• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.60 no.2
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• pp.220-224
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• 2017

Objective : This study aimed to unravel the putative mechanism underlying the neurologic deficits contralateral to the side with lumbar disc herniation (LDH) and to elucidate the treatment for this condition. Methods : From January 2009 to June 2015, 8 patients with LDH with predominantly contralateral neurologic deficits underwent surgical treatment on the side with LDH with or without decompressing the symptomatic side. A retrospective review of charts and radiological records of these 8 patients was performed. The putative mechanisms underlying the associated contralateral neurological deficits, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), electromyography (EMG), and the adequate surgical approach are discussed here. Results : MRI revealed a similar laterally skewed paramedian disc herniation, with the apex deviated from the symptomatic side rather than directly compressing the nerve root; this condition may generate a contralateral traction force. EMG revealed radiculopathies in both sides of 6 patients and in the herniated side of 2 patients. Based on EMG findings and the existence of suspicious lateral recess stenosis of the symptomatic side, 6 patients underwent bilateral decompression of nerve roots and 2 were subjected to a microscopic discectomy to treat the asymptomatic disc herniation. No specific conditions such as venous congestion, nerve root anomaly or epidural lipomatosis were observed, which may be considered the putative pathomechanism causing the contralateral neurological deficits. The symptoms resolved significantly after surgery. Conclusion : The traction force generated on the contralateral side and lateral recess stenosis, rather than direct compression, may cause the contralateral neurologic deficits observed in LDH.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.36-43
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• 2011

Background: Nucleoplasty is a minimally invasive spinal surgery using a $Coblation^{(R)}$ technique that creates small voids within the disc. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of cervical nucleoplasty in patients with cervical disc disorder. Methods: Between March 2008 and December 2009, 22 patients with cervical disc disorders were treated with cervical nucleoplasty after failed conservative treatment. All procedures were performed under local anesthesia, and fluoroscopic guidance and voids were created in the disc with the $Perc^{TM}$ DC Spine $Wand^{TM}$. Clinical outcomes were evaluated by the Modified Macnab criteria and VAS score at preprocedure, postprocedure 1 month, and 6 months. Results: Six patients had one, eight patients had two and eight patients had three discs treated; a total of 46 procedures was performed. Mean VAS reduced from 9.3 at preprocedure to 3.7 at postprocedure 1 month and to 3.4 at postprocedure 6 months. There was no significant complication related to the procedure within the first month. Outcomes were good or excellent in 17/22 (77.3%) cases. Postprocedure magnetic resonance imaging was acquired in two patients after two months showing morphologic evidence of volume reduction of protruded disc material in one patient but not in the other. Conclusions: Percutaneous decompression with a nucleoplasty using a $Coblation^{(R)}$ technique in the treatment of cervical disc disorder is a safe, minimally-invasive and less uncomfortable procedure, with an excellent short-term clinical outcome.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.30 no.sup2
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• pp.235-241
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• 2001

Objective : Controversy exists which surgical treatment better in lumbar grade I spondylolisthesis, decompressive laminectomy with or without lumbar instrumentation. Methods : Out of Sixty-four patients with lumbar spondylolisthesis underwent surgery, 18 patients operated with decompressive laminectomy alone and 44 patients with decompession and lumbar instrument, during recent 5-years between January, 1994 and December, 1998. The author studied a long term follow-up in the above two groups to analyzing the overall clinical outcomes in each group and to determining the incidence of pos-toperative radiologic instability. Results : 1) Overall postoperative symptoms improvement were not so different in both groups. 2) Postoperative progressive subluxation is more common after decompressive laminectomy without instrumentation than with instrumentation group. 3) Overall clinical outcomes were slightly better in decompressive laminectomy without instrumentation than with instrumentation group but there was no significant difference. 4) Postoperative radiologic changes did not seem to influence the patient-reported clinical outcomes. 5) Postoperative complications is more common in decompressive laminectomy with instrumentation group than without instrumentation group. Conclusion : In the surgical management of grade I spondylolisthesis, the efficiency and superiority of surgical treatments requires the cost effectiveness and risk/benefit analysis of decompressive laminectomy with or without instrumentation. Therefore, Further detailed studies of long term follow up in a large number of patients in each group are needed for choice of best treatment.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.336-339
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• 2005

Objective: The goal of this study is to establish the anatomical criteria of the normal and stenotic lumbosacral extraforaminal tunnel, and also to determine the effect of the pathologic intervertebral disc on the size of extraforaminal tunnel in the lumbosacral spine. Methods: MRI and CT scans were reviewed and classified into two groups: (1) 40 patients with normal discs at L5- S1 (Group 1) and (2) 43 patients that had undergone successful decompression surgery for extraforaminal entrapment at the lumbosacral region(Group 2). In these two groups, the following parameters were compared are compared: the distance between the disc margin and the ala (lumbosacral tunnel) on the axial MRI, and the posterior disc height at L5-S1 on the mid-sagittal MRI. Results: In the group 1, the mean distance of the lumbosacral tunnel on the axial MRI was $10.1{\pm}2.2mm$. The mean posterior disc height at L5-S1 was $7.4{\pm}1.7mm$ on the mid-sagittal MRI. In the group 2, the mean distance between the disc margin and the ala (costal process) was $1.6{\pm}1.3mm$ on the axial MRI. The average posterior disc height was $4.4{\pm}1.5mm$ on the mid-sagittal MRI. The posterior disc height and the size of the lumbosacral tunnel between the two groups were statistically different on the paired t-test (p<0.0001). However, the posterior disc height was not positively correlated with the size of the extraforaminal tunnel for group 2 (p=0.909). Conclusion: The extraforaminal stenosis was correlated to pathologic disc. However, the posterior disc height was not correlated to the size of the of the extraforaminal tunnel.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.55 no.3
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• pp.142-147
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• 2014

Objective : A thoracolumbar burst fracture is usually unstable and can cause neurological deficits and angular deformity. Patients with unstable thoracolumbar burst fracture usually need surgery for decompression of the spinal canal, correction of the angular deformity, and stabilization of the spinal column. We compared two struts, titanium mesh cages (TMCs) and expandable cages. Methods : 33 patients, who underwent anterior thoracolumbar reconstruction using either TMCs (n=16) or expandable cages (n=17) between June 2000 and September 2011 were included in this study. Clinical outcome was measured by visual analogue scale (VAS), American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) scale and Low Back Outcome Score (LBOS) for functional neurological evaluation. The Cobb angle, body height of the fractured vertebra, the operation time and amount of intra-operative bleeding were measured in both groups. Results : In the expandable cage group, operation time and amount of intraoperative blood loss were lower than that in the TMC group. The mean VAS scores and LBOS in both groups were improved, but no significant difference. Cobb angle was corrected higher than that in expandable cage group from postoperative to the last follow-up. The change in Cobb angles between preoperative, postoperative, and the last follow-up did not show any significant difference. There was no difference in the subsidence of anterior body height between both groups. Conclusion : There was no significant difference in the change in Cobb angles with an inter-group comparison, the expandable cage group showed better results in loss of kyphosis correction, operation time, and amount of intraoperative blood loss.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.64 no.4
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• pp.552-561
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• 2021

Objective : To compare the anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) and posterior cervical fusion (PCF) with wide facetectomy in the treatment of parallel-shaped bony foraminal stenosis (FS). Methods : Thirty-six patients underwent surgery due to one-or-two levels of parallel-shaped cervical FS. ACDF was performed in 16 patients, and PCF using CPS was performed in 20 patients. All patients were followed up at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. Standardized outcome measures such as Numeric rating scale (NRS) score for arm/neck pain and Neck disability index (NDI) were evaluated. Cervical radiographs were used to compare the C2-7 Cobb's angle, segmental angle, and fusion rates. Results : There was an improvement in NRS scores after both approaches for radicular arm pain (mean change -6.78 vs. -8.14, p=0.012), neck pain (mean change -1.67 vs. -4.36, p=0.038), and NDI score (-19.69 vs. -18.15, p=0.794). The segmental angle improvement was greater in the ACDF group than in the posterior group (9.4°±2.7° vs. 3.3°±5.1°, p=0.004). However, there was no significant difference in C2-7 Cobb angle between groups (16.2°±7.9° vs. 14.8°±8.5°, p=0.142). As a complication, dysphagia was observed in one case of the ACDF group. Conclusion : In the treatment of parallel-shaped bony FS up to two surgical levels, segmental angle improvement was more favorable in patients who underwent ACDF. However, PCF with wide facetectomy using CPS should be considered as an alternative treatment option in cases where the anterior approach is burdensome.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.77-82
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• 2007

Objective : The authors tried to reveal some unique features of lipomeningomyelocele (LMMC), including clinical presentation, factors precipitating onset of symptoms, pathologic entities of LMMC associated with tethered cord syndrome, and surgical outcome in LMMC patients. Methods : Seventy-five patients with LMMC were enrolled in this study. Neuro-imaging and intraoperative findings allowed classification of LMMC into three Types. The patients were divided into two groups by age : A (51 patients), from birth to 3 years, and B (24 patients), from 3 to 24 years. For prevention of retethering of the cord, a mega-dural sac rebuilding procedure was performed in 15 patients. Results : During a mean postoperative follow-up period of 4 years, the surgical outcome was satisfactory in terms of improved pain and motor weakness, but disappointing with reference to the resolution of bowel and bladder dysfunction. Among these 75 patients with LMMC, preoperative deficits were improved after surgery in 29 (39%), remained stable in 28 (37%), changed slightly in 13 (17%), and worsened in 5 (7%). Patients in group A achieved better outcomes than those in group B. Depending on the type of lesion, patients with types I and II LMMC have better outcomes than those with type III LMMC. Finally, retethering of the cord with neurological deterioration occurred in 4 (5.3%) of the 75 patients, but no retethering was found in the 15 patients who were recently treated with a mega-dural sac rebuilding procedure. Conclusion : Our data continue to support the opinion that early diagnosis and optimal surgery are still essential for the treatment of patients with LMMC, since there is a high likelihood of residual neurological functions that can be preserved. Based on our surgical experience of untethering and decompression of lipomas, a mega-dural sac repair is useful to prevent retethering of the cord.

• Proceedings of the KOSOMBE Conference
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• v.1997 no.05
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• pp.374-378
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• 1997

Operative procedures such as core drilling with and without fibular bone grafting have been recognized as the treatment methods for osteonecrosis of femoral head(ONFH) by delaying or preventing the collapse of the femoral head. In addition, core drilling with cementation using polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) has been proposed recently as another surgical method. However, no definite treatment modality has been found yet while operative procedures remain controversial to many clinicians In this study, a finite element method(FEM) was employed to analyze and compare various surgical procedures of ONFH to provide a biomechanical insight. This study was based upon biomechanical findings which suggest stress concentration within the femoral head may facilitate the progression of the necrosis and eventual collapse. For this purpose, five anatomically relevant hip models were constructed in three dimensions : they were (1) intact(Type I), (2) necrotic(Type II), (3) core drilled only(Type III), (4) core drilled with fibular bone graft(Type IV), and (5) core drilled with cementation(Type V). Physiologically relevant loading were simulated. Resulting stresses were calculated. Our results showed that the volumetric percentage subjected to high stress in the necrotic cancellous region was greatest in the core drilled only model(Type III), followed by the necrotic(Type II), the bone graft (Type IV), and the cemented(Type V) models. Von Mises stresses at the tip of the graft(Type IV) was found to be twice more than those of cemented core(Type V) indicating the likelihood of the implant failure. In addition, stresses within the cemented core(Type V) were more evenly distributed and relatively lower than within the fibular bone graft(Type IV). In conclusion, our biomechanical analyses have demonstrated that the bone graft method(Type IV) and the cementation method(Type V) are both superior to the core decompression method(Type III) by reducing the high stress regions within the necrotic cancellous bone. Also it was found that the core region filled with PMMA(Type V) provides far smoother transfer of physiological load without causing the concentration of malignant stresses which may lead to the failure than with the fibular bone graft(Type IV). Therefore, considering the above results along with the degree of difficulties and risk of infection involved with preparation of the fibular bone graft, the cementation method appears to be a promising surgical treatment for the early stage of osteonecrosis of the femoral head.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.178-186
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• 1999

Twenty-three patients with chronic shoulder pain beyond 6 months after the fracture of the greater tuberosity underwent arthroscopic treatment and were retrospectively assessed after an average of 29 months(range, 22 to 40 months). There were 18 men and 5 women with the average age of 39 years(range, 24 to 61 years). Fourteen were isolated fractures and nine were related to acute anterior instability episode. The average displacement of the fracture was 2.3mm(range, 0 to 4mm) on the anteroposterior view of the plane radiographs. At the time of arthroscopy, all patients had partial thickness rotator cuff tears in the articular surface. The cuff tears were located on the tuberosity fracture area and were an Ellman's grade I to n in depth. With the arthroscopic debridement or repair of the tear depending on the condition of the tear itself, as well as the subacromial decompression, the UCLA score revealed good to excellent results in 20 and fair in 3 patients. Nineteen of the patients had returned to the previous level of activities. The patient with a higher activity demand revealed a lower level of activity return(p=0.034). The partial thickness rotator cuff tear should be considered in patients with chronic shoulder pain after the minimally displaced fracture of the greater tuberosity, and arthroscopic debridement or repair is an appropriate procedure.

• The Journal of Korean Orthopaedic Ultrasound Society
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2012

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to report the preliminarily result of the radiologic disappearance of the calcific material, regardless of the size, type or location, on one-time ultrasonographic (US) assisted needling for calcific tendinitis of the shoulder. Materials and Methods: From March to August 2011, 46 patients (47 shoulders) with symptomatic calcific tendinitis were treated by one-time US assisted needling. Initially, a diagnostic US was performed with patient to determine the locations, numbers and sizes of calcific deposits. After 1% lidocaine local anesthesia, the calcific material was punctured with an 18-gauge needle under US monitoring. If no calcific material was aspirated after 2 or 3 additional attempts, the deposits was performed multiple puncture to achieve decompression. And then all patients were performed subacromial corticosteroid injection. All patients were followed up 4 weeks after procedure. To assess the radiologic disappearance after one-time US assisted needling, simple radiographs of the treated shoulder were performed and size, dense, and morphology of the calcific deposits were compared with those in baseline radiographs. For clinical evaluations, visual analogue scale for pain and function (PVAS and FVAS), and American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score were assessed. Results: There were 11 male and 35 female patients with the mean age of 53.8 years (28-71). The morphology of the calcific deposits were 31 type A and 16 type B by French Arthroscopic Society classification and mean size was $2.9{\pm}6.7$ mm before the procedure. At 4 weeks after the index procedure, the radiographic unchanged group was included in 10 cases and changed group was 37 cases. No intergroup difference for the clinical results after the procedure was evident, but group FAS classification before the procedure was significantly different (p=0.011). Conclusion: At 4 weeks after one-time US assisted needling for calcific tendinitis of the shoulder, the radiographic size- or dense-changed cases were showed in 79%, regardless of the size, type or location of the calcific material. But the radiographic nearly or complete disappearance were showed in only 21%.