Prevalence and Risk Factors of Upper Extremity Musculoskeletal Diseases among Farmers in Gyeongnam

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence and risk factors of upper extremity musculoskeletal diseases (MSDs) among Korean farmers. METHODS: The study was carried out from June 2013 to August 2015 on 850 farmers and 203 non-farmers (controls) in Gyeongnam Province. Physical examinations were performed by rheumatologists, orthopedists, and rehabilitation specialists. Plain radiography, a nerve conduction examination, and magnetic resonance imaging were performed, and the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) questionnaire was used to assess upper extremity function. RESULTS: Thirty-four different types of upper extremity MSDs were detected in the 1,053 study subjects. The prevalence of any MSD in farmers was 8.96-fold higher than in control (p<0.001). The most obvious difference in prevalence between farmers and non-farmers was hand osteoarthritis (48.2% vs. 4.9%). Mean total DASH score was higher for farmers than non-farmers (14.29+/-13.66 vs. 10.03+/-10.85, p<0.001). Among farmers, myofascial pain syndrome, rotator cuff tear, and epicondylitis were more prevalent among overhead workers (growing persimmons, pears, and grapes) than in non-overhead workers (growing rice and upland crops). The following factors were associated with a rotator cuff tear; older age, overhead work, high waist circumference, and lower level of education. Hand osteoarthritis was found to be associated with older age, a female gender, high waist circumference, and longer total work time. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of upper extremity MSDs is much higher in farmers than non-farmers and greater still for farmers doing overhead work. Various factors contribute to the occurrence of upper extremity MSDs, and thus, the authors suggest an efficient preventive strategy, which involves consideration of type of work and risk factors, be established for farmers to reduce upper extremity MSDs.

Deltoid Paralysis Due to sixth Cervial Radiculopathy / 대한류마티스학회지

No abstract available.

Neuroradiology in the Ocular Motility Disorders: I. Supranuclear Pathway

The supranuclear control of eye movement invo l ves the pathway extending from the cerebral cortex to theocular motor nuclei located in the brain stem. This paper de-scribes the normal supranuclear pathway, whichcontrols eye movement. We also include magnetic resonance imaging findings of the typical ocular manifestationscaused by disorders involving the supranuclear pathway, providing the anatomic ex-planations for certain clinicalsigns.

MR Imaging and IVIR Angiography in Patients with Hemifacial Spasm

PURPOSE: To determine the usefulness of MR imaging and MR angiography (MRA) in the evaluation of patients with hemifacial spasm. MATERIAL AND METHODS: One hundred and twenty-five patients with hemifacial spasm were included in this study. Axial T1-, T2-weighted images, proton density image (3mm thickness, 256 x 192) and 3-D TOF MRA were performed. Relation between facial nerve and adjacent arterial structures was carefully evaluated, which was correlated with surgical findings. RESULTS: MRA identified the presen(~e of offending vessels at the root exit zone of facial nerve and its origin in 117 patients(52 PICA, 50 AICA, 6 vertebral artery, 9 dual vessels). There were 4 false negatives and 4 false positives. Vascular groove at the root exit zone was identified in 52 cases, but there was no positive correlation between severity and duration of symptoms. The presence of ipsilateral or contralateral distal loop formation of vertebral artery were noted in 63 patients. In addition, 4 cases of neoplastic and vascular lesions were also demonstrated on MR imaging. CONCLUSION: Combination of MR imaging and MRA is an useful screening modality in the presurgical evaluation of hemifacial spasm, which can demonstrate the offending vessels as well as other pathologic lesions.