• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.65 no.5
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• pp.719-729
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• 2022

Objective : The ossification of the ligamentum flavum (OLF) is one of the major causes of thoracic myelopathy. Surgical decompression with or without instrumented fusion is the mainstay of treatment. However, few studies have reported on the added effect of instrumented fusion. The objective of this study was to compare clinical and radiological outcomes between surgical decompression without instrumented fusion (D-group) and that with instrumented fusion (F-group). Methods : A retrospective review was performed on 28 patients (D-group, n=17; F-group, n=11) with thoracic myelopathy due to OLF. The clinical parameters compared included scores of the Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA), the Visual analogue scale of the back and leg (VAS-B and VAS-L), and the Korean version of the Oswestry disability index (K-ODI). Radiological parameters included the sagittal vertical axis (SVA), the pelvic tilt (PT), the sacral slope (SS), the thoracic kyphosis angle (TKA), the segmental kyphosis angle (SKA) at the operated level, and the lumbar lordosis angle (LLA; a negative value implying lordosis). These parameters were measured preoperatively, 1 year postoperatively, and 2 years postoperatively, and were compared with a linear mixed model. Results : After surgery, all clinical parameters were significantly improved in both groups, while VAS-L was more improved in the F-group than in the D-group (-3.4±2.5 vs. -1.3±2.2, p=0.008). Radiological outcomes were significantly different in terms of changes in TKA, SKA, and LLA. Changes in TKA, SKA, and LLA were 2.3°±4.7°, -0.1°±1.4°, and -1.3°±5.6° in the F-group, which were significantly lower than 6.8°±6.1°, 3.0°±2.8°, and 2.2°±5.3° in the D-group, respectively (p=0.013, p<0.0001, and p=0.037). Symptomatic recurrence of OLF occurred in one patient of the D-group at postoperative 24 months. Conclusion : Clinical improvement was achieved after decompression surgery for OLF regardless of whether instrumented fusion was added. However, adding instrumented fusion resulted in better outcomes in terms of lessening the progression of local and regional kyphosis and improving leg pain. Decompression with instrumented fusion may be a better surgical option for thoracic OLF.

• Journal of the Korean Orthopaedic Association
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.65-72
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• 2017

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the radiologic features of juxtafacet cyst and determine the correlation between these features and clinical outcome. Materials and Methods: We analyzed a total of 23 patients. The degree of facet joint degeneration was classified using the Fujiwara method. The facet joint angles were measured with an magnetic resonance imaging to determine whether there was a difference between the cystic lesion that was occupied and the cystic lesion that was not occupied. Disc degeneration was measured by the Pfirrmann classification method. The clinical result was evaluated using the Oswestry disability index score and visual analogue scale. Results: The L4-5 level of juxtafacet cyst was mostly affected, as found in previous studies. Facet joint arthritis was more severe within the side with the cystic lesion. Significant correlation was found between disc degeneration and juxtafacet joint cyst. All patients underwent wide decompression and fusion. Clinical result was excellent. No patients had signs of recurrence during the follow-up periods. Conclusion: Juxtafacet cyst has a significant correlation with facet joint degeneration. Therefore, aggressive surgical treatment-not just simple cyst excision-should be considered as the treatment option for juxtafacet cyst associated with degenerative lumbar disease.

• 한국노년학
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.683-694
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• 2010

This study was to investigate the effects of aquarobics exercise on body composition, fitness and health related quality of life (sf-36) in elderly women and to provide basic data to exercise prescription. The subjects were the 60~70 years old seniors who participated in exercise program at health promotion center and had been divided into exercise(N=25) and control(N=30) group, respectively. Aquarobics exercise was performed twice per week for 8 weeks at 40~70% heart rate reserve(exercise intensity) and body composition, fitness and SF-36 were measured before and after exercise. In body composition, there were significance in weight(p=0.044), body mass index(p=0.038), and %fat(p=0.005) between groups before and after. In fitness, there were no significance in fitness such as chair stand, and chair sit and reach, but there were significance in 2-minute step(p<0.001), arm curl(p=0.005), back scratch(p=0.023), and 8-ft up and go(p<0.001) between groups. In SF-36, there were no significance in physical functioning, role limitation-physical, role limitation-emotional, social functioning, mental health, and vitality, but there were significance in bodily pain(p=0.039), and general health(p=0.024) between groups. It was found that aquarobics exercise was one of the good exercise types for the elderly to improve body composition and fitness. Also, there was positive effect on health-related quality of life partially.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.343-350
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• 2023

Background: Our purpose was to evaluate a custom reverse total shoulder arthroplasty glenoid baseplate for severe glenoid deficiency, emphasizing the challenges with this approach, including short-term clinical and radiographic outcomes and complications. Methods: This was a single-institution, retrospective series of 29 patients between January 2017 and December 2022 for whom a custom glenoid component was created for extensive glenoid bone loss. Patients were evaluated preoperatively and at intervals for up to 5 years. All received preoperative physical examinations, plain radiographs, and computed tomography (CT). Intra- and postoperative complications are reported. Results: Of 29 patients, delays resulted in only undergoing surgery, and in three of those, the implant did not match the glenoid. For those three, the time from CT scan to implantation averaged 7.6 months (range, 6.1-10.7 months), compared with 5.5 months (range, 2-8.6 months) for those whose implants fit. In patients with at least 2-year follow-up (n=9), no failures occurred. Significant improvements were observed in all patient-reported outcome measures in those nine patients (American Shoulder and Elbow Score, P<0.01; Simple Shoulder Test, P=0.02; Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation, P<0.01; Western Ontario Osteoarthritis of the Shoulder Index, P<0.01). Range of motion improved for forward flexion and abduction (P=0.03 for both) and internal rotation up the back (P=0.02). Pain and satisfaction also improved (P<0.01 for both). Conclusions: Prolonged time (>6 months) from CT scan to device implantation resulted in bone loss that rendered the implants unusable. Satisfactory short-term radiographic and clinical follow-up can be achieved with a well-fitting device. Level of evidence: III.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.13-33
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• 1999

The aim of this study was to investigate fatigue scores, physical complaints, farmer's syndrome and to find out its risk factors among farmers. The questionnaire survey was conducted to 177 vinyl house workers and 213 farmers who lived in Chongyang gun of Chungnam province from February 24 to March 15, 1998. The obtained main results were followings; 1. The fatigue scores were not significantly different between vinyl house workers and farmers. The fatigue scores were higher in female group, lower education group, shorter sleep hours group(under 8 hours), nonsmoker, nondrinker group than otherwise groups. There was not statistically significant difference between the mean fatigue scores and age, eating habit and body mass index. Duration of farming years in vinyl house and farming area and number of farming workers in farmers family showed a slight relationship with the fatigue score. 2. Health scores were not different between vinyl house workers and farmers. The health states was poorer in female group, lower education group, shorter sleep hours group(under 8 hours), nonsmoker group, and nondrinker group than otherwise groups by health scores. Health scores were not related with age, eating habit and body mass index. 3. The proportion of farmer's syndrome was 49.1% in vinyl house workers and 52.1% in farmers. That was higher in female than in male and the higher proportion was found in the lower education group of vinyl house workers and farmers. The proportion of farmer's syndrome was higher in the group of smoker, alcohol drinkers and over or under weight in vinyl house workers, but did not differ in those of farmers. 4. By multiple logistic regression, sex and sleep hours were risk factors affecting to farmer's syndrome. Odds ration for female group was 2.53 (reference group was male) and that for over 8 sleep hours group was 0.74 (reference group was under 8 sleep hours group). 5. The chief complaints by CMI were "I am difficult to work due to aching the back and the limbs", "I feel prickle pain in the limbs", "I sometimes have a twinge in the limbs", "I am not quite well as having a pain in the limbs", "I feel weaker grasping power than before" in both of vinyl house workers and farmers. Vinyl house workers more frequently pointed out skin darkening, skin disease and hemorrhoids than farmers. 6. According to correspondence analysis, skin disease of vinyl house workers was related to vinyl house farmers and digestive and general symptom was associated with male and endocrinological and muscular symptom was associated with female in vinyl house workers. And it revealed that farmer's syndrome was highly related with female and farmers relatively. By the above results, the fatigue scores, perceive health and farmer's syndrome did not much differ in two groups, but aged female farmers should be considered as female farmers represented higher fatigue score, farmers syndrome and poorer perceive health than male farmers in addition to farmer's syndrome was increased with ageing process. Also feeble but distinguished symptoms which might be due to working environment were observed especially in vinyl house workers and that should be considered and investigated continuously.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.119-133
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• 1997

Continuing shift service of clinical nurses can be not only the cause of occupational dissatisfaction by being connected with the change of circadian rhythm and the burden of duties to be applicable to such changes. But also of inviting the lowering of nursing quality by being affected to the resignation of the nurses as the threat to the health of the nurses. This study has selected 500 nurses at random under non-probability sampling who have been serving by shift in 7 general hospitals which have over 400 sickbeds for the purpose of cross-sectional survey design from Sep. 7 through 20, 1996. Standardized modification of the CMI has been used which was designed for Koreans with Cornell Medical Index developed by Broadman and his fellow workers as the study device. The structure of the device was composed of 35 questions on physical appeal(Chronbach's ${\alpha}=8507$) and 22 questions of mental appeal(Cronbach's ${\alpha}=.8166$ totalling 57 questions. The collected data has been computerrized by using SPSS. General character, present symptom, perceived symptom and others are sought by practical number and percentage, and the health condition comparison followed by general characters was conducted by t-test and ANOVA. The post test was by Duncan's test by the level of p<.05. 1) The items of the answer that they have the physical symptom presently by 50% or over of the nurses were as "Do you often have spells of severe dizziness", "Are your eyes often red or inflamed", "Does press or pain in the head often make like miserable", "Are your ankles often badly swollen", "Do pains in the back make it hard for you to keep up with your work". 2) The items of the answer by over 50% of the nurses as the mental symptom at present were "do you fell bad when criticized?", "Do you get angry when everything is against your will?", "do you get angry when ordered to do this and that?", "do you feel uneasy by such a trifle thing?", "do you tremble or are you freightened by sudden sound?". The mental and physical symptoms which have appeared presently in connection with the shift service have been agreed with each other. But the physical condition has been worse than the mental one. 3) In the physical health conditions followed by demosociological character, there were the significant differences by sex, religion and place of residence(p<.05), and in the mental health conditions, there were the significant differences by age, marital status, residence place and the required time for attending hospital(p<.05). 4) There was significant difference by the degree of satisfaction about the duty in both the physical and mental health conditions. In short, the higher the degree of duty satisfaction, the better the health conditions. 5) There were the significant difference according to the times of night duty and whether they take the drug or not or the kinds of the drugs in the physical health conditions related with the characters of night shift. Mental health conditions in the night shift case showed significant differences according to their taking drug or not or the kinds of the drugs(p<.05). I can confirm that the nurses have been affected continuously by the shift service mentally and physically. The maintenance of the physical and mental health of the nurses and its promotion are very important problem to guarantee the quality nursing in the performance of the nursing service continuously and effectively, so the hospital should make every effort to improve the duty conditions by finding out the causes affecting to their health. In the nursing management viewpoint, I think that elevating the satisfaction degree about the duty would be a great help to the promotion of physical and mental health conditions. But what is most important is that the nurses themselves should take care of themselves in maintaining the good conditions in their service in the hospital.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.265-284
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• 2001

The case management has been applied to improve the quality of care and the cost-effectiveness in the most health care institutions. In a way of case management, the critical pathway(CP) has been executed in many acute care settings, focused on the diagnoses with high cost, high volume, and high risk. This study was conducted to develop a case management program using CP as an intervention of patients with lumbar spinal stenosis for the surgery of posterolateral fusion, and to find out the effects of the critical pathway on the quality of nursing care, patient satisfaction as an outcome of care, length of stay and medical charge, and nurses' job satisfaction. At the same time, patients' functional states were checked with the Oswestry Low Back Pain Index, to show that the CP would not decrease the patients' function compared to the control group. The subjects were 25 control patients with a usual operation of lumbar fusion and 25 experimental patients with CP. They were all female, aged $50s{\sim}70s$, admitted in the Orthopedic surgery ward of a university hospital. Also nurses on the floor using CP were asked to respond to measurement tool of job satisfaction before and after the application of CP, and compared with other nurses on the different wards. Data were analyzed with t-test for continuous variables and chi-square for non-parametric variables in addition to the reliability test of the measurement tools. The results of this study were as followings: 1. Patients' functional states The differences in Oswestry scores of the experimental and control groups assessed at preoperation and at discharge were not statistically significant. The change in scores of the experimental group measured at preoperation and at discharge was larger than that of the control group, however the difference was not statistically significant. The results indicate that the CP did not decrease the patients' functional status. 2. The quality of nursing care The total of quality of nursing care given to the experimental group was better than that of the control group(P=.000). In addition, the experimental group showed better scores of quality of every item of care than the control group(P=.000 -.004). 3. Patient satisfaction Patients of the experimental group were not more satisfied with general care than the control group. But they were more satisfied with discharge care of 'explanation about medication, body posture, and brace application' and 'explanation about the adjustment of daily living and exercise during recovery'(P= .047, P=.028). 4. Nurses' job satisfaction Nurses working with the CP showed more job satisfaction than before the CP introduction(P=.048). But the control group of nurses on a different floor showed no change in job satisfaction at the same period of time. 5. Length of stay and medical charge The mean length of stay of the experimental group was shorter than that of the control group without statistical significance. The charge of medication and treatment of the experimental group were smaller than that of the control group(P=.011, P=.000). The results of the study support that the case management using critical pathway enables to improve the quality of care and job satisfaction, to reduce the medical charge, and consequently to increase satisfaction with care. However, the case management should be instituted focusing on the quality improvement of nursing and the client satisfaction, not just for the purpose of cost-effectiveness of health care facilities.