• PNF and Movement
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.115-121
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• 2014

Purpose: The study aimed to examine the influence of PNF direct and indirect breathing treatments for patients with cervical spinal cord injuries who had breathing problems. Methods: For each cervical spinal cord patient, force vital capacity (FVC), peak expiratory flow, maximum phonation time (MPT), rib cage width, and VAS were measured pre-intervention and four weeks after post-intervention. The indirect method and the direct method were used for interventions. We treated patients with the indirect method using scapular anterior depression pattern, bilateral extensor pattern with rhythmic initiation, and a combination of isotonic. We treated patients with the direct method, applying pressure on the sternum and using rhythmic initiation (hold relax and stretch reflex) for the rib cage. Training occurred for 50 minutes a day and three days per week for four weeks. Results: FVC, MPT, peak expiratory flow, and rib cage width were increased and decreased at the VAS point for rolling after treatment. Conclusion: Patients with cervical spinal cord injuries who had breathing problems felt uncomfortable when they had conversations on a couch. We found that PNF direct and indirect treatments improved rib cage width and breathing functions of patients with cervical spinal cord injuries.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 1999

Surgical treatment was performed on the 39 cases out of 76 cases of entrapments of the thoracic outlet. The remaining 36 cases of entrapments were treated by conservatively. The operated cases were categorized as follows. They were 34 cases of scalenus anticus syndrome, 1 of cervical rib syndrome, 2 of costoclavicular syndrome, and 2 of hyperabduction syndrome. 1. Scalenus anticus syndrome : Anterior scalenotomy was performed by simple sectioning of the attachment to the first rib. 2. Cervical rib syndrome : Complete decompressive resection of cervical rib sometimes required both anterior and posterior approaches to avoid over-retraction of the brachial plexus. 3. Costoclavicular syndrome : Partial decompressive claviculectomy was undergone instead of conventional total claviculectomy. 4. Hyperabduction syndrome : The resection of coracoid process was performed as well as conventional tenotomy of pectoralis minor muscle to insure free up-and-down moving of neurovascular bundle at the time of hyperabduction. Every diagnostic maneuver was tested at the time of operation to observe whether or not neurovascular decompression including restoration of radial pulse was sufficient. Despite of the postoperative vascular restoration was inmediate, neurogenic symptoms were improved slowly. Because this entity is essentially chronic nerve injnry, its recovery needed a couple of months or several. Although improvement was slow, ultimate results were definite. Complication was not observed.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.9-15
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• 2009

The purpose of this study was to examine contraction of abdominal muscles on surface electromyographic (EMG) activity of superficial cervical flexors, rib cage elevation and angle of craniocervical flexion during deep cervical flexion exercise in supine position. Fifteen healthy subjects were participated for this study. All subjects performed deer cervical flexion exercise with two methods. The positions of two methods were no volitional contraction of abdominal muscles in hook-lying position with 45 degree hip flexion (method 1) and 90 degrees hip and knee flexion with feet off floor for inducing abdominal muscle contraction (method 2). Surface EMG activities were recorded from five muscles (sternocleidmastoid, anterior scaleneus, recuts abdominis, external oblique, internal oblique). And distance of rib cage elevation and angle of craniocervical flexion were measured using a three dimensional motion analysis system. The EMG activity of each muscle was normalized to the value of reference voluntary contraction (%RVC). The EMG activities, distance of rib cage elevation. and angle of craniocervical were compared using a paired t-test between two methods. The results showed that the EMG activities of sternocleidmastoid and anterior scaleneus during deep cervical flexion exercise in method 2 were significantly decreased compared to method 1 (p<.05). Distance of rib cage elevation and angle of craniocervical flexion were significantly decreased in method 2 (p<.05). The findings of this study indicated that deep cervical flexion exercise with contraction of abdominal muscles could be an effective method to prevent substitute motion for rib cage elevation and contraction of superficial neck flexor muscles.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.28-32
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• 2009

True neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome (NTOS) is an extremely rare condition, probably occurring with an incidence of one per million. It is often misdiagnosed as carpal tunnel syndrome or benign focal amyotrophy, and careful clinical examination, electrodiagnostic studies, and imaging studies are essential for the correct diagnosis. Here, we report a 23-year-old woman with slowly progressive weakness and atrophy of abductor pollicis brevis who were found to have NTOS caused by cervical rib.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.45-53
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• 2000

Background: The literature on variations of rib is limited. Very little has been written in the radiological journal of this country on the subject. It seemed of interest to investigate the nature and incidence of congenital variations in a series of routine chest roentgenograms. The topic of rib variations has not been covered extensively in the radiological journals in Korea. This has presented an opportunity to investigate the nature, type, shape and incidences of congenital rib variations in normal Korean adults from a series of routine roentgenograms. Methods: Chest radiographs of 5,000 adults, who visited our hospital for a routine check-up or for employment physical examinations from January 1996 to September 1998, were consecutively reviewed. The sex distribution consisted of 2,827 male males and 2,173 female females(ratio of 1.3:1) with the age range aged between 19 and 65 years(mean age: 34.6 years) were included. The chest PAs were analyzed for the presence, type, location, and shape of the rib variations. From this data the incidence of each type of variations was calculated. Results: Seventy-six of the 5,000 adults(1.52%), 63 male(2.23%) and 13 female(0.6%), showed 88 cases of rib variation(Table 1). The most common variation was the bifid rib(n=35), followed by hypoplasia of the rib(n=22), flaring of the rib(n=18), bridging of the ribs(n=7), cervical ribs(n=3), and fusion of between ribs(n=3)(Table 2). The bifid rib(Table 1) was found most frequent in the right fourth rib(12/35, 34.3%), followed by the left fifth rib(6/35, 17.1%) and right third rib(6/35, 17.1%). Hypoplasia of the rib was common in first rib(20/22, 90.9%). Flaring of the rib was common at fourth rib(8/18, 44.4%, right and left combined), and bridging between ribs was common between first and second rib(3/7, 42.9%). Conclusion : The percentage of incidence of rib variations in adults was 1.52%. Bifid rib was the most common variation, followed by hypoplasia, flaring, bridging, cervical rib, and fusion of ribs, in decreasing order.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.26 no.7
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• pp.586-590
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• 1993

Thoracic Outlet syndrome is defined to compression of the subclavian vessels and brachial plexus at the superior aperture of the thorax. It was previously designed due to presumable etiologies such as scalenus anticus, costoclavicular, hyperabduction, cervical rib or first rib syndromes. We experienced a case of thoracic outlet syndrome[scalene anticus syndrome] .Patient has been suffered from swelling and numbness of the right forearm and hand for 2 years. Diagnosis was made by preoperative selective angiography. Scalenus anticus and medius muscle resction and first rib resection was done with transaxillary approach. Postoperative course was not eventful.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.31 no.9
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• pp.903-906
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• 1998

A 17-year-old-boy with a bilateral incomplete cervical rib, upon abduction of his left arm at 45 degrees, had immediately begun to show symptoms of severe tingling, claudication, pallor, and weakness of his left upper extremity. These symptoms were aggravated at 90 degrees, leaving him debilitated from his work in the printing office. Transfemoral positional subclavian arteriography revealed total occlusion of the subclavian artery immediately distal to a cervical rib during 90 degrees abduction. Resection of the anterior scalene and medial aspect of the middle scalene muscles, cervical and first ribs, and arteriolysis were performed via a combined supraclavicular and infraclavi cular approach. He has returned to work as a printer with marked relief of symptoms and has remained asymptomatic over follow-up periods of 10 months.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.506-508
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• 1994

Thoracic outlet syndrome refers to compression of the subclavian vessels and brachial plexus at the superior aperture of the thorax. A 35-year old female was evaluated for right hand numbness. This patient had a history of headache, right shoulder pain, and right hand numbness during 10 months.Preoperative angiography, EMG, and NCV was performed. First rib and cervical rib resection was done with transaxillary approach. After operation, right hand numbness and right shoulder pain were disappeared. Postoperative course was uneventful.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.206-208
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• 1995

Thoracic outlet syndrome presents with symptoms resulting from pressure on either the subclavian vessels or the lower trunk of the brachial plexus. It may be caused by a number of abnormalities, including degenerative or bony disorders, trauma to the cervical spine, fibromuscular bands, vascular abnormalities, and spasm of the anterior scalene muscle. We experienced a case of thoracic outlet syndrome [ caused by cervical rib .We report a case with review of literatures.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.563-566
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• 1988

Thoracic outlet syndrome refers to compression of the subclavian vessels and brachial plexus at the superior aperture of the thorax. it was previously designated according to presumable etiologies such as scalenus anticus, costoclavicular, hyperabduction, cervical rib and first thoracic rib syndromes. We experienced a case of thoracic outlet syndrome[costoclavicular syndrome] which was caused by posttraumatic left clavicular fracture. Patient had suffered from swelling and cyanosis of left forearm and hand. preoperative vascular doppler test, angiography and venography were performed. First rib resection was done with transaxillary approach. After operation preoperative cyanosis and swelling of left forearm and hand were disappeared. Postoperative course was uneventful.