• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.483-486
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• 2008

Purpose: Fingertip injuries are the most common hand injuries and may lead to significant disability. Knowledge of fingertip anatomy is mandatory to treat these injuries effectively. All surgical techniques used for coverage of fingertip injuries must be based on the nature of the injury and the patient's age. Many authors have studied the method of fingertip reconstruction because goals of these treatments should include maintaining length, sensibility, motions, and appearance. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of digital artery perforator flap for fingertip reconstruction without aesthetic and functional problems. Methods: From November 2006 to March 2007, the authors performed fingertip reconstruction on 3 fingers of 3 patients, aged between 41 to 54 years (average age, 47 years) using digital artery perforator flap. Results: All fingers recovered successfully and there were no necrosis of the flap. We followed up 3 cases more than 5 months. Light touch and temperature sensation could be detected in all flaps and the static two-point discrimination test was 8 mm. Conclusion: This flap is an alternative choice for coverage of fingertip defects. This method also takes short time to procedure and to recovery. The digital artery perforator flap has never been reported in Korea, however it is considered as a useful method for treatment of fingertip injury.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.61-68
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• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to provide basic data for the effectiveness and the necessity of home visiting physical therapy through examining performance ability and functional changes in daily life activities by investigating the life of disabled persons living at home. Methods: After selecting 100 people with physical disabilities greater than level 3 and brain damage related disabilities living in Youngam-Gun, we conducted mobility tests according to a Modified Bathel Index (MBI), the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), and floor and bed movements? for Activities of Daily Living evaluation. We did this before the experiment and after doing home visiting physical therapy for 90 minutes at a time, once a week for 6 months Results: 1) Persons who live in a bed are higher than those who live in a floor. There was a significant difference between persons who live in a floor and those who live in a bed in the change in MBI and BBS scores after home visiting physical therapy. 2) Those with a musculoskeletal disorder had a significantly different change in MBI and BBS according to the type of disease and kind of disability. Those with neuropathy had a significantly different change in MBI. Those with physical disabilities showed a significant difference in MBI and BBS. Conclusion: A home visiting physical therapist can cause an improved performance ability and lead to the ability of disabled persons living at home to carry out activities of daily livingin a large part and the study for brain lesion disabilities except physical disabilities and stroke which occupy large proportion of disabled persons should be done.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.11-21
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• 2015

Background: Epidural injections are performed utilizing 3 approaches in the lumbar spine: caudal, interlaminar, and transforaminal. The literature on the efficacy of epidural injections has been sporadic. There are few high-quality randomized trials performed under fluoroscopy in managing disc herniation that have a long-term follow-up and appropriate outcome parameters. There is also a lack of literature comparing the efficacy of these 3 approaches. Methods: This manuscript analyzes data from 3 randomized controlled trials that assessed a total of 360 patients with lumbar disc herniation. There were 120 patients per trial either receiving local anesthetic alone (60 patients) or local anesthetic with steroids (60 patients). Results: Analysis showed similar efficacy for caudal, interlaminar, and transforaminal approaches in managing chronic pain and disability from disc herniation. The analysis of caudal epidural injections showed the potential superiority of steroids compared with local anesthetic alone a 2-year follow-up, based on the average relief per procedure. In the interlaminar group, results were somewhat superior for pain relief in the steroid group at 6 months and functional status at 12 months. Interlaminar epidurals provided improvement in a significantly higher proportion of patients. The proportion of patients nonresponsive to initial injections was also lower in the group for local anesthetic with steroid in the interlaminar trial. Conclusions: The results of this assessment show significant improvement in patients suffering from chronic lumbar disc herniation with 3 lumbar epidural approaches with local anesthetic alone, or using steroids with long-term follow-up of up to 2 years, in a contemporary interventional pain management setting.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2005

Objectives: To compare the efficacy of two types specific exercise intervention (deep and superficial abdominal muscle exercises) in the treatment of patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP). Design: A randomized, comparative, repeated-measures. Subjects: Twenty-four patients with CLBP (at least for 3 months), mean $age{\pm}SD=51.58{\pm}16.21$ (yrs). Methods: Twenty-four patients with this condition were assigned randomly to two treatment groups. Both first and second group underwent 3 weeks specific exercise treatment program. The first group specific trained for the deep abdominal muscles. The second group specific trained for the superficial abdominal muscles. Results: After intervention, the first group showed a statistically significant reduction in pain intensity and functional disability levels (p<.05). The second group showed no significant change in these parameters after intervention (p>.05). Conclusions: According to results, a "deep abdominal muscle exercises" treatment approach appears more effective than a "superficial abdominal muscle exercises" treatment in patients with CLBP.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.168-176
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• 2014

Objective: The aim of this randomized controlled clinical trial was to compare oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) of patients treated with conventional, active self-ligating (ASL), and passive self-ligating (PSL) brackets in different therapeutic phases. Methods: Sixty patients (mean age 18.3 years; 29 males and 31 females) requiring orthodontic treatment were randomly and equally assigned to receive conventional (Victory Series), ASL (In-Ovation R), or PSL (Damon 3MX) brackets. OHRQoL was measured with a self-administered modified 16-item Malaysian version of the Oral Health Impact Profile for immediate (soon after the visit) and late (just before the subsequent visit) assessments of the bonding and activation phases. Data were analyzed with the Kruskal-Wallis and chi-square tests. Results: The PSL and ASL groups showed more immediate and late impacts in the bonding phase, respectively; the conventional group was affected in both the assessments. The first activation phase had similar impacts in the groups. After the second activation, the conventional group showed more immediate impacts, whereas the PSL and ASL groups had more late impacts. The commonly affected domains were "physical disability," "functional limitation," "physical pain," and "psychological discomfort." No significant differences in the prevalence and severity of immediate and late impacts on OHRQoL of the patients were noted in any therapeutic phase. Conclusions: No bracket system seems to ensure superior OHRQoL. This information could be useful for explaining the therapeutic phases, especially the initial one, and selecting the optimal bracket system based on the patient's preference.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.13-17
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• 2005

In general, the function limitation of the burned hand is determined by the thermal injury; however, infection, pressure necrosis, inactivity, poor positioning, subsequent scarring and contractures are intimately related to functional disability. The goal of treatment of the burned hand is the prevention of deformities and maintainance of function. Objective : This study of the Acupuncture therapeutic effect on the burned hand will suggest another treatment plan for the more effective therapy. Methods : To heal the burned hand, we used Acupuncture therapy as Banja-technic(半刺法) Moja-technic(毛刺法). Results & Conclusions : Authors reviewed 1 patient who had received only Acupuncture treatment for the burned hand. The burned hand of the patient was healed in about 11 days by only Acupuncture treatment.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.226-233
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• 2020

Background: We aimed to compare interlaminar epidural steroid injections (ILESI) and bilateral transforaminal epidural steroid injections (TFESI) on pain intensity, functional status, depression, walking distance, and the neuropathic component in patients with lumbar central spinal stenosis (LCSS). Methods: The patients were divided into either the ILESI or the bilateral TFESI groups. Prime outcome measures include the numerical rating scale (NRS), Oswestry disability index (ODI), Beck depression inventory (BDI), and pain-free walking distance. The douleur neuropathique en 4 questions score was used as a secondary outcome measure. Results: A total of 72 patients were finally included. NRS, ODI, and BDI scores showed a significant decline in both groups in all follow-ups. Third-month NRS scores were significantly lower in the ILESI group (P = 0.047). The percentages of decrease in the ODI and BDI scores between the baseline and the third week and third month were significantly higher in the ILESI group (P = 0.017, P = 0.001 and P = 0.048, P = 0.030, respectively). Pain-free walking distance percentages from the baseline to the third week and third month were significantly higher in the ILESI group (P = 0.036, P < 0.001). The proportion of patients with neuropathic pain in the bilateral TFESI group significantly decreased in the third week compared to the baseline (P = 0.020). Conclusions: Both ILESI and TFESI are reliable treatment options for LCSS. ILESI might be preferred because of easier application and more effectiveness. However, TFESI might be a better option in patients with more prominent neuropathic pain.

• The Korean Journal of Health Service Management
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.173-186
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to know dysfunctions degree, daily living activity, depression and quality of life among stroke elderly person; and to know what kind of factors affecting to quality of life of the stroke elderly person; after that provide a fundamental data to nursing arbitration plan about increase height quality of life of the stroke elderly person. The study subjects were collected 119 people, over than 60 age, who were diagnosed with stoke in D hospital, living in B city. The data was collected by using personal interviews and questionnaire, from Nov 2008 to Jan 2009. The questionnaire were Pre-Stroke MRDS(Modified Rankin Disability Scale), Barthel-ADL(Activities of Daily Living), K-IADL(Korean-Instrumental Activities of Daily Living), GDS-15(Geriatric Depression Scale-15-question form) methods. The pre-stroke MRDS was appeared a functional obstacle. The mean score of activity of daily living was 18.24 which showed the subjects were mildly disabled, the score of instrumental activities of daily living was 7.94 which showed the mildly abled, and score of depressiveness was 7.41 which showed the subjects were mildly depression. There was a significantly correlation among MRDS, ADL, IADL, depressiveness and quality of life. Through these study result, important to check the old subjects' depressiveness, cognitive functions, daily living abilities, dysfunctions degree to main tain their quality of life.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.56 no.3
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• pp.224-229
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• 2014

Objective : To report long-term clinical and radiological outcomes of minimally invasive posterior cervical foraminotomy (MI-PCF) performed in patients with unilateral single-level cervical radiculopathy. Methods : Of forty-six patients who underwent MI-PCF for unilateral single-level radiculopathy between 2005 and 2013, 33 patients were included in the study, with a mean follow-up of 32.7 months. Patients were regularly followed for clinical and radiological assessment. Clinical outcome was measured by visual analogue scale (VAS) for the neck/shoulder and arm, and the neck disability index (NDI). Radiological outcome was measured by focal/global angulation and disc height index (DHI). Outcomes after MI-PCF were evaluated as changes of clinical and radiological parameters from the baseline. Mixed effect model with random patients' effect was used to test for differences in the clinical and radiological parameters repeat measures. Results : There were no complications and all patients had an uneventful recovery during the early postoperative period. VAS scores for neck/shoulder and arm improved significantly in the early postoperative period (3 months) and were maintained with time (p<0.001). NDI improved significantly post-operatively and tended to decrease gradually during the follow-up period (p<0.001). There were no statistically significant changes in focal and global angulation at follow-up. Percent DHIs of the upper adjacent or operated disc were maintained without significant changes with time. During the follow-up, same site recurrence was not noted and adjacent segment disease requiring additional surgery occurred in two patients (6%) on the contra-lateral side. Conclusion : MI-PCF provides long-term pain relief and functional restoration, accompanied by good long-term radiological outcome.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.523-531
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• 2013

Most patients with chronic low back pain experience functional disability of trunk muscle, and limitations in physical activity. While there are many types of exercise programs available, in recent years sling exercise has been emerging as the exercise program for spinal stabilization. It has been supported by a great amount of research with positive findings on its effectiveness. This research studies the effects of bridging exercise, conducted on a sling, on pain level and trunk muscle activation in supine, sidelying, and prone positions during a 4 weeks period. 10 healthy people(normal group, n=10) and 28 patients with low back pain participated in this study. 28 patients were divided into two groups; one group participated in exercise with the sling(experimental group, n=14) and the other group exercised without the sling(control group, n=14). They were asked to use the Numerical Rating Scale(NRS) to answer to the level of their pain they felt (no pain: 0 point, severe pain: 10 points). During sling bridging exercises, the muscle activity level in each muscle measured in each position was standardized as three seconds of EMG signals during five seconds MVIC. In conclusion, the experimental group with four weeks of sling bridging exercise experienced a statistically significant reduction in the pain level(p<.05) and increase in the muscle activities of erector spinae when in supine position, internal oblique when in sidelying position, and rectus abdominis in prone position(p<.05). Regular sling bridging exercise reduces the low back pain and enhances other trunk muscle activation, thereby positively affect spinal stabilization.