• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.45-50
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• 2022

Vertebral left atrial size can be used as a radiographic tool to evaluate left atrial size in dogs. Vertebral left atrial size has been studied in dogs; however, few studies have been conducted on breed-specific differences in healthy dogs. To study the median vertebral left atrial size differences by breed and to investigate the association between age, sex, body condition score, thoracic depth-to-width ratio, and vertebral left atrial size. A total of 220 dogs of the following breeds: Maltese (n = 73), Beagle (n = 30), Poodle (n = 41), Shih-tzu (n = 44), and Mongrel (n = 32) were reviewed retrospectively. Sex, body weight, age, and body condition score of each dog were collected. Thoracic radiography was conducted for dorsoventral and right/left lateral views in all dogs to measure the vertebral heart score, vertebral left atrial size, and thoracic depth-to-width ratio. No significant differences in the median vertebral left atrial size were found among the breeds. There were no effects of sex, age, body condition score, and thoracic depth-to-width ratio on vertebral left atrial size. There was a significant positive correlation between the vertebral heart score and vertebral left atrial size. Breed, age, sex, and chest conformation did not correlate with vertebral left atrial size.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.163-172
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• 2008

Objectives : This study was performed to evaluate the effects of thoracic vertebral region's Du mai(督脈) and Jia ji xue(夾脊穴) intervention on active range of motion(ROM) restricted shoulder pain. Methods : 1. Measurement : The unpleasantness of pain was measured by visual analogue scale(VAS), and ROM was measured by using Goniometer and scratch test. 2. Intervention : Use Acupuncture and bee venom injection in thoracic vertebral region's Du mai(督脈) and Jia ji xue(夾脊穴) that display main tender points. Results : The pain and ROM were improved after thoracic vertebral region intervention. Conclusion : Thoracic vertebral region intervention was effective to active ROM restricted shoulder pain, to reduce the pain and to improve ROM. And this study shows that active ROM restricted shoulder pain and thoracic vertebral region's tender points are connected to each other. Also, region that suggest main tender points previews region of thoracic vertebrae 5-8.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.161-165
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• 2007

Objective : Percutaneous approach to the middle thoracic vertebra through the transpedicular route for the patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures is difficult due to the small size of the pedicle and parasagittally oriented vertebra body anatomy. The percutaneous vertebral body access [PVBA] technique utilizing the posterolateral extrapedicular approach avoids the pedicle and provides direct access to the vertebral body. The objective of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of the vertebroplasty utilizing PVBA technique for osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures in the middle thoracic vertebrae. Methods : A retrospective review was done on 20 patients who underwent vertebroplasty utilizing PVBA technique performed for painful osteoporotic compression fracture in the middle thoracic vertebrae at 22 levels from May 2003 to June 2006. The average amount of the injected cement was 1.5-2.5ml. The postprocedural outcome was assessed using a visual analogue scale [VAS]. Results : The treated vertebrae were T5 [1 level], T6 [5 levels], 17 [7 levels], and T8 [9 levels]. The compression rate and kyphotic angle were improved after procedure from $18%{\pm}13.4$ to $16%{\pm}13.8$ [p > 0.05] and from $6.9^{\circ}{\pm}6.7$ to $6.6^{\circ}{\pm}6.2$ [p>005], respectively. Preprocedural VAS was $8.2{\pm}0.70$ and was decreased to $2.1{\pm}1.02$ [p < 0.01] after treatment. Postprocedural cement leakage was noted in 3 levels [13.7%]. There were no cases of leakage to epidural space or neural foramen, segmental artery injury, and pneumothorax. Conclusion : These results suggest that the complication rates are low and good results can be achieved with vertebroplasty utilizing PVBA technique for the osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures especially in the middle thoracic vertebrae.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.1201-1205
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• 2017

The purpose of this case study was to investigate the effects of thoracic mobilization and manipulation on a patient with upper thoracic pain. The subject had been complaining of upper thoracic pain for the last 4 months. On the X-ray, T3 and T4 spinous process were located on the left side of the vertical axis. First, transverse mobilization was applied from left to right at the T3-T4 and then thoracic manipulation was performed. The intervention methods of mobilization and manipulation were based on the concept of Maitland manual therapy. The subject underwent a total of 20 sessions (five times per week for four weeks). The thoracic pain and vertebral rotation angle were measured to examine the effect of the intervention. The thoracic pain score decreased (from 4.0 to 1.5) and the angle of thoracic vertebral rotation decreased (from $70{\underline{\circ}}$ to $4.0{\underline{\circ}}$). These results suggest that applied mobilization and manipulation in patients with a primary complaint of thoracic pain decreasing the thoracic pain and vertebral rotation angle.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.271-275
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• 2007

Objective : Although a significant correction of local kyphosis has been reported previously, only a few studies have investigated whether this correction leads to an improved overall sagittal alignment. The study objective was to determine whether an improvement in the local kyphotic angle improves the overall sagittal alignment. We examined and compared the effects of thoracic and lumbar level kyphoplasty procedures on local versus overall sagittal alignment of the spine. Methods : Thirty-eight patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures who showed poor response to conventional, palliative medical therapy underwent single-level kyphoplasty. The pertinent clinical data of these patients, from June 2006 to November 2006, were reviewed retrospectively. We measured preoperative and postoperative vertebral body heights, which were classified as anterior, middle, or posterior fractured vertebral body heights. Furthermore, the local and overall sagittal angles after polymethylmethacrylate deposition were measured. Results : More height was gained at the thoracic level, and the middle vertebral height regained the most. A significant local kyphosis correction was observed at the fractured level, and the correction at larger spanning segments decreased with the distance from the fractured level. Conclusion : The inflatable balloon kyphoplasty procedure was the most effective in regaining the height of the thoracic fractured vertebra in the middle vertebral body. The kyphosis correction by kyphoplasty was mainly achieved in the fractured vertebral body. Sagittal angular correction decreased with an increase in the distance from the fractured vertebra. No significant improvement was observed in the overall sagittal alignment after kyphoplasty. Further studies in a larger population are required to clarify this issue.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.30 no.9
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• pp.1234-1238
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• 2017

Objective: The vertebral number is associated with body length and carcass traits, which represents an economically important trait in farm animals. The variation of vertebral number has been observed in a few mammalian species. However, the variation of vertebral number and quantitative trait loci in sheep breeds have not been well addressed. Methods: In our investigation, the information including gender, age, carcass weight, carcass length and the number of thoracic and lumbar vertebrae from 624 China Kazakh sheep was collected. The effect of vertebral number variation on carcass weight and carcass length was estimated by general linear model. Further, the polymorphic sites of Vertnin (VRTN) gene were identified by sequencing, and the association of the genotype and vertebral number variation was analyzed by the one-way analysis of variance model. Results: The variation of thoracolumbar vertebrae number in Kazakh sheep (18 to 20) was smaller than that in Texel sheep (17 to 21). The individuals with 19 thoracolumbar vertebrae (T13L6) were dominant in Kazakh sheep (79.2%). The association study showed that the numbers of thoracolumbar vertebrae were positively correlated with the carcass length and carcass weight, statistically significant with carcass length. To investigate the association of thoracolumbar vertebrae number with VRTN gene, we genotyped the VRTN gene. A total of 9 polymorphic sites were detected and only a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) (rs426367238) was suggested to associate with thoracic vertebral number statistically. Conclusion: The variation of thoracolumbar vertebrae number positively associated with the carcass length and carcass weight, especially with the carcass length. VRTN gene polymorphism of the SNP (rs426367238) with significant effect on thoracic vertebral number could be as a candidate marker to further evaluate its role in influence of thoracolumbar vertebral number.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.158-165
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• 2017

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of X-rays in patients with acute traumatic vertebral fractures visiting the emergency department and to analyze the diagnostic value of X-rays for each spine level. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed basal characteristics by reviewing medical records of 363 patients with adult traumatic vertebral fractures, admitted to the emergency center from March 1, 2014 to February 28, 2017. We analyzed spine X-rays and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans to determine distribution according to the vertebral level, and we evaluated the efficacy of X-rays by comparing discrepancies between X-rays and MRI scans. Results: For a total of 363 patients, the mean age was 56.65 (20-93) and 214 (59%) were males. On the basis of X-rays, 67 cases (15.1%) were of the cervical spine, 133 cases (30.0%) were of the thoracic spine, and 243 cases (54.9%) were of the lumbar spine. In particular, the thoracolumbar region (T11-L2) was the most common, with 260 cases (58.7%). In X-rays, fractures were the least in the upper thoracic region (T1-T3), whereas MRI scans revealed fairly uniform distribution across the thoracic spine. Sensitivity of X-rays was lowest in the upper thoracic spine and specificity was almost always greater than 98%, except for 94.7% in L1. Positive predictive value was lower in the mid-thoracic region (T4-T9) and negative predictive value was slightly lower in C6, T2, and T3 than at other sites. Diagnostic accuracy of X-rays by vertebral body, transverse process, and spinous process according to fractured vertebral structures was significantly different according to vertebral level. Conclusions: Diagnostic accuracy of X-rays was lower in the upper thoracic region than in other parts. Further studies are needed to identify better methods for diagnosis considering cost and neurological prognosis.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.134-141
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• 2010

This study analyzed the regional morphological and mechanical characteristics of vertebrae by using micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) and micro finite element analysis (FEA). For the present study, the $12^{th}$ human thoracic vertebral bones (an 85-years female and a 48-years male) were used. These were scanned by using micro-CT. Structural parameters were evaluated from the acquired 20 image data for fifteen $4{\times}4mm^2$ regions (five regions in respective layers of superior, middle and inferior part) in the thoracic vertebral trabecular bones. $4{\times}4{\times}4mm^3$ cubic finite element models of each regions were created at $70{\mu}m$ voxel resolution to investigate effective modulus ($E^+$). The present study indicated that there were significant differences in morphological and elastic mechanical characteristics of each region. There are close relationship between effective modulus and structural model index (SMI) in the bone of the 48-years male and between effective modulus and bone volume fraction (BV/TV) in the bone of the 85-years female. In addition, the effective modulus of central regions is about 80% stiffer than that of lateral regions at transverse plane. These findings may be likely to explain the previous result that a change of loading distribution of the vertebral trabecular bones is caused by spinal curvature and nucleus pulpous degeneration of the intervertebral disc.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.163-167
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• 2001

Objective : Percutaneous vertebroplasty has recently been introduced as an interesting therapeutic alternative for the treatment of thoracolumbar vertebral body fractures in elderly persons with osteoporosis. The authors present the early results of this method. Method and Material : From July 1999 to April 2000, percutaneous transpedicular technique was used in 20 patients (2 men and 18 women) whose mean age was 67.5 years old(range 59-79) with painful vertebral compression(22) and burst(2) fractures. The interval between fracture and vertebroplasty ranged 1 day to 4 months. The procedure involved percutaneous puncture of the injured vertebra via transpedicular approach under fluoroscopic guidance, followed by injection of polymethylmetacrylate(PMMA) into the vertebral body through a disposable 11-guage Jamshidi needle. Result : The most common cause of fracture was slip down and the most frequent injured level was the twelfth thoracic spine. The procedure was technically successful bilaterally in 18 patients(9 thoracic and 15 lumbar spines) with an average injection amount of 7.7ml PMMA in each level. Seventeen(94.4%) patients reported significant pain relief immediately after treatment. Two leaks of PMMA were detected with postoperative CT in spinal epidural space and extravertebral soft tissue without clinical symptoms. Conclusion : Although this study represents the early results, percutaneous vertebroplasty seems to be valuable tool in the treatment of painful osteoporotic vertebral body fractures in elderly, providing acute pain relief and early mobilization.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.319-328
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• 2004

The purpose of this study was to examine the relation between thoracic scoliosis and gastroenteric disorder. In this article, We surveyed sixty two patients and investigated through a questionnaire the health and meal habits, digestive trouble levels, stress levels(BEPSI-K), and the stress response index(SRI). Participants were classified according to each group in over $10^{\circ}$(vertebral scoliosis), under $10^{\circ}$(functional scoliosis) and made a diagnosis of X-ray of scoliosis grade. The data was took statistics on two group by independent t-test, chi-square test with SPSS/PC+ 10.0 program. The statistically significance was a p＜.05 and the following results were obtained； 1. In general characteristics, The thoracic scoliosis was as many as women, weight 50∼60kg, height 160∼170cm, married person. 2. Relations between health and meal habit with thoracic scoliosis was not statistically significant(p＞.05). 3. Relations between thoracic scoliosis and digestive trouble level was statistically significance (p＜.05). 4. Relations between thoracic scoliosis and incidence rate of internal disease was statistically significant(p＜.05). 5. Relations between thoracic scoliosis and stress(BEPSI-K) was statistically significant(p＜.05). 6. Relations between thoracic scoliosis and stress(SRI) was statistically significant(p＜.05). These results lead us to the conclusion that thoracic scoliosis influences digestive trouble, incidence rate of internal disease and stress. However, there results are not easy to explain because of the limitations of a few subjects and a single comparison. Therefore, further research on this study thoroughgoing inspection would clarify the association of thoracic scoliosis and gastroenteric disorders.