• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.55 no.5
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• pp.248-254
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• 2014

Objective : According to the recent development of minimally invasive spinal surgery, direct lumbar interbody fusion (DLIF) was introduced as an effective option to treat lumbar degenerative diseases. However, comprehensive results of DLIF have not been reported in Korea yet. The object of this study is to summarize radiological and clinical outcomes of our DLIF experience. Methods : We performed DLIF for 130 patients from May 2011 to June 2013. Among them, 90 patients, who could be followed up for more than 6 months, were analyzed retrospectively. Clinical outcomes were compared using visual analog scale (VAS) score and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). Bilateral foramen areas, disc height, segmental coronal and sagittal angle, and regional sagittal angle were measured. Additionally, fusion rate was assessed. Results : A total of 90 patients, 116 levels, were underwent DLIF. The VAS and ODI improved statistically significant after surgery. All the approaches for DLIF were done on the left side. The left and right side foramen area changed from $99.5mm^2$ and $102.9mm^2$ to $159.2mm^2$ and $151.2mm^2$ postoperatively (p<0.001). Pre- and postoperative segmental coronal and sagittal angles changed statistically significant from $4.1^{\circ}$ and $9.9^{\circ}$ to $1.1^{\circ}$ and $11.1^{\circ}$. Fusion rates of 6 and 12 months were 60.9% and 87.8%. Complications occurred in 17 patients (18.9%). However, most of the complications were resolved within 2 months. Conclusion : DLIF is not only effective for indirect decompression and deformity correction but also shows satisfactory mechanical stability and fusion rate.

• Journal of the Korean Orthopaedic Association
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• v.56 no.3
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• pp.208-214
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• 2021

Purpose: Verifying a reliable predictor of the progression of vertebral deformity in patients with acute osteoporotic fractures of the lumbar spine may be useful. A qualitative analysis of the muscle near the spine was performed using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and its correlation with a spinal deformity was determined under the hypothesis that the causes of the kyphotic deformity are associated with muscle reduction in the multifidus and erector spinae. Materials and Methods: The study was performed in a retrospective manner using the electronic medical records of patients who presented to the author's institution between January 2007 and March 2018, and were diagnosed with an acute lumbar fracture. The fat infiltration rates of the multifidus and erector spinae were measured using MRI taken at the time of injury, and the mean value was defined as the total fat infiltration rate (TFI). Based on lateral radiographs of the lumbar spine at the one-year follow-up, the loss of height of the vertebral body, the kyphotic angle and the wedge angle were measured. The statistical significance was confirmed by calculating the Pearson correlation coefficient. Results: One hundred twenty-nine patients, of which 30 were male and 99 were female, were examined. The mean age was 71.28 years. The mean T-score was -3.53±0.79 g/cm², and the mean fat infiltration was 15.20%±11.99%. TFI was positively correlated with age (R=0.373, p<0.001), compression rate (R=0.369, p<0.001), and Cobb's angle (R=0.386, p<0.001) after a one year follow-up, but negatively correlated with the BMD score (R=-0.252, p=0.004). As the fracture progressed to the lower lumbar level, the compression rate (R=-0191, p=0.030) and wedge angle (R=-0.428, p<0.001) at the time of injury tended to decrease. Conclusion: In patients with osteoporotic vertebral fractures, the fat infiltration rate may be an important predictor of conservative treatment. The prognosis of patients with a high-fat infiltration rate should be explained during patient education, and the patients must be monitored closely through short-term outpatient follow-up.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.53 no.2
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• pp.83-88
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• 2013

Objective : The authors reviewed their experiences of combined surgery (open door laminoplasty with unilateral screw fixation) for unstable multi-level cervical stenosis, to clarify the situation regarding the surgical approach most appropriate for the treatment of diffuse unstable multi-level cervical stenosis. Methods : From January 2011 to January 2012, combined surgery was performed for unstable multi-level cervical stenosis by one surgeon at our institution. The subjects of this study were 6 men of mean age 53.7 years (range, 48-71) with a mean follow-up of 9.3 (range, 3-14) months. All imaging studies showed severe multi-level cervical stenosis with spinal cord signal change, and instability or kyphotic deformity. A retrospective review of clinical, radiological, and surgical data was conducted. Results : Average laminoplasty level was 4.8 and the average screw fixation level was 5.0. Japanese Orthopedic Association score improved from an average of 5.2 to 11.2 points. According to Nurick's grades and Odom's criteria, symptom improvement was statistically significant. On the other hand, Cobb's angle changes were not significant. Average operation time was 5.86 hours with an average blood loss of 460 mL. No significant surgical complication was encountered. Conclusion : Despite the small cohort and the short follow-up duration, the present study demonstrates that laminoplasty with unilateral screw fixation is a safe and effective treatment for unstable multi-level cervical stenosis.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.237-244
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• 2001

Back pain has plagued humans for many thousands of years. The treatment of back pain is divided into operative treatment and conservative treatment. It is reported that cure rate of conservative treatment is 80~90 percent. Generally, the treatment of oriental medicine is mostly conservative treatment. But, surgery should not be used as a last resort in treatment; it is just one of many treatment options for various spinal conditions. In some instance, it can be to preferred choice; in other situations, alternative therapies may be superior. Selections of the operation in HIVD 1. Acute disc herniations with a protracted significant component af back pain. 2. Chronic disc degeneration with significant back pain and degeneration limited to one or two disc levels. 3. Sugical instability created during decompression. 4. The presence of neural arch defects coincident with disc disease. 5. Symptamatic and radiographically demonstrable segmental instability. Selections of the operation in stenosis 1. If it does not slowly progress in physical therapy and other nonoperative measures, many of these patients may ultimately need surgical decompression. 2. Absolute stenosis in an impression of CT, MRI.(under 10mm) 3. In patients with established symptoms of .neurogenic claudication. 4. In patients with bad influence of neurogenic derangement.(strength, sensory) Selections of the operation in spondylolisthesis 1. Persistence or recurrence of major symptoms for at least one year despite activity modification and physical therapy. 2. Tight hamstrings, persistently abnormal gait, or postural deformities unrelieved by physical therapy. 3. Sciatic scoliosis. 4. Progressive neurologic deficit. 5. Progressive slipping beyond 25 or 50 percent, even when asymptomatic. 6. A high slip angle (40 to 50 degrees) in a growing child, since it is likely to be associated with further progression and deformity. 7. Psychologic problems attributed to shortness of trunk, abnormal gait, and postural deformities characteristic of more severe slips.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.60 no.5
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• pp.577-583
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• 2017

Objective : Laminoplasty is an effective surgical method for treating cervical degenerative disease. However, postoperative complications such as kyphosis, restriction of neck motion, and instability are often reported. Despite sufficient preoperative lordosis, this procedure often aggravates the lordotic curve of the cervical spine and straightens cervical alignment. Hence, it is important to examine preoperative risk factors associated with postoperative kyphotic alignment changes. Our study aimed to investigate preoperative radiologic parameters associated with kyphotic deformity post laminoplasty. Methods : We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 49 patients who underwent open door laminoplasty for cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) or ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) at Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital between January 2011 and December 2015. Inclusion criteria were as follows : 1) preoperative diagnosis of OPLL or CSM, 2) no previous history of cervical spinal surgery, cervical trauma, tumor, or infection, 3) minimum of one-year follow-up post laminoplasty with proper radiologic examinations performed in outpatient clinics, and 4) cases showing C7 and T1 vertebral body in the preoperative cervical sagittal plane. The radiologic parameters examined included C2-C7 Cobb angles, T1 slope, C2-C7 sagittal vertical axis (SVA), range of motion (ROM) from C2-C7, segmental instability, and T2 signal change observed on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Clinical factors examined included preoperative modified Japanese Orthopedic Association scores, disease classification, duration of symptoms, and the range of operation levels. Results : Mean preoperative sagittal alignment was $13.01^{\circ}$ lordotic; $6.94^{\circ}$ lordotic postoperatively. Percentage of postoperative kyphosis was 80%. Patients were subdivided into two groups according to postoperative Cobb angle change; a control group (n=22) and kyphotic group (n=27). The kyphotic group consisted of patients with more than $5^{\circ}$ kyphotic angle change postoperatively. There were no differences in age, sex, C2-C7 Cobb angle, T1 slope, C2-C7 SVA, ROM from C2-C7, segmental instability, or T2 signal change. Multiple regression analysis revealed T1 slope had a strong relationship with postoperative cervical kyphosis. Likewise, correlation analysis revealed there was a statistical significance between T1 slope and postoperative Cobb angle change (p=0.035), and that there was a statistically significant relationship between T1 slope and C2-C7 SVA (p=0.001). Patients with higher preoperative T1 slope demonstrated loss of lordotic curvature postoperatively. Conclusion : Laminoplasty has a high probability of aggravating sagittal balance of the cervical spine. T1 slope is a good predictor of postoperative kyphotic changes of the cervical spine. Similarly, T1 slope is strongly correlated with C2-C7 SVA.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.58 no.1
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• pp.50-53
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• 2015

Objective : The purpose of this study was to evaluate radiographic/clinical outcomes of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) patients treated by a Korean neurosurgeon. Methods : Ten AIS patients were treated by a single neurosurgeon between January 2011 and September 2013 utilizing segmental instrumentation with pedicle screws. Basic demographic information, curve pattern by Lenke classification, number of levels treated, amount of correction achieved, radiographic/clinical outcomes [by Scolisis Resarch Society (SRS-22r) questionnaire] and complications were evaluated to determine the surgical results. Pulmonary function test was utilized to assess forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) before and after surgery. Results : The average percentage of correction of the major structural curve was 73.6% (ranged from 64% to 81.5%). Preoperative and final postoperative absolute FVC averaged 3.03 L and 3.76 L (0.73 L increase, p=0.046), and absolute FEV1 averaged 2.63 L and 3.49 L (0.86 L increase, p=0.021). Preoperative and final postoperative average self-image and function scores of SRS-22r were, $2.6{\pm}0.5$, $3.3{\pm}0.1$, $4.0{\pm}0.5$, and $4.6{\pm}0.0$, respectively. There was a significant improvement of the self-image and function scores of SRS-22r questionnaires before and after surgery (p<0.05). There was no case of neurological deficit, infection and revision for screw malposition. One patient underwent a fusion extension surgery for shoulder asymmetry. Conclusion : Radiographic/clinical outcomes of AIS patients treated by a Korean neurosurgeon were acceptable. Fundamental understanding of pediatric spinal deformity is essential for the practice of AIS surgery.

• Journal of the Korean Orthopaedic Association
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.336-342
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• 2019

Purpose: To examine the relationship between the progression of a kyphotic deformity and the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in conservatively treated osteoporotic thoracolumbar compression fracture patients. Materials and Methods: This study categorized the patients who underwent conservative treatment among those patients who underwent treatment under the suspicion of a thoracolumbar compression fracture from January 2007 to March 2016. Among them, this retrospective study included eighty-nine patients with osteoporosis and osteopenia with a bone density of less than -2.0 and single vertebral body fracture. This study examined the MRI of anterior longitudinal ligament or posterior longitudinal ligament injury, superior or inferior endplate disruption, superior of inferior intravertebral disc injury, the presence of low signal intensity on T2-weighted images, and bone edema of intravertebral bodies in fractured intravertebral bodies. Results: In cases where the superior endplate was disrupted or the level of bone edema of the intravertebral bodies was high, the kyphotic angle, wedge angle, and anterior vertebral compression showed remarkably progression. In the case of damage to the anterior longitudinal ligament or the superior disc, only the kyphotic angle was markedly prominent. On the T2-weighted images, low signal intensity lesions showed a high wedge angle and high anterior vertebral compression. On the other hand, there were no significant correlations among the posterior longitudinal ligament injury, inferior endplate disruption, inferior disc injury, and the progression of kyphotic deformity and vertebral compression. The risk factors that increase the kyphotic angle by more than 5° include the presence of injuries to the anterior longitudinal ligament, superior endplate disruption, and superior disc injury, and the risk factors were 21.3, 5.1, and 8.5 times higher than those of the uninjured case, and the risk differed according to the level of bone edema. Conclusion: An osteoporotic thoracolumbar compression fracture in osteoporotic or osteopenic patients, anterior longitudinal ligament injury, superior endplate and intravertebral disc injury, and high level of edema in the MRI were critical factors that increases the risk of kyphotic deformity.

• Journal of the Korean Orthopaedic Association
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• v.54 no.3
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• pp.203-210
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• 2019

The aim of this review was to evaluate minimally invasive lateral lumbar interbody fusion on the latest update. Lumbar interbody fusion was introduced recently. This study performed, a literature review of the indications, clinical outcomes, fusion rate, and complications regarding recently highlighted minimally invasive lateral lumbar interbody fusion. The indications of lateral lumbar interbody fusion are similar to the conventional anterior and posterior interbody fusion in degenerative lumbar diseases. In particular, lateral lumbar interbody fusion is an effective minimally invasive surgery in spinal stenosis, degenerative spondylolisthesis, degenerative adult deformity, degenerative disc disease and adjacent segment disease. In addition, the clinical outcomes and fusion rates of lateral lumbar interbody fusion are similar compared to conventional lumbar fusion. On the other hand, non-specific complications including hip flexor weakness, nerve injury, vascular injury, visceral injury, cage subsidence and pseudohernia have been reported. Lateral lumbar interbody fusion is a very useful minimally invasive surgery because it has advantages over conventional anterior and posterior interbody fusion without many of the disadvantages. Nevertheless, nonspecific complications during lateral lumbar interbody fusion procedure remain a challenge to be improved.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.30 no.11
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• pp.1271-1277
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• 2001

Objectives : Since vertebroplasty has been introduced, we performed short segment pedicle screw fixation with augmented intra-operative vertebroplasty in patients with unstable thoraco-lumbar fracture. Our intentions are to demonstrate the efficacy and indication of this new technique compare to conventional methods. Material and Methods : The surgery comprised of pedicle screw fixations on one level above and below the fracture site, and the fractured level itself, if pedicle is intact, and intra-operative vertebroplasty under the fluoroscopic guide with in-situ postero-lateral bone graft. Also, in cases of bone apposition, we removed those with small impactor through a transfascetal route. During the last 2 years, we performed in seven(7) unstable thoraco-lumbar fracture patients who consisted of two different characteristics, those four(4) with primary or secondary osteoporosis and three(3) of young and very healthy. All patients were followed clinically by A.S.I.A. score and radiography. Results : Mean follow up period was 14 months. We observed well decompressed state via transfascetal route in cases of bone fragments apposition and no hardware pullout in osteoporotic cases, no poly-methyl-methacrylate (PMMA) leakage through the fracture sites into the spinal canal, and no kyphotic deformities in both cases during follow-up periods. All patients demonstrated solid bony fusion except one following osteoporotic compression fracture on other sites. Conclusions : In the management of unstable thoraco-lumbar fracture, we believe that this short segment pedicle screw fixation with augmented intra-operative vertebroplasty reduce the total length or levels of pedicle screw fixation without post-operative kyphotic deformity.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.23-28
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• 1975

One hundred and fifty seven cesarean sectioned patients among 2010 deliveries, were reviewed with the following clinical charts from January, 1973 to December, 1974 at Taegu Presby-terian medical Center. The results are as follows; 1) The section rate was 7.8% 2) In age distribution, the most frequent age was 26~30ys and it~s rate was 37%, and others were as follows : 31~35ys 24.2%, 21~25ys 21%, 36~40ys 10.8%, 41~45ys 7% respective]y- 3) In indication, the cephalopelvic disproportion was the most prevalent and it's rate was 29.3%, and others were as follows : malpresentation 14% previous cesarean section 10.8% uttering dysfunction 9.6%, totemic 4%, elderly primigravida 4%, fetal distress 2.5% post maturity 3.2%, wanted cesarean section 1, 9%, pelvic deformity 1.2% twin 1.9%, abruptio placenta 1.2%, Vaginal stricture 1.2%, and others 2.5%. 4) In type of operation, tower cervical transverse type was 82.1%, classical type 17%, ana cesarean hysterectomy was 0.9% respectively. 5) General Anesthesia was major type and it's rate was 63%, and spinal anesthesia 17.2%, epidermal anesthesia 14% and other combined type was 5.8%. 6) Percental mortality was 11.4%. 7) There was no maternal death. 8) Among the cesarean section complications, wound infection was 8,4%, headache 4.4%, urinary tract infection 1.2% and one case in endometritis. 9) In combined surgery, tubal legation was 31.2%, appenectomy 7.6%, posterior repair 1.2%, salpingoop-horectomy 1.9%, and one case in resection of uttering septum. 10) Cesarean section was performed 61.3% in multipara and 38.2% in primipara. 11) 47 (30%) had received artificial abortions. 12) 28 (17.8%) had previously experienced cesarean section.