• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.66-73
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• 2015

Objectives: To assess the validity of the vertical tube-shift method using intraoral periapical radiography (IOPAR) for determining the relationship between the mandibular third molar roots and the inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) canal in comparison with cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). Materials and Methods: Fifty impacted mandibular third molars were analyzed using the IOPAR vertical tube-shift method and CBCT. The relationship of the IAN canal to the impacted mandibular third molar was recorded as buccal, lingual or in line with the apex and was compared with CBCT findings. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of the vertical tube-shift method in depicting the relationship (buccal/lingual/in line with the apex) of the IAN canal to the third molar root apex was calculated. Results: The sensitivity and specificity PPV and NPV of the IOPAR vertical tube-shift technique was found to be highest for a lingual relationship (100%) followed by buccal (94.4%, 92.3%, 97.1%, and 85.7%) and in line with the apex relationship (88.9%, 95.0%, 80.0%, and 97.4%) of the IAN canal with the third molar root apex, respectively. A statistically significant association was observed between the IOPAR vertical tube-shift method and the CBCT with a P-value <0.01. Conclusion: The vertical tube-shift method can be used as an effective diagnostic tool in assessing the relationship of the IAN canal to the third molar root apex with high sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.242-246
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• 2010

Background: The first sacral nerve root block (S1NRB) is a common procedure in pain clinic for patients complaining of low back pain with radiating pain. It can be performed in the office based setting without C-arm. The previously suggested method of locating the needle entry point begins with identifying the posterior superior iliac spine (PSIS). Then a line is drawn between two points, one of which is 1.5 cm medical to the PSIS, and the other of which is 1.5 cm lateral and cephalad to the ipsilateral cornu. After that, one point on the line, which is 1.5 cm cephalad to the level of the PSIS, is considered as the needle entry point. The purpose of this study was to analyze the location of needle entry point and palpated PSIS in S1NRB. Methods: Fifty patients undergoing C-arm guided S1NRB in the prone position were examined. The surface anatomical relationships between the palpated PSIS and the needle entry point were assessed. Results: The analysis revealed that the transverse and vertical distance between the needle entry point and PSIS were $28.7{\pm}8.8mm$ medially and $3.5{\pm}14.0mm$ caudally, respectively. The transverse distance was $27.8{\pm}8.3mm$ medially for male and $29.5{\pm}9.3mm$ medially for female. The vertical distance was $1.0{\pm}14.1mm$ cranially for male and $8.1{\pm}12.7mm$ caudally for female. Conclusions: The needle entry point in S1NRB is located on the same line or in the caudal direction from the PSIS in a considerable number of cases. Therefore previous recommended methods cannot be applied to many cases.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.155-160
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• 2015

Objectives: Achieving adequate anesthesia with inferior alveolar nerve blocks (IANB) is of great importance during dental procedures. The aim of the present study was to assess the success rate of two anesthetic agents (bupivacaine and lidocaine) for IANB when treating teeth with irreversible pulpitis. Materials and Methods: Sixty volunteer male and female patients who required root canal treatment of a mandibular molar due to caries participated in the present study. The inclusion criteria included prolonged pain to thermal stimulus but no spontaneous pain. The patients were randomly allocated to receive either 2% lidocaine with 1:80,000 epinephrine or 0.5% bupivacaine with 1:200,000 epinephrine as an IANB injection. The sensitivity of the teeth to a cold test as well as the amount of pain during access cavity preparation and root canal instrumentation were recorded. Results were statistically analyzed with the Chi-Square and Fischer's exact tests. Results: At the final step, fifty-nine patients were included in the study. The success rate for bupivacaine and lidocaine groups were 20.0% and 24.1%, respectively. There was no significant difference between the two groups at any stage of the treatment procedure. Conclusions: There was no difference in success rates of anesthesia when bupivacaine and lidocaine were used for IANB injections to treat mandibular molar teeth with irreversible pulpitis. Neither agent was able to completely anesthetize the teeth effectively. Therefore, practitioners should be prepared to administer supplemental anesthesia to overcome pain during root canal treatment.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.66 no.4
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• pp.426-437
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• 2023

Objective : To investigate the efficacy and safety of the posterior endoscopic cervical foraminotomy (PECF) using ultrasonic osteotome for the treatment of cervical osseous foraminal stenosis, focusing on introduction of the advantages of ultrasonic osteotome in partial pediculectomy and ventral osteophyte resection in PECF. Methods : Nineteen patients with cervical osseous foraminal stenosis who underwent PECF using ultrasonic osteotome in our institution between April 2018 and April 2021 were enrolled in this study. All the patients were followed up more than 12 months. The patients' medical data, as well as pre- and postoperative radiologic findings were thoroughly investigated. The visual analogue score (VAS), Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score, cervical dysfunction index (Neck disability index, NDI), and modified MacNab criteria were used to assess the surgical efficacy. Results : All the patients were successfully treated with PECF using ultrasonic osteotome. The pre- and postoperative VAS, NDI, and JOA scores were significantly improved (p<0.05). According to the modified MacNab criteria, 17 patients were assessed as "excellent", two patients were assessed as "good" at the last follow-up. There was no dura tear, nerve root damage, incision infection, neck deformity, or other complications. Conclusion : Adequate nerve root decompression can be accomplished successfully with the help of ultrasonic osteotome in PECF, which has the advantage of reducing the probability of damage to the nerve root and dura mater, in addition to the original merits of endoscopic surgery.

• The Journal of Korean Orthopaedic Ultrasound Society
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.113-119
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• 2014

Purpose: This study was to evaluate effect and efficiency of S1 selective nerve root block using ultrasonography-guided compared with fluoroscopy-guided for lumbar disc herniation or spinal stenosis patients. Materials and Methods: Between February 2012 and December 2013, 38 patients who were with lower leg radiating pain for more than 1months and underwent S1 selective spinal nerve root block in our institution, were reviewed. They divided into two groups: Group A included 18 patients with ultrasonography-guided and Group B included 20 patients with fluoroscopy-guided. Treatment effectiveness was assessed using a visual analogue scale (VAS) and the Korea Modified Oswestry Disability Index (K-MODI). They were evaluated its preoperatively, postoperatively and 1 month later. We were recorded whole procedure time. Results: VAS was improved from 7.4 to 4.7 at 1 month in group A and from 7.39 to 4.36 at 1month in group B. K-MODI was improved from 72.8 to 43.3 at 1month in group A and from 73.8 to 44.1 at 1month in group B. Whole procedure time were $477.53{\pm}115.02s$, $492.47{\pm}144.38s$ in group A, group B, respectively. But there was no significant difference in VAS and K-MODI between two groups. Conclusion: Ultrasonography-guided sacral nerve root block is effective and accurate method in sacral radiating pain.

• Journal of the Korean Orthopaedic Association
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• v.55 no.3
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• pp.229-236
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• 2020

Purpose: This study examined the utility of preliminary magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measurements in the ultrasound-guided L4 selective nerve root block. Materials and Methods: As a retrospective study, 71 patients, who met the criteria for outpatient visits from March 2016 to December 2017, were included. From March 2016 to February 2017, 31 patients who underwent an L4 nerve root block without MRI were classified as group A, and 40 patients who underwent an L4 nerve root block through MRI measurements from March 2017 to December 2017 were classified as group B. Group A was injected under ultrasound-guidance through the pararadicular approach without a pre-interventional MRI evaluation, and group B was injected under ultrasound-guidance according to the preliminary MRI measurements. The results were assessed using the numeric rating scale scores before, three hours, and two, six, and 12 weeks after the procedure. Results: At three hours after the procedure, the proportion of patients better than good results were 51.6% in group A and 67.5% in group B. At two weeks after the procedure, the proportion of patients with better than good results were 48.4% and 70.0% in groups A and B, respectively; 58.1% and 62.5% of patient of groups A and B, respectively, showed better than good results after six weeks. In 12 weeks after the procedure, the results of group A and B were 67.7% and 62.5%, respectively. At three hours and two weeks after the procedure, group B showed significant symptom improvement than group A (p<0.05). The procedures were repeated 2.8 and 1.7 times in groups A and B, respectively, between two and six weeks for satisfactory pain relief (p<0.05). Conclusion: A pre-interventional MRI evaluation might improve pain relief within the initial two weeks after ultrasound-guided L4 selective nerve root block by improving the success rate of the procedure.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.165-171
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• 2008

The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of panoramic radiological risk signs related with mandibular third molar extraction, and the relationship between these risk signs and inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) injury after tooth extraction. Cases were defined as 1000 mandibular third molars extracted by surgical approach at Samsung Medical Center during the period from March 2001 to December 2006. Seven radiological risk signs were assessed on the panoramic radiogram by three expert oral surgeons. Clinical demographic data and severity of IAN injury were examined on medical records. Bivariate analyses were completed to assess the relationship between radiological risk signs and IAN injury. The radiological risk signs showed in 381 cases(38.1%). The incidence of each radiological risk signs were; interruption of IAN white line, 152 cases(15.2%); deflected roots, 141 cases(14.1%); darkening root, 119 cases(11.9%); diversion of IAN, 57 cases(5.7%) ; IAN narrowing, 37 cases(3.7%); root narrowing, 17 cases(1.7%); dark and bifid apex, 10 cases(1.0%). The incidence of IAN injury in cases with risk signs were: in the case of any sign, 3.6%; interruption of IAN white line, 2.6%; deflected roots 5.7%; darkening root. 3.4%; diversion of IAN, 5.7%; IAN narrowing, 3.7%; root narrowing, 5.9%; dark and bifid apex, 0%. No IAN injury was showed in 619 cases without risk sign (p<0.05). In conclusion, the presence of panoramic risk signs was associated with an increased risk for IAN injury during mandibular third molar extraction, whereas the absence of risk signs was associated with a minimal risk of nerve injury.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.183-192
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• 1993

This study reports a prospective analysis of anatomical variations of recurrent laryngeal nerves during 300 thyroidectomies. During thyroidectomies for variable thyroid diseases. the course of recurrent laryngeal nerve was completely isolated from root of neck to the inferior comus of thyroid cartilage. In left side, nerve(53.7%) predominantly ran posterior to the inferior thyroidal artery(p<0.05) but in right side there was no predominant pattern. There were three nonrecurrent laryngeal nerves in the right side. About half of the cases in both sides(51.2% in right, 50.5% in left side) had one or more branches before terminating at cricothyroidal muscles. The average length of branches from inferior comus of thyroid cartilage to the origination of individual branch were l2.0mm in right side and 13.3mm in left side. In right side, majority(50.7%) of nerves ran though paratracheal space but difference did not reach the statistical but in left side, majority(88.3%) ran through tracheoesophageal groove and it was the dominant pattern(p<0.01), the overall status of passages of the nerve were relatively straight in left side(straight 87.8%, oblique 52.1%).

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.63-67
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• 2016

During clinical endodontic treatment, we often find radiopaque filling material beyond the root apex. Accidental extrusion of calcium hydroxide could cause the injury of inferior alveolar nerve, such as paresthesia or continuous inflammatory response. This case report presents the extrusion of calcium hydroxide and treatment procedures including surgical intervention. A 48 yr old female patient experienced Calcipex II extrusion in to the inferior alveolar canal on left mandibular area during endodontic treatment. After completion of endodontic treatment on left mandibular first molar, surgical intervention was planned under general anesthesia. After cortical bone osteotomy and debridement, neuroma resection and neurorrhaphy was performed, and prognosis was observed. But no improvement in sensory nerve was seen following surgical intervention after 20 mon. A clinician should be aware of extrusion of intracanal medicaments and the possibility of damage on inferior alveolar canal. Injectable type of calcium hydroxide should be applied with care for preventing nerve injury. The alternative delivery method such as lentulo spiral was suggested on the posterior mandibular molar.

• Anatomy and Cell Biology
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• v.57 no.2
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• pp.194-203
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• 2024

The anatomical variations of coracobrachialis muscle (CBM) are of great clinical importance. This study aimed to elucidate the morphological variations, innervation patterns and musculocutaneous nerve (MCN) relation to CBM. Upper limbs of fifty cadavers (30 males and 20 females) were examined for proximal and distal attachments, innervation pattern of CBM and its relation to MCN. Four morphological types of CBM were identified according to number of its heads. The commonest type was the two-headed (63.0%) followed by the single belly (22.0%), three-headed (12.0%) and lastly four-headed (3.0%) type. Moreover, an abnormal insertion of CBM was observed in four left limbs (4.0%); one inserting into the medial humeral epicondyle, the second into the upper third of humeral shaft, the third one in the common tendon of biceps, and the fourth one showing a bifurcated insertion. Also, four different innervation patterns of CBM were identified including MCN (80.0%), lateral cord (14.0%), lateral root of median nerve (4.0%), and median nerve itself (2.0%). The course of MCN was superficial to the single belly CBM (19.0%) and in-between the heads in the other types (71.0%). Measurements of the length and original distance of CBM muscular branches originating from MCN revealed no sex or side significant difference. Awareness of the anatomic variations, innervation patterns, and MCN relation of CBM is imperative in recent diagnostic and surgical procedures to obtain definite diagnosis, effective management and good outcome.