• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• 제4권1호
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• pp.67-69
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• 2002

Ossification of the ligamentum flavum(OLF) is not infrequent in the cervical and lumbar regions but is very rare in the thoracic spine. We reported a 62-year-old women with left thoracic intercostal neuralgia due to an OLF. Physical and neurological examination were normal. MRI showed an OLF with compression of the thecal sac in the posterolateral aspect of the T9-T10 level. Laminectomy and removal of the ligament resulted in marked clinical improvement. OLF is known to cause thoracic radiculomyelopathy, but presentation with intercostal neuralgia only is very rare.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제18권2호
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• pp.226-228
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• 2005

Zoster sine herpete (ZSH) is a varicella zoster virus (VZV) reactivation without a zoster that is difficult to diagnose early after onset. This study examined 12 patients who presented with intercostal neuralgia, had no history of trauma, cutaneous eruption and no scar of a herpes zoster on the lesion. Two patients had a vertebral compression fracture. Two patients had a history of a zoster in the other site. No other suspicious findings were observed. Ten of the twelve patients were checked for the IgG and IgM varicellar zoster virus antibody. All the patients tested positive to the Ig G antibody test and only one patient tested positive to the IgM antibody test. One patient was confirmed to have ZSH and the other patients were suspected of having ZSH. All the patients were treated for postherpetic neuralgia, resulting in a significant decrease in the intercostal neuralgia.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제5권2호
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• pp.269-272
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• 1992

대상포진후 신경통은 통증 치료실에서 흔히 만나는 질환이지만 가장 치료하기 힘든 질환 중의 하나이다. 따라서 통증 치료를 담당하는 의사는 자기가 알고 모든 지식을 동원하여 환자를 치료하지만, 그 결과는 대개 만족스럽지 못하고, 또 뜻하지 않은 합병증을 당하여 당황하는 수도 있었다. 저자들은 폐 결핵등의 과거력을 가진 대상포진후 신경통 환자의 치료 도중에 반복적인 늑간신경 차단이 기여했으라라고 생각되는 흉막삼출액 발생을 경험하였기에 보고하는 바이다.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제7권2호
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• pp.287-291
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• 1994

좌측 제 11번 늑간 신경통과 요통을 주소로 입원한 49세 남자 환자에게 흉부 신경근 열 응고술을 시행한 후 3일간에 걸쳐 척수 압박 증상이 급속히 진행되었다. 흉 요추의 단순 X-선과 자기 공명 영상 촬영으로 밝힌 그 원인은 제 11 및 12 흉추의 척추 종양이었다.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제8권2호
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• pp.374-377
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• 1995

Percutaneous neurolysis of upper thoracic sympathetic ganglion was performed by simultaneously injecting 3 ml of pure alcohol into the $T_2$ and $T_3$ levels after testng with same amount of local anesthetics on the same sites. We experienced poor sympatholytic effect or intercostal neuritis and Horner's Syndrome as the result of complication of thoracic sympathetic ganglion block. In Case 1, in spite of the good testing result, neurolytic block effect was poor. In Case 2, intercostal neuritis occurred, but neuralgia subsided within 3 weeks. In Case 3, Horner's Syndrome occurred for 1 day. To increase the success rate of block and decrease the incidence of complications, good radio-opaque dye appearance and good test block effect should be obtained.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• 제43권1호
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• pp.53-57
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• 2010

배경: 이 연구는 늑골 수상 후 발생하는 늑간 신경병증에 대한 평가를 위하여 숫자통증등급, 통증 기간 및 체질량 지수에 따른 늑간 신경병증에 대한 심한 정도를 알고자 하였다. 대상 및 방법: 늑골 골절 수상 후 3개월 이상 동안 보존적인 치료에도 불구하고 심한 통증을 호소하는 환자 47명을 대상으로 근전도 검사를 시행하여 흉부의 늑간 및 척추 주위 근육에 대한 평가를 하였다. 결과: 47명 중에서 11명에 대하여 늑간 신경병증의 진단을 얻을 수 있었으며, 남자 8명과 여자 3명이었으며, 그 연령은 직업적으로 활동적인 연령대였다. 늑간 신경병증이 호발하는 부위는 7번부터 12번 부위 늑골 골절의 늑간이었다. 그 빈도는 단일 골절보다는 다발성 골절과 밀접한 상관 관계를 알 수 있었다. 그 증상으로는 흉통(90.9%), 감각이상(81.8%), 무감각(63.6%), 후부 흉통(27.2%), 그리고 근위축(18.2%) 순이었다. 근전도에 의한 숫자통증등급, 통증 기간 및 체질량 지수와 관계는 없었다. 결론: 늑골 골절수상 후 3개월 이상 지속적인 통증을 호소하는 환자에서 지속적인 늑간 신경통에 대한 진단을 위한 평가로 근전도가 도움이 될 수 있다.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제22권3호
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• pp.216-223
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• 2009

Background: There have been limited reports on the effectiveness of 5% lidocaine patches (L5Ps) for treating a few types of chronic pain. We utilized L5Ps for chronic pain patients with various diagnoses and who had incompletely responded to their current treatment regimen. This study aimed at describing the results of a retrospective review of an open-label L5P trial to assess L5Ps' effectiveness and safety for treating various chronic pain patients. Methods: The chronic pain patients with pain lasting longer than 6-month duration were offered a 2-week L5P treatment trial. The patients were maintained on their other analgesic regimens. The treatment effect was measured according to the change from the baseline visual analog scale (VAS) to the week 2 VAS. After a 2-week trial, the patients were asked if they perceived pain improvement with L5Ps by using a four-item Pain Relief Scale (1 = a lot of relief, 2 = slight relief, 3 = no change, 4 = worse pain). Results: In the combined patient population (n = 177), 2-week treatment with the L5Ps significantly improved the week 2 VAS (P = 0.000). Significant improvement in the VAS was reported by the chronic pain patients with postherpetic neuralgia, intercostal neuralgia, degenerative osteoarthritis at knee joint, and other maladies. A higher proportion of the chronic pain patients reported improving their pain by the L5Ps. Seven patients experienced mild or moderate patch-related adverse events. Conclusions: The L5P provided clinically meaningful pain relief in some refractory chronic pain patients without any severe adverse events.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제37권3호
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• pp.193-201
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• 2020

This case report describes a 60-year-old female patient diagnosed with intercostal neuropathy and vertebral compression fractures which occurred following an electric shock injury. The patient received acupuncture, pharmacopuncture, and herbal medicine administration between February 10^th, 2020 and April 25^th, 2020. The pain level in the thoracic and left intercostal areas was assessed using the Numerical Rating Scale. The Self-report of the Leeds Assessment of Neuropathic Symptoms and Signs Pain Scale were used to diagnose neuropathic pain. The Neuropathic-Pain -Scale was used to evaluate the degree of neuropathic symptoms. The Oswestry Disability Index and the European Quality of Life-5 Dimensions were used to assess quality of life scales and functional disorder. Following combined Korean medicine treatment, the patient exhibited reduced levels of pain and significant improvement in functional disorder symptoms and quality of life.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제29권3호
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• pp.185-188
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• 2016

The $12^{th}$ rib syndrome is a disease that causes pain between the upper abdomen and the lower chest. It is assumed that the impinging on the nerves between the ribs causes pain in the lower chest, upper abdomen, and flank. A 74-year-old female patient visited a pain clinic complaining of pain in her back, and left chest wall at a 7 on the 0-10 Numeric Rating scale (NRS). She had a lateral fixation at T12-L2, 6 years earlier. After the operation, she had multiple osteoporotic compression fractures. When the spine was bent, the patient complained about a sharp pain in the left mid-axillary line and radiating pain toward the abdomen. On physical examination, the $10^{th}$ rib was not felt, and an image of the rib-cage confirmed that the left $10^{th}$ rib was severed. When applying pressure from the legs to the $9^{th}$ rib of the patient, pain was reproduced. Therefore, the patient was diagnosed with $9^{th}$ rib syndrome, and ultrasound-guided $9^{th}$ and $10^{th}$ intercostal nerve blocks were performed around the tips of the severed $10^{th}$ rib. In addition, local anesthetics with triamcinolone were administered into the muscles beneath the $9^{th}$ rib at the point of the greatest tenderness. The patient's pain was reduced to NRS 2 point. In this case, it is suspected that the patient had a partial resection of the left $10^{th}$ rib in the past, and subsequent compression fractures at T8 and T9 led to the deformation of the rib cage, causing the tip of the remaining $10^{th}$ rib to impinge on the $9^{th}$ intercostal nerves, causing pain.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• 제18권4호
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• pp.822-834
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• 1985

Reexpansion of the lung is the most desirable method of filling the pleural space whether it`s contents may be, and closed thoracotomy connected to a water-seal drainage remains the basic therapeutic modality in the treatment of the problems of the pleural space. We usually used rubber mushroom tubes, size No. from 16 to 34 Fr., and performed closed thoracotomy after preliminary thoracentesis to determine the exact depending position. Author reviewed 576 cases of closed thoracotomy which were performed in the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Pusan National University Hospital, since Jan., 1980 to June, 1984. The results were as follows: 1. The age distribution was 10 days to 76 years old and mean age of the patients was 36.6 year, and the most prevalent age group was twenties, and sex predisposition was male dominant, 86.9%. 2. The most common etiologic disease group was pneumothorax and the most common etiologic disease was traumatic hemothorax. 3. Sites of tubing were predominantly at posterior axillary line, 7th intercostal space and midclavicular line, 2nd intercostal space even though frequent presence of free pleural space. The two sides, right and left difference of occurrence rate was more frequent at right side, 51.2%. 4. Usually the durations of tubing was less than 10 days, 52.6%, and the number of tubes used to the same patient concomitantly was one, 73.9%, and the time of tubing to the same patient was 1st, 83.6%. 5. The common symptom and sign were dyspnea, 50.0%, chest pain, 30.7%, cough, 10.7%, fever, 6.5%. Especially, fever and cough was the most common symptom and sign in pyogenic empyema, 59.3%. 6. The common etiologic lesions of pneumothorax were blebs and bullae, 73.3%, and of pyogenic empyema was pneumonia, 69.0%. 7. The complication rate of closed thoracotomy was 26.0%. Among these complications, infection was 44.7%, and intercostal neuralgia was 25.3%. 8. 70.9% of all patients recovered with only closed thoracotomy and the rest of patient needed additional some necessary managements such as open thoracotomy [Blebectomy, Resection, Pleurodesis, Decortication, Bleeding control], open drainage, thoracoplasty and so on to have successful results.