• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제40권4호
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• pp.289-292
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• 2006

Thoracic spinal actinomycosis causing epidural abscess and significant spinal cord compression is very rare. A case is presented of a 56-year-old woman with rapid progressive upper back pain and weakness in both legs without evidence of systemic infection. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a thoracic epidural enhancing lesion at the T1-T5 level. After decompression by laminectomy, precise diagnosis was accomplished using specific histopathological studies of the surgical specimens. A histopathologic findings showing typical Actinomyces sulfur granules surrounded by acute inflammatory cells. The clinical radiological findings of spinal actinomycosis closely resemble metastatic tumors and other infectious processes. Delay in diagnosis and treatment can significantly worsen the condition of patient.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제62권2호
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• pp.209-216
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• 2019

Objective : Hydatid cyst disease is caused by the parasite Echinococcus granulosus. It is rarely seen in the vertebral system, occurring at a rate of 0.2-1%. The aim of this study is to present 12 spinal hydatid cyst cases, and propose a new type of drainage of the cyst. Methods : Twelve cases of spinal hydatid cysts, surgical operations, multiple operations, chronic recurrences, and spinal hydatic cyst excision methods are discussed in the context of the literature. Patients are operated between 2005 and 2016. All the patients are kept under routine follow up. Patient demographic data and clinicopathologic characteristics are examined. Results : Six male and six female patients with a median age of 38.6 at the time of surgery were included in the study. Spinal cyst hydatid infection sites were one odontoid, one cervical, five thoracic, two lumbar, and three sacral. In all cases, surgery was performed, with the aim of total excision of the cyst, decompression of the spinal cord, and if necessary, stabilization of the spinal column. Mean follow up was 61.3 months (10-156). All the patients were prescribed Albendazole. Three patients had secondary hydatid cyst infection (one lung and two hepatic). Conclusion : The two-way drainage catheter placed inside a cyst provides post-operative chlorhexidine washing inside the cavity. Although a spinal hydatid cyst is a benign pathology and seen rarely, it is extremely difficult to achieve a real cure for patients with this disease. Treatment modalities should be aggressive and include total excision of cyst without rupture, decompression of spinal cord, flushing of the area with scolicidal drugs, and ensuring spinal stabilization. After the operation the patients should be kept under routine follow up. Radiological and clinical examinations are useful in spotting a recurrence.

• 대한정형외과학회지
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• 제55권1호
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• pp.71-77
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• 2020

목적: 요추부 척추관 협착증에서의 후방 감압술 시 극간인대 및 극상인대의 보존이 술 후 척추 불안정성의 예방에 미치는 영향에 대하여 밝히고자 했다. 대상 및 방법: 2014년 3월부터 2017년 3월까지 요추부 척추관 협착증에서 후방 감압술을 시행하고 1년 이상 추시관찰한 83명의 환자를 후향적으로 연구하였다. 대상자들을 수술의 종류에 따라 포트홀 감압술을 시행한 56명의 환자는 그룹 A로, 후궁 아전절제술을 시행한 27명의 환자는 그룹 B로 분류하였다. 임상적 결과를 평가하기 위해 Oswestry disability index (ODI), 요통과 방사통에 대한 시각통증점수(visual analogue scale, VAS), 신경성 간헐적 파행(neurogenic intermittent claudication, NIC) 전 보행거리가 수술 전후로 측정되었다. 영상의학적 결과를 평가하기 위해 수술 전 및 수술 후 매 6개월마다 직립상태에서 측면 및 굴곡-신전 단순 방사선 사진을 촬영해 전위 정도(slip percentage), 역동적 전위 정도(dynamic slip percentage), 각변위(angular displacement), 역동적 각변위(dynamic angular displacement)를 측정하였다. 결과: ODI (그룹 A에서 28.1에서 12.8로 호전; 그룹 B에서 27.3에서 12.3으로 호전), 요통에 대한 VAS (그룹 A에서 7.0에서 2.6로 호전; 그룹 B에서 7.7에서 3.2로 호전), 방사통에 대한 VAS (그룹 A에서 8.5에서 2.8로 호전; 그룹 B에서 8.7에서 2.9로 호전), 그리고 NIC 전 보행 거리(그룹 A에서 118.4 m에서 1,496.2 m로 증가; 그룹 B에서 127.6 m에서 1,481.6 m로 증가)는 두 그룹 모두에서 호전되었다. 다른 영상의학적 결과들에서 유의한 차이가 없었던 반면 역동적 각변위는 술 후 두 그룹간에 유의한 차이를 보였다(그룹 A에서 6.2°에서 6.7°로 증가; 그룹 B에서 6.5°에서 8.4°로 증가; p-value=0.019). 결론: 요추부 척추관 협착증에서의 후방 감압술시 극간인대 및 극상인대를 포함한 후방 인대의 제거는 술 후 역동적 각변위의 증가를 초래하며 후방 인대를 보존하는 포트홀(port-hole) 감압술을 통해 이를 예방할 수 있다.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• 제13권2호
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• pp.234-242
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• 1996

영남대학교 의과대학 부속병원 신경외과에서 1994년 l월부터 1994년 12월까지 1년간 흉요추접합부 파열골절로 입원한 환자중 전측방경유법으로 10례를 수술로 치료경험 하였던 바, 척추골절이 척수원추 상부이면서 전방의 골편에 의해 척수신경이 압박되고 있는 불안정 파열골절시는 전방도달술에 의한 늑골 골융합 및 Kaneda기기내고정술로 좋은 결과를 기대할 수 있겠고, 척수 후주의 심한 손상이나 또는 3 column을 전체가 손상된 불안정 파열골절의 경우에는 후방접근법이나 후측방접근법으로 신경감압 및 내고정술 시행하는 것이 좋은 치료법이라 할 수 있겠다.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제65권1호
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• pp.74-83
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• 2022

Objective : Oblique lumbar interbody fusion (OLIF) is a surgical technique that utilizes a large interbody cage to indirectly decompress neural elements. The position of the cage relative to the vertebral body could affect the degree of foraminal decompression. Previous studies determined the position of the cage using plain radiographs, with conflicting results regarding the influence of the position of the cage to the degree of neural foramen decompression. Because of the cage obliquity, computed tomography (CT) has better accuracy than plain radiograph for the measurement of the obliquely inserted cage. The objective of this study is to find the correlation between the position of the OLIF cage with the degree of indirect decompression of foraminal stenosis using CT and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Methods : We review imaging of 46 patients who underwent OLIF from L2-L5 for 68 levels. Segmental lordosis (SL) was measured in a plain radiograph. The positions of the cage were measured in CT. Spinal canal cross-sectional area (SCSA), and foraminal crosssectional area (FSCA) measurements using MRI were taken into consideration. Results : Patients' mean age was 69.7 years. SL increases 3.0±5.1 degrees. Significant increases in SCSA (33.3%), FCSA (43.7% on the left and 45.0% on the right foramen) were found (p<0.001). Multiple linear regression analysis shows putting the cage in the more posterior position correlated with more increase of FSCA and decreases SL correction. The position of the cage does not affect the degree of the central spinal canal decompression. Obliquity of the cage does not result in different degrees of foraminal decompression between right and left side neural foramen. Conclusion : Cage position near the posterior part of the vertebral body increases the decompression effect of the neural foramen while putting the cage in the more anterior position correlated with increases SL.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제42권4호
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• pp.293-299
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• 2007

Objective : Thoracoscopic spinal surgery provides minimally invasive approaches for effective vertebral decompression and reconstruction of the thoracic and thoracolumbar spine, while surgery related morbidity can be significantly lowered. This study analyzes clinical results of thoracoscopic spinal surgery performed at our institute. Methods : Twenty consecutive patients underwent video-assisted thoracosopic surgery (VATS) to treat various thoracic and thoracolumbar pathologies from April 2000 to July 2006. The lesions consisted of spinal trauma (13 cases), thoracic disc herniation (4 cases), tuberculous spondylitis (1 case), post-operative thoracolumbar kyphosis (1 case) and thoracic tumor (1 case). The level of operation included upper thoracic lesions (3 cases), midthoracic lesions (6 cases) and thoracolumbar lesions (11 cases). We classified the procedure into three groups: stand-alone thoracoscopic discectomy (3 cases), thoracoscopic fusion (11 cases) and video assisted mini-thoracotomy (6 cases). Results : Analysis on the Frankel performance scale in spinal trauma patients (13 cases), showed a total of 7 patients who had neurological impairment preoperatively : Grade D (2 cases), Grade C (2 cases), Grade B (1 case), and Grade A (2 cases). Four patients were neurologically improved postoperatively, two patients were improved from C to E, one improved from grade D to E and one improved from grade B to grade D. The preoperative Cobb's and kyphotic angle were measured in spinal trauma patients and were $18.9{\pm}4.4^{\circ}$ and $18.8{\pm}4.6^{\circ}$, respectively. Postoperatively, the angles showed statistically significant improvement, $15.1{\pm}3.7^{\circ}$ and $11.3{\pm}2.4^{\circ}$, respectively(P<0.001). Conclusion : Although VATS requires a steep learning curve, it is an effective and minimally invasive procedure which provides biomechanical stability in terms of anterior column decompression and reconstruction for anterior load bearing, and preservation of intercostal muscles and diaphragm.

• Clinics in Orthopedic Surgery
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• 제10권4호
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• pp.448-454
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• 2018

Background: Traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) is a tragic event that has a major impact on individuals and society as well as the healthcare system. The purpose of this study was to investigate the strength of association between surgical treatment timing and neurological improvement. Methods: Fifty-six patients with neurological impairment due to traumatic SCI were included in this study. From January 2013 to June 2017, all their medical records were reviewed. Initially, to identify the factors affecting the recovery of neurological deficit after an acute SCI, we performed univariate logistic regression analyses for various variables. Then, we performed a multivariate logistic regression analysis for variables that showed a p-value of < 0.2 in the univariate analyses. The Hosmer-Lemeshow test was used to determine the goodness of fit for the multivariate logistic regression model. Results: In the univariate analysis on the strength of associations between various factors and neurological improvement, the following factors had a p-value of < 0.2: surgical timing (early, < 8 hours; late, 8-24 hours; p = 0.033), completeness of SCI (complete/incomplete; p = 0.033), and smoking (p = 0.095). In the multivariate analysis, only two variables were significant: surgical timing (odds ratio [OR], 0.128; p = 0.004) and completeness of SCI (OR, 9.611; p = 0.009). Conclusions: Early surgical decompression within 8 hours after traumatic SCI appeared to improve neurological recovery. Furthermore, incomplete SCI was more closely related to favorable neurological improvement than complete SCI. Therefore, we recommend early decompression as an effective treatment for traumatic SCI.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제25권1호
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• pp.55-59
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• 2012

Lumbar spinal stenosis is a commonly treated with epidural injections of local anesthetics and corticosteroids, however, these therapies may relieve leg pain for weeks to months but do not influence functional status. Furthermore, the majority of patients report no substantial symptom change over the repeated treatment. Utilizing balloon catheters, we successfully treated with three patients who complained persistent symptoms despite repeated conventional steroid injections. Our results suggest that transforaminal decompression using a balloon catheter may have potential in the nonsurgical treatment of spinal stenosis by modifying the underlying pathophysiology.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제61권6호
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• pp.680-688
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• 2018

Objective : To mitigate the risk of iatrogenic instability, new posterior decompression techniques able to preserve musculoskeletal structures have been introduced but never extensively investigated from a biomechanical point of view. This study was aimed to investigate the impact on spinal flexibility caused by a unilateral laminotomy for bilateral decompression, in comparison to the intact condition and a laminectomy with preservation of a bony bridge at the vertebral arch. Secondary aims were to investigate the biomechanical effects of two-level decompression and the quantification of the restoration of stability after posterior fixation. Methods : A universal spine tester was used to measure the flexibility of six L2-L5 human spine specimens in intact conditions and after decompression and fixation surgeries. An incremental damage protocol was applied : 1) unilateral laminotomy for bilateral decompression at L3-L4; 2) on three specimens, the unilateral laminotomy was extended to L4-L5; 3) laminectomy with preservation of a bony bridge at the vertebral arch (at L3-L4 in the first three specimens and at L4-L5 in the rest); and 4) pedicle screw fixation at the involved levels. Results : Unilateral laminotomy for bilateral decompression had a minor influence on the lumbar flexibility. In flexion-extension, the median range of motion increased by 8%. The bone-preserving laminectomy did not cause major changes in spinal flexibility. Two-level decompression approximately induced a twofold destabilization compared to the single-level treatment, with greater effect on the lower level. Posterior fixation reduced the flexibility to values lower than in the intact conditions in all cases. Conclusion : In vitro testing of human lumbar specimens revealed that unilateral laminotomy for bilateral decompression and bone-preserving laminectomy induced a minor destabilization at the operated level. In absence of other pathological factors (e.g., clinical instability, spondylolisthesis), both techniques appear to be safe from a biomechanical point of view.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제60권5호
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• pp.597-603
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• 2017

Objective : Several surgical methods have been reported for treatment of ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) in the thoracic spine. Despite rapid innovation of instruments and techniques for spinal surgery, the postoperative outcomes are not always favorable. This article reports a minimally invasive anterior decompression technique without instrumented fusion, which was modified from the conventional procedure. The authors present 2 cases of huge beak-type OPLL. Patients underwent minimally invasive anterior decompression without fusion. This method created a space on the ventral side of the OPLL without violating global thoracic spinal stability. Via this space, the OPLL and anterior lateral side of the dural sac can be seen and manipulated directly. Then, total removal of the OPLL was accomplished. No orthosis was needed. In this article, we share our key technique and concepts for treatment of huge thoracic OPLL. Methods : Case 1. 51-year-old female was referred to our hospital with right lower limb radiating pain and paresis. Thoracic OPLL at T6-7 had been identified at our hospital, and conservative treatment had been tried without success. Case 2. This 54-year-old female with a 6-month history of progressive gait disturbance and bilateral lower extremity radiating pain (right>left) was admitted to our institute. She also had hypoesthesia in both lower legs. Her symptoms had been gradually progressing. Computed tomography scans showed massive OPLL at the T9-10 level. Magnetic resonance imaging of the thoracolumbar spine demonstrated ventral bony masses with severe anterior compression of the spinal cord at the same level. Results : We used this surgical method in 2 patients with a huge beaked-type OPLL in the thoracic level. Complete removal of the OPLL via anterior decompression without instrumented fusion was accomplished. The 1st case had no intraoperative or postoperative complications, and the 2nd case had 1 intraoperative complication (dural tear) and no postoperative complications. There were no residual symptoms of the lower extremities. Conclusion : This surgical technique allows the surgeon to safely and effectively perform minimally invasive anterior decompression without instrumented fusion via a transthoracic approach for thoracic OPLL. It can be applied at the mid and lower level of the thoracic spine and could become a standard procedure for treatment of huge beak-type thoracic OPLL.