• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.161-165
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• 2007

Objective : Percutaneous approach to the middle thoracic vertebra through the transpedicular route for the patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures is difficult due to the small size of the pedicle and parasagittally oriented vertebra body anatomy. The percutaneous vertebral body access [PVBA] technique utilizing the posterolateral extrapedicular approach avoids the pedicle and provides direct access to the vertebral body. The objective of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of the vertebroplasty utilizing PVBA technique for osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures in the middle thoracic vertebrae. Methods : A retrospective review was done on 20 patients who underwent vertebroplasty utilizing PVBA technique performed for painful osteoporotic compression fracture in the middle thoracic vertebrae at 22 levels from May 2003 to June 2006. The average amount of the injected cement was 1.5-2.5ml. The postprocedural outcome was assessed using a visual analogue scale [VAS]. Results : The treated vertebrae were T5 [1 level], T6 [5 levels], 17 [7 levels], and T8 [9 levels]. The compression rate and kyphotic angle were improved after procedure from $18%{\pm}13.4$ to $16%{\pm}13.8$ [p > 0.05] and from $6.9^{\circ}{\pm}6.7$ to $6.6^{\circ}{\pm}6.2$ [p>005], respectively. Preprocedural VAS was $8.2{\pm}0.70$ and was decreased to $2.1{\pm}1.02$ [p < 0.01] after treatment. Postprocedural cement leakage was noted in 3 levels [13.7%]. There were no cases of leakage to epidural space or neural foramen, segmental artery injury, and pneumothorax. Conclusion : These results suggest that the complication rates are low and good results can be achieved with vertebroplasty utilizing PVBA technique for the osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures especially in the middle thoracic vertebrae.

• 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.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.131-136
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• 2002

The vertebrae of female African elephant (Loxodonta africana) of twenty-eight years old were observed macroscopically. The result was summarized as follows; the vertebral formula of African elephant was $C_7$ $T_{21}$ $L_3$ $S_4$ $Cd_{21}$. The total length of the vertebral column removed intervertebreal disks was 353 cm. The length of each segment of vertebral column was 44 cm in cervical, 142 cm in thoracic, 21 cm in lumbar, 27 cm in sacral and 119 cm in caudal vertebrae. The 17th and 18th thoracic vertebrae (T) were partially fused each other in four parts: the transverse processes of 17th and 18th T, caudal articular process of 17th T and cranial articular process of 18th T, left mammilary process of 18th T and left transverse process of 17th T, and vertebral arch of 17th and 18th T, respectively. Others partial fusions also observed among the third luwbar, sacrum and ilium. These were in between transverse process of third lumbar vertebra and cranial parts of wing of sacrum, lateral part of sacrum and tuber sacrale, respectively. The sternum was consisted of three pieces; one is a part of anterior prestemum, two is the part from caudal demifacet at second facet to cranial demifacet at third facet in middle mesosternum, which is divided vertically into an half at second and third facets, respectively, and the last is the part between caudal demifacet of third facet in middle mesosternum and the posterior xiphisternum. There are 21 pairs of ribs, six sternal, ten asternal ribs and the last five being floating ribs.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.134-141
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• 2010

This study analyzed the regional morphological and mechanical characteristics of vertebrae by using micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) and micro finite element analysis (FEA). For the present study, the $12^{th}$ human thoracic vertebral bones (an 85-years female and a 48-years male) were used. These were scanned by using micro-CT. Structural parameters were evaluated from the acquired 20 image data for fifteen $4{\times}4mm^2$ regions (five regions in respective layers of superior, middle and inferior part) in the thoracic vertebral trabecular bones. $4{\times}4{\times}4mm^3$ cubic finite element models of each regions were created at $70{\mu}m$ voxel resolution to investigate effective modulus ($E^+$). The present study indicated that there were significant differences in morphological and elastic mechanical characteristics of each region. There are close relationship between effective modulus and structural model index (SMI) in the bone of the 48-years male and between effective modulus and bone volume fraction (BV/TV) in the bone of the 85-years female. In addition, the effective modulus of central regions is about 80% stiffer than that of lateral regions at transverse plane. These findings may be likely to explain the previous result that a change of loading distribution of the vertebral trabecular bones is caused by spinal curvature and nucleus pulpous degeneration of the intervertebral disc.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.118-123
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• 2015

The frequency of diagnostic radiation examinations in medical institutions has recently increased to 220 million cases in 2011, and the annual exposure dose per capita was 1.4 mSv, 51% and 35% respectively, compared to those in 2007. The number of chest radiography was found to be 27.59% of them, the highest frequency of normal radiography. In this study, we developed a shielding device to minimize radiation exposure by shielding areas of the body which are unnecessary for image interpretation, during the chest radiography. And in order to verify its usefulness, we also measured the difference in entrance surface dose (ESD) and the absorbed dose, before and after using the device, by using an international standard pediatric (10 years) phantom and a glass dosimeter. In addition, we calculated the effective dose by using a Monte Carlo simulation-based program (PCXMC 2.0.1) and evaluated the reduction ratio indirectly by comparing lifetime attributable risk of cancer incidence (LAR). When using the protective device, the ESD decreased by 86.36% on average, nasal cavity $0.55{\mu}Sv$ (74.06%), thyroid $1.43{\mu}Sv$ (95.15%), oesophagus $6.35{\mu}Sv$ (78.42%) respectively, and the depth dose decreased by 72.30% on average, the cervical spine(upper spine) $1.23{\mu}Sv$ (89.73%), salivary gland $0.5{\mu}Sv$ (92.31%), oesophagus $3.85{\mu}Sv$ (59.39%), thyroid $2.02{\mu}Sv$ (73.53%), thoracic vertebrae(middle spine) $5.68{\mu}Sv$ (54.01%) respectively, so that we could verify the usefulness of the shielding mechanism. In addition, the effective dose decreased by 11.76% from $8.33{\mu}Sv$ to $7.35{\mu}Sv$ before and after wearing the device, and in LAR assessment, we found that thyroid cancer decreased to male 0.14 people (95.12%) and female 0.77 people (95.16%) per one million 10-year old children, and general cancers decreased to male 0.14 people (11.70%) and female 0.25 people (11.70%). Although diagnostic radiation examinations are necessary for healthcare such as the treatment of diseases, based on the ALARA concept, we should strive to optimize medical radiation by using this shielding device actively in the areas of the body unnecessary for the diagnosis.