• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제14권2호
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• pp.199-206
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• 2001

Background: The lumbar sympathetic ganglia are variable in both position and numbers. The aim of this study was to detect the appropriate lumbar vertebral level where the lumbar sympathetic ganglia primarily aggregate. Methods: Forty patients comprising of hyperhidrosis (26 cases), complex regional pain syndrome (10 cases), peripheral artery occlusion disease (3 cases) and postherpetic neuralgia (1 case) underwent lumbar sympathetic block. We randomly selected one of two (L2 or L3) levels and the L4 level. The position of the needle tip and distribution of dye was verified by injection of a mixture of radio-opaque dye (1.5 ml) and 4% lidocaine (1.5 ml) and subsequently confirmed by L-spine anteroposterior and a lateral view X-ray. We considered the response positive when the skin temperature increased more than $1^{\circ}C$ in 5 min. Results: In general, the positive response ratio was greater when the needle tip located at the L2 or L4 level vice L3 and when the drug was distributed on the lower half of the L4 body and in the L4/5 intervertebral disc space. In a right side block, the positive response ratio was greater when the drug was distributed on the lower half of the L4 body and in the L4/5 intervertebral disc space, although in a left side block there was no significant difference seen between the levels. The complications of the neurolytic block were alcohol neuritis (7.5%) and hypoesthesia (5%) on the L1 or L2 dermatome. Conclusions: The best effect with least chance of complication may be induced by spreading the drug on the lower half of the L4 body and/or into the L4/5 intervertebral disc space by placing the needle tip on the L4 body.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제46권4호
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• pp.292-299
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• 2009

Objective : Clinical and radiological results of posterior dynamic stabilization using interspinous U (ISU, $Coflex^{TM}$, Paradigm Spine $Inc.^{(R)}$, NY, USA) were analyzed in comparison with posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) in degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS). Methods : A retrospective study was conducted for a consecutive series of 61 patients with degenerative LSS between May 2003 and December 2005. We included only the patients completed minimum 24 months follow up evaluation. Among them, 30 patients were treated with implantation of ISU after decompressive laminectomy (Group ISU) and 31 patients were treated with wide decompressive laminectomy and posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF; Group PLIF). We evaluated visual analogue scale (VAS) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) for clinical outcomes (VAS, ODI), disc height ratio disc height (DH), disc height/vertebral body length ${\times}100$), static vertebral slip (VS) and depth of maximal radiolucent gap between ISU and spinous process) in preoperative, immediate postoperative and last follow up. Results : The mean age of group ISU ($66.2{\pm}6.7$ years) was 6.2 years older than the mean age of group PLIF ($60.4{\pm}8.1$ years; p=0.003). In both groups, clinical measures improved significantly than preoperative values (p<0.001). Operation time and blood loss was significantly shorter and lower in group ISU than group PLIF (p<0.001). In group ISU, the DH increased transiently in immediate postoperative period ($15.7{\pm}4.5%{\rightarrow}18.6{\pm}5.9%$), however decreased significantly in last follow up ($13.8{\pm}6.6%$, p=0.027). Vertebral slip (VS) of spondylolisthesis in group ISU increased during postoperative follow-up ($2.3{\pm}3.3{\rightarrow}8.7{\pm}6.2$, p=0.040). Meanwhile, the postoperatively improved DH and VS was maintained in group PLIF in last follow up. Conclusion : According to our result, implantation of ISU after decompressive laminectomy in degenerative LSS is less invasive and provides similar clinical outcome in comparison with the instrumented fusion. However, the device has only transient effect on the postoperative restoration of disc height and reduction of slip in spondylolisthesis. Therefore, in the biomechanical standpoint, it is hard to expect that use of Interspinous U in decompressive laminectomy for degenerative LSS had long term beneficial effect.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제62권5호
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• pp.594-602
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• 2019

Objective : Although surgical intervention, such as percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP), is the standard treatment for osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCFs), its effectiveness and safety are unclear. Therefore, this study compared the safety and efficacy of conservative treatment with that of PVP for acute OVCFs. Methods : Patients with single-level OVCFs who were treated conservatively with a transdermal fentanyl patch (TFP) or with PVP between March 2013 and December 2017 and followed-up for more than 1 year were retrospectively evaluated. Patients with pathologic fractures, fractures of more than two columns, or a history of PVP were excluded. Clinical outcomes (visual analog scale [VAS] scores) and radiographic factors were evaluated, including changes in the compression rate of the corresponding vertebral body at onset and after 12 months, sagittal Cobb angle at onset and after 6 and 12 months, and the incidence of adjacent compression fractures. Results : Of the 131 patients evaluated, 75 were treated conservatively using TFPs and 56 underwent PVP. We divided the patients into TFP and PVP groups. Their baseline characteristics (including sex, level of fracture, and bone mineral density T-scores) were similar, but the TFP group was significantly younger. The overall VAS score for pain showed a greater decrease during the first month (1 week after PVP) in the PVP group but remained similar in the two groups thereafter. The compression rate after 12 months increased in the TFP group but decreased in the PVP group. Five patients in the PVP group, but none in the TFP group, experienced adjacent compression fractures within 12 months. Conclusion : We compared clinical and radiological outcomes between the TFP and PVP groups. The immediate pain reduction effect was superior in the PVP group, but the final clinical outcome was similar. Although the PVP group had a better-preserved compression rate than the TFP group for 1 year, the development of adjacent fractures was significantly higher. Although TFPs seemed to be beneficial in reducing the failure rate of conservative treatment, the possibility of side effects (22.6%, 17 out of 75 patients, in this study) should be carefully monitored.

• 대한정형외과학회지
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• 제54권4호
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• pp.336-342
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• 2019

목적: 자기공명영상(magnetic resonance imaging, MRI)을 이용하여 보존적 치료를 시행한 흉요추부 골다공증성 압박 골절 환자에서 후만 변형의 예측 인자를 조사하고자 하였다. 대상 및 방법: 2007년 1월부터 2016년 3월까지 흉요추 압박 골절 의심하에 진료를 본 환자들 중 보존적 치료를 시행한 환자를 따로 분류하였고 그들 중 골밀도 -2.0 미만의 골감소증 및 골다공증, 단일 분절 골절을 가진 환자 89명을 대상으로 후향적 연구를 시행하였다. 골절된 척추체에서 전·후종 인대 손상, 상부 또는 하부 종판 파열, 상부 또는 하부 추간판 손상, T2 강조 영상에서 저 신호 강도의 존재, 척추체의 골 부종 정도를 MRI를 통해 확인하였다. 결과: 상부 종판이 파열된 사례나 척추체 골 부종 수준이 높은 사례의 경우 후만각, 설상각, 전방 척추 압박이 현저하게 진행되었다. 전종 인대 손상이나 상부 추간판 손상이 있는 경우에는 후만각만 현저하게 진행되었다. T2 강조 영상에서 저 신호 강도의 병변을 보인 경우 설상각과 전방 척추 압박이 높게 나타났다. 그러나 후종 인대 손상과 하부 종판 파열 및 하부 추간판 손상의 경우는 후만 변형 및 척추 압박의 진행과 유의미한 상관관계는 없었다. 후만각이 5° 이상 증가될 위험 요인으로는 전종 인대의 손상 유무, 상부 종판 파열, 상부 추간판 손상이 있는데 손상 받지 않은 사례에 비해 각각 21.3, 5.1, 8.5배 위험했고 골 부종 수준에 따라 각각 위험도가 달랐다. 결론: 골감소증 및 흉요추부 골다공증성 압박 골절일지라도 전종 인대 손상, 상부 종판 및 추간판 손상 또는 MRI상 높은 수준의 부종이 있을 경우 후만 변형의 위험도가 증가한다.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제30권3호
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• pp.272-277
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• 2001

Polymethylmethacrylate(PMMA)는 척추 전적출술후에 척추를 재건하기 위해 사용되지만 액체 형태의 PMMA가 응고하면서 발생되는 열은 척수 신경의 열 손상 가능성을 가지고 있다. 이 연구의 목적은 이미 응고된 PMMA sheet가 척수 신경을 보호하는 방어 벽으로서의 열 차단 역할을 할 수 있는지 또한 열손상으로부터 신경을 보호하기 위해 필요한 방어벽의 최소한의 두께를 탐구하는 데 있다. 실험실에서 제 12번째 흉추체 전 적출후의 상태와 동일한 크기와 모양의 정육면체의 용기를 제작하였다. 60ml의 액체형 PMMA를 용기 안에 주입하여 응고하는 PMMA중심부와 세 가지 다른 두께의(제 1 군 : 0mm, 제 2 군 : 5mm, 제 3 군 : 8mm) 이미 응고된 PMMA sheet의 하부(척수의 전면을 의미)에서 온도를 측정하였다. 또한 이 결과에 대한 위의 세 가지 군에 대해 열역학적 분석도 시행하였다. 응고하는 PMMA 덩이의 중심부에서의 온도는 18회의 실험 동안 매우 일정하여($106.8{\pm}3.9^{\circ}C$)이 실험 모델의 재현성을 보여주고 있었다. 방어 벽이 없는 군(제 1 군)에서 척수 신경 전면의 최고 온도가 $60.3^{\circ}C$이었으나 5mm군 (제 2 군)과 8mm군(제 3 군)에서는 각각 $47.3^{\circ}C$와 $43.3^{\circ}C$로 이미 응고된 PMMA는 통계적으로 유의한(p<0.00005) 온도 차단 효과를 보였다. 최고 온도에 도달하기까지의 계산된 시간은 실제 실험치 보다 35%이내의 오차를 보였으나 최고 온도에 대한 열역학적인 계산치는 실제 실험에서 나타난 수치의 1%이내의 오차를 보였다. 이상의 열역학적인 자료를 토대로 볼 때, PMMA를 이용한 척추의 재건술에서 PMMA 방어벽은 척수의 열손상을 방지하는 효과가 있으며, 이 실험에서 가정한 척수의 열손상 역치인 $39^{\circ}C$이하로 척수 온도를 유지하기 위해 필요한 PMMA방어벽의 두께는 10mm정도로 계산되었다. PMMA 방어벽의 임상 적용에 대해서는 추가적인 임상 실험이 필요하다고 사료된다.

• 대한방사선기술학회지:방사선기술과학
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• 제36권4호
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• pp.273-280
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• 2013

흉추 측면검사에서의 T-spine breathing technique을 실제 임상에서 사용되고 있는 4가지 검출기인 computer radiography (CR), charge coupled device (CCD), indirect digital radiography (IDR)와 direct digital radiography (DDR)을 사용하여 임상 유용성을 넓히고자 하였다. 화질 평가는 흉추 측면검사의 평가요소 중 5곳 (극돌기, 추궁근, 추체, 추간공, 추간)을 Image J 프로그램을 이용하여 관심영역을 정하고 신호 평균값과 표준편차를 구하여 대조도 잡음비와 신호 대 잡음비를 측정하여 비교하였다. 실험결과 4가지 검출기에서 T-spine breathing technique에서 극돌기, 추궁근, 추체, 추간공, 추간의 5곳 구조에서 우수하게 나타났다. 기존의 T-spine exhalation technique에 비해 T-spine breathing technique으로 촬영한 영상은 우수한 화질을 제공하므로 추후 심호기가 어려운 고령환자들에게 유용한 방법이라 사료된다. 그리고 4가지 검출기에서 contrast to noise ratio (CNR)와 signal to noise ratio (SNR) 같은 정량적인 수치를 제시함으로써 T-spine breathing technique의 적용 가능성을 나타내었다.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제62권4호
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• pp.442-449
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• 2019

Objective : Bone mineral density (BMD) is an important consideration during fusion surgery. Although dual X-ray absorptiometry is considered as the gold standard for assessing BMD, quantitative computed tomography (QCT) provides more accurate data in spine osteoporosis. However, QCT has the disadvantage of additional radiation hazard and cost. The present study was to demonstrate the utility of artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithm for assessing osteoporosis using Hounsfield units (HU) of preoperative lumbar CT coupling with data of QCT. Methods : We reviewed 70 patients undergoing both QCT and conventional lumbar CT for spine surgery. The T-scores of 198 lumbar vertebra was assessed in QCT and the HU of vertebral body at the same level were measured in conventional CT by the picture archiving and communication system (PACS) system. A multiple regression algorithm was applied to predict the T-score using three independent variables (age, sex, and HU of vertebral body on conventional CT) coupling with T-score of QCT. Next, a logistic regression algorithm was applied to predict osteoporotic or non-osteoporotic vertebra. The Tensor flow and Python were used as the machine learning tools. The Tensor flow user interface developed in our institute was used for easy code generation. Results : The predictive model with multiple regression algorithm estimated similar T-scores with data of QCT. HU demonstrates the similar results as QCT without the discordance in only one non-osteoporotic vertebra that indicated osteoporosis. From the training set, the predictive model classified the lumbar vertebra into two groups (osteoporotic vs. non-osteoporotic spine) with 88.0% accuracy. In a test set of 40 vertebrae, classification accuracy was 92.5% when the learning rate was 0.0001 (precision, 0.939; recall, 0.969; F1 score, 0.954; area under the curve, 0.900). Conclusion : This study is a simple machine learning model applicable in the spine research field. The machine learning model can predict the T-score and osteoporotic vertebrae solely by measuring the HU of conventional CT, and this would help spine surgeons not to under-estimate the osteoporotic spine preoperatively. If applied to a bigger data set, we believe the predictive accuracy of our model will further increase. We propose that machine learning is an important modality of the medical research field.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제64권1호
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• pp.4-12
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• 2021

Spinal metastases can present with varying degrees of mechanical instability. The Spinal Instability Neoplastic Score (SINS) was developed as a tool to assess spinal neoplastic-related instability while helping to guide referrals among oncology specialists. Some previous papers suggested that the SINS was accurate and reliable, while others disagreed with this opinion. We performed a systematic review regarding the SINS to evaluate its accuracy and precision in predicting vertebral compression fractures (VCFs). The 21 included studies investigated a total of 2118 patients. Thirteen studies dealt with the accuracy of SINS to predict post-radiotherapy VCFs, and eight dealt with the precision. Among 13 studies, 11 agreed that the SINS categories showed statistically significant accuracy in predicting VCF. Among eight studies, body collapse was effective for predicting VCFs in six studies, and alignment and bone lesion in two studies. Location has no statistical significance in predicting VCFs in any of the eight studies. The precision of SINS categories was substantial to excellent in six of eight studies. Among the six components of the SINS, the majority of the included studies reported that location showed near perfect agreement; body collapse, alignment, and posterolateral involvement showed moderate agreement; and bone lesion showed fair agreement. Bone lesion showed significant accuracy in predicting VCFs in half of eight studies, but displayed fair reliability in five of seven studies. Although location was indicated as having near perfect reliability, the component showed no accuracy for predicting VCFs in any of the studies and deleting or modifying the item needs to be considered. The SINS system may be accurate and reliable in predicting the occurrence of post-radiotherapy VCFs for spinal metastasis. Some components seem to be substantially weak and need to be revised.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제65권1호
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• pp.74-83
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• 2022

Objective : Oblique lumbar interbody fusion (OLIF) is a surgical technique that utilizes a large interbody cage to indirectly decompress neural elements. The position of the cage relative to the vertebral body could affect the degree of foraminal decompression. Previous studies determined the position of the cage using plain radiographs, with conflicting results regarding the influence of the position of the cage to the degree of neural foramen decompression. Because of the cage obliquity, computed tomography (CT) has better accuracy than plain radiograph for the measurement of the obliquely inserted cage. The objective of this study is to find the correlation between the position of the OLIF cage with the degree of indirect decompression of foraminal stenosis using CT and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Methods : We review imaging of 46 patients who underwent OLIF from L2-L5 for 68 levels. Segmental lordosis (SL) was measured in a plain radiograph. The positions of the cage were measured in CT. Spinal canal cross-sectional area (SCSA), and foraminal crosssectional area (FSCA) measurements using MRI were taken into consideration. Results : Patients' mean age was 69.7 years. SL increases 3.0±5.1 degrees. Significant increases in SCSA (33.3%), FCSA (43.7% on the left and 45.0% on the right foramen) were found (p<0.001). Multiple linear regression analysis shows putting the cage in the more posterior position correlated with more increase of FSCA and decreases SL correction. The position of the cage does not affect the degree of the central spinal canal decompression. Obliquity of the cage does not result in different degrees of foraminal decompression between right and left side neural foramen. Conclusion : Cage position near the posterior part of the vertebral body increases the decompression effect of the neural foramen while putting the cage in the more anterior position correlated with increases SL.

• 대한정형외과학회지
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• 제56권4호
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• pp.283-293
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• 2021

퇴행성 추간판 질환은 전통적으로 수핵과 섬유륜의 변화에 따른 요통으로 생각되어 왔으나, 최근 연구들에서 추간판을 이루고 있는 상·하 종판의 변화가 추간판의 퇴행을 유발하고, 그 결과로 기계적 압박과 염증 반응에 의해 요통이 유발된다고 한다. 또한 최근에는 추체 골수-종판-수핵과 섬유륜을 하나의 단위로 생각하고, 그 연관성을 설명하고 있다. 종판이 손상되면 결국 추체, 수핵과 섬유륜의 퇴행성 변화를 가중시킨다. 이 과정에서 섬유륜에 가해지는 압박력이 증가하고, 염증성 매개 물질들에 의한 염증 반응이 일어나서, 동척추 신경(sinuvertebral nerve)과 기저추 신경(basivertebral nerve)이 자극을 받으면서 요통을 발생시킨다. 이런 변화가 만성화되면, 추체 내 골수에도 Modic 변화 같은 퇴행성 변화가 발생하게 된다. 결국, 퇴행성 추간판 질환은 추체 골수-종판-수핵과 섬유륜을 하나의 단위로 연관지어서 생각해야 할 필요가 있다. 그러므로 만성 요통 환자 진료 시에는 수핵과 섬유륜의 변화 소견뿐 아니라, 종판의 병변에 관심을 가질 필요가 있다고 생각된다.