• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.363-369
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• 2011

Objective : We investigated the clinical and radiological advantages of unilateral laminectomy in posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) procedure comparing with bilateral laminectomy, under the same procedural condition including bilateral instrumentation and insertion of two cages, in patients with degenerative lumbar disease with unilateral leg symptoms. Methods : We retrospectively reviewed 124 consecutive cases of PLIF via unilateral or bilateral approach between January 2006 and April 2010. In 80 cases (bilateral group), two cages were inserted via bilateral laminectomy, and in 44 cases (unilateral group), via unilateral laminectomy. The average follow-up duration was 29.5 months. The clinical outcomes were evaluated with the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and the Oswestry disability index (ODI). The fusion rates and disc space heights were determined by dynamic standing radiographs and/or computed tomography. Operative times, intra-operative and post-operative blood losses and hospitalization periods were also evaluated. Results : In clinical evaluation, the VAS and ODI scores showed excellent outcomes in both groups. There were no significant differences in term of fusion rate, but the perioperative blood loss and the operative time of the unilateral group were lower than that of the bilateral group. Conclusion : Unilateral laminectomy can minimize the operative time and perioperative blood loss in PLIF procedure. However, the different preoperative disc height between two groups is a limitation of this study. Despite this limitation, solid fusion and satisfactory symptomatic improvement could be achieved uniquely by our surgical method. This surgical method can be an alternative surgical technique in patients with unilateral leg pain.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.195-199
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• 2007

Objective : Bilateral laminotomy and unilateral laminotomy for bilateral decompression are becoming the minimally invasive procedures for lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS). With the aim of less invasiveness and better preservation of spinal stability. these techniques have been developed. But there are no large randomized studies to show the surgical results between these two techniques. The objective of this study was to examine the safety and efficacy of these two minimally invasive techniques. Methods : A total of 80 patients were included in this study (Group I : bilateral laminotomy, Group II : Unilateral laminotomy for bilateral decompression). Perioperative parameters and complications were analyzed. Symptoms and scores such as visual analog scale (VAS) scores, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scores, and SF-36 scores of prospectively accrued patients were assessed preoperatively and at 1 month and 12 months after surgery. Paired-t test, two-sample student-t tests, and non parametric tests were used to determine cross-sectional differences between two groups. Results : No major complications such as spinal instability or deaths occurred during follow-up periods. VAS, ODI scores and SF-36 body pain and physical function scores showed statistically significant improvements in both groups (p<0.001). The significant widening of the spinal canal diameter was also noted in both groups. But, in Group II. there were minor postoperative complications such as dural tear (2 cases 5.0%), fracture of ipsilateral inferior facet (1 case 2.5%), and 5 cases of transient leg symptoms of contralateral side. Conclusion : Both bilateral laminotomy and unilateral laminotomy for bilateral decompression allow achievement of adequate and long-lasting operative results in patients with LSS. But postoperative complications are more frequent in Group II (unilateral laminotomy and bilateral decompression). These results indicate that bilateral laminotomy is the preferred minimally invasive technique to treat symptomatic LSS.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.149-151
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• 1995

Piriformis syndrome is a syndrome of low back and leg radiating pain thought to be due to a chronic contracture of the piriformis muscle that causes irritation of the sciatic nerve. The piriformis muscle is a flat pyramidal muscle, an external rotator and abductor of the hip, originating from the front of the sacrum and inner aspect of the sacroiliac joint, then passes laterally out of the sciatic notch to attach posteriorly to the greater trochanter of the femur, the sciatic nerve passes between the two bellies of the muscle. Mechanical irritation of the sciatic nerve by an inflammatory reaction of the piriformis muscle and its fascia at this pelvic level causes pain to radiate in the dermatomal regions of the nerve roots similar to that disk entrapment. diagnosis of piriformis syndrome is made primary on the basis of history and clinical examination. The incidence is considerably higher in women, with the reported ratio of women to men of 6:1. These patients frequently present with associated symptoms of pelvic pain and/or dyspareunia. Symptoms are usually unilateral but occasionally be bilateral. We had a 42 year-old woman patient with low back and left leg radiating pain and dyspareunia treated by caudal steroid and local anesthetic.

• Journal of the Korean Child Neurology Society
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.288-291
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• 2018

Hemiplegic migraine (HM) is a rare subtype of migraine with aura and is accompanied by a fully reversible motor aura. HM can occur in two forms: familial or sporadic. Currently, three genes are related to familial HM. Typically, HM occurs in the first or second decade of life and involves gradually progressing aura symptoms in succession, accompanied by headaches. The aura includes visual, sensory, motor, aphasic and often basilar-type symptoms. Motor aura (weakness) is related to the regions where the sensory aura is involved, and it usually starts at the hand before spreading to the arm and face. Aphasia is a common form of speech aura, but does not typically present as a difficulty in understanding. In this case report, the sensory-motor aura started at the right face and then gradually progressed to the right leg without any symptoms in the ipsilateral upper extremity. To the best of my knowledge, there has been no previous case report for the presentation of a hemiplegic migraine, as in this case report. As there is a possibility of misdiagnosis of Bell's palsy at the early stage of this case, this case report suggests that a physician should consider the rare possibility of stroke or HM when a patient presents with unilateral facial palsy.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.58 no.9
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• pp.354-357
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• 2015

Parry-Romberg syndrome (PRS) is a rare, acquired disorder characterized by progressive unilateral facial atrophy of the skin, soft tissue, muscles, and underlying bony structures that may be preceded by cutaneous induration. It is sometimes accompanied by ipsilateral brain lesions and neurological symptoms. Here we present the case of a 10-year-old girl with right-sided PRS and recurrent monoplegic ataxia of the left leg. At 4 years of age, she presented with localized scleroderma over the right parietal region of her scalp; her face gradually became asymmetric as her right cheek atrophied. Brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed hemiatrophy of the face and skull base, and T2-weighted images showed increased signal in the right hemipons and hemicerebellar peduncle. Magnetic resonance angiography findings were unremarkable. She was treated with oral prednisolone, and her recurrent gait ataxia diminished within 2 months of the follow-up period. To the best of our knowledge, this is only the second case of PRS presenting with an abnormal involvement of the ipsilateral hemipons.