• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.61 no.1
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• pp.89-96
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• 2018

Objective : Morphometric data for the lumbar posterior longitudinal ligament (PLL) was investigated to identify whether there is a difference in the morphometry of the PLL of the lumbar spine at each level with respect to the pattern of intervertebral disc displacement. Methods : In 14 formalin-fixed adult cadavers (12 males and 2 females), from L1 to L5, the authors measured the width and height of the PLL and compared them with other landmarks such as the disc and the pedicle. Results : Horizontally, at the upper margin of the disc, the central portion of the superficial PLL covered 17.8-36.9% of the disc width and the fan-like portion of the PLL covered 63.9-76.7% of the disc width. At the level of the median portion of the disc, the PLL covered 69.1-74.5% of the disc width. Vertically, at the level of the medial margin of the pedicle, the fan-like portion of the PLL covered 23.5-29.9% of the disc height. In general, a significant difference in length was not found in the right-left and male-female comparisons. Conclusion : This study presents the morphometric data on the pattern of intervertebral disc displacement and helps to improve the knowledge of the surgical anatomy of the lumbar PLL.

• Anatomy & Biological Anthropology
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.151-158
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• 2018

The intervertebral foramen is formed by two adjacent vertebrae and an intervertebral disc. Previous studies examining the foramen have been performed using various methods. The author obtained characteristics of the intervertebral foramen based on silicon mold. The author used 18 cadavers and dissected the lumbar intervertebral foramen. First, positional levels of the spinal nerve in the intervertebral foramen were measured. Second, after being removed all tissues covering the intervertebral, bony foramen was filled with melted silicon to mold the cross section. Subsequently, the solidified silicon mold was removed and stamped on a paper. The paper was scanned and analyzed area, perimeter, height and width of the intervertebral foramen on a computer. Area (average, $9.43mm^2$) and perimeter (average, 48.02 mm) did not show any statistical significant pattern for any lumbar vertebral levels. However, the height and width significantly differed at the fifth lumbar vertebra, which had the shortest height (the fifth, 13.00 mm; average, 15.78 mm) and longest width (the fifth, 8.61 mm; average, 7.87 mm), although there were similar patterns in case of area and perimeter of the first to fourth lumbar vertebra. Height had a decrease tendency while width had an increase tendency both from the second to fifth lumbar vertebra. Spinal nerves went through near the intervertebral disc level from the first to fourth lumbar vertebra, although they passed below the disc at the fifth level. This study provides a different view of methodology for the 3-dimensional aspect for the intervertebral foramen. Results of this study may indicate that height and width of the intervertebral foramen changed along all lumbar vertebral levels; nevertheless, area and perimeter of the intervertebral foramen remained constant.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.512-519
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• 2007

The purpose of this study is to investigate the potential of a novel tissue engineering approach to regenerate intervertebral disc. In this study, thermosensitive scaffold (chitosan-Pluronic hydrogel) and nanofiber were used to replace the nucleus pulposus (NP) and annulus fibrosus of a degenerated intervertebral disc, leading to an eventual regeneration of the disc using the minimally invasive surgical procedure and organ culture. In preliminary study, disc cells were seeded into the scaffolds and cellular responses were assessed by MTT assay and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Based on these results, we could know that tissue engineered scaffolds might provide favorable environments for the regeneration of tissues. Organ culture was performed in fresh porcine spinal motion segments with endplates on both sides. These spinal motion segments were classified into three groups: control (Intact), injured NP (Defect), and inserting tissue engineered scaffolds (Insert). The specimens were cultivated for 7 days, subsequently structural stability, cell proliferation and morphological changes were evaluated by the relaxation time, quantity of DNA, GAG and histological examination. In these results, inserting group showed higher relaxation time, reduced decrement of DNA contents, and accumulated GAG amount. Consequently, the tissue engineered scaffolds used in this study seen to be a promising base scaffolds for regenerative intervertebral disc due to its capacity to absorb external dynamic loading and the possible ideal environment provided for disc cell growing.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.1087-1093
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• 2010

The purpose of this study is to survey the effectiveness of oriental medicine treatment on lumbar herniated intervertebral disc and spondylolisthesis. The clinical study was performed on 32 cases of patients with lumbar herniated intervertebral disc and spondylolisthesis as diagnosed by X-ray, Magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) exams amongst the patients who were admitted to Jaseng Hospital of Oriental Medicine from January 2010 to June 2010. 32 cases of patients were analyzed according to the distribution of sex, age, duration of disease, contributory factor, symptoms, admission period, disc herniation type and level of spondylolisthesis. The efficacy of treatment was evaluated respectively. The number of the female patients were larger than that of male with the ratio of 1:0.6. Most of the patients were in their fifties(43.8%), choronic phase(46.9%), those patients suffered from lower back pain and leg pain radiation(90.6%), reasons unknown(56.3%). Most of them also had mixed disc(37.5%), bulging disc(37.5%) and spondylolisthesis of LS on L5(50.0%). Most of them stayed in the hospital for 21-25days. After treatment, the percentage with good improvement was 62.5%, fair 18.8%, poor 12.5%, and excellent 6.3%, respectively. Oriental medicine treatment has on useful effect on the recovery of lumbar herniated intervertebral disc with spondylolisthesis.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.69-74
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• 2008

Purpose: The majority of patients with radiculopathy caused by a herniated nucleus pulposus (HNP) heal spontaneously without surgery. The aim of this report is to describe the spontaneous regression of lumbar disc herniation and the results of clinical follow-up. Methods: Three patients with radiating low back pain presented with an extruded intervertebral disc on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We performed follow-up with conservative treatment (epidural injection, medication, physical therapy, exercise) and clinical assessments on the 6th, 10th and 22nd months. Results: The extruded intervertebral disc almost complete regressed, and correlated with clinical improvement and follow-up MRI. Conclusion: Conservative treatment can be an effective approach for a herniated lumbar discs if no neurological deficits are present.

• The Journal of Churna Manual Medicine for Spine and Nerves
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.39-47
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• 2013

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to find out the relationship between hip internal rotation angle and the level of herniation of lumbar intervertebral disc(HIVD) in single-segment. Methods : We investigated 314 patients (158 male, 156 female) who were diagnosed as herniation of lumbar intervertebral disc(HIVD) in single-segment. We measured 314 patients' hip internal rotation angle and analysed the relationship between the hip internal rotation angle and the level of herniation of lumbar intervertebral disc(HIVD). Results : 1. Among 314 cases, the hip internal rotation angle was different between male and female. Hip internal rotation angle of male was mainly limited and that of female was mainly excessive. 2. Among 314 cases, the normal group, defined as patients who have specific range of hip internal rotation angle(male : $35^{\circ}{\pm}10^{\circ}$, female : $45^{\circ}{\pm}10^{\circ}$), tends to be occurred HIVD at L4/5 level. The limited group, defined as patients who have less angle than normal group, the excessive group, defined as patients who have more angle than normal group, and the complex group, defined as patients who have more angle of one leg and less angle of the other leg than normal group, tend to be occurred HIVD at L5/S1 level(p<0.05). Conclusions : In single-segment lumbar HIVD patients, The normal hip internal rotation angle mainly leads to L4/5 HIVD, while the limited and excessive hip internal rotation angle mainly lead to L5/S1 HIVD.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.171-181
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• 2009

Objectives : A ruptured disc is a condition in which part or all of the nucleus pulposus is forced through a weakened part of the disc, resulting in back pain and leg pain caused by nerve root irritation. In this report, we investigated the effect of oriental medicine treatment in parallel with sling exercise therapy on ruptured intervertebral lumbar disc patients. Methods : The patients who have ruptured disc were treated by oriental medicine treatment in parallel with sling exercise therapy. The patients' symptoms were assessed by visual analogue scale(VAS) and revised oswestry disability questionnaire(RODQ) every week. Results : In all cases, chief complain such as lumbago, radicular pain and paresthesia were improved after above treatment. VAS score and RODQ score of all cases were decreased. Conclusions : There were usually thought to need operation in ruptured disc. But conservative treatment such as oriental medicine treatment in parallel with sling exercise therapy is helpful to improve the symptoms of the ruptured intervertebral lumbar disc except the emergency state.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.124-129
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• 2013

Embedding Therapy keep the stimulation to acupoint. Recently, Embedding Therapy is used for various disease and also studied in many different fields especially in China. In Korea, Embedding Therapy is studied and used for dermatology, face-lift, obesity, facial palsy most frequently. Chinese studies shows us Embedding Therapy could help musculoskeletal system disorder, lumbar herniated intervertebral disc, sprain, spinal canal stenosis. In Korea study concerning lumbar herniated intervertebral disc treatment used Embedding Therapy is few. This study's purpose is to ensure effect of Embedding Therapy at lumbar herniated intervertebral disc treatment. Four lumbar disc herniation patients had been treated with Embedding Therapy were described in this article. The patients(n=4) had been suffering from chronic lower back and leg pain that continued for more than 6 months. All patients had been diagnosed as lumbar disc herniation by MRI or CT, and treated with Embedding Therapy at least 2 times(7 days interval). 2 patients had been treated with concurrent treatment of acupuncture therapy, and the other 2 patients with concurrent treatment of acupuncture and herbal therapy. We observed 4 patients for more than 2 weeks, and their symptoms and quality of daily life had been improved. This suggests that lumbar disc herniation can be successfully recovered with Concurrent Embedding Therapy under conventional Korean Medical Treatment without side effects.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.16-22
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• 2009

Objective : This study was designed to investigate automated pressure-controlled discography (APCD) findings, to calculate the elastance of intervertebral discs, and to assess the relationship between the calculated elastance and disc degeneration. Methods : APCD was performed in 19 patients. There were a total of 49 intervertebral discs treated. Following intradiscal puncture, a dye was constantly injected and the intradiscal pressure was continuously measured. The elastance of the intervertebral disc was defined as unit change in intradiscal pressure per fractional change in injected dye volume. Disc degeneration was graded using a modified Dallas discogram scale. Results : The mean elastance was 43.0${\pm}$9.6 psi/mL in Grade 0, 39.5${\pm}$8.3 psi/mL in Grade 1, 30.5${\pm}$22.3 psi/mL in Grade 2, 30.5${\pm}$22.3 psi/mL in Grade 3, 13.2${\pm}$8.3 psi/mL in Grade 4 and 6.9${\pm}$3.8 psi/mL in Grade 5. The elastance showed significant negative correlation with the degree of degeneration ($R^2$=0.529, P=0.000). Conclusion: APCD liberates the examiner from the data acquisition process during discography. This will likely improve the quality of data and the reliability of discography. Elastance could be used as an indicator of disc degeneration.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.38-42
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• 2018

A case of surgically treated intervertebral disc extrusion with intraoperatively confirmed intradiscal hematoma in a 30-year-old physical trainer is presented. Preoperative magnetic resonance imaging revealed downward migrating disc herniation, without definite suggestive findings of intradiscal hematoma. Intervertebral disc herniation with concomitant intradiscal hematoma is extremely rare, but could occur in patients who have excessive axial stress to the spine occupationally. In our case, the patient was an occupational physical trainer who had repetitive minor trauma to the lumbar spine. Although the patient did not have any clear history of major trauma to the spine, the intraoperative findings revealed intradiscal hematoma, which is very rare. The presence of intradiscal hematoma is to be suspected even when preoperative imaging studies shows indefinite findings of hematoma, considering the change in signal intensity of hematoma by time.