• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.242-247
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• 2009

Purpose: Trauma is an important cause of death in children. In particular, the liver is the second most commonly organ injured by blunt abdominal trauma. Treatment of patients with liver injury is has changed, and non-operative treatment is the major treatment method at present. In this study, we reviewed traumatic liver injury in pediatric patients. Methods: Seventy-seven patients younger than 16 years of age with traumatic liver injury were assessed for 10 years from July 1999 to June 2009 at Wonju Christian hospital. Records of the patients were reviewed retrospectively. Demographic and clinical data were analyzed. Results: The median age was 6 years, and the male-to-female ratio was 1.2 : 1. The most common injury grade was grade I. The majority of injuries were caused by was traffic accidents, and the second most common cause of injuries was falls. Twenty-four patients had liver injuries alone, and the most common accopaning injury was a lung injury. The average hospital stay was 20.7 days, and the average ICU stay was 4.8 days. Four patients died (5.2%). There were 6 patients with under 10 points on the Glasgow coma scale (GCS). Among these patients, three died. All mortality cases had over 16 points on the Injury Severity Score (ISS). Two patients were treated surgically, one of whom died. Of the 75 patients with non-operative management, three died due to associated injuries. Conclusion: Most pediatric patients with liver injury have good results with non-operative management. Associated injuries and hemodynamic instability are predictive of patient outcome, and those with isolated liver injuries can be successfully managed non-operatively.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.242-248
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• 2018

Bicycle fittings have been used to ride bicycles comfortably while minimizing non-traumatic injuries. To analyze the cause of non-traumatic injuries, it is necessary to measure the body weight distribution in various biking positions. In this study, a weight distribution measurement system was implemented by installing five weighable devices on the saddle, both pedals, and both handle grips of a bicycle. To measure the body weight applied through the saddle, the structure of a commercial seat post was modified and a load cell was installed inside. Weighable pedals and handle grips were designed using a 3D modeling program and fabricated by employing a 3D printer. The body weight distribution for ten bicycle riders was measured when the two pedals were aligned horizontally and vertically. Experimental results showed that the body weight distribution varied significantly depending on human body shape, even after the bicycle fitting was completed. The difference between the body weight measured by the proposed system and a commercial scale was less than 3 %.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.211-216
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• 2015

Background: Few studies have investigated magnetic resonance (MR) characteristics of traumatic posterosuperior rotator cuff tears involving the supraspinatus and infraspinatus. We hypothesized that traumatic rotator cuff tears may have MR characteristics distinguishable from those of non-traumatic tears. Methods: Preoperative MR arthrography and intraoperative tear size measurements were compared in 302 patients who underwent MR arthrography and subsequent arthroscopic rotator cuff repairs for traumatic (group T, 61 patients) or non-traumatic (group NT, 241 patients) tears. The inclusion criteria for both groups were posterosuperior full-thickness rotator cuff tear and age between 40 and 60 years. For group T, traumas were limited to accidental falls or slips, or sports injuries, motor vehicle accidents; injuries were associated with acute onset of pain followed by functional shoulder impairment; and time between injury and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was 6 weeks or less. Results: In group T, 72.1% of shoulders (44 patients) had tendon tears with blunt edges while 27.9% of shoulders (17 patients) had tears with tapering edges. In contrast, 21.2% of patients in group NT (51 patients) had blunt-edge tears, while 78.8% (190 patients) of tears had tapering edges. These results were statistically significant (p<0.001) and estimated odds ratio was 9.6. The size of tear did not vary significantly between groups. Conclusions: We found no exclusive MR characteristic to define traumatic tears. However, oblique coronal MRI of traumatic tears showed a significant tendency for abrupt and rough torn tendon edges and relatively consistent tendon thicknesses (without lateral tapering) compared to non-traumatic cuff tears.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.66 no.1
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• pp.63-71
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• 2023

Objective : Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is one of the most common injuries in patients with multiple trauma, and it associates with high post-traumatic mortality and morbidity. A trauma center was established to provide optimal treatment for patients with severe trauma. This study aimed to compare the treatment outcomes of patients with severe TBI between non-trauma and trauma centers based on data from the Korean Neuro-Trauma Data Bank System (KNTDBS). Methods : From January 2018 to June 2021, 1122 patients were enrolled in the KNTDBS study. Among them, 253 patients from non-traumatic centers and 253 from trauma centers were matched using propensity score analysis. We evaluated baseline characteristics, the time required from injury to hospital arrival, surgery-related factors, neuromonitoring, and outcomes. Results : The time from injury to hospital arrival was shorter in the non-trauma centers (110.2 vs. 176.1 minutes, p=0.012). The operation time was shorter in the trauma centers (156.7 vs. 128.1 minutes, p=0.003). Neuromonitoring was performed in nine patients (3.6%) in the non-trauma centers and 67 patients (26.5%) in the trauma centers (p<0.001). Mortality rates were lower in trauma centers than in non-trauma centers (58.5% vs. 47.0%, p=0.014). The average Glasgow coma scale (GCS) at discharge was higher in the trauma centers (4.3 vs. 5.7, p=0.011). For the Glasgow outcome scale-extended (GOSE) at discharge, the favorable outcome (GOSE 5-8) was 17.4% in the non-trauma centers and 27.3% in the trauma centers (p=0.014). Conclusion : This study showed lower mortality rates, higher GCS scores at discharge, and higher rates of favorable outcomes in trauma centers than in non-trauma centers. The regional trauma medical system seems to have a positive impact in treating patients with severe TBI.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.208-211
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• 2021

Gallbladder injuries are rare in cases of blunt abdominal trauma and are usually associated with damage to other internal organs. If the physician does not suspect gallbladder injury and check imaging studies carefully, it may be difficult to distinguish a gallbladder injury from gallbladder stone, hematoma, or bleeding. Therefore, in order not to miss the diagnosis, the clinical findings and correlation should be confirmed. In the present case, a 60-year-old male presented to a local trauma center complaining of pain in the upper right quadrant and chest wall following a motor vehicle collision. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) showed a hepatic laceration and hematoma in the parenchyma in segments 4, 5, and 6 and active bleeding in the lumen of the gallbladder. Traumatic gallbladder injuries generally require surgery, but in this case, non-operative management was possible with cautious follow-up consisting of abdominal CT and angiography with repeated physical examinations and hemodynamic monitoring in the intensive care unit.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.406-423
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• 2023

Diagnosing bowel and mesenteric trauma poses a significant challenge to radiologists. Although these injuries are relatively rare, immediate laparotomy may be indicated when they occur. Delayed diagnosis and treatment are associated with increased morbidity and mortality; therefore, timely and accurate management is essential. Additionally, employing strategies to differentiate between major injuries requiring surgical intervention and minor injuries considered manageable via non-operative management is important. Bowel and mesenteric injuries are among the most frequently overlooked injuries on trauma abdominal computed tomography (CT), with up to 40% of confirmed surgical bowel and mesenteric injuries not reported prior to operative treatment. This high percentage of falsely negative preoperative diagnoses may be due to several factors, including the relative rarity of these injuries, subtle and non-specific appearances on CT, and limited awareness of the injuries among radiologists. To improve the awareness and diagnosis of bowel and mesenteric injuries, this article provides an overview of the injuries most often encountered, imaging evaluation, CT appearances, and diagnostic pearls and pitfalls. Enhanced diagnostic imaging awareness will improve the preoperative diagnostic yield, which will save time, money, and lives.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.144-149
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• 2017

Background The purpose of this study was to identify the epidemiologic characteristics of hand tendon injuries in children and to compare these with those of adults. Methods This retrospective study was conducted on acute traumatic tendon injuries of the hand treated at our institution from 2005 to 2013, based on medical records and X-ray findings. Age, sex, hand injured, mechanism of injury, tendons and zones injured, number of affected digits, and comorbidities and complications were analyzed. Patients were divided into 2 groups: a pediatric group (${\leq}15years$) and an adult group (>15 years). Results Over the 9-year study period, 533 patients were surgically treated for acute traumatic tendon injuries of the hand. In the pediatric group (n=76), being male, the right hand, the extensor tendon, complete rupture, the middle finger, and glass injury predominated in hand tendon injuries. In the adult group (n=457), results were similar, but injury to the index finger and knife injury were the most common. An accompanying fracture was more common in the adult group and complication rates were non-significantly different. Conclusions This comparative analysis revealed no significant epidemiologic intergroup differences. The belief that pediatric tendon injuries tend to be less severe is misplaced, and careful physical examination and exploration should be conducted in pediatric cases of hand injury.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.232-237
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• 2012

Background : Skin injuries, such as lacerations due to trauma, are relatively common, and patients are very concerned about the resulting scars. Recently, the use of ablative and non-ablative lasers based on the fractional approach has been used to treat scars. In this study, the authors demonstrated the efficacy and safety of ablative fractional resurfacing (AFR) for traumatic scars using a 2,940-nm erbium: yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Er:YAG) laser for traumatic scars after primary repair during the early posttraumatic period. Methods : Twelve patients with fifteen scars were enrolled. All had a history of facial laceration and primary repair by suturing on the day of trauma. Laser therapy was initiated at least 4 weeks after the primary repair. Each patient was treated four times at 1-month intervals with a fractional ablative 2,940-nm Er:YAG laser using the same parameters. Posttreatment evaluations were performed 1 month after the fourth treatment session. Results : All 12 patients completed the study. After ablative fractional laser treatment, all treated portions of the scars showed improvements, as demonstrated by the Vancouver Scar Scale and the overall cosmetic scale as evaluated by 10 independent physicians, 10 independent non-physicians, and the patients themselves. Conclusions : This study shows that ablative fractional Er:YAG laser treatment of scars reduces scars fairly according to both objective results and patient satisfaction rates. The authors suggest that early scar treatment using AFR can be one adjuvant scar management method for improving the quality of life of patients with traumatic scars.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.89-92
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• 2016

Non-surgical traumatic chylothorax following blunt chest trauma is rare, with only a few cases having been reported. In general, conservative treatment measures are recommended as initial management of traumatic chylothorax; these include closed thoracostomy, dietary restriction, and parenteral nutrition. There are few reports of surgery for traumatic chylothorax. We report our experience with thoracic duct ligation using video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery in a patient with chylothorax following blunt chest injury with associated fractures of the thoracic spine.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.304-318
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• 2018

Purpose: This study examined the characteristic of the Injury Severity Score (ISS) of Korean geriatric patients with a traumatic injury in a nationally representative sample to determine the optimal cutoff of ISS of mortality according to age. Methods: The subjects were 3,018 non-elderly patients and 1,584 elderly patients with an ISS and Korean Triage and Acuity Scale (KTAS) in 2016 from the data of the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service. The traumatic characteristics of the elderly and non-elderly were compared by stratifying the ISS. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to find the optimal cutoff of ISS of mortality according to age. Results: The elderly were more prone to severe trauma than the non-elderly were. The distribution of KTAS grades was lower, even though the severity of ISS was as high as that of the non-elderly. The optimal cutoff score of the ISS for mortality in the ROC curve was lower in elderly over 65 years than in the other age group. Conclusion: The elderly are more prone to severe trauma and death than non-elderly, even though their ISS is low. Therefore, a strategy to prevent elderly from experiencing serious trauma and managing their geriatric trauma actively is needed.