• Journal of the Korean Orthopaedic Association
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• v.55 no.5
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• pp.383-396
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• 2020

Purpose: This study compared the injury mechanism, site, type, initial management approach of orthopedic injury, and outcomes according to the injury severity in moderate-to-severe injured patients. Materials and Methods: During 57-month, excluding the period when the authors' emergency/trauma center was not operating, from 2014 to 2019, a retrospective study was conducted on 778 patients with orthopedic injuries among patients with an Injury Severity Score (ISS)>9 scored. The patients were classified into moderate-injured group (group-1, 679) and severe-injured group (group-2, 99) according to the injury severity based on the ISS and physiologic parameters. The injury mechanism and non-orthopedic injury were evaluated. Orthopedic injuries were assessed according to the injury pattern and the number of anatomical regions and bone sites involved. The management approach for the orthopedic injuries in two groups was compared. Outcomes (hospital stay, systemic complications, and in-hospital mortality) were evaluated, and the risk factors for mortality were analyzed. Results: In group-2, the incidence of younger males, high-energy mechanisms, and accompanying injuries was significantly higher than in group-1. The number of anatomical regions and bone sites involved increased in group-2. The involvement of the pelvis, spine, and upper extremity was significantly higher in group-2, whereas group-1 was involved mainly by the lower extremities. Depending on the patient's condition, definitive or staged management for orthopedic injuries may be used. Group-1 was treated mainly with definite fixation after the physiological stabilization process, and group-2 was treated with staged management using temporary external fixation. The hospital stay was significantly longer in group-2. The overall systematic complications and in-hospital mortality was approximately 4.9% and 4.5%. A higher injury severity was associated with higher in-hospital mortality (2.9%, 15.2%; p<0.0001). Increasing age and high ISS are independent risk factors for mortality. Conclusion: A higher severity of injury was associated with a higher incidence of high-energy mechanism, younger, male, accompanying injuries, and the frequency and severity of orthopedic injuries. Severe polytrauma patients were treated mainly with a staged approach, such as external fixation. The hospital stay, systematic complications, and in-hospital mortality were significantly higher in severe-injured patients. Age and ISS are strong predictors of in-hospital mortality in polytrauma.

• Journal of the Korean Orthopaedic Association
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• v.56 no.4
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• pp.317-325
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• 2021

Purpose: This study compared the functional and radiologic outcomes of intramedullary nailing (IMN) and minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis (MIPO) for tibia fractures in distal tibial spiral fractures combined with posterior malleolar fractures, as well as the functional and radiologic outcomes with and without fixation for posterior malleolar fractures. Materials and Methods: From January 2010 to December 2018 the radiological and clinical outcomes of 30 skeletally mature patients with tibial spiral fractures (AO Foundation/Orthopaedic Trauma Association classification 42-A1, B1, C1) combined with posterior malleolar fractures were analyzed. Sixteen patients were treated with IMN, and 14 patients were treated with MIPO. Depending on the surgical methods, the radiologic and clinical outcomes were compared by evaluating the bone union time, postoperative alignment, postoperative displacement of the posterior malleolar fragment, and American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score. Moreover, the functional and clinical outcomes with and without fixation for posterior malleolar fractures were compared. Results: The mean bone union time was 21.8 weeks in the IMN group and 23.1 weeks in the MIPO group (p=0.500). At the final follow up, the mean alignment was coronal angulation of 1.8°, sagittal angulation of 1.6° in the IMN group and coronal angulation of 1.2° and sagittal angulation of 1.7° in the MIPO group (conoral angulation: p=0.131, sagittal angulation: p=0.850). The postoperative and final radiologic evaluation showed no displacement of the posterior malleolar fragment and excellent joint congruity in all cases. At the final follow-up, the mean AOFAS score was 88.0 on average in the IMN group and 87.6 on average in the MIPO group (p=0.905). The ankle range of motion and AOFAS score were similar in the fixation group and no fixation group for posterior malleolar fractures. Conclusion: Both IMN and MIPO for tibial spiral fractures combined with posterior malleolar fractures result in satisfactory radiological and clinical outcomes.

• Journal of the Korean Orthopaedic Association
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• v.56 no.3
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• pp.208-214
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• 2021

Purpose: Verifying a reliable predictor of the progression of vertebral deformity in patients with acute osteoporotic fractures of the lumbar spine may be useful. A qualitative analysis of the muscle near the spine was performed using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and its correlation with a spinal deformity was determined under the hypothesis that the causes of the kyphotic deformity are associated with muscle reduction in the multifidus and erector spinae. Materials and Methods: The study was performed in a retrospective manner using the electronic medical records of patients who presented to the author's institution between January 2007 and March 2018, and were diagnosed with an acute lumbar fracture. The fat infiltration rates of the multifidus and erector spinae were measured using MRI taken at the time of injury, and the mean value was defined as the total fat infiltration rate (TFI). Based on lateral radiographs of the lumbar spine at the one-year follow-up, the loss of height of the vertebral body, the kyphotic angle and the wedge angle were measured. The statistical significance was confirmed by calculating the Pearson correlation coefficient. Results: One hundred twenty-nine patients, of which 30 were male and 99 were female, were examined. The mean age was 71.28 years. The mean T-score was -3.53±0.79 g/cm², and the mean fat infiltration was 15.20%±11.99%. TFI was positively correlated with age (R=0.373, p<0.001), compression rate (R=0.369, p<0.001), and Cobb's angle (R=0.386, p<0.001) after a one year follow-up, but negatively correlated with the BMD score (R=-0.252, p=0.004). As the fracture progressed to the lower lumbar level, the compression rate (R=-0191, p=0.030) and wedge angle (R=-0.428, p<0.001) at the time of injury tended to decrease. Conclusion: In patients with osteoporotic vertebral fractures, the fat infiltration rate may be an important predictor of conservative treatment. The prognosis of patients with a high-fat infiltration rate should be explained during patient education, and the patients must be monitored closely through short-term outpatient follow-up.

• Journal of the Korean Orthopaedic Association
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.46-53
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• 2020

Purpose: Scapular body fractures have generally been treated with non-surgical methods. This study reports the clinical and radiological outcomes after lateral-posterior internal fixation for treating displaced scapular body fractures. Materials and Methods: From March 2007 to May 2017, out of 40 patients who underwent internal fixation for scapular fractures, 13 cases of lateral plate fixation of a scapular body fracture were reviewed retrospectively. Preoperative and postoperative displacement, angulation and glenopolar angle (GPA) were measured. The range of shoulder motion, visual analogue scale (VAS), and disabilities of the arm, shoulder, and hand (DASH), and Constant score were assessed at the last follow-up. Results: The mean follow-up period was 17.7 months (range, 6-45 months). The mean preoperative GPA was 23.3°±3.96° (range, 17.8°-28.1°) and the postoperative GPA was 31.1°±4.75° (range, 22.5°-40.1°). Injury to the suprascapular nerve, nonunion, fracture redisplacement, metallic failure, or infection did not occur. At the last follow-up, the mean range of motion was 150.5°±19.3° in forward flexion, 146.6°±2.34° in lateral abduction, 66.6°±19.1° in external rotation, and 61.6°±18.9° in internal rotation. The VAS, DASH, and Constant scores were 1.7±1.3, 6.2±2.4, and 86±7.9 points, respectively. Conclusion: A scapular body fracture with severe displacement, angulation and marked decreased GPA can be stabilized by lateralposterior plate fixation using the appropriate surgical technique with good functional and radiological results.

• Journal of the Korean Orthopaedic Association
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• v.55 no.5
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• pp.411-417
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• 2020

Purpose: This paper reports the short-term clinical and radiological results of unilateral biportal endoscopic decompression (UBE) to prove its efficacy. Materials and Methods: Twenty patients who received unilateral biportal endoscopic far-lateral decompression (UBEFLD) were analyzed statistically using the visual analogue scale (VAS), modified Macnab criteria and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) clinically. Radiologically, their intervertebral angle (IVA), percentage slip, disc height index (DHI) and foraminal height index (FHI) were analyzed pre- and postoperatively. Results: The VAS scores were 6.20 preoperatively, which improved to 2.05, 1.75 and 1.45 at postoperative one month, three months and one year, respectively (p<0.001). The modified macnab criteria in both the good or excellent category was 70.0%, 80.0% and 85.0% at postoperative one month, three months and one year, respectively (p=0.034). The ODI improved from 59.8% preoperatively to 35.8%, 33.2%, and 17.1% at postoperative one month, three months, and one year, respectively (p<0.001). The IVA was increased 0.40±0.88 after a surgery (p=0.057). Percentage slip was increased 0.19% after surgery (p=0.134). The DHI changed from 0.49 preoperatively to 0.62 postoperatively (p=0.359), and the FHI changed from 0.71 preoperatively to 0.79 postoperatively (p<0.001). Conclusion: UBEFLD displayed satisfactory results. Such a result highlights the potential of UBEFLD as an excellent alternative to spinal fusion or microscopic surgery.

• Journal of the Korean Orthopaedic Association
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• v.56 no.6
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• pp.512-518
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• 2021

Purpose: This study compared the change in foraminal space on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and the clinical outcome after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) versus foraminotomy in cervical foraminal stenosis. Materials and Methods: A retrospective case-control study was conducted from January 2018 to March 2019 on 186 patients who underwent ACDF and foraminotomy. One hundred and two cases were selected considering age, sex, and body mass index. MRI was performed before and on the 5^th day after surgery to compare the changes in the foraminal diameter between the ACDF group (group A-51) and foraminotomy group (group B-51). Results: Between groups A and B, the average change in foraminal vertical diameter was 1.7 mm and 1.2 mm, respectively; group A was 0.5 mm larger difference (p=0.042). The average change in foraminal transverse diameter was 1.2 mm and 1.8mm, respectively; group B showed a 0.6 mm larger change (p=0.21). Both the neck disability index (NDI) and Japanese orthopaedic association (JOA) scores improved in both groups. Group A showed more improvement, but there was no significant difference (p=0.356, p=0.607, respectively). Conclusion: Foraminotomy is a useful option for patients with foraminal stenosis of the cervical spine because it showed comparable clinical and morphological results to ACDF and could minimize motion segment loss and muscle and ligament damage.

• The Korean Society of Law and Medicine
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.39-65
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• 2022

There are two aspects of clinical practice guidelines that act as non-legal control before medical practice and as legal control standards after medical practice. The essential purpose of clinical practice guidelines is the former, but the latter action cannot be excluded. The clinical practice guidelines are a means of linking law and medical care. The negative perception of clinical practice guidelines that medical professionals' autonomy can be violated by the enactment of clinical practice guidelines is an excessive negative evaluation of clinical practice guidelines. Rather, judicial judgment based on clinical practice guidelines plays a role in respecting the autonomy of medical professionals. In other words, the clinical practice guidelines suppress legal regulations on medical care as much as possible and are based on doctors' professional ethics and self-discipline, and patient awareness and cooperation. In order to establish an ideal relationship of cooperation between doctors and patients, 'medical ethics' must be incorporated as a legal means. Clinical practice guidelines are the most appropriate means for incorporating such medical ethics into legal procedures. The lawyer solves the case with a legal syllogism that establishes a norm and applies facts to it to conclude. For the resolution of medical disputes, Clinical practice guidelines are used to establish norms that doctors should perform for specific diseases, and conclusions are drawn by applying the established norms to specific medical practices. When it is not easy to apply the established norms to specific medical practices, medical judgments by experts, such as emotions, expert testimony, and explanations by expert members, are used. As such, the Law respects the autonomy of medical care even in the establishment of norms and the application of norms. In particular, Clinical practice guidelines prepared independently by the medical community are referred to in establishing norms, which are the prerequisites for legal syllogism. This shows that doctors participate in the formation of precedents and contribute to the formation of norms. The use of clinical practice guidelines in trials is respect and consideration for the autonomy of medical care. Although there may be an aspect in which the autonomy of individual doctors is limited by clinical practice guidelines, it should be considered that the autonomy of doctors as a group is respected. In this way, the clinical practice guidelines play a role in protecting the autonomy of the "medical" group from the logic of the "law."

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.239-252
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• 2022

Quality control methods for the first G-band vapor radiometer (GVR) mounted on a weather aircraft in Korea were developed using the GVR Precipitable Water Vapor (PWV). The aircraft attitude information (degree of pitch and roll) was applied to quality control to select the shortest vertical path of the GVR beam. In addition, quality control was applied to remove a GVR PWV ≥20 mm. It was found that the difference between the warm load average power and sky load average power converged to near 0 when the GVR PWV increased to 20 mm or higher. This could be due to the high brightness temperature of the substratus and mesoclouds, which was confirmed by the Communication, Ocean and Meteorological Satellite (COMS) data (cloud type, cloud top height, and cloud amount), cloud combination probe (CCP), and precipitation imaging probe (PIP). The GVR PWV before and after the application of quality control on a cloudy day was quantitatively compared with that of a local data assimilation and prediction system (LDAPS). The Root Mean Square Difference (RMSD) decreased from 2.9 to 1.8 mm and the RMSD with Korea Local Analysis and Precipitation System (KLAPS) decreased from 5.4 to 4.3 mm, showing improved accuracy. In addition, the quality control effectiveness of GVR PWV suggested in this study was verified through comparison with the COMS PWV by using the GVR PWV applied with quality control and the dropsonde PWV.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.29-35
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• 2022

This study was conducted to analyze the genetic polymorphisms of dopamine receptor D4 (DRD4) in horse breeds and its association with substrate characteristics in Jeju crossbreds (Jeju Horse × Thoroughbred). Polymorphisms in DRD4 are candidate genes associated with temperament in various mammals, including humans. Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) G292A in the exon 3 region of the horse DRD4 has a reported association with curiosity and vigilance in thoroughbreds. Sanger sequencing was used to identify polymorphisms of the mutations in DRD4 in three horse breeds. The SNP frequency in Jeju horses was significantly different from the frequency in other breeds. Character evaluation, conducted in the Jeju crossbreds and scored using a temperament test and contact test, revealed a high correlation between each test. Comparison of the polymorphism in the DRD4 of horses and the results of the character evaluation revealed lower scores for all temperaments in horses carrying allele A. Comparison of the SNP of G292A and blood dopamine levels in Jeju crossbreds showed 2.87 times higher levels for the GA type than for the GG type. This study identified an association between DRD4 polymorphism and various test methods for evaluating horse temperament and levels of neurotransmitters. Further research could validate the use of this gene as a genetic marker for character evaluation.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.193-215
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• 2022

Recently, ground structures have reached saturation, and underground construction using underground structures such as tunnels has been in the spotlight as a way to solve increasing traffic difficulties and environmental problems. However, due to the increasing number of underground structures, close construction is inevitable for continuous underground development. When a new underground structure is constructed closely, stability may become weak due to the influence on the existing tunnel, which may cause collapse. Therefore, analyzing the stability of existing tunnels due to new structures is an essential consideration. In this study, the effect of excavating new tunnels under parallel tunnels on existing parallel tunnels was analyzed using numerical analysis. Using the Displacement Control Model (DCM), the volume loss generated during construction was simulated into three case (0.5%, 1.0%, and 1.5%). Based on the center of the pillar, the distance where the new tunnel is located was set to 5 m, 6 m, 7 m, 8 m, 9 m, and the space for each distance were set to 5 (0D₁, 0.37D₁, 0.75D₁, 1.13D₁, 1.5D₁). In general, as the volume loss increased and the distance approached, the maximum displacement and angular displacement increased, and the strength/stress ratio to evaluate the stability of the pillar also decreased. As a result, when the distance between the new tunnel and the center of the pillar is 5 m, the space is 0D₁, and the volume loss is 1.5%, the stability of the existing parallel tunnel is the weakest.