• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2007

Objective : The purpose of this study is to determine the factors that have effects on the neurological deficit in the patients with thoracolumbar fracture. Methods : Forty-eight patients were included. Cause of injury, type of injury, time interval, combined injury, kyphotic angle, spinal canal compromise, sagittal diameter, the most narrow sagittal diameter, transverse diameter, the most narrow transverse diameter, and remained height of vertebra body were concerned as the factors. The patients with American Spinal Injury Association[ASIA] impairment scale grade A to D were considered as having neurology while others with ASIA grade E were considered to be without neurology. The patients with ASIA grade A were classified to paraplegia group and the patients with ASIA grade B to E were not thought to be paraplegia. Statistical analysis for these groups were performed. Results : Spinal canal compromise [P<0.001] have correlation with neurological deficit. The most narrow sagittal diameter was smaller in the group with deficit than that in the group without deficit [P<0.004]. Also, combined injury have correlation with neurology [P=0.028]. Spinal canal compromise [P<0.001], sagittal diameter [P=0.032], the most narrow sagittal diameter [P=0.025], and Denis type [P<0.001] also have correlation with paraplegia. Conclusion : The factors of percentage of spinal canal compromise, the most narrow sagittal diameter, and combined injury are predictive of neurological deficit. The patients with paraplegia may be predicted by the factors such as type of injury, spinal canal compromise, sagittal diameter, the most narrow sagittal diameter, and Denis type.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.224-230
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• 2011

Objective : This study aimed to show the possibility of neural canal enlargement and restoration of bony fragments through laminectomy and minimal facetectomy without pediculectomy or an anterior approach, and also to prove the adequacy of posterior stabilization of vertebral deformities after thoracolumbar bursting fracture. Methods : From January 2003 to June 2009, we experienced 45 patients with thoracolumbar burst fractures. All patients enrolled were presented with either a neural canal compromise of more than 40% with a Benzel-Larson Grade of VI, or more than 30% compromise with less than a Benzel-Larson Grade of V. Most important characteristic of our surgical procedure was repositioning retropulsed bone fragments using custom-designed instruments via laminectomy and minimal facetectomy without removing the fractured bone fragments. Beneath the dural sac, these custom-designed instruments could push the retropulsed bone fragments within the neural canal after the decompression and bone fragment repositioning. Results : The mean kyphotic deformities measured preoperatively and at follow-up within 12 months were 17.7 degrees (${\pm}6.4$ degrees) and 9.6 degrees (${\pm}5.2$ degrees), respectively. The mean midsagittal diameter improved from 8.8 mm (${\pm}2.8$ mm) before surgery to 14.2 mm (${\pm}1.6$ mm) at follow-up. The mean traumatic vertebral body height before surgery was 41.3% (${\pm}12.6%$). At follow-up assessment within 12 months, this score showed a statistically significant increase to 68.3% (${\pm}12.8%$). Neurological improvement occurred in all patients. Conclusion : Though controversy exists in the treatment of severe thoracolumbar burst fracture, we achieved effective radiological and clinical results in the cases of burst fractures causing severe canal compromise and spinal deformity by using this novel custom-designed instruments, via posterior approach alone.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.63 no.6
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• pp.794-805
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• 2020

Objective : Teriparatide is known as an effective anabolic agent not only for severe osteoporosis but also for bone healing and union. We explored the possibility of teriparatide as an alternative treatment option for osteoporotic thoracolumbar (TL) burst fracture. Methods : This retrospective study enrolled 35 female patients with mean age of 73.77±6.71 years (61-88) diagnosed as osteoporotic TL burst fracture with ≥4 of thoracolumbar injury classification and severity (TLICS) score and no neurological deficits. All patients were treated by teriparatide only (12 of group A), teriparatide plus vertebroplasty (12 of group B), or surgical fixation with fusion (11 of group C), and followed up for 12 months. Radiological outcomes were evaluated using radiological parameters including kyphotic angle (KA), segmental vertebral kyphotic angle (SVKA), compression ratio (CR), and vertebral body height (anterior [AH], middle [MH], posterior [PH]). Functional outcomes were evaluated using visual analog scale (VAS) and Macnab classification (MC). Results : There were no statistical significant differences in age, bone mineral density (-3.36±0.73), and TLICS score (4.34±0.48) among the three groups (p>0.05). Teriparatide was administered during 8.63±2.32 months in group A and B. In 12-month radiological outcomes, there were significant restoration in SVKA, CR, AH, and MH of group B and KA, SVKA, CR, AH, and MH of group C compared to group A with no radiological changes (p<0.05). All groups showed similar significant improvements in 12-month functional outcomes, although group B and C showed a better 1-month VAS, 1-month MC, 3-month MC compared to group A (p<0.05). Conclusion : Non-surgical treatment with teriparatide showed similar 12-month functional outcomes compared to surgical fixation with fusion. The additional vertebroplasty to teriparatide and surgical fixation with fusion were more helpful to improve short-term functional outcomes with structural restoration compared to teriparatide only.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.135-144
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• 1989

Celiac plexus block is recommended in patients with intractable upper abdominal cancer pain. The success rate of a celiac plexus block is variable among the authors. One of the causes of this is the anatomical variations of the celiac plexus. There has not been a study concerning anatomical observations of the celiac plexus in Korean cadavers. So, anatomical dissections were performed and observations were made of the celiac plexus and related structures in Korean cadavers. The results were as follows: 1) The subjects were 21 male bodies and 5 female bodies. The mean age at death was $69.9{\pm}15.5$ years (range 37~93). The mean height was $155.5{\pm}8.3\;cm$ (range 143~172). 2) The number of celiac ganglia ranged from 1~4. The mean numbers were $2.3{\pm}1.9$ in the right plexus and $1.9{\pm}0.8$ in the left, and the mean sizes were $18.9{\pm}7.7{\times}8.0{\pm}3.8\;mm^2$ and $18.5{\pm}8.3{\times}9.5{\pm}3.9\;mm^2$ respectively. 3) Celiac ganglia were most frequently located at the level of the upper third and middle third of L1 in both sides (65.5% in right, 64.0% in left). The vertical range of celiac ganglia ranged from 1 space, which is one third the height of one vertebral body, to 4 spaces. Mean vertical ranges were $1.5{\pm}0.6$ spaces in the right plexus and $1.6{\pm}0.7$ spaces in the left. The celiac ganglia located at the level of the upper third of L1 in the right and the lower third of L1 in the left side, had the largest vertical ranges respectively ($1.8{\pm}0.5$ spaces in right, $2.3{\pm}0.6$ spaces in left) 4) Right side celiac ganglia were located near the midline of the vertebrae compared to the left ones (mean 5.0 mm) The horizontal dimension was greater in the right ganglia ($24.2{\pm}9.2\;mm$) than in the left ganglia ($l8.8{\pm}7.0\;mm$). 5) There was no vertebral level difference between both celiac ganglia in most cases (60%). However, of the 40% of cases at different levels, in half of these (20%) the right ganglia were located higher than the left ganglia; and in the other 20%, this was reversed. 6) The origin sites of the celiac artery were most frequently in the upper third and middle third of L1 (61.6%). The celiac ganglia were usually located at the same level as the site of origin of the celiac artery (61.6% in right, 52.0% in left). 7) The vertebral level of the splanchnic nerves piercing the abdominal surface of the diaphragm was most frequently in the upper third and middle third of L1 (66.6% in right, 66.7% in left). 8) The level of the origin of diaphragmatic crura from the anterior surface of the vertebral bodies varied from the L1-L2 interspace to the L3-L4 interspace. Right crura most frequently originated at the level of the lower third of L2 to the upper third of L3 (57.6%), while left crura originated from the level of the L2-L3 interspace to the middle third of L3 (69.3%). From the above results, we realized that there were some anatomical variations of the celiac plexus and its relations to adjacent structures in Korean bodies. However, when the needle point is behind the anterior margin of the upper third of L1, it is possible to perform a successful retrocrural splanchnic nerve block.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.93-96
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• 2000

Background: Psoas compartment block with local anesthetics and corticosteroids is one of the treatments which provides long term analgesia of the lower back and anterior thigh unilaterally, and its technical easiness and safety allows blind application without C-arm guidance in the out-patient clinic. This study aimed to evaluate the mean of the depth from the skin to the psoas compartment, and its correlation to the following attributes: age, weight, height and PI (Ponderal Index). Methods: We investigated 28 patients who underwent psoas compartment block. All blocks were performed using Chayen's method (punctured at the point of 3 cm caudally and 5 cm laterally from the 4th lumbar vertebral spinous process) with a 22 G, 8 cm Tuohy needle under C-arm guidance. We recorded the depth from skin to the psoas compartment, height, weight and PI (weight (kg)/height (cm)$\times100$ (%)). Data were analyzed using the Pearson product-moment correlation coefficients. The correlations between the depth and other attributes identified by p-value of less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results: The mean depths from skin to the psoas compartment were $6.02{\pm}0.28$ cm in men, $5.44{\pm}0.22$ cm in women. There is no significant correlation between the depth and other patient's attributes. Conclusions: The mean depths from skin to the psoas compartment may be one of the guide for psoas compartment block in outpatient clinics without C-arm guidance.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.8-14
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• 2008

Objective : The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of short segment fixation following postural reduction for the re-expansion and stabilization of unstable burst fractures in patients with osteoporosis. Methods : Twenty patients underwent short segment fixation following postural reduction using a soft roll at the involved vertebra in cases of severely collapsed vertebrae of more than half their original height. All patients had unstable burst fracture with canal compromise, but their motor power was intact. The surgical procedure included postural reduction for 2 days and bone cement-augmented pedicle screw fixations at one level above, one level below and the fractured level itself. Imaging and clinical findings, including the level of the vertebra involved, vertebral height restoration, injected cement volume, local kyphosis, clinical outcome and complications were analyzed. Results : The mean follow-up period was 15 months. The mean pain score (visual analogue scale) prior to surgery was 8.1, which decreased to 2.8 at 7 days after surgery. The kyphotic angle improved significantly from $21.6{\pm}5.8^{\circ}$ before surgery to $5.2{\pm}3.7^{\circ}$ after surgery. The fraction of the height of the vertebra increased from 35% and 40% to 70% in the anterior and middle portion. There were no signs of hardware pull-out, cement leakage into the spinal canal or aggravation of kyphotic deformities. Conclusion : In the management of unstable burst fracture in patients with severe osteoporosis, short segment pedicle screw fixation with bone cement augmentation following postural reduction can be used to reduce the total levels of pedicle screw fixation and to correct kyphotic deformities.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.65 no.1
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• pp.96-106
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• 2022

Objective : The most common complication of anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) is cage subsidence and maintenance of disc height affects postoperative clinical outcomes. We considered cage subsidence as an inappropriate indicator for evaluating preservation of disc height. Thus, this study aimed to consider patients with complications such as reduced total disc height compared to that before surgery and evaluate the relevance of several factors before ACDF. Methods : We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 40 patients who underwent stand-alone single-level ACDF using a polyetheretherketone (PEEK) cage at our institution between January 2012 and December 2018. Our study population comprised 19 male and 21 female patients aged 24-70 years. The minimum follow-up period was 1 year. Twenty-seven patients had preoperative bone mineral density (BMD) data on dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Clinical parameters included sex, age, body mass index, smoking history, and prior medical history. Radiologic parameters included the C2-7 cobb angle, segmental angle, sagittal vertical axis, disc height, and total intervertebral height (TIH) at the preoperative and postoperative periods. Cage decrement was defined as the reduction in TIH at the 6-month follow-up compared to preoperative TIH. To evaluate the bone quality, Hounsfield unit (HU) value was calculated in the axial and sagittal images of conventional computed tomography. Results : Lumbar BMD values and cervical HU values were significantly correlated (r=0.733, p<0.001). We divided the patients into two groups based on cage decrement, and 47.5% of the total patients were regarded as cage decrement. There were statistically significant differences in the parameters of measuring the HU value of the vertebra and intraoperative distraction between the two groups. Using these identified factors, we performed a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Based on the ROC curve, the cut-off point was 530 at the HU value of the upper cortical and cancellous vertebrae (p=0.014; area under the curve [AUC], 0.727; sensitivity, 94.7%; specificity, 42.9%) and 22.41 at intraoperative distraction (p=0.017; AUC, 0.722; sensitivity, 85.7%; specificity, 57.9%). Using this value, we converted these parameters into a bifurcated variable and assessed the multinomial regression analysis to evaluate the risk factors for cage decrement in ACDF. Intraoperative distraction and HU value of the upper vertebral body were independent factors of postoperative subsidence. Conclusion : Insufficient intraoperative distraction and low HU value showed a strong relationship with postoperative intervertebral height reduction following single stand-alone PEEK cage ACDF.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.301-305
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• 2012

The purpose of the present study was to prove our empirical tendency of relatively high small intestinal diameter (SI) to fifth lumbar vertebral height (L5) ratio, which has been used in dogs. In this study, the ratio of SI/L5 was determined in small breed dogs weighing less than 5 kg. In addition, the effect of large volume of contrast media on the intestinal dilation was determined by performing upper gastrointestinal contrast study. Abdominal radiography and upper gastrointestinal series were performed in twelve healthy dogs weighing less than 5 kg. Small intestinal diameter (SI), fifth lumbar vertebral height (L5), and twelfth rib diameter were measured on abdominal radiographs. The range of values of SI/L5 is from 1.03 to 2.26 in plain radiography, and from 1.55 to 2.5 in contrast studies. Contrast agent significantly increased small intestinal diameter, and could be considered as mildly dilated intestinal model. Therefore, a value of 2.1 for SI/L5 is recommended as the upper limit of the normal range suggesting nonobstructive intestinal dilation.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.391-394
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• 2012

The purpose of the present study was to prove our empirical tendency of relatively high small intestinal diameter (SI) to fifth lumbar vertebral height (L5) ratio, which has been used in dogs. In this study, the ratio of SI/L5 was determined in small breed dogs weighing less than 5 kg. In addition, the effect of large volume of contrast media on the intestinal dilation was determined by performing upper gastrointestinal contrast study. Abdominal radiography and upper gastrointestinal series were performed in twelve healthy dogs weighing less than 5 kg. Small intestinal diameter (SI), fifth lumbar vertebral height (L5), and twelveth rib diameter were measured on abdominal radiographs. The range of values of SI/L5 is from 1.03 to 2.26 in plain radiography, and from 1.55 to 2.5 in contrast studies. Contrast agent significantly increased small intestinal diameter, and could be considered as mildly dilated intestinal model. Therefore, a value of 2.1 for SI/L5 is recommended as the upper limit of the normal range suggesting nonobstructive intestinal dilation.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.64 no.6
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• pp.944-949
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• 2021

Objective : The stability is an important factor to decide the treatment plan in thoracolumbar burst fracture patients. Patients with an unstable burst fracture generally need operative management. Decrease in vertebral body height, local kyphosis, involvement of posterior column, and/or canal compromise are considered important factors to determine the treatment plan. On the other hand, in thoracolumbar injury classification system (TLICS), surgery is recommended in patients with TLICS of more than 5 points. The purpose of this study was to apply the TLICS score in patients with thoracolumbar burst fractures and to distinguish the differences of treatment plan on burst fracture. Methods : All patients, diagnosed as a thoracolumbar burst fracture between January 2006 and February 2019 were included in this study. Unstable thoracolumbar burst fracture was defined as burst fracture with neurologic deficit, three-column injury, kyphosis over 30 degrees, decrease of anterior body height over 40 percent and canal comprise more than 50%. TLICS score was measured with morphology, neurological involvement and posterior ligamentous complex integrity. The existence of instability was compared with TLICS score. Results : Total 233 patients (131 men, 102 women) were included in this study. In Denis classification, 51 patients (21.9%) diagnosed as stable burst fracture while 182 patients (78.1%) had unstable burst fracture. According to TLICS, 72 patients (30.9%) scored less than 4, while 161 patients (69.1%) scored 4 or more. All the patients with stable burst fracture scored 2 in TLICS. Twenty-one patients (9.0) scored 2 in TLICS but diagnosed as unstable burst fracture. Thirteen patients had over 40% of vertebra body compression, four patients had more than 50% of canal compromise, three patients had both body compression over 40% and kyphosis over 30 degrees, one patients had both body compression and canal compromise. Fifteen patients presented kyphosis over 30 degrees, and three (20%) of them scored 2 in TLICS. Seventy-three patients presented vertebral body compression over 40% and 17 (23.3%) of them scored 2 in TLICS. Fifty-three patients presented spinal canal compromise more than 50%, and five (9.4%) of them scored 2 in TLICS. Conclusion : Although the instability of thoracolumbar burst fracture was regarded as a critical factor for operability, therapeutic strategies by TLICS do not exactly match with the concept of instability. According to the concept of TLICS, it should be reconsidered whether the unstable burst fracture truly unstable to do operation.