• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.61 no.6
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• pp.194-199
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• 2018

Purpose: Sacral dimples are a common cutaneous anomaly in infants. Spine ultrasonography (USG) is an effective and safe screening tool for patients with a sacral dimple. The aim of this study was to determine the clinical manifestations in patients with an isolated sacral dimple and to review the management of spinal cord abnormalities identified with USG. Methods: We reviewed clinical records and collected data on admissions for a sacral dimple from March 2014 through February 2017 that were evaluated with spine USG by a pediatric radiologist. During the same period, patients who were admitted for other complaints, but were found to have a sacral dimple were also included. Results: This study included 230 infants under 6-months-old (130 males and 100 females; mean age $52.8{\pm}42.6days$). Thirty-one infants with a sacral dimple had an echogenic filum terminale, and 57 children had a filar cyst. Twenty-seven patients had a low-lying spinal cord, and only one patient was suspected of having a tethered cord. Follow-up spine USG was performed in 28 patients, which showed normalization or insignificant change. Conclusion: In this study, all but one infant with a sacral dimple had benign imaging findings. USG can be recommended in infants with a sacral dimple for its convenience and safety.

• The Journal of Churna Manual Medicine for Spine and Nerves
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.95-102
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• 2009

Objectives : We studied in order to compare the differences between the symptoms of patients and findings of MRI and X-Ray of patients with herniated disc which has been diagnosed often recently. Methods : We randomly selected among the 301 patients with X-Ray and L-spine MRI films who have visited Jaseng Hospital with low-back pain and lumbar and low extremity pain from Jan.1st of 2009 to Jan.28. We used SPSS 13.0 for Windows I in analyzing statistical data of study results and the level of significance were below 0.05. Results and Conclusions : 1. If there were radiating pain, based on MRI findings, the amount of herniation was more severe(P>0.05). 2. If the finding of a X-ray showed narrowing, based on MRI findings, the amount of herniation was more severe(P>0.05). 3. There were no significant differences between the presence of radiating pain and the findings of X-Ray(P>0.05). 4. Among the 301 cases, cases which showed findings beside HIVD were 79. 7 cases of hemanggioma(2.3%), 24 cases of spinal neoplasm(cord cyst, tumor etc)(8%), 7 cases of spondylitis(2.3%), 16 cases of spinal canal stenosis(5,3%) 9 cases of ligamentum flavum thickening(3%) and 16 cases of facet syndrome(5.3%).

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.84-89
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• 2020

Spinal pain is a common patient complaint in clinical practice. Conservative treatment methods include oral medication, physical therapy, injections, and spinal orthoses. The clinical application of orthoses is debated because of potential complications associated with long-term use, such as muscle weakness and joint contracture. We reviewed the orthoses most frequently used to manage spinal pain. We review the use of soft cervical and Philadelphia collars, lumbosacral corsets, and thoracolumbosacral orthosis to manage spinal pain. Spinal orthoses can help reduce pain by protecting the muscles and joints of the injured spinal region, preventing or correcting malformations, and limiting trunk flexion, extension, lateral flexion, and rotation. The short-term use of spinal orthoses is known to improve pain and disability during the treatment period without significant adverse effects. Spinal orthoses are expected to alleviate pain and improve patients' lifestyle.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.169-176
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• 2013

Objectives To investigate correlation between anthropometric data (neck circumference (NC), waist circumference (WC), body mass index (BMI), and body shape indexes) and radiological parameters of lumbosacrum. Methods The data of college students living in Seoul (n=24) were analyzed retrospectively. Anthropometric data of NC, WC, and BMI were measured. Lumbar spine X-ray film was taken to measure lumbar lordotic angle, Ferguson's angle. To evaluate body shape of participants, three indexes of neck-to-waist ratio (NWR), neck-to-height ratio (NHR), and waist-to-height ratio (WHR) were used. Anthropometric data's correlations with radiological parameters of lumbosacrum were investigated. Results Anthropometric data of NC, WC, and BMI had no significant correlation with radiological parameters of lumbosacrum. NWR had significant positive correlation with lumbar lordotic angle and Ferguson's angle. NHR and WHR had no significant correlation with radiological parameters of lumbosacrum. Conclusions The results suggest that NWR-related fat distribution in neck has significant correlation with radiological parameters of lumbosacrum regardless of obesity.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.19-28
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• 2010

Objectives : To demonstrate the need for differential diagnosis between discogenic pain and lumbar sprain and strain in acute low-back pain patients. Methods : Outpatients who made their first visits during May 1, 2009 to Oct. 30, 2009(n=53) were examined by history taking, physical examination, X-rays, and CT imaging. Disorders found on lumbosacral spine X-ray cuts and those on lumbosacral spine CT images were separately recorded. The relationship between treatment period, disc space narrowing and disc degeneration on X-rays, and HIVD on CT images was examined. Results : 1. Correlation between disc space narrowing on X-rays and HIVD found on CT images was analyzed. 21(72.41%) out of 29 patients having disc space narrowing on X-rays and HIVD on CT at the same level required treatment for over 8 weeks. 2. 2(50%) out of 4 Lawrence classification grade I patients, 8(66.67%) out of 12 grade II patients, and 14(70%) out of 20 grade III patients needed treatment for over 8 weeks. Conclusions : Disc space narrowing on X-ray and HIVD on CT at the same level, or disc space narrowing and disc degeneration on X-ray image alone indicate a tendency for treatment periods over 8 weeks, which is longer than the conventional treatment period for lumbar strain and sprain.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.723-736
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• 1992

Most degeneating diseases and back pains in the orthopaedic disease are originated from the unbalance of stress distribution in the low-lumbar spine. Therefore the stress analysis of lowerback is indispensible to the clinical diagnosis for the developing reason and the developing process of diseases. Therefore the same model materials as following are eveloped to analyze the stress distributions of lower-back by photoelastic experiment. The verterbral body and the process are molded from epoxy resin(the weight ratio of Araldite and hardner is 10 to 3), models are geometrically identical to them in vivo respectively and the ratio of their elastic modulus to that of model material is 1 to 10. It is assured that KE-1300 Silicon(E=0.8MPa), TSE-3562 Silicon(0.5MPa) and the composite silicon(3MPa) (the weight ratio of KE-1300 silicon and Jioreal : 10 to 4) are respectively effective as the model materials of ligament, musles and intervertevral disc which is essential to the movement of low-lumbar spine. All the elements associated with the movement of the low-lumbar spine are molded through the molding method developed in this research and assembled with the angles between the verterbra and the disc in the normal human lumbosacral spine. The stress distributions of the assembled model are analyzed by photoelastic experiment. It is certified by comparing the results of photoelastic experimebt with the clinical situations that the loading dveice and the loading conceptions used in this paper are effective.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.265-268
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• 2005

Objective : With the increasing popularity of pedicle screw fixation devices for several indications, the safety and reliability of screw insertion in the small pedicle has become a major issue. Many studies have investigated the accuracy of screw placement after pedicle screw fixation using various method. The reported displacement rates have been very different. The purpose of the study is to investigate the proper placement of pedicle screw insertion in the lumbar spine on 26 consecutive patients. Methods : Between September and December 2003, 26 consecutive patients [16women and 10men] were analyzed after transpedicular screw fixation of the lumbar and lumbosacral spine. After pedicle screw fixation in this study, 2-mm slices of CT scan were performed in all patients to detect caudal and cranial deviation of screw and medial and lateral deviation. Pedcile screw placement related complication was evaluated clinically. Results : A total of 144 inserted pedicle were analyzed in 26patients, and 58pedicle screws [40.3%] were detected to be improper placement. There were 14level [9.0%] of caudal or cranial deviation and 44level [30.6%] of medial or lateral deviation to the pedicle. Extra-pedicle placement was found on 4levels [2.7%] with only lease of neurologic injury. Conclusion : Proper screw placement, though complication rate is low, is important not only for clinical symptom but also for biomechanics. Further study for screw placement related biomechanical changes is needed.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.52.1-52.8
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• 2021

Background: The normal vertebral anatomy of Korean raccoon dogs and their variants require research attention as a prerequisite for identifying pathologies and anomalies. Objectives: This retrospective study aimed at describing the vertebral formula and congenital vertebral anomalies in Korean raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides koreensis). Methods: Radiographs of 82 raccoon dogs (42 males, 40 females) acquired from May 2013 to June 2020 in the Gangwon Wildlife Medical Rescue Center were reviewed to evaluate the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar vertebrae of the spine. Results: Normal morphology of all vertebrae was observed in 50 of the 82 raccoon dogs, and the vertebral formula was cervical 7, thoracic 13, and lumbar 7. Congenital vertebral anomalies were found in 32 raccoon dogs: transitional vertebrae (TV) in 31 and block vertebrae in 2. Two raccoon dogs had 2 types of vertebral anomalies: one had TV and block vertebra, and the other had 2 types of TV. Twenty-nine raccoon dogs had thoracolumbar TV (TTV) and 3 had lumbosacral TV. TTV was morphologically classified into 4 different types: unilateral extra-rib in 5 raccoon dogs, bilateral extra-ribs in 14, bilateral elongated transverse processes in 4, and an asymmetric mixed formation of extra-rib with elongated transverse process in 6. Conclusions: This study showed that TTV is common in Korean raccoon dogs, and that the vertebral formula is relatively diverse. The bilateral extra-ribs type TTV is the most common variant, which is almost similar to normal rib to be confused the radiographic evaluation.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.178-186
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• 2019

Background: Epidural steroid injections (ESIs) have been widely used in managing spinal pain. Dexamethasone has recently emerged as a useful drug in this setting, relative to particulate steroids, although the associated systemic effects have not been fully elucidated. This study aimed to investigate the incidences and types of systemic effects after fluoroscopically guided ESI with dexamethasone. Methods: This retrospective study included 888 ESIs with dexamethasone (fluoroscopically guided at the cervical and lumbosacral levels) performed on 825 patients during January to June 2017. Data regarding systemic effects were collected via telephone interviews using a standardized questionnaire at 2 weeks after the procedure. Data on patient demographic, clinical, and procedural characteristics were collected and analyzed to identify factors that were associated with systemic effects. All statistical analyses were performed using the chi-squared test. Results: Among the 825 patients, 40 patients (4.8%) experienced systemic effects during the 2-week follow-up period. The most common systemic effect was facial flushing (12 patients, 1.5%), which was followed by urticaria (7 patients, 0.8%) and insomnia (7 patients, 0.8%). A history of spine surgery was significantly associated with the occurrence of systemic effects (P = 0.036). Systemic effects were significantly more common for injections at the cervical level than at the lumbar level (P = 0.019). Conclusions: Approximately 4.8% of the patients who underwent ESI with dexamethasone experienced minor and transient systemic effects. These effects were more common in patients who had undergone a previous spine surgery or received a cervical ESI.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.61 no.6
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• pp.680-688
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• 2018

Objective : To mitigate the risk of iatrogenic instability, new posterior decompression techniques able to preserve musculoskeletal structures have been introduced but never extensively investigated from a biomechanical point of view. This study was aimed to investigate the impact on spinal flexibility caused by a unilateral laminotomy for bilateral decompression, in comparison to the intact condition and a laminectomy with preservation of a bony bridge at the vertebral arch. Secondary aims were to investigate the biomechanical effects of two-level decompression and the quantification of the restoration of stability after posterior fixation. Methods : A universal spine tester was used to measure the flexibility of six L2-L5 human spine specimens in intact conditions and after decompression and fixation surgeries. An incremental damage protocol was applied : 1) unilateral laminotomy for bilateral decompression at L3-L4; 2) on three specimens, the unilateral laminotomy was extended to L4-L5; 3) laminectomy with preservation of a bony bridge at the vertebral arch (at L3-L4 in the first three specimens and at L4-L5 in the rest); and 4) pedicle screw fixation at the involved levels. Results : Unilateral laminotomy for bilateral decompression had a minor influence on the lumbar flexibility. In flexion-extension, the median range of motion increased by 8%. The bone-preserving laminectomy did not cause major changes in spinal flexibility. Two-level decompression approximately induced a twofold destabilization compared to the single-level treatment, with greater effect on the lower level. Posterior fixation reduced the flexibility to values lower than in the intact conditions in all cases. Conclusion : In vitro testing of human lumbar specimens revealed that unilateral laminotomy for bilateral decompression and bone-preserving laminectomy induced a minor destabilization at the operated level. In absence of other pathological factors (e.g., clinical instability, spondylolisthesis), both techniques appear to be safe from a biomechanical point of view.