• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.143-147
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• 2005

Following peripheral nerve injury, excessive nociceptive inputs result in diverse physiological alterations in the spinal cord substantia gelatinosa (SG), lamina II of the dorsal horn. Here, I report the alterations of excitatory or inhibitory transmission in the SG of a rat model for neuropathic pain ('spared nerve injury'). Results from whole-cell recordings of SG neurons show that the number of distinct primary afferent fibers, identified by graded intensity of stimulation, is increased at 2 weeks after spared nerve injury. In addition, short-term depression, recognized by paired-pulse ratio of excitatory postsynaptic currents, is significantly increased, indicating the increase of glutamate release probability at primary afferent terminals. The peripheral nerve injury also increases the amplitude, but not the frequency, of spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic currents. These data support the hypothesis that peripheral nerve injury modifies spinal pain conduction and modulation systems to develop neuropathic pain.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.968-978
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• 2023

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to report the effectiveness of Korean medicine treatment on postoperative state patients with cervical spinal cord injury due to ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament. Methods: A 55-year-old Korean male patient diagnosed with cervical spinal cord injury due to ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament was treated in an inpatient setting with Korean medicine treatment consisting of herbal medicine, acupuncture, and others from May 22 to August 21. The outcome was evaluated with the American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale (AIS), Spinal Cord Independence Measure-III (SCIM-III), modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association scale (mJOA), Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) before and after, or during the treatment period. Results: After 92 days of treatment, the patient's scores on all scales improved. Conclusion: The results suggest that Korean medicine treatment may be effective for postoperative patients with cervical spinal cord injury due to ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament. Further studies should be conducted on a larger number of patients.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.59 no.4
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• pp.334-340
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• 2016

Objective : The aim of our study was to evaluate the neuroprotective functions of the combination therapy using methylprednisolone (MP) and tranilast (TR) after spinal cord injury (SCI) in adult rats. Methods : Spinal cord compression injury model was achieved using Yasargil aneurysm clip. Rats were divided into control group, MP group, TR group, and combination therapy group using TR and MP. Rat models were assessed for locomotor functional recovery using Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan (BBB) score, spinal cord water content and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity 24 hours post SCI, haematoxylin and eosin staining and glial fibrillary acid protein (GFAP) staining at 7 and 14 days post SCI. Results : The spinal cord water content and MPO activity in the combination therapy group was significantly lower than the control group and the individual therapy groups p<0.05. The combination therapy group had significantly higher BBB scores than control group and individual therapy groups (p<0.05). At one week after SCI, GFAP expression in the combination group was significantly lower than the control group (p<0.05) but there was no significant difference compared to the individual therapy groups (p>0.05). At 2 weeks after SCI there was a slight decrease in GFAP expression compared to the first week but the difference was not statistically significant (p>0.05), GFAP expression between the groups was not statistically significant p>0.05. Conclusion : Combining MP and TR is therapeutically more effective in improving functional recovery, inhibiting inflammation and glial scar formation after acute SCI.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.54-62
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was to find the effects of using aid in enhancing walking ability inpatients with spinal cord injury who have received rehabilitative care. The study population consisted of 24 spinal cord injury patients referred to the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine in the National Rehabilitation Center (NRC). All subjects were ambulatory with or without an assistive devices. All of the participants were assessed on SCIM II, WISCI II, FIM, MBI, gait speed (m/s), and walking endurance (120 min/m). The data were analyzed using a paired t-test, a one-way ANOVA, and a Duncan test. The results revealed that TSCIM II and all of the items of SCIM II of the cervical ASIA D group patients were higher than those of the Thoracic ASIA A and C group patients (p<.05). The FIM, MBI, and WISCI II of the cervical ASIA D group patients were higher than those of the Thoracic ASIA C group patients (p>.05). The walking velocities of the lumbar ASIA C group patients were higher than those of Thoracic ASIA A group patients (p<.05). The walking endurance of the lumbar ASIA C group patients was higher than that of the thoracic ASIA C group patients (p<.05). The ASIA D group patients used bilateral standard canes or crutches, but none used AFO. The ASIA A and C group patients used bilateral standard walkers with KAFO for standing and walking. The findings suggest that injury level as well as the functionality of walking aids should be considered when formulating a rehabilitative plan for patients with spinal cord injury.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2013.05a
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• pp.1495-1496
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• 2013

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Veterinary Clinics Conference
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• 2008.10a
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• pp.184-184
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• 2008

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.54 no.6
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• pp.537-539
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• 2013

Charcot spinal arthropathy is a rare, progressive type of vertebral joint degeneration that occurs in the setting of any preexisting condition characterized by decreased afferent innervation to the extent that normal protective joint sensation in the vertebral column is impaired. The authors report on a case of Charcot arthropathy of the lower lumbar spine mimicking a spinal tumor following cervical cord injury.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.13-22
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• 2011

Objectives : This Study was performed to evaluate the effects of Scutellariae Radix(SR) water-extract on the tissue and neuronal apoptosis of the spinal cord injury(SCI). Methods: SCI was induced by mechanical contusion following laminectomy of 10th thoracic vertebra in Sprague-Dawley rats. SR was orally given once a day for 7 days after SCI. Neuronal apoptosis was examined with terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTPnick-end labeling(TUNEL) assay. Bax (Bcl-2-asociated X protein), Bcl-2(B-cell blastoma 2), c-Fos(FBJ osteosarcoma oncogene) expressions were examined using immuno-histochemistry. Individual TUNEL and immuno-labeled cells expressing Bax, Bcl-2 and c-Fos were counted on the same level in peri-damaged region and in ventral horn. Results: 1. SR significantly reduced number of TUNEL labeled apoptotic cells induced by the spinal cord contusion injury. 2. SR significantly reduced Bax positive cells expression on the motor neuron in the ventral horn induced by the spinal cord contusion injury. 3. SR strengthened Bcl-2 expression on the motor neuron in the ventral horn induced by the spinal cord contusion injury. 4. SR reduced c-Fos expression on the motor neuron in the ventral horn induced by the spinal cord contusion injury. Conclusions : These results suggest that SR plays an inhibitory role against neuronal apoptosis and has significant effects for locomotor disfunction induced by SCI.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.105-110
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• 2000

Central neuropathic pain may occur in 10~20% of the patients after spinal cord injury. The central pain syndrome include spontaneous continuing and intermittent pain as well as evoked pain. The pain is evoked by non-noxious stimulation of the region (allodynia) and repeated stimulation (wind-up phenomenon). Four patients were referred suffering from severe pain, allodynia and hyperaesthesia after spinal cord injury. They had received conventional treatment with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, steroid, anticonvulsant, antidepressant and rehabilitation which failed to provide pain relief. We administered combination of low doses of morphine and ketamine (10 mg) through the epidural catheter with other conventional therapy. Satisfactory pain relief was achieved in each patient. The reduction of pain was not associated with severe side effects. The most bothersome side effect of ketamine was dizziness in one patient, only caused by bolus injection (ketamine 10 mg with normal saline 10 ml). This suggests synergy from this combination that provides an alternative treatment for central pain.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.110-117
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• 2017

Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of a Korean medicine treatment on a traumatic spinal cord injury. Metohds : A 44-year-old male patient who had suffered a traumatic spinal cord injury was treated for two months. The effectiveness of complex Korean medicine treatments was measured using the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) and the Manual Muscle Test (MMT). Result : We found that the NRS of pain caused by numbness was decreased from 7 to 0-1, and the overall motor measured by the MMT was also improved. The patient's walking state was changed from wheelchair ambulation to walker ambulation. Conclusion : Based on this finding, complex Korean medicine treatments may be effective in treating patients' pain, controlling paresthesia, and aiding the recovery function of activities in daily living. However, because of the limitation of our study, further high-quality research should be conducted.