• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.51 no.5
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• pp.276-280
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• 2012

Objective : Gamma knife radiosurgery (GKRS) is the least invasive surgical option for patients with trigeminal neuralgia (TN). However, the indications and long term outcomes of GKRS are still controversial. Additionally, a series with uniform long-term follow-up data for all patients has been lacking. In the present study, the authors analyzed long-term outcomes in a series of patients with TN who underwent a single GKRS treatment followed by a minimum follow-up of 60 months. Methods : From 1994 to 2009, 40 consecutive patients with typical, intractable TN received GKRS. Among these, 22 patients were followed for >60 months. The mean maximum radiation dose was 77.1 Gy (65.2-83.6 Gy), and the 4 mm collimator was used to target the radiation to the root entry zone. Results : The mean age was 61.5 years (25-84 years). The mean follow-up period was 92.2 months (60-144 months). According to the pain intensity scale in the last follow-up, 6 cases were grades I-II (pain-free with or without medication; 27.3%) and 7 cases were grade IV-V (<50% pain relief with medication or no pain relief; 31.8%). There was 1 case (facial dysesthesia) with post-operative complications (4.54%). Conclusion : The long-term results of GKRS for TN are not as satisfactory as those of microvascular decompression and other conventional modalities, but GKRS is a safe, effective and minimally invasive technique which might be considered a first-line therapy for a limited group of patients for whom a more invasive kind of treatment is unsuitable.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.47 no.5
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• pp.338-344
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• 2010

Objective : This study assessed the safety and efficacy of one level unilateral laminotomy bilateral decompression (ULBD) with the placement of a device for intervertebral assisted motion (DIAM) compared with one level ULBD only in elderly patients with degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis (DLSS). Methods : A non randomized prospective analysis was performed on 16 patients who underwent one level ULBD with DIAM (Group A) and 20 patients with one level ULBD only (Group B) between February 2007 and March 2008. Radiographic imaging, visual analog scale (VAS) and MacNab outcome scale were obtained before and after surgery at a mean interval of 21 months (range 17-27 months). Results : The disc height, interpedicular distance, slip distance and segmental lordotic angle were similar between two groups. In the group A, there was no significant difference between the pre- and post-operative imaging in terms of the sagittal balance and disc height. Both groups showed significant improvement in the clinical outcomes. In addition, there was significantly less low-back pain in the group A than in the group B at the last follow up, while the clinical improvement of the leg pain and MacNab outcome scale showed no significant difference in the two groups. There were no major complications or DIAM associated complications. Conclusion : ULBD with DIAM is a safe and efficacious treatment for selective elderly patients with DLSS, particularly for relieving low back pain comparing to ULBD. ULBD with DIAM did not alter the disc height or sagittal alignment at the mean 21 months follow-up interval.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.134-138
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• 2022

Distal femur osteotomy (DFO) is a controlled surgical break of the femur performed to allow realignment of the limb. Redistribution of the load aims to correct the abnormal mechanical weight-bearing axes in patients with abnormal alignment of the lower extremities, and degenerative changes in the knee joint. This report describes a complex Korean medicine treatment for a patient complaining of knee pain and stiffness following a DFO. Post-operative care for the patient lasted 78 days with treatment including pharmacopuncture, acupuncture, herbal medicine, cupping therapy, and physiotherapy. The effectiveness of the treatments was evaluated using the numerical rating scale, range of motion of the knee, and by physical examination. After treatment, these evaluation indicators improved, suggesting that the complex Korean medicine treatment received by the patient was an appropriate treatment for knee pain and stiffness following a DFO.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.199-204
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• 2022

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of Korean medicine treatment (including acupuncture, herbal medication, and pharmacopuncture) for postoperative pain after cervical surgery in a patient with a cervical (C2) extension teardrop fracture. We measured the patient's cervical range of motion, neck disability index score and numerical rating scale score to evaluate the effects of Korean medicine treatment on postoperative pain after cervical surgery. After 43 days of inpatient treatment, the patient's neck disability index score decreased from 75.5 to 46.67 and the numerical rating scale decreased from 6 to 2. Furthermore, recovery was observed for cervical range of motion. In conclusion, this case suggests that Korean traditional medicine treatment may effectively reduce postoperative pain after cervical surgery for cerviecal extension teardrop fracture.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.406-411
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• 2006

Objective : The authors have developed a procedure, termed posterior microscopic lesionectomy, that creates a minimal laminotomy site according to the location of the shifted disc using the $METRx^{TM}$ system in the lumbar spine. This study compared the usefulness and surgical outcomes of this procedure with those of traditional standard lumbar discectomy. Methods : From June 2003 to June 2004, Twenty-two patients with one-level radiculopathy due to lumbar disc herniation underwent posterior microscopic lesionectomy with the assistance of an operating microscope and the $METRx^{TM}$ tubular retractor. Surgical results of the new procedure were compared to those of 39 patients who underwent traditional lumbar discectomy from April 2003 to September 2004. All patients were evaluated for pain score, clinical assessment according to the VAS, and Roland-Morris scores pre-operatively and at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months post-operatively. Results : Mean blood loss, operation time, and admission date showed significant improvements for microscopic lesionectomy compared to traditional lumbar discectomy [P < 0.001]. Also, both measures of short-term functional improvement, the Visual Analogue Scale[VAS] and Roland-Morris[RM] scores, were statistically better for microscopic lesionectomy than for traditional discectomy [P < 0.001]. Conclusion : Posterior microscopic lesionectomy can be performed more safely and provide greater benefit than traditional discectomy. The procedure is associated with less post-operative pain, shorter hospital stays, and quicker rehabilitation.

• The Journal of Churna Manual Medicine for Spine and Nerves
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.113-122
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• 2019

Objectives : The purpose of this clinical study was to evaluate the effect of spinal decompression with Korean medicine treatment on the herniation of an intervertebral disc (HIVD) in a patient after fusion surgery of a cervical segment. Methods : A single patient was treated with spinal decompression, acupuncture, pharmacoacupuncture, and herbal medication. We measured the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS), Neck Disability Index (NDI), European Quality of Life-5 Dimension (EQ-5D), Cervical Range of Motion (cervical ROM) and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) score to evaluate the treatment effects. Results : The patient's post neck pain & pain in both arms improved significantly as suggested by the scores on the NRS, NDI, EQ5D, cervical ROM and BDI. Conclusions : Thus, spinal decompression, including Korean medicine treatment, could be taken into consideration for HIVD patients after fusion surgery.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.11
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• pp.6311-6314
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• 2013

Background: While 5-port laparoendoscopic radical prostatectomy is standard practice, efforts have been focused in developing a single port surgery for cosmetic reasons. However, this is still in the pioneering stage considering the challenging nature of the surgical procedures. We have therefore focused on reduced port surgery, using only 2-ports. In this study, we compared 2-port laparoendoscopic radical prostatectomy (2-port RP) and conventional 5-port laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (LRP) for clinically localized prostate carcinoma and evaluated the potential advantages of each. Materials and Methods: From January 2010 to December 2010, all 23 patients with clinically localized prostate cancer underwent LRP. Starting November, 2010, when we introduced the reduced port approach, we performed this procedure for 22 consecutive patients diagnosed with early-stage prostate cancer (cT1c, cT2N0). The patients were matched 1:1 to 2-port RP or LRP for age, preoperative serum PSA level, clinical stage, biopsy and pathological Gleason grade, surgical margin status, pad-free rates and post-operative pain. Results: There was a significant difference in operative time between the 2-port RP and LRP groups ($286.5{\pm}63.3$ and $351.8{\pm}72.4$ min: p=0.0019, without any variation in blood loss (including urine) ($945.1{\pm}479.6$ vs $1271.1{\pm}871.8ml$: p=0.13). The Foley catheter indwelling period was shorter in the 2 port RP group, but without significance ($5.6{\pm}1.8$ vs $8.0{\pm}5.6$ days: p=0.057) and the total perioperative complication rates for 2 port RP and LRP were comparable at 4.5% and 8.7% (p=0.58). There was an improvement in pad-free rates up to 6 months follow-up (p=0.090), and significantly improvement at 1 year (p=0.040). PSA recurrence was 1 (4.5%) in 2-port RP and 2 (8.7%) in LRP. Continuous epidural anesthesia was used in most of LRP patients (95.7%) and in early 2-port RP patients (40.9%). In these patients, average total amount of Diclofenac sodium was 27.8mg/patient in 2-port RP and 50.0mg/patient in LRP. Conclusions: Thus the reduced port approach is as efficacious as LRP in terms of many outcome measures, with significant cosmetic advantages and reduction in post surgical pain. This method can be readily performed safely and therefore can be recommended as a standard laparoscopic surgery for prostate cancer in the future.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.52-56
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• 2006

A 69-year old man presented with severe epigastric pain for 1 day. He had early gastric cancer at the antrum and underwent a distal subtotal gastrectomy and Billorth II gastrojejunostomy one month later without any post-operative complications. Radiologic examination revealed a large amount of retroperitoneal free air formation. Because of unremitting pain and unstable vital sign, exploratory laparotomy was followed. During the operation, a perforated duodenal diverticulum at the posterior wall of the 2nd portion of the duodenum was identified. He underwent diverticulectomy and primary closure. He was discharged on the 18th post operative day and has been followed up without any evidence of comlpication for several months.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.66-71
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• 1989

It has been standard practice in many institutions to use a combination of a light general anesthesia and an epidural block for lower abdominal and pelvic surgery. This combination of a balanced anesthesia can provide various benefits to the patient such as less bleeding in the surgical field, the use of a lower concentration of general anesthetics, less muscle relaxant, and post operative pain management. However, there are several problems associated with hemodynamics such as bradycardia and hypotension etc. In order to block the pain of the high surgical area with a lumbar epidural puncture postoperatively, a large volume of local anesthetic is required and consequently an extensive blockade of sympathetic, sensory and motor functions can occur causing motor weakness, numbness and postural hypotension. Therefore, the patient is unable to have early ambulation postoperatively. In this study, thoracic epidural catheterization was undertaken to locate the tip of the catheter exactly at the surgical level for upper abdominal surgery, and was followed by general anesthesia. Twenty-one patients scheduled for upper abdominal surgery were selected. Fifteen of them had hepatobiliary operations and the remaining 6 had gastrectomies. Thoracic epidural punctures were performed mostly at T9-T10 (57.1%) and T8-T9. Neuromuscular blocking agents were not used in half of the cases and the, mean doses of relaxant were $3.5{\pm}1.0mg$ in gastrectomies, and $2.7{\pm}0.9mg$ in cases of hepatobiliary operation. Epidural morphine was injected 1 hour before the end of the operation for postoperative pain control. Eight patients did not require additional analgesics and the mean dose of epidural morphine was $2.2{\pm}0.9mg$, and 13 cases were given 0.125% epidural bupivacaine when patients complained of pain. Their initial doses of epidural morphine were $1.9{\pm}0.4mg$ and the mean duration of bupivacaine was 6 hours 20 minutes${\pm}40$ minutes. In conclusion. thoracic epidural analgesia is valuable to reduce postoperative pain in patients with upper abdominal surgery, However, it is not easy to maintain this balanced anesthesia with high epidural analgesia-and light general anesthesia for upper abdominal surgery because of marked hemodynamic changes. Therefore, further practice will be required.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.182-186
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• 2000

The reduction of the postoperative wound pain has been a concern in recent surgery, especially in various types of minimally-invasive surgeries. This study was performed to evaluate the postoperative analgesic effect of the preincisional local anesthesia with the mixture of ketorolac(Tarasyn) and bupivacaine to the surgical site in minimally-invasive thyroid surgeries. Of 491 patients who were scheduled for minimally-invasive thyroid surgeries between October 1999 and July 2000, 244 were randomly assigned to receive a mixture of ketorolac tromethamine 15mg(0.5ml) and 0.25% bupivacaine 3ml via surgical site infiltration 3 minutes prior to the skin incision. The outcomes of these patients were compared to those of the 247 controls. Total number of patients in need of post-operative analgesic requirements(n=39, 16.0%), total dose of postoperative analgesics used($19.6{\pm}8.4mg$ of ketorolac) and Visual Analogue Pain Score(VAS, $2.6{\pm}1.2$) of the preincisional local anesthesia group were significantly lower than those of the control group(p<0.05). The mean postoperative hospital stay was $1.6{\pm}0.4$ days for the preincisional local anesthesia group versus $1.9{\pm}0.7$ days for the control group. The preincisional local infiltration of ketorolac and bupivacaine in the minimally invasive thyroidectomies reduces postoperative wound pain thus would be more beneficial to the patients.