• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.331-339
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• 2010

Purpose : Cervical spondylotic myelopathy is a varied clinical syndromes and the most serious condition of cervical spondylosis. Spinal cord dysfunction is often caused by the compression on spinal cord. The purpose of this report was to describe physical examination and the process of disorders on cervical spondylotic myelopathy(CSM). Methods : Three cases with cervical myelopathy were presented with magnetic resonance image(MRI), Nurick's grade and Japanese Orthopaedic Association(JOA) score. Results : This studies showed a variable clinical course with gradual neurological deterioration in two cases. but one case was improved by operation and a regular aerobic exercise. MRI, Nurick's grade, JOA score are a useful adjunct for CSM evaluation. Conclusion : The state of CSM is variable, which may affect conservative treatments and surgery. It is needed to be a carefull approach and studies for a conservative treatment and management on CSM.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.64 no.1
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• pp.78-87
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• 2021

Objective : Intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring (IONM) has been widely used during spine surgery to reduce or prevent neurologic deficits, however, its application to the surgical management for cervical myelopathy remains controversial. This study aimed to assess the success rate of IONM in patients with cervical myelopathy and to investigate the factors associated with successful baseline monitoring and the effect of increasing the stimulation intensity by focusing on motor evoked potentials (MEPs). Methods : The data of 88 patients who underwent surgery for cervical myelopathy with IONM between January 2016 and June 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. The success rate of baseline MEP monitoring at the initial stimulation of 400 V was investigated. In unmonitorable cases, the stimulation intensity was increased to 999 V, and the success rate final MEP monitoring was reinvestigated. In addition, factors related to the success rate of baseline MEP monitoring were investigated using independent t-test, Wilcoxon rank-sum test, chi-squared test, and Fisher's exact probability test for statistical analysis. The factors included age, sex, body mass index, diabetes mellitus, smoking history, symptom duration, Torg-Pavlov ratio, space available for the cord (SAC), cord compression ratio (CCR), intramedullary increased signal intensity (SI) on magnetic resonance imaging, SI length, SI ratio, the Medical Research Council (MRC) grade, the preoperative modified Nurick grade and Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) score. Results : The overall success rate for reliable MEP response was 52.3% after increasing the stimulation intensity. No complications were observed to be associated with increased intensity. The factors related to the success rate of final MEP monitoring were found to be SAC (p<0.001), CCR (p<0.001), MRC grade (p<0.001), preoperative modified Nurick grade (p<0.001), and JOA score (p<0.001). The cut-off score for successful MEP monitoring was 5.67 mm for SAC, 47.33% for the CCR, 3 points for MRC grade, 2 points for the modified Nurick grade, and 12 points for the JOA score. Conclusion : Increasing the stimulation intensity could significantly improve the success rate of baseline MEP monitoring for unmonitorable cases at the initial stimulation in cervical myelopathy. In particular, the SAC, CCR, MRC grade, preoperative Nurick grade and JOA score may be considered as the more important related factors associated with the success rate of MEP monitoring. Therefore, the degree of preoperative neurological functional deficits and the presence of spinal cord compression on imaging could be used as new detailed criteria for the application of IONM in patients with cervical myelopathy.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.159-167
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• 2012

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to investigate the effecacy of Korean medical treatments on cervical myelopathy patient diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging(MRI). Methods : The patient was treated by Korean medical treatments including acupunture, pharmacopuncture, herbal medicine, cervical traction technique of Chuna treatment. To evaluate the change of MRI view, slipped disc ratio and A-P compression ratio were used. The improvement of the clinical symptoms was observed by Score of pain part and Nurick grade. Results : After treatment, patient's score of pain part, Nurick grade were decreased and slipped disc ratio, A-P compression ratio were also improved. Conclusions : The Korean medical treatments might be an effective method to improve the clinical symptoms and radiological view of cervical myelopathy.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.225-235
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• 2009

Objective : The purpose of this study was to report a case of a treatment with Scolopendrae Corpus Herbal-Acupuncture for one patient suffering from the Cervical Myelopathy. Scolopendrae Corpus Herbal-Acupuncture has been used as a analgesics and antispasmodics in the oriental medicine and reported to have antiinflammatory effect, sedative action and immunity enhancing activity, on one patient suffering from the Cervical Myelopathy. Methods : TThe patient was treated with Scolopendrae Corpus Herbal-Acupuncture, acupuncture, herbal medication. Scolopendrae Corpus Pharmacopuncture was administered two or three times per week and we injected 0.2~1.0 ml of Scolopendrae Corpus Pharmacopuncture to the patient's neck and both arms. The improvement of the symptoms was evaluated by JOA score(Japanese Orthopedic Association score), Nurick grading, VAS(Visual Analog Scale), reflex testing, Finger escape sign, Grip and Release test. Result : After 5 weeks of treatment, the patient's JOA score, Nurick grading and VAS were improved from 12 to 16, from grade III to grade II and from 10 to 3 respectively. The movement and power of upper and lower limbs were restored to nearly normal range.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.13-19
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• 2005

Objectives : This report intended to estimate effect taken by using acupuncture, herbal medication on the patient with Pyogenic Spondylitis Methods : From 17 December, 2003 to 30 August, 2004. The patient received TDP, Infra-Red and Acupuncture therapy. Results : After being hospitalized for 8 months, the patient's Motor Grade, VAS, ODI, Nurick's grading system were improved each from III to IV+, from 5 to 4, from 21.25 to 17.5, from Gr. IV to Gr. II. Conclusion : We considered that oriental treatment has an useful effect on Pyogenic spondylitis patient's treatment and recovery.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.54 no.5
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• pp.373-378
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• 2013

Objective : We present our experience of conventional posterior approach without fat lateral approach for ventral foramen magnum (FM) meningioma (FM meningioma) and tried to evaluate the approach is applicable to ventral FM meningioma. Methods : From January 1999 to March 2011, 11 patients with a ventral FM meningioma underwent a conventional posterior approach without further extension of lateral bony window. The tumor was removed through a working space between the dura and arachnoid membrane at the cervicomedullary junction with minimal retraction of medulla, spinal cord or cerebellum. Care should be taken not to violate arachnoid membrane. Results : Preoperatively, six patients were of Nurick grade 1, three were of grade 2, and two were of grade 3. Median follow-up period was 55 months (range, 20-163 months). The extent of resection was Simpson grade I in one case and Simpson grade II in remaining 10 cases. Clinical symptoms improved in eight patients and stable in three patients. There were no recurrences during the follow-up period. Postoperative morbidities included one pseudomeningocele and one transient dysphagia with dysarthria. Conclusion : Ventral FM meningiomas can be removed gross totally using a posterior approach without fat lateral approach. The arachnoid membrane can then be exploited as an anatomical barrier. However, this approach should be taken with a thorough understanding of its anatomical limitation.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.62 no.4
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• pp.467-475
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• 2019

Objective : There is a lack of knowledge regarding whether decompression is necessary in treating patients with epidural spinal cord compression (ESCC) grade 2. The purpose of this study was to compare the outcomes of minimally invasive surgery (MIS) without decompression and conventional open surgery (palliative laminectomy) for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) spinal metastasis of ESCC grade 2. Methods : Patients with HCC spinal metastasis requiring surgery were retrospectively reviewed. Patients with ESCC grade 2, medically intractable mechanical back pain, a Nurick grade better than 3, 3-6 months of life expectancy, Tomita score ${\geq}5$, and Spinal Instability Neoplastic Score ${\geq}7$ were included. Patients with neurological deficits, other systemic illnesses and less than 1 month of life expectancy were excluded. Thirty patients were included in the study, including 17 in the open surgery group (until 2008) and 13 in the MIS group (since 2009). Results : The MIS group had a significantly shorter operative time ($94.2{\pm}48.2minutes$ vs. $162.9{\pm}52.3minutes$, p=0.001), less blood loss ($140.0{\pm}182.9mL$ vs. $1534.4{\pm}1484.2mL$, p=0.002), and less post-operative intensive care unit transfer (one patient vs. eight patients, p=0.042) than the open surgery group. The visual analogue scale for back pain at 3 months post-operation was significantly improved in the MIS group than in the open surgery group ($3.0{\pm}1.2$ vs. $4.3{\pm}1.2$, p=0.042). The MIS group had longer ambulation time ($183{\pm}33days$ vs. $166{\pm}36days$) and survival time ($216{\pm}38days$ vs. $204{\pm}43days$) than the open surgery group without significant difference (p=0.814 and 0.959, respectively). Conclusion : MIS without decompression would be a good choice for patients with HCC spinal metastasis of ESCC grade 2, especially those with limited prognosis, mechanical instability and no neurologic deficit.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.441-445
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• 2007

Objective : The purpose of this study was to investigate the surgical results and prognostic factors for patients with soft cervical disc herniation with myelopathy. Methods : During the last 7 years, 26 patients with cervical discogenic myelopathy were undertaken anterior discectomy and fusion. Clinical and radiographic features were reviewed to evaluate the surgical results and prognostic factors. The clinical outcome was judged using two grading systems (Herkowitz's scale and Nurick's grade). Results : Male were predominant (4:1), and C5-6 was the most frequently involved level. Gait disturbance, variable degree of spasticity, discomfort in chest and abdomen, hand numbness were the most obvious signs. Magnetic resonance(MR) images showed that central disc herniation was revealed in 16 cases, and accompanying cord signal changes in 4. Postoperatively, 23 patients showed favorable results (excellent, good and fair) according to Herkowitz's scale. Conclusion : Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion effectively reduced myelopathic symptoms due to soft cervical disc herniation. The authors assured that the shorter duration of clinical attention, the lesser the degree of myelopathy and better outcome in discogenic myelopathy.