• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.14-23
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• 2014

Objectives The objective of this study is to report the effects of acupuncture on neonatal brachial plexus palsy (neonatal brachial plexopathy). Methods We treated the patient with acupuncture for 4 months. Acupuncture was performed on the infant with flaccid paresis of a lower extremity. The effects of neonatal brachial plexus injury were measured by the active movement scale and the electromyographic test. Results 1. In electromyographic test, conduction velocity in left median nerve was elevated. 2. Active movement scale score was increased from 6 to 27 during the 4 months of treatment. 3. Grasping power of the patient's left hand was 60% stronger than the first medical examination. Conclusions This study showed that acupuncture was effective in treating the symptoms of brachial plexopathy. The further studies might be also needed.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.60 no.5
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• pp.597-603
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• 2017

Objective : Several surgical methods have been reported for treatment of ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) in the thoracic spine. Despite rapid innovation of instruments and techniques for spinal surgery, the postoperative outcomes are not always favorable. This article reports a minimally invasive anterior decompression technique without instrumented fusion, which was modified from the conventional procedure. The authors present 2 cases of huge beak-type OPLL. Patients underwent minimally invasive anterior decompression without fusion. This method created a space on the ventral side of the OPLL without violating global thoracic spinal stability. Via this space, the OPLL and anterior lateral side of the dural sac can be seen and manipulated directly. Then, total removal of the OPLL was accomplished. No orthosis was needed. In this article, we share our key technique and concepts for treatment of huge thoracic OPLL. Methods : Case 1. 51-year-old female was referred to our hospital with right lower limb radiating pain and paresis. Thoracic OPLL at T6-7 had been identified at our hospital, and conservative treatment had been tried without success. Case 2. This 54-year-old female with a 6-month history of progressive gait disturbance and bilateral lower extremity radiating pain (right>left) was admitted to our institute. She also had hypoesthesia in both lower legs. Her symptoms had been gradually progressing. Computed tomography scans showed massive OPLL at the T9-10 level. Magnetic resonance imaging of the thoracolumbar spine demonstrated ventral bony masses with severe anterior compression of the spinal cord at the same level. Results : We used this surgical method in 2 patients with a huge beaked-type OPLL in the thoracic level. Complete removal of the OPLL via anterior decompression without instrumented fusion was accomplished. The 1st case had no intraoperative or postoperative complications, and the 2nd case had 1 intraoperative complication (dural tear) and no postoperative complications. There were no residual symptoms of the lower extremities. Conclusion : This surgical technique allows the surgeon to safely and effectively perform minimally invasive anterior decompression without instrumented fusion via a transthoracic approach for thoracic OPLL. It can be applied at the mid and lower level of the thoracic spine and could become a standard procedure for treatment of huge beak-type thoracic OPLL.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.18 no.12
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• pp.352-358
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• 2017

Frontotemporal dementia, the second most common cause of early onset dementia, is a neurodegenerative clinical syndrome characterized by progressive deficits in behavior, executive function and language. Although motor symptoms in frontotemporal dementia are represented by motor neuron disease, parkinsonism and progressive supranuclear palsy syndrome, there have been no reports of motor weakness caused by the direct involvement of central motor nervous systems in frontotemporal dementia. Moreover, no association between clinical dementia groups and complex regional pain syndrome has been reported. We diagnosed a rare case with motor weakness and complex regional pain syndrome of lower limbs due to central nervous system lesion in a patient with frontotemporal dementia by magnetic resonance imaging, electrodiagnostic study and three phase bone scan. Following steroid therapy for complex regional pain syndrome, pain was improved. Functional improvement was noted after rehabilitation therapy, including functional electrical stimulation, muscle strengthening exercise and gait training during hospitalization. This case report suggests that rehabilitation therapy for motor weakness in frontotemporal dementia could be effective for improving overall function.