• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제40권2호
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• pp.84-89
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• 2006

Objective : The purpose of this study is to compare the outcomes of two methods for stabilization and fusion : Postero-Lateral Fusion [PLF, pedicle screw fixation with bone graft] and Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion [PLIF, cage insertion] for spinal stenosis and recurred disc herniation except degenerative spondylolisthesis. Methods : Seventy one patients who underwent PLF [n=36] or PLIF [n=35] between 1997 and 2001 were evaluated prospectively. These two groups were compared for the change of interbody space, the range of segmental angle, the angle of lumbar motion, and clinical outcomes by Prolo scale. Results : The mean follow-up period was 32.6 months. The PLIF group showed statistically significant increase of the interbody space after surgery. However, the difference in the change of interbody space between two groups was insignificant [P value=0.05]. The range of segmental angle was better in the PLIF group, but the difference in the change of segmental angle was not statistically significant [P value=0.0l7]. Angle of lumbar motion was similar in the two groups. Changes of Prolo economic scale were not statistically significant [P value=0.193]. The PLIF group showed statistically significant improvement in Prolo functional scale [P value=0.003]. In Prolo economic and functional scale, there were statistically significant relationships between follow-up duration [P value<0.001]. change of interbody space [P value<0.001], and range of segmental angle [P value<0.001]. Conclusion : Results of this study indicate that PLIF is superior to PLF in interbody space augmentation and clinical outcomes by Prolo functional scale. Analysis of clinical outcomes showed significant relationships among various factors [fusion type, follow-up duration, change of interbody space, and range of segmental angle]. Therefore, the authors recommend instrumented PLIF to offer better clinical outcomes in patients who needed instrumented lumbar fusion for spinal stenosis and recurred disc herniation.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제28권2호
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• pp.75-87
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• 2015

Background: Lumbar discogenic pain without pain mediated by a disc herniation, facet joints, or the sacroiliac joints, is common and often results in chronic, persistent pain and disability. After conservative treatment failure, injection therapy, such as an epidural injection, is frequently the next step considered in managing discogenic pain. The objective of this systematic review is to determine the efficacy of lumbar epidural injections in managing discogenic pain without radiculopathy, and compare this approach to lumbar fusion or disc arthroplasty surgery. Methods: A systematic review of randomized trials published from 1966 through October 2014 of all types of epidural injections and lumbar fusion or disc arthroplasty in managing lumbar discogenic pain was performed with methodological quality assessment and grading of evidence. The level of evidence was based on the grading of evidence criteria which, was conducted using 5 levels of evidence ranging from levels I to V. Results: Based on a qualitative assessment of the evidence for both approaches, there is Level II evidence for epidural injections, either caudal or lumbar interlaminar. Conclusions: The available evidence suggests fluoroscopically directed epidural injections provide long-term improvement in back and lower extremity pain for patients with lumbar discogenic pain. There is also limited evidence showing the potential effectiveness of surgical interventions compared to nonsurgical treatments.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제54권4호
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• pp.323-328
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• 2013

Objective : The purpose of this study was to examine the efficacy and perioperative complications associated with lumbar spinal fusion surgery, focusing on geriatric patients in the Republic of Korea. Methods : We retrospectively investigated 485 patients with degenerative spinal diseases who had lumbar spinal fusion surgeries between March 2006 and December 2010 at our institution. Age, sex, comorbidity, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) class, fusion segments, perioperative complications, and outcomes were analyzed in this study. Risk factors for complications and their association with age were analyzed. Results : In this study, 81 patients presented complications (16.7%). The rate of perioperative complications was significantly higher in patients 70 years or older than in other age groups (univariate analysis, p=0.015; multivariate analysis, p=0.024). The perioperative complications were not significantly associated with the other factors tested (sex, comorbidity, ASA class, and fusion segments). Post-operative outcomes of lumbar spinal fusion surgeries for the patients were determined on the basis of MacNab's criteria (average follow up period : 19.7 months), and 412 patients (85.0%) were classified as having "excellent" or "good" results. Conclusion : Increasing age was an important risk factor for perioperative complications in patients undergoing lumbar spinal fusion surgery, whereas other factors were not significant. However, patients' satisfaction or return to daily activities when compared with younger patients did not show much difference. We recommend good clinical judgment as well as careful selection of geriatric patients for lumbar spinal fusion surgery.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제49권2호
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• pp.128-130
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• 2011

The low lumbar spine is deeply located in flexible segments, and has a physiologic lordosis. Therefore, burst fractures of the low lumbar spine are uncommon injuries. The treatment for such injuries may either be conservative or surgical management according to canal compromise and the neurological status. However, there are no general guidelines or consensus for the treatment of low lumbar burst fractures especially in neurologically intact cases with severe canal compromise. We report a patient with a burst fracture of the fourth lumbar vertebra, who was treated surgically but without fusion because of the neurologically intact status in spite of severe canal compromise of more than 85%. It was possible to preserve motion segments by removal of screws at one year later. We also discuss why bone fusion was not necessary with review of the relevant literature.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제37권5호
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• pp.340-344
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• 2005

Objective: Posterior lumbar interbody fusion(PLIF), the current leading method of pedicle screw fixation combined with interbody fusion via posterior route, sometimes requires too much destruction of the facet joint than expected especially for the patient with a narrow spine. On the other hand, tranforaminal lumbar interbody fusion(TLIF) technique provides potential advantages over PLIF and can be chosen as a better surgical alternative to more traditional fusion methods in certain surgical conditions. Methods: From October 1999, 99 PLIF and 29 TLIF procedures were done for the patients with spinal stenosis and instability. Radiological data including the interpedicular distance and the size of the pedicles as well as the clinical parameters were collected retrospectively. The degree of resection of the inferior articular process was compared with the interpedicular distance in each patient who received PLIF. Results: No significant differences were found between PLIF and TLIF regarding the operation time, blood loss, duration of hospital stay, or short term postoperative clinical result. There were no complication with TLIF, but PLIF resulted in 9(9.1%) complications. During PLIF procedure, all patients(n=24) except one with the interpedicular distance shorter than 27mm required near complete or complete resection of the inferior articular processes, whereas only 6(31.5%) of 19 patients with the interpedicular distances longer than 30mm required the similar extent of resection. Conclusion: TLIF is better than PLIF in terms of the complication rate. The patient who had narrow interpedicular distance(<27mm) might be better candidate for TLIF.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제53권3호
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• pp.174-179
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• 2013

Objective : Many studies have investigated paraspinal muscle changes after posterior lumbar surgery, including lumbar fusion. However, no study has been performed to investigate back muscle changes after pedicle based dynamic stabilization in patients with degenerative lumbar spinal diseases. In this study, the authors compared back muscle cross sectional area (MCSA) changes after non-fusion pedicle based dynamic stabilization. Methods : Thirty-two consecutive patients who underwent non-fusion pedicle based dynamic stabilization (PDS) at the L4-L5 level between February 2005 and January 2008 were included in this retrospective study. In addition, 11 patients who underwent traditional lumbar fusion (LF) during the same period were enrolled for comparative purposes. Preoperative and postoperative MCSAs of the paraspinal (multifidus+longissimus), psoas, and multifidus muscles were measured using computed tomographic axial sections taken at the L4 lower vertebral body level, which best visualize the paraspinal and psoas muscles. Measurements were made preoperatively and at more than 6 months after surgery. Results : Overall, back muscles showed decreases in MCSAs in the PDS and LF groups, and the multifidus was most affected in both groups, but more so in the LF group. The PDS group showed better back muscle preservation than the LF group for all measured muscles. The multifidus MCSA was significantly more preserved when the PDS-paraspinal-Wiltse approach was used. Conclusion : Pedicle based dynamic stabilization shows better preservation of paraspinal muscles than posterior lumbar fusion. Furthermore, the minimally invasive paraspinal Wiltse approach was found to preserve multifidus muscles better than the conventional posterior midline approach in PDS group.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제58권5호
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• pp.401-411
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• 2015

More than 10 years have passed since lumbar total disc replacement (LTDR) was introduced for the first time to the world market for the surgical management of lumbar degenerative disc disease (DDD). It seems like the right time to sum up the relevant results in order to understand where LTDR stands on now, and is heading forward to. The pathogenesis of DDD has been currently settled, but diagnosis and managements are still controversial. Fusion is recognized as golden standard of surgical managements but has various kinds of shortcomings. Lately, LTDR has been expected to replace fusion surgery. A great deal of LTDR reports has come out. Among them, more than 5-year follow-up prospective randomized controlled studies including USA IDE trials were expected to elucidate whether for LTDR to have therapeutic benefit compared to fusion. The results of these studies revealed that LTDR was not inferior to fusion. Most of clinical studies dealing with LTDR revealed that there was no strong evidence for preventive effect of LTDR against symptomatic degenerative changes of adjacent segment disease. LTDR does not have shortcomings associated with fusion. However, it has a potentiality of the new complications to occur, which surgeons have never experienced in fusion surgeries. Consequently, longer follow-up should be necessary as yet to confirm the maintenance of improved surgical outcome and to observe any very late complications. LTDR still may get a chance to establish itself as a substitute of fusion both nominally and virtually if it eases the concerns listed above.

• 임상간호연구
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• 제17권3호
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• pp.388-398
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• 2011

Purpose: This study was to develop a post-operative exercise program, apply it to patients undergone lumbar spinal fusion surgery, and evaluate the effectiveness of the program on pain and disability activities of daily living. Methods: Fifty six patients who had lumbar spinal fusion were enrolled in this study. The patients were divided into two groups; 28 patients in the intervention group completed post-operative lumbar exercise program including walking for four weeks and 28 patients in the control group only did walking exercises. The degrees of pain on low back and leg were evaluated using visual analog scale (VAS) and the functional outcome was evaluated using the Korean version of Oswestry Disability Index (KODI) before surgery and 5 weeks after surgery. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square test, t-test with SPSS 18.0 program. Results: Low back and leg pain of the participants in both experimental and control groups were improved after surgery compared to pre-surgery pain. However, there was no statistically significant difference between the groups. KODI score in the intervention group was significantly lower than that of the control group (p=.014). Conclusion: The developed post-operative exercise program in patients with lumbar spinal fusion surgery seems to be a useful intervention to reduce disability in activities of daily living.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제54권3호
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• pp.201-206
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• 2013

Objective : To investigate the sagittal sacropelvic morphology and balance of the patients with SIJ pain following lumbar fusion. Methods : Among 452 patients who underwent posterior lumbar interbody fusion between June 2009 and January 2013, patients with postoperative SIJ pain, being responded to SIJ block were enrolled. For a control group, patients matched for sex, age group, the number of fused level and fusion to sacrum were randomly selected. Patients were assessed radiologic parameters including lumbar lordosis, pelvic incidence (PI), pelvic tilt (PT) and sacral slope (SS). To evaluate the sagittal sacropelvic morphology and balance, the ratio of PT/PI, SS/PI and PT/SS were analyzed. Results : A total of 28 patients with SIJ pain and 56 patients without SIJ pain were assessed. Postoperatively, SIJ pain group showed significantly greater PT (p=0.02) than non-SIJ pain group. Postoperatively, PT/PI and SS/PI in SIJ pain group was significantly greater and smaller than those in non-SIJ pain group respectively (p=0.03, 0.02, respectively) except for PT/SS (p=0.05). SIJ pain group did not show significant postoperative changes of PT/PI and SS/PI (p=0.09 and 0.08, respectively) while non-SIJ pain group showed significantly decrease of PT/PI (p=0.00) and increase of SS/PI (p=0.00). Conclusion : This study presents different sagittal sacropelvic morphology and balance between the patients with/without SIJ pain following lumbar fusion surgery. The patients with SIJ pain showed retroversed pelvis and vertical sacrum while the patients without SIJ pain have similar morphologic features with asymptomatic populations in the literature.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제38권4호
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• pp.255-258
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• 2005

Objective : Lumbar lordotic curve on L4 to S1 level is important in maintaining spinal sagittal alignment. Although there has been no definite report in lordotic value, loss of lumbar lordotic curve may lead to pathologic change especially in degenerative lumbar disease. This study examines the changes of lumbar lordotic curve after posterior lumbar interbody fusion with wedge shape cage. Methods : We studied 45patients who had undergone posterior lumbar interbody fusion with wedge shape cage and screw fixation due to degenerative lumbar disease. Preoperative and postoperative lateral radiographs were taken and one independent observer measured the change of lordotic curve and height of intervertebral space where cages were placed. Segmental lordotic curve angle was measured by Cobb method. Height of intervertebral space was measured by averaging the sum of anterior, posterior, and midpoint interbody distance. Clinical outcome was assessed on Prolo scale at 1month of postoperative period. Results : Nineteen paired wedge shape cages were placed on L4-5 level and 6 paired same cages were inserted on L5-S1 level. Among them, 18patients showed increased segmental lordotic curve angle. Mean increased segmental lordotic curve angle after placing the wedge shape cages was $1.96^{\circ}$. Mean increased disc height was 3.21mm. No cases showed retropulsion of cage. The clinical success rate on Prolo's scale was 92.0%. Conclusion : Posterior lumbar interbody fusion with wedge shape cage provides increased lordotic curve, increased height of intervertebral space, and satisfactory clinical outcome in a short-term period.