• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.168-173
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• 2014

Background: Recently, there have been several case reports and retrospective studies about the incidence of intradiscal (ID) injection during transforaminal epidural steroid injection (TFESI). Inadvertent ID injection is not a rare complication, and it carries the risk of developing diskitis, although there has been no report of diskitis after TFESI. We prospectively evaluated the incidence of inadvertent ID injection during lumbar TFESI and analyzed the contributing factors. Methods: Ten patients received 2-level TFESI, and the remaining 229 patients received 1-level TFESI. When successful TFESI was performed, 2 ml of contrast dye was injected under real-time fluoroscopy to check for any inadvertent ID spread. A musculoskeletal radiologist analyzed all magnetic resonance images (MRIs) of patients who demonstrated inadvertent ID injection. When reviewing MRIs, the intervertebral foramen level where ID injection occurred was carefully examined, and any anatomical structure which narrowing the foramen was identified. Results: Among the 249 TFESI, we identified 6 ID injections; thus, there was an incidence of 2.4%. Four patients had isthmic spondylolisthesis, and the level of spondylolisthesis coincided with the level of ID injection. We further examined the right or left foramen of the spondylolisthesis level and identified the upward migrated disc material that was narrowing the foramen. Conclusions: Inadvertent ID injection during TFESI is not infrequent, and pain physicians must pay close attention to the type and location of disc herniation.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.30 no.sup1
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• pp.108-114
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• 2001

Objective : Posterior lumbar interbody fusion(PLIF) provides the favorable outcome to degenerative lumbar disease, especially isthmic spondylolisthesis. To determine the long-term effect of PLIF using psterior movable segment, we analysed the results of follow-up radiologic changes and surgical outcome retrospectively Patients and Method : During the past 11 years(1989. 1.-1999. 9.), 148 patients with symptomatic lumbar spondylolisthesis were managed at our department and the clinical wants were throughly recieved and final outcome is determined at last follow up. PLIF using antogenous bone(posterior movable segment, iliac bone and rib) were performed in 106 case. Results : After an average follow-up period of 33 months(range ; 15-58 months), the results were excellent in 66 cases, good in 37 cases, fair in 2 cases and poor in 1 cases. And the satisfactory results were 103 cases(98.2%) in PLIF,. Conclusion : In conclusion, patients who underwent PLIF with autologous bone graft had good clinical and radiological outcomes without significant neurological complications.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.54 no.2
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• pp.128-131
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• 2013

Transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) is commonly used procedure for spinal fusion. However, there are no reports describing anterior cage dislodgement after surgery. This report is a rare case of anterior dislodgement of fusion cage after TLIF for the treatment of isthmic spondylolisthesis with lumbosacral transitional vertebra (LSTV). A 51-year-old man underwent TLIF at L4-5 with posterior instrumentation for the treatment of grade 1 isthmic spondylolisthesis with LSTV. At 7 weeks postoperatively, imaging studies demonstrated that banana-shaped cage migrated anteriorly and anterolisthesis recurred at the index level with pseudoarthrosis. The cage was removed and exchanged by new cage through anterior approach, and screws were replaced with larger size ones and cement augmentation was added. At postoperative 2 days of revision surgery, computed tomography (CT) showed fracture on lateral pedicle and body wall of L5 vertebra. He underwent surgery again for paraspinal decompression at L4-5 and extension of instrumentation to S1 vertebra. His back and leg pains improved significantly after final revision surgery and symptom relief was maintained during follow-up period. At 6 months follow-up, CT images showed solid fusion at L4-5 level. Careful cage selection for TLIF must be done for treatment of spondylolisthesis accompanied with deformed LSTV, especially when reduction will be attempted. Banana-shaped cage should be positioned anteriorly, but anterior dislodgement of cage and reduction failure may occur in case of a highly unstable spine. Revision surgery for the treatment of an anteriorly dislodged cage may be effectively performed using an anterior approach.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.95-102
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• 2016

Objectives To investigate correlation between slip percentage (SP) of spondylolisthesis and cross-sectional area (CSA) of lumbar paraspinal muscles; psoas major (PM), multifidus (MU) and erector spinae (ES). Methods A retrospective study was carried out in 120 spondylolisthesis patients who had visited the Spine center of Kyung Hee University Hospital at Gangdong and had taken lumbar MRI. CSA of lumbar paraspinal muscles was measured from axial T2-weighted MRI and divided by CSA of vertebral body to avoid weight's influence. SP was also measured from sagittal MRI. Results SP increase has significant correlation with decreased CSA-MU (r=0.37, p<0.01) and increased CSA-ES (r=0.19, p<0.05). There was no significant correlation between SP and CSA-PM. Conclusions MU atrophy and ES hypertrophy have significant correlation with SP of spondylolisthesis. CSA of lumbar paraspinal muscles can be a risk factor of progression of spondylolisthesis and compensation for the instability.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.30 no.sup2
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• pp.235-241
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• 2001

Objective : Controversy exists which surgical treatment better in lumbar grade I spondylolisthesis, decompressive laminectomy with or without lumbar instrumentation. Methods : Out of Sixty-four patients with lumbar spondylolisthesis underwent surgery, 18 patients operated with decompressive laminectomy alone and 44 patients with decompession and lumbar instrument, during recent 5-years between January, 1994 and December, 1998. The author studied a long term follow-up in the above two groups to analyzing the overall clinical outcomes in each group and to determining the incidence of pos-toperative radiologic instability. Results : 1) Overall postoperative symptoms improvement were not so different in both groups. 2) Postoperative progressive subluxation is more common after decompressive laminectomy without instrumentation than with instrumentation group. 3) Overall clinical outcomes were slightly better in decompressive laminectomy without instrumentation than with instrumentation group but there was no significant difference. 4) Postoperative radiologic changes did not seem to influence the patient-reported clinical outcomes. 5) Postoperative complications is more common in decompressive laminectomy with instrumentation group than without instrumentation group. Conclusion : In the surgical management of grade I spondylolisthesis, the efficiency and superiority of surgical treatments requires the cost effectiveness and risk/benefit analysis of decompressive laminectomy with or without instrumentation. Therefore, Further detailed studies of long term follow up in a large number of patients in each group are needed for choice of best treatment.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.377-381
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• 2007

Objective : The aim of this study was to evaluate the morphometric changes in neuroforamen in grade I isthmic spondylolisthesis by anterior lumbar interbody fusion [ALIF]. Methods : Fourteen patients with grade I isthmic spondylolisthesis who underwent single level ALIF with percutaneous pedicle screw fixation were enrolled. All patients underwent standing lateral radiography and magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] before surgery and at 1 week after surgery. For quantitative analysis, the foraminal height, width, epidural foraminal height, epidural foraminal width, and epidural foraminal area were evaluated at the mid-portion of 28 foramens using T2-weighted sagittal MRI. For qualitative analysis, degree of neural compression in mid-portion of 28 foramens was classified into 4 grades using T2-weighted sagittal MRI. Clinical outcomes were assessed using Visual Analogue Sale [VAS] scores for leg pain and Oswestry disability index before surgery and at 1 year after surgery. Results : The affected levels were L4-5 in 10 cases and L5-S1 in 4. The mean foraminal height was increased [p<0.001], and the mean foraminal width was decreased [p=0.014] significantly after surgery. The mean epidural foraminal height [p<0.001], epidural foraminal width [p<0.001], and epidural foraminal area [p<0.001] showed a significant increase after surgery. The mean grade for neural compression was decreased significantly after surgery [p<0.001]. VAS scores for leg pain [p=0.001] and Oswestry disability index [p=0.001] was decreased significantly at one year after surgery. Conclusion : Foraminal stenosis in grade I isthmic spondylolisthesis may effectively decompressed by ALIF with percutaneous pedicle screw fixation.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.93-99
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• 2007

Purpose : The aim of this study is to consider degenerative spine disease theoretically and compare plain radiography which is a basic study for low back pain with MRI in cases of degenerative lumbar spine disease to find out whether the abnormalities agree with each other. Methods : In 4 cases of lumbar degenerative disease, we studied the relation of the abnormalities such as disc space narrowing, spinal space narrowing, loss of lordosis and osteophytes on plain radiography with those on MRI of HIVD, spinal stenosis and spondylolisthesis. Results : Many abnormalities such as disc space narrowing, spinal space narrowing, loss of lordosis, osteophytes and change of cortex & bone marrow on plain radiography suggest HIVD, spinal stenosis, spondylolysis or spondylolisthesis on MRI. Conclusion : For low back pain patients, plain radiography is a basic study in diagnosis of HIVD, spinal stenosis, spondylolysis or spondylolisthesis but MRI or CT scan is necessary to develop(build) a treatment plan like an operation.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.57 no.6
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• pp.484-486
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• 2015

Unilateral pedicle stress fracture accompanying spondylolytic spondylolisthesis is rare even in the elderly. Most are associated with major trauma, previous spine surgery, or stress-related activity. Here, the authors describe an unique case of unilateral pedicle fracture associated with spondylolytic spondylolisthesis at the L5 level, which was successfully treated by posterior lumbar interbody fusion with screw fixation at the L5-S1 level. As far as the authors' knowledge, no such case has been previously reported in the literature. The pathophysiological mechanism of this uncommon entity is discussed and a review of relevant literature is included.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.182-184
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• 2009

Acute traumatic spondylolisthesis at L5-S1 level is a rare condition, almost exclusively the result of major trauma, frequently associated with transverse process fractures and severe neurologic deficits. Recently, open reduction and internal fixation with posterior stabilization has been the method of treatment most frequently reported. We report a rare case of traumatic L5-S1 spondylolisthesis with a unilateral facet locking with a review of literatures.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.62 no.4
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• pp.422-431
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• 2019

Objective : In an aging society, the number of patients with symptomatic degenerative spondylolisthesis (DS) is increasing and there is an emerging need for fusion surgery. However, few studies have compared transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) and lateral lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF) for the treatment of patients with DS. The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical and radiological outcomes between TLIF and LLIF in DS. Methods : We enrolled patients with symptomatic DS at L4-5 who underwent TLIF with open pedicle screw fixation (TLIF group, n=41) or minimally invasive LLIF with percutaneous pedicle screw fixation (LLIF group, n=39) and were followed-up for more than one year. Clinical (visual analog scale and Oswestry disability index) and radiological outcomes (spondylolisthesis rate, segmental sagittal angle [SSA], mean disc height [MDH], intervertebral foramen height [FH], cage subsidence, and fusion rate) were assessed. And we assessed the changes in radiological parameters between the postoperative and the last follow-up periods. Results : Preoperative radiological parameters were not significantly different between the two groups. LLIF was significantly superior to TLIF in immediate postoperative radiological results, including reduction of spondylolisthesis rate (3.8% and 7.2%), increase in MDH (13.9 mm and 10.3 mm) and FH (21.9 mm and 19.4 mm), and correction of SSA ($18.9^{\circ}$ and $15.6^{\circ}$) (p<0.01), and the changes were more stable from the postoperative period to the last follow-up (p<0.01). Cage subsidence was observed significantly less in LLIF (n=6) than TLIF (n=21). Fusion rate was not different between the two groups. The clinical outcomes did not differ significantly at any time point between the two groups. Complications were not statistically significant. However, TLIF showed chronic mechanical problems with screw loosening in four patients and LLIF showed temporary symptoms associated with the surgical approach, such as psoas and ileus muscle symptoms in three and two cases, respectively. Conclusion : LLIF was more effective than TLIF for spondylolisthesis reduction, likely due to the higher profile cage and ligamentotactic effect. In addition, LLIF showed mechanical stability of the reduction level by using a cage with a larger footprint. Therefore, LLIF should be considered a surgical option before TLIF for patients with unstable DS.