• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.209-216
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• 2007

Purpose: The ischial area is by far the most common site of pressure sores found in wheel chair bound paraplegic patients, because greatest pressure is exerted from the body on this area in a sitting position. Even after a series of successful pressure sore treatments, the site is very prone to relapse by the simplest ordinary tasks of everyday life. Therefore, it is crucial to preserve the main pedicle during primary surgery. Various surgical procedures employed to treat pressure sores such as myocutaneous flap and perforator flap have been introduced. After introduction of ischial sore treatment using the inferior gluteal artery perforator (IGAP) has been made, the authors experienced favorable clinical results of patients who have undergone IGAP flap procedure in a three year time period. Methods: A total of 17 patients received IGAP flap surgery in our hospital from January 2003 to May 2006, among which 14 of them being males and 3 females. Surgery was performed on the same site again in 6(35%) patients who had originally relapsed after receiving the conventional method of pressure sore surgery. Patients' average age was 49.4(27-71) years old. Most of the patients were paraplegic(11 cases, 65%) and others were either quadriplegic(4 cases, 23%) or ambulatory(2 cases, 12%). Based on hospital records and clinical photographs, we have attempted to assess the feasibility and practicability of the IGAP flap procedure through comparative analysis of several parameters: size of defective area, treatment modalities, occurrence of relapses, complications, and postoperative treatments. Results: The average follow-up duration of 17 subjects was 25.4 months(5-42 months). All flaps survived without any necrosis. Six cases were relapsed cases from conventional surgical procedures. All of them healed well during our follow-up study. Postoperative complications such as wound dehiscence and fistula developed in some subjects, but all were well healed through secondary treatment. A total of 2 cases relapsed after surgery. Conclusion: The inferior gluteal artery perforator flap is an effective method that can be primarily applied in replacement to the conventional ischial pressure sore reconstructive surgery owing to its many advantages: ability to preserve peripheral muscle tissue, numerous possible flap designs, relatively good durability, and the low donor site morbidity rate.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.93-99
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• 2002

Traditionally, ultraviolet (UV) has been used for treating the pressure sore and skin wound. The effects of UVA and UVB radiation on disinfection have been reported. The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of UVC radiation on disinfection of Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhimurium in vitro. Three bacterium were radiated by UVC (250 nm, 20 seconds) and incubated at $37^{\circ}C$ for 24 hours at the agar culture medium. Kill rates of all three bacterium were 99.9%. UVC radiated on three kinds of bacterium for 30 or 60 seconds. Kill rates were 99.9% both 30 and 60 seconds. This data suggests that UV light at 250 nm could be a useful method to minimize infection and shorten healing time in pressure sore and skin wound condition.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.162-169
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• 2003

Purpose: This study was to compare the predictive validity of Norton Scale(1962), Cubbin & Jackson Scale(1991), and Song & Choi Scale(1991). Method: Data were collected three times per week from 48~72hours after admission based on the four pressure sore risk assessment scales and a skin assessment tool for pressure sore on 112 intensive care unit(ICU) patients in a educational hospital Ulsan during Dec, 11, 2000 to Feb, 10, 2001. Four indices of validity and area under the curve(AUC) of receiver operating characteristic(ROC) were calculated. Result: Based on the cut off point presented by the developer, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value were as follows : Norton Scale : 97%, 18%, 35%, 93% respectively; Cubbin & Jackson Scale : 89%, 61%, 51%, 92%, respectively; and Song & Choi Scale : 100%, 18%, 36%, 100% respectively. Area under the curves(AUC) of receiver operating characteristic(ROC) were Norton Scale .737, Cubbin & Jackson Scale .826, Song & Choi Scale .683. Conclusion: The Cubbin & Jackson Scale was found to be the most valid pressure sore risk assessment tool. Further studies on patients with chronic conditions may be helpful to validate this finding.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.709-715
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• 2001

Pressure sore(Decubitus ulcer) is an area of ulceration and necrosis of the skin and underlying tissues occurring over the body prominence such as the sacrum, greater trochanter, scapula, lateral malleolus, thoracic spine and heels after prolonged or often repeated pressure. These days incidence of pressure sore have been increased because of the many population of the old, traffic accidents and cerebral vascular disease. But the treatment was not confirmly established. As for treatment, we used Talcum powder for 10 days in case 1 and 6 days in case 2. The patients were improved within 14 days after treatment in case 1 and 10 days in case 2.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.235-240
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• 2011

Purpose: Management of pressure sores has been improved, along with development of musculocutaneous flaps and perforator flaps. Nowadays, the treatment of pressure sore with perforator flaps has shown several advantages, including minimal donor site morbidity, relatively versatile flap design not only in primary cases but also in recurred cases and minimized anatomical rearrangement of regional muscle position. In this study, we report our clinical experience of gluteal perforator flap used in the treatment of a greater trochanteric pressure sore. Methods: A clinical study was performed on 7 patients who underwent total 10 operations. 1 superior gluteal artery perforator flap and 9 inferior gluteal artery perforator flaps were used to reconstruct the defect, followed by the mean observation duration of 22 months. Results: There were no total flap loss. We treated 2 cases of partial flap loss with debridement and primary repair. 2 recurred cases were successfully treated using the same method. Donor sites were all primarily repaired. Conclusion: The gluteal perforator flap could be considered as a safe and favorable alternative in the treatment of soft tissue defects in the greater trochanteric area. The advantages of the flap include low donor site morbidity and the possibility of versatile flap design not only in primary cases but also in recurred cases.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.543-546
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• 2005

Pulmonary embolism is a one of the major cause of postoperative death. Surgery predisposes patients to pulmonary embolism, even as late as one month after the operation. The accurate detection of pulmonary embolism remains difficult, and the differential diagnosis is extensive. The prevention of pulmonary embolism is thus of paramount importance. We report a case of pulmonary embolism after coverage of pressure sore on the left ischium on the 8th day after operation. The patient was 60 years old, a severe smoker, in the high quantity of body mass index and had hypertension. The risk factors are 60 years of age or older who were in the highest quantity of body mass index. Heavy cigarette smoking and high blood pressure are also identified as risk factors. Plastic surgeons should keep the probability of pulmonary embolism development after operation in mind. When taking history, the risk factors should be checked certainly. The immobilization may explain the probability of pulmonary embolism development. Therefore absolute bed rest or positional maintenance should be avoided. Until recently, low molecular weight heparin has been used for preoperative prophylaxis. Plastic surgeons should be concerned in low molecular weight heparin for prophylaxis of the pulmonary embolism and study the indications and effectiveness in liposuction or abdominoplasty.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.21-27
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• 2002

Pressure sores are an ulceration and necrosis of the skin and underlying tissue usually occur after prolonged or repeated pressure by interruption of blood flow from the small. vessels to the skin and deep tissue. The management of pressure sores is mostly difficult and requires prolonged hospitalization or repeated surgical interventions with a high recurrence rate. In this article we reviewed 14 cases of National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Pannel staging III, IV over the lateral malleolar area of the ankle in 2 years period from January 1999 to October 2001. The pressure over lateral malleolar area was mainly due to unique Korean sitting position with cross legs at flexed hips and knees or supine position of patient with external rotation of low extremity. Male to female ratio was 11: 3 and ages were between 36 and 83 (mean age: 67.1 years). Associated diseases were DM(7 cases), Hemiparesis caused by CVA(2 cases), Liver cirrhosis(2 cases), disarticulation of opposite hip due to squamous cell ca.(1 case), Intertrochanteric Fx.(1 case). Wound cultures reported Staphylococus, Pseudomonas and others. Abnormally elevated ESR and CRP were seen in 6 cases. Operative treatments were irrigation and debridement, direct closure with gravity drainage and skin grafting. The most important aspect of pressure sore treatment is pressure relief of the lateral malleolar area. Pressure-relieving Cast or Brace was helpful for local management and preventing recurrence.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.466-470
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• 2007

Purpose: Active prevention is an essential component in reducing the development of pressure sores. For the high-risk patient group, following the certified pressure sore screening scale as well as educating the patient and the nurses who care for them can lead to optimal management of these patients. Applying a risk assessment scale along with a prevention strategy can reduce medical costs and length of stays at the hospital. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of a new pressure sore risk assessment scale based on the universally recommended Braden scale and our prevention program. Methods: From June to August, 2003, our pressure ulcer risk assessment scale was applied to a total of 1882 patients admitted to the experimental group (intensive care unit, neurosurgery, general surgery, and oncology units). It was based on Braden scale. We analysed sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value and ROC curve to evaluate its efficacy. Pressure ulcer prevention program was composed of patient's education using protocol and specific nursing care. The incidence of pressure ulcers was also measured during the 3 months period, and those were compared to the control group of 1789 patients from March to May, 2002. Results: 118(6.27%) of the experimental group were high-risk with an incidence of pressure ulcers measuring 4 (0.21%). Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value of our scale were 100%, 94%, 4%, 100%, respectively, and AUC(area under the curve) was 0.992. In the control group, the incidence of pressure ulcers was 11(0.61%). Statistical analyses using chisquared tests with a significance level of 5%, the results were such that ${\chi }^2=3.6482$(p=0.0561). The results proved to be statistically significant in borderline. Conclusion: The results from this study proved that pressure sore risk assessment scale based on Braden scale has an excellent efficacy, and shows that our pressure ulcer prevention program is partially effective in reducing pressure ulcer incidence.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.426-432
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• 2004

Pressure sore(decubitus ulcer) is the an ulceration and necrosis of the skin and underlying tissue usually occuring on a bony prominence of the body after prolonged or repeated pressure. This study was designed to evaluate the effects of an oriental medicine(Sipjeondaebo-tang) on pressure sores complicated by cerebrovascular diseases. Methods: As For treatment, we used Sipjeondaebo-tang. Results: Both patients were treated with Sipjeondaebo-tang. After treatment, the pressure sores of two patients were improved. Conclusions: This study suggests that Sipjeondaebo-tang is effective in treatment of pressure sores(decubitus ulcer) complicated by cerebrovascular diseases.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.183-190
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• 2004

Purpose: The purpose of this study was To exam the skin and pressure sore and To evaluate the predictive validity for the new pressure sores risk assessment scale. Method: There was finally 211 neurosurgery subject admitted in Chung-Ang Univ. Hospital from Nov, 11, 2002 to Feb, 11, 2003. Data was collected three times per week from 48-72hr after admission until incidence of pressure sores or discharge or die. Inclusion criteria were; (1) no pressure sores at admittance, (2) at least 3 times assessment, (3) adults older than 16yrs, (4) patients consent to participate in study. Result: 1. 34 case of 211 developed pressure sores(11.6%). 2. The coccyx area was the most common occurrence site of pressure sores. 3. At the cutoff point 23 of sensitivity 100%, specificity 76.3% was higher in 2003 than specificity 63.8% at the cutoff point 26 of sencitivity 100% in 1991. 4. "Moisture" of subscale for pressure sores risk factor was the strongest predictor. Conclusion: This study shows that the New Pressure Sores Risk Assessment Scale still predict the risk of developing pressure sores in neurosurgical subject.