A Case of Massive Oropharyngeal Bleeding from Pseudoaneurysm of Superior Thyroid Artery Associated with Parapharyngeal Abscess / 대한이비인후과학회지

Parapharyngeal abscess is relatively common but it can cause life-threatening complications like internal jugular vein thrombophlebitis, septic shock, airway obstruction, and mediastinitis. The diagnosis is dependent on physical examination, endoscopic view, and CT and MR imaging. The treatment is antibiotics but sometimes incision and drainage are necessary. Pseudoaneurysm in deep neck space is very rare and mainly caused by trauma, postoperative state of head and neck surgery and radiation therapy. We herein report a case of massive oropharyngeal bleeding from pseudoaneurysm of the superior thyroid artery associated with parapharyngeal abscess with a review of related literature.

A Case of Temporal Lobe Abscess Following Mastoidectomy / 대한이비인후과학회지

We report a case of complicated temporal lobe abscess following mastoidectomy. The patient complained of a headache after surgery, however, he was discharged as his symptom was considered to be a common postoperative headache. He revisited our due to a generalized tonic-clonic seizure, and the CT and MRI findings suggested the diagnosis of temporal lobe abscess. The patient was successfully treated with antibiotics instead of surgical treatment. Although the cerebral abscess following mastoidectomy is extremely rare, it is necessary to pay attention to it. Particularly when the patient complains of a headache, it is important to consider the aspects of headache carefully. Bone defect in tegmen tympani and exposure of dura will increase the risk of cerebral abscess, therefore careful caution is required in the presence of lower dura mater.

Operative Treatment of Humerus Nonunion after Surgery / 대한정형외과학회잡지

PURPOSE: To analyze the cause and treatment method of humerus nonunions which were initially treated by operation. The causes of nonunion were analyzed according to the initial treatment method. We report upon treatment options. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed 15 cases of humerus nonunion, which were initially treated surgically (7 cases of dynamic compression plate, 4 of Ender nail, 3 of interlocking intramedullary nail, 1 of K-wire) from January 1992 to January 2001. RESULTS: The causes of nonunion were determined to be as follows ; inadequate internal fixation or technical failure (9 cases), postoperatively applied improper external immobilization (5 cases), inadequate choice of implant (1 case). We treated the nonunion as follows; dynamic compression plate and bone graft in 11 cases, intramedullary nailing with small plate augumentation and bone graft in two, maintenance of initial nail with small plate augumentation and bone graft in two. All cases had bone union at an average of 15.9 weeks without complications, such as osteomyelitis, radial nerve palsy, or joint stiffness. CONCLUSION: Plate fixation is considered to be superior to intramedullary fixation in the treatment of nonunion. However, cases that received interlocking intramedullary nailing can be treated easily with small plate augumentation and bone graft without initial nail removal.