• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.39-45
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• 2013

Background: Good postoperative pain control is an important part of adequate postoperative care. Patient-controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA) provided better postoperative analgesia compared to other conventional analgesic methods, but several risks have been observed as well. We therefore surveyed the efficacy and safety of PCEA in this retrospective observational study. Methods: We analyzed collected data on 2,276 elective surgical patients who received PCEA with ropivacaine and fentanyl. Patients were assessed by a PCA service team in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU), at 1-6 h, 6-24 h, and 24-48 h postoperatively for adequate pain control. The presence of PCEA-related adverse events was also assessed. Results: Numerical pain score (median [interquartile range]) were 3 [1-4], 5 [4-7], 4 [3-5], and 3 [3-5] in the PACU, at 1-6 h, 6-24 h, and 24-48 h postoperatively. Median pain scores in patients underwent major abdominal or thoracic surgery were higher than other surgical procedure in the PACU, at 1-6 h after surgery. Nausea and vomiting (20%) and numbness and motor weakness (15%) were revealed as major PCEA-related adverse events during the postoperative 48 h period. There were 329 patients (14%) for whom PCEA was ceased within 48 h following surgery. Conclusions: Our data suggest that the use of PCEA provides proper analgesia in the postoperative 48 h period after a wide variety of surgical procedures and that is associated with few serious complications. However, more careful pain management and sustainable PCEA monitoring considering the type of surgical procedure undergone is needed in patients with PCEA.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.494-497
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• 2011

Purpose: Schwannoma, a benign peripheral nerve tumor, is slow-growing, encapsulated neoplasm that originates from the Schwann cell of the nerve sheath. Schwannoma most frequently involves the major nerve. Schwannoma occurring in the superficial radial nerve rare. This is a report of our experience with schwannoma arising from the superficial radial nerve with neurologic symptom. Methods: A 55-year-old woman presented with eight-month history of progressive numbness and paresthesia in dorsum of the thumb and index finger. Physical examination revealed a localized mass on the midforearm. Sonographic examination showed an ovoid, heterogenous, hypoechoic lesion, located eccentrically in related to the superficial radial nerve. The lesion was mobile in the transverse but not in the longitudinal axis of the nerve, which was thought to favour schwannoma rather than neurofibroma. At operation, a $20{\times}15mm$ ovoid, yellowish grey mass was seen arising from the superficial radial nerve. The tumor present as eccentric masses over which the nerve fibers are splayed. Using operating microscope, the tumor was removed, preserving the surrounding nerve. Results: Histology confirmed that the mass was a benign schwannoma. There were no postoperative complications. After two months the patient had no clinically demonstrable sensory deficit. Conclusion: An unsusual case of a schwannoma of the superficial radial nerve is presented. In case with neurologic symptom, prompt surgical decompression must be made to prevent further nerve damage and to restore nerve function early.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.839-842
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• 2010

Purpose: Ganglion cysts of peripheral nerve are uncommon. Ganglion cysts located within the nerve and extraneural ganglia that cause symptomatic nerve compression have been reported. We report an unusual case of epineural ganglion cyst confined to the epineurium of the sural nerve at the foot. Methods: A 45-year-old woman was referred because of a mass on the foot. She had six months' history of pain and numbness in the right small toe. During the examination of the lesion, multinodular cystic mass was identified arising from the epineurium of the sural nerve. The nerve fascicles were compressed by the cyst, but the cyst wall clearly did not invade the fascicle. With the aid of surgical microscope, the epineural cyst was completely excised along with epineural tissue to which it was attached, and the sural nerve was decompressed. There was no relationship between the cyst and either the joint capsule or tendon sheath. Since the cyst was on the periphery of the nerve it was possible to remove the cyst intact without damaging the underlying fascicles. Results: The postoperative course was uneventful. Pathologic examination showed a ganglion cyst with a degenerated collagen fibers and contained a yellowish, jelly-like mucinous substance. No neural elements were identified within the cystic wall. Her sensory impairment improved progressively. At the 15 months follow-up, she was asymptomatic with no neurological deficits. Conclusion: Rarely, ganglion cysts can involve peripheral nerves, leading to varing degrees of neurological deficits. Intraneural intrafascicular ganglion may be difficult to separate from the neural elements without nerve injury. Epineural ganglion, subcategorized as intraneural extrafascicular ganglion, can be removed without damage to the underlying nerve.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.815-818
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• 2010

Purpose: Soft tissue chondroma is a rare benign tumor, found mainly on the palm and sole and grows slowly. Typically, mature hyaline cartilage is the dominant pathological feature. There are reports that assert soft tissue chondromas to be a cause of median nerve entrapment syndrome. However, this is the first case report showing soft tissue chondroma to be a cause of simultaneous median and ulnar neuropathy. Methods: A 62 year-old woman presented with chief complaints of numbness and hypoesthesia of her right palm for 4 to 5 years, and a palpable mass on her right palm that had been increasing in size slowly for 3 years. Physical examination revealed a firm, mobile, non-tender and about $3{\times}3\;cm^2$ sized mass in the center of the right palm. Electromyography showed entrapment neuropathy of the median and ulnar nerve. Ultrasonography showed an approximately $5.7\;cm^2$ mass below the flexor tendon of ring finger. Upon surgical excision, a $3{\times}3\;cm^2$ mass attached to the flexor digitorum profundus of ring finger and redness and hypertrophy of both the median and ulnar nerve were discovered. Mass excision was performed gently and the specimen was referred for histopathologic study. Mass excision resulted in median and ulnar nerve release. Results: The pathology report confirmed the mass to be a soft tissue chondroma with mature hyaline cartilage. The patient exhibited post-operative improvement of her symptoms and did not show any complications. Conclusion: This is the first case report showing soft tissue chondroma to be a cause of simultaneous median and ulnar neuropathy.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.62-69
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• 2020

Background Cryolipolysis, a preferred method for minimally invasive body contouring, involves the noninvasive cooling of adipocytes to induce lipolysis without damaging other tissues. This study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of cryolipolysis for the treatment of excessive fat tissue. Methods Between May 2014 and December 2017, 231 patients with 448 areas of interest were enrolled and their records were retrospectively reviewed. We used five different vacuum applicators, and the best-fitting applicator was used for each area. One cycle of cryolipolysis was applied at a cooling intensity factor of 41.6. The efficacy was evaluated 12 weeks after treatment via review of clinical photographs, the pinch test, and ultrasonographic measurements of fat thickness. The occurrence of any complications was also assessed. Results The volume was reduced in all of the areas to which cryolipolysis was applied. The rate of reduction of the fat layer as measured via the pinch test was 19.2%, and the rate of the decrease in fat layer thickness as measured via ultrasonography was 22.8%. Fat reduction of the upper arm differed significantly from that of the abdomen and flank, but no significant difference was found between sexes. The side effects were limited to erythema, edema, bruising, and numbness at the treatment site and resolved without treatment. Conclusions Cryolipolysis, with new and better-fitting applicators, is safe, fast, and effective for the reduction of excessive fat tissue on the abdomen, back, flank, and extremities. It is a good option for treating excess adipose tissue in Asian patients.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.229-235
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• 1997

Background and Purpose : The aim of the present study was to investigate the prodromes of stroke in already attacked patients and to prove the traditional hypothesis that some symptoms were to be prodromes of stroke in the oriental medicine. Methods : The questionnaire which was based on symptoms of traditional hypothesis was distributed to subacute stroke patients who were confirmed by Brain CT or MRI in Oriental Medical Hospital, Kyung Hee University, except patients with indistinct onset, symptoms proved any other disease. Results : Eighty-three patients(82.2%) felt some prodromal symptoms and fifty-nine patients (58.4%) underwent a change in their life within one week before onset. Most common prodromal symptoms was the weakness or numbness of limbs, single or unilateral. Conclusion : Our results suggest that the prodromal symptoms before stroke can be regarded as predicting sign. And we think that these research may contribute to preventing stroke and relapse.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.232-236
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• 2016

Objective: Diabetic neuropathy is a common complication of diabetes mellitus. Patients with this disease suffer from various peripheral sensory symptoms that are not easily alleviated. We report on a case of a patient with diabetic neuropathy whose symptoms were alleviated after traditional Korean medical treatment.Methods: A patient with hand and foot numbness and coldness diagnosed with diabetic neuropathy was treated with Palmijihwang-tang (Bai Wei Di Huang Wa, 八味地黃湯) three times a day. The progress was evaluated with the numerical rating scale (NRS), neuropathy disability score (NDS), and neuropathy symptom score (NSS).Results: The improvement of symptoms appeared to be faster and more effective than that of conventional treatment. The improvement was observed from the second day of the treatment.Conclusions: This case study shows that Palmijihwang-tang may be an effective treatment for diabetic neuropathy.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.332-347
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• 1998

This study was performed for the purpose of analyzing the relationship of menopausal symptoms of midlife women between urban area and rural area. A total of 129 midlife women who have lived in seoul, Kyeung ki and Kangwon were selected conveniently and data were collected by structured questionnaire from May to June, 1998. The instruments were the menopausal symptoms scale developed by Neugarten, Ci Sung-Ai & Kim Hy-Eun. Data analysis was done by Chi-square test, ANOVA, t-test. The results of this study were summarized as follows ; 1. The mean score for the menopausal symptoms of midlife women was 2.12. Serious menopausal symptoms which could be found in this study were "joint pain and numbness of arm and leg"(2.63), "fatigue and powerlessness"(2.58), "nervousness"(2.44). Over 97.8% of women complained menopausal symptoms. 2. In the relationship between social demographic variables and menopausal symptoms of midlife women were significant difference in urban area and rural area(t=-4.569, P=.000), marriage status(F=4.809, P=.010), education(F=7.359, P=.000), married son and daughter(F=7.359, P=.000), mensturational status(F=5.993, P=.003), and satisfaction to husband(F=9.093, P=.000). 3. In the relationship of menopausal symptoms of midlife women between two groups were statistically significant differences(t=-4.569, P=.000). The mean score of menopausal symptoms of rural women(2.34) were higher than those of urban women(1.85). This study shows the possible implication for nursing intervention of midlife women's health to prevent and relieve menopausal symptoms.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.135-138
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• 2014

A 34-year-old female was suffered from pain and numbness of right arm for 2 months after undergoing a thoracoscopic procedure for a posterior mediastinal mass that was diagnosed as neurilemmoma. The patient was diagnosed as a complex regional pain syndrome type 2 with brachial plexopathy developed during thoracoscopic excision of posterior mediastinal mass, and stellate ganglion block (SGB) with 0.2% ropivacaine 10 mL was performed every 3-4 days. The patient revealed slightly prolonged blepharoptosis as Horner syndrome accompanied after every SGB and recovered. However, following the 23rd SGB, the blepharoptosis persisted and patient was recovered spontaneously from blepharoptosis after about 12 months. The possibility that the persistent blepharoptosis might be caused by brachial plexopathy related to patient's pathology or surgical manipulation and/or repeated SGB. If Horner syndrome occurs, its etiology should be assessed, and it would be necessary to explain and to assure the patient the possibility of recovery spontaneously from the complication within a year, without any sequelae.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.841-850
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• 2019

Objective: The aim of this study was to report the effects of traditional Korean medicine as a treatment for the pain of a compression fracture in a patient with metastatic prostate cancer. Methods: A 60-year-old male patient with a compression fracture was treated with herbal medicines, acupuncture, and pharmacopuncture for 25 days. His chief complaints were severe low back pain, pain and numbness in both legs, and right groin pain. The effect of treatment was evaluated by the numerical rating scale (NRS) score for pain, the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) score, and blood test results (CBC-diff count, CRP, ESR, etc.). Results: After 25 days of inpatient treatment, the patient's pain was controlled. The NRS and ODI scores were lower and most pathological symptoms had decreased. Conclusions: Traditional Korean medicine can be a solution for patients with compression fractures arising from metastasis of prostate cancer to the spine.