• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
• /
• v.29 no.2
• /
• pp.139-145
• /
• 2008

Many recent studies suggest that the posterior dynamic stabilization(PDS) can be a more physiologically-relevant alternative to the rigid fixation for the patients suffering from low back pain. However, its biomechanical effects or clinically proven efficacies still remain unknown. In this study, we evaluated kinematic behaviors of the lower lumbar spine with the PDS system and then compared to those of the rigid fixation system using finite element (FE) analysis. A validated FE model of intact lumbar spine(L2-L5) was developed. The implanted model was then constructed after modification from the intact to simulate two kinds of pedicle screw systems (PDS and the rigid fixation). Hybrid protocol was used to flex, extend, laterally bend and axially rotate the FE model. Results showed that the PDS systems are more flexible than rigid fixation systems, yet not flexible enough to preserve motion. PDS system allowed $16.2{\sim}42.2%$ more intersegmental rotation than the rigid fixation at the implanted level. One the other hand, at the adjacent level it allowed more range of motion ($2.0%{\sim}8.3%$) than the rigid fixation. The center of rotation of the PDS model remained closer to that of the intact spine. These results suggest that the PDS system could be able to prevent excessive motion at the adjacent levels and restore the spinal kinematics.

• The Journal of Churna Manual Medicine for Spine and Nerves
• /
• v.10 no.1
• /
• pp.35-45
• /
• 2015

Objectives : To evaluate the clinical effectiveness of Flexible brace(SpineCor Brace). Methods : CNKI, PubMed databases and Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine in 1999-2014 were searched for studies on SpineCor. This study researched 4 randomized controlled trial studies. Results : The results suggested that the SpineCor brace reduced the probability of the progression of early idiopathic scoliosis comparing with its natural history or rigid brace. But some studies showed that there is no significant difference between SpineCor and rigid brace. Conclusions : These results indicate that SpineCor have obvious effects on treatment of scoliosis and no adverse reactions, therefore we need to study more researches on SpineCor.

• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
• /
• v.10 no.8
• /
• pp.703-710
• /
• 2004

This paper presents discontinuous zigzag gait analysis for a newly modeled quadruped walking robot with an articulated spine which connects the front and rear parts of the body. An articulated spine walking robot can move easily from side to side, which is an important feature to guarantee a larger gait stability margin than that of a conventional single rigid-body walking robot. First, we suggest a kinematic modeling of an articulated spine robot which has new parameters such as a waist-joint angle, a rotate angle of a front and rear body and describe characteristics of gait using an articulated spine. Next, we compared the difference of walking motion of newly modeled robot with that of a single rigid-body robot and analyzed the gait of an articulated spine robot using new parameters. On the basis of above result, we proposed a best walking motion with maximum stability margin. To show the effectiveness of proposed gait planning by simulation, firstly the fastest walking motion is identified based on the maximum stride, because the longer the stride, the faster the walking speed. Next, the gait stability margin variation of an articulated spine robot is compared according to the allowable waist-joint angle.

• Genes and Genomics
• /
• v.40 no.12
• /
• pp.1269-1277
• /
• 2018

Bcl2-associated athanogene 3 (BAG3) mutations have been reported to cause the myofibrillar myopathy (MFM) which shows progressive limb muscle weakness, respiratory failure, and cardiomyopathy. Myopathy patients with BAG3 mutation are very rare. We described a patient showing atypical phenotypes. We aimed to find the genetic cause of Korean patients with sensory motor polyneuropathy, myopathy and rigid spine. We performed whole exome sequencing (WES) with 423 patients with sensory motor polyneuropathy. We found BAG3 mutation in one patient with neuropathy, myopathy and rigid spine syndrome, and performed electrophysiological study, whole body MRI and muscle biopsy on the patient. A de novo heterozygous p.Pro209Leu (c.626C>T) mutation in BAG3 was identified in a female myopathy. She first noticed a gait disturbance and spinal rigidity at the age of 11, and serum creatine kinase levels were elevated ninefolds than normal. She showed an axonal sensory-motor polyneuropathy like Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT), myopathy, rigid spine and respiratory dysfunction; however, she did not show any cardiomyopathy, which is a common symptom in BAG3 mutation. Lower limb MRI and whole spine MRI showed bilateral symmetric fatty atrophy of muscles at the lower limb and paraspinal muscles. When we track traceable MRI 1 year later, the muscle damage progressed slowly. As far as our knowledge, this is the first Korean patient with BAG3 mutation. We described a BAG3 mutation patient with atypical phenotype of CMT and myopathy, and those are expected to broaden the clinical spectrum of the disease and help to diagnose it.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.44 no.1
• /
• pp.47-51
• /
• 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
• /
• v.51 no.6
• /
• pp.343-349
• /
• 2012

Objective : Pedicle-based dynamic stabilization systems, in which semi-rigid rods or cords are used to restrict or control spinal segmental motion, aim to reduce or eliminate the drawbacks associated with rigid fusion. In this study, we analyzed the two-year clinical outcomes of patients treated with the NFlex (Synthes Spine, Inc.), a pedicle-based dynamic stabilization system. Methods : Five sites participated in a retrospective study of 72 consecutive patients who underwent NFlex stabilization. Of these 72 patients, 65 were available for 2-year follow-up. Patients were included based on the presence of degenerative disc disease (29 patients), degenerative spondylolisthesis (16 patients), lumbar stenosis (9 patients), adjacent segment degeneration (6 patients), and degenerative lumbar scoliosis (5 patients). The clinical outcome measures at each assessment were Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) to measure back pain, and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) to measure functional status. Radiographic assessments included evidence of instrumentation failure or screw loosening. Results : Sixty-five patients (26 men and 39 women) with a mean age of 54.5 years were included. Mean follow-up was 25.6 months. The mean VAS score improved from 8.1 preoperatively to 3.8 postoperatively, representing a 53% improvement, and the ODI score from 44.5 to 21.8, representing a 51% improvement. Improvements in pain and disability scores were statistically significant. Three implant-related complications were observed. Conclusion : Posterior pedicle-based dynamic stabilization using the NFlex system seems effective in improving pain and functional scores, with sustained clinical improvement after two years. With appropriate patient selection, it may be considered an effective alternative to rigid fusion.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.41 no.1
• /
• pp.61-64
• /
• 2007

Lumbo-sacral junction is a transition lone between the mobile lumbar spine and immobile pelvis. Lumbosacral junction has been considered to be the most troublesome portion of the spine to be fused because of the difference in anatomical and biomechanical factors between spine and pelvis. A metastatic sacral tumor in a 57-year-old man was resected, followed by unilateral lumbo-iliac fixation across lumbosacral junction using modified Galveston technique. Rigid fixation was successfully achieved. Detailed anatomy and surgical techniques are presented.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
• /
• 2002.10a
• /
• pp.1059-1061
• /
• 2002

A FE model is to develop a personalized biomechanical model of the scoliotic spine that will allow the design of clinical test providing optimal estimation of the post-operation results. A flexible multi-body model of the spine including rib cage, clavicle, and scapular was developed to simulate several mobility simulations. Vertebrae, clavicle and scapular were represented using rigid bodies and ribs and sternum were modeled as flexible bodies. Kinematical Joints and spring elements were used to represent the intervertebral disc and ligaments respectively. Postero-anterior and lateral radiographics of a scoliotic spine were used to represent a 3D reconstruction. CT data for same patient were also used to verify vertebrae rotation driven from postero-anterior and lateral radiographic images. Simulated results showed good reducibility almost uniformly distributed along the spinal segments. It was also found that boundary and loading conditions, required to mimic the operation procedures, were proven to be very sensitive parameters to its results rather than its mechanical properties

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.56 no.2
• /
• pp.108-113
• /
• 2014

Objective : Ankylosing spondylitis is an inflammatory rheumatic disease mainly affecting the axial skeleton. The rigid spine may secondarily develop osteoporosis, further increasing the risk of spinal fracture. In this study, we reviewed fractures in patients with ankylosing spondylitis that had been clinically diagnosed to better define the mechanism of injury, associated neurological deficit, predisposing factors, and management strategies. Methods : Between January 2003 and December 2013, 12 patients with 13 fractures with neurological complications were treated. Neuroimaging evaluation was obtained in all patients by using plain radiography, CT scan, and MR imaging. The ASIA Impairment Scale was used in order to evaluate the neurologic status of the patients. Management was based on the presence or absence of spinal instability. Results : A total of 9 cervical and 4 thoracolumbar fractures were identified in a review of patients in whom ankylosing spondylitis had been diagnosed. Of these, 7 fractures were associated with a hyperextension mechanism. 10 cases resulted in a fracture by minor trauma. Posttraumatic neurological deficits were demonstrated in 11 cases and neurological improvement after surgery was observed in 5 of these cases. Conclusions : Patients with ankylosing spondylitis are highly susceptible to spinal fracture and spinal cord injury even after only mild trauma. Initial CT or MR imaging of the whole spine is recommended even if the patient's symptoms are mild. The patient should also have early surgical stabilization to correct spinal deformity and avoid worsening of the patient's neurological status.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.53 no.4
• /
• pp.228-234
• /
• 2013

Objective : We have limited understanding on the presentation and survival of primary spinal sarcomas. The survival, recurrence rate, and related prognostic factors were investigated after treatment for primary sarcomas of the spine. Methods : Retrospective analysis of medical records and radiological data was done for 29 patients in whom treatment was performed due to primary sarcoma of the spine from 2000 to 2010. As for treatment method, non-radical operation, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy were simultaneously or sequentially combined. Overall survival (OS), progression free survival (PFS), ambulatory function, and pain status were analyzed. In addition, factors affecting survival and recurrence were analyzed : age (${\leq}42$ or ${\geq}43$), gender, tumor histologic type, lesion location (mobile spine or rigid spine), weakness at diagnosis, pain at diagnosis, ambulation at diagnosis, initial treatment, radiation therapy, kind of irradiation, surgery, chemotherapy and distant metastasis. Results : Median OS was 60 months, the recurrence rate was 79.3% and median PFS was 26 months. Patients with distant metastasis showed significantly shorter survival than those without metastasis. No factors were found to be significant relating to recurrence. Prognostic factor associated with walking ability was the presence of weakness at diagnosis. Conclusion : Primary spinal sarcomas are difficult to cure and show high recurrence rate. However, the development of new treatment methods is improving survival.