• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.39-41
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• 2007

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.652-672
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• 1996

Dysfunction of the inferior alveolar nerve may result from trauma, diseases or iatrogenic injury. The development and refinement of an objective method to evaluate this clinical problem is highly desirable and needed, especially concerning for an increasing medico-legal issue. Evoked potential techniques have attracted considerable attention as a means of assessing the function and integrity of nerve pathways. The purpose of this study was to characterize the Sensory Evoked Potentials(SEPs) and Somatosensory Evoked Potentials(SSEPs) elicited by electrical stimulation of mental nerve. SEPs and SSEPs were measured and analyzed statistically before and after needle injury on the inferior alveolar nerve of Sprague-Dawalye rats. Measuring SEPs was more sensitive in evaluation of the recovery of sensory function from inferior alveolar nerve injury then measuring SSEPs but we measured SSEPs in the hope of providing a safe, simple and objective test to check oral and facial sensibility, which is acceptable to the patient. We stimulated mental nerve after needle injury on the inferior alveolar nerve and SEPS on the level of mandibular foramen and SSEPs on the level of cerebral cortex were recorded. Threshold, amplitude, and latency of both of SEPs and SSEPs were analyzed. The results were as follows ; 1. Threshold of SEPs and SSEPs were $184{\pm}14{\mu}A$ and $164{\pm}14{\mu}A$ respectively. 2 SEPs were composed of 2 waves, i.e., N1 N2 in which N1 was conducted by II fibers and N2 was conducted by III fibers. 3. SSEPS were composed of 5 waves, of which N1 and N2 shower statistically significant changes(p<0.01, unpaired t-test). 4. SEPs and SSEPs were observed to be abolished immediately after local anesthesia and recovered 30 minutes later. 5. SEPs were abolished immediately after injury. N1 of SSEPs was abolished immediately and amplitued of N2 was decreased($20.7{\pm}12.2%$) immediately after 23G needle injury, but N3, N4 and N5 did not change significantly. Recovery of waveform delayed 30 minutes in SEPs and 45 minutes in SSEPs. 6. The degree of decrease in amplitude of SEPs and SSEPs, after 30G needle injury was smaller than those with 23G. SEPs recorded on the level of mandibular foramen were though to be reliable and useful in the assessment of the function of the inferior alveolar nerve after injury. Amplitude of SSEPs reflected the function and integrity of nerve and measuring them provided a safe, simple and abjective test to check oral and facial sensibility. These results suggest that measuring SEPs and SSEPs are meaningful methods for objective assessment in the diagnosis of nerve injury. N1 and N2 of SSEPs can be useful parameters for the evaluation of the nerve function following a needle injury.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2003

Small-fiber neuropathy (SFN) is a common clinical problems. The disorder is a generalized peripheral polyneuropathy that selectively involves small-diameter myelinated and unmyelinated nerve fibers. It is often idiopathic and typically presents with painful feet in patients over the age of 60. And autoimmune mechanisms are often suspected, but rarely identified. The clinical features consisted of painful dysesthesias and postganglionic sympathetic dysfunction, as well as reduced pinprick and temperature sensation. Although affected patients complain of neuropathic pain, this condition is often difficult to diagnose because of the few objective physical signs and normal nerve conduction studies. Diagnosis of SFN is made on the basis of the clinical features, normal nerve conduction studies, and abnormal specialized tests of small fiber function. These specialized studies include assessment of epidermal nerve fiber density as well as sudomotor, quantitative sensory, and cardiovagal testing. Unless an underlying disease is identified, treatment is usually directed toward alleviation of neuropathic pain.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.123-126
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• 2019

Vestibular schwannoma, also known as acoustic neuroma, is a rare benign brainstem tumor surrounding the vestibular division of the 8th cranial nerve. The presenting symptoms are hearing loss, tinnitus, and dizziness. Unabated growth can compress 5th (trigeminal nerve) and 7th (facial nerve) cranial nerve, which can cause nerve dysfunction such as orofacial pain, sensory abnormalities, or trigeminal neuralgia. We report a 51-year-old woman who presented with orofacial dysesthesia on her left side of the face with abnormal findings on 5th cranial nerve and 8th (vestibulocochlear nerve) cranial nerve examination. Brain magnetic resonance imaging scan revealed cerebellopontine angle tumor. She was referred to a neurosurgeon and diagnosed with vestibular schwannoma.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.38
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• pp.25.1-25.4
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• 2016

Background: Bilateral sagittal split ramus osteotomy (BSSRO) is the most widely used mandibular surgical technique in orthognathic surgery and is easy to relocate the distal segments, accelerating bone repair by the large surface of bone contact. However, it can cause neurosensory dysfunction (NSD) or sensory loss by injury of the inferior alveolar nerve. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate NSD after BSSRO and modifiers at NSD recovery. Methods: In this study, NSD characteristics after BSSRO from 2009 to 2014 at the Kyung Hee University Dental Hospital were evaluated. The pattern of sensory recovery over time was also evaluated based on factors such as field of sensory dysfunction, surgical procedure, presence of pre-operative facial asymmetry, and postoperative medications. Results: Most of the patients had shown NSD immediately after orthognathic surgery. Among the 1192 sides of 596 patients, NSD was observed in 953 sides and 544 patients. Sexual predilection was shown in males (p value = 0.0062). In the asymmetric group of 132 patients, NSD was observed in 128 patients (96.97 %). In the symmetric group of 464 patients, NSD was observed in 416 patients (89.45 %); on the other hand, NSD was observed significantly higher in the asymmetric group (p = 0.025). NSD-associated factors were analyzed, and vitamin B12 may be beneficial for NSD recovery. Conclusions: There was a difference between the symmetric group and the asymmetric group in NSD recovery. Vitamin B12 can be regarded as an effective method to nerve recovery. However, a further prospective study is needed.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.54 no.3
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• pp.232-235
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• 2013

Objective : Major complaints of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) are sensory components. However, motor deficit also impedes functional status of hand. Contrary to evaluation of sensory function, the objective, quantitative evaluation of median nerve motor function is not easy. The motor function of median was evaluated quantitatively using load cell and its correlation with findings of electrodiagnostic study (EDS) was evaluated. Methods : Objective motor function of median nerve was evaluated by load cell and personal computer-based measurement system. All of the measurement was done in patients diagnosed as having idiopathic CTS by clinical features and EDS findings. The strength of thumb abduction and index finger flexion was measured in each hand three times, and the average value was used to calculate thumb index ratio (TIR). The correlation of TIR with clinical, EDS, and ultrasonographic findings were evaluated. Results : The TIR was evaluated in 67 patients (119 hands). There were 14 males and 53 females, mean age were 57.6 years (range 28 to 81). The higher preoperative nerve conductive studies grade of the patients, the lower TIR was observed [p<0.001, analysis of variance (ANOVA)]. TIR of cases with thenar atrophy were significantly lower than those without (p<0.001, t-test). TIR were significantly lower in patients with severe median nerve swelling in ultrasonography (p=0.042, ANOVA). Conclusion : Measurements of median nerve motor function using load cell is a valuable evaluation tool in CTS. It might be helpful in detecting subclinical motor dysfunction before muscle atrophy develops.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.5-10
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• 1997

Background : The Current Perception Threshold (CPT) provides an objective, quantitative gauge of sensory nerve integrity which is obtainable from any cutaneous site. CPT measurement can confirm and quantify or rule out dysfunction of nerve through comparison with established normative values ($Neuval^{TM}$ CPT database). The aim of this study is to compare collected data from Korean adults with $Neuval^{TM}$ CPT database. Method : Normative data from 5 standard test site in face, hand, toe were obtained from 50 healthy adults. Three frequencies(5, 250, 2000 Hz) were stimulated with $Neuromoter^{(R)}$ CPT device. Results : The results of our data were statistically significantly different than Neuval data except in face, but within normal range. Sensory Threshold increased as the frequency of the stimulus changed from 5 Hz to 250 Hz to 2000 Hz., and from face to hand to toe. Conclusion : CPT testing is a valuable neurologic testing modality that is noninvasive and highly reliable for diagnosis and evaluation of sensory nerves where neuropathy is suspected.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.338-343
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• 2005

Objective : The sacroiliac joint complex is often related with functionally incapacitating pain in old aged people. The purpose of this study is to delineate the investigation strategies and to determine the long-term effect of radiofrequency [RF] neurotomies for pain arising from sacroiliac Joint dysfunction[SIJD]. Methods : Sixteen patients were diagnosed as having chronic pain from SIJD by comparative controlled blocks on L5 dorsal rami, sacroiliac Joints and deep interosseous ligaments. After confirming the positive response [more than 50% of pain relief], sensory stimulation was applied to detect the 'pathological' branches. Subsequently, RF neurotomies were performed on the selected nerve branches. Surgical outcome was graded as successful, moderate improvement, and failure after a 6month follow-up period. Results : Stimulation intensity was 0.45V to elicit pain response in the L5 dorsal rami and lateral sacral branches. The number of RF-lesioned nerve branches was 6per patient. The average number of lesions for each branch was 1.3. Most commonly selected branches were L5 dorsal ramus [88%] and S2-upper division [88%]. Ten patients [63%] reported a successful outcome according to the outcome criteria after 6months of follow-up, and five patients [31%] reported complete relief [100%]. Five patients [31%] showed moderate improvements. One patient reported failure. Conclusion : RF neurotomy of lateral sacral branches is an excellent treatment modality for the pain due to SIJD, provided that comparative controlled block shows a positive response.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.267-269
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• 2012

Traumatic brachial plexus injuries can be devastating, causing partial to total denervation of the muscles of the upper extremities. Surgical reconstruction can restore motor and/or sensory function following nerve injuries. Direct nerve-to-nerve transfers can provide a closer nerve source to the target muscle, thereby enhancing the quality and rate of recovery. Restoration of elbow flexion is the primary goal for patients with brachial plexus injuries. A 4-year-old right-hand-dominant male sustained a fracture of the left scapula in a car accident. He was treated conservatively. After the accident, he presented with motor weakness of the left upper extremity. Shoulder abduction was grade 3 and elbow flexor was grade 0. Hand function was intact. Nerve conduction studies and an electromyogram were performed, which revealed left lateral and posterior cord brachial plexopathy with axonotmesis. He was admitted to Rehabilitation Medicine and treated. However, marked neurological dysfunction in the left upper extremity was still observed. Six months after trauma, under general anesthesia with the patient in the supine position, the brachial plexus was explored through infraclavicular and supraclavicular incisions. Each terminal branch was confirmed by electrophysiology. Avulsion of the C5 roots and absence of usable stump proximally were confirmed intraoperatively. Under a microscope, neurotization from the musculocutaneous nerve to two medial pectoral nerves was performed with nylon 8-0. Physical treatment and electrostimulation started 2 weeks postoperatively. At a 3-month postoperative visit, evidence of reinnervation of the elbow flexors was observed. At his last follow-up, 2 years following trauma, the patient had recovered Medical Research Council (MRC) grade 4+ elbow flexors. We propose that neurotization from medial pectoral nerves to musculocutaneous nerve can be used successfully to restore elbow flexion in patients with brachial plexus injuries.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.19-23
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• 2013

Some patients with leprosy may present with atypical features, such as isolated peripheral neuropathy without skin lesions, or marked proprioceptive dysfunction. We report a 56-year-old female who presented with predominant proprioceptive loss without skin lesion, but was finally confirmed as leprous neuropathy by sural nerve biopsy. It is postulated that large myelinated fibers were affected by chronic immunological reactions triggered by inactive bacterial particles, producing a peripheral neuropathy presenting as predominant proprioceptive sensory loss without typical skin lesions.