• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• 제4권2호
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• pp.140-145
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• 2002

Neurologic sequelae of tuberculous meningitis include hemiparesis, paraparesis, quadriparesis, aphasia, developmental delay, dementia, blindness, visual field defect, deafness, cranial nerve palsies, epilepsy, and hypothalamic and pituitary dysfunction. But cervical epidural abscess and cervical spondylitis are rare. A 64-year-old woman who was diagnosed as tuberculous meningitis presented a severe neck pain and stiffness after 3 weeks of anti-tuberculous medication. Electromyography and cervical X-ray showed a cervical spondylosis with polyradiculopathy. But cervical MRI showed an acute cervical epidural abscess and mild cervical spondylitis. After continuous anti-tuberculous medication with supportive care, she showed a slow clinical improvement. But about 1 month of anti-tuberculous therapy, she presented a more aggravation of neck pain, neck stiffness, radicular pain, and neck motion limitation. Follow-up cervical MRI showed an more advanced cervical spondylitis. Afterthen she has recovered slowly by cervical laminectomy with posterior stabilization and continuous anti-tuberculous medication.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제9권1호
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• pp.279-282
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• 1996

A 45-year-old male received cervical continuous epidural block for posterior neck pain radiating to right upper extremity secondary to cervical herniated nucleus pulposus. Three days after epidural catheterization, fever, radicular pain and weakness of both upper extremities were developed. On admission, his temperature was $38.3^{\circ}C$ and showed progressive weakness and numbness in both upper and lower extremities. Cervical epidural abscess was suspected; MRI showed an epidural abscess from C4 to C7 level. Within 24 hours of admission, surgical decompression and drainage was effected. Culture of pus obtained at the lesion yielded Staphylococcus aureus. He was treated with intravenous antibiotics for 7 weeks resulting marked improvement of neurologic signs and symptoms.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제51권6호
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• pp.383-387
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• 2012

Spinal epidural abscess, if especially caused by Brucellosis is a very rare disease which is usually a consequence of spondylodiscitis. The spinal column can be affected at any joint; however, the lumbar spine is the most common region, especially at the level of the L4-5 and L5-S1. The frequency of spinal involvement usually seen at the lumbar, thoracic and cervical spine respectively. As an occupational disease in farmers, veterinaries, butchers, laboratory staff and shepherds, brucellosis can also occur by direct contact to animals and infected materials or ingestion of raw cheese, milk or unpasteurized milk products. In this study, we presented two cases with cervical spinal epidural abscess caused by brucella melitensis, which was successfully treated by surgical approach. Initial treatment was combined with antibiotic therapy after the surgery for 3 months.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제10권2호
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• pp.304-307
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• 1997

Continuous epidural infusion, a combination of local anesthetic and opioid, have been widely administered for treatment of chronic cancer pain. A serious complications of epidural block is paraplegia which can also be caused by : direct spinal cord injury, epidural hematoma, epidural abscess, ischemic change, neurotoxicity, preexisting disease. Continuous epidural block for pain control of patient with cervical cancer was performed at $T_{12}/L_1$ interspace. A 4 cm catheter was inserted cephalad into the epidural space. After four months, back pain and motor weariless of lower extremities progressively developed. Spine CT showed bony destruction and soft mass-like lesion at $T_9$ & $T_{12}$ spine. We propose paraplegia was caused by spinal cord compression which resulted from vertebral metastasis of cervical cancer.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제11권1호
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• pp.143-145
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• 1998

There are reports on cervical epidural anesthesia for surgery of neck, chest and upper limb. However, there are limited published data on the specific problems with this procedure, including dural puncture, epidural abscess, and vasovagal syncopes. We experienced two cases of vasovagal syncope during cervical epidural anesthesia in the sitting position. These syncopes consisted of sudden hypotention and bradycardia, associated with nausea, dizzness and sweating. The patients were resuscitated successfully and recovered without any adverse effects. Current literature is being reviewed and the possible mechanisms of cardiac arrest under cervical epidural anesthesia in the sitting position are being discussed.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제29권8호
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• pp.1037-1042
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• 2000

Objective : The goal of this study was to recognize the clinical feature and associated risk factors in spinal epidural abscess(SEA), and to improve the outcome accordingly. Methods : A retrospective study was performed in 14 patients with SEA who underwent surgical intervention at our hospital between 1990 and 1999. Results : After a mean follow-up period of 10.2 months(range, 1-57 months), 8 patients had no or minimal deficits, 4 patients had severe paresis or plegia and/or bowel/bladder dysfunction, and 2 patients died due to medical complications. Staphylococcus aureus was the predominant pathogen, isolated in 9 patients(64.3%). Cervical and thoracic spinal epidural abscesses showed a tendency to develop rapidly and were associated with severe neurological deficits. Conclusion : Thoracic spinal epidural abscesses were associated with a poorer prognosis than those in other regions. Therefore, it should be treated more aggressively. Good neurological recovery can be obtained despite severe neurologic deficit when treated by early diagnosis and prompt surgical intervention.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• 제16권2호
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• pp.86-88
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• 2014

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제8권1호
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• pp.131-134
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• 1995

Hiccup is characterized by a myoclonus in the diaphragm, resulting in a sudden inspiration associated with an audible closure of the glottis. The reflex arc in hiccups comprises three pars: an afferent, a central and an efferent part. The afferent portion of the neural pathway of hiccup formation is composed of the vagus nerve, the phrenic nerve, and the sympathetic chain arising from T6 to T12. The hiccup center is localised in the brain stem and the efferent limb comprises phrenic pathways. All stimuli affecting the above mentioned reflex arc may produce hiccups. The pathogenesis of persistent hiccups is not known. Hiccup can present a symptom of a subphrenic abscess or gastric distention, and metabolic alterations may also cause hiccups. Numerous treatment modalities have been tried but with questionable success. We describe a patient whose persistant hiccups was treated successfully by a cervical epidural block.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• 제54권3호
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• pp.218-220
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• 2021

The simultaneous incidence of infective endocarditis and cervical spondylitis with an epidural abscess is rare, and quadriplegia as a complication after cardiac surgery is very rare. We recently observed quadriplegia after mitral valve replacement in an infective endocarditis patient with cervical spine spondylitis. With early symptom detection, immediate examination, and prompt surgical treatment, the patient successfully recovered without neurological symptoms.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• 제37권2호
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• pp.182-186
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• 2010

Purpose: Intramuscular stimulation (IMS) shows good results in the treatment of chronic pain patients who did not respond to other treatments such as oral analgesics, trigger point injection, nerve block and epidural steroid injection. But, IMS procedure especially, patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) has sometimes serious problem. So, we present a very rare case of intramuscular abscess in the sternocleiomastoid muscle after IMS with literature review. Methods: A 66 year old male visited our department 7 days after IMS in the neck. His premorbid conditions and risk factors of deep neck infection was DM and old age. Computed tomographic scans of the head and neck region were performed in this patient: signs of deep neck infection, were seen enhanced abscess in the sternocleidomastoid muscle, cellulitis overlying tissue of the neck, and air bubbles involved muscle. Necrotic wound was excised serially and we treated this with the Vacuum-assisted closure (VAC, Kinetics Concepts International, San Antonio, Texas) system device. After appropriately shaping the sponge in the pockets, continuous negative pressure of 125 mmHg was applied. The VAC therapy was utilized for a period of 12 days. Results: We obtained satisfactory results from wide excision, drainage of the abscess with the VAC system, and then primary closure. The postoperative course was uneventful. Results: We suggest that many of the infectious complications may be preventable by strict adherence to aseptic techniques and that some of the other complications may be minimized by refining the techniques with a clear understanding of the medical disorders of patients. And, the refined technique using the VAC system can provide a means of simple and effective management for the cervical intramuscular abscess, with better cosmetic and functional results.