• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.56 no.2
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• pp.120-125
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• 2023

Background: Multiple rib fractures are common in blunt chest trauma. Until recently, most surgical rib fixations for multiple rib fractures were performed via open thoracotomy. However, due to the invasive nature of tissue dissection and the resulting large wound, an alternative endoscopic approach has emerged that minimizes the postoperative complications caused by the manipulation of injured tissue and lung during an open thoracotomy. Methods: Our study concentrated on patients with multiple rib fractures who underwent surgical stabilization of rib fractures (SSRF) between June 2018 and May 2020. We found 27 patients who underwent SSRF using video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. The study design was a retrospective review of the patients' charts and surgical records. Results: No intraoperative events or procedure-related deaths occurred. Implant-related irritation occurred in 4 patients, and 1 death resulted from concomitant trauma. The average hospital stay was 30.2±20.1 days, and ventilators were used for 12 of the 22 patients admitted to the intensive care unit. None of the patients experienced major pulmonary complications such as pneumonia or acute respiratory distress syndrome. Conclusion: Minimally invasive rib stabilization surgery with the assistance of a thoracoscope is expected to become more widely used in patients with multiple rib fractures. This method will also assist patients in a quick recovery.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.60-65
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• 2019

Pelvic fractures are associated with life-threatening injuries and high rates of morbidity and mortality. Management of internal blood loss associated with unstable pelvic ring injuries is paramount during the initial period. The reconstruction of the pelvic ring is of importance because it is a major contributor to the stability of the pelvic ring. We report the case of a 25-year-old man who had an unstable pelvic ring fracture combined with rupture of an obturator artery and had a successful and satisfactory treatment using minimally invasive surgery with percutaneous antegrade screw fixation.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.47-49
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• 2017

Fracture stabilization techniques continue to evolve and provide approaches that minimize the iatrogenic trauma associated with surgical procedures. Minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis (MIPO) is a recently described method of biological internal fixation performed by introducing a bone plate via small insertional incisions that are remote to the fracture site. Indirect reduction techniques can generally be utilized when performing MIPO. In this case report, we describe MIPO of a radius-ulna fracture by indirect reduction using circular external fixation for alignment and distraction in a dog.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.112-117
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• 2007

Objective : Kyphoplasty and vertebroplasty are two minimally invasive procedures for osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures. The purpose of this retrospective study was to compare the radiological findings and clinical outcomes between two procedures. Methods : Osteoporotic vertebral fractures were treated in 76 vertebrae, using kyphoplasty (n=35 vertebrae) and using vertebroplasty (n=41 vertebrae). Fractured vertebral bodies were diagnosed by correlating the clinical symptoms with radiologic study. The responses of pain symptoms were measured by a self-reported Visual Analog Scale (VAS) score. Plain X-rays were checked preoperatively and postoperatively at admission and 6 months. The vertebral body height and kyphotic angle were measured to assess the reduction of the sagittal alignment. Results : The mean pain scores were decreased significantly for both procedures postoperatively, but there were no significant differences between two groups. Kyphoplasty led to a significant reduction of the vertebral body height and improvement of kyphotic angle. There were no neurological deficits after kyphoplasty, but one patient experienced paraparesis after vertebroplasty. During the 6 months follow-up both procedures provided stabilization of the sagittal alignment. Conclusion : Kyphoplasty and vertebroplasty are considered effective minimally invasive techniques for the stabilization of osteoporotic vertebral body fractures, leading to a statistically significant reduction in pain. Kyphoplasty significantly restore sagittal alignment. Also, complications and the incidence of bone cement leakage are significantly lesser than vertebroplasty. Therefore, kyphoplasty seems to be reasonable procedure for osteoporotic vertebral body compression fractures when medical treatment fail.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.56 no.4
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• pp.229-237
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• 2023

Background: We aimed to demonstrate the advances we have achieved in pectus excavatum surgery over the last 10 years, with a particular focus on the refinement of pectus bar stabilization techniques and devices. Methods: In total, 1,526 patients who underwent minimally invasive repair of pectus excavatum surgery from 2013 to 2022 were enrolled and analyzed. We have pursued a new paradigm of crane-powered remodeling of the entire chest wall. The method of bar stabilization has changed from claw fixators to hinge plates and, finally, to bridge plate connections. We also evaluated the effectiveness of the hinge plate (group H) and the bridge plate (group B). Results: The bar displacement rates were 0.1% (n=2) for the claw fixator, 0% for the hinge plate (n=0), and 0% for the bridge plate (n=0). We stopped using the claw fixator in 2022 and the hinge plate in 2019. Since 2022, when we shifted to a multiple-bar technique for all patients, the bridge plate has replaced both the claw fixator and the hinge plate. No bar displacement occurred in either group. Group H had more pleural effusion, wound problems (p<0.05), and longer stays (5.5 vs. 6.2 days, p=0.034) than group B. Conclusion: We have made significant progress in pectus repair surgery over the last decade, particularly in stabilizing the pectus bar and reducing perioperative complications. Our current strategy is the multiple-bar approach with bridge stabilization. Since the bridge-only technique resulted in no bar displacement, we could eliminate the invasive claw fixator or hinge plate.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.298-303
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• 2023

Unstable pelvic ring injuries are potentially life-threatening and associated with high mortality and complication rates in polytrauma patients. The most common cause of death in patients with pelvic ring injuries is massive bleeding. With resuscitation, external fixation can be performed as a temporary stabilization procedure for hemostasis in unstable pelvic fractures. Internal fixation following temporary external fixation of the pelvic ring yields superior and more reliable stabilization. However, a time-consuming extended approach to open reduction and internal fixation of the pelvic ring is frequently precluded by an unacceptable physiologic condition and/or concomitant injuries in patients with multiple injuries. Conservative treatment may lead to pelvic ring deformity, which is associated with various functional disabilities such as limb length discrepancy, gait disturbance, and sitting intolerance. Therefore, if the patient is not expected to be suitable for additional surgery due to a poor expected physiologic condition, definitive external fixation in combination with various percutaneous screw fixations to restore the pelvic ring should be considered in the acute phase. Herein, we report a case of unstable pelvic ring injury successfully treated with definitive external fixation and percutaneous screw fixation in the acute phase in a severely injured polytrauma patient.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.174-179
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• 2013

Objective : Many studies have investigated paraspinal muscle changes after posterior lumbar surgery, including lumbar fusion. However, no study has been performed to investigate back muscle changes after pedicle based dynamic stabilization in patients with degenerative lumbar spinal diseases. In this study, the authors compared back muscle cross sectional area (MCSA) changes after non-fusion pedicle based dynamic stabilization. Methods : Thirty-two consecutive patients who underwent non-fusion pedicle based dynamic stabilization (PDS) at the L4-L5 level between February 2005 and January 2008 were included in this retrospective study. In addition, 11 patients who underwent traditional lumbar fusion (LF) during the same period were enrolled for comparative purposes. Preoperative and postoperative MCSAs of the paraspinal (multifidus+longissimus), psoas, and multifidus muscles were measured using computed tomographic axial sections taken at the L4 lower vertebral body level, which best visualize the paraspinal and psoas muscles. Measurements were made preoperatively and at more than 6 months after surgery. Results : Overall, back muscles showed decreases in MCSAs in the PDS and LF groups, and the multifidus was most affected in both groups, but more so in the LF group. The PDS group showed better back muscle preservation than the LF group for all measured muscles. The multifidus MCSA was significantly more preserved when the PDS-paraspinal-Wiltse approach was used. Conclusion : Pedicle based dynamic stabilization shows better preservation of paraspinal muscles than posterior lumbar fusion. Furthermore, the minimally invasive paraspinal Wiltse approach was found to preserve multifidus muscles better than the conventional posterior midline approach in PDS group.

• Journal of Korean Dental Science
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.46-50
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• 2021

This study describes a patient with insufficient vestibular depth who was operated with a vestibuloplasty using a non-eugenol-based non-zinc oxide oral dressing material. Partial thickness flap was elevated on recipient. After stabilization of apical positioned flap, the dressing material was applied on the recipient site with additional fixation by suture. The patient presented minimal discomfort such as in pain, food impaction and management of oral hygiene. Adequate vestibular depth without relapse was observed until 4 weeks after surgery. The vestibuloplasty with the oral dressing material may be an option for obtaining proper vestibular depth without complications.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.359-362
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• 2015

A Korean water deer was rescued after being hit by a motor vehicle. Clinical and radiographic examination revealed a grade III open fracture of the right metacarpus with severe soft tissue injury. The water deer underwent closed reduction of the fracture, which was stabilized by the application of the Ilizarov method of 4-ring circular external skeletal fixation (CESF) as a minimally invasive technique. The water deer was successfully released into the wild. CESF was advantageous for the stabilization of open comminuted fracture and the management of a severely contaminated wound in a Korean water deer. CESF can be used successfully in wild deer with good tolerance and minimal complications.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.177-183
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• 2006

The management of refractory pain and limitation of mouth opening in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is both challenging and controversial. Arthrocentesis is a simple technique and it can be used instead of more invasive surgical procedures for patients who failed to conventional conservative treatments. The patients in this case report had complained persistent severe pain and restricted mandibular movement of TMJ, although they had been treated with conservative therapy, e.g., stabilization splint therapy, behavioral therapy, physical therapy, pharmacological therapy. Therefore we employed arthrocentesis for these patients, and they showed significant reduction of pain and improvement of mandibular movement after repetitive arthrocentesis. We recommend arthrocentesis as an effective, minimally invasive technique for patients with continuing severe pain and restricted mobility in the TMJ that is unresponsive to conservative management.