• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제46권5호
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• pp.425-430
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• 2009

Objective : The present study analyzed the risk factors, prevalence and clinical results following revision surgery for adjacent segment degeneration (ASD) in patients who had undergone lumbar fusion. Methods : Over an 8-year period, we performed posterior lumbar fusion in 81 patients. Patients were followed a minimum of 2 years (mean 5.5 years). During that time, 9 patients required revision surgery due to ASD development. Four patients underwent autogenous posterolateral arthrodesis and extended transpedicle screw fixation, 4 patients underwent decompressive laminectomy and interspinous device implantation, and 1 patient underwent simple decompression. Results : Of the 9 of patients with clinical ASD, 33.3% (3 of 9) of patients did not have radiographic ASD on plain radiographs. Following revision surgery, the clinical results were excellent or good in 8 patients (88.9%). Age > 50 years at primary surgery was a significant risk factor for ASD development, while number of fusion levels, initial diagnosis and type of fusion were not. Conclusion : The incidence of ASD development after lumbar surgery was 11.1% (9 of 81) in this study. Age greater than 50 was the statistically significant risk factor for ASD development. Similar successful clinical outcomes were observed after extended fusion with wide decompression or after interspinous device implantation. Given the latter procedure is less invasive, the findings suggest it may be considered a treatment alternative in selected cases but it needs further study.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제41권4호
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• pp.241-245
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• 2007

Objective : So called "minimally invasive procedures" have evolved from chemonucleolysis, automated percutaneous discectomy, arthroscopic microdiscectomy that are mainly working within the confines of intradiscal space to transforaminal endoscopic technique to remove herniated epidural disc materials directly. The purpose of this study is to assess the result of endoscopic spinal surgery and favorable indication in the thoracolumbar spine. Methods : The records of 71 patients, 73 endoscopic procedures, were retrospectively analysed. Yeung Endoscopic Spine Surgery system with 7 mm working sleeve and $25^{\circ}$ viewing angle was used. The mean follow up period was 6 months [range, 3-9]. Results : Operated levels were from T12-L1 disc down to L5-L6 of S1 disc. Of 71 cases, 2 patients underwent transforaminal endoscopic surgery twice due to recurrence after initial operation. MacNab's criteria was used to assess the outcome. Favorable outcome, excellent of good, was seen in 78% [57 procedures] of the patients. Among 11 fair outcomes, only 1 procedure was followed by secondary open procedure, laminectomy with discectomy. Two of 5 poor outcomes were operated again by same procedure which resulted in fair outcomes. One patient with aggravated cauda equina syndrome remained poor and a lumbar fusion procedure was performed in other patient with poor outcome. There were 2 postoperative discitis that were treated with conservative care in one and anterior lumbar interbody fusion in the other. Conclusion : Evolving technology of mechanical, visual instrument enables minimal invasive procedure possible and effective. The transforaminal endoscopic spinal surgery can reach as high as T12-L1 disc level. The rate of favorable outcome is mid-range among reported endoscopic lumbar surgery series. Authors believe that the outcome will be better as cases accumulate and will be able to reach the fate of standard open microsurgery.

• 대한의용생체공학회:의공학회지
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• 제26권3호
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• pp.151-155
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• 2005

Interspinous spacers have been developed as an alternative surgical treatment for laminectomy or fusion with pedicle screws and rods for the treatment of lumbar spinal stenosis. However, its biomedical efficacies are well not known. In this study, we evaluated kinematic behaviors of the surgical and the adjacent levels before and after inserting interspinous spacers. Three porcine lumbar spines were prepared. On each specimen, an interspinous spacer was inserted at the L4-L5. Flexion-extension moments (0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5, 10Nm) were applied. A stereophotogrammetric set-up with DLT algorithm was used to assess the three-dimensional motions of the specimen where three markers $({\square}0.8mm)$ were attached to each vertebra. Results showed that extension motion decreased by $15-24\%$ at the surgical level (L4-L5) after insertion of interspinous spacer. At the adjacent levels, the range of motion remained unchanged. In flexion, no significant changes in motion were observed regardless of levels. Therefore, our experimental results demonstrated the interspinous spacer is very effective in limiting the extension motion that may cause narrowing of the spinal canal and vertebral foramen while maintaining kinematic behaviors at the adjacent levels. Further, these results suggested that the use of interspinous spacer may be able to prevent lower back pain at the surgical level and to lower the incidence of degenerative changes at the adjacent levels.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제9권2호
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• pp.434-438
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• 1996

Epidural abscess is associated with placement of epidural catheter is very rare. We experienced two cases of epidural abscess formation after placement of epidural catheter for pain management. A 63 years old female patient received thoracic epidural catheterization for management of pain due to herpes zoster on right T4 dermatome. Two weeks after catheterization, she complained of paraparesis and anesthesia below $T_4$ dermatome. Four weeks later magnetic resonance images was performed and revealed epidural abscess on $T_2-T_5$. Emergent decompressive laminectomy was performed but neurologic symptoms were not improved. In other case, a 75 years old male patient received lumbar epidural catheterization for management of Buerger's disease. About on month later, pus was aspirated from lumbar epidural space. But further evaluation could not be achieved because he wanted to discharge against advice. We emphasize that epidural abscess results sequele serious and prompt diagnosis and treatment is important.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제44권1호
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• pp.47-51
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• 2008

Ligamentum flavum hematoma is a rare condition. Twenty cases including present case have been reported in English-language literature. Among them, only one case reported in pure thoracic spine. A 72-year-old man presented with thoracic myelopathy without precedent cause. Magnetic resonance images revealed a posterior semicircular mass which was located in T7 and T8 level compressing the spinal cord dorsally. T7-8 total laminectomy and extirpation of the mass was performed. One month later following surgery, the patient fully recovered to normal state. Pathologic result was confirmed as ligamentum flavum hematoma. Ligamentum flavum hematoma of rigid thoracic spine is a very rare disease entity. Most reported cases were confined to mobile cervical and lumbar spine. Surgeons should be aware that there seems to be another different pathogenesis other than previously reported cases of mobile cervical and lumbar spine.

• 대한기계학회논문집A
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• 제33권7호
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• pp.645-651
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• 2009

Previous studies have introduced the technique of spinous process osteotomy to decompress spinal stenosis, a procedure which aims to afford excellent visualization while minimizing destruction of tissues not directly involved in the pathologic process. However, biomechanically it has not been investigated whether the sacrifice of posterior spinous process might have potential risk of spinal instability or not, even though supra-spinous and inter-spinous ligaments are preserved. Therefore the aim of this study is to evaluate the biomechanical properties after spinous process osteotomy, using finite element analysis. The model of spinous process osteotomy exhibited no significant increase in disc stress or change in segmental range of motion. It is due to the fact that the instability of lumbar spine has been maintained by the two-types of ligaments compared with the prior surgical technique. Therefore, according to the finite element result on this study, this osotetomy was considered to be a clinically safe surgical procedure and could not cause the instability of the lumbar spine.

• 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.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제14권1호
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• pp.104-109
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• 2001

We describe the accidental injection of local anesthetics containing steroid into the subdural space during an attempted lumbar epidural injection for intractable radiculopathy in a patient with failed back surgery syndrome. A 24-year-old man complained of severe radiating pain to left lower extremity and showed a walking disturbance and severe lumbar scoliosis. The MRI finding was a left paramedian recurred disc herniation on L4-5 in a laminectomy state. Several therapeutic modalities such as epidural steroid injection, transforaminal injection, L2 root block, medication, and exercise therapy, etc failed. Initially, during epidural block at L4-5 under fluoroscopic guidance, a railroad track appearance appeared on epidurogram suggesting the presence of a subdural space. A second epidural block was tried at L5-S1. Following confirmation of epidural space upon epidurogram, 6 ml of 0.5% lidocaine including triamcinolone 40 mg was injected. The patient showed signs of the subdural injection including an unexpectedly high sensory block (T2) and a motor weakness of both lower extremities. Following this event, the severe radiculopathy and lumbar scoliosis were improved. Therefore, we conclude that subdural injection of steroid could be helpful in intractable radiculopathy, especially in the failed back surgery syndrome. However, it must be used cautiously with careful patient selection.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• 제22권3호
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• pp.93-98
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• 2010

Purpose: To investigate temporal changes in IL-1${\beta}$ mRNA expression in spinal dorsal horn (DH) and dorsal root ganglion (DRG) in a rat lumbar disc herniation (LDH) model. Methods: Autologous nucleus pulposus, harvested from the tail disc between the second and third coccygeal vertebrae (Co2-3), was implanted next to the left L5 nerve root just proximal to the DRG after partial laminectomy. IL-1${\beta}$ mRNA expression was investigated in DRG and DH in our LDH model. Real-time PCR assays were done using a 7500 Real Time PCR system (Applied Biosystems, USA). Results: Expression of IL-1${\beta}$ in DRG and DH was observed for 30 days postoperatively. Expression of IL-1${\beta}$ mRNA in the ipsilateral DRG of the LDH group gradually increased from 5 to 30 days after surgery. The amount of IL-1${\beta}$ in the contralateral DRG peaked 10 days after surgery and then gradually decreased. However, there was no difference in IL-1${\beta}$ mRNA expression in spinal DH between the LDH group and the sham-operated group. Conclusion: Long-term expression of IL-1${\beta}$ in the LDH model may worsen the chronic pain state. Future studies on inhibition of IL-1${\beta}$ expression in the LDH model will be needed to develop selective treatment strategies for patients with LDH.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제37권4호
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• pp.313-315
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• 2005

A 66 year-old woman was admitted to our hospital for progressive weakness of both lower extremities since a month ago. Imaging study, based on plain X-ray, computed tomography and magnetic resonance image revealed spinal stenosis owing to anterior slipping of T10/11 segment. Degenerative spondylolisthesis is common in the lumbar spine and rarely occurs in the cervical spine. But there was no report of degenerative spondylolisthesis in thoracic spine. The authors experienced a case of degenerative spondylolisthesis in the thoracic spine. And we achieved a satisfactory result with posterior decompressive laminectomy alone.