To assess the nutritional status of Korean patients with spinal cord injury (SCI), identify the predictors of undernutrition, and investigate the relationship between undernutrition and clinical outcomes. A retrospective study design was used to determine the nutritional status of 130 patients over 19 years old admitted to the rehabilitation hospital of Yonsei University Health System between June 2015 and February 2017. The nutritional status was assessed using the malnutrition universal screening tool (MUST) and the spinal nutrition screening tool (SNST). The relationship between undernutrition and clinical outcomes was examined by comparing a low-risk group with an at-risk group using a t-test. Among the SCI patients, 70 (50.8%) were confirmed with undernutrition based on the MUST scores, while 60 (46.2%) had undernutrition based on the SNST scores. It was found that undernutrition has an effect on functional outcomes. We assessed the undernutrition risk in Korean SCI patients, and found that approximately 50% of the patients were at risk of undernutrition. We also found that undernutrition can affect functional recovery.
We share our experience on the implementation of a multidisciplinary aerodigestive program comprising an aerodigestive team (ADT) so as to evaluate its feasibility. We performed a retrospective chart review of the patients discussed at the monthly ADT meetings and analyzed the data. A total of 98 children were referred to the ADT during the study period. The number of cases increased steadily from 3.5 cases per month in 2019 to 8.5 cases per month in 2020. The median age of patients was 34.5 months, and 55% were male. Among the chronic comorbidities, neurologic disease was the most common (85%), followed by respiratory (36%) and cardiac (13%) disorders. The common reasons for consultation were suspected aspiration (56%), respiratory difficulty (44%), drooling/stertor (30%), regurgitation/vomiting (18%), and feeding/swallowing difficulty (17%). Following discussions, 58 patients received active interventions, including fundoplication, gastrostomy, laryngomicrosurgery, tracheostomy, and primary dilatation of the airway. According to the questionnaire of the caregiver, the majority agreed that the main symptoms and quality of life of patients had improved (88%), reducing the burden on caregivers (77%). Aerodigestive programs may provide comprehensive and multidisciplinary management for children with complex airway and digestive tract disorders.
25 April 2026 in Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology
Background: When early‐stage lung cancer is diagnosed, the recommended treatment is anatomical resection using video‐assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) or robotic lobectomy. However, nonanatomical resection, known as wedge resection (WR), which is performed to diagnose pulmonary nodules, can be problematic for clinicians performing VATS or robotic‐assisted thoracic surgery (RATS). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of VATS WR using multiplanar computed tomography reconstruction (CT MPR)‐fluoroscopy after CT guided microcoil localization to achieve complete pulmonary nodule resection.Methods: Between January 2016 to December 2020, the medical records of patients who underwent CT‐guided microcoil localization for suspicious malignant pulmonary nodules and VATS WR with CT MPR and intraoperative fluoroscopy were retrospectively reviewed.Results: All 130 patients successfully underwent CT‐guided localization. The success rate of VATS WR with CT MPR‐intraoperative fluoroscopy was 98.5%. Mean operation time was 58 min (range 50–84 min). The postoperative complication rate was 3.1%, and no major postoperative complications were reported. The mean postoperative length of hospital stay was 4.7 days (range 4–8 days).Conclusions: VATS WR using CT MPR‐fluoroscopy after CT guided microcoil localization is a safe and highly effective approach for complete pulmonary nodule resection. However, even in uniport VATS or recently performed robotic surgery, localization and resection of nonvisible, nonpalpable pulmonary nodules is a challenging problem. Consequently, satisfactory outcomes can be expected if this technique is used for suspicious malignant pulmonary nodule resection.
Background/Objectives: This study aimed to assess the reliability and validity of the Korean version of the Eating and Drinking Ability Classification System (EDACS) for children with cerebral palsy (CP). Methods: This was a prospective cross-sectional study conducted to psychometrically assess 40 children with CP. Reliability was evaluated by a physician in pediatric rehabilitation, a speech–language therapist (SaLT), and caregivers. Results: In the evaluation of each level and level of assistance in the EDACS, the agreement observed between the physician and speech therapist was almost perfect (κW = 0.940, 0.919). The agreement between the physician and the caregiver was substantial (κW = 0.618, 0.592), whereas it was moderate between the therapist and caregiver (κW = 0.557, 0.556). Intra-rater reliability remained almost perfect, with the physician (κW = 0.979), the SaLT (κW = 0.980), and caregivers (κW = 0.980). The EDACS showed moderate to high correlation with the Functional Oral Intake Scale, Gross Motor Function Classification System, Manual Ability Classification System, and Communication Function Classification System (Kτ = −0.863, 0.656, 0.720, 0.616). Conclusions: These findings support the Korean EDACS as a reliable tool for classifying eating and drinking abilities in children with CP, thereby enhancing its clinical utility and communication among non-professionals and professionals.
Purpose The Spinamic® brace (VNTC, Seoul, Republic of Korea) is a hybrid spinal orthosis designed to prevent curve progression in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). Given that AIS often involves both structural deformity and flexibility-dependent components, evaluating brace effects requires assessing curve flexibility in addition to Cobb angle magnitude. This study examined the immediate in-brace correction and its long-term follow-up outcomes. Methods This retrospective study analyzed data from participants aged 9–17 years, diagnosed with AIS. Pre-brace standing and supine radiographs were used to assess curve flexibility. In-brace standing radiographs were taken on the day of application. Follow-ups at 6 months and 1 year recorded Cobb angles. Results Among 108 patients (82 girls and 26 boys), 75 were followed for 6 months and 58 for 1 year. The mean age at brace application was 13.4 ± 1.7 years, and the mean Risser grade was 2.8 ± 1.5. The mean Cobb angles of the primary curve were 24.7 ± 9.6° (supine) and 32.7 ± 10.3° (standing), indicating a degree of flexibility component averaging 8.1 ± 4.8°, corresponding to 25.4 ± 14.3% of standing scoliosis angle. Immediate correction of the flexible component averaged 68.6 ± 34.7%. At 6 months, 14.7% showed improvement, 69.3% stabilization, and 16.0% progression. At 1 year, 17.2% of evaluable patients showed improvement and 51.7% stabilization, while 31.0% demonstrated progression exceeding 5°. Flexibility was significantly associated with immediate in-brace correction (r = 0.39, p < 0.001). Conclusion The hybrid textile brace was associated with significant immediate radiographic correction, particularly in flexible curves. Baseline flexibility is informative in anticipating the immediate corrective response, whereas the uncontrolled design precludes conclusions regarding long-term clinical effectiveness.