• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.293-308
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• 2003

New results about the crustal structure down to a depth of 60 km beneath North Korea were obtained using the seismic tomography method. About 1013 P- and S-wave travel times from local earthquakes recorded by the Korean stations and the vicinity were used in the research. All earthquakes were relocated on the basis of an algorithm proposed in this study. Parameterization of the velocity structure is realized with a set of nodes distributed in the study volume according to the ray density. 120 nodes located at four depth levels were used to obtain the resulting P- and S-wave velocity structures. As a result, it is found that P- and S-wave velocity anomalies of the Rangnim Massif at depth of 8 km are high and low, respectively, whereas those of the Pyongnam Basin are low up to 24 km. It indicates that the Rangnim Massif contains Archean-early Lower Proterozoic Massif foldings with many faults and fractures which may be saturated with underground water and/or hot springs. On the other hand, the Pyongyang-Sariwon in the Pyongnam Basin is an intraplatform depression which was filled with sediments for the motion of the Upper Proterozoic, Silurian and Upper Paleozoic, and Lower Mesozoic origin. In particular, the high P- and S-wave velocity anomalies are observed at depth of 8, 16, and 24 km beneath Mt. Backdu, indicating that they may be the shallow conduits of the solidified magma bodies, while the low P-and S-wave velocity anomalies at depth of 38 km must be related with the magma chamber of low velocity bodies with partial melting. We also found the Moho discontinuities beneath the Origin Basin including Sari won to be about 55 km deep, whereas those of Mt. Backdu is found to be about 38 km. The high ratio of P-wave velocity/S-wave velocity at Moho suggests that there must be a partial melting body near the boundary of the crust and mantle. Consequently we may well consider Mt. Backdu as a dormant volcano which is holding the intermediate magma chamber near the Moho discontinuity. This study also brought interesting and important findings that there exist some materials with very high P- and S-wave velocity annomoalies at depth of about 40 km near Mt. Myohyang area at the edge of the Rangnim Massif shield.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.261-268
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• 2004

Osteoporosis is a clinical condition in which the amount of bone tissue is reduced and the likelihood of fracture is increased. It is known that the electrical property of the bone is related to its density, and, in particular, the electrical resistance of the bone decreases as the bone loss increases. This implies that the electrical property of bone may be an useful parameter to diagnose osteoporosis, provided that it can be readily measured. The study attempted to evaluate the electrical conductivity of bone using a technique of electrical impedance tomography (EIT). It nay not be easy in general to get an EIT for the bone due to the big difference (an order of 2) of electrical properties between the bone and the surrounding soft tissue. In the present study, we took an adaptive mesh regeneration technique originally developed for the detection of two phase boundaries and modified it to be able to reconstruct the electrical conductivity inside the boundary provided that the geometry of the boundary was given. Numerical simulation was carried out for a tibia phantom, circular cylindrical phantom (radius of 40 mm) inside of which there is an ellipsoidal homeogenous tibia bone (short and long radius are 17 mm and 15 mm, respectively) surrounded by the soft tissue. The bone was located in the 15 mm above from the center of the circular cross section of the phantom. The electrical conductivity of the soft tissue was set to be 4 mS/cm and varies from 0.01 to 1 ms/cm for the bone. The simulation considered measurement errors in order to look into its effects. The simulated results showed that, if the measurement error was maintained less than 5 %, the reconstructed electrical conductivity of the bone was within 10 % errors. The accuracy increased with the electrical conductivity of the bone, as expected. This indicates that the present technique provides more accurate information for osteoporotic bones. It should be noted that tile simulation is based on a simple two phase image for the bone and the surrounding soft tissue when its anatomical information is provided. Nevertheless, the study indicates the possibility that the EIT technique may be used as a new means to detect the bone loss leading to osteoporotic fractures.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.130-137
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• 2012

Purpose: To evaluate and report the clinical outcome after surgical treatment of intra-articular comminuted fracture of distal humerus in the elderly with osteoporosis. Materials and Methods: From January 2007 to October 2009, 24 patients aged older than 65 years with intra-articular comminuted fracture of distal humerus underwent surgical treatment. 18 patients (Group I) were managed using primary open reduction and internal fixation (OR IF) through the modified posterior approach and 6 patients (Group II) were taken primary total elbow arthroplasty. The average follow up period was 17.2 months. According to the AO classification, there were 8 C2, 16 C3 type fractures. All enrolled patients were evaluated radiographically and clinically. Clinical outcomes were assessed with the Mayo Elbow Performance, Disabilities of Arm and Shoulder and Hand, and Musculoskeletal Functional Assessment functional questionnaires. Results: The bony union was observed in 18 patients in group I at average 14 weeks. There were 2 patients with neurapraxia of whom the ulnar nerve symptom did not improve despite of anterior transposition. And non-union at osteotomy sites was seen in 2 patients. The mean Mayo Elbow Performance score was 87.0. The mean DASH score was 32.4. The average arc of elbow flexion was $121.0^{\circ}$ (range, $95{\sim}145^{\circ}$) with mean flexion-contracture of $12.0^{\circ}$ (range, 0 to 35). 6 patients in Group II showed no complication during follow up periods. The mean Mayo Elbow Performance score was 89.1. The mean DASH score was 44.3. The average arc of elbow flexion was $125.1^{\circ}$ (range, $100{\sim}145^{\circ}$) with mean flexion-contracture of $12.6^{\circ}$ (range, 0 to 30). Conclusions: With careful patient selection, Total elbow arthroplasty as well as OR IF could achieve good outcomes in elderly of comminuted intra-articular distal humerus fracture with osteoporosis.

• Journal of Korean Orthopaedic Sports Medicine
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.94-99
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• 2011

Purpose: As the number of people enjoying skiing and snowboarding which are two popular winter sports has been increasing, wearing helmet during doing these sports has been needed for safety. The rates of head or face injury have decreased after using helmet. However the effect that wearing helmet has on cervical damage is not yet to be known. So through this research we intend to be helpful in developing effective program and safety equipment. Materials and Methods: During two seasons from December 2009 to march 2011, cased 658 cervical injuries within 14538 admittance in medical center of major resort due to skiing and snow-boarding injuries. For survey and research model, one year before the research year conducted a pilot study. Admittance were 432 male and 226 female, advanced 273 and 385 novice. We divided them into two groups depending on wearing helmet, measured cervical damage ratio and injury mechanism, and researched the severity of damage and diagnosed injury. Each group used SPSS 12.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) to process data statistically. Results: The number of patients was 312 in skier and 346 in snow boarder. Patients wearing helmet were 146 in skier and 127 in snow boarder. Classification of each injuries were confirmed as 292 cases of simple sprain, 359 bruising, 6 cervical fractures and 1 case of dislocation. Classification of injury mechanisms were 287 of human collision, 212 material collision, 108 of slip down by oneself, 39 of falling and 12 cases of etc. In cases wearing helmet ski 78/ snow board 70 were simple sprain, ski 64/ snowboard 68 were shown as bruising, ski 1/ snow board 2 had cervical fracture or dislocation. The ratio of cervical sprain increased in cases of wearing helmet compared to non-wearing cases and there was a statistical significance (p<0.001). The ratio of cervical contusion increased significantly in non-wearing helmet user (p<0.05). However, there was no significant increase in fracture and dislocation compared between helmet user and non-user (p> 0.05). Conclusion: In this study, wearing helmet had no relation to additional cervical injury occurrence or severity among skiers and snow boarders. The ratio of cervical sprain increased significantly in helmet user with person to person accident. However, the cervical contusion decreased. On this ground, further biomechanical studies are required and modified helmet will be necessary.

• Journal of Korean Orthopaedic Sports Medicine
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.78-85
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• 2011

Purpose: To evaluate the usefulness of computerized tomography (CT) for the diagnosis and the fragment fixation of anteroinferior tibiofibular ligament avulsion fracture in ankle fracture. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively studied 108 patients with an ankle fracture who had been checked with plain radiographs and CT from July 2006 to July 2010. They were divided into two groups; patients with (19 patients) and without (89 patients) an avulsion fracture of anteroinferior tibiofibular ligament. The two groups were evaluated with Lauge-Hansen classification, the energy of trauma, and the radiologic indices for syndesmotic injury, and were compared each other. Average follow up periods of two groups were 25 and 23 months each. Those who were unstable at stress test during surgery were divided into fragment fixation of anteroinferior tibiofibular ligament avulsion fracture group (8 patients) and transfixation one (11 patients) according to treatment method. Clinical and radiological results at last follow up were also compared. Results: Fourteen avulsion fractures of anteroinferior tibiofibular ligament were diagnosed by CT only. Incidences of pronation-external rotation injury, high energy trauma, positive radiologic indices for syndesmotic injury were significantly higher in patients with an avulsion fracture of anteroinferior tibiofibular ligament than those without it. Clinical and radiological results were satisfactory in both groups at last follow up, and were not significantly different between them. Conclusion: In patients who have an ankle fracture by pronation-external rotation injury, high energy trauma, or with positive radiologic indices for syndesmotic injury, CT is useful for diagnosis of an avulsion fracture of anteroinferior tibiofibular ligament. Fragment fixation of anteroinferior tibiofibular ligament avulsion fracture is a useful treatment option for syndesmotic injury.

• Journal of the Korean Arthroscopy Society
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.61-66
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• 2000

Purpose : The diagnosis of the causes of residual pain after ankle fractures and the treatment is not simple. The authors analyzed the clinical results of the patients with residual pain after ankle fracture fur whom ankle arthroscopy was undertaken, for the purpose of evaluating the efficacy of arthroscopic diagnosis and treatment. Materials and Methods : From January 1997 to June 1998, ankle arthroscopy was done for the seventeen patients suffering from residual ankle pain and limitation of motion after ankle fracture. Their symptoms were not improved despite conservative treatment. There were sixteen men and one woman, and their mean age was 37.4 years. Result : Radiological examination revealed loose bodies in two patients, and osteophytes at the anterior rim of the tibia in fourteen patients. By the classification of osteoarthritic change, three ankles were assigned to grade 0, eight to grade I, six to grade II, and none to grade III. On arthroscopic examination, soft tissue impingement was found In thirteen cases, loose bodies in five cases, and osteochondral lesions in four cases. For arthroscopic treatments, removal of soft tissue, abrasion of osteophytes, cartilage shaving and removal of loose bodies were done. Clinical results were evaluated using Evanski and Waugh score. Preoperative overall score of 58.7 points jumped to 74.6 points after the operation, and in fourteen patients$(82\%)$ the symptoms were improved. Conclusion : Ankle arthroscopy is considered to be a very useful diagnostic and treatment method fer the patients with residual complaints after ankle fracture.

• Journal of the Korean Arthroscopy Society
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.42-48
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• 2000

We retrospectively reviewed the results of arthroscopic adhesiolysis on postoperative knee stiffness in order to observe the clinical improvement and to evaluate the prognostic factors. Arthroscopic adhesiolysis without extraarticular procedure was performed in 31 knees displaying persistent flexion or extension loss. The causes of arthrofobrosis were previous ligament surgeries in 17 knees, surgery for a fracture involving the articular surface of the knee in 10 cases and other causes in four cases. The average range of motion was $60^{\circ}(range,\;14^{\circ}-74^{\circ})$ preoperatively, and improved by $120^{\circ}(range,\;7^{\circ}-127^{\circ})$ immediately following the procedure. The range of motion at the final follow-up (average 34 months) was $129^{\circ}(range,\;3^{\circ}-132^{\circ})$. In the 17 patients with arthrofibrosis fellowing ligament surgery, the range of motion was improved from $65^{\circ}$ preoperatively to $135^{\circ}$ at final follow-up. The improvement in function and motion was achieved during the first postoperative year. In the 10 patients with arthrofibosis following intraarticular fractures, the range of motion was improved from $60^{\circ}$ preoperatively to $125^{\circ}$ at the final follow-up, and most of the increase in motion was achieved within the first 6 months. Patients who suffered from a limitation of motion for less than 7 months gained an average $70^{\circ}$ improvement in total range of motion following arthroscopic surgery. However, the total range of motion in patients with a duration of symptoms greater than 7 months improved by an average $49^{\circ}$ postoperatively. In conclusion, arthroscopic adhesiolysis without incisional procedure is an effective therapeutic modality in arthrofibrosis of intraarticular origin. Improved outcomes can be expected in stiffness after ligament surgery and a symptom duration of arthrofibrosis less than 7 months.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.67-72
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• 2006

Injection of $CO_2$ into underground saline formations, due to their large storage capacity, is probably the most promising approach for the reduction of $CO_2$ emissions into the atmosphere. $CO_2$ storage must be carefully planned and monitored to ensure that the $CO_2$ is safely retained in the formation for periods of at least thousands of years. Seismic methods, particularly for offshore reservoirs, are the primary tool for monitoring the injection process and distribution of $CO_2$ in the reservoir over time provided that reservoir properties are favourable. Seismic methods are equally essential for the characterisation of a potential trap, determining the reservoir properties, and estimating its capacity. Hence, an assessment of the change in seismic response to $CO_2$ storage needs to be carried out at a very early stage. This must be revisited at later stages, to assess potential changes in seismic response arising from changes in fluid properties or mineral composition that may arise from chemical interactions between the host rock and the $CO_2$. Thus, carefully structured modelling of the seismic response changes caused by injection of $CO_2$ into a reservoir over time helps in the design of a long-term monitoring program. For that purpose we have developed a Graphical User Interface (GUI) driven rock physics simulator, designed to model both short and long-term 4D seismic responses to injected $CO_2$. The application incorporates $CO_2$ phase changes, local pressure and temperature changes. chemical reactions and mineral precipitation. By incorporating anisotropic Gassmann equations into the simulator, the seismic response of faults and fractures reactivated by $CO_2$ can also be predicted. We show field examples (potential $CO_2$ sequestration sites offshore and onshore) where we have tested our rock physics simulator. 4D seismic responses are modelled to help design the monitoring program.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.89-97
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• 2007

A three-dimensional (3D) magnetotelluric (MT) survey has been carried out to delineate subsurface structures and possible fractures, for development of low-temperature geothermal resources in Pohang, Korea. Quite good quality MT data could be obtained throughout the survey region by locating the remote reference in Kyushu, Japan, which is ${\sim}480\;km$ from the centre of the field site. 3D modelling and inversion are performed taking into account the sea effect in MT measurements near the seashore. The nearby sea in the Pohang area affects MT data at frequencies below $1\;Hz{\sim}0.2\;Hz$, depending on the distance from the seashore. The most severe sea effects were observed in the south-east parts of the survey area, closer to Youngil Bay. 3D inversion with and without the seawater constraint showed very similar results at shallow depths, roughly down to 2 km. At greater depths, however, a strong sea effect seems to form a fictitious conductive structure in ordinary 3D inversion, especially in the south-eastern part of the survey region. Comparison between drilling results and the resistivity profiles from inversions showed that five layered structures can be distinguished the subsurface beneath the target area. They are: (a) semi-consolidated mudstones with resistivity less than $10\;{\Omega}m$, which are ${\sim}300\;m$ thick in the northern part and ${\sim}600\;m$ thick in the southern part of the survey area; (b) occasional occurrence of trachybasalt and lapilli tuff within the mudstone layer has resistivity of a few tens of${\Omega}m$, (c) intrusive rhyolite ${\sim}400\;m$ thick has resistivity of several hundreds of ${\Omega}m$, (d) alternating sandstone and mudstone down to 1.5 km depth shows resistivity of ${\sim}100\;{\Omega}m$, (e) a conductive structure was found at a depth of ${\sim}3\;km$, but more geological and geophysical study should be carried out to identify this structure.

• The Korean Journal of Petroleum Geology
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• v.6 no.1_2 s.7
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• pp.8-19
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• 1998

In the Sinri area located at the mid western boundary of the Jinan basin, the Manduksan Formation which mainly consists of coarse sandstone narrowly intercalated with shale and the alternation of sand and shale and the Dalgil Formation mainly of shale are distributed. It consists of four lithofacies, such as coarse sandstone, interbedded sandstone/shale, shale and volcanic rock lithofacies. All sediments are interpreted to be deposited by turbidity currents and free fallouts in a lacustrine basin. In these rocks many penecontemporaneous defomation structures are observed such as fold and thrust fault at large scale, and swelling, boudin structure, flame structure, load structure, ptygmatic fold and convolute bedding at small scale. All these structures are developed between upper and lower undisturbed sedimentary strata. Two large folds are similar folds, but lower one gradually developed into concentric shape. The swelling structures by convergence of the sediments are observed in the hinge area and the boudin structures are developed in the limb. The thrust faults including minor folds and sandstone lobes show duplex structure with asymmetric and kink fold on and below in front of the detached sandstone layer. Development of the swellings, boudins and lobes indicates the flexbility of the sediments during deformational episodes. The folds and thrust faults rarely contain fractures relative their scales and lithologies. This feature also indicates the retrievability of sediments during deformation. At the flanks of the thrust faults the normal faults are formed contemporaneously. The deformation structures at small scale such as flame structures, load structures, ptygmatic folds and convolute beddings are syndepositional and penecontemporaneous, which show the effects of tectonic movements. All these deformed sedimentary structures of the Sinri area suggest the continuing tectonic movements during and/or after deposition.