• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.419-422
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• 2006

Objective : Radiofrequency facet rhizotomy[RFFR] has been widely performed for treatment of chronic neck pain caused by cervical dorsal ramus syndrome[CDRS]. To evaluate the therapeutic effectiveness of RFFR in the patients with CDRS, we analyzed patients with various cervical pathologic conditions. Methods : The therapeutic results in forty-four patients who underwent RFFR for CDRS from January, 2000 to December, 2002 were analyzed according to the underlying pathologic conditions causing CDRS. The pathologic conditions were sprain [33 cases], herniated nucleus pulposus [6], foraminal stenosis [4], and compression fracture [1]. The therapeutic results were evaluated one month after the operation and graded as excellent, good, fair of poor. Treatments were considered successful if the therapeutic results were graded as either excellent of good. Results : The overall success rate in all patients was 72.7%. The success fate for treatment of cases with cervical sprain was 87.9%, but treatment of cases with herniated nucleus pulposus, foraminal stenosis, and fracture showed unsatisfactory results [mean success rate was 27.3%]. Some patients complained of transient hypesthesia [4 cases] of transient dull pain at the electrode insertion sites [2 cases]. Conclusion : RFFR is an effective and safe treatment for CDRS caused by cervical sprain, regardless of the patient's age, the duration of the symptoms, and the presence of radiating pain.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.46-51
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• 2006

Objective : An Intracranial aneurysm is an important acquired cerebrovascular disease that can cause a catastrophic subarachnoid hemorrhage. Atherosclerosis is one of possible mechanism, but its contribution to aneurysm formation is unclear. Human apolipoprotein E[apoE] is best known for its arterial protection from atherosclerosis. In this study we observe apoE expression in experimental cerebral aneurysms of rats to elucidate the role of apoE in the process of cerebral aneurysm formation. Methods : Twenty-four male 7-week-old Sprague-Dawley strain rats received a cerebral aneurysm induction procedure. One month[12] and three months[12] after the operation, the rats were killed, their cerebral arteries were dissected, and the regions of the bifurcation of the right anterior cerebral artery-olfactory artery [ACA-OA] bifurcations were examined histologically and immunohistochemically. Results : In the 1 month group [n=12], the ACA-OA bifurcation showed no aneurysmal change in 7 rats and early aneurysmal change in 5 rats. In the 3 months group (n=12), the bifurcation showed no aneurysmal change in 2 rats and an advanced aneurysm in 10 rats. ApoE expression were in 3 specimen in early aneurysmal change, but not in advanced aneurysms. Conclusion : ApoE expression in early aneurysmal wall suggests a possible role for apoE in early events leading to aneurysm formation. Further studios are necessary to elucidate the exact role of apoE in the pathophysiology of cerebral aneurysm.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.486-492
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• 2001

Objective : Essential hyperhidrosis is a pathological condition of excessive sweating beyond that required to cool the body, though poorly understood, originating from a dysfunction of the sympathetic nervous system. Thoracoscopic sympathectomy is the most popular treatment for upper limb hyperhidrosis, because it is a safe, effective, minimally invasive, and time-saving method. However, the common complication is the compensatory hyperhidrosis in other areas of the body, notably on the back, chest, abdomen, and buttocks. Compensatory hyperhidrosis is severe enough for some people, especially those living in a warm climate or engaging in heavy physical activities, to regret ever having had operation. The pathophysiological mechanisms underlying compensatory hyperhidrosis are incompletely understood, even though it is thought to be a truly compensatory feature related to thermoregulation of the body. Materials and Methods : we studied the clinical features of total 233 patients who were diagnosed as essential hyperhidrosis and treated with thoracoscopic sympathectomy or sympathicotomy from March 1992 to July 2000. Results : The success rate of thoracoscopic sympathetic surgery(sympathectomy or sympathicotomy) was 98.7%. The global rate of compensatory hyperhidrosis was 77% ; 84% in group T2, 3 sympathectomy, 76% in group T2 sympathectomy, 43% in group T2, 3 sympathicotomy and 59% in group T2 sympathicotomy. The rate of embarrassing or disabling compensatory sweating was significantly higher in T2 sympathectomy and in T2, 3 sympathectomy than in T2 sympathicotomy and T2, 3 sympathicotomy with significancy in statistic analysis(p<0.01). The precipitating factors of compensatory hiperhidrosis, including heat(warm weather), anxiety, stress, and exertion were noted. The compensatory hyperhidrosis was the main cause of patient dissatisfaction after thoracoscopic sympathectomy. Conclusion : The degree of compensatory hyperhidrosis is closely related to the extent of thoracic sympathectomy.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.493-500
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• 2001

Objective : Anterior cervical locking plates are the devices for achieving anterior cervical spinal fusion. This study was conducted to evaluate the locking plate system regarding its long-term advantages and disadvantages in the view of interbody fusion rate, hardware-related failures, vertebral change close to the fusion segment and postoperative complications. Method : Eight-six patients, operated from Jan., 1996 to Jun. 1998, were followed-up for more than two years. All of the cases were fused with iliac bone graft and ORION locking plate(Sofamor Danek USA, Inc., Memphis, TN) fixation. The patients were discharged or transferred to rehabilitation department 2-7 days after operation. A comprehensive evaluation of the interbody fusion state, instrument failure, vertebral change and postoperative complications were made by direct interview and cervical flexion-extension lateral plain films. Results : There were 55 male and 31 female with a mean age of 45 years(18-75 years). The mean follow-up period was 29 months(24-43 months). Various disorders that were operated were 40 cervical discs, 6 cervical stenosis including OPLL, 2 infections, and 38 traumas. Fusion level was single in 59 cases, two levels of each disc space in 15 cases, and two levels after one corpectomy in 12 cases. There was no instrument failure. Pseudoarthrosis was observed in two cases(2%) without radiological instability. The other patients(98%) showed complete cervical fusion with stable instrument. Mild settling of interbody graft with upward migration of screws was found in 12 cases(14%). Anterior bony growth at the upper segment was found in 5 cases(6%). Postoperative foreign body sensation or dysphagia was observed in 12 cases(4%), and disappeared within one month in 7 cases and within six months in 4 cases. One patient complained for more than six months and required reoperation to remove paraesophageal granulation tissue. Conclusion : The results show that Orion cervical locking plate has some disadvantages of upward migration of screws, anterior bony growth at the upper segment, or possibility of esophageal compression even though it has advantages of high interbody fusion rate or low instrument failure. Author believe that anterior cervical locking plate in the future should be thinner, and should have short end from the screw hole, and movable screw with adequate stability.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.30 no.8
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• pp.1004-1012
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• 2001

Objective : The spinal cord tumors(including vertebral tumors) are increasingly diagnosed and operated due to development of refined diagnostic and therapeutic tools. It is necessary to re-evaluate clinical features and surgical results of spinal cord tumors with increasing cases and developing treatment modalities. The authors reviewed the spinal cord tumor cases to evaluate their clinical characteristics. Material and Methods : The retrospective review of 654 cases of spinal cord tumors between 1973 and 1999 was done. The clinical features, pathological analysis and surgical results were analyzed and compared to the literature. The results of the study are analyzed with a more detailed consideration of each of major pathologies : neurogenic tumors, meningeal tumors, neuroepithelial tumors, and metastatic tumors. Results and Conclusion : The spinal cord tumor was most common in the 5th decade of age(145 cases, 22.1%) and 78 cases(11.9%) were found in children under 15 years of age. The ratio of male to female was 1.2 : 1. The pathologic diagnosis was neurogenic tumor in 266 cases(40.7%), neuroepithelial tumor in 131(20.0%), metastatic tumor in 118(18.0%), and meningeal tumor in 94(14.4%) in the order of frequency. The tumor was located most frequently in the thoracic area(36.5%) and in the intradural extramedullary space(38.1%). The most common initial presentation was pain(40.1%) and the mean duration for presentation to operation was 14.8 months. The total or gross total removal was possible in 404 cases(61.7%) and the surgical result on the postoperative one month was recovery or improvement in 424 cases(64.8%), stationary in 188(28.7%), progression in 42(6.4%). As a surgical complication, there was a spinal deformity(12 cases), wound infection(5 cases), aspiration pneumonia(5 cases) etc. Neurogenic tumors and menigiomas showed good surgical results, whereas neuroepithelial tumors(except ependymoma) and metastatic tumors showed relatively poor prognosis.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.179-186
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• 2005

Objective: The purpose of this paper is to report our experiences in managing seventeen cases of residual intracranial aneurysms following surgical or endovascular treatment and discuss the incidence of residual aneurysms, the indications and technique of retreatment of residual aneurysms. Methods: During a period of 42 months, we treated 391 aneurysms in 339 patients with microsurgical clipping or GDC embolization as a primary treatment. In 39 of them, follow-up angiography revealed residual aneurysms and seventeen of whom were retreated. There were eleven cases in ACoA, three cases in distal ICA, one, in each of MCA, ACA and basilar artery. We reviewed retrospectively the clinical notes, operation records and cerebral angiograms of seventeen patients who had been treated for residual aneurysms. Results: Complementary treatment was performed in 8 cases by means of surgery and in 9 cases by means of GDC embolization. There were eleven females and six males with an age variation between 29 and 78 years. The mean duration of angiographic follow-up was 17.3 months. Of the seventeen cases that were treated for residual aneurysms, fourteen achieved complete occlusion. Of 17 retreated patients, fifteen patients had good recovery according to the Glasgow Outcome Scale. Conclusion: When occlusion after endovascular or surgical treatment is incomplete, a new multidisciplinary approach should be carried out. Given our experiences, we recommend coil embolization of the choice in cases that the residual aneurysmal neck had been narrowed by previous clipping. On the other hand, if the residual aneurysm has enough space to clip but not enough to coil, we recommend the microsurgical clipping.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.249-254
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• 2000

Objective : As a minimally invasive strategy, endoscopic technique was introduced for removal of the traumatic intracerebral hematoma. Material and Method : A 54-year-old man with three-day history of seizure and progressive mental deterioration after traffic accident was presented. Computerized Tomography(CT) of the brain showed a huge intracerebral hematoma on the right frontal lobe and ventricle. The operation was performed via right frontal superolateral keyhole with 2cm eyebrow skin incision. Using 0-degree and 30-degree angled lens 4mm rigid endoscopes, nearly all of the hematoma was evacuated under the direct endoscopic visualization and a ventricular catheter was exactly placed into the frontal horn of the right lateral ventricle at the end of procedure. Results : The seizure was discontinued and neurological status had been improved during postoperative periods. Postoperative CT demonstrated that most of the hematoma was removed and the ventricular drainge tube was exactly placed in the right foramen of Monro. Conclusion : With endoscopic technique, the authors successfully evacuated traumatic intracerebral hematoma and exactly placed the ventricular drainage catheter under direct visualization. This technique may be considered as an another option for removal of traumatic intracerebral hematoma.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.29 no.8
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• pp.1113-1120
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• 2000

Objectives : Despite advance in the surgical treatment of the intracranial aneurysm, we have to be surgical complication. The aim of this report is to evaluate the complication and its management in intracranial aneurysm operation. Methods : We reviewed our exprience with interesting cases of surgical complication of intracranial aneurysm : 1) rebleeding, 2) intra-operative premature rupture, 3) missed aneurysm in angiography, 4) vasospasm. Results : The risk of rebleeding was not related to the patients' initial comdition, but all other intracranial complications occurred significantly more often in patients graded poor compared with patients in good clinical condition. Rebleeding before early surgery remains as major cause of unfavorable outcome. The causes of intraoperative premature ruptures were as follows : 1) dural opening and arachnoid opening(8.3%), 2) hematoma removal(12.5%), 3) brain retraction(16.7%) 4) aneurysm dissection(62.5%). The double suction technique and primary hemostasis using a small piece of cotton or temporary clip resulted in good outcome even in cases with premature rupture. The incidence of missed aneurysm in angiography occurred in 10%. The causes were as thrombosed aneurysm, vasospasm on feeder artery. The most common missed aneurysm is also the most common aneurysm(anterior communicating artery aneurysm). The repeated angiography were documented in missed aneurysm. Balloon angioplasty is superior topapaverine for treatment of proximal vessel vasospasm by viture of a more sustained effect on the vessel. Papaverine can be useful as an adjunct to ballon angioplasty and also for the treatment of distal vessels that are not accessible for ballon angioplasty. Conclusion : The minimization of the complications and active treatment can reduced the mortality and morbidity of ruptured aneurysm patients.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.29 no.7
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• pp.877-885
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• 2000

Objective : The NOS inhibitors exhibit antinociceptive activity in rat model of neuropathic pain. NOS activity increases in the dorsal root ganglia(DRG) in neurop-athic pain. However, NOS activity decreases in the dorsal horn of spinal cord in the nerve injury models of neuropathic pain. To investigate whether the mechanism of decrease of NOS expression in the dorsal horn is related to a secondary effect resulting from increased NO production and likewise in the spinal DRG in the spinal nerve ligation model of neuropathic pain. Methods : We conducted behavioral tests for neuropathic pain, and nNOS immunohistochemistry and NADPH-diaphorase histochemistry after tight ligation of the 5th lumbar(L5) and 6th lumbar(L6) spinal nerves and L5 dorsal rhizotomy. Results : Typical neuropathic pain behaviors occurred 7 days after post-ligation in the neuropathic surgery group, but neuropathic pain behaviors in the dorsal rhizotomy group were absent or weak 7 days after post-operation. There was a decrease in the number of nNOS immunoreactive dorsal horn neurons on the both side(especially ipsilateral side) 7 days after post-ligation. The number of nNOS immunoreactive neurons in both side of the dorsal horn was not decreased 7 days after L5 dorsal rhizotomy. Conclusion : These data indicate that the changes in the injured DRG is essential for development and maintenance of neuropathic pain, and mechanism of decrease of nNOS expression in the dorsal horn is a secondary effect against the changes in the DRG including increased NO production in the spinal nerve ligation model of neuropathic pain.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.29 no.11
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• pp.1445-1450
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• 2000

Objectives : The Objective of this study was to analyze the prognostic factors affecting survival in the patients with glioblastomas. Methods : We retrospectively studied 55 consecutive patients with glioblastomas who were admitted to neurosurgery department from January 1988 to March 1998. Fifteen pateients were excluded from the analysis because of follow-up loss and surgical motality. There were 24 male and 16 female patients, with a mean age of 51 years. Surgery consisted of biopsy in 4(10.0%) patients, subtotal resection in 9(22.5%) patients and gross total resection in 27(67.5%) patients. Nine(22.5%) patients received second operation. Twenty-eight(70%) received postoperative radiation therapy. Various levels of radiation dose were used, 6,000 rad over 7 weeks in most cases. The variable factors were examined for their relationship with survival ; age at the time of diagnosis, gender, duration of neurological symptoms, preoperative neurological state(Karnofsky performance score), extent of surgical resection, location of tumor, reoperation, and postoperative radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Result : The mean survival time was 55 weeks, three(7.5%) of the 40 patients survived more than two years. Survival time with biopsy only cases was 24 weeks, for those with subtotal resection 43 weeks, and for those with gross total resection 67 weeks. A mean survival time from the time of reoperation was 42 weeks. Statistically significant survival factors in glioblastoma were extent of surgical resection, postoperative radiotherapy and reoperation. Summary : Results of our series support the views that the extent of surgery, reoperation and postoperative radiation are important prognostic factors. We also recommend radical tumor removal, postoperative radiotherapy and reoperation, if possible.