• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제51권4호
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• pp.203-207
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• 2012

Objective: The purpose of this prospective study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of screw fixation without bone fusion for unstable thoracolumbar and lumbar burst fracture. Methods: Nine patients younger than 40 years underwent screw fixation without bone fusion, following postural reduction using a soft roll at the involved vertebra, in cases of burst fracture. Their motor power was intact in spite of severe canal compromise. The surgical procedure included postural reduction for 3 days and screw fixations at one level above, one level below and at the fractured level itself. The patients underwent removal of implants 12 months after the initial operation, due to possibility of implant failure. Imaging and clinical findings, including canal encroachment, vertebral height, clinical outcome, and complications were analyzed. Results: Prior to surgery, the mean pain score (visual analogue scale) was 8.2, which decreased to 2.2 at 12 months after screw fixation. None of the patients complained of worsening of pain during 6 months after implant removal. All patients were graded as having excellent or good outcomes at 6 months after implant removal. The proportion of canal compromise at the fractured level improved from 55% to 35% at 12 months after surgery. The mean preoperative vertebral height loss was 45.3%, which improved to 20.6% at 6 months after implant removal. There were no neurological deficits related to neural injury. The improved vertebral height and canal compromise were maintained at 6 months after implant removal. Conclusion: Short segment pedicle screw fixation, including fractured level itself, without bone fusion following postural reduction can be an effective and safe operative technique in the management of selected young patients suffering from unstable burst fracture.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제9권2호
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• pp.344-348
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• 1996

Continuous epidural block can be useful in the management of acute and chronic pain. For the most effective analgesia, it is important to localize the tip of epidural catheter and the spread of radiopaque dye. Epidural catheterization was performed in 12 patients on the sitting position. Catheters were advanced by 10 cm cephalad in the cervical epidural space by median approach and radiopaque dye 3 ml was injected through the catheters. The position of cervical epidural catheters and the spread of dye was confirmed by radiography. The course of epidural catheter were: coiled 3/12 (25%), loop 2/12 (16.7%), straight 2/12 (16.7%). In 8 cases, the tip of epidural catheters were located within one vertebral segment from the level of insertion site. Radiopaque dye spreaded average 3.68 vertebral segment to cranially and 1.67 vertebral segment to caudally from the insertion site.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제40권1호
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• pp.47-50
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• 2006

This 51-year-old man suffered from paraparesis of 1-week history. On preoperative images, spinal cord compression by infiltrative vertebral mass was shown at T3 and T4 level. Several months earlier, he underwent surgical resection of left 2nd to 4th ribs, due to painful growing chest wall mass, which was proved to be hepatocellular carcinoma. All available diagnostic procedure failed to uncover origin of malignancy. Operation was followed by adjuvant irradiation and chemotherapy to the vertebral mass, however he only to die in 3 months after operation. This is an extremely rare case of ectopic hepatocellular carcinoma at thoracic vertebrae which showed very aggressive clinical course. Possible pathogenic process is presented and discussed.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제64권5호
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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 International Society for Simulation Surgery
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• 제3권1호
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• pp.28-32
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• 2016

Background Congenital muscular torticollis (CMT) is a benign condition. With early diagnosis and appropriate management, it can be cured completely, leaving no residual deformity. However, long-standing, untreated CMT can lead to permanent craniofacial deformities and asymmetry.Methods Nineteen patients presented to the author with congenital muscular torticollis. Three dimensional computed tomography (3-D CT) scans was obtained upon patient’s admission. Adjustment of skull’s position to Frankfort horizontal plan was done. Cervical vertebral segmentation was done which allowed a 3D module to be separately created for each vertebra to detect any anatomical or positional changes.Results The segmented vertebrae showed an apparent anatomical changes, which were most noticeable at the level of the atlas and axis vertebrae. These changes decreased gradually till reaching the seventh cervical vertebra, which appeared to be normal in all patients. The changes in the atlas vertebra were mostly due to its intimate relation with the skull base, while the changes of the axis were the most significantConclusion Cervical vertebral segmentation is a reliable tool for isolation and studying cervical vertebral pathological changes of each vertebra separately. The accuracy of the procedures in addition to the availability of many software that can be used for segmentation will allow many surgeons to use segmentation of the vertebrae for diagnosis and even for preoperative simulation planning.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제39권2호
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• pp.92-95
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• 2006

Objective : Severe vertebral body collapse [vertebra plana] is considered a contraindication to vertebroplasty by most authors. The purpose of this study is to determine the efficacy of vertebroplasty in treating severe compression fracture patients with osteoporosis. Methods : 16 patients underwent 18 vertebroplasties following postural reduction for vertebra plana. The fractures were defined vertebrae that have collapsed to more than 75% of their original height. Imaging and clinical features were analyzed, including involved vertebrae level, vertebral height after postural reduction for 2 days, injected cement volume, clinical outcome and complications. Results : Involved veretebra were located from level T7 to L4. Vertebral body collapse averaged 79% [range $12{\sim}25%$] of the original height. After pillow reduction for 2 days, vertebral body height increased 35% of the original height [range $15{\sim}45%$]. The kyphotic wedge was $12^{\circ}$ before procedure and was decreased $7.0^{\circ}$ after vertebroplasty. The mean injected cement volume was 3.8ml [range $2.0{\sim}4.9ml$]. After the procedure, surgical outcome was excellent in 8 [50%] of 16 patients, good in 7 [42%] and unchanged in one [8%]. The mean pain score [VAS score] prior to vertebroplasty was 8.3 and it changed 3.2 after the procure. Cement leakage to the adjacent disc [5 cases] and paravertebral soft tissues [4 cases] developed but there were no major complications. Conclusion : We propose that vertebra plana due to osteoporosis is not a contraindication to vertebroplasty. Vertebroplasty following postural reduction for severe compression fracture is safe and effective treatment.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• 제27권4호
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• pp.186-191
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• 2014

Purpose: The objectives of this study were to assess pain relief according to the time after kyphoplasty and to evaluate the factors affecting pain relief after kyphoplasty in the treatment of a single-level osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture. Methods: A retrospective review of 34 kyphoplasties for single-level osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures was performed. Pain relief was assessed by using the visual analogue scale (VAS) at preoperatively and postoperatively at 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months. Associated factors, including age, sex, pain duration, bone mineral density, and cement leakage, were evaluated using the patients' medical records. Statistical analyses were conducted using the paired t-test to assess pain relief and using the independent t-test and Pearson's correlation coefficient to evaluate the relationship between those factors and pain relief. Results: Preoperatively, the mean VAS score was 7.06. Postoperatively, it declined to 3.66 (p=0.001), 2.81 (p=0.001) and 2.24 (p=0.001) at 6 weeks, 3 months and 6 months, respectively. Also, statistically significant pain relief was observed during the periods from 6 weeks to 3 months (p=0.001) and from 3 months to 6 months (p=0.001). However, reduction of the VAS score showed no significant correlation with age, sex, pain duration, bone mineral density, or cement leakage (p>0.05). Conclusion: Our study suggests that a kyphoplasty may be effective in osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture patients with acute pain and that after the kyphoplasty, pain is reduced remarkably for 6 weeks and then continuously for 6 months.

• 대한정형도수물리치료학회지
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• 제29권3호
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• pp.73-84
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• 2023

Background: This study aimed to compare pressure pain thresholds (PPTs) in the vertebral segments between patients with chronic lower back pain (CLBP) and healthy participants without back pain and to determine the correlation between vertebral bone-segment PPT and pain level, lower back pain dysfunction, and psychological status in patients with CLBP. Methods: The subjects of this study were 23 healthy adults and 23 adults with CLBP. PPT was measured in 23 spinal bone segments using a PPT device, and the CLBP group was subjected to a pain level test (NRS) and a psychological test using the Korean version of the pain catastrophizing scale (KPCS). The functional level was assessed using the Korean version of the Oswestry disability index (KODI). Results: PPTs of the spinal sclerotomes were significantly lower in patients with CLBP than in healthy participants. In the CLBP group, the composite score of lumbar PPTs showed a high correlation with the composite scores for all segments, but not with the pain level (NRS), KPCS score, and spinal sclerotome PPT. Moreover, PPT in the sacral sclerotomes showed a significant negative correlation coefficient with function, with a KODI score of -.462 (p<.01). Conclusion: In this study, PPTs in all spinal segments in patients with CLBP was significantly lower than that in healthy subjects. The PPTs of the lumbar region was significantly correlated with the PPTs of other spinal regions. Through this study, it was found that there were changes in PPTs in CLBP patients not only in the lumbar region but also in other spinal regions. This information should be considered during clinical treatment of patients with low back pain.

• 대한물리의학회지
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• 제7권3호
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• pp.303-308
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• 2012

Purpose : The purpose of this study is to define the change of lumbar asymmetry multifidus muscles when upper extremity PNF pattern. Methods : For this research, twenty-nine asymptomatic participants were voluntary attended. Under the identical conditions, Multifidus muscles were measured standing position and on L4,L5 vertebral level by MyLabOne (ESAOTE, Netherland with a 3.5MHz covex array transducer). The upper extrimity PNF pattern used to activate the multifidus ipsilateral and cotralateral. Results : Results of analysis showed that at the L4, L5 vertebral level, healthy asymtomativ subjects had asymmetry multifidus muscles size. The depth of the multifidus muscles were significantly increased at contralateral upper extrimity PNF pattern, but no significant differences were comparison ipsilateral with contralateral. Conclusion : The multifidus muscle in asymptomatic subjects clinical significance asymmetry. Contralateral upper extrimity PNF pattern seems to be the most suitable exercise for strenthen the smaller size of the multifidus. This study will be used as a prevention method of LBP.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제52권4호
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• pp.339-345
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• 2012

Objective : The purpose of this study was to investigate the patterns and the risk factors of newly developed vertebral compression fractures (VCFs) after percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP). Methods : We performed a retrospective review of the 244 patients treated with PVP from September 2006 to February 2011. Among these patients, we selected 49 patients with newly developed VCFs following PVP as the new VCFs group, and the remaining 195 patients as the no VCFs group. The new VCFs group was further divided into 2 groups : an adjacent fractures group and a nonadjacent fractures group. The following data were collected from the groups : age, gender, body weight/height, body mass index (BMI), bone mineral density (BMD) score of the spine and femur, level of initial fracture, restoration rate of anterior/middle vertebral height, and intradiscal cement leakage, volume of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA). Results : Age, gender, mean body height/weight, mean BMI and volume of PMMA of each of the group are not statistically significantly associated with fractures. In comparison between the new VCFs group and the no VCFs group, lower BMD, intradiscal cement leakage and anterior vertebral height restoration were the significant predictive factors of the fracture. In addition, new VCFs occurrence at the adjacent spines was statistically significant, when the initial fracture levels were confined to the thoracolumbar junction, among the subgroups of new VCFs. Conclusion : Lower spinal BMD, the greater anterior vertebral height restoration rate and intradiscal cement leakage were confirmed as risk factors for newly formed VCFs after PVP.