• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.73-79
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• 2011

Purpose: To evaluate of the clinical usefulness of minimal invasive ulnohumeral arthroplasty in patients with mild to moderate elbow arthritis. Materials and Methods: From January 2000 to December 2008, twenty-nine patients with mild to moderate elbow arthritis underwent minimal invasive ulnohumeral arthroplasty. Among these patients, we reviewed the cases of 24 patients for whom we had follow-up data for at least 1 year. There were 20 males and 4 females with a mean age of 53 years (range: 31~69). We excluded patients with preoperative ulnar neuropathy symptoms and investigated the mean operation time, the joint range of motion, the time required until the start of joint exercise, and the Mayo elbow performance score (MEPS). Results: Passive and active joint exercises were started in an average of 1.8 days (range: 1~4) after surgery; the mean operation time was 38 minutes (range: 25~55). The elbow joint range of motion was 25-104 degrees (extension 0~70, flexion 80~130) preoperatively and was improved 40 degrees on average to 14-133 degrees (extension 0~45, flexion 90~150) after a year of follow up. The average time required until the start of joint exercise was 1.6 days (range: 1~5). MEPS were excellent in 9 cases and good in 5 cases after a year of follow up. Although there was 1 case of delayed wound healing and 7 cases of postoperative edema, they improved spontaneously. Conclusion: For patients with mild to moderate elbow arthritis, minimal invasive ulnohumeral arthroplasty is a clinically useful surgery since its operation time is short, early joint exercise is possible, and pain is mild.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.53-60
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• 2009

Purpose: Primary osteoarthritis on the elbow is the result of the growth of osteophytes and contracture of the capsule. It often causes disability on joint motion and pain while exercising. As arthroscopy has developed, the arthroscopic diagnosis and treatment of the elbow have recently become more generalized as well. Therefore, we like to report on arthroscopy for treating elbow arthritis and its results. Materials and Methods: This study includes 23 cases of elbow arthritis that were seen between 2005 June to 2007 June and these patients didn't response to conservative treatment. From this we excluded 18 cases that underwent arthroscopic surgery and among these 18 cases, 6 cases underwent ulnar nerve transfer. The average observation time was 21.3 months and the average age was 48.4 years (range: 22-66 years). The pre and post operative pain was evaluated with using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and functional evaluation was done with using the Mayo elbow Performance Score (MEPS) with the range of joint motion. Results: The VAS score at the last follow up was significantly decreased from 3.4 to 1.9 compare to the preoperative score. The range of joint motion was improved by 25 (0-40) to 8.5 (0-20) in extension and 101.7 (80-140) to 125.2 (85-140) in flexion (p<0.05). The MEPS always showed significant improvement by showing an increase from 65.4 (40-85) to 87.9 (55-100). However, 3 cases showed a decreased range of motion after the operation. One case showed ulnar nerve symptoms after surgery. Conclusion: An arthroscopic procedure can treat the pathologic processes associated with arthritis of the elbow and it was safe and effective in this series.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.159-166
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• 2009

Purpose: We wanted to evaluate the surgical results of early mobilization after rigid fixation of small coronoid fracture using the tension band technique Materials and Methods: Eight cases of coronoid fracture were fixed with the tension band technique and using K-wire and wire through the medial approach. All the cases were Regan-Morrey type 2. According to O'Driscoll, they were classified as 5 cases of the tip type (subtype 2) and 3 cases of the anteromedial type (1 case of subtype 2, and 2 case of subtype 3). The associated collateral ligament injuries (6 cases) and radial head/neck fractures (4 cases) were managed simultaneously. After immobilization for 5~7 days, active ROM exercise with a fitted hinge brace started and continued till postoperative 6 weeks. The patients were assessed for pain, ROM and functional disability using the Mayo elbow performance score (MEPS) at an average of 11 months (range: 6~28 months). The ulnar nerve symptoms were also investigated. Results: We observed solid union in all the coronoid fractures without hardware failure. An average of 2.2 wires (range: 2~4) were used. The mean extension was $3^{\circ}$(range: $0^{\circ}\sim25^{\circ}$), the mean flexion was $137^{\circ}$(range: $130^{\circ}\sim140^{\circ}$), the mean pronation was $69^{\circ}$(range: $45^{\circ}\sim90^{\circ}$) and the mean supination was $78^{\circ}$(range: $45^{\circ}\sim90^{\circ}$). The mean MEPS was 96 (range: 65~100). Ulnar nerve symptoms occurred at postoperative one day and persisted in one patient with the terrible triad of taking radial head excision and residual medial instability. Conclusion: The tension band technique uses easily obtained, economic K-wires and the wire was strong enough to permit early elbow ROM exercise and the technique might improve the elbow function. It was especially useful for fixation of multiple small fragments.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.248-261
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• 1994

This study was undertaken to evaluate the clinical usefulness of magnetic motor evoked potential (MEP) in the diagnosis of stroke and predicting the motor improvement following stroke. The cortical, cervical and lumbar stimulations were performed in the case of 24 healthy controls and 24 ischemic stroke patients. The central motor conduction time (CMCT) was represented by the difference of latency to a target muscle between after transcranial stimulation and after cervical or lumbar stimulation. There was no case showing no response in controls. But in 11 out of 24 ischemic patients, we could not get cortical MEP. Mean CMCT of abductor pollicis brevis muscle was not significantly different in controls and stroke patients in whom MEPs were recorded. There were significant differences between mean CMCT of normal controls and that of stroke patients showing MEPs in AH Muscle. MEP Results from testing the stroke patients were correlated with site of lesion, degree of motor weakness and motor improvement after 1 to 2 months. These results suggest that magnetic MEP is easy and useful in electrophysiological test of central motor pathway and is useful indicator for representing the motor weakness and predicting the motor outcome in acute ischemic stroke patients.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.260-265
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• 2010

Purpose: To report the clinical results of two cases of coronoid process fractures that were treated with volar plating through a medial approach. Materials and Methods: Two fractures of the coronoid process that needed to be fixed were managed with open reduction and internal fixation through a medial approach using 2.4 mm locking compression plates (Compact Hand set$^{(R)}$, Synthes, Switzerland). The patients were followed up for 14 months and 17 months and were evaluated using the Mayo Elbow Performance Score (MEPS). Results: The MEPS was 95 for Case 1 and 100 for Case 2. Active elbow joint motions were $5^{\circ}-120^{\circ}$ (Case 1) and $0^{\circ}-130^{\circ}$ (Case 2). Supination and pronation fully recovered. Conclusion: Satisfactory results can be obtained in cases of coronoid process fractures because volar plating through a medial approach allows sound fixation and early mobilization of the elbow joint.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2011

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a non-invasive tool used to study aspects of human brain physiology, including motor function and the pathophysiology of various brain disorders. A brief electric current passed through a magnetic coil produces a high-intensity magnetic field, which can excite or inhibit the cerebral cortex. Although various brain regions can be evaluated by TMS, most studies have focused on the motor cortex where motor evoked potentials (MEPs) are produced. Single-pulse and paired-pulse TMS can be used to measure the excitability of the motor cortex via various parameters, while repetitive TMS induces cortical plasticity via long-term potentiation or long-term depression-like mechanisms. Therefore, TMS is useful in the evaluation of physiological mechanisms of various neurological diseases, including movement disorders and epilepsy. In addition, it has diagnostic utility in spinal cord diseases, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and demyelinating diseases. The therapeutic effects of repetitive TMS on stroke, Parkinson disease and focal hand dystonia are limited since the duration and clinical benefits seem to be temporary. New TMS techniques, which may improve clinical utility, are being developed to enhance clinical utilities in various neurological diseases.

• Journal of Magnetics
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.353-356
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• 2014

The aim of the present study was to examine whether mental practice (MP) in conjunction with repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) can improve the upper limb function of sub-acute stroke patients. This study was conducted with 32 subjects who were diagnosed with hemiparesis by stroke. The experimental group consisted of 16 members upon each of whom was performed MP in conjunction with rTMS, whreas the control group consisted of 16 members upon each of whom was performed MP and sham rTMS. Both groups received traditional physical therapy for 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week, for 6 weeks; additionally, they received mental practice for 15 minutes a day. The experimental group was instructed to perform rTMS, and the control group was instructed to apply sham rTMS for 15 minutes. A motor cortex excitability analysis was performed by motor evoked potentials (MEPs), and upper limb function was evaluated by Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) and the Box and Block test (BBT). Results showed that the amplitude, latency, FMA, and BBT of the experimental group and the latency, FMA, and BBT of the control group were significantly improved after the experiment (p<0.05). Significant differences were found between the groups in amplitude and latency after the experiment (p<0.05). The results showed that MP in conjunction with rTMS is more effective in improving upper limb function than MP alone.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.77-85
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• 2013

Intraoperative Neurophysiological Monitoring (INM) is very useful in monitoring the motorsensory pathway and vascular circulation system during intraspinal, or intracranial neurosurgery. Brainstem Auditory Evoked Potentials (BAEPs) are for detecting the problems along the auditory pathways including, the eighth cranial nerve and brainstem. Motor Evoked Potentials (MEPs) is a useful adjunct to conventional monitoring of Somato-sensory Evoked Potentials (SEPs) during surgery. Visual Evoked Potentials (VEPs) has been regarded as having limited significance for the preservation of visual function during neurosurgical procedures. In this paper, we propose that the most appropriate averaging of the number of inspections in the inspection of each used in the operative field, is good and efficient, functionally.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.55 no.8
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• pp.2879-2888
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• 2023

In fusion environments, large scales of helium (He) atoms are produced by a radical transformation along with structural damage in structural materials, resulting in material swelling and degradation of physical properties. To understand its irradiation effects, this paper investigates the stability, electronic structure, energetics, charge density distribution, PDOS and TDOS, and diffusion processes of He impurities in 6HSiC materials. The formation energy indicates that a stable, favorable position for interstitial He is the HR site with the lowest energy of 2.40 eV. In terms of vacancy, the He atom initially prefers to substitute at pre-existing Si vacancy than C vacancy due to lower substitution energy. The minimum energy paths (MEPs) with migration energy barriers are also calculated for He impurity by interstitial and vacancy-mediated diffusion. Based on its calculated energy barriers, the most possible diffusion path includes the exchange of interstitial and vacancy sites with effective migration energies ranging from 0.101 eV to 1.0 eV. Our calculation provides a better understanding of the stabilization and diffusion behaviors of He impurities in 6H-SiC materials.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.417-432
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• 2001

The pcf metal primers on the bond strength and durability of 4-META/MMA-TBB resins adhered to an Au-Ag-Pd alloy. For this study, the specimens were divided into 8 groups as follows: Thermocyle 0 : (1) control group : sandblast, (2) Group I : sandblast + Cesead Opaque Primer; (3) Group II : sandblast + Metal Primer; (4) Group III : sandblast + V-Primer; Thermocyle 10,000 (5) control sandblast: (6) Group I : sandblast + Cesead Opaque Primer: (7) Group II : sandblast + Metal Primer; (8) Group III sandblast + V-Primer. The shear bond strength was determined using an Instron were observed with the use of scanning electron microscope. Finally, the strengths of bonded joints were evaluated with regard to their adherence energy using a wedge test. The results obtained were as follows ; (1) The shear bond strength of 4-META/MMA-TBB resin to the Au-Ag-Pd alloy was significantly improved in all the groups treated with the primers (p<0.05). (2) Regardless of the adhesive primers used, a significant difference was observed in the bond strength of the thermocycle 0 groups and 10,000 groups (p<0.05). (3) Both before and after thermocycling, the strongest bond strength between the resin an the alloy was obtained after treatment with a metal primer containing MEPS (p<0.05). (4) In the wedge test, the adherence energies of the control group and Group III decreased more rapidly than those of Group I and II during the 2nd day of storage in water.