• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.84-87
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• 1994

Retrospective analysis, of 1,734 patients treated for nerve block from October 1991 to March 1994. Largest percentage of patients were in the 50 year old range, with a distribution of 44.9% male and 55.1% female. Treatments were for ailments of: Low Back Pain 17.3%, Multiple Contusion 10.5%, and Cancer 10%. Most common nerve block was epidural block 38.6%, followed by stellate ganglion block 38.4%, intercostal block 5.4%, and suprascapular nerve block 5.2%. Nerve block under fluorscopic guide were as follows: facet joint block 34.1%, lumbar sympathetic ganglion block 13.6%, and celiac plexus block 12.9%.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.89-93
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• 1996

Hemifacial spasm commonly occurs in muscles about the eye, but may also involve or spread to the entire side of the face. One hundred and seventy eight patients with hemifacial spasm visited our Neuro-Pain clinic from January 1992 to April 1996. There were 121 female and 57 male patients, a 2.1:1 ratio respectively. Largest percentages of patients were in the 50 year old range. Among them, 96 patients were treated by facial nerve block or O'Brien block. In most cases, induced facial palsy disappeared within one or two months. Among the 96 patients who received nerve block, 46 patients received a second block within 5 to 24 months. The average interval from first and second nerve block was 11.5 months. After nerve block, all patients were free from spasm for 1 to 21 months. We conclude that facial nerve block is a satisfactory and reliable method for the treatment of facial spasm.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.101-104
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• 1998

Backgrouds: Twent five years have passed since the opening of the first pain clinic in korea, in 1973 at Yonsei University Hospital. The number of pain clinics are gradually increasing in recent times. It is important to plan for future pain clinics with emphasis on improving the quality of pain management. Therefore we reviewed the patients in our hospital to help us in planning for the future of our pain clinic. Methods: We analyzed 2656 patients who had visited our Kim Chan Pain Clinic, accordance to age, sex, disease, and type of treatment block, from July 1996 to August 1997. Results: The prevalent age group was in the fifties, 27.3%, seventy years and older compromised 9.2%. The most common disease were as follows: lower back pain(46.2%); cervical and upper extremities pain(23.1%); trigeminal neuralgia(7.2%); and hyperhydrosis(5.8%) Both nerve blocks and medication were prescribed as treatment. Lumbar epidural block(16.3%) and stellate ganglion block(15.6%) were the most frequent blocks performed among various nerve blocks. Among nerve block under C-arm guidance, lumbar facet joint block(24.4%) and lumbar root block(22.5%) were performed most frequently. Trigeminal nerve block(18.4%), thoracic(17.0%) and lumbar sympathetic ganglion block(11.4%) were next most prevalent blocks performed frequent block. Conclusions: Treatments at our hospital were focused on nerve blocks and medications prescriptions. Nerve blocks are of particular importance in the diagnosis and treatment of chronic pain. However in future, to raise the quality of pain management, we need to fucus on a multidisciplinary/interdisciplinary team approach.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.304-307
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• 1995

1,666 patients treated by nerve block from September 1994 to August 1995 we statistically analyzed according to sex, age, diseases, and kinds of nerve blocks. Most patients were in the range from 30 to 60 year old, with a distribution of 43.9% male and 56.1% female. Diseases and ailments were as follows: low back pain 30.6%, frozen shoulder 14.0%, facial spasm 10.0%, cervical syndrome 9.7%, headache 7.3%, and hyperhidrosis 7.2%. Most common nerve blocks were stellate ganglion block 30.9%, epidural block 25.6%, trigger point injection 16.1%, and suprascapular nerve block 6.7%. Nerve blocks under fluoroscopic guide were as follows: facet joint block 28.6%, spinal root block 22.9%, thoracic sympathetic ganglion block 21.7%, and lumbar sympathetic ganglion block 15.4%.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.390-394
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• 1996

Background: Occipital neuralgia is characterized by pain, usually deep and aching, in the distribution the second and/or third cervical dorsal root. Two broad groups of patients include primary occipital neuralgia with no apparent etiology and secondary neuralgia with structural pathology. Patients with occipital neuralgia can develop autonomic changes and hyperesthesia. In patients who have not improved with conservative treatment, we have carried out various nerve blocks and evaluated the effectiveness. Methods: In a series of 20 occipital neuralgia patients with no apparent etiolgy, we have carried out great occipital nerve blocks with needle TEAS. In patients who have not improved more than 75% on VAS with great occipital block, we have carried out C2 ganglion blocks and in patients who have not improved more than 75% with C2 ganglion block, C3 root blocks, C2/C3 facet joint blocks have been carried out in due order. Results: In 3 patients out of 10 patients who have not improved with great occipital nerve block, C2 ganglion block led to pain relief. A good response of C3 root block was achived in 2 of 7 patients without response to C2 ganglion block and C2/C3 facet joint block led to improvement in 1 of 5 patients without response to C3 root block. Conclusions: Nerve blocks like great occipital nerve block, C2 ganglion block, C3 root block, or C2/C3 facet joint block were effective in the patients who have not improved with conservative treatment.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.83-88
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• 1996

This is a retrospective analysis of 158 patients who visted our Neuro-Pain clinic, April 1992 to March 1996, suffering from trigeminal neuralgia. Most patients received nerve blocks in its triggering peripheral branches of pain. All patients experienced pain relief for 3 months after initial successful nerve block. Twenty two patients complained of recurring pain within 4 to 32 months. Mean duration of pain relief was as follows: infraorbital nerve block 15.2 months, maxillary nerve block 16.8 months, and mandibular nerve block 23.4 months. Demographic and clinical characteristics of all patients were also evaluated. This study demonstrates that alcohol block is a safe and effective method of treating trigeminal neuralgia.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.43-48
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• 1994

Twenty seven patients with hemifacial spasm were treated by facial nerve block at the foramen stylomastoideum and O'Brien block from January 1992 to March 1994. There were 16 female and ll male patients, a 1.5:1 ratio respectively. Most patients were 40~60 years old. Among the 27 patients treated by nerve blocks, 26 responded well to the facial nerve block, including two cases of O'Brien block. One patient failed to respond to the facial nerve block. Induced facial palsy disappeared within one or two months within the majority of patients. Among the 26 patients who received nerve block, 6 patients required a second block within 3 to 9 months. After successful nerve block, all patients were free of spasm for 1 to 16 months. Although the follow-up period was short in duration, these results suggest that facial nerve block is a satisfactory and reliable method in the treatment of facial spasm.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.152-155
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• 1995

Meralgia paresthetica is a disorder characterized by a pain or dysaesthesia, or both, in the anterolateral aspect of the thigh caused by entrapment or neurinoma formation of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve. Currently available modes of therapy include conservative treatment, lateral femoral cutaneous nerve block with steroids and local anesthetics, and surgery. At our neuro-pain clinic, w recently encountered three cases of meralgia paresthetica, all of which were treated by lateral femoral cutaneous nerve block. In which of them, two cases were successfully treated but one case was associate with pain relapse due to entrapment of lateral femoral cutaneous nerve by a retroperitoneal mass, schwannoma. In this paper we report our experience along with a review of the current literatures.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.16-20
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• 1997

Background : Hemifacial spasm commonly occurs on muscles about the eye, but may also involve or spread to the entire side of the face. There are many treatment for facial spasm, such as neuro-vascular decompression, local injection of Botulium toxin, facial nerve block at stylomastoid foramen, facial nerve block with O'Brien method. The present study was aimed to investigate the effects of facial nerve block with O'Brien method. Methods : Forty five patients with hemifacial spasm were treated by facial nerve block with O'Brien method from January 1996 to February 1997 We reviewed the charts, retrospectively. Results : Sex ratio was 1:1.7(17 male : 28 female patients). Most patients were 40~60 years old. Most patients well tolerated facial nerve block. Three patients failed to respond to the facial nerve block. We repeated the procedure within one week. Among the 45 patients who received nerve block, 35 received repeated block; 7 patients received second repeat block, 2 patients received third repeat block. After successful nerve block, all patients were free of spasm for 1 to 6 months. Average spasm-free period was 3.5 months. Conclusion : Although the spasm-free period was short, these results suggest facial nerve block with O'Brien method is a safe and comfortable method for treatment of facial spasm.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.82-85
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• 1995

Hemifacial spasm is a distressing condition characterized clinically by paroxysmal and an involuntary movement in muscles innervated by the facial nerve on one side of the face. Blockade of the facial nerve can be performed percutaneously, without any serious complications. There are certain clinical problems associated with the conventional procedure, such as severe pain and technical difficulties to find facial nerve. This report describes a fluoroscope guided facial nerve block. This new technique reduced the difficulties in identifying the facial nerve and decreased the suffering associated with the conventional way of facial nerve block.