• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.160-167
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• 2021

Pyogenic spondylitis, an extremely rare complication of nontyphoidal Salmonella infection in immunocompetent children, occurs more commonly in patients with hemoglobinopathies such as sickle cell disease or in immunocompromised patients. In this study, we report a case of pyogenic spondylitis in a previously healthy 13-year-old immunocompetent adolescent, who presented with prolonged fever and right upper quadrant pain. Stool culture results comfirmed nontyphoidal Salmonella infection, and the patient was diagnosed with pyogenic spondylitis caused by nontyphoidal Salmonella based on additional imaging studies performed for evaluation of the patient's prolonged fever. This case highlights the importance of culture studies for evaluation of patients with fever of unknown origin and also the importance of detailed investigations for early detection of complications of extra-intestinal infections in patients with an unusual clinical course of salmonellosis.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.130-135
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• 2010

Malassezia (M.) is a member of normal mycobiota in warm-blooded vertebrates. Increased humidity is likely to be crucial in this infection. We studied the proportion of the species infected in dog during summer of Korea. Fifty samples were analyzed by PCR-RFLP and direct sequencing from June 2006 to October 2006. The study showed that lipid-dependent species was main pathogen (M. furfur; 86%, M. obtusa; 10%) while M. pachydermatis (4%) has only small portion. This result suggests that Malassezia infection has endemic characters that can be affected by the climate (temperature and humidity) in dogs.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.211-214
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• 1997

Susceptibility of some vertebrates was examined to the early third-stage larvae (EL3) of Gnathostomn hispidum. The larvae collected from the Chinese loaches were infected to 4 silk carps, 3 snake heads, 3 bullfrogs. 5 mice and 9 albino rats. No worms were detected in fish. silk carps and snake heads. In 3 bullfrogs fed 30 larvae, a total of 9 EL3 was recovered in the gastrointestinal tract (8 larvae) and liver (ones). In 5 mice inferred with 50 larvae, a tolal of 37 (74.0%) advanced third-stage larvae (AdL3) was recovered from the muscle (31 larvae), liver (5 larvae) and kidney at 4 weeks after infection. In 9 albino rats iilfected with 115 larvae, a total of 40 (34.8%) AdLa was found in the muscle. The Inammalian hosts were found susceptible to the EL3 of G. hispinum from Chinese loaches.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.395-399
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• 2001

Primary spinal epidural lymphoma(SEL), i.e. occurring in the absence of any detectable extraspinal lymphoproliferative disorder, is an unusual cause of spinal cord compression. The authors report a 48-year-old, diabetic woman presented with back pain followed by acute paraparesis and voiding difficulty. She had been treated with acupunctures on her back before admission, and complete blood count showed leukocytosis with neutrophilia and increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate(ESR). Thoracic spine magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) revealed an epidural mass extending from T5 to T8 with compression of the spinal cord. Emergency decompressive laminectomy was performed with a tentative diagnosis of spinal epidural abscess, but a B-cell lymphoma was final pathologic diagnosis. Further staging showed no other sites of lymphoma, and the spinal lesion was treated by chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The authors stress that primary SEL can mimic spinal epidural abscess(SEA) in the diabetic patient and should be a diagnostic consideration in patients with a syndrome of acute spinal cord compression manifested by a prodrome of back pain and neuroimaging consistent with an epidural compressive lesion, especially in a diabetic.

• Journal of the Korean Orthopaedic Association
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.361-365
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• 2019

Spinal adhesive arachnoiditis is an inflammation and fibrosis of the subarachnoid space and pia mater caused by infection, trauma, spinal vascular anomalies, and iatrogenic (surgery and/or puncture). Adhesive arachnoiditis develops various symptoms and signs (gait disturbances, radiating pain, paralysis, and incontinence). On the other hand, adhesive arachnoiditis associated with cauda equina syndrome has not been reported in Korea until now. The authors experienced cauda equina syndrome caused by adhesive arachnoiditis of the lumbar spine with satisfactory results following decompression. We report this case with a review of the relevant literature.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.219-223
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• 2007

Vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty are well-known, useful techniques for the treatment of painful vertebral compression fractures. Although the risk associated with these procedures is low, serious complications can occur. Of these complications, infection is even rarer, however, when it does occur, it is difficult to manage and can become life-threatening. We describe here a case of infectious spondylitis with epidural inflammation that occurred after performing kyphoplasty in a patient who had a thoracic vertebra compression fracture. We reviewed other case and literatures. Extreme asepsis of the operating theater, screening and treatment for systemic infection prior to the procedure, as well as the use of appropriate antibiotic prophylaxis are strongly recommended when conducting kyphoplasty to prevent infection.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.81 no.5
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• pp.1234-1238
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• 2020

Calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate (CPPD) crystal deposition disease is characterized by chondrocalcinosis, which mainly affects the knees, wrists, pelvis, and rarely, the spine. According to previous reports, CPPD crystal deposits display heterogeneous enhancement on MRI. When combined with inflammation of the surrounding soft tissue, strong enhancement by CPPD crystal deposition may appear similar to imaging features of other conditions such as infectious spondylitis. In these conditions, CT plays an important role in differential diagnosis. Here, we present a case of CPPD crystal deposition disease in the ligamentum flavum of the cervical spine that showed intense enhancement on MRI.

• Quality Improvement in Health Care
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.83-86
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• 2009

연구배경: 수술적 치료가 필요한 척추관 협착증 환자들은 주로 60세 이상의 고령환자로 장기간의 입원 시 기회 감염의 증대와 불필요한 의료비의 증대를 가져오게 되며, 수술 후 환자들의 재원일수의 증가는 병원의 병상가동률을 감소시키고, 전공의에게는 불필요한 업무를 증가시킨다. 연구목적: 비용 효과면에서 최적화된 진료 지침의 개발은 불필요한 의료비의 감소 및 Hospital Induced Complication을 줄여 환자 만족도를 증진시킬 수 있으며, 각 환자에 대한 전공의 업무를 줄일 수 있다. 의료기관: 서울특별시에 소재한 2,075병상의 종합전문요양기관 연구방법: 정형외과 및 신경외과의 척추관 협착증 환자의 처방을 비교하여 최적의 표준진료지침을 개발하고 최종적으로 CP Master Program(EMR 프로그램)에 입력하여 환자에게 적용하였다. 연구결과: CP 적용 전, 후 비교를 통해 재원일수는 3.8일이 감소하였으며, 이에 따라 병상 가동률 및 진료수익이 증가했으리라고 예상되며 현재 비교 검토 중이다. 또한, CP 개발 및 CP Master Program의 사용을 통한 전공의 업무 감소에 대해 검토하고 있다.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.85 no.1
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• pp.36-53
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• 2024

As the number of spinal surgeries being performed expands, the number of medical imaging procedures such as radiography, CT, and MRI is also increasing, and the importance of their interpretation is becoming more significant. Herein, we present the radiological findings of a variety of complications that can occur after spinal surgery and discuss how effectively and accurately they can be diagnosed through imaging. In particular, this study details the characteristic imaging findings specific to the early and long-term postoperative periods. Early complications of spinal surgery include improper placement of surgical instruments (instrument malpositioning), seromas, hematomas, pseudomeningoceles, and infections in the region surrounding the surgical site. Conversely, long-term complications may include osteolysis around surgical instruments, failure of fusion, adjacent segment disease, and the formation of epidural fibrosis or scar tissue. A precise understanding of the imaging assessments related to complications arising after spinal surgery is crucial to ensure timely and accurate diagnosis, which is necessary to achieve effective treatment.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.146-151
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• 2009

Purpose : To evaluate magnetic resonance (MR) imaging features of non-surgically treated tuberculous spondylitis and to evaluate the relationships between these features and clinical outcomes. Materials and Methods : Data from ten patients (male:female=6:4, mean age=45 years) with clinically proven tuberculous spondylitis who were treated nonsurgically over three months were analyzed retrospectively from 2000 to 2007. MRI was performed at least three times for each patient, at baseline, every three or six months, and at the end of treatment. All images were analyzed by two radiologists. Results : The mean follow-up period for the MR examination was 10.1 months (range, 4-17 months). Six patients had clinically complete resolution of tuberculous spondylitis with medication treatment only. Four patients were treated with surgical management alongside medication. All ten patients were divided into two groups by clinical outcome; six patients with complete treatment and four patients with incomplete treatment. In the complete treatment group, follow-up MR findings showed a loss of subligamentous spread of abscesses, decreased size of abscesses, no interval changes in vertebral body heights, and fatty changes in spinal lesions. MR findings in the incomplete treatment group showed bone marrow edema extension to adjacent vertebra, extension of the abscesses, and decreased height of the vertebral bodies. Conclusion : During the nonsurgical management of tuberculous spondylitis, MR imaging may play a role in predicting patient response to antituberculous drug treatment.