• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.96-101
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• 2023

The endoscopic endonasal approach (EEA) to the craniovertebral junction (CVJ) has recently been considered a safer alternative and less invasive approach than the traditional transoral approach because the complications associated with the latter are avoided or minimized. Here, we present two challenging cases of CVJ pathologies. The first case involved os odontoideum associated with anterior displacement of the occipitocervical junction where the EEA was used, followed by C0-C1-C2 fusion using a posterior approach to decompress the CVJ, and was complicated by rhinorrhea and Candida albicans meningitis. The second case involved basilar invagination with syringomyelia previously treated using a posterior approach, where aggravation of neuropathic symptoms required combined treatment with EEA and occipitocervical fusion of C0-C2-C3-C4, with the postoperative course challenged by operative site infection requiring drainage with debridement and antibiotic therapy. The EEA is an alternative approach for accessing the CVJ in well-selected patients. Knowledge of EEA complications is crucial for the optimal care of patients.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.201-206
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• 2005

Objective: To evaluate the accuracy and safety of C1-C2 transarticular screw insertion, we retrospectively review surgical records and postoperative radiological findings. Methods: From January 2001 to October 2003, the C1-C2 transarticular screw fixation and posterior wiring with iliac bone grafts was performed in 16 patients. 6 patients had rheumatoid arthritis which caused cervical instability, 3 patients had os odontoideum, 3 patients had type 2 odontoid process fracture, 3 patients had traumatic transverse ligament injury and 1 patients who had been managed with C1-C2 wire fixation had psoriatic arthritis. Results: Osseous fusion was documented in 15 patients(93.8%). Only one patient was recorded screw loosening because of postoperative infection. One patient had only one screw placed because of abnormal anatomical structure, one patients was breakage of a Kirschner wire, and one screw was medial location to lateral mass of C1, but clinical results was excellent and radiological instability was not noted. Conclusion: The author's experience demonstrates that C1-C2 transarticular screw fixation with wired bone graft is a safe procedure with higher fusion rate but precaution is needed to avoid the neural damage, vertebral artery injury, and hardware failure.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.201-210
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• 1990

The purpose of this study was to observe the relationship between mandibular asymmetry and Temporomandibular Disorders by means of the cephalometry using the posteroanterior cephalogram and the submentovertex cephalogram which were taken in 35 Temporomandibular Disorder patients and 35 normal persons ranged from 20S to 30S. The results were as follows: 1. The angulation which was formed by the median line with the ANS-Menton line (MAP) was greater in patients group and there was statistically significant difference. 2. The angulation which was formed to the median line with the Menton-Odontoid process tip line (MES), the difference of the distances from the center of the posterior surface of the both condyles to the most anterior point of the chin (DD), the difference of the distances from the center of the both condyles to the horizontal reference line (DE), the difference of the angulations which were formed by the both condyles axes with the horizontal reference line (DCE), the difference of the lengths of the both condyles (CL) and the difference of the widths of the both condyles (DW) were greater in patients group and there were statistically significant differences. There was reversed correlation between MAP and the difference of the distances from the 3. bilateral points of the lateral margin of the both zygomaticofrontal sutures to the at the lateral inferior margin of the both antegonial protuberances in mandible (DH). There was reversed correlation between MES and DD, DE, DCE. 5. There was correlation between MAP and MES.

• The Journal of Churna Manual Medicine for Spine and Nerves
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2008

Objectives : The os odontoideum is an uncommon abnormality which is due to non fusion of axis and odontoid process that exists as a separate ossicle apart from a hypoplastic dens. Its clinical significance lies in its potential to produce serious neurologic symptoms after cervical Chuna Manipulation Treatment. We experienced a patient diagnosed as os odontoideum which corresponds to absolute contra-indications of chuna manipulation treatment and report it. Methods : The patient was diagnosed as os odontoideum through cervical spine CT and MRI. Results and Conclusion : During cervical physical examination, we encountered L'hermitte's phenomenon from the patient and suspected one of contra-indications of chuna manipulation treatment. We could diagnose the patient as os odontoideum through cervical spine CT, MRI and prevent him from severe sequelae caused by chuna manipulation treatment.

• Asian Spine Journal
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.1117-1122
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• 2018

Study Design: Prospective study. Purpose: To assess the prevalence of periodontoid calcification and its associations with acute cervical pain. Overview of Literature: Calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate (CPPD) deposition disease is a common rheumatological disorder that occurs especially in elderly patients. Although CPPD crystals induce acute arthritis, these crystals are not usually symptomatic. Calcification surrounding the odontoid process (periodontoid calcification) has been reported to induce inflammation, resulting in acute neck pain. This disease is called crowned dens syndrome. Whether calcification induces inflammation or whether the crystals are symptomatic remains unclear. Methods: The prevalence of periodontoid calcification at the atlas transverse ligament was examined by computed tomography of the upper cervical spine in patients suspected of brain disease but no cervical pain (control group, n=296), patients with pseudogout of the peripheral joints but no cervical pain (arthritis group, n=41), and patients with acute neck pain (neck pain group, n=22). Next, the correlation between the prevalence of periodontoid calcification and symptoms was analyzed. Results: In the control group, 40 patients (13.5%) showed periodontoid calcification with no significant difference in the prevalence with gender. The prevalence of calcification increased significantly with age (p=0.002). In the arthritis group, 26 patients (63.4%) reported periodontoid calcification. In the neck pain group, 14 patients (63.6%) reported periodontoid calcification. Multiple logistic regression analysis by age and group revealed that higher age, inclusion in the arthritis group, and inclusion in the neck pain group significantly affected the prevalence of calcification. Conclusions: Our results cumulatively suggest that periodontoid calcification is an aging-related reaction and that calcification per se does not always cause neck pain. Periodontoid calcification was observed more frequently in patients with pseudogout of the peripheral joints and in those with acute neck pain than in asymptomatic control patients.

• Clinical Pain
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.92-96
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• 2019

Torticollis is an abnormal, asymmetric head or neck position which usually caused by imbalance of paracervical muscles. The traumatic torticollis can be caused by following events; atlantoaxial rotatory subluxation, atlantoaxial dislocation, cervical vertebral fractures, and injury to the cervical musculature. Especially, acute traumatic atlantoaxial rotatory subluxation usually presents limitation of cervical range of motion without pain or neurologic deficit. We report a case of a 58 year-old man who developed the acute atlantoaxial rotatory subluxation right after the chiropractic therapy, which induced the limitation of cervical range of motion to 52.5% of normal range. The magnetic resonance image revealed the facture of the odontoid process and the partial injury in transverse ligaments of the atlas. He underwent intramuscular botulinum toxin injection and 10 days of continuous cervical traction 15 hours a day using a 5 kg weight. The range of the cervical motion restored up to 90.2% of normal range.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.114-126
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• 1993

The fractures of the cervical spine are relatively uncommon, but they may cause serious neurologic deficits temporarily or permanently. So, it is very important to treat the patients early by way of exact evaluation for the sites and the mechanisms of the injuries. The authors reviewed retrospectively 188 cervical spinal fractures in 100 patients from Sep. 1984 to Aug. 1990. Commonly involved levels were $C_5$ and $C_6$ in lower cervical level and $C_2$ in upper cervical level and the sites in each spine were body, lamina and odontoid process. The hyperflexion injury was the most common type of the cervical spinal fractures occupying 53% of all cervical fractures and cause more multiple fractures(2.26 fractures/patient) than in hyperextension(1.68 fractures/patient). In hyperflexion injuries, body, transverse and spinous process were commonly involved but lamina fracture was relatively common in hyperextension injury. The dislocations associated with fractures were developed most commonly in hyperflexion injury and 70% of these were anterior dislocation and the most commonly involved levels were $C_{5-6}$ and $C_{6-7}$. In conclusion, hyperflexion injury needs more close examination for the entire spinal levels than injuries of other mechanisms because it results in more severe fractures with or without dislocation and relatively frequent multiple fractures in different levels.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.23 no.1 s.40
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• pp.1-15
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• 1993

This study was undertaken to investigate the midline having the least difference between the right and left structures among the lines that had been used in the study of the craniomaxillofacial asymmetry. The sample of this study consisted of twenty six Korean girls(average 18.9 years old) having normal facial appearance and occlusion. On the frontal cephalometric films of the sample, we divided the whole craniomaxillofacial area into four portions, i.e., cranial, upper facial, lower facial, and dental portion. So, we have found the midlines having the least difference in the whole craniomaxillofacial area itself, and in the each divided four portions, furtherly in the other portions from aimed portion. The findings were as follow: 1. In the whole craniomaxillofacial area, the connecting line between crista galli and anterior nasal spine and the perpendicular bisecting line between right and left foramen rotundums were suitable for the midline. 2. In the cranial portion, established all six lines were suitable for midlines. In the other portions, the perpendicular bisection line between both condylion, the line passing the contact point between right and left mandibular central insisiors among the perpendicular lines between right and left mandibular central incisial tips were suitable midlines fer evaluating the asymmetry of cranial portion. 3. In the upper facial portion, the perpendicular bisecting line between right and left zygions was the most suitable midline. In the other portions, the line between the crista galli and the most superior point of the odontoid process, the perpendicular bisecting line between right and left gonions, the perpendicular bisecting line between right and left condylions, and perpendicular bisecting line between right and left foramens rotundum were suitable midlines for evaluating the asymmetry of the upper facial portion 4. In the dental portion, the perpendicular bisecting lines between right and left buccal cusps of both maxillary first molars and between right and left mandibular first molars were suitable midlines. In the other portions, the perpendicular bisecting line between right and left landmarks crossing the lesser wing of the sphenoid bone and orbit, the perpendicular bisecting line between right and left mental foramens, and the connecting line between crista galli and prosthion were suitable midlines for evaluating the asymmetry of dental portion. 5. In the lower facial portion, the perpendicular bisecting lines between right and left condylions and between right and left gonions were suitable midlines. In the other portions, the line between the crista galli and anterior nasal spine, the perpendicular bisecting line between right and left foramen rotundums, and the perpendicular bisecting lines between right and left buccal cusps of both mandibular first molars and between right and left maxillary first molars were suitable midlines for evaluating the asymmetry of the lower facial portion.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.318-332
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• 2000

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of demineralized freeze-dried bone (DFDB) on mechanically exposed pulp of dog by evaluating the pulpal inflammation and healing process, formation of dental hard tissue, and structural changes of fibroblasts of the remaining pulp tissue. Teeth of 4 dogs, weighing 10kg, were used in this study. Class V cavities were prepared followed by exposed the pulp tissue mechanically by sterilized round bur. In control group, exposed pulps were capped with calcium hydroxide paste followed by sealed with IRM. In experimental groups, the exposed pulps of one group were capped with the collagen and those of the other group were capped with DFDB. All cavities were sealed with same manor as control group. The animals were sacrificed at the intervals of 3, 7, 14, and 28 days for histopathlogic evaluation. The specimens were observed by the light microscope and trans-electron microscope. The results were as follows: 1. Pulp necrosis was not observed in all groups. Inflammatory response was disappeared from 1 week in control group and group 2. But it was not disappeared until 2 weeks and also irregular arrangement of odontoblasts was showed at the lateral walls of root canal just beneath the amputated site of the pulp in group 1. 2. Dentinal bridge was formed incompletely at 2 weeks but it was formed completely at 4 weeks in control group. Odontoid tissue was also found in control group at 4 weeks from treatment. Amputated site of pulp was encapsulated with fibrous tissue and odontoblast and dentinal bridge was not found in group 1. Preodontoid tissue and reparative dentin which were formed by odontoblast differentiated around DFDB were found, but dentinal bridge was not found in group 2. 3. Cell with large basophillic-stained nuclei infiltrated to amputated site and DFDB at 1 week from treatment in control group and group 2. They were found more in group 2 than in control group. Odontoblasts arranged more regularly and reparative dentin was found more as time elapsed. 4. Dentin-formative odontoblasts which showed ultramicrostructure of cytoplasm with polarized nucleus, rEM, Golgi complex, secretory granules, secretion of organic matrix in control of group and group 2. In regards to above results, the demineralized freeze-dried bone(DFDB) induce odontoblastic differentiation and further come up to the dentin formation in amputated pulp.