• Journal of the Korean Orthopaedic Association
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• v.55 no.3
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• pp.229-236
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• 2020

Purpose: This study examined the utility of preliminary magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measurements in the ultrasound-guided L4 selective nerve root block. Materials and Methods: As a retrospective study, 71 patients, who met the criteria for outpatient visits from March 2016 to December 2017, were included. From March 2016 to February 2017, 31 patients who underwent an L4 nerve root block without MRI were classified as group A, and 40 patients who underwent an L4 nerve root block through MRI measurements from March 2017 to December 2017 were classified as group B. Group A was injected under ultrasound-guidance through the pararadicular approach without a pre-interventional MRI evaluation, and group B was injected under ultrasound-guidance according to the preliminary MRI measurements. The results were assessed using the numeric rating scale scores before, three hours, and two, six, and 12 weeks after the procedure. Results: At three hours after the procedure, the proportion of patients better than good results were 51.6% in group A and 67.5% in group B. At two weeks after the procedure, the proportion of patients with better than good results were 48.4% and 70.0% in groups A and B, respectively; 58.1% and 62.5% of patient of groups A and B, respectively, showed better than good results after six weeks. In 12 weeks after the procedure, the results of group A and B were 67.7% and 62.5%, respectively. At three hours and two weeks after the procedure, group B showed significant symptom improvement than group A (p<0.05). The procedures were repeated 2.8 and 1.7 times in groups A and B, respectively, between two and six weeks for satisfactory pain relief (p<0.05). Conclusion: A pre-interventional MRI evaluation might improve pain relief within the initial two weeks after ultrasound-guided L4 selective nerve root block by improving the success rate of the procedure.

• The Journal of Korean Orthopaedic Ultrasound Society
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.113-119
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• 2014

Purpose: This study was to evaluate effect and efficiency of S1 selective nerve root block using ultrasonography-guided compared with fluoroscopy-guided for lumbar disc herniation or spinal stenosis patients. Materials and Methods: Between February 2012 and December 2013, 38 patients who were with lower leg radiating pain for more than 1months and underwent S1 selective spinal nerve root block in our institution, were reviewed. They divided into two groups: Group A included 18 patients with ultrasonography-guided and Group B included 20 patients with fluoroscopy-guided. Treatment effectiveness was assessed using a visual analogue scale (VAS) and the Korea Modified Oswestry Disability Index (K-MODI). They were evaluated its preoperatively, postoperatively and 1 month later. We were recorded whole procedure time. Results: VAS was improved from 7.4 to 4.7 at 1 month in group A and from 7.39 to 4.36 at 1month in group B. K-MODI was improved from 72.8 to 43.3 at 1month in group A and from 73.8 to 44.1 at 1month in group B. Whole procedure time were $477.53{\pm}115.02s$, $492.47{\pm}144.38s$ in group A, group B, respectively. But there was no significant difference in VAS and K-MODI between two groups. Conclusion: Ultrasonography-guided sacral nerve root block is effective and accurate method in sacral radiating pain.

• Journal of Korean Society of Spine Surgery
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.185-195
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• 2018

Study Design: Literature review. Objective: Ultrasound-guided injections are a common clinical treatment for lower lumbosacral pain that are usually performed before surgical treatment if conservative treatment fails. The aim of this article was to review ultrasound-guided injections in the lumbar and sacral spine. Summary of Literature Review: Ultrasound-guided injections, unlike conventional interventions using computed tomography or C-arm fluoroscopy, can be performed under simultaneous observation of muscles, ligaments, vessels, and nerves. Additionally, they have no radiation exposure and do not require a large space for the installation of equipment, so they are increasingly selected as an alternative method. Materials and Methods: We searched for and reviewed studies related to the use of ultrasound-guided injections in the lumbar and sacral spine. Results: In order to perform accurate ultrasound-guided injections, it is necessary to understand the patient's posture during the intervention, the relevant anatomy, and normal and abnormal ultrasonographic findings. Facet joint intra-articular injections, medial branch block, epidural block, selective nerve root block, and sacroiliac joint injections can be effectively performed under ultrasound guidance. Conclusions: Ultrasound-guided injections in the lumbar and sacral spine are an efficient method for treating lumbosacral pain.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.107-115
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• 2016

The occurrence of brain stem stroke after lumbar selective nerve root block seem to be an uncommon event comparing it to after cervical selective nerve root block. We recently experienced a 60-year-old man who were diagnosed as left lateral medullary infarction (Wallenberg's syndrome) after lumbar selective nerve root block. He was treated by traditional Korean medicine with acupunture, Pulsed electromagetic therapy (PEMT), herb medicine. The range of motion of upper and lower extremity, manual muscle test, Korean version of Berg balance scale (K-BBS) and Korean version of Barthel index (K-MBI) were adopted to measure the resulting recovery after 4 weeks treatment. Traditional Korean medicine was effective for rehabilitation of patient. Further studies are needed to set up and Korean medical protocol for Wallenberg's syndrome.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2012

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the effectiveness of multimodal pain control method in an early phase after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair, under interscalene brachial plexus block, this study was performed. Materials and Methods: The study was progressed with the 80 cases of arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. Interscalene brachial plexus block was used to all of the 80 cases and patients were divided into 2 groups. Group A consisted of patients injected with bupivacaine, through subacromial space catheter after surgery, and group B consisted of patients with additional method of multimodal pain control using oral opioids, acetaminophen-tramadol complex and selective COX2 inhibitor. Subacromial cathter was removed after injection in both groups. The pain during the day time and night time was compared on the operation day, postoperative 1st, 2nd, 3rd day and 2nd weeks, and it was measured with VAS (visual analogue scale) score. Additionally, the number of ketolorac injection and side-effect related to analgesics was compared between the 2 groups. Results : The mean VAS score of night time on the operation day and day/night time pain of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd day and 2nd weeks was 7.4, 7.0/6.8, 4.5/5.2, 4.8/5.0, 2.2/2.7 on group A and 6.5, 4.3/5.4, 3.2/4.3, 3.0/4.1, 2.4/2.5 on group B, respectively. Significant difference was observed in the night pain on the operation day, 1st, 2nd, 3rd day time and 1st night time pain (p<.05). The average number of ketololac injection was 1.1 and 0.5 in each group, and there was no difference in the frequency of side effects. Conclusion: Multimodal pain control method, after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair, showed an effective early pain control and improved patients' satisfaction.