• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.40-45
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• 2007

Background: Caudal block is useful when anesthesia for surgery or treatment for chronic pain is needed, but this procedure has a failure rate of up to 25% even when it performed byan experienced physician. This high failure rate is usually due to improper needle placement. Methods: After gaining approval of the ethics committee, 46 patients received caudal blocks under ultrasound guidance; these were performed after the anatomical structures in the sacral hiatus had been measured with ultrasound. All these procedures were performed by the same anesthesiologist. The position and direction of the needle were identified using fluoroscopy by injecting a radio-opaque contrast through the needle. The time taken from thelidocaine injection to verification of the needle was measured and the planned nerve block was then carried out. Results: All cases of needle insertion into the sacral canal under ultrasound guidance were successful. The average duration of the procedure and the trial count were $134.1{\pm}10.1seconds$ and $1.2{\pm}0.1$, respectively. In 12 of the 46 cases (26%), the needle deviated either left or right in the sacral canal, so the direction of the needle had to be adjusted. The distance between two cornua, the depth of the sacral hiatus and the thickness and length of the sacrococcygeal ligament were $17.1{\pm}0.4$, $3.9{\pm}0.3$, $2.3{\pm}0.1$ and $24.9{\pm}0.9mm$, respectively. Conclusions: Ultrasound guidance can increase the success rate of inserting a needle into the sacral canal. However, even when ultrasound is used, the needle can deviate either left or right in the sacral canal.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.61 no.2
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• pp.258-266
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• 2018

Objective : The diagnosis of insufficiency fractures of the sacrum in an elder population increases annually. Fractures show very different morphology. We aimed to classify sacral insufficiency fractures according to the position of cortical break and possible need for intervention. Methods : Between January 1, 2008 and December 31, 2014, all patients with a proven fracture of the sacrum following a low-energy or an even unnoticed trauma were prospectively registered : 117 females and 13 males. All patients had a computer tomography of the pelvic ring, two patients had a magnetic resonance imaging additionally : localization and involvement of the fracture lines into the sacroiliac joint, neural foramina or the spinal canal were identified. Results : Patients were aged between 46 and 98 years (mean, 79.8 years). Seventy-seven patients had an unilateral fracture of the sacral ala, 41 bilateral ala fractures and 12 patients showed a fracture of the sacral corpus : a total of 171 fractures were analyzed. The first group A included fractures of the sacral ala which were assessed to have no or less mechanical importance (n=53) : fractures with no cortical disruption ("bone bruise") (A1; n=2), cortical deformation of the anterior cortical bone (A2; n=4), and fracture of the anterolateral rim of ala (A3; n=47). Complete fractures of the sacral ala (B; n=106) : parallel to the sacroiliac joint (B1; n=63), into the sacroiliac joint (B2; n=19), and involvement of the sacral foramina respectively the spinal canal (B3; n=24). Central fractures involving the sacral corpus (C; n=12) : fracture limited to the corpus or finishing into one ala (C1; n=3), unidirectional including the neural foramina or the spinal canal or both (C2; n=2), and horizontal fractures of the corpus with bilateral sagittal completion (C3; n=8). Sixty-eight fractures proceeded into the sacroiliac joint, 34 fractures showed an injury of foramina or canal. Conclusion : The new classification allowes the differentiation of fractures of less mechanical importance and a risk assessment for possible polymethyl methacrylate leaks during sacroplasty in the direction of the neurological structures. In addition, identification of instable fractures in need for laminectomy and surgical stabilization is possible.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.253-259
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• 2014

Background: Caudal block is a common technique in children for reducing postoperative pain, and there have been several reports on the variations of the sacral canal in children. However, previous studies have mainly focused on the needle trajectory for caudal block, and there is limited information on the structural variations of the sacrum in children. The purpose of this study was to analyze the anatomic variations of sacral canals in children. Methods: Three-dimensional computed tomographic images were analyzed. The data from the images included (1) fusion of the sacral vertebral laminae and the sacral intervertebral space (2) existence of the sacral cornua and (3) the types of sacral hiatus. The types of sacral hiatus were classified into 3 groups: group I (fusion of S3 or S4 vertebral laminae), group II (unfused vertebral arch with the distance of the S3 and S4 vertebral laminae < 50% of the distance between the cornua), and group III (unfused vertebral arch with the distance of the S3 or S4 vertebral laminae ${\geq}50%$ of the distance between the cornua). Results: A total of 143 children were included in this study. All of the sacral vertebral arches were not fused in 22 children (15.4%). Cornua were not identified bilaterally in 5 (3.5%) and unilaterally in 6 (4.2%) children. In the sacral hiatus, group II and group III were identified in 22 (15.4%) and 31 (21.7%) children, respectively. Conclusions: The sacral canal has various anatomical variations in children. Careful attention must be paid to identify the correct anatomic landmark.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.392-395
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• 2013

Epiduroscopy is very useful in the treatment of not only low back pain caused by failed back surgery syndrome, epidural scar or herniated disc but also by chronic refractory low back pain which does not respond to interventional conservative treatment including fluoroscopically-directed epidural steroid injections and percutaneous adhesiolysis. Because cauterization using a laser fiber has become recently available, a wider opening is required to enter into the sacral canal in the case of epiduroscopic laser neural decompression (ELND). However, in a few patients, it is difficult to insert a device into the epidural space due to stenosis around the opening, and there is no alternative method. Herein, we report a case where a hiatus rasp specially designed for such patients was used to perform the operation.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.131-138
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• 2022

Other than gunshot injuries, sacral penetrating injuries with a foreign body exiting to the other side are extremely rare. We encountered a case of sacral injury in which a long metallic pipe penetrated from the anus into the lower back of a patient. Since the pelvis contains various organs, management of a penetrating injury requires multidisciplinary treatment involving several medical specialties. Due to the infrequency of this type of injury, there are no definitive guidelines for effective management. We described our experience surgically treating a sacral penetrating injury and conducted a literature review. On this basis, we suggest a surgical strategy for treating this type of injury.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.270-273
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• 1997

Caudal epiduroscopy has been introduced as an alternative technique for direct injection of epidural steroid and lysis of adhesion. Futher, it gives a better understanding of the role of epidural adhesion in recurrence of sciatica and low back disorder after surgery. We experienced a clinical application of flexible fiberoptic epiduroscope inserted through the sacral canal. A 37-year-old woman was suffering from right lumbar radiculopathy after an operation for a herniated disc. A series of volumetric caudal steroid injections and physical therapy had little effect on her symptoms. Patient was thought to be a good candidate for epiduroscopy. Flexible flberoptic epiduroscopy was as follows: 60 ml of normal saline irrigation and epidurogram, 40 mg of triamcinolone in 10m1 of normal saline was directed around right L5 nerve root. The following morning, patient reported reduced pain in her leg.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.196-201
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• 2011

A 73-year-old male presented a six-month history of buttock pain radiating into his thigh. The MRI revealed a large enhancing mass lesion involving the sacrum, with extension into the sacral canal. The tumor markers were measured to distinguish skeletal metastasis of carcinoma from primary bone tumor. The CA 19-9 was elevated. Despite the investigation, the primary site of cancer could not be found. Sacral bone biopsy was done. The pathologic examination revealed necrosis, chronic granulomatous inflammation, and multinucleated giant cells, consistent with tuberculosis. Sacral tuberculosis is rare in patients with no history of tuberculosis. Such solitary osteolytic lesions involving the subarticular region of large joints may mimic bone neoplasms and may be called "tuberculous pseudotumors." This case report intends to emphasize that bone tuberculosis should be a differential diagnosis in the presence of atypical clinical and radiological features. As tuberculous lesions may be mistaken for neoplasms, a small amount of fresh tissue should be sent for culture even if clinical diagnosis of a tumor seems likely. Described herein is a case of sacral tuberculosis mimicking metastatic bone tumor with elevated CA 19-9.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.391-393
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• 2006

Dermoid cysts of the spinal canal are rare benign congenital tumors, accounting for $1{\sim}2%$ of all intraspinal tumors. We report a case of lumbar extramedullary cyst, combined with congenital sacral meningocele. The clinical features, characteristics on MRI, pathologic findings, and surgical treatment of such a rare extramedullary benign tumor is discussed with the relevant literature.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.109-124
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• 1993

The prenatal development of thoracic spinal cord was studied by electron microscope in human embryos and fetuses ranging from 9mm to 260mm crown-rump length (5-30 weeks of gestational age). Ependymal cells in all fetal ages had conspicuous junctional complexes close to the lumen of the central canal into which microvilli and cilia projected. The ependymal cells contained numerous longitudinally arranged mitochondria, flattened cisternae of endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi complex. At 20 mm embryo, the floor and roof plates were composed of ependymoglial cells and undifferentiated neuroepithelial cells. The neuroepithelia of the sacral spinal cord were delineated from central medullary cord. By 100 mm fetus few undifferentiated neuroepithelial cells remained in the floor and roof plates. At 150 mm fetus, the whole central canal was formed by ciliated columnar epithelial cells containing cilia with basal bodies. The microvilli became tangled and club-shaped and formed a matted surface. The canal was filled with areas of dark and pale amorphous materials bounded by membrane-like structure. These two types of material were found throughout the whole central canal from 100 mm fetus onwards. By 260 mm fetus, microfibrils were first observed in the ependymal cells. In conclusion, it seems that early development and differentiation of central canal ependyma are simlar to that in other part of the brain ventricular system although ependymoglial cells are more prominent.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.350-354
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• 2013

To present a rare case of a cystic giant schwannoma of the sacrum mimicking aneurysmal bone cyst (ABC). A 54-year-old man visited our institute complaining left leg weakness and sensory change for several years. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a large multilocular cystic mass with canal invasion and bone erosion confined to left S1 body. The lesion showed multiple septal enhancement without definite solid component. Initially the tumor was considered as ABC. The patient underwent grossly-total tumor resection with lumbosacral reconstruction via posterior approach. The tumor was proved to be a cystic schwannoma. The postoperative course was uneventful and the patient was relieved from preoperative symptoms. We present a rare case of pure cystic giant schwannoma confined to sacrum mimicking ABC. The surgical treatment is challenging due to the complex anatomy of the sacrum. Schwannoma should be considered in the differential diagnosis of osteolytic sacral cysts.