• The Journal of Korean Orthopaedic Ultrasound Society
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.54-58
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• 2010

Purpose: In patients with chronic cervical pain, the facet joint is the source of the majority. Due to the difficulty of identifying the exact location of the joint that causes these symptoms, the possibility of complications and the placebo effect brings clinical application into question. In this study, we assessed the prevalence of patients with chronic cervical pain and report the diagnostic and therapeutic usefulness of ultrasonography - guided facet joint block therapy. Materials and Methods: Patients with nonspecific chronic cervical pain for more than 6 months were selected. Patients with disc herniation, sciatica-related pain were excluded from the study and 160 patients who failed in conservative treatment (physical therapy, chiropractic therapy, medication) were included in the study. Diagnostic Ultrasonography-guided facet joint block was performed with 1% lidocaine, and after two weeks, Bupivacaine 0.25% was used in patients who tested positive for lidocaine. Patients with more than 75% pain reduction during movement after facet joint block were considered positive. Results: Among the 160 patients with chronic cervical pain, 96 patients(60%) had a positive reaction after facet block using lidocaine. Among the 64 patients with a negative reaction to lidocaine, 48 patients(75%) had a positive reaction to bupivacaine. There were 48 false positive patients(50%) who showed a positive reaction to lidocaine but a negative reaction to bupivacaine. The mean VAS of the total 160 patients before blocks was 8.5, after 2 weeks follow up it decreased to 2.7 (p = 0.001) and after 4weeks 3.6 (p = 0.001). The 8 patients as an initial improvement of symptoms are not satisfied with the procedure and the 3 patients had been worsened during observation, were showed pain relief after additional ultrasonography-guided facet joint block at 4th week. Conclusion: A single ultrasonography-guided block to chronic cervical pain patients has relatively low diagnostic value since high false positive rate. The twice facet joint blocks is thought to be a useful method for interventional pain management of patients with chronic cervical pain.

• Journal of the Korean Orthopaedic Association
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• v.56 no.5
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• pp.413-418
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• 2021

Purpose: To investigate the effect of facet tropism on the degeneration of facet joint and intervertebral disc in the cervical spine. Materials and Methods: From January 2017 to December 2018, cervical tropism of 100 patients at the C5/6 level was analyzed retrospectively. In computed tomography (CT), the orientation and tropism of the facet joint with respect to the sagittal, coronal, and horizontal planes were measured. Regression of the facet joint in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and CT was assessed using a grading system. Intervertebral disc degeneration was assessed and divided into five grades on MRI. For the left and right asymmetry, a difference between two facet angles of less than 7° was classified as the control group, more than 7° was classified as the tropism group. Results: The mean age of the patients was 55.44±12.3 years (31-81 years) in the tropism group and 55.66±10.7 years (32-76 years) in the control group. In the tropism group, 32 were male and 18 were female. In the control group, 24 were male and 26 were female. Facet joint degeneration was identified in 24 patients (48.0%) in the tropism group and 14 patients (28.0%) in the control group, showing a significant difference. Intervertebral disc degeneration was identified in 29 patients (58.0%) in the tropism group and 17 patients (34.0%) in the control group, showing a significant difference. Multivariate revealed, tropism to be a factor that affected the facet joint and intervertebral disc degeneration. Conclusion: Facet joint and intervertebral disc degeneration occurred significantly in the tropism group, and tropism is a factor affecting the degeneration of facet joint and intervertebral disc in the C5/6 level.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.37 no.10
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• pp.953-959
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• 2013

In this study, a multibody dynamic model of the cervical spine was developed for a virtual in-vitro cadaveric experiment. The dynamic cervical spine model was reconstructed based on Korean CT images and the material properties of joints and soft tissue obtained from in-vitro experimental literature. The model was validated by comparing the inter-segmental rotation, multi-segmental rotations, load-displacement behavior, ligament force, and facet contact force with the published in-vitro experimental data. The results from the model were similar to published experimental data. The developed dynamic model of the cervical spine can be useful for injury analysis to predict the loads and deformations of the individual soft-tissue elements as well as for virtual in-vitro cadaveric experiments.

• Proceedings of the Korea Contents Association Conference
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• 2011.05a
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• pp.267-268
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• 2011

본 연구에서는 유한요소 해석 방법을 이용하여 경추 유한요소 모델을 개발하고, 척추 인공디스크 수술 후 경추 분절의 생체역학적 특성을 평가하였다. 반구속 및 비구속 개념의 인공디스크가 삽입된 경추 유한요소 모델의 제 7 경추체를 완전히 고정시키고 추적 경로 방향의 50 N의 압축력을 가한 상태에서 1 Nm의 굴곡과 신전, 측면 굴곡, 비틀림 모멘트를 가하였다. 모든 방향의 하중 조건에서 인공디스크가 삽입된 경추 모델들의 회전량이 정상 경추 모델의 회전량에 비하여 크게 나타났다. 또한 인공디스크를 삽입한 운동 분절에서 정상에 비하여 후관절의 접촉력과 여섯 가지 주요 인대에 걸리는 응력이 높게 나타났다. 본 연구의 결과는 척추 인공디스크 수술 시 수술 방법의 선택뿐만 아니라 새로운 경추 수술용 임플란트 개발을 위한 인체정보 콘텐츠를 구축하는데 유용하게 활용될 수 있을 것으로 기대된다.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.30 no.10
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• pp.1210-1219
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• 2001

Introduction : The purpose of this study was to analyze the safety, pullout strength and radiographic characteristics of unicortical and bicortical screws of cervical facet within cadaveric specimens and evaluate the influence of level of training on the positioning of these screws. Methods : Twenty-one cadavers, mean 78.9 years of age, underwent bilateral placement of 3.5mm AO lateral mass screw from C3-C6(n=168) using a slight variation of the Magerl technique. Intraoperative imaging was not used. The right side(unicortical) utilized only 14mm screws(effective length of 11mm) while on the left side to determine the length of the screw after the ventral cortex had been drilled. Three spine surgeons(attending, fellow, chief resident) with varying levels of spine training performed the procedure on seven cadavers each. All spines were harvested and lateral radiographs were taken. Individual cervical vertebrae were carefully dissected and then axial radiographs were taken. The screws were evaluated clinically and radiographically for their safety. Screws were graded clinically for their safety with respect to the spinal cord, facet joint, nerve root and vertebral artery. The grades consisted of the following categories : "satisfactory", "at risk" and "direct injury". Each screw was also graded according to its zone placement. Screw position was quantified by measuring a sagittal angle from the lateral radiograph and an axial angle from the axial radiograph. Pull-out force was determined for all screws using a material testing machine. Results : Dissection revealed that fifteen screws on the left side actually had only unicortical and not bicortical purchase as intended. The majority of screws(92.8%) were satisfactory in terms of safety. There were no injuries to the spinal cord. On the right side(unicortical), 98.9% of the screws were "satisfactory" and on the left side(bicortical) 68.1% were "satisfactory". There was a 5.8% incidence of direct arterial injury and a 17.4% incidence of direct nerve root injury with the bicortical screws. There were no "direct injuries" with the unicortical screws for the nerve root or vertebral artery. The unicortical screws had a 21.4% incidence of direct injury of the facet joint, while the bicortical screws had a 21.7% incidence. The majority of "direct injury" of bicortical screws were placed by the surgeon with the least experience. The performance of the resident surgeon was significantly different from the attending or fellow(p<0.05) in terms of safety of the nerve root and vertebral artery. The attending's performance was significantly better than the resident or fellow(p<0.05) in terms of safety of the facet joint. There was no relationship between the safety of a screw and its zone placement. The axial deviation angle measured $23.5{\pm}6.6$ degrees and $19.8{\pm}7.9$ degrees for the unicortical and bicortical screws, respectively. The resident surgeon had a significantly lower angle than the attending or fellow(p<0.05). The sagittal angle measured $66.3{\pm}7.0$ degrees and $62.3{\pm}7.9$ degrees for the unicortical and bicortical screws, respectively. The attending had a significantly lower sagittal angle than the fellow or resident(p<0.05). Thirty-three screws that entered the facet joint were tested for pull-out strength but excluded from the data because they were not lateral mass screws per-se and had deviated substantially from the intended final trajectory. The mean pull-out force for all screws was $542.9{\pm}296.6N$. There was no statistically significant difference between the pull-out force for unicortical($519.9{\pm}286.9N$) and bicortical($565.2{\pm}306N$) screws. There was no significant difference in pull-out strengths with respect to zone placement. Conclusion : It is our belief that the risk associated with bicortical purchase mandates formal spine training if it is to be done safely and accurately. Unicortical screws are safer regardless of level of training. It is apparent that 14mm lateral mass screws placed in a supero-lateral trajectory in the adult cervical spine provide an equivalent strength with a much lower risk of injury than the longer bicortical screws placed in a similar orientation.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Automotive Engineers
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• v.7 no.5
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• pp.249-257
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• 1999

A three dimensional finite model of a human neck has been developed in an effort to study the mechanics of cervical spin while subjected to vertical impact. This model consisting of the vertebrae from C1 through C7 including posterior element and ligaments was constructed by 2mm thick transverse CT cross-sections and X-ray film taken at lateral side. Geometrical nonlinearity was also considered for the large deformation on the disc. ABAQUS package was used for calculation and its results were verified comparing with responses of a model under static loading condition with published in-vitro experimental data. There were more cervical fracture in the restrained (compression) mode than in the nonrestrained (flexion-compression and extension-compression) mode. Upper cervical(C1-C2) injuries were observed under compression-extension modes, while lower cervical injuries occurred undjer compression-flexion modes. Posterior ligament distraction without bony damage at the upper cervical spin(C1-C2) were observed secondary to C5-C7 trauma in compression-flexion modes.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.31-39
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• 2007

Background: Cervical radicular pain can arise fromvarious structures, including spinal nerves, discs, zygapophyseal joints, ligaments, and myofascial connective tissue. However, no adequate experiments have been found regarding methods for the microadhesiolysis of adhesional connective tissue around the zygapophyseal joints and nerves. The first objective of this study was to ascertain the effect of fluoroscopy guided interventional microadhesiolysis and nerve stimulation (FIMS) on chronic cervical radicular pain caused by zygapophyseal joint dysfunction. The second objective was to identify the duration of pain alleviation, as well as commonly occurring regions for zygapophyseal joint dysfunction. Methods: Twenty-eight patients were diagnosed with cervical radicular pain. The cervical zygapophyseal joints and adhesional structures around the cervical zygapophyseal joints were stimulated by adhesiolysis with a rounded needle; the procedure was performed once every second week. A visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain and neck range of motion (ROM) were used as indices for evaluating the degree of pain 1 and 3 months after completion of the procedures. A relief effect of FIMS was accepted when the VAS index decreased 50% compared with a previous VAS, and when there was absence of limitation of ROM. Results: Among the patients, 52% showed zygapophyseal joint dysfunction in C5-6, 38% in C4-5, 7% in C2-3, and 3% in C6-7. After performing FIMS, the VAS index decreased in most of the patients after 1 and 3 months (92.8% and 75%, respectively), and treatment frequency was $2.7{\pm}1.2$. There was no correlation between the number of FIMS procedures and the degree of VAS. Conclusions: FIMS is considered an effective modality in patients suffering from cervical radicular pain.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.109-117
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• 2022

Objectives To compare the therapeutic effect of ultrasound guided soyeom pharmacopuncture therapy and unguided soyeom pharmacopuncture therapy on cervical facet joint of patient who have cervical pain caused by traffic accidents. Methods The study was planned as a retrospective study that analyzes the patient's medical records. We analyzed medical records of 20 patients with acute cervical pain caused by traffic accidents from April 1, 2022 to May 31, 2022. 10 patients (Group A) were treated ultrasound guided soyeom pharmacopuncture therapy on cervical facet joint, 10 patients (Group B) were treated unguided soyeom pharmacopuncture therapy on cervical facet joint. We used visual analogue scale (VAS) and neck disability index (NDI) to evaluate improvements in cervical functions and pain, five point Likert scale to estimate patient's satisfaction. We used the IBM SPSS Statistics version 25 program (IBM Co., Armonk, NY, USA) for statistical analysis. Results Group A showed a significant decrease in the VAS on the 5^th day of the soyeom pharmacopuncture therapy (p=0.001). However, there was no statistically significant difference of VAS between two groups (p=0.142). Group A showed significant decrease in the NDI on the 5^th day of the therapy (p=0.002). Also, there was statistically significant difference on NDI between two groups (p=0.018). Difference of five point Likert scale between two groups was not statistically significant (p=0.407). Conclusions In patients of acute cervical pain caused by traffic accidents, ultrasound guided soyeom pharmacopuncture therapy on cervical facet joint showed significant efficacy on reduction of neck disability compared with unguided therapy.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.255-260
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• 2002

Purpose: SAPHO syndrome is well known to various disease entities including synovitis, acne, pustulosis, hyperostosis and polyarthritis. The purpose of this study is to evaluate sicntigraphic findings and to compare with radiologic findings in SAPHO syndrome. Materials and Methods: Five patients (M:F=5.0, Age $22.8{\pm}4.78$ yrs) with SAPHO syndrome were enrolled in our study. All patients underwent whole-body bone scintigraphy with intravenous administration of 740 MBq of Tc-99m MDP. Among them, two patients were additionally perfomed SPECT of the spine to evaluate the location and extort of spinal lesion. Results: All patients were demonstrated abnormal increased uptakes in sternoclavicular joint (SC), sacroiliac joint (SI), and small joints of both hands. Among them, three patients were bilateral involvement (3/5) and two were unilateral (2/5) in SC. involvement of SI showed bilateral in four patients (4/5) and unilateral in one (1/5). SPECT images demonstrate that the lesion sites of the lumbar spine are more likely facet joints than vertebral bodies or pedicles. Conclusion: As SAPHO syndrome is the disease entity involved polyarticular joints with various dermatologic manifestations, the bone scintigraphy may be a very useful method to evaluate the location and extent of joint involvement, and to avoid inadequate surgical management or ineffective antibiotic treatment.