about intervew scores appear 0.972(1994), 0.983(1995). To improve the validity and relibility double major data, interview skills and educational programs has to be reoriented.