• Clinical Pain
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.59-64
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• 2019

Objective: This study evaluated the feasibility of ultrasound-guided lumbar nerve root block (LNRB) and S1 nerve root block by identifying spread patterns via fluoroscopy in cadavers. Method: A total of 48 ultrasound-guided injections were performed in 4 fresh cadavers from L1 to S1 roots. The target point of LNRB was the midpoint between the lower border of the transverse process and the facet joint at each level. The target point of S1 nerve root block was the S1 foramen, which can be visualized between the median sacral crest and the posterior superior iliac spine, below the L5-S1 facet joint. The injection was performed via an in-plane approach under real-time axial view ultrasound guidance. Fluoroscopic validation was performed after the injection of 2 cc of contrast agent. Results: The needle placements were correct in all injections. Fluoroscopy confirmed an intra-foraminal contrast spreading pattern following 41 of the 48 injections (85.4%). The other 7 injections (14.6%) yielded typical neurograms, but also resulted in extra-foraminal patterns that occurred evenly in each nerve root, including S1. Conclusion: Ultrasound-guided injection may be an option for the delivery of injectate into the S1 nerve root, as well as lumbar nerve root area.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.107-115
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• 2016

The occurrence of brain stem stroke after lumbar selective nerve root block seem to be an uncommon event comparing it to after cervical selective nerve root block. We recently experienced a 60-year-old man who were diagnosed as left lateral medullary infarction (Wallenberg's syndrome) after lumbar selective nerve root block. He was treated by traditional Korean medicine with acupunture, Pulsed electromagetic therapy (PEMT), herb medicine. The range of motion of upper and lower extremity, manual muscle test, Korean version of Berg balance scale (K-BBS) and Korean version of Barthel index (K-MBI) were adopted to measure the resulting recovery after 4 weeks treatment. Traditional Korean medicine was effective for rehabilitation of patient. Further studies are needed to set up and Korean medical protocol for Wallenberg's syndrome.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.2533-2539
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• 2014

Aim: To take a deeper insight into the relationship between the root of the inferior mesenteric artery (IMA) and the autonomic nerve plexuses around it by cadaveric anatomy and explore anatomical evidence of autonomic nerve preservation in high ligation of the IMA in laparoscopic surgery for colorectal cancer. Methods: Anatomical dissection was performed on 11 formalin-fixed cadavers and 12 fresh cadavers. Anatomical evidence-based autonomic nerve preservation in high ligation of the IMA was performed in 22 laparoscopic curative resections of colorectal cancer. Results: As the upward continuation of the presacral nerves, the bilateral trunks of SHP had close but different relationships with the root of the IMA. The right trunk of SHP ran relatively far away from the root of IMA. When the apical lymph nodes were dissected close to the root of the IMA along the fascia space in front of the anterior renal fascia, the right trunk of SHP could be kept in suit under the anterior renal fascia. The left descending branches to SHP constituted a natural and constant anatomical landmark of the relationship between the root of IMA and the left autonomic nerves. Proximal to this, the left autonomic nerves surrounded the root of the IMA. Distally, the left trunk of the SHP departed from the root of IMA under the anterior renal fascia. When high ligation of the IMA was performed distal to it, the left trunk of SHP could be preserved. The distance between the left descending branches to SHP and the origin of IMA varied widely from 1.3 cm to 2.3 cm. Conclusions: The divergences of the bilateral autonomic nerve preservation around the root of the IMA may contribute to provide anatomical evidence for more precise evaluation of the optimal position of high ligation of the IMA in the future.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.307-310
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• 1998

Selective lumbosacral radiculography and nerve root block techniques are very useful in determining the nerve root involved. We have done the lumbar root block to 61-year-old female who had suffered from low back pain radiating to right lower leg which was not relieved by epidural steroid injection two times. $L_5$ root block was performed under the fluoroscopic C-arm guide. When the needle was in correct position, we injected contrast medium (Isovist$^{(R)}$ - 300, Schering, Germany). After we injected 1.5 cc isovist, the S1 root was figured but L5 root was not figured. When we reinjected 1.5 cc isovist, $S_1$ root was enhanced and $L_5$ root was slightly visible due to severe disc bulging and lateral spinal stenosis.

• Journal of the Korean Orthopaedic Association
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.78-84
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• 2020

Purpose: This paper compares the clinical outcomes of patients who were treated with a cervical nerve block by ultrasound and C-arm and reports the complication. Materials and Methods: A total of 97 patients were treated with an ultrasound-guided nerve root block from May 1, 2015 to February 8, 2018. On the other hand, 94 patients were treated with a C-arm guided nerve root block. The consequences of the cervical pain and the radiating pain before and after the procedures were reviewed using the verbal numeric rating scale (VNRS). In addition, the complications related to the procedures from the daily notes from the chart were inspected. Results: Sixty-six cases out of 97 cases of ultrasound-guided nerve root block were enrolled in the study. The average age of the patients was 57 years, including 41 males and 25 females. Seventy seven out of 94 cases by a C-arm guided root block were included in the study. The average age of the patients was 55 years, including 40 males and 37 females. Before the nerve root block, the mean numeric rating pain scale (NRS) of the cervical pain in ultrasound-guided block decreased from 5.4 points to 2.7 points at three weeks and 1.4 points at six weeks (p=0.0023, p<0.001), and 3.1 points in the C-arm (p<0.001, p<0.001) at three weeks and 1.5 points at six weeks (p<0.001, p<0.001). In the case of radiating pain, the mean NRS in the ultrasound-guided nerve root block group improved from 6.3 points after the procedure to 2.8 points at three weeks and 1.5 points at six weeks (p<0.001, p<0.001). In the C-arm guided nerve root block group, the NRS improved from 7.4 points after the procedure to 3.3 points at three weeks and 1.9 points at six weeks. In the case of complications, Horner's syndrome and propriospinal myoclonus were observed in one case of C-arm guided block group. Conclusion: The clinical results of the patients who underwent ultrasound-guided cervical nerve root block were not significantly different from those who underwent a C-arm guided cervical nerve root block.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.247-250
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• 2000

Recently, some authors reported that discogenic low back pain should be regarded as a referred pain in respect of neural pathway. The afferent pathways of discogenic low back pain is transmitted mainly by sympathetic afferent fibres from the sinuvertebral nerves in the second lumbar nerve root. This pain arises from the lumbar intervertebral discs, and it had been transmitted mainly through the sympathetic afferent fibres contained in the second lumbar spinal nerve root. Second lumbar dermatome corresponds to the low back area. We experienced a case of low back pain which could not be controlled by conventional therapy and progressed wax and wane. The CT finding showed bulging disc between $L_4$ and $L_5$ and spinal stenosis in $L_4$ area. And epiduroscopic feature showed severe adhesion in $L_4$, $L_5$ and $S_1$. After we blocked $L_2$ root, pain score decreased 10 to 2. Therefore, the $L_2$ root block may be a useful diagnostic procedure as well as provide therapeutic value.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.242-246
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• 2010

Background: The first sacral nerve root block (S1NRB) is a common procedure in pain clinic for patients complaining of low back pain with radiating pain. It can be performed in the office based setting without C-arm. The previously suggested method of locating the needle entry point begins with identifying the posterior superior iliac spine (PSIS). Then a line is drawn between two points, one of which is 1.5 cm medical to the PSIS, and the other of which is 1.5 cm lateral and cephalad to the ipsilateral cornu. After that, one point on the line, which is 1.5 cm cephalad to the level of the PSIS, is considered as the needle entry point. The purpose of this study was to analyze the location of needle entry point and palpated PSIS in S1NRB. Methods: Fifty patients undergoing C-arm guided S1NRB in the prone position were examined. The surface anatomical relationships between the palpated PSIS and the needle entry point were assessed. Results: The analysis revealed that the transverse and vertical distance between the needle entry point and PSIS were $28.7{\pm}8.8mm$ medially and $3.5{\pm}14.0mm$ caudally, respectively. The transverse distance was $27.8{\pm}8.3mm$ medially for male and $29.5{\pm}9.3mm$ medially for female. The vertical distance was $1.0{\pm}14.1mm$ cranially for male and $8.1{\pm}12.7mm$ caudally for female. Conclusions: The needle entry point in S1NRB is located on the same line or in the caudal direction from the PSIS in a considerable number of cases. Therefore previous recommended methods cannot be applied to many cases.

• Clinical Pain
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.90-96
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• 2020

Objective: To investigate the diagnostic accuracy of two physical examinations (straight leg raise [SLR] and Bragard test) and electromyography (EMG) in patients with lumbosacral monoradiculopathy in acute and chronic state on confirmation of different diagnostic criteria (MRI vs MRI and diagnostic selective nerve root block [DSNRB]). Method: We identified 297 participants retrospectively from the departmental database. MRI evidence of L5 or S1 nerve root compression and a positive result in diagnostic SNRB served as reference standards. They were divided into two groups by the symptom duration: lasting more than 12 weeks in the chronic group and less than 12 weeks in the acute group. The diagnostic value of clinical tests and EMG were compared. Results: The clinical tests (SLR and Bragard test) done in acute stage on detection by MRI and DSNRB had the highest sensitivity (68%) compared to the chronic stage (63%), but sensitivity was low (57%) on confirmation of MRI alone. However, there was no significant difference on sensitivity and specificity of EMG regardless of reference standards and symptom duration. Electromyography was a significant predictor of neuropathic abnormalities on both acute (OR, 6.3; 95% CI, 2.4 to 16.7; p<0.01) and chronic (OR, 6.8; 95% CI, 2.9 to 16.3; p<0.01). Conclusion: In general, individual physical tests are easy to do and a combination of those tests could be a sensitive indicator of L5 or S1 radiculopathy. Furthermore, the use of provocation tests could provide useful information, especially in proceeding therapeutic selective nerve root block.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.185-187
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• 2009

Although most of sacral perineural cysts are asymptomatic, some may produce symptoms. Specific radicular pain may be due to distortion, compression, or stretching of nerve root by a space occupying cyst. We report a rare case of S1 radiculopathy caused by sacral perineural cyst accompanying disc herniation. The patient underwent a microscopic discectomy at L5-S1 level. However, the patient's symptoms did not improved. The hypesthesia persisted, as did the right leg pain. Cyst-subarachnoid shunt was set to decompress nerve root and to equalize the cerebrospinal fluid pressure between the cephalad thecal sac and cyst. Immediately after surgery, the patient had no leg pain. After 6 months, the patient still remained free of leg pain.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.59-66
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• 1987

This study was aimed to investigate whether the conduction velocity of nerve impulses through the ventral afferent fibers is constant along their entire courses in dorsal as well as in ventral roots. Cats were anesthetized with ${\alpha}-chloralose$ (60 mg/kg, i.p.) and artificially ventilated. Laminectomies were done on L4-S1 spinal vertebrae to expose the lumbosacral spiral cord. Both ventral and dorsal roots of L7 or S1 spinal segments were isolated and cut near the spinal cord. Ventral roots were placed on 6-lead stimulating electrodes and stimulated with supra C-threshold intensity. Divided dorsal root fascicles were placed on bipolar recording electrodes and single fiber units activated by the stimulation of the ventral roots were identified. Followings are the results obtained: 1) A total of 27 VRA units were identified. 10 units of them conducted impulses slower than 2 m/sec. Conduction velocities of the remaining units were in the range of 3.11-20.91 m/sec. 2) In 12 Units conduction velocities Of the VRA units through dorsal$(CV_{DR})$ and venral root$(CV_{DR})$ were determined respectively. There was a tendency to conduct impulses faster through dorsal roots$(CV_{DR}=8.19{\pm}3.26\;m/sec)$ than ventral roots$(CV_{DR}=3.46{\pm}1.02\;m/sec)$. From the above results we confirmed that there exist nerve fibers in continuity between the spinal ventral and dorsal roots but we could not ascertain whether there is a change in conduction velocity through the entire course of ventral afferent unit.