• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.66-70
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• 2014

Sympathetic dysfunction is one of the possible complications of anterior spine surgery; however, it has been underestimated as a cause of complications. We report two successful experiences of treating severe dysesthetic pain occurring after anterior spine surgery, by performing a sympathetic block. The first patient experienced a burning and stabbing pain in the contralateral upper extremity of approach side used in anterior cervical discectomy and fusion, and underwent a stellate ganglion block with a significant relief of his pain. The second patient complained of a cold sensation and severe unexpected pain in the lower extremity of the contralateral side after anterior lumbar interbody fusion and was treated with lumbar sympathetic block. We aimed to describe sympathetically maintained pain as one of the important causes of early postoperative pain and the treatment option chosen for these cases in detail.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.419-422
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• 2006

Objective : Endotracheal tube cuff-pressure[ETCP] increases significantly during anterior cervical spine surgery with neck retraction. Clinically, postoperative hoarseness with sore throat is correlated with vocal cord edema due to longer intubation time and higher ETCP during neck retraction. Methods : Fifty patients of anterior cervical spine surgery were randomized to a control [no adjustment, 25 cases] and a treatment group [ETCP adjusted to 20mmHg, 25 cases]. Patients were blinded to their group assignments. They were questioned about the presence of ischemic symptoms [sore throat, dysphagia, hoarseness] postoperatively at different time points; 4 hours, 24 hours, and 1 week postoperatively. Results : No differences between groups at 4 hours and 1 week postoperatively were demonstrated. At 24 hours, 36% of patients in the treatment group complained of sore throat while 56% of control group patients did [p < 0.05]. Female patients correlated with development of all ischemic discomfort [p < 0.05 : sore throat, hoarseness, dysphagia]. Conclusion : Our results suggest that postoperative ischemic symptom following anterior cervical spine surgery may be associated with the two predictors; increased ETCP during neck retraction and female. The simple procedure of maintaining ETCP to 20mmHg can prevent postoperative tracheal ischemic symptom.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.389-392
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• 2023

A 14-year-old girl had a midfacial trauma event caused by hitting against an opening door and experienced discomfort and swelling of the columella and upper lip. Physical examination revealed mild tenderness on light palpation without any discomfort with upper lip movement. A computed tomography scan of the maxillofacial bones with three-dimensional reconstruction showed a fracture of the anterior nasal spine with obvious leftward displacement, mild-deviation of the caudal aspect of the nasal septum, and no sign of nasal bone fracture. Open reduction and internal fixation was performed with regard to aesthetic and functional concerns, including nasal septum deviation. The postoperative course was uneventful, and healing proceeded normally without complications. Herein, we emphasize the importance of differential diagnosis of isolated anterior nasal spine fractures in patients with midfacial trauma and clinicians' strategic decision-making in treatment modalities.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.541-543
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• 2010

The purpose of this case report is to describe a rare case of a cervicothoracic spinal epidural hematoma (SEH) after anterior cervical spine surgery. A 60-year-old man complained of severe neck and arm pain 4 hours after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion at the C5-6 level. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a postoperative SEH extending from C1 to T4. Direct hemostasis and drainage of loculated hematoma at the C5-6 level completely improved the patient's condition. When a patient complains of severe neck and/or arm pain after anterior cervical spinal surgery, though rare, the possibility of a postoperative SEH extending to non-decompressed, adjacent levels should be considered as with our case.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.54 no.2
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• pp.128-131
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• 2013

Transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) is commonly used procedure for spinal fusion. However, there are no reports describing anterior cage dislodgement after surgery. This report is a rare case of anterior dislodgement of fusion cage after TLIF for the treatment of isthmic spondylolisthesis with lumbosacral transitional vertebra (LSTV). A 51-year-old man underwent TLIF at L4-5 with posterior instrumentation for the treatment of grade 1 isthmic spondylolisthesis with LSTV. At 7 weeks postoperatively, imaging studies demonstrated that banana-shaped cage migrated anteriorly and anterolisthesis recurred at the index level with pseudoarthrosis. The cage was removed and exchanged by new cage through anterior approach, and screws were replaced with larger size ones and cement augmentation was added. At postoperative 2 days of revision surgery, computed tomography (CT) showed fracture on lateral pedicle and body wall of L5 vertebra. He underwent surgery again for paraspinal decompression at L4-5 and extension of instrumentation to S1 vertebra. His back and leg pains improved significantly after final revision surgery and symptom relief was maintained during follow-up period. At 6 months follow-up, CT images showed solid fusion at L4-5 level. Careful cage selection for TLIF must be done for treatment of spondylolisthesis accompanied with deformed LSTV, especially when reduction will be attempted. Banana-shaped cage should be positioned anteriorly, but anterior dislodgement of cage and reduction failure may occur in case of a highly unstable spine. Revision surgery for the treatment of an anteriorly dislodged cage may be effectively performed using an anterior approach.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.231-238
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• 2001

Vertebral artery injury is a rare complication of anterior cervical approach. We report two patients who suffered injury to vertebral artery during anterior cervical spine surgery. The mechanism of injury, their operative management, and the subsequent outcome were assessed and relevant literatures reviewed. The awareness of the possibility of vertebral artery injury is most important to prevent and it's occurrence is best avoided by a thorough understanding of the anatomical relationships of the artery, the spinal canal, and the vertebral body and careful use of surgical instruments.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.22-27
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• 2006

Objective : The purpose of this study is to investigate the clinical results of anterior and posterior stabilization by one stage posterolateral approach for the unstable fracture of thoracolumbar and lumbar spine. Methods : By posterolateral approach with curved skin incision, unilateral facet and pedicle were removed. Through this route, corpectomy was performed, and then this space was replaced with mesh cage filled up with autologous bone graft. Both side pedicle screw fixation was followed to upper and lower levels. Results : Six of seven patients of this study showed neurological improvement. The other one patient showed no neurological change. One patient had postoperative infection, another patient had postoperative kyphosis. The other patient had epidural hematoma on operation site after surgery. And all patinets on this study made to have spinal stability except one patient happened postoperative kyphosis. Conclusion : In the unstable fracture of thoracolumbar and lumbar spine, one stage anterior and posterior stabilization and fusion by posterolateral approach seems to be an effective procedure, if we have more care and supplementation.

• Asian Spine Journal
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.1017-1027
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• 2018

Study Design: This retrospective study was conducted including 18 patients who underwent posterior-only stabilization and fusion procedure for pseudoarthrosis in the ankylosed spine from October 2007 to May 2015. Purpose: This study aimed to describe the treatment outcomes in 18 patients with Andersson lesion (AL) who were managed using the posterior-only approach. Literature Review: AL is an unstable, localized, vertebral, or discovertebral lesion of the spine. It is observed in patients with ankylosing spondylitis. The exact etiology of this disorder remains unclear, and the treatment guidelines are not clearly described. Methods: We analyzed 18 patients with AL who were treated with posterior long segment spinal fusion without any anterior interbody grafting or posterior osteotomy. Pre- and postoperative radiography, computed tomography, and recent follow-up images were examined. The pre- and postoperative Visual Analog Scale score and the Oswestry Disability Index score were evaluated for all patients. Whiteclouds' outcome analysis criteria were applied at the follow-up. Moreover, at study completion, patient feedback was collected; all the patients were asked to provide their opinion regarding the surgery and were asked whether they would recommend this procedure to other patients and them self undergo the same procedure again if required. Results: The most common site was the thoracolumbar junction. The symptom duration ranged from 1 month to 10 years preoperatively. Most patients experienced fusion by the end of 1 year, and the fusion mass could be observed as early as 4 months. Pseudoarthrosis void of up to 2.5 cm was noted to be healed in subsequent imaging. In addition, clinically, the patients reported good symptomatic relief. No patient required revision surgery. Whiteclouds' outcome analysis score at the latest follow-up revealed goodto-excellent outcomes in all patients. Conclusions: ALs can be treated using the posterior-only approach with long segment fixation and posterior spinal fusion. This is a safe, simple, and quick procedure that prevents the morbidity of anterior surgery.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.39 no.1 s.258
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• pp.80-84
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• 2006

A combined anterolateral and posterior approach with thoracotomy has been recommended as the traditional surgical approach for the tumors of the thoracic spine. Recently, because of the morbidity associated with open thoracotomy, the thoracoscopically assisted surgical technique was introduced successfully in thoracic spinal surgery. Herein, we report a combined surgical technique for giant cell tumor of the thoracic spine (T10) consisting of bilateral thoracoscopic anterior release of the spine followed by a posterior on bloc spondylectomy and reconstruction by orthopedic surgeons. The thoracoscopic spinal surgery is safe and effective alternative for other open thoracotomic procedures in the approach to the anterior thoracic spine, avoiding the disadvantage inherent to thoracotomy.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.278-282
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• 2012

An esophageal perforation following anterior cervical fusion is rare. Early development of an esophageal perforation after anterior cervical fusion is usually due to iatrogenic injury from retraction, injury associated with the original traumatic incident, improperly placed instruments or a bone graft. A 31-year-old man had a cervical dislocation and spinal cord injury because of severe cervical trauma after a traffic accident. He was quadriplegic and had no feeling below T4 dermatome. Anterior decompression of the cervical spine and anterior fusion with mesh with autobone were performed. An esophagocutaneous fistula occurred 7 days after anterior cervical surgery. A second anterior surgery was done because of pus drainage. The mesh was changed with an iliac bone graft, and the esophagocutaneous fistula site was primary repaired, but pus continued to drain. Conservative treatment, which consisted of wound drainage and intravenous administration of antibiotics, was tried, but was unsuccessful. After all, we removed the plate and screws, but did not removed the iliac bone graft, We closed the esophageal fistula, and transposed the sternocleidomastoid muscle flap to the interspace between the esophagus and the cervical spine. The wound to the esophagus was well repaired. In conclusion, precautionary measures are needed to avoid the complication, and adequate treatment is necessary to resolve those complications when they occur.