• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제55권5호
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• pp.261-266
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• 2014

Objective : With the increased use of interspinous spacers in the treatment of lumbar stenosis, knowledge of the geometry of the interspinous space is important. To prevent dislodgment of an interspinous spacer, the accurate depth and width of the interspinous space needs to be established to facilitate the best intraoperative selection of correct spacer size. Methods : To determine the depth and width of the interspinous space, two methods are available which utilize plain film and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Data analysis of the interspinous depth and width was undertaken in 100 patients. Results : The standard deviations were variable, since skin thickness (zone 1) was altered by sex and age. The difference in the zone 1 distance between adjacent interspinous processes varied according to gender (p<0.05), but was not influenced by age [p=0.32 by analysis of variance between groups (ANOVA)]. Zone 2, the supraspinous, and zone 3, the interspinous ligament depths, comprise the operative working area during insertion of an interspinous spacer. There were no differences with regard to gender or age (p>0.05). For zones 6 and 7, the interspinous distances at the narrowest and widest points, respectively, were found to decrease with the aging process, but the decrease was not statistically significant. There were no differences with regard to gender (p>0.05). Conclusion : This study provides additional information on the interspinous space. This statistical data are valuable for use in the design of interspinous spacers.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제47권5호
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• pp.338-344
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• 2010

Objective : This study assessed the safety and efficacy of one level unilateral laminotomy bilateral decompression (ULBD) with the placement of a device for intervertebral assisted motion (DIAM) compared with one level ULBD only in elderly patients with degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis (DLSS). Methods : A non randomized prospective analysis was performed on 16 patients who underwent one level ULBD with DIAM (Group A) and 20 patients with one level ULBD only (Group B) between February 2007 and March 2008. Radiographic imaging, visual analog scale (VAS) and MacNab outcome scale were obtained before and after surgery at a mean interval of 21 months (range 17-27 months). Results : The disc height, interpedicular distance, slip distance and segmental lordotic angle were similar between two groups. In the group A, there was no significant difference between the pre- and post-operative imaging in terms of the sagittal balance and disc height. Both groups showed significant improvement in the clinical outcomes. In addition, there was significantly less low-back pain in the group A than in the group B at the last follow up, while the clinical improvement of the leg pain and MacNab outcome scale showed no significant difference in the two groups. There were no major complications or DIAM associated complications. Conclusion : ULBD with DIAM is a safe and efficacious treatment for selective elderly patients with DLSS, particularly for relieving low back pain comparing to ULBD. ULBD with DIAM did not alter the disc height or sagittal alignment at the mean 21 months follow-up interval.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제55권1호
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• pp.12-17
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• 2014

Objective : Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) is often complicated by subsidence, pseudoarthrosis, kyphosis, and graft donor site morbidities. To decrease the occurrence of these complications, various types of cages have been developed. We designed this retrospective study to analyze and compare the efficacy and outcomes of ACDF using double cylindrical cages (DCC) (BK Medical, Seoul, Korea) versus an anterior cervical plating system with autogenous iliac crest grafts. Methods : Forty-eight patients were treated with autograft and plating (plate group), and 48 with DCC group from October 2007 to October 2011. We analyzed construct length, cervical lordotic curvarture, the thickness of the prevertebral soft tissue, segmental instability, and clinical outcomes. Results : There were no significant differences between the two groups with regard to the decrease in construct length or cervical lodortic curvature at the 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-ups. The prevertebral soft tissue was thinner in the DCC group than the plate group immediately after surgery and at the 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-ups. The difference in interspinous distance on flexion-extension was shorter in the plate group than the DCC group at the 3- and 6-month follow-ups. However, there was no significant difference in this distance between the two groups at the 12-month follow-up. Conclusion : A double cylindrical cage is a good alternative for fusion in patients with cervical degenerative diseases; the surgical method is relatively simple, allows good synostosis, has less associated prevertebral soft tissue swelling, and complications associated with autografting can be avoided.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제60권4호
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• pp.433-440
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• 2017

Objective : Although minimally invasive posterior cervical foraminotomy (MI-PCF) is an established approach for motion preservation, the outcomes are variable among patients. The objective of this study was to identify significant factors that influence motion preservation after MI-PCF. Methods : Forty-eight patients who had undergone MI-PCF between 2004 and 2012 on a total of 70 levels were studied. Cervical parameters measured using plain radiography included C2-7 plumb line, C2-7 Cobb angle, T1 slope, thoracic outlet angle, neck tilt, and disc height before and 24 months after surgery. The ratios of the remaining facet joints after MI-PCF were calculated postoperatively using computed tomography. Changes in the distance between interspinous processes (DISP) and the segmental angle (SA) before and after surgery were also measured. We determined successful motion preservation with changes in DISP of ${\leq}3mm$ and in SA of ${\leq}2^{\circ}$. Results : The differences in preoperative and postoperative DISP and SA after MI-PCF were $0.03{\pm}3.95mm$ and $0.34{\pm}4.46^{\circ}$, respectively, fulfilling the criteria for successful motion preservation. However, the appropriate level of motion preservation is achieved in cases in which changes in preoperative and postoperative DISP and SA motions are 55.7 and 57.1%, respectively. Based on preoperative and postoperative DISP, patients were divided into three groups, and the characteristics of each group were compared. Among these, the only statistically significant factor in motion preservation was preoperative disc height (Pearson's correlation coefficient=0.658, p<0.001). The optimal disc height for motion preservation in regard to DISP ranges from 4.18 to 7.08 mm. Conclusion : MI-PCF is a widely accepted approach for motion preservation, although desirable radiographic outcomes were only achieved in approximately half of the patients who had undergone the procedure. Since disc height appears to be a significant factor in motion preservation, surgeons should consider disc height before performing MI-PCF.

• 대한정형외과학회지
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• 제55권1호
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• pp.71-77
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• 2020

목적: 요추부 척추관 협착증에서의 후방 감압술 시 극간인대 및 극상인대의 보존이 술 후 척추 불안정성의 예방에 미치는 영향에 대하여 밝히고자 했다. 대상 및 방법: 2014년 3월부터 2017년 3월까지 요추부 척추관 협착증에서 후방 감압술을 시행하고 1년 이상 추시관찰한 83명의 환자를 후향적으로 연구하였다. 대상자들을 수술의 종류에 따라 포트홀 감압술을 시행한 56명의 환자는 그룹 A로, 후궁 아전절제술을 시행한 27명의 환자는 그룹 B로 분류하였다. 임상적 결과를 평가하기 위해 Oswestry disability index (ODI), 요통과 방사통에 대한 시각통증점수(visual analogue scale, VAS), 신경성 간헐적 파행(neurogenic intermittent claudication, NIC) 전 보행거리가 수술 전후로 측정되었다. 영상의학적 결과를 평가하기 위해 수술 전 및 수술 후 매 6개월마다 직립상태에서 측면 및 굴곡-신전 단순 방사선 사진을 촬영해 전위 정도(slip percentage), 역동적 전위 정도(dynamic slip percentage), 각변위(angular displacement), 역동적 각변위(dynamic angular displacement)를 측정하였다. 결과: ODI (그룹 A에서 28.1에서 12.8로 호전; 그룹 B에서 27.3에서 12.3으로 호전), 요통에 대한 VAS (그룹 A에서 7.0에서 2.6로 호전; 그룹 B에서 7.7에서 3.2로 호전), 방사통에 대한 VAS (그룹 A에서 8.5에서 2.8로 호전; 그룹 B에서 8.7에서 2.9로 호전), 그리고 NIC 전 보행 거리(그룹 A에서 118.4 m에서 1,496.2 m로 증가; 그룹 B에서 127.6 m에서 1,481.6 m로 증가)는 두 그룹 모두에서 호전되었다. 다른 영상의학적 결과들에서 유의한 차이가 없었던 반면 역동적 각변위는 술 후 두 그룹간에 유의한 차이를 보였다(그룹 A에서 6.2°에서 6.7°로 증가; 그룹 B에서 6.5°에서 8.4°로 증가; p-value=0.019). 결론: 요추부 척추관 협착증에서의 후방 감압술시 극간인대 및 극상인대를 포함한 후방 인대의 제거는 술 후 역동적 각변위의 증가를 초래하며 후방 인대를 보존하는 포트홀(port-hole) 감압술을 통해 이를 예방할 수 있다.