• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.80-85
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• 2019

Purpose: To compare the time intervals to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and surgical treatment in patients having traumatic cervical spinal cord injury (SCI) with and without bony lesions. Methods: Retrospectively analyzed adult patients visited Kyungpook National University Hospital and underwent surgical treatment for cervical SCI within 24 hours. The patients who were suspected of having cervical SCI underwent plain radiography and computed tomography (CT) upon arrival. After the initial evaluation, we evaluated the MRI findings to determine surgical treatment. Waiting times for MRI and surgery were evaluated. Results: Thirty-four patients were included. Patients' mean age was 57 (range, 23-80) years. Patients with definite bony lesions were classified into group A, and 10 cases were identified (fracture-dislocation, seven; fracture alone, three). Patients without bony lesions were classified into group B, and 24 cases were identified (ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament, 16; cervical spondylotic myelopathy, eight). Mean intervals between emergency room arrival and start of MRI were 93.60 (${\pm}60.08$) minutes in group A and 313.75 (${\pm}264.89$) minutes in group B, and the interval was significantly shorter in group A than in group B (p=0.01). The mean times to surgery were 248.4 (${\pm}76.03$) minutes in group A and 560.5 (${\pm}372.56$) minutes in group B, and the difference was statistically significant (p=0.001). The American Spinal Injury Association scale at the time of arrival showed that group A had a relatively severe neurologic deficit compared with group B (p=0.046). There was no statistical significance, but it seems to be good neurological recovery, if we start treatment sooner among patients treated within 24 hours (p=0.198). Conclusions: If fracture or dislocation is detected by CT, cervical SCI can be easily predicted resulting in MRI and surgical treatment being performed more rapidly. Additionally, fracture or dislocation tends to cause more severe neurological damage, so it is assumed that rapid diagnosis and treatment are possible.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.64 no.4
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• pp.575-584
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• 2021

Objective : Cervical expansive laminoplasty is an effective surgical method to address multilevel cervical spinal stenosis. During surgery, the spinous processes of C2 and C7 are usually preserved to keep the insertion points of the cervical musculature and nuchal ligament intact. In this regard, dome-like laminectomy (undercutting of C7 lamina) instead of laminoplasty is performed on C7 in selected cases. However, resection of the lamina can weaken the C7 lamina, and stress fractures may occur, but this complication has not been characterized in the literature. The objective of the present study was to investigate the incidence and risk factors for C7 laminar fracture after C7 dome-like laminectomy and its impact on clinical and radiological outcomes. Methods : Patients who underwent cervical open-door laminoplasty combined with C7 dome-like laminectomy (n=123) were classified according to the presence of C7 laminar fracture. Clinical parameters (neck/arm pain score and neck disability index) and radiologic parameters (C2-7 angle, C2-7 sagittal vertical axis, and C7-T1 angle) were compared between the groups preoperatively and at postoperatively at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months. Risk factors for complications were evaluated, and a formula estimating C7 fracture risk was suggested. Results : C7 lamina fracture occurred in 32/123 (26%) patients and occurred at the bilateral isthmus in 29 patients and at the spinolaminar junction in three patients. All fractures appeared on X-ray within 3 months postoperatively, but patients did not present any neurological deterioration. The fracture spontaneously healed in 27/32 (84%) patients at 1 year and in 29/32 (91%) at 2 years. During follow-up, clinical outcomes were not significantly different between the groups. However, patients with C7 fractures showed a more lordotic C2-7 angle and kyphotic C7-T1 angle than patients without C7 fractures. C7 fracture was significantly associated with the extent of bone removal. By incorporating significant factors, the probability of C7 laminar fracture could be assessed with the formula 'Risk score = 1.08 × depth (%) + 1.03 × length (%, of the posterior height of C7 vertebral body)', and a cut-off value of 167.9% demonstrated a sensitivity of 90.3% and a specificity of 65.1% (area under the curve, 0.81). Conclusion : C7 laminar fracture can occur after C7 dome-like laminectomy when a substantial amount of lamina is resected. Although C7 fractures may not cause deleterious clinical outcomes, they can lead to an unharmonized cervical curvature. The chance of C7 fracture should be discussed in the shared decision-making process.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.30 no.8
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• pp.1023-1027
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• 2001

Hemangioblastomas are rare benign tumor of the central nervous system that commonly occur in the posterior fossa around the 4th ventricle. In case of von Hippel-Lindau disease, hemangioblastomas involve multiple regions such as cerebellum, spinal cord and brainstem but, rarely show simultaneous involvement of cerebellum and spinal cord. We have experienced a case of multiple hemangioblastomas that were located at the cerebellum, cervical cord and conus medullaris and also had multiple lesions that a part of von Hippel-Lindau disease ; retinal angioma, syringomyelia, multiple cyst on kidney and pancreas, renal cell carcinoma on left kidney. Hemangioblastomas on cerebellum and spinal cord were removed totally, retinal angioma was treated with laser photocoagulation and renal cell carcinoma was also totally excised. The authors report a case of von Hippel-Lindau disease had multiple located hemangioblastomas on cerebellum, cervical cord and conus medullaris with review of literature.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.276-280
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• 2010

Liposarcomas are malignant tumors of the soft tissue, with myxoid liposarcoma being the second most common subtype, tending to occur in the limbs, particularly in the thighs. Myxoid liposarcomas have an intermediate prognosis between well-differentiated and pleomorphic tumors. Spinal metastasis is usual but intradural involvement is extremely rare. We present an unusual case of a multicentric myxoid liposarcoma with intradural involvement. A 41-year-old woman complained of tingling sensation on her left arm. Radiological evaluation revealed multiple masses in her cervical spine, abdominal wall, liver, heart and right thigh, all of which were resected. She was histologically diagnosed with small round cell myxoid sarcoma and underwent adjuvant chemotherapy. However, magnetic resonance imaging analysis after 1 year revealed a large metastatic mass with bony invasion at the C6-T1 level. This mass consisted of extradural and intradural components causing severe compression of the spinal cord. She underwent resection via a posterior facetectomy of C6-7 and an anterior C7 corpectomy. However, the patient died of multiple metastases 18 months after the first diagnosis.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.33-37
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• 2014

Central venous catheterization through a subclavian approach is indicated for some special purposes but it may cause many complications such as infection, bleeding, pneumothorax, thrombosis, air embolization, arrhythmia, myocardial perforation, and nerve injury. A case involving a mistaken central venous catheterization into the right vertebral artery through the subclavian artery is presented. A 33-year-old man who had deteriorated mentality after head injury underwent an emergency craniotomy for acute epidural hematomas on the right frontal and temporal convexities. His mentality improved rapidly, but he complained of continuous severe pain in the right posterior neck even though he had no previous symptom or past medical history of such pain. Three-dimensional cervical spine computed tomography (3D-CT) was performed first to rule out unconfirmed cervical injuries and it revealed a linear radiopaque material intrathoracically from the level of the 1st rib up to the level of C6 in the right vertebral foramen. An additional neck CT was performed, and the subclavian catheter was indwelling in the right vertebral artery through right subclavian artery. For the purpose of proper fluid infusion and central venous pressure monitoring, the subclavian vein catheterization had been performed in the operation room after general anesthesia induction before the craniotomy. Sufficient anatomical consideration and prudence is essential because inadvertent arterial cannulation at a non-compressible site is a highly risky iatrogenic complication of central venous line placement.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.59 no.sup1
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• pp.92-95
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• 2016

Neuroblastomas are sometimes associated with abnormal constitutional karyotypes, but the XYY karyotype has been rarely described in neuroblastomas. Here, we report a case of an esthesioneuroblastoma in a boy with a 47, XYY karyotype. A 6-year-old boy was admitted to our hospital because of nasal obstruction and palpable cervical lymph node, which he first noticed several days previously. A polypoid mass in the right nasal cavity was detected through sinuscopy. Biopsy of the right nasal polyp was performed. Based on the result, the patient was diagnosed with a high-grade esthesioneuroblastoma. Nuclear imaging revealed increased uptake in both the right posterior nasal cavity and the right cervical IB-II space, suggesting metastatic lymph nodes. Cytogenetic analysis revealed a 47, XYY karyotype. Twelve courses of concurrent chemotherapy were administered. Three years after the completion of chemotherapy, the patient had had no disease recurrence. He manifested behavioral violence and temper tantrums, so we started methylphenidate for correction of the behavior.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.47-51
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• 2008

Ligamentum flavum hematoma is a rare condition. Twenty cases including present case have been reported in English-language literature. Among them, only one case reported in pure thoracic spine. A 72-year-old man presented with thoracic myelopathy without precedent cause. Magnetic resonance images revealed a posterior semicircular mass which was located in T7 and T8 level compressing the spinal cord dorsally. T7-8 total laminectomy and extirpation of the mass was performed. One month later following surgery, the patient fully recovered to normal state. Pathologic result was confirmed as ligamentum flavum hematoma. Ligamentum flavum hematoma of rigid thoracic spine is a very rare disease entity. Most reported cases were confined to mobile cervical and lumbar spine. Surgeons should be aware that there seems to be another different pathogenesis other than previously reported cases of mobile cervical and lumbar spine.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.56 no.4
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• pp.348-352
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• 2014

High-flow vertebral arteriovenous fistulas (VAVF) are rare complications of cervical spine surgery and characterized by iatrogenic direct-communication of the extracranial vertebral artery (VA) to the surrounding venous plexuses. The authors describe two patients with VAVF presenting with ischemic presentation after C1 pedicle screw insertion for a treatment of C2 fracture and nontraumatic atlatoaxial subluxation. The first patient presented with drowsy consciousness with blurred vision. The diffusion MRI showed an acute infarction on bilateral cerebellum and occipital lobes. The second patient presented with pulsatile tinnitus, dysarthria and a subjective weakness and numbness of extremities. In both cases, digital subtraction angiography demonstrated high-flow direct VAVFs adjacent to C1 screws. The VAVF of the second case occurred near the left posterior inferior cerebellar artery originated from the persistent first intersegmental artery of the left VA. Both cases were successfully treated by complete occlusion of the fistulous portion and the involved segment of the left VA using endovascular coil embolization. The authors reviewed the VAVFs after the upper-cervical spine surgery including C1 screw insertion and the feasibility with the attention notes of its endovascular treatment.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2012

Purpose : This study aims to examine effects of trunk strengthening exercise in three rigid cerebral palsy adolescents aged between 11 and 13 on their spinal segments and gait. Methods : 2A trunk strengthening program for proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation was made focusing on improvement in their school life and mental and social activities during their school years, and then trunk strengthening exercise was applied to the three subjects for 30 minutes five times per week for four weeks. With the subjects in a static state, each group's gait analysis was made and maximum anterior flexion, maximum extension, maximum left and right lateral flexion, and cross rotation of the trunk were measured using Sonosens (Germany) prior to and after the intervention. Results : Assessment of spinal segment mobility with the subjects in a static state showed that the trunk muscle strengthening exercise increased their maximum joint movement angles from the right side to the center and rotational abilities of the cervical and lumbar spines. Gait analysis indicated increased movements in the thoracic and lumbar spines and relatively decreased anterior-posterior movement of the cervical spine. Conclusion : Trunk strengthening program is effective in enhancing spinal segment mobility and balance ability of cerebral palsy adolescents and considered able to be used together with diverse treatment interventions.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.27-30
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• 2019

Parathyroid adenoma can cause extracapsular bleeding. In 1934, Capps first reported a case of massive hemorrhage secondary to rupture of a parathyroid adenoma. Recently, we experienced a 73-year-old female presented with pharyngeal discomfort and extensive ecchymosis over the neck without history of trauma. Endoscopic investigation revealed submucosal hemorrhage in the posterior wall of the hypopharynx. CT scan and ultrasonography demonstrated the presence of a mass below the left thyroid lobe. Serum calcium level was normal and PTH level was elevated. We underwent left thyroidectomy and parathyroidectomy 2 weeks later from first visit. During the operation, hypopharyngeal mucosa was teared and it was treated with pharyngostoma formation and L-tube feeding. We report a rare case of normocalcemic parathyroid adenoma with spontaneous hemorrhage and propose the proper management period with a literature review.