• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.612-617
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• 2012

Background Packing after closed reduction of a nasal bone fracture causes inconvenient nasal obstruction in patients. We packed the superior meatus with Vaseline gauze to support the nasal bone, and packed the middle nasal meatus with a Doyle Combo Splint consisting of an airway tube, a silastic sheet, and an expandable sponge to reduce the inconvenience. In addition, we aimed to objectively identify whether this method not only enables nasal respiration but also sufficiently supports the reduced nasal bone. Methods Nasal ventilation was measured via spirometry 1 day before surgery and compared to 1 day after surgery. To compare support of the reduced nasal bone by the 2 methods, 2 plastic surgeons assessed the displacementon X-rays taken after the surgery and after removing the packing. The extent of nasal obstruction, dry mouth, sleep disturbance, headache, and swallowing difficulty were compared with visual analog scales (VAS) on a pre-discharge survey. Results In the experimental group, the nasal respiration volume 1 day after surgery remained at $71.3%{\pm}6.84%$ on average compared to 1 day prior to surgery. Support of the reduced bone in the experimental group ($2.80{\pm}0.4$) was not significantly different from the control group ($2.88{\pm}0.33$). The VAS scores for all survey items were lower in the experimental group than in the control group, where a lower score indicated a lower level of inconvenience. Conclusions The nasal cavity packing described here maintained objective measures of nasal respiration and supported the reduced bone similar to conventional methods. Maintaining nasal respiration reduced the inconvenience to patients, which demonstrates that this packing method is useful.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.43-49
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• 2015

Objectives: We evaluated the effect of the traditional Korean medical therapy of catgut-embedding therapy in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Methods: Thirteen patients(20 hands) with CTS underwent catgut-embedding therapy once per week for a total of 1-4 sessions. We measured the time to tingling in the fingers on performing Phalen's test. We also had patients use a visual analog scale (VAS) to indicate the severity of tingling. We also asked about the awakening time at night due to pain and tingling. We controlled the treatment as being limited to four sessions. Even if a patient had not been treated for four sessions, we ended the patient's treatment if symptoms resolved. Results: Patients who received catgut-embedding therapy showed significant improvements in the clinical symptoms of CTS. After treatment, in a total of 19 hands, the status of fourteen was changed from positive to negative in Phalen's test and the average of tingling occurrence time in that test was delayed. Among the 20 hands, the VAS in eight hands changed to zero and the average of VAS score decreased. Furthermore, in nine patients, four could sleep well without the use of a splint. Conclusions: Patients undergoing this traditional Korean medical therapy showed alleviation of finger tingling after even a single treatment. We thus concluded that this traditional Korean catgut-embedding therapy, may be effective for treating CTS. However, to confirm the effects of catgut-embedding therapy on CTS, further tests are required, including under the defined, strict conditions of a randomized controlled trial.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.755-762
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• 1996

Background : Continuous positive airway pressure(CPAP) is doubtlessly using as a medical treatment of choice for patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) syndrome. CPAP is effective in OSA patients as a physical "pneumatic pressure splint" mechanism. We have done this study for two purposes, first to seek for the factors to determine the optimal CPAP titer, second to predict the minimal CPAP titer using the determined factors. Methods: We studied a 72 OSA patients who were treated with CPAP. All of them were studied by using a two nights polysomnographic rests in hospital. We compared the patients requiring CPAP over $10cmH_2O$ with those who required CPAP under 5cm $H_2O$ to determine the factors affecting the minimal CPAP titer. Results : The high CPAP group is characterized by a significantly higher body mass index(BMI), apnea index(AI) and apnea and hyponea index(AHI) and significantly lower lowest $SaO_2$. Regression analysis using the optimal four variables resulted in the following prediction equation for CPAP titer. CPAPtiter=8.382 + 0.064 ${\times}$ BMI + 0.077 ${\times}$ AI - 0.004 ${\times}$ AHI - 0.077 ${\times}$ lowest $SaO_2$ When this regression equation was applied to the 72 patients, the mean CPAP titer as predicted by the above equation was $7.80{\pm}2.96$ mmHg. Compared this value with actually determined CPAPtiter, $7.93{\pm}4.00$mmHg, there was no significant difference between the two values. Conclusion: Obesity, apnea severity and lowest Sa02 were strongly correlated with CPAP titer. Linear regression equation for CPAP titer using these indices predicted very closely the actually measured values in the sleep laboratory.

• Journal of Dental Rehabilitation and Applied Science
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.87-101
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• 2012

Bruxism is extensively defined as a diurnal or nocturnal parafunctional habit of tooth clenching or grinding. The etiology of bruxism may be categorized as central factors or peripheral factors and according to previous research results, central factors are assumed to be the main cause. Bruxism may cause tooth attrition, cervical abfraction, masseter hypertrophy, masseter or temporalis muscle pain, temporomandibular joint arthralgia, trismus, tooth or restoration fracture, pulpitis, trauma from occlusion and clenching in particularly may cause linea alba, buccal mucosa or tongue ridging. An oral appliance, electromyogram or polysomnogram is used as a tool for diagnosis and the American Sleep Disorders Association has proposed a clinical criteria. However the exact etiology of bruxism is yet controversial and the selection of treatment should be done with caution. When the rate of bruxism is moderate or greater and is accompanied with clinical symptoms and signs, treatment such as control of dangerous factors, use of an oral appliance, botulinum toxin injection, pharmacologic therapy and biofeedback therapy may be considered. So far, oral appliance treatment is known to be the most rational choice for bruxism treatment. For patients in need of esthetic correction of hypertrophic masseters, as well as bruxism treatment, botulinum toxin injection may be a choice.