• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.33-36
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• 2016

Cervical emphysema and Spontaneous pneumomediastinum is an uncommon disease. Cervical emphysema is mainly caused by trauma or head and neck surgery. Here, we report a case of cervical emphysema and spontaneous pneumomediastinum in a 15-year-old man. This case emphasizes that cervical swelling patients with negative inflammation findings should be scrutinized for cervical emphysema and spontaneous pneumomediastinum.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.56 no.2
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• pp.121-129
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• 2014

Objectives : Patients with cervical ossification of posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) are susceptible to cord injury, which often develops into myelopathic symptoms. However, little is known regarding the prognostic factors that are involved in minor trauma. We evaluated the relationship between minor trauma and neurological outcome of OPLL and investigated the prognostic factors with a focus on compressive factors and intramedullary signal intensity (SI). Methods : A total of 74 patients with cervical myelopathy caused by OPLL at more than three-levels were treated with posterior decompression surgeries. We surveyed the space available for spinal cord (SAC), the severity of SI change on T2-weighted image, and diabetes mellitus (DM). The neurological outcome using Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) scale was assessed at admission and at 12-month follow-up. Results : Among the variables tested, preoperative JOA score, severity of intramedullary SI, SAC, and DM were significantly related to neurological outcome. The mean preoperative JOA were $11.3{\pm}1.9$ for the 41 patients who did not have histories of trauma and $8.0{\pm}3.1$ for the 33 patients who had suffered minor traumas (p<0.05). However, there were no significant differences in the recovery ratios between those two groups. Conclusions : Initial neurological status and high intramedullary SI in the preoperative phase were related to poorer postoperative outcomes. Moreover, the patients with no histories of DM and larger SACs exhibited better improvement than did the patients with DM and smaller SACs. Although the initial JOA scores were worse for the minor trauma patients than did those who had no trauma prior to surgery, minor trauma exerted no direct effects on the surgical outcomes.

• 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 Trauma and Injury
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.279-283
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• 2021

Traumatic spinal cord infarction is a rare condition that causes serious paralysis. The regulation of spinal cord blood flow in injured spinal cords remains unknown. Spinal cord infarction or ischemia has been reported after cardiovascular interventions, scoliosis correction, or profound hypotension. In this case, a 52-year-old man revisited the emergency center with motor and sensory abnormalities in all four extremities 56 hours after a motor vehicle collision. Despite the clinical presentation and imaging examination, there were no specific findings on the patient's first visit to the trauma center. Cervical spine computed tomography angiography showed a narrow vertebral artery, and diffusion-weighted imaging revealed spinal cord infarction from C3 to C5 with high signal intensity. It should be kept in mind that delayed-onset spinal cord infarction may occur in minor or major trauma patients as a result of head and neck injuries.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.294-297
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• 2010

Abnormalities of the posterior arch, including congenitally absent cervical pedicle and cervical spondylolysis, are rare entities that are usually found incidentally on neck radiographs. It is important to recognize these characteristic radiological features because their radiographic appearance may cause them to be confused with more serious entities such as fractures, locked facets, and tumor-induced bony erosions. Also, it is important to distinguish these abnormalities from similar pathologies to prevent the use of inappropriate treatment We report the relevant clinical and radiological findings seen in three cases of posterior arch defect after trauma with review of pertinent literature.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.26 no.8
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• pp.661-663
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• 1993

We have experienced 6 cases of esophageal perforation from September, 1988 to June, 1993, in the department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Chungang Univesity Hospital and obtained the following results. The number of male patients was 5, and female 1.The causes of esophageal perforations were spontaneous, post-emetic in 2 cases, spur of cervical spine in 1 case, foreign body in 1 case, surgical trauma in 1 case and blunt trauma in 1 case. Perforation developed in cervical esophagus in I case,and others in distal third of the esophagus. One case needed only conservative treatment, and others needed surgical intervention minor or major. There were 2 mortality cases, and 2 cases healed satisfactorily without complication, 2 cases had complications that needed reoperations.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.411-415
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• 2023

An odontoid process fracture is a serious type of cervical spine injury. This injury is categorized into three types based on the location of the fracture. Severe or even fatal neurological deficits can occur due to associated cord injury, which can result in complete quadriplegia. Computed tomography is the primary diagnostic tool, while magnetic resonance imaging is used to evaluate any associated cord injuries. These injuries can occur either directly from the injury or during transportation to the hospital if mishandled. There are two main treatment approaches: surgical fixation or external nonsurgical fixation, with various types and models of fixation devices available. In this case study, computed tomography follow-up confirmed that external fixation can yield successful results in terms of complete healing, even in cases complicated by other factors that may impede healing, such as pregnancy.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.95-106
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• 1990

Between May 1979 and April 1989, 213 patients with esophageal injuries visited the Department of the Thoracic and cardiovascular surgery Department, Yonsei University College of Medicine. There were 159 non perforated esophageal injuries accompanied by hematemesis, and 54 perforated esophageal injuries. The causes of non perforated esophageal injuries were Mallory-Weise Syndrome [%], corrosive esophagitis [54], esophageal carcinoma [4], foreign bodies [2], sclerotherapy due to esophageal varices [3]. The causes of perforated esophageal injuries were esophageal anastomosis[13], malignancies[17], esophagoscopy or bougienage[5], chest trauma[5], foreign bodies[5], paraesophageal surgery[3], others[6] In esophageal perforation due to foreign bodies, esophagoscopy or bougienage, there were 6 cervical esophageal perforations and 9 thoracic esophageal perforations. There were no mortalities in the treatment of the cervical esophageal perforations and 5 deaths resulted in the treatment of 9 thoracic esophageal perforations. And four of six patients with thoracic esophageal perforations died in the initiation of treatment over 24 hours, after trauma. There were another 12 deaths in the patients with chest trauma, malignancies or chronic inflammation except esophageal injuries due to foreign bodies or instruments during the hospital stay or less than 30 days after esophageal injuries. One patient with esophageal carcinoma died due to bleeding and respiratory failure after irradiation. Another patient with esophago gastrostomy due to esophageal carcinoma died of sepsis due to EG site leakage. One patient with a mastectomy due to breast cancer followed by irradiation died of sepsis due to an esophagopleural fistula. Two patients with Mallory-Weiss syndrome died; of hemorrhagic shock in one and of respiratory failure due to massive transfusion in the other. One patient with TEF died of respiratory failure and another died of pneumonia and respiratory failure. One patient with esophageal perforation due to blunt chest trauma died of brain damage accompanied with chest trauma.

• Korean Journal of Bronchoesophagology
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.96-100
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• 2003

Retrophayngeal hematomas frequently develop in patients who had cervical vertebra fracture. The hematoma develops in the space between buccopharyngeal fascia and prevertebral fascia. But it rarely causes severe airway obstruction. We recently treated a patient who had dyspnea and dysphagia due to a retropharyngeal hematoma without any significant trauma history. First, tracheostomy was performed to maintain the airway. Then, incision and drainage was done under suspension laryngoscope. This case shows the fact that a retropharyngeal hematoma can result in severe airway obstruction even after a minor trauma.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Automotive Engineers
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• v.7 no.5
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• pp.249-257
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• 1999

A three dimensional finite model of a human neck has been developed in an effort to study the mechanics of cervical spin while subjected to vertical impact. This model consisting of the vertebrae from C1 through C7 including posterior element and ligaments was constructed by 2mm thick transverse CT cross-sections and X-ray film taken at lateral side. Geometrical nonlinearity was also considered for the large deformation on the disc. ABAQUS package was used for calculation and its results were verified comparing with responses of a model under static loading condition with published in-vitro experimental data. There were more cervical fracture in the restrained (compression) mode than in the nonrestrained (flexion-compression and extension-compression) mode. Upper cervical(C1-C2) injuries were observed under compression-extension modes, while lower cervical injuries occurred undjer compression-flexion modes. Posterior ligament distraction without bony damage at the upper cervical spin(C1-C2) were observed secondary to C5-C7 trauma in compression-flexion modes.