• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.29 no.7
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• pp.904-909
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• 2000

Objectives : Most cases of cervical ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament(OPLL) present with myelopathy or myeloradiculopathy, which sometimes is further complicated by minor trauma to the spinal cord. The main purpose of surgery in these patients is the alleviation symptoms but also as protection against further deterioration. The purpose of this study is to analyze the influence of trauma on the surgical outcome in patients with cervical OPLL. Methods : Over the past 13 years, we have operated on 123 patients with myelopathy associated with cevical OPLL. Among these, thirty patients had cervical cord injury associated with major or minor trauma and their clinical and radiographic data were reviewed retrosepctively. Results : As to cause of trauma, seventeen were related with traffic accident and 13 were related with minor slipping injury. The pre- and post-operative motor power were significantly weaker in the patients with trauma, but the degree of motor improvement was significantly higher(trauma group : $0.90{\pm}1.49$, non-trauma group : $0.41{\pm}0.80$). Conclusion : These results indicate that even indirect minor trauma to the cervical spine can cause irreversible changes to the spinal cord if this is associated with underlying cervical stenosis with OPLL. Although less favorable results may be anticipated in patients with trauma, operative decompression could improve motor power and protect further deterioration.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.60 no.5
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• pp.485-497
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• 2017

Surgical treatment of the degenerative disc disease has evolved from traditional open spine surgery to minimally invasive spine surgery including endoscopic spine surgery. Constant improvement in the imaging modality especially with introduction of the magnetic resonance imaging, it is possible to identify culprit degenerated disc segment and again with the discography it is possible to diagnose the pain generator and pathological degenerated disc very precisely and its treatment with minimally invasive approach. With improvements in the optics, high resolution camera, light source, high speed burr, irrigation pump etc, minimally invasive spine surgeries can be performed with various endoscopic techniques for lumbar, cervical and thoracic regions. Advantages of endoscopic spine surgeries are less tissue dissection and muscle trauma, reduced blood loss, less damage to the epidural blood supply and consequent epidural fibrosis and scarring, reduced hospital stay, early functional recovery and improvement in the quality of life & better cosmesis. With precise indication, proper diagnosis and good training, the endoscopic spine surgery can give equally good result as open spine surgery. Initially, endoscopic technique was restricted to the lumbar region but now it also can be used for cervical and thoracic disc herniations. Previously endoscopy was used for disc herniations which were contained without migration but now days it is used for highly up and down migrated disc herniations as well. Use of endoscopic technique in lumbar region was restricted to disc herniations but gradually it is also used for spinal canal stenosis and endoscopic assisted fusion surgeries. Endoscopic spine surgery can play important role in the treatment of adolescent disc herniations especially for the persons who engage in the competitive sports and the athletes where less tissue trauma, cosmesis and early functional recovery is desirable. From simple chemonucleolysis to current day endoscopic procedures the history of minimally invasive spine surgery is interesting. Appropriate indications, clear imaging prior to surgery and preplanning are keys to successful outcome. In this article basic procedures of percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy through transforaminal and interlaminar routes, percutaneous endoscopic cervical discectomy, percutaneous endoscopic posterior cervical foraminotomy and percutaneous endoscopic thoracic discectomy are discussed.

• Journal of the Korean Orthopaedic Association
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• v.56 no.6
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• pp.512-518
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• 2021

Purpose: This study compared the change in foraminal space on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and the clinical outcome after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) versus foraminotomy in cervical foraminal stenosis. Materials and Methods: A retrospective case-control study was conducted from January 2018 to March 2019 on 186 patients who underwent ACDF and foraminotomy. One hundred and two cases were selected considering age, sex, and body mass index. MRI was performed before and on the 5^th day after surgery to compare the changes in the foraminal diameter between the ACDF group (group A-51) and foraminotomy group (group B-51). Results: Between groups A and B, the average change in foraminal vertical diameter was 1.7 mm and 1.2 mm, respectively; group A was 0.5 mm larger difference (p=0.042). The average change in foraminal transverse diameter was 1.2 mm and 1.8mm, respectively; group B showed a 0.6 mm larger change (p=0.21). Both the neck disability index (NDI) and Japanese orthopaedic association (JOA) scores improved in both groups. Group A showed more improvement, but there was no significant difference (p=0.356, p=0.607, respectively). Conclusion: Foraminotomy is a useful option for patients with foraminal stenosis of the cervical spine because it showed comparable clinical and morphological results to ACDF and could minimize motion segment loss and muscle and ligament damage.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.28 no.10
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• pp.954-962
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• 1995

Extended lymph node dissection, which includes dissection of the cervical and superior mediastinal nodes[three-field dissection , has been performed to improve the long-term survival since 1982 in Japan. Recently, the 5-year survival rate after three-field dissection has been reported to be better than 40%. During the period, from April to June, 1995, 4 patients among 7 operable esophageal cancer patients underwent subtotal esophagectomy with systematic dissection of regional lymph nodes including superior mediastinal and cervical lymph nodes at St. Mary`s Hospital. The esophagogastric anastomoses were made in the neck and the ascending routes of gastric tube were posterior mediastinal route. The cancer stage of them were stage IIA & IIB and it was possible to operate on a curability II & III basis. The numbers of resected lymph nodes with the three field dissection were 40-55. Postoperative complications were transient recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis and atelectasis in 2 patients respectively but there was no anastomotic leak nor stenosis.

• Proceedings of the KSMRM Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.97-97
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• 2003

Contrast-enhanced MR angiography (CE-MRA) gradually occupies its position as a primary evaluation tool forsteno-occlusive disease of supra-aortic cervical arteries. It has several advantages over time-of-flight (TOF) technique such as shorter imaging time, less saturation effect, and less flow- and motion-related artifacts. Diverse methods of k-space sampling, imaging sequences, and strategies for image acquisitiontiming have been introduced since its early clinical application. Especially, methods of k-space sampling and image acquisition timing are very important to achieve maximal arterial enhancement and suppress venous signal while maintaining large scan coverage and high spatial resolution. In addition, regardless of several advantages over TOF technique, it still has a tendency to overestimate the degree of stenosis in patients with carotid or vertebralartery disease. In this exhibit, we will overview the current techniques of CE-MRA with special attention to methods of k-space sampling and image acquisition timing. We will also discuss diagnostic accuracy of CE-MRA in patients with supra-aortic cervical artery stenosis and artifacts frequently misinterpreted as steno-occlusive lesion on CE-MRA.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.39 no.12 s.269
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• pp.920-926
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• 2006

Background: Mortality and morbidity of anastomotic complications after esophagectomy have gradually decreased in recent years. However, swallowing difficulties and reflux symptoms after esophagogastrostomy continue to be a burden jeopardizing the quality of life. In the present study, we evaluated the quality of esophagogastrostomy by analyzing anastomotic stenosis and reflux esophagitis. Material and Method: A retrospective analysis was made in 74 patients who underwent esophagogastrostomy after esophagectomy by one surgeon between January 1995 and December 2004. 53 patients of them received endoscopic examination during follow-up($29{\pm}23.6$ months, range $5{\sim}111$ months). Reflux esophagitis and stenosis at anastomostic site were analyzed according to the techniques and locations of esophagogastrostomy. Result: The median age at the time of repair was $60.3{\pm}8.87$ years(range $39{\sim}81$ years). 23 patients received a hand-sewn esophagogastric anastomosis and 30 patients a circular stapled one. There was no significant statistical difference in terms of anastomotic stenosis(p=0.64) and reflux esophagitis(p=0.41) between the two groups. Cervical anastomosis was peformed in 26 patients and intrathoracic anastomosis in 27 patients. No significant statistical difference in anastomotic stenosis between the two groups was found(p=0.44), but reflux esophagitis was noted in 3 patients in the cervical anastomosis group and 14 patients in the intrathoracic anastomosis group(p=0.003). Conclusion: Cervical anastomosis was supposed to have a better quality of esophagogastrostomy by lowering the risk of reflux esophagitis. In the future, the comprehensive study including a patient's subjective symptom and Barrett's metaplasia should be performed in larger cases.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.311-316
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• 2007

Objective : The objective of this study is to investigate the safety, surgical efficacy, and advantages of a polyaxial screw-rod system for posterior occipitocervicothoracic arthrodesis. Methods : Charts and radiographs of 32 patients who underwent posterior cervical fixation between October 2004 and February 2006 were retrospectively reviewed. Posterior cervical polyaxial screw-rod fixation was applied on the cervical spine and/or upper thoracic spine. The surgical indication was fracture or dislocation in 18, C1-2 ligamentous injury with trauma in 5, atlantoaxial instability by rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) in 4, cervical spondylosis with myelopathy in 4, and spinal metastatic tumor in 1. The patients were followed up and evaluated based on their clinical status and radiographs at 1, 3, 6 months and 1 year after surgery. Results : A total of 189 screws were implanted in 32 patients. Fixation was carried out over an average of 3.3 spinal segment (range, 2 to 7). The mean follow-up interval was 20.2 months. This system allowed for screw placement in the occiput, C1 lateral mass, C2 pars, C3-7 lateral masses, as well as the lower cervical and upper thoracic pedicles. Satisfactory bony fusion and reduction were achieved and confirmed in postoperative flexion-extension lateral radiographs and computed tomography (CT) scans in all cases. Revision surgery was required in two cases due to deep wound infection. One case needed a skin graft due to necrotic change. There was one case of kyphotic change due to adjacent segmental degeneration. There were no other complications, such as cord or vertebral artery injury, cerebrospinal fluid leak, screw malposition or back-out, or implant failure, and there were no cases of postoperative radiculopathy due to foraminal stenosis. Conclusion : Posterior cervical stabilization with a polyaxial screw-rod system is a safe and reliable technique that appears to offer several advantages over existing methods. Further biomechanical testings and clinical experiences are needed in order to determine the true benefits of this procedure.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.194-200
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• 2001

Object : Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion is accepted as appropriate surgical intervention for disease processes of the ventral cervical spine. In some cases, however, improvement of symptom following operation develop myelopathy or rhizopathy at longterm follow-up. We studied to clarify the correlation between clinical results and plain radiologic findings at long term follow-up. Methods : A total of 86 patients who underwent anterior cervical discectomy and fusion were grouped into deteriorated and good recovery group. These two groups were compared in lateral functional roentgenograms on the cervical kyphosis and disc height at fused level, sagittal plane rotation and dynamic sagittal canal diameter at adjacent level. Results : The presence of cervical kyphosis and disc height at fused level do not correlate with long term followup results. Sagittal plane rotation of more than 20 degrees were identified in 36% of the cases in deteriorated group, whereas the same findings were identified in 15% of the cases in good group. Sagittal diameter of less than 12mm were identified in 48% of the cases in deteriorated group, whereas the same finding were identified in 8% of the cases in good group. Preoperatively, sagittal plane rotation of more than 20 degrees at adjacent level were identified in 28% of the cases in deteriorated group, whereas the same findings were identified in 13% of the cases in good group. Preoperatively sagittal diameter of less than 12mm at adjacent level were identified in 40% of the cases in deteriorated group, whereas the same finding were identified in 7% of the cases in good group. Conclusion : Large sagittal plane rotation and small dynamic sagittal diameter at adjacent level were factors that might be associated with later clinical deterioration after cervical anterior fusion.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.488-491
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• 2009

A 31-year-old man presented with right hemiparesis, and magnetic resonance imaging revealed a small infarct at left basal ganglia. Digital subtraction angiography showed left cervical internal carotid artery (ICA) occlusion and severe stenosis of the ipsilateral external carotid artery (ECA) with collateral cerebral circulation fed by ECAs. Based on the results of a functional evaluation of cerebral blood flow, we performed preventive ECA angioplasty and stenting for advanced ECA stenosis to ensure sufficient blood flow to the superficial temporal artery. Eight weeks later, superficial temporal artery to middle cerebral artery (STA-MCA) anastomosis was performed. His postoperative course was uneventful and no additional transient ischemic attacks have occurred. To our knowledge, this is the first report of preventive angioplasty and stenting for advanced narrowing of an ECA before STA-MCA anastomosis for ipsilateral ICA occlusion.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.584-593
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• 1983

Esophageal reconstruction was performed in 344 patients with irreversible stricture of the esophagus resulting from caustic burns at National Medical Center from 1959 to 1982.There were 113 males and 231 females, and ranging from 2.5 to 58 years of age, and mean age was 26.5 years, and 25 cases were less than 10 years old. Caustic materials were 286 [83.2%] alkali and 50[14.5%] acid. The most frequent stricture site was upper thoracic esophagus as 56.7%, and the next was cervical as 31.4%, and lower, 11.9%. The stomach was involved in 10.8% totally, and hypopharyngeal stricture was also noticed in 3.2%, and in 3 cases, hypopharyngeal reconstruction was needed due to extensive scar change. In 329 of total 344 cases, colon interposition was performed without resection of the strictured esophagus except 4 cases which were complicated T-E fistula or perforation, and most of them, about 10-15 cm of terminal ileum with right half of the colon was used as the graft. The left colon with anti-peristalsis was used as graft only in 30 cases. The most common postoperative complication was anastomotic leak as 16.7% of total cases, and it was 12.5% from neck, 3.3% from ileocolostoma and 0.9% from cologastrostoma. Next common complication was neck stenosis [8.8%], aspiration pneumonia [6.4%], and graft necrosis [3.9%] in order. Overall operative mortality was 5.5% [14/329], and main causes of death were graft necrosis, sepsis due to anastomotic leak, gastric bleeding, and intestinal obstruction. Besides of colon interposition, according to shape or level of the stricture, plastic repair or segmental resection and direct anastomosis was done in 9, and 1 of them were complicated stenosis at the anastomotic site. In lower stricture, esophagogastrostomy was done in 10 cases, and 1 case expired due to hepatitis, and anastomotic stenosis was occurred in 2 cases at 1.5 months and 2.4 years later. During follow-up of 298 cases colon interposition from 6 months to 22 years, 82.6% was excellent, and 2.9% was complained of mild discomfort, and 4 cases were dead laterly, but 3 of them were not related to reconstruction.