• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.58 no.3
• /
• pp.262-270
• /
• 2015

Objective : Long-term oral anticoagulation or antiplatelet therapy has been used with increasing frequency in the elderly. These patients are at increased risk of morbidity and mortality from expansion of intracranial hemorrhage. We conducted a single-center retrospective case control study to evaluate risk factors associated with outcomes and to identify the differences in outcome in traumatic brain injury between preinjury anticoagulation use and without anticoagulation. Methods : A retrospective study of patients who underwent craniotomy or craniectomy for acute traumatic cerebral hemorrhage, between January 2005 and December 2014 was performed. Results : A consecutive series of 50 patients were evaluated. The factors significantly differed between the two groups were initial Prothrombin Time-International Normalized Ratio, initial platelet count, initial Glasgow Coma Scale score, and postoperative intracranial bleeding. Mean Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) score were similar between the two groups. In the patient with low-energy trauma only, no significant differences in GOS score, postoperative bleeding and many other factors were observed. The contributing factors to postoperative bleeding was preinjury anticoagulation and its adjusted odds ratio was 12 [adjusted odds ratio (OR), 12.242; p=0.0070]. The contributing factors to low GOS scores, which mean unfavorable neurological outcomes, were age (adjusted OR, 1.073; p=0.039) and Rotterdam scale score for CT scans (adjusted OR, 3.123; p=0.0020). Conclusion : Preinjury anticoagulation therapy contributed significantly to the occurrence of postoperative bleeding. However, preinjury anticoagulation therapy in the patients with low-energy trauma did not contribute to the poor clinical outcomes or total hospital stay. Careful attention should be given to older patients and severity of hemorrhage on initial brain CT.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.51 no.2
• /
• pp.86-90
• /
• 2012

Objective : Life-threatening hemispheric stroke is associated with a high mortality and morbidity. Decompressive hemicraniectomy has been regarded as an effective treatment option for refractory intracranial hypertension. Here, we reported the clinical course of 5 children with decompressive craniectomy and duroplasty after non-traumatic refractory intracranial hypertension. Methods : Four toddlers and one preschool-girl were included in this study; there were 3 boys and 2 girls with a mean age of 34.6 months (range 17-80). Decompressive craniectomy including duroplasty was performed in cases of dilatation of pupil size after intensified standard medical therapy had proven insufficient. All children had a Pediatric Glasgow Coma Scale score <8 at pre-operation state. The mean time-point of craniectomy after stroke attack was 12 hours (range 4-19). Results : During the long-term follow-up period (mean 47.6 months), no children died. One year later, when we checked their Glasgow Outcome Scale scores, only one toddler received a score of 4 (moderate disability). But the others had good recoveries although they had minor physical or mental deficits. According to the Pediatric Cerebral Performance Category Scale, 4 children received a score of 2 (mild disability). Conclusion : Despite our small cases, we suggest that decompressive hemicraniectomy and duroplasty is an acceptable and life-saving treatment for refractory intracranial hypertension after unilateral hemispheric stroke in toddlers and preschool children.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
• /
• v.32 no.1
• /
• pp.8-12
• /
• 2015

Background: Enlargement of subdural hematomas is relatively rapid in subacute stage of hematoma with clinical deterioration, which eventually necessitates surgery. The purpose of this study is to investigate the feasibility and safety of burr hole drainage using urokinase for management of patients with subacute subdural hematoma (SASDH). Methods: Nine patients with SASDH were treated by burr hole drainage using urokinase. Under local anesthesia a catheter was inserted into the hematoma through a burr hole. Burr hole drainage was followed by hematoma thrombolysis with instillation of urokinase (10,000 units) every 12 hours. Drainage was discontinued when a significant decrease of hematoma was observed on cranial computed tomography. Results: The patients' median age was 70 years (range, 62-87). The median Glasgow Coma Scale score before surgery was 15 (range, 11-15). Drainage was successfully performed in all patients. All patients had Glasgow Outcome Scale scores of 5 at discharge. There was no surgery-related morbidity or mortality. Conclusion: A burr hole drainage using urokinase could be a safe, feasible and effective minimally invasive method with low morbidity in treatment of selected patients with SASDHs.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.64 no.4
• /
• pp.543-551
• /
• 2021

Objective : Hemorrhagic stroke (HS) and hypertensive retinopathy are known end organ damage of the brain and eye respectively, with HS having deleterious consequence to the patients. This study is to correlate between hypertensive retinopathy and HS in hypertensive disease. Methods : A control group of hypertensive patients only, and an investigated group of hypertensive HS patients. Fundoscopic examination to determine the grade of retinopathy was performed and then divided into low or high severity hypertensive retinopathy. Clinical and radiological parameter included are demography, vital signs, Glasgow coma scale (GCS) on admission, clot volume, site of clot, Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) score and Glasgow outcome scale (GOS). Data were correlated with the severity of hypertensive retinopathy. Results : Fifty patient in the control group and 51 patients in the investigated group were recruited. In the hypertensive HS group, 21 had low severity retinopathy (no or mild retinopathy) accounting for 41.2% and 30 patients had high severity (moderate or severe retinopathy). In the hypertensive patients 49 had low severity and one had high severity (p-value of 0.001). In HS group low severity showed better GCS score of 9-15 on admission (p-value of 0.003), clot volume less than 30 mL (p-value 0.001), and also a better 30 days mortality rate by using the ICH score (p-value 0.006), GOS score of 4 and 5 the low severity retinopathy fair better than the high severity retinopathy (p-value of 0.001), and the relative risk to develop HS in low severity and high severity retinopathy was 0.42 and 29.4, respectively. Conclusion : Hypertensive retinopathy screening could be used as an indicator in hypertensive patient, to evaluate the risk of developing hypertensive HS in the future.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
• /
• v.43 no.5
• /
• pp.881-890
• /
• 2022

Objectives: This study investigated the effect of complex Korean medicine treatment on decreased mental status in a progressive supranuclear palsy patient with a cerebrovascular accident. Case presentation: The patient was treated with Korean medicine composed of herbal medicine (modified Guibi-tang), acupuncture, moxibustion, and cupping combined with Western medicine (a dopamine precursor and an anticholinergic) and physical therapy. The Glasgow Coma Scale, Mini-Mental State Examination, and Hoehn and Yahr Scale were used to evaluate the effects of the treatments. After treatment, Glasgow Coma Scores increased from 9-10 to 12-13, and Mini-Mental State Examination for dementia screen scores increased from 1 to 2. The Hoehn and Yahr score remained at 5. There were no side effects of the treatment. Conclusion: This study suggests that complex Korean medicine treatments may be effective for the decreased mental status of a progressive supranuclear palsy patient with a cerebrovascular accident, but further studies are needed.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.37 no.6
• /
• pp.432-435
• /
• 2005

Objective: This study was performed to evaluate the usefulness of early operation in children with traumatic subdural hygroma. Methods: The subjects were nine patients (Glasgow coma scale (GCS) score was below 10 and age was below 10 years old) who developed subdural hygroma after trauma between January 2000 to December 2002. Subduroperitoneal shunt was performed in one group and not performed in the other group. We analyzed the GCS score on admission and at 1 year after operation. Overall clinical results were evaluated retrospectively. Results: Patients who underwent operation exhibited higher GCS scores at 1 year after trauma compared to those in the patients who were treated by conservative therapy(p<0.05). Conclusion: The early operation could be an effective treatment to children with subdural hygroma who showed delayed improvement of consciousness and to patients with hygroma that didn't decrease or was above moderate amount.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.66 no.1
• /
• pp.63-71
• /
• 2023

Objective : Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is one of the most common injuries in patients with multiple trauma, and it associates with high post-traumatic mortality and morbidity. A trauma center was established to provide optimal treatment for patients with severe trauma. This study aimed to compare the treatment outcomes of patients with severe TBI between non-trauma and trauma centers based on data from the Korean Neuro-Trauma Data Bank System (KNTDBS). Methods : From January 2018 to June 2021, 1122 patients were enrolled in the KNTDBS study. Among them, 253 patients from non-traumatic centers and 253 from trauma centers were matched using propensity score analysis. We evaluated baseline characteristics, the time required from injury to hospital arrival, surgery-related factors, neuromonitoring, and outcomes. Results : The time from injury to hospital arrival was shorter in the non-trauma centers (110.2 vs. 176.1 minutes, p=0.012). The operation time was shorter in the trauma centers (156.7 vs. 128.1 minutes, p=0.003). Neuromonitoring was performed in nine patients (3.6%) in the non-trauma centers and 67 patients (26.5%) in the trauma centers (p<0.001). Mortality rates were lower in trauma centers than in non-trauma centers (58.5% vs. 47.0%, p=0.014). The average Glasgow coma scale (GCS) at discharge was higher in the trauma centers (4.3 vs. 5.7, p=0.011). For the Glasgow outcome scale-extended (GOSE) at discharge, the favorable outcome (GOSE 5-8) was 17.4% in the non-trauma centers and 27.3% in the trauma centers (p=0.014). Conclusion : This study showed lower mortality rates, higher GCS scores at discharge, and higher rates of favorable outcomes in trauma centers than in non-trauma centers. The regional trauma medical system seems to have a positive impact in treating patients with severe TBI.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.46 no.5
• /
• pp.451-458
• /
• 2009

Objective : The purpose of this study was to analyze risk factors that are associated with intracranial lesion, and to propose criteria for classification of mild head injury (MHI), and appropriate treatment guidelines. Methods : The study was based on 898 patients who were admitted to our hospital with Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score of 13 to 15 between 2003 and 2007. The patients' initial computerized tomography (CT) findings were reviewed and clinical findings that were associated with intracranial lesions were analyzed. Results : GCS score, loss of consciousness (LOC), age and skull fracture were identified as independent risk factors for intracranial lesions. Based on the data ana lysed in this study, MHI patients were divided into four subgroups : very low risk MHI patients are those with a GCS score of 15 and without a history of LOC or headache; low risk MHI patients have a GCS score of 15 and with LOC and/or headache; medium risk MHI patients are those with a GCS score of 15 and with a skull fracture, neurological deficits or with one or more of the risk factors; high risk MHI patients are those with a GCS score of 15 with abnormal CT findings and GCS score of 14 and 13. Conclusion : A more detailed classification of MHI based on brain CT scan findings and clinical risk factors can potentially improve patient diagnosis. In light of our findings, high risk MHI patients should be admitted and treated in same manner as those with moderate head injury.

• Journal of Cerebrovascular and Endovascular Neurosurgery
• /
• v.25 no.4
• /
• pp.403-410
• /
• 2023

Objective: While patients with medically intractable acute cerebellar infarction typically undergo suboccipital craniectomy and removal of the infarcted tissue, this procedure is associated with long operating times and postoperative complications. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of minimally invasive navigation-guided burr hole aspiration surgery for the treatment of acute cerebellar infarction. Methods: Between January 2015 and December 2021, 14 patients with acute cerebellar infarction, who underwent navigation-guided burr hole aspiration surgery, were enrolled in this study. Results: The preoperative mean Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score was 12.7, and the postoperative mean GCS score was 14.3. The mean infarction volume was 34.3 cc at admission and 23.5 cc immediately following surgery. Seven days after surgery, the mean infarction volume was 15.6 cc. There were no surgery-related complications during the 6-month follow-up period and no evidence of clinical deterioration. The mean operation time from skin incision to catheter insertion was 28 min, with approximately an additional 13 min for extra-ventricular drainage. The mean Glasgow Outcome Scale score after 6 months was 4.8. Conclusions: Navigation-guided burr hole aspiration surgery is less time-consuming and invasive than conventional craniectomy, and is a safe and effective treatment option for acute cerebellar infarction in selected cases, with no surgery-related complication.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
• /
• v.28 no.3
• /
• pp.177-181
• /
• 2015

Purpose: Assessment of the trauma severity associated with the prognosis of trauma patients. But we are having a lot of difficulties in assess the severity because of scarcity of current first-aid records resources. Methods: We presumed that Applying the Revised trauma score which consist of vital signs and GCS score will be helpful to assess the sevirity.This study covers the 10069 patient of Ewah womans hospital (2011.1.1.-2014.12.31) who are able to verify the GCS score from fist-aid records. Results: There is no distinctions between prehospital RTS and hospital RTS. And shows high level of correlation between prehospital RTS and ISS. Conclusion: Therefore we conclude that checking the GCS and RTS at prehospital state will be help to assess the severity of trauma patients.