• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.273-281
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• 2013

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of motor imagery training on residual upper extremity strength and activities of daily living of chronic cervical spinal cord injury patients. Methods: Twelve ASIA A B patients, who had more than a 12-month duration of illness and C5 or 6 motor nerve injury level, were randomly divided into experimental group (n=6) and control group (n=6). Patients in the experimental group performed motor imagery training for five minutes prior to general muscle strengthening training, while those in the control group performed general muscle strengthening training only. The training was performed five times per week, 30 minutes per day, for a period of four weeks. General muscle strengthening training consisted of a progressive resistive exercise for residual upper extremity. Motor imagery training consisted of imagining this task performance. Before and after the training, EMG activity using BTS Pocket Electromyography and Spinal Cord Independent Measure III(SCIM III) were compared and analyzed. Results: The residual upper extremity muscle strengths showed improvement in both groups after training. Comparison of muscle strength improvement between the two groups showed a statistically significant improvement in the experimental group compared to the control group (p<0.05). SCIM III measurements showed significant improvement in the scores for Self-care and Transfer items in the experimental group. Conclusion: Motor imagery training was more effective than general muscle strengthening training in improving the residual upper extremity muscle strength and activities of daily living of patients with chronic cervical spinal cord injury.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.57-64
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• 1996

Spinal cord injury in child often occurs without evidence of fracture or dislocation. The mechanisms of neural damage in this syndrome of spinal cord injury without radiographic abnormality(SCIWORA) include flexion, hyperextension, longitudinal distraction, and ischemia. Inherent elasticity of the vertebral column in infants and young children, among other age-related anatomical peculiarities, render the pediatric spine exceedingly vulnerable to deforming forces. The neurological lesions encountered in this syndrome include a high incidence of complete and severe partial cord lesions. Children younger than 8years old sustain more serious neurological damage and suffer a larger number of upper cervical cord lesions than children aged over 8 years. Of the children with SCIWORA. 52% have delayed onset of paralysis up to 4 days after injury, and most of these children recall transient paresthesia, numbness, or subjective paralysis. The long-term prognosis in cases of SCIWORA is grim. Most children with complete and severe lesions do not recover; only those with initially mild neural injuries make satisfactory neurological recovery.

• 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.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.12-21
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• 2019

Spinal cord contusion injury is one of the most serious nervous system disorders, characterized by high morbidity and disability. To mimic spinal cord contusion in humans, various animal models of spinal contusion injury have been developed. These models have been developed in rats, mice, and monkeys. However, most of these models are developed using rats. Two types of animal models, i.e. bilateral contusion injury and unilateral contusion injury models, are developed using either a weight drop method or impactor method. In the weight drop method, a specific weight or a rod, having a specific weight and diameter, is dropped from a specific height on to the exposed spinal cord. Low intensity injury is produced by dropping a 5 g weight from a height of 8 cm, moderate injury by dropping 10 g weight from a height of 12.5-25 mm, and high intensity injury by dropping a 25 g weight from a height of 50 mm. In the impactor method, injury is produced through an impactor by delivering a specific force to the exposed spinal cord area. Mild injury is produced by delivering $100{\pm}5kdyn$ of force, moderate injury by delivering $200{\pm}10kdyn$ of force, and severe injury by delivering $300{\pm}10kdyn$ of force. The contusion injury produces a significant development of locomotor dysfunction, which is generally evident from the $0-14^{th}$ day of surgery and is at its peak after the $28-56^{th}$ day. The present review discusses different animal models of spinal contusion injury.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.79-84
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• 2021

The degenerative spinal cord disease cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM), and cervical myelopathy caused by trauma, can result in debilitating symptoms affecting quality of life. This study used acupotomy and other Korean medicine treatments (acupuncture, herbal medicine, and physical therapy) to improve the symptoms of CSM and cervical myelopathy. The visual analog scale, the modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association scale (mJOA scale), the Nurick grading system, and the American Spinal Injury Association impairment scale were used as the evaluation criteria to determine the effectiveness of treatment. The functional status of both patients improved from mild to moderate, with improved gait, local sensation, and level of pain. The degree of spinal cord injury remained the same. The findings of this study suggest that combined Korean medicine treatments including acupotomy may be helpful in the treatment of CSM and cervical myelopathy.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.151-156
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• 2013

Purpose: Traumatic cervical SCI is frequently accompanied by dural tear and the resulting cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak after surgery can be troublesome and delay rehabilitation with increasing morbidity. This study evaluated the incidence of intraoperative CSF leaks in patients with traumatic cervical spinal cord injury (SCI) who underwent anterior cervical surgery and described the reliable management of CSF leaks during the perioperative period. Methods: A retrospective study of medical records and radiological images was done on patients with CSF leaks after cervical spine trauma. Results: Seven patients(13.2%) were identified with CSF leaks during the intraoperative period. All patients were severely injured and showed structural abnormalities on the initial magnetic resonance image (MRI) of the cervical spine. Intraoperatively, no primary repair of dural tear was attempted because of a wide, rough defect size. Therefore, fibrin glue was applied to the operated site in all cases. Although a wound drainage was inserted, it was stopped within the first 24 hours after the operation. No lumbar drainage was performed. Postoperatively, the patients should kept their heads in an elevated position and early ambulation and rehabilitation were encouraged. None of the patients developed complications related to CSF leaks during admission. Conclusion: The incidence of CSF leaks after surgery for cervical spinal trauma is relatively higher than that of cervical spinal stenosis. Therefore, one should expect the possibility of a dural tear and have a simple and effective management protocol for CSF leaks in trauma cases established.

• Therapeutic Science for Rehabilitation
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.63-77
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• 2018

Objective : The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of task-oriented training with functional electrical stimulation on hand function in incomplete cervical cord injury. Method : The subjects of the study were 3 adults diagnosed as incomplete cervical cord injury. The design of this study was ABA single-subject research design to compare dominant hand function of before and after intervention and detect individual effects. The experiment consisted of 30sessions, in which baseline process A1 and A2 were implemented 5 sessions each for 10sessions. Intervention B was implemented 20 sessions. The dependent variable was converted to the change of hand function every session, and Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM), Jebsen-Taylor Hand Function Test(JTHFT), Wolf Motor Function Test(WMFT) were selected for outcome measurements. Result analysis was suggested through visual analysis using a graph and comparison of pre, post and follow-up intervention measurements. Results : As a result, the quality and quantity of dominant hand function increased during intervention B compared to the baseline A1 for all subjects. Baseline A2 was also maintained without training. Additionally, JTHFT, WMFT and COPM scores demonstrated improvement and maintain. The follow up JTHFT and WMFT showed increased required time on all subjects and decrease or maintain task performance and satisfaction in COPM. Conclusion : The task-oriented training with function electrical stimulation in this study has been positive effects on hand function and task performance and satisfaction.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.209-217
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• 2018

Purpose: The objective of this study was to obtain improved susceptibility weighted images (SWI) of the cervical spinal cord using respiratory-induced artifact compensation. Materials and Methods: The artifact from $B_0$ fluctuations by respiration could be compensated using a double navigator echo approach. The two navigators were inserted in an SWI sequence before and after the image readouts. The $B_0$ fluctuation was measured by each navigator echoes, and the inverse of the fluctuation was applied to eliminate the artifact from fluctuation. The degree of compensation was quantified using a quality index (QI) term for compensated imaging using each navigator. Also, the effect of compensation was analyzed according to the position of the spinal cord using QI values. Results: Compensation using navigator echo gave the improved visualization of SWI in cervical spinal cord compared to non-compensated images. Before compensation, images were influenced by artificial noise from motion in both the superior (QI = 0.031) and inferior (QI = 0.043) regions. In most parts of the superior regions, the second navigator resulted in better quality (QI = 0.024, P < 0.01) compared to the first navigator, but in the inferior regions the first navigator showed better quality (QI = 0.033, P < 0.01) after correction. Conclusion: Motion compensation using a double navigator method can increase the improvement of the SWI in the cervical spinal cord. The proposed method makes SWI a useful tool for the diagnosis of spinal cord injury by reducing respiratory-induced artifact.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.129-136
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• 2015

Background: Pain is one of the most important consequences of spinal cord injury (SCI). It may affect several aspects of life, especially the quality of life (QoL). Hence, this study was conducted to establish an understanding of pain and its correlates and effects on patients with SCI in our community. Methods: In a cross-sectional study, 58 male veterans suffering from SCI were admitted to our center for a regular follow-up. Demographic and SCI-related descriptive information were gathered using a self-reported questionnaire. To evaluate the patients' pain quality and the effect of pain on daily life, a questionnaire in 3 parts of lumbar, cervical and shoulder pain was administered. EuroQoL questionnaire and General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) 12 were also used to assess the patients' QoL. Results: The mean age of the participants was $45.91{\pm}6.69$ with mean injury time of $25.54{\pm}5.91$. forty-four patients (75.9%) reported pain, including lumbar pain (63%), cervical pain (39%) and shoulder pain (51%). The presence of pain was associated with lower QoL. Patients with lumbar pain reported a significant amount of pain affecting their daily life and this effect was higher in patients with lower GHQ score or anxiety/depressive disorder. Conclusions: Musculoskeletal pain, is a common complaint in veterans with SCI and is inversely associated with functioning and general health status. Lumbar and shoulder pain affects patient's daily living more than cervical pain.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.201-209
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• 2003

Objective : Recently, Seguele of Traffic Accident patients are increasing, especially cervical injury bring only severe sequela but also mortal damage to the patient. In treatment of the disease, the east medical treatment is another effective method. Methods : The patient resisted the west theraphy improved greatly in movement and sensation by acupuncture, moxibustion, herb medication and Physical treatment. In MRI, The treatment result is proved. Acupuncture on Stomach Meridian(足陽明胃經) referring to Naijing(內經) is thought effective. Results : Tetraplegia by Traffic Accident is considered as Wei Symptom in term of the east medicine, By means of radial and physical study of the patient treated by the east medicine, we are conviced that the east medicine is the excellent method Conclusions : Referring to the past documentary data, The only Treatment on this disease is Surgical operation, but the operation isn't the successful one because seg. of spinal cord injury is mortal. The east treatment, acupuncture, moxibustion herb medication and physical treatment isn't only effective but also satisfactory. In the future, The study on this disease by the east medicine should be made thoroughly.