Neuropathic Pain in Guillain-Barre Syndrome Associated with Scrub Typhus

Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) is usually characterized by acute areflexic ascending paralysis with minimal sensory involvement. Only a few cases of GBS associated with scrub typhus have been reported. Previous case reports focused on the laboratory findings, pathogenesis, and clinical manifestation. Unlike the previous case, neuropathic pain was a prominent symptom of GBS in our case. We report scrub-typhus-related GBS with a detailed description of the clinical manifestations, especially neuropathic pain, along with results of serial follow-up electrodiagnostic studies.

Accuracy of Ultrasound-Guided and Non-ultrasound-Guided Botulinum Toxin Injection Into Cadaver Salivary Glands

OBJECTIVE: To compare the accuracy of ultrasound (US)-guided and non-US-guided botulinum toxin (BTX) injection into the salivary glands (parotid and submandibular glands) of cadavers. METHODS: Two rehabilitation physician injected dye into three sites in the salivary glands (two sites in the parotid gland and one site in the submandibular gland) on one side of each cadaver (one was injected on the right side, while the other was injected on the left side), using either a non-US-guided injection procedure based on superficial landmarks or a US-guided procedure. Orange dye was used for the US-guided procedure, and green dye was used for the blind procedure. Two physicians uninvolved with the injection procedures and who were blinded to the method of injection dissected the cadavers to identify whether the dye was accurately injected into each target site. RESULTS: The accuracies of the blind and US-guided injections into the parotid gland were 79.17% and 95.83%, respectively. In the submandibular gland, the accuracies of the blind and US-guided injections were 50.00% and 91.67%, respectively. The difference in accuracy between the two procedures was statistically significant only in the submandibular gland (p=0.025). There were no significant differences in the accuracy of US-guided and non-US-guided injections between the two physicians for the two sites in the parotid gland (p=0.278 and p=0.146, respectively). CONCLUSION: US-guided BTX injection into the submandibular gland offers significantly greater accuracy over blind injection. For the treatment of drooling by injecting BTX into the submandibular gland, clinicians should consider using US guidance for improved accuracy.

Pregnancy and Delivery in Functional Single Ventricle Patient; Successful Long-Term Outcome after Right Ventricle Exclusion and Fontan Operation

Twenty-six-year-old Ebstein's anomaly patient, who had failed both biventricular and one-and-a-half repair, underwent right ventricle exclusion and Fontan operation. She completed pregnancy and delivery owing to the excellent long-term clinical course. Although the caesarean section was performed due to symptoms of heart failure on the gestational age of 32+6 weeks, preterm delivery was agreeable with neonatology support. In Korea, there has not yet been a case of pregnancy and delivery of functional single ventricle patient because most patients have been discouraged from getting pregnant. However, functional single ventricle patient can endure pregnancy and delivery, if valve function and ventricular contractility, status of Fontan pathway and absence of arrhythmia predict favorable outcome as presented in this case. Although the patient maintained her pregnancy without anticoagulation owing to laminar flow in the Fontan pathway and absence of thromboembolic event, anticoagulation should be considered, weighing the benefits and risks during the pregnancy.

Pregnancy and Delivery in Functional Single Ventricle Patient; Successful Long-Term Outcome after Right Ventricle Exclusion and Fontan Operation

Twenty-six-year-old Ebstein's anomaly patient, who had failed both biventricular and one-and-a-half repair, underwent right ventricle exclusion and Fontan operation. She completed pregnancy and delivery owing to the excellent long-term clinical course. Although the caesarean section was performed due to symptoms of heart failure on the gestational age of 32+6 weeks, preterm delivery was agreeable with neonatology support. In Korea, there has not yet been a case of pregnancy and delivery of functional single ventricle patient because most patients have been discouraged from getting pregnant. However, functional single ventricle patient can endure pregnancy and delivery, if valve function and ventricular contractility, status of Fontan pathway and absence of arrhythmia predict favorable outcome as presented in this case. Although the patient maintained her pregnancy without anticoagulation owing to laminar flow in the Fontan pathway and absence of thromboembolic event, anticoagulation should be considered, weighing the benefits and risks during the pregnancy.

Death After Accidental Injection of Tranexamic Acid During Spinal Anesthesia / 대한법의학회지

Medication errors such as administration of wrong drugs, wrong dosage and erroneous route of administration are not rare among medical misadventures. We present an autopsy case of accidental injection of tranexamic acid instead of bupivacaine during spinal anesthesia, accompanying the quantitative result of the tranexamic acid in the blood, cerebrospinal fluid and each internal organs. We think that warning signs on syringes and ampoules, simple and unified guideline for drug administration, separative documentation of drug administration and interpersonal communication on drug information should be done to prevent this type of medical errors.

Posterior Tibialis Tendon Dysfunction: Preliminary Report / 대한정형외과학회잡지

PURPOSE: Posterior tibialis tendon dysfunction (PTTD) is one of the most common causes of acquired flatfoot deformity in western countries. But it was known that they were very rare in eastern countries. So we want to report the clinical features and outcomes of 12 patients with PTTD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We evaluated the results of 12 patients using clinical features and results from March 2000 to January 2007 and mean follow up periods is 32 months. RESULTS: Average age was 45 years, 8 of 12 patients were female, 2 patient with hypertension and 1 with rheumatoid arthritis. 5 patients were overweighted and 5 patients were obese. 4 patients has a history of last trauma. 4 patients experienced progression of flatfoot. On behalf of Johnson and Strom classifications 6 cases were grade I, 4 cases were grade II, grade III, and grade IV was 1 case, relatively. As a treatment we used tenosynovectomy for 3 cases of grade I, additional FDL transfer was done for 2 cases of grade I and 2 cases of grade II. For other 2 patients of grade II flexor digitorum longus transfer and Medial displacement calcaneal osteotomy was done. Pathologic findings of tendon showed degenerative tendinitis. Lastly conservative treatment group was 3 cases of grade I, III, IV each. Average preoperative and postoperative American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society's hindfoot/ankle scoreFAS score was 58 and 90. Initial and follow up AOFAS scores of the conservative group was 38 and 57, relatively. CONCLUSION: As a cause of acquired flatfoot in adult, PTTD is not a rare disease any more in Korea. To prevent the disability and progression of flatfoot, careful clinical evaluation and proper treatment is important.

Surgical Treatment of Acute Traumatic Peroneal Tendon Dislocation / 대한족부족관절학회지

PURPOSE: Acute traumatic peroneal tendon dislocation is relatively rare disease and their methods of treatment is controversial, that we want to assess the characters and outcomes of 8 patients with early surgical treatments. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We evaluated the results of 8 patients who can follow up more than 28 months using sex, age, side, injury sports, concomitant injuries, Eckert and Davis classifications, anatomic variants, results and complications. RESULTS: All of 8 patients was male, average age was 27, Right side was dominant (5/8), causal sports was variable. Concomitant injuries were distal tibiofibular ligament syndesmosis injury, Peroneus longus injury, lateral collateral ligament injury. On behalf of Eckert and Davis classifications 5 patients were Grade 1 and other 3 patients were Grade 2. 1 case of low lying peroneus brevis belly was found as an anatomic variants. 6 of patients shown excellent results, 2 patients were good. Post operative complications were discomfort of operation site and mild limited dorsiflexion on ankle joint. CONCLUSION: Careful history and physical exam is important for diagnosis. And surgical treatments can expect good results.

Surgical Treatment of Acute Traumatic Peroneal Tendon Dislocation / 대한족부족관절학회지

PURPOSE: Acute traumatic peroneal tendon dislocation is relatively rare disease and their methods of treatment is controversial, that we want to assess the characters and outcomes of 8 patients with early surgical treatments. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We evaluated the results of 8 patients who can follow up more than 28 months using sex, age, side, injury sports, concomitant injuries, Eckert and Davis classifications, anatomic variants, results and complications. RESULTS: All of 8 patients was male, average age was 27, Right side was dominant (5/8), causal sports was variable. Concomitant injuries were distal tibiofibular ligament syndesmosis injury, Peroneus longus injury, lateral collateral ligament injury. On behalf of Eckert and Davis classifications 5 patients were Grade 1 and other 3 patients were Grade 2. 1 case of low lying peroneus brevis belly was found as an anatomic variants. 6 of patients shown excellent results, 2 patients were good. Post operative complications were discomfort of operation site and mild limited dorsiflexion on ankle joint. CONCLUSION: Careful history and physical exam is important for diagnosis. And surgical treatments can expect good results.