Skin and soft tissue infections: experience over a five-year period and clinical usefulness of ultrasonography-guided gun biopsy-based culture.

Background: Skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) are common clinical diseases, but only a few reports of microbiological data on SSTIs in Korea have been published. In practice, specimens are rarely obtained from infected lesions unless there is visible pus or an abscess pocket. However, identification of the causative pathogen is important, because of emerging drug resistance and the increase in immunocompromised hosts.

MR imaging mapping of skeletal muscle denervation in entrapment and compressive neuropathies.

The diagnoses of entrapment and compressive neuropathies have been based on the findings from clinical examinations and electrophysiologic tests, such as electromyography and nerve conduction studies. The use of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging for the diagnosis of entrapment or compressive neuropathies is increasing because MR imaging is particularly useful for discerning potential causes and for identifying associated muscle denervation. However, it is sometimes difficult to localize nerve entrapment or demonstrate nerve compression lesions with MR imaging.

Imaging findings of femoroacetabular impingement syndrome: focusing on mixed-type impingement.

The aim of our study was to analyze the imaging findings of femoroacetabular impingement (FAI). Eight consecutive patients [age range, 19-46 years (mean, 28.6 years); M/F ratio=7:1] who underwent operation for FAI were analyzed.

Spreading epidural hematoma and deep subcutaneous edema: indirect MRI signs of posterior ligamentous complex injury in thoracolumbar burst fractures.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic value of a spreading epidural hematoma (SEH) and deep subcutaneous edema (DSE) as indirect signs of posterior ligamentous complex (PLC) injuries on MR imaging of thoracolumbar burst fractures.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed spinal MR images of 43 patients with thoracolumbar burst fractures: 17 patients with PLC injuries (study group) and 26 without PLC injuries (control group). An SEH was defined as a hemorrhagic infiltration into the anterior or posterior epidural space that spread along more than three vertebrae including the level of the fracture.

Fluoroscopically guided caudal epidural steroid injection for management of degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis: short-term and long-term results.

Objective: To evaluate the short-term and long-term effects of fluoroscopically guided caudal epidural steroid injection (ESI) for the management of degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis (DLSS) and to analyze outcome predictors.

Materials And Methods: All patients who underwent caudal ESI in 2006 for DLSS were included in the study. Response was based on chart documentation (aggravated, no change, slightly improved, much improved, no pain).

Use of slide presentation software as a tool to measure hip arthroplasty wear.

The authors propose a manual measurement method for wear in total hip arthroplasty (PowerPoint method) based on the well-known Microsoft PowerPoint software (Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, Wash). In addition, the accuracy and reproducibility of the devised method were quantified and compared with two methods previously described by Livermore and Dorr, and accuracies were determined at different degrees of wear. The 57 hips recruited were allocated to: class 1 (retrieval series), class 2 (clinical series), and class 3 (a repeat film analysis series).

MR diskography and CT diskography with gadodiamide-iodinated contrast mixture for the diagnosis of foraminal impingement.

Objective: This study was designed to investigate whether the use of MR diskography would result in improved reader confidence over the use of CT diskography alone for evaluating foraminal impingement causing lumbar radiculopathy.

Subjects And Methods: Sixteen disk levels in 14 consecutive patients with suspected foraminal impingement causing lumbar radiculopathy were prospectively included in the study. A mixture of diluted gadodiamide and iodinated contrast material was injected at each disk level.

Validation of a simple radiographic method to determine variations in pelvic and acetabular cup sagittal plane alignment after total hip arthroplasty.

Background And Purpose: Orientation of acetabular component, influenced by pelvic tilt, body position, and individual variations affects the outcome following total hip arthroplasty (THA). Currently available methods of evaluation are either imprecise or require advanced image processing. We analyzed intersubject and intrasubject variability of pelvic tilt, measured by sagittal sacral tilt (ST) and its relationship with acetabular component tilt (AT) by using a simple method based on standard radiographs.

Effectiveness of transforaminal epidural steroid injection by using a preganglionic approach: a prospective randomized controlled study.

Purpose: To prospectively evaluate the short- and midterm effectiveness of transforaminal epidural steroid injection (TFESI) for lumbosacral radiculopathy with respect to injection level.

Materials And Methods: Institutional review board approval and written informed consent were obtained. From March 2005 to February 2006, 239 consecutive patients (106 male, 133 female; mean age, 49.

Rhabdomyoma of the orbit: a case report.

Extracardiac rhabdomyoma is a rare benign neoplasm of skeletal muscle differentiation. It occurs most often in the head and neck, but only four cases with occurrence in the orbit have been reported in the literature. A 3-month-old infant presented with right proptosis.

Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinomas in patients with celiac axis occlusion.

Purpose: To verify the hypothesis that most instances of celiac axis occlusion in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are caused by diaphragmatic compression and, therefore, transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) can be performed through the compressed lumen of the celiac axis.

Materials And Methods: The authors attempted to perform TACE in 36 consecutive patients with HCC and celiac axis occlusion. Spiral computed tomographic (CT) images were available in 26 patients.

US of ductal carcinoma in situ.

Little is known about the ultrasonographic (US) features of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) of the breast because this entity usually manifests as pure mammographic calcifications and is rarely evaluated with US. US findings were recorded in 70 patients with DCIS and then analyzed and correlated with mammographic and histologic findings. A microlobulated mass with mild hypoechogenicity, ductal extension, and normal acoustic transmission was the most common US finding in DCIS.