• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.51 no.5
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• pp.281-285
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• 2012

Objective : Occipital neuralgia is characterized by paroxysmal jabbing pain in the dermatomes of the greater or lesser occipital nerves caused by irritation of these nerves. Although several therapies have been reported, they have only temporary therapeutic effects. We report the results of pulsed radiofrequency treatment of the occipital nerve, which was used to treat occipital neuralgia. Methods : Patients were diagnosed with occipital neuralgia according to the International Classification of Headache Disorders classification criteria. We performed pulsed radiofrequency neuromodulation when patients presented with clinical findings suggestive occipital neuralgia with positive diagnostic block of the occipital nerves with local anesthetics. Patients were analyzed according to age, duration of symptoms, surgical results, complications and recurrence. Pain was measured every month after the procedure using the visual analog and total pain indexes. Results : From 2010, ten patients were included in the study. The mean age was 52 years (34-70 years). The mean follow-up period was 7.5 months (6-10 months). Mean Visual Analog Scale and mean total pain index scores declined by 6.1 units and 192.1 units, respectively, during the follow-up period. No complications were reported. Conclusion : Pulsed radiofrequency neuromodulation of the occipital nerve is an effective treatment for occipital neuralgia. Further controlled prospective studies are necessary to evaluate the exact effects and long-term outcomes of this treatment method.

• The Journal of Churna Manual Medicine for Spine and Nerves
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.57-68
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• 2007

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to investigate the efficacy of Sacro-Occipital Technique with stroke on activity of daily living(ADL), leg function balance. Methods : Sacro-Occipital Technique at pelvic girdle was applied to six stroke-originated hemiplegic patients who had been treated by general oriental medicine rehabilitation therapy(sample group). The other five stroke-originated hemiplegic patients had only general oriental medicine rehabilitation therapy(control group). Outcomes were assessed by Modified Barthel Index(MBI), Berg Balance Scale(BBS) before and after treatment in each group. Results : Both sample and control group exhibited substantial improvements on the MBI and BBS. And BBS showed significantly meaningful differences between sample and control group. Conclusions : Sacro-Occipital Technique may be efficacious method of improving ADL, leg function balance of patients after stroke.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.55 no.4
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• pp.200-204
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• 2014

Objective : To evaluate the incidence of postsurgical sensory complications in patients with scalp masses and classify the locations of them from a surgical standpoint according to anatomical considerations. Methods : A total of 121 patients who underwent surgery for scalp mass were included in this study. The authors reviewed medical records and preoperative radiologic images. We investigated the complications related to sensory changes after procedure. Enrolled patients have been divided into three groups. Group A included patients with tumors above the superior nuchal line (SNL), Group B with tumors within the trapezius muscle area and patients who had tumors on the lateral trapezius muscle area were assigned to Group C. We compared the incidence related to postoperative sensory complications and summarized their additional treatments for these with clinical outcome. Results : There were 12 patients (10%) with sensory complications related on the mass excision site (Group A : 1 patient, Group B : 2 patients, Group C : 9 patients). Six patients were affected with lesser occipital nerve (LON), 2 patients on greater occipital nerve (GON) and 4 patients on GON and LON. Over 6 months after surgery, two of the twelve patients with sensory complications did not have complete recovered pain in spite of proper medications and local chemical neurolysis with 1.0% lidocaine and dexamethasone. Conclusion : Occipital neuropathy should be considered as a complication related excision of scalp mass. The sensory complications are more frequent in Group C because of the anatomical characteristics of the occipital nerves and there were no statistical difference for other variables.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.48-52
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• 2011

Occipital neuralgia is usually defined as paroxysmal stabbing pain in the greater or lesser occipital nerve (GON or LON) distribution. In occipital neuralgia patients, surgical considerations are carefully taken into account if medical management is ineffective. However, identification of the occipital artery by palpation in patients with thick necks or small occipital arteries can be technically difficult. Therefore, we established a new technique using transcranial Doppler (TCD) sonography for more accurate and rapid identification. The patient was a 64-year-old man who had undergone C1-C3 screw fixation and presented with intractable stabbing pain in the bilateral GON and LON distributions. In cases in which pain management was performed using medication, physical therapy, nerve block, or radiofrequency thermocoagulation, substantial pain relief was not consistently achieved, and recurrence of pain was reported. Therefore, we performed occipital neurectomy of the bilateral GON and LON by using TCD sonography, which helped detect the greater occipital artery easily. After the operation, the patient’s headache disappeared gradually, although he had discontinued all medication except antidepressants. We believe that this new technique of occipital neurectomy via a small skin incision performed using TCD sonography is easy and reliable, has a short operative time, and provides rapid pain relief.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.15-27
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• 2009

Objective : This study was carried to identify the anatomical component of BMM (Foot Taeyang Meridian Muscle in the human truncus), and further to help the accurate application to real acupunctuation. Methods: The human truncus was stripped off in order to demonstrate muscles, nerves and other components, and to display the internal structure of the BMM, dividing into outer, middle, and inner parts. Results: The BMM in the human truncus is composed of muscles, nerves, ligaments etc. The internal composition of the BMM in the human truncus is as follows: 1. Muscle A. Outer layer: medial palpebral ligament, orbicularis oculi, frontalis, galea aponeurotica, occipitalis, trapezius, latissimus dorsi, thoracolumbar fascia, gluteus maximus. B. Middle layer: frontalis, semispinalis capitis, rhomboideus minor, serratus posterior superior, splenius cervicis, rhomboideus major, latissimus dorsi, serratus posterior inferior, levator ani. C. Inner layer: medial rectus, superior oblique, rectus capitis, spinalis, rotatores thoracis, longissimus, longissimus muscle tendon, longissimus muscle tendon, multifidus, rotatores lumbaris, lateral intertransversi, iliolumbaris, posterior sacroiliac ligament, iliocostalis, sacrotuberous ligament, sacrospinous ligament. 2. Nerve A. Outer layer: infratrochlear nerve, supraorbital n., supratrochlear n., temporal branch of facial n., auriculotemporal n., branch of greater occipital n., 3rd occipital n., dorsal ramus of 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th thoracic n., dorsal ramus of 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th lumbar n., dorsal ramus of 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th sacral n. B. Middle layer: accessory nerve, anicoccygeal n. C. Inner layer: branch of ophthalmic nerve, trochlear n., greater occipital n., coccygeal n., Conclusions : This study shows that BMM is composed of the muscle and the related nerves and there are some differences from already established studies from the viewpoint of constituent elements of BMM at the truncus, and also in aspect of substantial assay method. In human anatomy, there are some conceptional differences between terms (that is, nerves which control muscles of BMM and those which pass near by BMM).

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.77-80
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• 2021

Plexiform neurofibromas (PNFs) represent an uncommon variant (30%) of neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF-1), in which neurofibromas arise from multiple nerves as bulging and deforming masses involving connective tissue and skin folds. We report the case of a 17-year-old man with known NF-1 presenting with bilateral occipital neuralgia that began in his late adolescence. His chief complaint was radiating pain in the occiput induced by protective helmet wear when riding alpine skiing. Craniofacial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) confirmed the presence of fusiform masses arising from the bilateral greater occipital nerves. Histopathological examination of the biopsy samples showed PNFs. After surgical treatment, the patient's symptoms completely improved. Unlike cutaneous neurofibromas, PNFs have different clinical characteristics and have the risk of malignant mutations. Correct diagnosis and adequate surgical treatment are necessary for PNFs.

• Clinical Pain
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.74-85
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• 2021

Ultrasound (US) can depict of various anatomical structures, such as muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerve roots, and vessels, around the neck. The usage of US around the neck is increasing due to its quick and easy application for guided injection for nerves, tendons, and joints. This article elaborates the degenerative diseases causing neck pain, sonoanatomy, and the use of US for diagnosis and intervention; for example, small nerves around the neck, cervical root, stellate ganglion, medial branches, greater occipital nerve (GON), and third occipital nerve (TON). The aim of this review article is to lead readers to understand the anatomy around the neck and structural relations, and to get to know about several US-guided intervention of the neck.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.244-248
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• 2006

Radiofrequency lesioning is a valuable tool for third occipital headache. Relative to most neural targets, a radiofrequency lesion is very small. Reliable pre-operative diagnosis of the nociceptive source is critical, as inappropriately placed lesions will not modulate pain. Knowledge of the anatomical courses of nerves and extremely precise electrode placement are required for accurate lesioning. This report describes our experience with RF lesioning in the treatment of chronic pain in two patients who suffered from third occipital headaches. In one patient, satisfactory improvement of the pain was observed after 10 months of follow up.

• The Journal of Korea CHUNA Manual Medicine
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.189-196
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• 2005

Objectives : This report intended to estimate effect taken by using Sacro-Occipital Technique on the patient with Herniation of Nucleus Pulposus(Central type). Method : From 11 May, 2005 to 30 June, 2005. The patient recived Sacro-Occipital Technique and Acupuncture therapy. Result : After being hospitalized for 50 days. the patient's Motor Grade, ODI, VAS, ROM were improved each from IV to IV+. from 26 to 20, from 10 to 2, and ROM with flexion/entension, rotation were improved each from 70'/0' to 90'/12', from 30'/40' to 45'/55'. Conclusion : We considered Sacro-Occipital Technique has an useful effect on Herniation of Nucleus Pulposus

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.82-87
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• 2010

Occipital neuralgia is a form of headache that involves the posterior occiput in the greater or lesser occipital nerve distribution. Pain can be severe and persistent with conservative treatment. We present a case of intractable occipital neuralgia that conventional therapeutic modalities failed to ameliorate. We speculate that, in this case, the cause of headache could be the greater occipital nerve entrapment by the obliquus capitis inferior muscle. After steroid and local anesthetic injection into obliquus capitis inferior muscles under fluoroscopic and sonographic guidance, the visual analogue scale was decreased from 9-10/10 to 1-2/10 for 2-3 weeks. The patient eventually got both greater occipital neurectomy and partial resection of obliquus capitis inferior muscles due to the short term effect of the injection. The successful steroid and local anesthetic injection for this occipital neuralgia shows that the refractory headache was caused by entrapment of greater occipital nerves by obliquus capitis inferior muscles.