• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.183-198
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• 2012

Objectives : This case series aims to report the efficacy of using oriental medical treatment with Melonis Calyx Vomiting Therapy for Hwa-Byung. Methods : Patients were diagnosed with Hwa-Byung through Hwa-Byung Diagnostic interview schedule (HBDIS). They were treated with Oriental medical treatment (Acupncture, Herb-medication) and Melonis Calyx Vomiting Therapy (MCVT). MCVT is a traditional treatment, which induces vomiting by eating Melonis Calyx powder with water. We used VAS score and Scott scale for the symptoms of patients and IOMEHB (instrument of oriental medical evaluation for Hwa-Byung), BDI, STAI for the psychological conditions of the patients. Results : After treatment, the chief complaint and other symptoms of Hwa-Byung have improved. The scores of IOMEHB, BDI, and STAI have decreased. Conclusions : This result suggests that using MCVT with Oriental medical treatment have a positive efficacy for Hwa-Byung.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.372-376
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• 2012

Objective : The purpose of this large prospective study is to assess the association between the disappearance of the lateral spread response (LSR) before and after microvascular decompression (MVD) and clinical long term results over two years following hemifacial spasm (HFS) treatment. Methods : Continuous intra-operative monitoring during MVD was performed in 244 consecutive patients with HFS. Patients with persistent LSR after decompression (n=22, 9.0%), without LSR from the start of the surgery (n=4, 1.7%), and with re-operation (n=15, 6.1%) and follow-up loss (n=4, 1.7%) were excluded. For the statistical analysis, patients were categorized into two groups according to the disappearance of their LSR before or after MVD. Results : Intra-operatively, the LSR was checked during facial electromyogram monitoring in 199 (81.5%) of the 244 patients. The mean follow-up duration was $40.9{\pm}6.9$ months (range 25-51 months) in all the patients. Among them, the LSR disappeared after the decompression (Group A) in 128 (64.3%) patients; but in the remaining 71 (35.6%) patients, the LSR disappeared before the decompression (Group B). In the post-operative follow-up visits over more than one year, there were significant differences between the clinical outcomes of the two groups (p<0.05). Conclusion : It was observed that the long-term clinical outcomes of the intra-operative LSR disappearance before and after MVD were correlated. Thus, this factor may be considered a prognostic factor of HFS after MVD.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.442-445
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• 2010

Objective : The purpose of this study was to examine the efficacy and safety of microvascular decompression (MVD) for hemifacial spasm (HFS) in elderly patients. Methods : Between 1997 and June 2008, 1,174 patients had undergone MVD for HFS at our institute. Among these, 53 patients were older than 65 years. We retrospectively reviewed and compared the complication and the cure rates of these patients with those of younger patients. Results : There were 38 females and 15 males. The mean duration of symptoms of HFS of these patients was 94.6 months (range, 12-360 months), compared with 67.2 months (range, 3-360 months) in the younger group. The overall cure rate in elderly patients who underwent MVD for HFS during this period was 96.2%. Permanent cranial nerve dysfunctions, such as hearing loss and facial palsy, were seen in 2 patients (3.8%, 2/53) in the elderly group and 19 patients (1.7%, 19/1121) in the younger group. The difference in permanent cranial nerve dysfunction between the two groups was not statistically significant. There was no operative mortality in either group. Conclusion : Microvascular decompression is the most effective surgical modality available for the treatment of HFS. Results of this study indicate that such technique can be performed in the elderly without higher rates of morbidity or mortality. Any patient with HFS, whose general health is acceptable for undergoing general anesthesia, should be considered as a candidate for MVD.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.24-33
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• 2003

Background : Sequelae symptoms of peripheral facial palsy include not only partial recovery of the paretic muscles but contracture, spasm, synkinesis and atrophy which cause significant functional, esthetic, and psychosocial disturbances to the lives of patients. Objective : This study is to investigate the prevalence, time of onset, patient's self assessment on the degree of understanding of the sequelae and the association of the degree of palsy with the appearance of sequelae. Methods : 106 patients with peripheral facial palsy were sequentially interviewed and examined. Results : 29 patients(27.4%) of 106 patients showed sequelae symptoms, of whom 19 patients(65.5%) showed sequelae symptoms during 4 to 6 months after the onset of palsy. The degree of understanding on the sequelae at the time of interview showed improvement compared to that at the time of first consultation to any physician but not to reach an sufficient understanding. No relation between the degree of palsy and the appearance of sequelae was observed.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.209-223
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• 2007

Objectives : Facial Nerve Paralysis is one kind of common diseases and it can be treated by natural therapy and the efficiency of treatment is relatively high. In clinical trial, it is not difficult to find patients who were not completely recovered from Facial Nerve Paralysis, so the symptoms are fixed permanently. This leads many doctors and patients to have interests in the progress and prognosis of the disease, so this study was to analyze clinical prognosis factors and verify the effects of Electrodiagnostic Test. Methods : The 378 subjects were chosen from 987 patients who were suffering from Peripheral Facial Palsy, diagnosed with Bell's palsy and Ramsay Hunt Syndrome and had admission treatment. They got Oriental-Western Medicine Treatment within two weeks after outbreaks of the disease and treated at least over 3 weeks using Oriental-Western Medicine Treatment. Results : 1. There was a significant difference in the results of treatment according to gender, age, types of Facial Palsy, existence of Post Auricular Pain, existence of Labyrinth Symptom, HBGS, and existence of onsets of recovery as clinical prognosis factors of Peripheral Facial Palsy, However, a statistically significant difference was not shown in the results of treatment according to the position of Facial Palsy(left or right), existence of a relapse, and diabetes, hypertension. 2. As a result of overall treatment, 77.2% of patients were recovered almost entirely and 22.8% were not, and the quelae of incomplete recovery were Synkinesis, facial contracture, facial spasm, crocodile tears and scheroma in order of frequency. 3. The results of electrodiagnostic test represented useful correlation to predict the final effects of treatment. Conclusion : Based on the above results, the prognosis factors, the degree of recovery, and the sequelae of incomplete recovery were analysed and the effects of electrodiagnostic test was verified.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.79-82
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• 2020

Tetanus is a fatal disease caused by the infection Clostridium tetani found in animal feces and soil. It is a vaccine-preventable disease and rarely occurs in developed countries. However, approximately 30 cases still occur annually in South Korea. Tetanus, commonly called lockjaw, cause contraction of the masseter muscles in the early stage, resulting in trismus as the first symptom. As it progresses, spasm extends to various muscles in the face, neck, shoulder, and back, leading to distorted facial expression, dysphagia, backward arching of the body, dyspnea, and even death. Early diagnosis of tetanus is critical because it can quickly become fatal if left untreated. We present a case of trismus caused by tetanus and emphasize the importance of early diagnosis of acute trismus.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.293-296
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• 2001

Hepatic encephalophthy was diagnosed with serum chemistry, abdominal radiography and ultrasonography in a 2.6kg, 4 year-old maltese dog showing signs of hypersalivation, involutary spasm of facial muscles, ataxia, behavior abnormalities like dullness, sleep disorder, restlessness. In serum chemistry, the level of alanine transferase and aspartate trasferase was mildly elevated, ammonia was severely increased. On abdominal radio-graphs, the size of liver was mildly decreased. In ultrasonographic examination, diffuse lesion with hyperechoic change and decreased vasculature were seen in the hepatic region. But vascular abnormalities of liver were not observed. Drug and dietary therapy were undertaken and severities of clinical sign were alleviated.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.117-121
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• 2011

Tetanus is fatal neurological disease caused by Clostridium tetani on contaminated wound that is characterised by muscle spasm, muscle pain, and autonomic dysfuction. C. tetani exist on contaminated wound frequently that developed clinical tetanus under low oxygen condition. Tetanus have four symptomatic form: generalized, localized, cephalic, and neonatal. The incubation period is about 7 days and mortality is high. The commonest presenting symptom is trismus and other is stiffness of neck and back(opisthotonos), muscle spasm, dysphagia, facial pain, risus sardonicus. Trismus is primary presenting symptom in 50~75% of the cases and this have high possibility of initial visit to dental office. This case report of a patient who visit in our department with trismus as chief complaint.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.192-199
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• 2008

Objective : Silent infarct is more common in healthy elderly people and seems associated with risk of future stroke. However, the prevalence and risk factors of silent infarct are unclear. We investigated the prevalence and risk factors of silent infarct. Methods : 56 first-ever cerebral infarct patients were enrolled in this study. CT images were made of all 56 patients. We divided them into two groups according to the presence of silent infarcts and comparedage, sex, education period, WHR, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, smoking, numbness and weakness of thumb and index finger, neck stiffness, facial spasm, and blepherospasm. Result : Silent infarcts were found in 24 patients(43%). Most infarcts(48%) were located in basal ganglia. Age, sex, education period, WHR, numbness and weakness of thumb and index finger, neck stiffness, facial spasm, and blepherospasm were similar between the two groups. Diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, and smoking were higher in the silent infarct group. Hypertension was higher in the non-silent infarct group. Conclusion : The prevalence of silent infarct in first-ever cerebral infarction patients was 43% and diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, and smoking were higher in silent infarct patients.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.104-108
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• 2008

Background: The compression of 7th cranial nerve by arteries is one of the various causes of hemifacial spasm (HFS). A few previous studies were revealed the relation between the compression of 7th cranial nerve and common trunk anomaly. We evaluated the common trunk anomalies in patients with HFS using MRI and MRA. Methods: From January 2001 to December 2005, 41 consecutive patients (9 men, mean age $54.5{\pm}12.6$) with HFS underwent MRI and MRA. T2 axial images and time-of-flight angiographies were reviewed for identification of the compression at root exit zone by two neuroradiologists and one neurologist. Results: Thirty-seven patients showed neurovascular compression on the lesion side. Twenty patients of them were shown the compression of 7th cranial nerve by anterior inferior cerebellar artery (AICA), and seventeen patients of them were shown the compression by posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA). Twenty-four patients of the thirty-seven patients had common trunk anomaly. In control, twelve of twenty-one subjects had common trunk anomaly, that the frequencies of common trunk anomaly of two groups were 58.8% in HFS and 57.1% in controls. In the twenty-four patients with common trunk anomaly, eighteen patients had dominant-AICA, and six patients had dominant-PICA. The rate of nerve compression by common trunk anomaly in the HFS with unilateral common trunk, dominant-AICA was 76.5% and dominant-PICA was 100%. Conclusions: This study also revealed that AICA was most common compressive artery. There was no difference between the HFS groups and control groups in frequency of common trunk anomaly. Thus, we could not demonstrate the relationship between common trunk anomaly and HFS.