• Korean Journal of Bronchoesophagology
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.138-144
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• 2010

Background: Tracheal deviations are encountered frequently in head and neck tumors especially in thyroid cancer. Dyspnea and stridor are symptom calling for surgery. The method of evaluation in tracheal deviation is not well established yet. This paper is aimed to suggest objective tools to evaluate tracheal deviation in relation to cervical vertebra. Material and Method: Ten cases of thyroid cancers were recruited retrospectively. Tracheal inner shadow and shape of cervical vertebra were reconstructed three dimensionally using 3D-doctor to compare position of trachea in relation to vertebral body. Extent of deviation was scored in relation to both lateral borders of vertebral body. Angles between trachea and spinous process were measured in axial CT and compared between study group and control group. Results: Deviation scores were statistically significant between study group (mean=1.1) and control group (mean=0) (p=0.0008). Deviation angles at maximal tumor size in study group (mean=160.3 Degrees) and deviation angles of control group (mean=177.1 Degrees) were statistically significant (p=0.0007). Angles at maximal deviation of three dimensional images ages in study group (mean=162.6 Degrees) and deviation angles of control group (mean=177.1 Degrees) were statistically significant (p=0.0089). Conclusion: Tracheal deviation can be evaluated using scoring of three dimensional images and measuring angle between trachea and vertebral spine.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.1810-1817
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• 2019

Background: Effect of cervical and lumbar tractions on the reduction in the angle of curvature and the effect of a correction exercise or a general traction method on balance, muscle strength, pain, and body alignment, however insufficient research has been undertaken on self traction exercises targeting patients with scoliosis. Purpose: To determine the effect of cervical and lumbar tractions on the reduction in the angle of curvature and the effect of a correction exercise or a general traction method on balance, muscle strength, pain, and body alignment. Design: Randomized controlled clinical trial (single blinded) Methods: Twelve adults(20s) with scoliosis were included in this study and performed a traction program that was composed of a 5-min warm-up exercise, a 15-min main exercise, and a 5-min cool-down exercise (25 minutes in total), three times a week for four weeks. The Chiro traction machine was used for the self-traction exercise. Vertebral alignment, muscle strength, and flexibility were compared before and after the intervention using the paired T-test. Results: The scoliosis angle, pelvic torsion, and lumbar extensor were significantly changed by intervention; however, there was no significant difference in flexibility. Conclusion: The results revealed that self-traction exercise activated blood flow through the extension and contraction of muscles, effectively increasing the function of the muscles around the vertebrae.

• 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 the Korean Orthopaedic Association
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• v.54 no.6
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• pp.528-536
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• 2019

Purpose: This study examined the effects of a weekly teriparatide on the change in vertebral compression ratio, back pain, and vertebral fracture healing in osteoporosis patients with vertebral compression fractured induced by low energy trauma. Materials and Methods: From January 2016 to December 2017, 57 patients with severe osteoporotic vertebral fractures with a T score of -3.5 or less were included in this study. The changes in the vertebral compression ratio, visual analogue scale (VAS), Oswestry disability index (ODI) for at least 6 months were examined. The morphology of bone marrow edema and the presence of intervertebral cleft, osteocalcin, and N-terminal telopeptide (NTx) were also investigated. Results: The mean compression ratio was 20% in the experimental group (teripratide group) at 3 months, and 38% in the control group. A significant difference in the compression ratio of the vertebral body over time was observed (p<0.05; t-test). A comparison of the compression ratio of the vertebral body with the follow-up duration in each group showed no significant increase in the, compression (p=0.063) in the experimental group and a significant increase in the control group (p<0.05). The mean time to reach the plateau of the compression rate was one month in the experimental group and three months in the control group. The VAS score in the experimental and control group was 0.39 and 1.07 points, respectively. The ODI score in the experimental and control group was 33.72 and 39.52, respectively. At the last follow-up radiographs, there were no cases with an intervertebral cleft (0%) in the experimental group and 1 case (2.2%) in the control group. A significant difference in the osteocalcin level was observed between the injury and 6 months after the injury (p=0.003). In addition, there was no significant difference in the NTx level between the injury and 6 months after injury (p=0.960). Conclusion: In vertebral compression fractures patients with severe osteoporosis, a weekly teriparatide can promote the union of fractures, prevent further collapse of the vertebral body, and reduce the back pain faster.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2004.10a
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• pp.1154-1159
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• 2004

Unexpected postoperative changes, such as growth in rib hump, has been occasionally reported after corrective surgery for scoliosis. However there has been experimental data for explanation of these changes, nor the suggestion of optimal correction method. This numerical study was designed to investigate the main correlating elements in operative kinematics with post-operative changes of vertebral rotation and rib cage deformation in the corrective surgery of scoliosis. To develop a scoliotic spine model automatically, a special program for converting normal spine model to scoliotic spine model was developed. A mathematical finite element model of normal spine including rib cage, sternum, both clavicles, and pelvis was developed with anatomical details. The skeletal deformity of scoliosis was reconstructed, by mapping the X-ray images of a scoliosis into this three dimensional normal spine and rib cage model. The geometric mapping was performed by translating and rotating the spinal colume with the amount analyzed from the digitized 12 built-in coordinate axes in each vertebral image. By utilizing this program, problems generated in mapping procedure such as facet joint overlapping, vertebral body deformity could be automatically resolved.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.61-64
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• 2011

Upper thoracic vertebral bodies are difficult to access using standard anterior approaches. It may require sternotomy and claviculectomy, which carries significant possibility of morbidities. We report a case of inferiorly migrated cervicothoracic junction disc treated successfully by anterior upper-vertebral transcorporeal approach. This specific technique obviated the need of sternotomy, created favorable working space and saved the motion segment at cervicothoracic junction. This report is the first transcorporeal approach to a disc fragment at T1-2 space without fusion.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.64 no.5
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• pp.837-842
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• 2021

An atlantoaxial subluxation from the unstable Os odontoideum by the failure of proper integrations between the embryological somites might be a commonly reported pathology. However, its suspicious origin or paralleled occurrence with other congenital anomalies of vertebral body might be a relatively rare phenomenon. The authors present two cases, who simply presented with clinical signs of prolonged, intractable cervicalgia without any neurological deficits, revealed this rare feature of C1-2 subluxation from the unstable, orthotropic type of Os odontoideum that coincide with congenitally fused cervical vertebral bodies between C2-3. Surprisingly, in one case, when traced from the lower cervical down to the thoracic-lumbar levels during the preoperative work-up process, was also compromised with multi-level butterfly vertebrae formations. Presented cases highlight the association of various congenital vertebrae anomalies and the rationale to fuse only affected joints.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.23 no.4 s.181
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• pp.176-182
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• 2006

Although several artificial disc designs have been developed for the treatment of discogenic low back pain, biomechanical changes with its implantation were rarely studied. To evaluate the effect of artificial disc implantation on the biomechanics of functional spinal unit, a nonlinear three-dimensional finite element model of L4-L5 was developed with 1-mm CT scan data. Biomechanical analysis was performed for two different types of artificial disc having constrained and unconstrained instant center of rotation(ICR), ProDisc and SB Charite III model. The implanted model predictions were compared with that of intact model. Angular motion of vertebral body, forces on the spinal ligaments and facet joint, and stress distribution of vertebral endplate for flexion-extension, lateral bending, and axial rotation with a compressive preload of 400N were compared. The implanted model showed increased flexion-extension range of motion compared to that of intact model. Under 6Nm moment, the range of motion were 140%, 170% and 200% of intact in SB Charite III model and 133%, 137%, and 138% in ProDisc model. The increased stress distribution on vertebral endplate for implanted cases could be able to explain the heterotopic ossification around vertebral body in clinical observation. As a result of this study, it is obvious that implanted segment with artificial disc suffers from increased motion and stress that can result in accelerated degenerated change of surrounding structure. Unconstrained ICR model showed increased in motion but less stress in the implanted segment than constrained model.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.52 no.5
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• pp.435-440
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• 2012

Objective : The purpose of this study is to find the optimal stiffness and volume of bone cement and their biomechanical effects on the adjacent vertebrae to determine a better strategy for conducting vertebroplasty. Methods : A three-dimensional finite-element model of a functional spinal unit was developed using computed tomography scans of a normal motion segment, comprising the T11, T12 and L1 vertebrae. Volumes of bone cement, with appropriate mechanical properties, were inserted into the trabecular core of the T12 vertebra. Parametric studies were done by varying the volume and stiffness of the bone cement. Results : When the bone cement filling volume reached 30% of the volume of a vertebral body, the level of stiffness was restored to that of normal bone, and when higher bone cement exceeded 30% of the volume, the result was stiffness in excess of that of normal bone. When the bone cement volume was varied, local stress in the bony structures (cortical shell, trabecular bone and endplate) of each vertebra monotonically increased. Low-modulus bone cement has the effect of reducing strain in the augmented body, but only in cases of relatively high volumes of bone cement (>50%). Furthermore, varying the stiffness of bone cement has a negligible effect on the stress distribution of vertebral bodies. Conclusion : The volume of cement was considered to be the most important determinant in endplate fracture. Changing the stiffness of bone cement has a negligible effect on the stress distribution of vertebral bodies.

• Proceedings of the KOSOMBE Conference
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• v.1998 no.11
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• pp.169-170
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• 1998

In this study, regional variation in vertebral bone density due to osteoporosis were investigated using a method that employs images from QCT. QCT images(1mm thick slices) of the first lumbar vertebra from a normal person (23/M, BMD=139.8mg/ml) and from an osteoporotic patient (54/F, BMD=82.0mg/ml) were obtained. Uniform settings (140kVp, 204mA) were used and images of 300 Hounsfield Unit or greater were selectied to filler out soft tissue interference. To assess the regional variation of the area fraction the vertebral body was divided into 3 layers and each layer contained 9 regions. Area faction was calculated based on image analysis data. Our results showed that the area fraction at the middle of the vertebra was quite lower than the endplate and peripheral regions, but the area fraction values from the osteoporotic patient were uniform throughout the entire height of the vertebral body, which indicates the significant drop of BMD had occurred near both end-plates due to the osteoporosis, especially at the peripheral regions. Our results suggest the susceptability of the vertebrae to compression fracture types in osteoporotic spine.