• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제44권6호
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• pp.385-388
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• 2008

We herein describe the case of a focal spontaneous spinal epidural abscess who was initially diagnosed to have a free fragment of a lumbar disc. A 71-year-old woman presented with history of low back and right leg pain. Magnetic resonance imaging suggested a peripherally enhancing free fragment extending down from S1 nerve root axilla. Preoperative laboratory investigation showed elevation of c-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) levels. She was taken for surgery and a fluctuating mass at the axilla of S1 nerve was found. When the mass was probed with a dissector, a dark yellow, thick pus drained out. Pus cultures were negative. Patients who present with extreme low back plus leg pain and increased leucocyte count, ESR and CRP levels should raise the suspicion of an infection of a vertebral body or spinal epidural space.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• 제21권2호
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• pp.144-149
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• 2014

중이염은 소아 연령에서 가장 흔한 감염 질환이다. 항생제 치료에도 불구하고 중이염과 중이염의 합병증이 아직도 흔하게 발생하고 있다. 급성 유양돌기염은 중이염의 중증 합병증이며 경막외농양은 두개강 내에 발생하는 중이염의 합병증으로서 가장 많은 수를 차지한다. 급성 유양돌기염의 신경계 합병증은 흔하지 않지만 치명적일 수 있는데, 항생제의 사용으로 뚜렷한 증상이 보이지 않을 수 있다. 저자들은 폐렴구균에 의한 중이염으로 입원해 급성 유양돌기염에서 경막외농양 및 외측정맥동의 혈전정맥염으로 진행했던 드문 증례를 경험하였기에 보고하는 바이다. 환자는 열을 동반한 중이염으로 입원하여 적절한 항생제를 투여하였으나, 유양돌기염과 경막외농양이 발생하여 수술적 배농과 항생제 투여 후 후유증 없이 호전되었다.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• 제18권1호
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• pp.23-26
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• 2009

Purpose: Artificial dura maters are commonly used in cranioplasty, but sometimes they can result in serious postoperative infection. Once complications such as epidural abscess or chronic draining ulcer arise, they are very difficult to treat. In this case, reclosure of dura defect using artificial dura mater may give rise to recurrence of infection. We experienced a case of intractable epidural abscess caused by use of artificial dura. To avoid repeated infection, we decided to use autologous tissue for the coverage of dura and soft tissue defect. Therefore, autologous tensor fascia lata graft and anterolateral thigh free flap were harvested at the same donor site incision to cover composite defect on the scalp and dura mater. Methods: A 13 year old male patient, who underwent the decompression cranioplasty and duroplasty, suffered from the intractable infection lesion. Twice, the epidural abscess was removed, both times the infection recurred. And eventually dura mater was exposed through the infected open wound. Nine months after dura exposed, infected aritificial dura mater was removed and extensive debridement was performed. Through a surgical incision on donor thigh, first, tensor fascia lata graft was harvested in process of the anterolateral thigh flap elevation. After the fascia lata graft was fixed over the dural defect, the anterolateral thigh flap was used to fill the dead space as well as the scalp defect. Results: Postoperatively, no recurrent infection and cerebrospinal fluid leakage are observed for a year. After the surgery, on the first and second day, venous congestion of the flap was observed, this problem was solved by thrombectomy and vein reanastomosis. And partial necrosis of flap occurred, but completely healed as conservative treatment for two weeks. Conclusion: Using the autologous tensor fascia lata graft and anterolateral thigh flap, we could obtain satisfactory results as treatment for the intractable infection lesion after duroplasty. Autologous tensor fascia lata in conjunction with anterolateral thigh flap is useful method for covering composite defect of scalp and dura mater.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• 제26권2호
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• pp.112-117
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• 2019

Eikenella corrodens는 구강 상재균으로 두경부 감염을 주로 일으키나 면역력이 정상인 소아청소년에게 감염을 일으키는 경우는 흔하지 않다. 저자들은 발열, 두통, 구토를 증상으로 입원한 이전까지 건강하였던 13세 남자에게서 E. corrodens 감염에 의한 중추신경계 경막 외 농양을 진단하여 보고하는 바이다. 초기에 시행한 신체검진에서 경부 강직은 없었으나, 우측 이루가 관찰되었다. 뇌 magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) 영상소견에서 4.5 cm 크기의 경막 외 농양이 우측 측두엽 부근에서 발견되었고, 양측 사골동염 및 접형동염, 우측 유양돌기염과 중이염이 동반되었다. Vancomycin과 cefotaxime 투약 중에도, 임상증상이 호전되지 않고 추적 MRI에서 경막 외 농양의 크기가 증가하고, 우측 접형동에 농양이 형성되어 항균요법과 함께 천두술과 내시경적 접형동 절개술을 시행하였다. 수술 시 경막 외 농양과 접형동에서 악취가 나는 고름이 다량 흡인되었으며 두 부위에서 흡인된 검체 모두에서 E. corrodens가 배양되었다. 수술 이후 3주 동안 cefotaxime 정맥주사로 치료받고 합병증 없이 회복하였다. 결론적으로, E. corrodens는 건강한 소아청소년에서 치료되지 않은 세균성 부비동염에 합병하여 중추신경계 농양의 원인이 될 수 있다.

• 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.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• 제43권6호
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• pp.586-589
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• 2016

A pressure sore wound is often extensive or complicated by local infection involving adjacent soft tissue and bone. In this case, a regional flap after simple debridement is not adequate. Here, we present a case of an extensive pressure sore in the sacral area with deep tissue infection. A 43-year-old female patient with a complicated sore with deep tissue infection had a presacral abscess, an iliopsoas abscess, and an epidural abscess in the lumbar spine. After a multidisciplinary approach performed in stages, the infection had subsided and removal of the devitalized tissue was possible. The large soft tissue defect with significant depth was reconstructed with a free latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous flap, which was expected to act as a local barrier from vertical infection and provide tensionless skin coverage upon hip flexion. The extensive sacral sore was treated effectively without complication, and the deep tissue infection completely resolved. There was no evidence of donor site morbidity, and wheelchair ambulation was possible by a month after surgery.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• 제8권1호
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• pp.107-113
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• 2001

저자들은 발열과 복통을 주소로 입원한 환아에서 연속적으로 요통 및 둔부 동통을 보여 실시한 자기 공명촬영상 요추 부위의 척추 경막외 농양을 진단하고 수술하였기에 문헌 고찰과 함께 보고하는 바이다.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제64권1호
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• pp.88-99
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• 2021

Objective : The treatment of choice for spinal epidural abscess (SEA) generally is urgent surgery in combination with intravenous antibiotic treatment. However, the optimal duration of antibiotic treatment has not been established to date, although 4-8 weeks is generally advised. Moreover, some researchers have reported that bacteremia is a risk factor for failure of antibiotic treatment in SEA. In this study, we investigated the clinical characteristics of SEA accompanied by bacteremia and also determined whether the conventional 4-8 weeks of antibiotic treatment is sufficient. Methods : We retrospectively reviewed the medical records and radiological data of 23 patients with bacterial SEA who underwent open surgery from March 2010 to April 2020. All patients had bacteremia preoperatively and underwent weeks of perioperative antibiotic treatments based on their identified organisms until all symptoms of infection disappeared. All patients underwent microbiological studies of peripheral blood, specimens from SEA and concomitant infections. The mean follow-up duration was 35.2 months, excluding three patients who died. Results : The male : female ratio was 15 : 8, and the mean age was 68.9 years. The SEA most commonly involved the lumbar spinal segment (73.9%), and the mean size was 2.9 vertebral body lengths. Mean time periods of 8.4 days and 16.6 days were required from admission to diagnosis and from admission to surgery, respectively. Concomitant infections more frequently resulted in delayed diagnosis (p=0.032), masking the symptoms of SEA. Methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus was the most commonly identified pathogen in both blood and surgical specimens. Seventeen patients (73.9%) showed no deficits at the final follow-up. The overall antibiotic treatment duration was a mean of 66.6 days, excluding three patients who died. This duration was longer than the conventionally advised 4-8 weeks (p=0.010), and psoas or paraspinal abscess required prolonged duration of antibiotic treatment (p=0.038). Conclusion : SEA accompanied by bacteremia required a longer duration (>8 weeks) of antibiotic treatment. In addition, the diagnosis was more frequently delayed in patients with concomitant infections. The duration of antibiotic treatment should be extended for SEA with bacteremia, and a high index of suspicion is mandatory for early diagnosis, especially in patients with concomitant infections.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제69권5호
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• pp.389-391
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• 2010

Spinal epidural emphysema is rare and has been described secondary to following medical intervention, such as lumbar puncture and epidural analgesia, pneumothorax or pneumomediastinum, degenerative disk disease, epidural abscess, and trauma. Rarely, it occurs after chest tube placement. We report a case of spinal epidural emphysema incidentally noted on HRCT after chest tube placement.

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