• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.95-98
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• 2006

Objective : The aim of this study is to evaluate the feasibility, safety and effectiveness of radiofrequency neurotomy[RFN] for remnant pain after vertebroplasty for the treatment of severe compression fracture. Methods : 25 patients with remnant pain after vertebroplasty for one level severe compression fracture were treated by RFN. The severe compression fractures were defined to the vertebrae which less than 50% of their original heights have collapsed. Pain relief was evaluated at 2 weeks, 6 weeks and 3 months after the procedure using a visual analog scale[VAS]. Results : Successful outcome was determined if pain reduction exceeded 50% on the VAS at 6 weeks. Six of the 25 patients did not respond favorably to RFN [pain reduction less than 50%], and nineteen patients showed successful responses. Mean VAS score was decreased from 5.48 to 2.96 at 6 weeks. Conclusion : The radiofrequency neurotomy may be both feasible and useful treatment for the remnant pain after vertebroplasty. However long-term follow up is needed to confirm the effectiveness.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.235-238
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• 2011

Vertebral compression fractures result in vertebral height loss and alter sagittal spinal alignment, which in turn can lead to increased morbidity and mortality. Acute osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures are known to increase mobility and instability of the spine. There are limited published data correlating the degree of dynamic mobility and the efficacy of kyphoplasty on vertebral compression fractures. Here we report a 73-year-old female with a severe acute osteoporotic L2 compression fracture who obtained total vertebral height restoration following kyphoplasty, with resolution of back pain.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.229-232
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• 2008

Insufficiency fractures of the sacrum are relatively common and cause severe low back and buttock pain. Percutaneous vertebroplasty is effective for treating vertebral compression fractures. We present a case of percutaneous sacroplasty for the treatment of low back and buttock pain in a sacral insufficiency fracture. A 79-year-old male with non-small lung cancer presented with severe low back and buttock pain after series of radiation treatments. Preoperative MRI showed both a sacral ala and S2 metastatic insufficiency fracture. An epidural port was inserted for continuous morphine infusion and sacral nerve root blocks were performed. However, his pain did not diminish and we attempted percutaneous sacroplasty. Both sides of the sacroplasty were done with a fluoroscopy-guided technique with 1.7 ml and 2.3 ml of bone cement injected into the right and left sacral ala. Pain relief was significant and the patient was able to sit down 1 day after the procedure.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.7-10
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• 2007

Objective : The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of percutaneous radiofrequency neurotomy[RFN] of ramus communicans nerve in patients suffering from severe low back pain due to osteoporotic compression fracture. Methods : Twenty two patients with lumbar osteoporotic compression fracture who had intractable back pain for less than two weeks and were performed with RFN at L1-L4 from May 2004 to December 2005 were retrospectively analyzed. Clinical outcome using visual analogue scale[VAS] pain scores and modified MacNab's grade was tabulated. Complications related to the procedure were assessed. Results : Twenty-two female patients [age from 63 to 81 years old] were included in this study. The mean VAS score prior to RFN was 7.8, it improved to 2.6 within postoperative time of 48 hours, and the mean VAS score after 3 months was 2.8, which was significantly decreased. Eighteen of 22 patients were graded as excellent and good according to modified MacNab's criteria at final follow up. All patients recovered uneventfully, and the neurologic examination revealed no deficits. Two patients showing poor results worsened in symptom. Percutaneous was performed eventually resulting in symptom improvement. There were no significant complications related to the procedure such as sensory dysesthesia, numbness or permanent motor weakness. Conclusion : RFN is safe and effective in treating the painful osteoporotic compression fracture. in patients with intractable back pain due to lumbar osteoporotic compression fracture, RFN of gray ramus communicans nerve should be considered as a treatment option prior to vertebroplasty.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.47 no.5
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• pp.399-402
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• 2010

Osteoporosis is a worldwide problem and it mainly affects postmenopausal women. Osteoporosis associated with pregnancy or lactation is a rare condition. The incidence and mechanism of this phenomenon has not been clarified, but it can cause one or more vertebral compression fractures with severe, prolonged back pain in the affected women. We experienced this uncommon case, treated it with percutaneous vertebroplasty. A 35-old-woman visited our hospital with complaints of severe back pain and flank pain 2 months after normal vaginal delivery. She was diagnosed with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures on the T5, 8, 9 and 11 vertebral bodies and we performed percutaneous vertebroplasty on the T8, 9 and 11 vertebrae with a good result. We present here an unusual case of pregnancy-associated compression fractures treated by percutaneous vertebroplasty.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.16-23
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• 2009

Objective : This retrospective study of 215 patients with 383 symptomatic osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (VCFs) treated by percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP), was performed to evaluate the clinical outcomes, and to analyze the various clinical factors affecting these results. Methods : The authors assessed the clinical outcome under the criteria such as the pain improvement, activity, requirement of analgesics, and the patient's satisfaction, and determined the relation to various peri- and intra-operative factors, and postoperative imaging findings. Results : The outcome was determined as 84.2% in relief of pain, 72.0% in change in activity, 65.7% in analgesics use, and 84.7% of satisfaction rate. More severe focal back pain, high uptake bone scan, and the lower mean T-score were related to the better pain relief following PVP. The longer the duration between fracture and PVP, the less severe focal back pain, low uptake bone scan, and leakage of PMMA into the paravertebral space were related to the less improvement in activity. Female and low uptake bone scan showed a correlation with more analgesic use. The longer the duration between fracture and PVP, low uptake bone scan, and the higher the mean T-score were correlated with the less the patients satisfaction. Conclusion : Our study suggests that PVP may be more effective in the acute phase of VCFs, more severe focal pain, and far advanced osteoporosis on BMD. Leakage of PMMA into the paravertebral spcae also could be affecting the surgical results.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.183-188
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• 2021

We report a case of a 69-year-old right-dominant man who had an open Monteggia-like lesion of the right elbow (Gustilo-Andersen IIIA) with severe proximal ulna bone loss associated with an ipsilateral ulnar shaft fracture due to a motorcycle accident. The patient underwent two-stage surgery. Wound debridement and bridging external fixation were performed at first. Three months later, a frozen massive osteochondral ulnar allograft was implanted and fixed with a locking compression plate. A superficial wound infection appeared 5 weeks after the second surgery. Superficial wound debridement, negative pressure therapy, and antibiotics were administered for 3 months, achieving infection healing. At 3 years post-surgery, the elbow range of motion was satisfactory with a Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) score of 16.7. Radiographs and computed tomography scans showed good allograft-bone integration without allograft reabsorption or hardware loosening. Although not complication-free, massive ulna osteochondral allograft implantation can be considered a valid option in cases of open Monteggia-like lesions associated with ulnar shaft fracture and severe bone loss in active patients, whenever osteosynthesis or joint replacement is not a proper solution. This type of bone stock restoration allows for future surgery, if needed.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.59 no.2
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• pp.137-142
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• 2016

Objective : To evaluate whether an early bone marrow edema pattern predicts vertebral deformity types and prognosis in osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF). Methods : This retrospective study enrolled 64 patients with 75 acute OVCFs who underwent early MRI and followed up MRI. On early MRI, the low SI pattern of OVCF on T1WI were assessed and classified into 3 types (diffuse, globular or patchy, band-like). On followed up MRI, the vertebral deformity types (anterior wedge, biconcave, crush), degree of vertebral body height loss, incidence of vertebral osteonecrosis and spinal stenosis were assessed for each vertebral fracture types. Results : According to the early bone marrow edema pattern on T1WI, 26 vertebrae were type 1, 14 vertebrae were type 2 and 35 vertebrae were type 3. On followed up MRI, the crush-type vertebral deformity was most frequent among the type 1 OVCFs, the biconcave-type vertebral deformity was most frequent among the type 2 OVCFs and the anterior wedge-type vertebral deformity was most frequent among the type 3 OVCFs (p<0.001). In addition, type 1 early bone marrow edema pattern of OVCF on T1WI were associated with higher incidence of severe degree vertebral body height loss, vertebral osteonecrosis and spinal stenosis on the follow up MRI. Conclusion : Early bone marrow edema pattern of OVCF on T1WI, significant correlated with vertebral deformity types on the follow up MRI. The severe degree of vertebral height loss, vertebral osteonecrosis, and spinal stenosis were more frequent in patients with diffuse low SI pattern.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.841-850
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• 2019

Objective: The aim of this study was to report the effects of traditional Korean medicine as a treatment for the pain of a compression fracture in a patient with metastatic prostate cancer. Methods: A 60-year-old male patient with a compression fracture was treated with herbal medicines, acupuncture, and pharmacopuncture for 25 days. His chief complaints were severe low back pain, pain and numbness in both legs, and right groin pain. The effect of treatment was evaluated by the numerical rating scale (NRS) score for pain, the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) score, and blood test results (CBC-diff count, CRP, ESR, etc.). Results: After 25 days of inpatient treatment, the patient's pain was controlled. The NRS and ODI scores were lower and most pathological symptoms had decreased. Conclusions: Traditional Korean medicine can be a solution for patients with compression fractures arising from metastasis of prostate cancer to the spine.

• Transactions of Materials Processing
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.20-26
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• 2020

In the design of the metal forming processes, various types of ductile fracture criteria are used to predict crack initiation and to fabricate metallic products without any defects. However, the quantitative measurement method for determination of crack initiation is insufficient. It is very difficult to detect crack initiation in ductile metals with excellent deformability because no significant load drop is observed due to crack generation. In this study, the applicability of acoustic emission sensors, which are commonly used in facility diagnostics, to measure crack initiation during the metal forming process was analyzed. Cylindrical notch specimens were designed using the finite element method to induce a premature crack on the surface of pre heat-treated steel (ESW90) material. In addition, specimens with various notch angles and heights were prepared and compression tests were carried out. During the compression tests, acoustic emission signal on the dies and images of the surface of the notch specimen were recorded using an optical camera in real time. The experimental results revealed that the acoustic emission sensor can be used to detect crack initiation in ductile metals due to severe plastic deformation.