• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.100-106
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• 2013

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the relationship between trochlear medial facet osteophyte (TMFO) and elbow flexion in the elbow joints without trauma history. Materials and Methods: Twenty five patients, who underwent computed tomography without elbow trauma history, were reviewed. Patients were checked for osteophyte or loose bodies in the coronoid and olecranon sides. The height and length of TMFO were measured. Results: The average elbow flexion contracture was $18.6^{\circ}$, and further flexion was $112.1^{\circ}$. The TMFO height and length was 2.2 mm and 4.7 mm, respectively. The average elbow further flexion was $105.1^{\circ}$ in the coronoid block group (n=14) and $119.1^{\circ}$ (p=0.011) in the coronoid free group (n=11). The relationship between further elbow flexion and TMFO was significant with a partial correlation coefficient of 0.687(p<0.000) in the TMFO length. Conclusion: Elbow joints with longer TMFO length decrease further flexion.

• The Academic Congress of Korean Shoulder and Elbow Society
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• 1999.03a
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• pp.38-40
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• 1999

$\cdot$ Arthroscopic management is the effective method with acceptable results for coronoid impingement of stiff elbow contributing to the functional improvement and pain relief. $\cdot$ The functional improvement and pain relief seem to be affected by the severity of a degenerative change of the elbow joint. $\cdot$ Excision of coronoid process is required in a marked limitation of further flexion in addition to deeping of the coronoid fossa and anterior capsular release. $\cdot$ Excision of olecranon tip or posterior capsular release are effective method in severe flexion contracture.

• Journal of the Korean Arthroscopy Society
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.60-64
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• 2005

Purpose: To describe the impingement of the osteophyte between the olecranon process and olecranon fossa and to understand the effect of removing the lesion on the elbow extension in heavy workers. Materials and Methods: Arthroscopy was performed to elbow of heavy industrial workers who complained painful limitation of elbow extension.6 patients(Teases) with average age of 43 year were selected. The average ROM showed flexion contracture of $17^{\circ}$ and further flexion of $87^{\circ}$. Results: In all cases, after the operation two months follow up, mean flexion contracture improved from $17^{\circ}\;to\;2^{\circ}$ with further flexion from$87^{\circ}\;to\;122^{\circ}$. After the operation 1 year follow up, the mean flexion contracture was $3^{\circ}$ and further flexion was $113^{\circ}$. Pain relief within acquired range of motion was achieved in all cases and there was no complication in this series. Conclusion: Selective removal of the impingement bony spur for treatment of flexion contracture in the patient with chronic cumulative trauma disorder patients appear to be effective method to control pain, recover joint movement and at] ow early rehabilitation.

• Journal of the Korean Arthroscopy Society
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.116-119
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• 2001

Purpose : To describe long-term clinical results and serial changes in the postoperative range of motion(ROM) after arthroscopic treatment for a limitation of motion(LOM) of the elbow. Materials and Methods : The subjects who visited chosun university hospital from December, 1996 to January 2000 were twenty-one patients ranging from 37 to 54 years of age, and the average age was 43.2 years. The chief complaints were painful limitation of motion of the elbow and average ROM showed that flexion contracture were 17 degrees and further flexion were 87 degrees. Results : The total ROM was $70^{\circ}$ preoperatively. 2 months after postoperatively the mean flexion contracute improved from $17^{\circ}\;to\;3^{\circ}$ with further flexion from $87^{\circ}\;to\;122^{\circ}$ degrees. One year after postoperatively the mean flexion contracture were $5^{\circ}$ and further flexion were $113^{\circ}$. All patients reported a decresement in pain level as well as improvement in motion. There was no complication in this series. Conclusion : Arthroscopic surgery appear to be satisfactory management modality for degenerative elbow contractures.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.293-298
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• 2010

Purpose: Since an injured elbow joint can disturb the activity of daily life by limiting motion, especially if the motion is restricted over 40 degree of flexion contracture and under 105 degree of further flexion, it is imperative to select the best method and the timing of treatment of the elbow stiffness. Therefore this review will discuss open surgical techniques for stiff elbows based on the literature. Materials and Methods: It is important to take sufficient clinical examination of the patient, including history taking. And, a surgeon should select appropriate procedure after accurately understanding about the status and cause of the stiff elbow with radiographic methods. Surgical methods include arthroscopic release open release, distraction arthroplasty, total elbow replacement and there are four approachs in the open release - anterior approach, medial "over the top" approach, limited lateral approach: column procedure, posterior extensile approach-. Results and Conclusion: Although at present the arthroscopic technique is emphasized for the treatment of elbow stiffness, a surgeon should know conventional open techniques.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.88-95
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• 2000

Thirty normal adults were tested to measure the electrical activity of the anterior (AD), middle (MD), and posterior portion (PD) of the deltoid muscle and sternal portion of the pectoralis major muscle (PM) during the performance of four upper extremity PNF diagonal patterns with elbow flexion angle in $0^{\circ}$, $45^{\circ}$, and $90^{\circ}$. The PNF patterns in which these muscles function optimally have been theoretically advanced by Kabat and further described by Knott and Voss. They theorize that the MD should be most active with shoulder flexion, abduction, and external rotation (D2F); the PD with shoulder extension, abduction, and internal rotation (D1E); the AD with shoulder flexion, adduction, and external rotation (D1F); and the PM with shoulder extension, adduction and internal rotation (D2E). The patterns were performed through range of motion, with an isometric contraction performed in the shortened range. When the EMG activity of AD, MD, PD and PM in its optimal patterns was measured, it does not have significant difference among fixed elbow flexion angle $0^{\circ}$, $45^{\circ}$, and $90^{\circ}$ (p>.05). In addition, suggestions were made for study of patients who exhibit imbalance of muscle strength and have muscle weakness.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.73-79
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• 1997

Complete denervation after severe brachial plexus injury make significant muscle atrophy with loss of proper function. It is much helpful to reconstruct the essential function of the elbow flexion movement in patient with total loss of elbow flexion motion after brachial plexus lesion which was not recovered with nerve surgery or long term conservative treatment from onset. In whole arm type brachial plexus injury, if there were no response to neurotization or neglected from injury, the volume of the denervated muscle is significantely reduced month by month. About 18 months most of the muscle fibers change to fibrous tissues and markedly atrophied irreversibly, further waiting is no more meaningful from that period. Authors performed 14 cases of functioning gracilis muscle transfer from 1981 to 1995 with microneurovascular technique, neuromusculocutaneous free flaps were performed for reconstruction of lost elbow flexion function. Average follow-up period was 5 years and 6 months. We used couple of intercostal nerves as a recipient nerve which were anastomosed to muscular nerve from obturator nerve in all cases. Recipient vessels were three deep brachial artery and eleven brachial artery which were anastomosed to medial femoral circumflex artery with end to end or end to side fashion. Average resting length of the transplanted gracilis were 24 cm. We can get average 54 degree flexion range of elbow with fair muscle power from flail elbow. There were one case of muscle necrosis with lately developed thrombosis of microvascular anastomosed site which comes from insufficient recipient arterial condition, 3 cases of partial marginal necrosis of distal skin of the transplanted part which were not significant problem with spontaneously solved with time goes by gracilis muscle has constant neurovascular pattern with relatively easy harvesting donor with minimal donor morbidity. Especially it has similar length and shape with biceps brachii muscle of upper arm and longer nerve pedicle which can neurorrhaphy with intercostal nerve without nerve graft if sufficient mobilization of the nerves from both sides of gracilis and intercostal region. Authors can propose gracilis muscle transplantation with intercostal nerves neurotization is helpful method with minimal donor morbidity for neglected brachial plexus palsy patients.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.1-7
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• 1996

Two standard methods of cane length measurements were compared to find which methods really achieve the elbow flexion of 20 degrees to 30 degrees Twenty-four patients with hemiplegia who were ambulatory participated in this study. Method I : Length of the cane measured from the floor to the top of the greater trochanter. Method II : Length of the cane measured from the floor to the distal wrist crease with the arm at the side. Using an adjustable cane, each individual was fitted according to the two methods, and elbow angle was measured after each adjustment. The elbow angle according to Method I and Method II was $46.4{\pm}20$, $44.3{\pm}12.2$, respectively. No significant difference was found in the elbow angle or the cane length between the two methods. Of the 24 participants, 5(20.8%) measured according to method I and 3(12.5%) measured according to method II showed the elbow angle between 20 degrees and 30 degrees. These low predictive rates of agreement between ideal cane length and actually achieved elbow angle showed that these two methods which have conventionally been accepted as a standard to measure ideal cane length need to be revised through further research.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.14-18
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• 2005

Purpose: Limitation of motion of the elbow joint due to stiffness affect on life quality of the patients. So contracture of the elbow should be treated as soon as possible. Among the many treatment modalities, we described the result of arthroscopic treatment. Materials and Methods: From Mar. 2000 to Mar. 2003, 40 patients, who received the arthroscopic treatment by author for contracted elbow, were the subjects. We estimated the range of motion (ROM) of elbow joint before and after surgery by goniometer. The clinical result was evaluated by Severance elbow scoring system. The final ROM was evaluated at the point of no further increasement of joint motion. Male ware 30 cases, female ware 7 cases, average 42.6 years old and mean follow up period were 31 months. During arthroscopic treatment we had done release of the joint capsule or resection, synovectomy, removal of loose bodies. We used traditional portals. Results: The avarage preoperative ROM of elbow joint was 72.5 degree(range, 5 - 132 degree) and the increasement of ROM was totally 49.3 degree in flexion 26.5 degree and extension 22.8 degree. There was no other complication. Conclusion: Arthroscopic treatment for contracted elbow permit early joint ROM and it decrease the secondary injury to the elbow joint. Also there are few complications. It is thought to be a good treatment modality in contracted elbow joint.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.142-148
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• 2016

Purpose: The aim of this pilot study was to determine the effect of soft tissue technique (STT) in Axillary Web Syndrome (AWS) following sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy in breast cancer patients by examining the upper extremity function, range of motion, and pain. Methods: Nineteen patients with breast cancer-related AWS were evaluated. STT was performed on the symptom area for treatment of AWS symptoms. We evaluated AWS symptoms and pain intensity using a visual analogue scale (VAS), and functional disability using the Korean version of the Disabilities of Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) questionnaire, glenohumeral joint (GHJ) flexion and abduction range of motion (ROM) with or without elbow extension. Results: Visual analyses of the data suggest a modest effect of STT in improving GHJ flexion, abduction ROM with or without elbow extension, DASH for upper extremity function, and Pain. The statistically significant improvement in baseline observed for pain, DASH, and ROM data made it impossible to assess the effects of STT on those outcomes. There were no adverse events. Conclusions: STT may be an effective and safe treatment option for AWS patients recovering from breast cancer treatment; however, further research is needed.