• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.37
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• pp.13.1-13.7
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• 2015

Background: This study evaluated Somatosensory evoked potentials (SEP), Quantitative sensory testing (QST), and thermography as diagnostic methods for nerve injury. Methods: From 2006 through 2011, 17 patients (mean age: 50.1 years) from ${\bigcirc}{\bigcirc}{\bigcirc}{\bigcirc}$ Hospital who sought care for altered sensation after dental implant treatment were identified. The mean time of objective assessment was 15.2 months after onset. Results: SEP of Inferior alveolar nerve(IAN) was $15.87{\pm}0.87ms$ on the normal side and $16.18{\pm}0.73ms$ on the abnormal side. There was delayed N20 latency on the abnormal side, but the difference was not statistically significant. In QST, the abnormal side showed significantly higher scores of the current perception threshold at 2 KHz, 250 Hz, and 5 Hz. The absolute temperature difference was $0.55^{\circ}C$ without statistically significance. Conclusion: These results indicate that QST is valuable as an objective method for assessment of nerve injury.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.158-162
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• 2006

Background: It has been proposed that proprioceptive input can modulate neural excitability in both primary motor cortices (M1) simultaneously, although direct evidence for this is still lacking. Previous studies showed that proprioceptive accuracy of one hand is reduced after the application of one-Hz repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) for 15 minutes over the contralateral somatosensory cortex. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of rTMS-induced central proprioceptive deafferentation to excitability of both M1 as reflected in ipsilateral and contralateral motor evoked potentials (MEP). Methods: MEPs of both abductor pollicis bravis (APB) muscles were recorded using single-pulse TMS over right M1 in seven healthy subjects. Immediately after one-Hz rTMS was applied for 15 minutes over the right somatosensory cortex, the MEP measurement was repeated. The proprioceptive function of the left thumb was assessed, before and after rTMS, using a position-matching task. Results: There was an increase in ipsilateral MEP after the rTMS: whereas no MEPs were recorded on the ipsilateral hand before the rTMS, MEPs were recorded in both ipsilateral and contralateral hand in three of seven subjects. At the same time, the mean log amplitude was reduced and the mean latency was prolonged in the contralateral MEP. Conclusions: rTMS-induced central proprioceptive deafferentation reduces the MEP generation in the contralateral hand, and fascilitates that in the ipsilateral hand. A further study with a larger sample seems warranted to confirm this finding and to elucidate the neurophysiology underlying it.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.262-268
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• 2016

Hemifacial spasm is a disease caused by involuntary facial muscles with repeated unilateral convulsive spasms. It involves contraction of multiple muscles at the same time (synkinesia). The pathogenesis appears to be the pressure on the vessel by the facial nerve. This study included hemifacial spasm patients, who received microvascular decompression surgery. Brainstem auditory evoked potential and the examination time were carefully noted when using brain surgical retractor. The facial nerve electromyography tests for the identification of artifacts and EMG waveform when the facial nerve damage, about the importance of the maintenance of anesthesia in the lateral spread response and in a somatosensory evoked potential propose a new method. Based on the above test, it will be more effective.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.453-461
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• 2019

Intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring (INM) examination identifies the damage caused to the nervous system during surgery. This method is applied in various surgeries to validate the procedure being performed, and proceed with confidence. The assessment is conducted in an operating room, using subdermal needle electrodes to optimize the examination. There are no textbooks or guides for the correct stimuli and recording areas for the surgical laboratory test. This article provides a detailed description of the correct stimuli and recording parts in motor evoked potential (MEP), somatosensory evoked potential (SSEP), brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEP) and visual evoked potentials (VEP). Free-running Electromyography (EMG) is an observation of the EMG that occurs in the muscle, wherein the functional state of most cranial nerves and spinal nerve roots is determined. In order to help understand the test, an image depicting the inserting subdermal needle electrodes into each of the muscles, is attached. Furthermore, considering both the patient and the examiner, a safe method is suggested for removal of electrodes after conclusion of the test.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.51 no.5
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• pp.286-291
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• 2012

Objective : To investigate the change of latency of cervical dermatomal somatosensory evoked potential (DSEP) according to stimulation intensity (SI) and severity of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Methods : Stimulation sites were the C6, C7, and C8 dermatomal areas. Two stimulation intensities $1.5{\times}$sensory threshold (ST) and $2.5{\times}ST$ were used on both normal and CTS patients. Results : In moderate CTS, the latencies of C6 and C7 DSEP during $1.5{\times}ST$ SI and those of C7 DSEP during $2.5{\times}ST$ SI were significantly delayed compared with the values of normal subjects. Significant correlation between the latency of C7 DSEP of $2.5{\times}ST$ stimulation and the median sensory nerve conduction velocity was observed. Conclusion : We suggest that these data can aid in the diagnosis of cervical sensory radiculopathy using low stimulation intensity and of those who have cervical sensory radiculopathy combined with CTS patients.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.181-186
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• 2003

Background: Somatosensory evoked potential (SSEP) is valuable for the evaluation of the central pathway. However, peripheral neuropathy sometimes renders the test useless by preventing the conduction from reaching the CNS. We postulated that the peripheral conduction problems could be overcome by proximal stimulation in SSEP and wanted to verify this in the study. Methods: Twenty patients with diabetic sensorimotor polyneuropathy were included. SSEP was elicited by stimulating the median and posterior tibial nerves. We compared the effect of distal and proximal stimulations in each SSEP in the aspect of presence/absence and various latencies of resultant waves. Results: Among the 40 cases, proximal stimulation caused reappearance of subsided waves in 10 cases (25%). In the median nerve SSEP, proximal stimulation made EN1 and CN2 visible which were not evident when distally stimulated. In the posterior tibial nerve SSEP, there was also improvement of forming waves when proximally stimulated. Conclusions: In the diabetic polyneuropathy, proximal stimulation of SSEP is more effective than the conventional distal stimulation in evaluating central pathway.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.223-227
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• 2019

Background: Neurosensory changes are frequently observed in the patients with mid-face fractures, and these symptoms are often caused by infraorbital nerve (ION) damage. Although ION damage is a relatively common phenomenon, there are no established and objective methods to evaluate it. The aim of this study was to test whether trigeminal somatosensory evoked potential (TSEP) could be used as a prognostic predictor of ION damage and TSEP testing was an objective method to evaluate ION injury. Methods: In this prospective TSEP study, 48 patients with unilateral mid-face fracture (only unilateral blow out fracture and unilateral zygomaticomaxillary fracture were included) and potential ION damages were enrolled. Both sides of the face were examined with TSEP and the non-traumatized side of the face was used as control. We calculated the latency difference between the affected and the unaffected sides. Results: Twenty-four patients recovered within 3 months, and 21 patients took more than 3 months to recover. The average latency difference between the affected side and unaffected side was 1.4 and 4.1 ms for the group that recovered within 3 months and the group that recovered after 3 months, respectively. Conclusion: Patients who suffered ION damage showed prolonged latency when examined using the TSEP test. TSEP is an effective tool for evaluation of nerve injury and predicting the recovery of patients with ION damage.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.112-117
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• 1999

Background : Posterior tibial nerve somatosensory evoked potentials (PTSEP) have cortical potentials on primary sensory area of foot around 40 msec. The direct cortical recordings of the cortical potentials shows high voltage positive wave on medial hemisphere, especially on paracentral lobule (PCL). However, it is so difficult to record the potential directly on PCL that the cortical potential of PTSEP is not well understood. We investigated the cortical potential of PTSEP on subdural electrodes. Methods : We recorded cortical potentials to posterior tibial nerve stimulation on subdural electrodes which were on medial hemisphere near PCL in 15 intractable neocortical epilepsy patients. The numbers of subdural electrodes were 8 in 10 subjects ($1{\times}8array$) and 16 in 5 subjects ($2{\times}8arrays$). Seven subjects had three-dimensional imaging fusion (3D-fusion) of MRI and the electrodes using Analyze program. We investigated the amplitude, latency, polarity, and phase of the waves regarding location. Results : The waves had maximal amplitude on PCL in 4 subjects, precuneus in 1, cingulate gyrus nearest to PCL in 2 among 7 subjects with 3D-fusion. Also the electrodes were located on posterior area of PCL (2 out of 2 subjects with more than two electrodes put on PCL in 3D-fusion) and superior area of it (5 out of 5 subjects with $2{\times}8arrays $). All the high (more than 20 uV) amplitude around 40msec had positive polarity in 7 subjects. The phase reversals were detected between the electrodes with the highest amplitude and the just posterior (2 subjects) or anterior (6 subjects) located electrodes. The just posterior located electrodes had sharper phase reversal than the anterior one. Conclusion : PTSEP might have maximal amplitude of cortical potentials on the more superior and posterior area of PCL. The highest amplitude potential has positivity. The wave with maximal amplitude could have phase reversal of cortical potentials with surrounding electrodes, especially shaper with posterior part than with anterior one.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.63 no.2
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• pp.202-209
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• 2020

Objective : The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of the anterior approach following intraoperative reduction under general anesthesia in patients with cervical facet fracture and dislocation. Methods : Twenty-three patients with single level cervical facet fracture and dislocation who were subjected to the anterior approach alone following immediate intraoperative reduction under general anesthesia from March 2013 to December 2017 were enrolled in this study. Neurological status, clinical outcome, and radiological studies were evaluated preoperatively, postoperatively, and during the follow-up period. Results : The cohort comprised 15 men and eight women with a mean age of 57 years (from 24 to 81). All patients were operated on within the first 8 hours following the injury. After gentle manual reduction or closed reduction with Gardner-Wells traction, under general anesthesia monitored by somatosensory-evoked potentials, all operations were successfully completed using the anterior approach alone except in two patients, who had a risk of over-distraction. In them, a satisfactory gentle manual reduction or closed reduction was not possible, and required open posterior reduction of the locked facets followed by anterior cervical discectomy and fusion. In one patient, screw retropulsion was observed in 1 month after surgery. There were no reduction-related complications or neurological aggravations after surgery. All patients showed evidence of stability at the instrumented level at the final follow-up (mean follow-up, 12 months). Conclusion : Anterior approach following intraoperative reduction monitored by somatosensory-evoked potentials under general anesthesia for cervical dislocation and locked facets is a relatively safe and effective alternative when cervical alignment is achieved by intraoperative reduction.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.59-63
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• 2022

Background: Deformational plagiocephaly is usually managed conservatively, as it tends to improve over time and with the use of conservative measures. However, before the year 2017 we operated on patients with severe plagiocephaly and neurological symptoms at the Helsinki Cleft Palate and Craniofacial Center. Methods: Of the 20 infants with severe deformational plagiocephaly and neurological symptoms referred to us between 2014 and 2016, 10 underwent cranioplasty open reshaping of the posterior cranial vault. The parents of the last 10 patients were given information on the natural history of the condition and the patients were followed up with an outpatient protocol. The aim of this study was to gain information on the brain electrophysiology and recovery of patients after total cranial vault reconstruction by measuring the electroencephalogram (EEG) somatosensory evoked potentials (SEP; median nerve). Results: Of the 10 participants in the operation arm, six had abnormal SEP at least on the affected cerebral hemisphere and all SEPs were recorded as normal when controlled postoperatively. In the follow-up arm, eight out of 10 participants had abnormal SEP at the age of approximately 24 months, and all had normalized SEPs at control visits. Conclusion: Our data suggest that cranioplasty open reshaping of the posterior cranial vault did not affect abnormal SEP-EEG recordings. We have abandoned the operations in deformational plagiocephaly patients due to findings suggesting that expanding cranioplasty is not beneficial for brain function in this patient group.