• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제25권1호
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• pp.16-21
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• 2012

Background: The C-arm fluoroscope is known as the most important equipment in pain interventions. This study was conducted to investigate the completion rate of education on radiation safety, the knowledge of radiation exposure, the use of radiation protection, and so on. Methods: Unsigned questionnaires were collected from the 27 pain physicians who applied for the final test to become an expert in pain medicine in 2011. The survey was composed of 12 questions about the position of the hospital, the kind of hospital, the use of C-arm fluoroscopy, radiation safety education, knowledge of annual permissible radiation dose, use of radiation protection, and efforts to reduce radiation exposure. Results: In this study, although most respondents (93%) had used C-arm fluoroscopy, only 33% of the physicians completed radiation safety education. Even though nine (33%) had received education on radiation safety, none of the physicians knew the annual permissible radiation dose. In comparing the radiation safety education group and the no-education group, the rate of wearing radiation-protective glasses or goggles and the use of radiation badges or dosimeters were significantly higher in the education group. However, in the use of other protective equipment, knowledge of radiation safety, and efforts to reduce radiation exposure, there were no statistical differences between the two groups. Conclusions: The respondents knew very little about radiation safety and had low interest in their radiation exposure. To make the use of fluoroscopy safer, additional education, as well as attention to and knowledge of practices of radiation safety are required for pain physicians.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제27권2호
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• pp.145-151
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• 2014

Background: The physician's hands are close to the X-ray field in C-arm fluoroscopy-guided pain interventions. We prospectively investigated the radiation attenuation of Proguard RR-2 gloves. Methods: In 100 cases, the effective doses (EDs) of two dosimeters without a radiation-reducing glove were collected. EDs from the two dosimeters-one dosimeter wrapped with a glove and the other dosimeter without a glove-were also measured at the side of the table (Group 1, 140 cases) and at a location 20 cm away from the side of the table (Group 2, 120 cases). Mean differences such as age, height, weight, radiation absorbed dose (RAD), exposure time, ED, and ratio of EDs were analyzed. Results: In the EDs of two dosimeters without gloves, there were no significant differences ($39.0{\pm}36.3{\mu}Sv$ vs. $38.8{\pm}36.4{\mu}Sv$) (P = 0.578). The RAD ($192.0{\pm}182.0radcm^2$) in Group 2 was higher than that ($132.3{\pm}103.5radcm^2$) in Group 1 (P = 0.002). The ED ($33.3{\pm}30.9{\mu}Sv$) of the dosimeter without a glove in Group 1 was higher than that ($12.3{\pm}8.8{\mu}Sv$) in Group 2 (P < 0.001). The ED ($24.4{\pm}22.4{\mu}Sv$) of the dosimeter wrapped with a glove in Group 1 was higher than that ($9.2{\pm}6.8{\mu}Sv$) in Group 2 (P < 0.001). No significant differences were noted in the ratio of EDs ($73.5{\pm}6.7%$ vs. $74.2{\pm}9.3%$, P = 0.469) between Group 1 and Group 2. Conclusions: Proguard RR-2 gloves have a radiation attenuation effect of 25.8-26.5%. The radiation attenuation is not significantly different by intensity of scatter radiation or the different RADs of C-arm fluoroscopy.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• 제37권3호
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• pp.234-236
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• 2011

Traditional surgery to remove foreign bodies in the face carries a risk of postoperative morbidity with an injury to various anatomical structures, particularly the facial nerve and parotid duct and gland. Endoscopy can be a great aid in the removal of foreign bodies in the maxillofacial region. Surgical intervention using endoscope and/,or intraoperative images can be minimized, allowing the safe and precise removal of foreign bodies, and saving operating time. We report a case of the use of an endoscope and C-arm fluoroscopy guidance system to remove a very small foreign body.

• 대한두개안면성형외과학회지
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• 제14권2호
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• pp.96-101
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• 2013

Background: Among facial fractures, nasal bone fracture, zygomatic arch fracture and mandibular subcondyle fracture take a large portion. Among surgical operations for nasal bone fracture, zygomatic arch fracture and mandibular subcondyle fracture, closed reduction has been generally used but, unlike open reduction, there is a problem in evaluating its accuracy of reduction. Methods: An assessment was made from October 2011 until April 2013 prospectively on 37 patients. For all the operations, closed reductions were executed in a conventional way and simultaneously using C-Arm to verify the reduction of fractures. Two images of plain radiography, one taken before operation and another one taken one day after the operation, were compared. After obtaining images of plain radiography using C-Arm immediately after the correction upon operation, they were compared with the images of plain radiography taken one day after the operation. Results: The fracture reductions of 26 patients among 27 nasal fracture patients were satisfactory but one patient showed a marginal overcorrection of less than 1 mm. The fracture reductions of 7 patients among 8 zygomatic arch fracture patients were satisfactory but one patient showed a marginal undercorrection of less than 2 mm. All of two mandibular subcondyle fracture patients showed less than 2 mm undercorrection. Conclusion: Closed reduction guided by C-Arm for nasal bone fracture, zygomatic arch fracture and mandibular subcondyle fracture was clinically useful because it could make a real-time assessment on fractured areas and add immediate corrections during the operation.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제31권4호
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• pp.244-252
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• 2018

C-arm fluoroscopy is useful equipment in interventional pain management because it helps to guide correct needle targeting for the accurate injection and drug delivery. However, due to increased use of C-arm fluoroscopy in various pain procedures, the risk of radiation exposure is a significant concern for pain physicians. The harmful biological effects of ionizing radiation on the human body are well known. It is therefore necessary to strive to reduce radiation exposure. Lead aprons with thyroid shields are the most fundamental radiation protective devices for interventional procedures, and are very effective. However, the operator's radiation safety cannot be guaranteed because pain physicians seem to lack sufficient interest, knowledge, and awareness about radiation safety. Also, inappropriate care and use of radiation protective devices may result in a higher risk of radiation exposure. The purpose of this article was to review the literature on radiation safety with a focus on lead aprons and thyroid shields and present recommendations related to those devices during C-arm fluoroscopic-guided interventions by pain physicians.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제23권1호
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• pp.24-27
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• 2010

Background: Fluoroscopy has been an integral part of modern interventional pain management. Yet fluoroscopy can be associated with risks for the patients and clinicians unless it is managed with appropriate understanding, skill and vigilance. Therefore, this study was designed to determine the amount of radiation received by a primary operator and an assistant during interventional pain procedures that involve the use of fluoroscopy. Methods: In order to examine the amount of radiation, the physicians were monitored by having them wear three thermoluminescent badges during each single procedure, with one under a lead apron, one under the apron collar and one on the leg during each single procedure. The data obtained from each thermoluminescent badge was reviewed from September 2008 to November 2008 and the annual radiation exposure was subsequently calculated. Results: A total of 505 interventional procedures were performed with C-arm fluoroscopy during three months. The results of this study revealed that the annual radiation exposure was relatively low for both the operator and assistant. Conclusions: With proper precautions, the use of fluoroscopy during interventional pain procedures is a safe practice.

• 한국CDE학회논문집
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• 제20권3호
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• pp.263-268
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• 2015

Due to an increased sitting time in work, lumbar disc disease is one of the most frequent diseases in modern days, and this occasionally requires surgery for treatment. Endoscopic disc surgery, one of the common disc surgeries, requires a process of inserting a guide needle to the target disc for which the insertion path is manually planned by drawing lines on the patient's skin while monitoring the fluoroscopic view of the lumbar. Such procedure inevitably exposes both surgeon and patient to the fluoroscopy radiation emitted from the c-arm for a long time. To reduce the radiation exposure time, this study proposes a computer assisted method of calculating the 3D guide needle path by using 2D c-arm images of the disc in 3 different angles. Additionally, a method of the guide robot control based on the 3D needle path was developed by implementing the Hand-eye Calibration method to calculate the transformation matrix between the c-arm and robot base coordinate systems. The proposed system was then tested for its accuracy.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제24권4호
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• pp.199-204
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• 2011

Background: Although many clinicians know about the reducing effects of the pulsed and low-dose modes for fluoroscopic radiation when performing interventional procedures, few studies have quantified the reduction of radiation-absorbed doses (RADs). The aim of this study is to compare how much the RADs from a fluoroscopy are reduced according to the C-arm fluoroscopic modes used. Methods: We measured the RADs in the C-arm fluoroscopic modes including 'conventional mode', 'pulsed mode', 'low-dose mode', and 'pulsed + low-dose mode'. Clinical imaging conditions were simulated using a lead apron instead of a patient. According to each mode, one experimenter radiographed the lead apron, which was on the table, consecutively 5 times on the AP views. We regarded this as one set and a total of 10 sets were done according to each mode. Cumulative exposure time, RADs, peak X-ray energy, and current, which were viewed on the monitor, were recorded. Results: Pulsed, low-dose, and pulsed + low-dose modes showed significantly decreased RADs by 32%, 57%, and 83% compared to the conventional mode. The mean cumulative exposure time was significantly lower in the pulsed and pulsed + low-dose modes than in the conventional mode. All modes had pretty much the same peak X-ray energy. The mean current was significantly lower in the low-dose and pulsed + low-dose modes than in the conventional mode. Conclusions: The use of the pulsed and low-dose modes together significantly reduced the RADs compared to the conventional mode. Therefore, the proper use of the fluoroscopy and its C-arm modes will reduce the radiation exposure of patients and clinicians.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• 제32권6호
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• pp.567-572
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• 2010

Intraoperative breakage of instruments can be occurred unexpectedly. To prevent damage of neighboring important anatomic structures and consequent complications, broken instruments should be removed as soon as possible. There have been several methods to remove broken instruments. One of them is the Carm fluoroscopy which is commonly used for locating metal foreign bodies. However, its application for removal of broken instruments in the oral and maxillofacial area is not common. In our experiences with the removal of two broken instruments in mandibular area, the newly developed dental mini C-arm was used to find broken instrument in soft tissue, because it gives real-time in situ information for the intraoperative location. We report two cases with broken instruments, a broken dental needle in the pterygomandibular space and a broken straight bur in the mandibular angle area. They were identified and could be removed safely using a dental mini C-arm.

• Annals of Rehabilitation Medicine
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• 제42권6호
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• pp.814-821
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• 2018

Objective To suggest rotation angles of fluoroscopy that can bypass the carotid sheath according to vertebral levels for cervical transforaminal epidural steroid injection (TFESI). Methods Patients who underwent cervical spine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) from January 2009 to October 2017 were analyzed. In axial sections of cervical spine MRI, three angles to the vertical line (${\alpha}$, angle not to insult carotid sheath; ${\beta}$, angle for the conventional TFESI; ${\gamma}$, angle not to penetrate carotid artery) were measured. Results Alpha (${\alpha}$) angles tended to increase for upper cervical levels ($53.3^{\circ}$ in C6-7, $65.2^{\circ}$ in C5-6, $75.3^{\circ}$ in C4-5, $82.3^{\circ}$ in C3-4). Beta (${\beta}$) angles for conventional TFESI showed a constant value of $45^{\circ}$ to $47^{\circ}$ ($47.5^{\circ}$ in C6-7, $47.4^{\circ}$ in C5-6, $45.7^{\circ}$ in C4-5, $45.0^{\circ}$ in C3-4). Gamma (${\gamma}$) angles increased at higher cervical levels as did ${\alpha}$ angles ($25.2^{\circ}$ in C6-7, $33.6^{\circ}$ in C5-6, $43.0^{\circ}$ in C4-5, $56.2^{\circ}$ in C3-4). Conclusion The risk of causing injury by penetrating major vessels in the carotid sheath tends to increase at upper cervical levels. Therefore, prior to cervical TFESI, measuring the angle is necessary to avoid carotid vessels in the axial section of CT or MRI, thus contributing to a safer procedure.