• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.188-191
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• 2006

Objective : The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and necessity of combined anterior approach [discectomy and fusion] and posterior approach[open-door laminoplasty] in the treatment of cervical spondylotic myelopathy. Methods : The authors reviewed 14 cases in whom combined anterior and posterior approach performed for cervical myelopathy due to simultaneous anterior and posterior pathology such as huge central disc herniation with narrow spinal canal between January 2000 and December 2002. Clinical symptoms were evaluated by Japanese Orthopaedic Association [JOA] score and then the cervical curvature, change of spinal canal to vertebral body[SC/VB] ratio and canal widening were measured and compared to the clinical symptoms. Results : The mean JOA score increased from $10.4{\pm}3.1$ preoperatively to $14.8{\pm}1.2$ at the final follow up with a mean recovery rate 66.4%. In all cases, there were not neurologic deterioration. Mild postoperative complications developed in two cases. One patient had a limitation of range of neck motion and the other one showed kyphotic change. Postoperative radiography showed an improvement of body to canal ratios [average $0.70{\pm}0.08$ before surgery to $1.05{\pm}0.12$ after surgery and mainte nance or recovery of cervical lordosis. Canal widening of antero-posterior diameter and dimension after operation is 6.8mm. $116.61mm^2$. Conclusion : Combined anterior and posterior procedure could be helpful in decompression of the spinal cord and good functional recovery in spondylotic myelopathy patients with combined anterior and posterior pathology such as huge disc herniation accompanying narrow spinal canal.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.17-25
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• 2020

Objective: The purpose of this study is to provide a better understanding of long turn mechanism by describing long turns after kinematic analysis and provide skiers and winter sports instructors with data through which they are able to analyze right postures for turns in skiing in a systematic, rational and scientific manner. Method: For this, a mean difference of kinematic variables (the center of gravity (CG) displacement of distance, trajectory, velocity, angle) was verified against a total of 12 skiers (skilled and unskilled, 6 persons each), regarding motions from the up-start to down-end points for long turns. Results: First, concerning the horizontal displacement of CG during a turn in skiing, skilled skiers were positioned on the right side at the upstart and edge-change points at a long turn. There was no difference in anteroposterior and vertical displacements. Second, in terms of CG-trajectory differences, skilled skiers revealed a significant difference during a long turn. Third, regarding skiing velocity, skilled skiers were fast at the edge-change and maximum inclination points in long turns. Fourth, there was no difference in a hip joint in terms of a lower limb joint angle. In a knee joint, a large angle was found at the up-start point among skilled skiers when they made a long turn. Conclusion: In overall, when skilled and unskilled skiers were compared, to make a good turn, it is required to turn according to the radius of turn by reducing weight, concerning the CG displacement. Regarding the CG-trajectory differences, the edge angle should be adjusted via proper inclination angulation. In addition, a skier should be more leaned toward the inside of a turn when they make a long turn. In terms of skiing velocity, it is needed to reduce friction on snow through the edging and pivoting of the radius or turn according to curvature and controlling ski pressure. Regarding a lower limb joint angle, it is important to make an up move by increasing ankle and knee angles instead of keeping the upper body straight during an up motion.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.615-627
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• 1997

An experiment was performed to local heat transfer coefficient and Nusselt number in the circular duct of 180.deg. bend for Re=6*10$^{4}$, 8*10$^{4}$ and 1*10$^{5}$ at swirling flow and non-swirling flow conditions. The test tube with circular section was made by stainless which has curvature ratio 9.4. The wall of test tube was heated directly by electrical power to 3.51 kw and swirling motion of air was produced by a tangential inlet to the pipe axis at the 180 degree. Measurements of local wall temperatures and bulk mean temperature of air are made at four circumferential positions in the 16 stations. The wall temperatures show particularly reduced distribution curve at bend for non-swirling flow but this effect does not appear for swirling flow. Nusselt number distributions for swirling flow which was calculated from the measured wall and bulk temperatures were higher than that of non-swirling flow. Average Nusselt number of swirling flow increased about 90 ~ 100% than that of non-swirling flow whole through the test tube. The Nu/N $u_{DB}$ values at the station of 90.deg. for non-swirling flow and swirling flow are respectively about 2.5 and 4.8 at Re=6*10$^{4}$. Also that is good agreement with Said's result for non-swirling flow. flow.

• Asian Spine Journal
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.1060-1068
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• 2018

Study Design: Retrospective study. Purpose: Lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration is an important cause of low back pain. Overview of Literature: Spinal fusion is often reported to have a good course for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). However, many studies have reported that adjacent segment degeneration is accelerated after lumbar spinal fusion. Radiography is a simple method used to evaluate the orientation of the vertebral column. magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the method most often used to specifically evaluate intervertebral disc degeneration. The Pfirrmann classification is a well-known method used to evaluate degenerative lumbar disease. After spinal fusion, an increase in stress, excess mobility, increased intra-disc pressure, and posterior displacement of the axis of motion have been observed in the adjacent segments. Methods: we retrospectively secured and analyzed the data of 15 patients (four boys and 11 girls) with AIS who underwent a spinal fusion surgery. We studied the full-length view of the spine (anterior-posterior and lateral) from the X-ray and MRI obtained from all patients before surgery. Postoperatively, another full-length spine X-ray and lumbosacral MRI were obtained from all participants. Then, pelvic tilt, sacral slope, curve correction, and fused and free segments before and after surgery were calculated based on X-ray studies. MRI images were used to estimate the degree to which intervertebral discs were degenerated using Pfirrmann grading system. Pfirrmann grade before and after surgery were compared with Wilcoxon signed rank test. While analyzing the contribution of potential risk factors for the post-spinal fusion Pfirrmann grade of disc degeneration, we used generalized linear models with robust standard error estimates to account for intraclass correlation that may have been present between discs of the same patient. Results: The mean age of the participant was 14 years, and the mean curvature before and after surgery were 67.8 and 23.8, respectively (p<0.05). During the median follow-up of 5 years, the mean degree of the disc degeneration significantly increased in all patients after surgery (p<0.05) with a Pfirrmann grade of 1 and 2.8 in the L2-L3 before and after surgery, respectively. The corresponding figures at L3-L4, L4-L5, and L5-S1 levels were 1.28 and 2.43, 1.07 and 2.35, and 1 and 2.33, respectively. The lower was the number of free discs below the fusion level, the higher was the Pfirrmann grade of degeneration (p<0.001). Conversely, the higher was the number of the discs fused together, the higher was the Pfirrmann grade. Conclusions: we observed that the disc degeneration aggravated after spinal fusion for scoliosis. While the degree of degeneration as measured by Pfirrmann grade was directly correlated by the number of fused segments, it was negatively correlated with the number of discs that remained free below the lowermost level of the fusion.