• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.399-403
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• 1999

Background: Funnel chest is one of the most common anomaly of chest wall, which is manifested by depression of sternum and costal cartilage. Popular operative methods were Ravitch operation and Wada operation. Material and Method: From 1983 to 1996, 21 cases of funnel chest were corrected surgically in the department of thoracic surgery, National Medical Center. Investigated age and sex distribution, combined anomaly,clinical symptom, degree of correction and complication, postoperative satisfaction. We used 2 different surgical methods, one was Wada & its variants(17 cases), the other was Ravitch and it variants(4 cases). Most of operative indications were cosmetic problems. Result: The pre-operative Welch index was 4.188, but this index decreased to 3.46 after the operations.(p=0.046) The degree of correction was higher in Wada & it variant operation than the modified Ravitch operation.(p=0.54) Their results were satisfactory in 20 patients, while unsatisfactory in 1 patient because of a k-wire fracture. There was no recurrence of chest wall depression or postoperative death during the OPD follow up period. Conclusion: We recommend Wada operation in symmetric and small degree of depressive chest wall deformity in preand post school age.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.215-218
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• 2014

Blunt abdominal trauma may often cause multiple vascular injuries. However, common iliac artery injuries without associated bony injury are very rarely seen in trauma patients. In the present case, a 77-year-old male patient who had no medical history was admitted via the emergency room with blunt abdominal trauma caused by a forklift. At admission, the patient was in shock and had abdominal distension. On abdomino-pelvic computed tomography (CT), the patient was seen to have hemoperitoneum, right common iliac artery thrombosis and left common iliac artery rupture. During surgery, an additional injury to inferior vena cava was confirmed, and a primary repair of the inferior vena cava was successfully performed. However, the bleeding from the left common iliac artery could not be controlled, even with multiple sutures, so the left common iliac artery was ligated. Through an inguinal skin incision, the right common iliac artery thrombosis was removed with a Forgaty catheter and a femoral-to-femoral bypass graft was successfully performed. After the post-operative 13th day, on a follow-up CT angiography, the femoral-to-femoral bypass graft was seen to have good patency, but a right common iliac artery dissection was diagnosed. Thus, a right common iliac artery stent was inserted. Finally, the patient was discharged without complications.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.59-64
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• 2021

Background: Diaphragmatic injuries following blunt or penetrating thoraco-abdominal trauma are rare, but can be life-threatening. Rib fractures are the most common associated injury in patients with a traumatic diaphragmatic injury (TDI). We hypothesized that the pattern of rib fracture injuries could dictate the likelihood of acute TDIs. Methods: A retrospective study was carried out between April 2014 and October 2018 to analyze patients with TDIs and rib fractures at a major trauma center in London, United Kingdom. Results: Over the study period, 1,560 patients had rib fractures, of whom 14 had associated diaphragmatic injuries. Left-sided diaphragmatic injuries were found in 8 patients (57%). A significant proportion of the rib fractures were located posterolaterally (44.9%). The highest frequency of fractures was found in ribs 5-10, which accounted for 74% of all the fractures. Ten patients underwent surgery, of whom 7 were diagnosed with a diaphragmatic injury intraoperatively after video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery assessment of the pleural cavity. Two patients died due to severe injuries of other organs and the remaining 2 patients were managed conservatively. Conclusion: Our series of patients demonstrates a relationship between significant rib fractures and diaphragmatic injuries in trauma patients, and the diagnostic difficulties in identifying the condition. We found that the location of the rib fractures and the pattern of injury in patients with TDIs were much lower and posterolateral in the chest wall without a preference for laterality. We suggest using a thoracoscope in patients undergoing chest wall surgery post-trauma to aid in diagnosing this condition.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.222-229
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• 2017

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the outcomes after fixation using a 3.5-mm locking compression plate (LCP) hook plate for isolated greater tuberosity (GT) fractures of the proximal humerus. Methods: We evaluated the postoperative radiological and clinical outcomes in nine patients who were followed up at least 1 year with isolated GT fractures. Using the deltopectoral approach, we fixed the displaced GT fragments with a 3.5-mm LCP hook plate (Synthes, West Chester, PA, USA). Depending on the fracture patterns, the hook plate was fixed with or without augmentation using either tension suture or suture anchor fixation. Results: All the patient showed successful bone union. The mean time-to-union was 11 weeks. The radiological and clinical outcomes at the final follow-up were generally satisfactory. The mean visual analogue scale for pain, the University of California at Los Angeles score, the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score, and the subjective shoulder value were 1.4, 30.3, 84.3, and 82.2%, respectively. The mean active forward flexion, abduction, external rotation, and internal rotation of the shoulder were $156.7^{\circ}$, $152.2^{\circ}$, $61.1^{\circ}$, and the 10th thoracic vertebral level, respectively. Only one patient presented with a postoperative complication of shoulder stiffness. The patient was treated through arthroscopic capsular release on the 5th postoperative month. Conclusions: We conclude that fixation using 3.5-mm LCP hook plates for isolated GT fractures of the proximal humerus is a useful treatment method that provides satisfactory clinical and radiological outcomes.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.229-232
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• 2014

A 55 year-old man hit a vehicle while riding a bicycle. He was diagnosed as left hemopneumothorax, multiple rib fracture, cerebral hemorrhage, and skull fracture. Initially he suffered from hypoxia requiring 100% oxygen with a mechanical ventilator. Finally he became hypotensive. Venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) was initiated to support patient's gas exchange. Because hypotension and left ventricular dysfuction persisted, we converted the mode of support to veno-arterio-venous ECMO. Over four days of intensive care, we could wean off ECMO. The patient went to rehabilitation facility after 45 days of hospitalization. Although trauma and bleeding are considered as relative contraindication of ECMO, careful decision making and management may enable us to use ECMO for trauma-related refractory heart and/or lung failure.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.49 no.12
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• pp.983-988
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• 2011

Failure analyses of the screws in spinal fixation devices were carried out. The fractured screws were retrieved from a patient who had spinal surgery in the thoracic vertebrae from number 10 to 15. The failure occurred one month after the removal of the braces. Microstructures and fracture surfaces were examined by optical and scanning electron microscopy. The microstructures of the screws corresponded to annealed Ti-6Al-4V bar. However, in the vicinity of the screw surface, there was an insufficient number of fine precipitates. Fracture surfaces showed typical fatigue failure modes. Regarding the fact that no machining defects were detected, fatigue crack initiation might have been caused by the lack of precipitates near the screw surfaces. Only the fourth of five fixed screws was severely stress-concentrated by the action of the spinal bones, while the stress of the 4th screw was decreased to half of its acceptable level when the screw was supplemented by one more, which might have been fixed in the 6th vertebra under the 5th position by the switching of its position. The stress simulation was conducted by ANSYS with 3D CAD of PRO/E in order to understand the stress concentration behavior and to provide an effective spinal surgery guide.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.40 no.10
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• pp.691-695
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• 2007

Background: The introduction of central venous catheters in 1979 has aided the administration of chemotherapy to oncologic patients. We analyzed the clinical reviews and complications of totally implantable venous catheters in an effort to achieve optimal management. Material and Method: We retrospectively studied 100 cases with totally implantable venous catheter at our hospital and we report the results. Result: 100 totally implantable venous catheters were placed in the right subclavian vein in 74 cases (74%), the left subclavian vein in 21 cases, the right jugular vein in 3 cases, the left jugular vein in 1 case and the right femoral vein in 1 case. The immediate complications were 5 cases in malposition of the catheter and 5 cases of arterial puncture. The late complications were 1 case of subclavian vein thrombosis, which was treated with anticoagulation, and 2 cases of pinch-of syndrome. There were no other early or late complications. Conclusion: The low rate of complications in this study confirms the safety and convenience of using totally implantable venous catheter in patients undergoing prolonged chemotherapy. Yet because Infection, thrombosis, and catheter fracture are the most common long term complications of totally implantable venous catheters, early diagnosis and management of these problems can prevent severe complications.

• Journal of Oriental Medical Thermology
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.28-37
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• 2002

Stable Compression Fractures(SCF hereafter) are most often caused by trauma such as traffic accidents. These SCFs usually occur in the thoracic and lumbar regions of the spinal cord. Human life spans have increased as a result of medical advances, which in turn has led to an increase in the elderly population. SCFs are divided into the categories of stable and unstable. The categories are determined through X-rays and P/Ex tests. The D.I.T.I. is then used to diagnose the severity and prognosis of the fracture injuries, and it allows an objective evaluation of the symptoms. This author researched 40 patients who were treated at Wonkwang University Oriental Medical Center from October 1995 to December 1996. The patients were diagnosed by X-ray as having SCFs and treated primarily with acupuncture. Both the changes in D.I.T.I. and patients' self-diagnoses of their conditions before and after treatment yielded the meaningful results which have been presented here. 1. 75% of those who suffer from Stable Compression Fractures are 60 years of older. Of those, the ratio of male to female is 1 to 4. This is due in part to the fact that many elderly women seek Oriental medicine treatment for conditions associated with advanced age. 2. 53.3% of these injuries occurred between T11 and L2. 3. 65% of patients were hospitalized for 10 to 29 days, and then able to be treated on an outpatiens basis. 4. The D.I.T.I. results showed 50% below $0.2^{\circ}C$, 30% between 0.3 and $0.5^{\circ}C$, 10% between 0.5 and $0.7^{\circ}C$, 10% between 0.7 and $0.9^{\circ}C$, and 0% over $0.9^{\circ}C$. 5. The results of treatment using Modified Evaluation System in Thoracolumbar Vertebral Fractures Method showed that 55% of patients achieved excellent recovery and 40% achived good recovery. After comparing the D.I.T.I. results before and after treatment, we found 50% of patients showed excellent recovery $({\Delta}T{\leq}0.2)$ and 40% showed good recovery$(0.2<{\Delta}T{\leq}0.5)$.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.170-174
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• 2013

Purpose: A flail chest is one of most challenging problems for trauma surgeons. It is usually accompanied by significant underlying pulmonary parenchymal injuries and mayled to a life-threatening thoracic injury. In this study, we evaluated the treatment result for a flail chest to determine the effect of trauma localization on morbidity and mortality. Methods: Between 2004 and 2011, 46 patients(29 males/17 females) were treated for a flail chest. The patients were divided into two group based on the location of the trauma in the chest wall; Group I contained patients with an anterior flail chest due to a bilateral costochondral separation (n=27) and Group II contained patients with a single-side posterolateral flail chest due to a segmental rib fracture (n=19). The location of the trauma in the chest wall, other injuries, mechanical ventilation support, prognosis and ISS (injury severity score) were retrospectively examined in the two groups. Results: Mechanical ventilation support was given in 38 patients(82.6%), and 7 of these 38 patients required a subsequent tracheostomy. The mean ISS for all 46 patients was $19.08{\pm}10.57$. Between the two groups, there was a significant difference in mean ventilator time (p<0.048), but no significant difference in either trauma-related morbidity (p=0.369) or mortality (p=0.189). Conclusion: An anterior flail chest frequently affects the two underlying lung parenchyma and can cause a bilateral lung contusion, a hemopneumothorax and lung hemorrhage. Thus, it needs longer ventilator care than a lateral flail chest does and is more frequently associated with pulmonary complications with poor outcome than a lateral flail chest is. In a severe trauma patient with a flail chest, especially an anterior flail chest, we must pay more attention to the pulmonary care strategy and the bronchial toilet.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.489-493
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• 1999

The pectus carinatum or anterior protrusion of the sternum is a less common than pectus excavatum. It occurs more frequently in boys than girls and associated musculoskeletal abnormalities, spinal scoliosis is most common. Ravitch first reported correction of chondromanubrial prominence in 1952, resecting the multiple deformed costal cartilages and performing a double osteotomy on sternum. We have experienced one case of pectus carinatum and obtained satisfactory postoperative results. The deformity was corrected by the subchondral resection of multiple deformed costal cartilage, bilaterally, with single osteotomy on sternum and fracture of the posterior cortex to correct anterior angulation. Postoperative course was uneventful. We report this case with brief review of the literature.