• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.11-15
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• 2009

Objective: Two findings easily found at coronal source images of MR myelography (MRM) were evaluated : dorsal root ganglion (DRG) swelling and running course abnormality (RCA) of L5 exiting root at foramen or extraforamen. We tried to find the sensitivity of each finding when root was compressed. Methods: From 2004 July to 2006, one hundred and ten patients underwent one side paraspinal decompression for their L5 root foraminal or extraforaminal compression at L5-S1 level. All kinds of conservative treatments failed to improve leg symptom for several months. Before surgery, MRI, CT and MRM were done. Retrospective radiologic analysis for their preoperative MRM coronal source images was done to specify root compression sites and L5 root morphologic changes. Results: DRG swelling was found in 66 (60%) of 110 patients. DRG swelling has statistically valuable meaning in foraminal root compression (chi-square test, p<0.0001). Seventy-two (66%) in 110 patients showed abnormal alteration of running course. Abnormal running course has statistically valuable meaning in foraminal or extraforaminal root compression (chi-square test, p<0.0001). Conclusion: Three-dimensional MRM provides precise thin sliced coronal images which are most close to real operative views. DRG swelling and running course abnormality of L5 exiting root are two useful findings in diagnosing L5 root compression at L5-S1 foramen or extraforamen. MRM is thought to provide additional diagnostic accuracy expecially in L5-S1 foraminal and extraforaminal area.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.85-97
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• 2010

Objectives : The study on Acupotomy therapy has recently become a popular academic field as proven to be an great alternative to the limitation of Western medical treatment. However, there has been little study examining acupotomy therapy on treating HIVD. Thus, this study aims to investigate the sense of improvement and satisfaction from the HIVD patients treated with acupotomy therapy. Methods : A total of 63 subjects that consists of HIVD patients were participated in this study. The experimental group(33subjects) was treated with acupotomy therapy and acupuncture, and the control group (30subjects) was treated with acupuncture. All the subjects were asked to answer VAS(visual analogue scale) and ODI(Oswestry disability index) before and after the treatment. Results : The results of the VAS and ODI of comparison analysis between two groups, show that the improvement of HIVD in acupotomy and acupuncture treatment group is more effective than that in acupuncture treatment group

• The Journal of Churna Manual Medicine for Spine and Nerves
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.37-49
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• 2015

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to show the effectiveness of Chuna Cranio-Sacral Therapy for remaining pain and muscle strength decrease after herniated intervertebral disc surgery. Methods : Two patients with Failed Back Surgery Syndrome(FBSS) were hospitalized and treated by Korean medical treatments with Chuna Cranio-Sacral Therapy. The Range of Motion(ROM) of the lumbar spine and Manual Muscle Test(MMT) were adopted to measure the resulting motor recovery after treatment. And the Numerical Rating Scale(NRS) was adopted to measure changes of pain level. Two patients both had Chuna Cranio-Sacral Therapy category III disorder with short right leg. We applied category III blocking technique everyday for 20 minutes with Korean medical treatments. Results : In both cases, the range of motions were improved and the pain level decreased. And in case 1, muscle strength also showed improvements. Conclusions : We suggest Chuna Cranio-Sacral Therapy is effective for pain decrease and motor recovery of FBSS patients. Further studies are needed to set up an Korean medical protocol for FBSS.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.142-145
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• 2005

Background: Vertebroplasty that is performed in the upper and middle thoracic spine presents technical challenges that are different from those in the lower thoracic or lumbar region due to the small pedicle size and angular severity for thoracic kyphosis. We report the results of percutaneous vertebroplasty and review its effectiveness in treating intractable osteoporotic compression fractures in the upper and middle thoracic spine. Methods: Patients who underwent vertebroplasty due to painful osteoporotic compression fractures at T3 T8 were retrospectively analyzed. The compression rate, volume of injected cement, clinical outcome (VAS score) and complications were analyzed. Results: Forty-three vertebral bodies from 41 patients (32 females and 9 males, age from 64 to 78 years old) underwent vertebroplasty. The mean compression rate improved from 35% to 17%. Bipedicular injections of bone cement were performed at 3 levels of 2 patients, and unipedicular injections were performed in 40 levels of 39 patients. The mean VAS score prior to surgery was 7.7, which improved to 2.4 within 48 hours after surgery, and the mean VAS score after 6 months was 1.5, which was significantly lower. All patients recovered uneventfully, and the neurological examination revealed no deficits. Cement leakage to the adjacent disc (9 levels) and paravertebral soft tissues (10 levels) developed. However, there were no significant complications related to the procedure such as a pneumothorax or pulmonary embolism. Conclusions: Transpedicular vertebroplasty is a safe and effective treatment for the upper and middle thoracic regions, and has a low complication rate.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.1023-1032
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• 2001

The muscles relating to movement of painful low back was analyzed kinematically, by method of applying elastic tapes and putting non-elastic tapes on muscles involving those movements which cause pain and limitation of range of motion (ROM) in low back and trunk. Taping therapy which is effective for improvement of painful low back and which is supposed to facilitate the total and continual movement based on the postural reflexes will be presented in this paper. Fifty cases who had painful low back were investigated. Patients with painful low back were at first asked pain point and direction of painful movement, and then tested the muscles which are cause of those pain and limited motion. Before attaching tape, all subjects were divided into two groups, flexor pattern and extensor pattern, according to direction of increasing pain. Elastic tapes were applied from origin to insertion of objective muscles and non-elastic tapes were put on effective points of the muscles which were associated with respect to pain and limited ROM. As a result of this study, all subjects with low back pain significantly improved in pain and ROM at the low back. The longest treatment duration group for the low back pain cases was herniated lumbar disc(10.4 days) group. Low back pain have been treated by so many ways. muscles factor should be emphasized to be distinguish1y important to reduce low back pain. The muscles relating to make directly painful motion in low back and trunk should be confirmed by means of taping and painful motion should be analyzed by point of view of postural reflexes.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.363-366
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• 2007

Objective : Kyphoplasty performed in the middle thoracic spine presents technical challenges that differ from those in the lower thoracic or lumbar region due to small pedicle size and angular severity for thoracic kyphosis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of balloon kyphoplasty through extrapedicular approach for the treatment of intractable osteoporotic compression fractures in the middle thoracic spine. Methods : The patients who were performed with one level balloon kyphoplasty through extrapedicular approach due to painful osteoporotic compression fractures at T5-T8 from June 2003 to July 2005 were retrospectively analyzed. Imaging and clinical features were analyzed including involved vertebrae level, vertebral height, Injected cement volume, clinical outcome and complications. Results : Eighteen female patients (age ranged from 60 to 77 years old) were included in this study. The average amount of the implanted cement was $4.2{\pm}1.5\;cc$. The mean cobb angle and compression rate were improved from $12.1{\pm}6.5^{\circ}$ to $8.5{\pm}7.2^{\circ}$ and from 30% to 15%, respectively. The mean pain score (visual analogue scale) prior to kyphoplasty was 7.9 and it decreased to 3.0 after the procedure. Cement leakage to the adjacent disc (2 cases) and paravertebral soft tissues (1 case) were seen but there were no major complications such as pneumothorax, segmental arte 이 Injury, pulmonary embolism, or epidural leakage. Conclusion : Balloon kyphoplasty through extrapedicular approach is considered as a safe and effective in treating the middle thoracic regions with low complication rate.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.131-138
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• 2008

Objectives : Spine decompression therapy has recently become a popular academic field as it has proven to be a great alternative to the limitations of Western medical treatment. However, little study examined spine decompression therapy for lumbago. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the sense of improvement and satisfaction from the lumbago patients reported after being treated with spine decompression therapy. Methods : A total of 80 subjects that consists of lumbago patients were participated in this study. The experimental group(50 subjects) was treated with spine decompression therapy and acupuncture, and the control group(30 subjects) was treated with acupuncture. All the subjects were asked to complete the VAS(visual analogue scale) and ODI(Oswestry disability index) before and after the treatment. Results : A comparison of VAS and ODI results of the two groups shows that the spine decompression and acupuncture treatment group reported more effective relief from lumbago than the acupuncture treatment group.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.55-65
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• 2017

Objectives The purpose of this review is to analyze results of case studies and controlled studies about Carthmi-Flos pharmacopuncture. Based on the review, authors desire to suggest the study model including precise information and evident the effect of Carthmi-Flos pharmacopuncture objectively in treating clinical disorders. Methods We search 44 studies about Carthmi-Flos pharmacopuncture from 6 Korean web databases, using words 'Carthmi-Flos pharmacopuncture' in Korean alphabet. This study had been conducted throughout 1 month (July, 2017). We selected case studies and controlled trials in investigated 44 thesis, excluding experimental research and thesis not using the Carthmi-Flos pharmacopuncture for major treatment. Results We analyze 13 case reports and 7 controlled trials. As a result, Carthmi-Flos Pharmacopuncture was used mostly in musculoskeletal, neurological diseases. But this can be applied to internal diseases. Disorders reported effectively were carpal tunnel syndrome, degenerative knee joint arthritis, posterior neck pain, low back pain, radial nerve palsy, shoulder pain, lumbar compression fracture, alopecia areata, chronic daily headache, duverney fracture, oligomenorrhea, cervical disc herniation, rheumatoid arthritis and cervical headache. Conclusions As we analyzed, Carthmi-Flos pharmacopuncture is specifically effective in musculoskeletal and neurologic diseases. But there are various problems in study design. To design accurately, the study design should include much more specific information. And the result can be more precise by excluding other methods.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.11 no.10
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• pp.488-493
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• 2011

The Korean spine geometry and property data for researchers were made by KISTI and Catholic Institute for Applied Anatomy. We took whole spine CT, X-Ray, BMD scan for making high resolution cross-sectional spine images using more 20 donated cadavers(60 - 80 years). Then we constructed 3-dimensional volume model using serial CT images by Mimics software. The major morphometric parameters of vertebrae were measured. Mechanical motion and property data were obtained by the same cadavers using the DEXA for BMD and the spine simulator. The Korean spine geometry and property data could be used for research and development of medical device.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.53 no.5
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• pp.269-273
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• 2013

Objective : Posture induced common peroneal nerve (CPN) palsy is usually produced during the prolonged squatting or habitual leg crossing while seated, especially in Asian culture and is manifested by the onset of foot drop. Because of its similarity to discogenic foot drop, patients may be diagnosed with a lumbar disc disorder, and in some patients, surgeons may perform unnecessary examinations and even spine surgery. The purpose of our study is to establish the clinical characteristics and diagnostic assessment of posture induced CPN palsy. Methods : From June 2008 to June 2012, a retrospective study was performed on 26 patients diagnosed with peroneal nerve palsy in neurophysiologic study among patients experiencing foot drop after maintaining a certain posture for a long time. Results : The inducing postures were squatting (14 patients), sitting cross-legged (6 patients), lying down (4 patients), walking and driving. The mean prolonged neural injury time was 124.2 minutes. The most common clinical presentation was foot drop and the most affected sensory area was dorsum of the foot with tingling sensation (14 patients), numbness (8 patients), and burning sensation (4 patients). The clinical improvement began after a mean 6 weeks, which is not related to neural injury times. Electrophysiology evaluation was performed after 2 weeks later and showed delayed CPN nerve conduction study (NCS) in 24 patients and deep peroneal nerve in 2 patients. Conclusion : We suggest that an awareness of these clinical characteristics and diagnostic assessment methods may help clinicians make a diagnosis of posture induced CPN palsy and preclude unnecessary studies or inappropriate treatment in foot drop patients.