• The Korean Journal of Pain
• /
• v.26 no.2
• /
• pp.181-185
• /
• 2013

Infective spondylodiscitis is a rare complication that can occur after interventional spinal procedures, of which symptoms are usually back pain and fever. Early diagnosis of infective spondylodiscitis is critical to start antibiotics and to improve prognosis. Laboratory examinations including complet blood cell count (CBC), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and C-reactive protein (CRP) are conventional tools for the early detection of infectious spondylitis. However, we experienced infective spondylodiscitis after cervical nucleoplasty which did not display any laboratory abnormalities, but was diagnosed through an MRI. A patient with cervical disc herniation received nucleoplasty at C5/6 and C6/7. One month later, the patient complained of aggravated pain. There were neither signs of chill nor fever, and the laboratory results appeared normal. However, the MRI findings were compatible with infectious spondylodiscitis at the nucleoplasty site. In conclusion, infectious spondylodiscitis can develop after cervical nucleoplasty without any laboratory abnormalities. Therefore, an MRI should be taken when there is a clinical suspicion for infection in order to not miss complications after interventional procedures, even if the laboratory findings are normal.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
• /
• v.3 no.2
• /
• pp.168-174
• /
• 1996

Purpose : Aseptic meningitis is relatively frequent in children and caused mostly by enterovirus. The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of early diagnosis (spinal tapping) on symptom duration of childhood aseptic meningitis. Methods : One hundred fifty-three children who were hospitalized due to aseptic menigitis in the Department of Pediatrics St. Benedict Hospital from July 1996 through October 1996 were included in this study. Patients were divided to two groups according to the duration from first symptom onset to diagnosis. Early diagnosis group is diagnosed within 3 days from first symptom onset. Later diagnosis group is diagnosed after 4 days from first symptom onset. Results : 1) The average age of these patients was 4.3 years old in early diagnosis group and 4.1 years old in later diagnosis group. The sex ratio(male: female) was 2.04:1 in early diagnosis group and 2.5:1 in later diagnosis group. 2) The mean duration of diagnosis of this study was 2.04 day in early diagnosis group and 5.12 day in later diagnosis group. 3) The percentage of symptom and sign of the early diagnosis group were fever(100%), headache(88.4%), vomiting(86.9%), abdominal pain(39%), neck stiffness(36.2%), skin rash(18.8%), diarrhea(16.9%) and that of later diagosis group were fever(100%), headache(83.3), vomiting(80.9%), abdominal pain(47.6%), neck stiffness(41.6%), skin rash(29.7%), diarrhea(16.6%). 4) Initial CSF findings revealed leukocyte $146.8{\pm}386.3/mm^3$ with PMNL 38%, protein 32.47mg/dl, sugar 66.23mg/dl in early diagnosis group and leukocyte $458.1{\pm}663.2/mm^3$, protein 31.22mg/dl, sugar 64.21 mg/dl in later diagnosis group. 5) There was no statistically significant differance in the peripheral blood findings between early diagnosis group and later diagnosis group. 6) The duration of disappearance of symptom after spinal tap were 2.3 days in early diagnosis group and 2.24 days in later diagnosis group. Total symptom duration was 4.34 days in early diagnosis group and 7.36 days in later diagnosis group. Conclusions : Our results demonstrate that early diagnosis(early spinal tap) shortened duration of clinical symptoms.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.61 no.6
• /
• pp.716-722
• /
• 2018

Objective : Lateral interbody fusion (LIF) is attractive as a less invasive technique to address anterior spinal pathology in the treatment of adult spinal deformity. Its own uses and benefits in treatment of adult degenerative scoliosis are undefined. To investigate the radiographic and clinical outcomes of LIF, and staged LIF and posterior spinal fusion (PSF) for the treatment of adult degenerative scoliosis patients, we analyzed radiographic and clinical outcomes of adult degenerative scoliosis patients who underwent LIF and posterior spinal fusion. Methods : Forty consecutive adult degenerative scoliosis patients who underwent LIF followed by staged PSF at a single institution were retrospectively reviewed. Long-standing 36" anterior-posterior and lateral radiographs were taken preoperatively, at inter-stage, 3 months, 1 year, and 2 years after surgery were reviewed. Outcomes were assessed through the visual analogue scale (VAS), 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). Results : Forty patients with a mean age of 66.3 (range, 49-79) met inclusion criteria. A mean of 3.8 levels (range, 2-5) were fused using LIF, while a mean of 9.0 levels (range, 3-16) were fused during the posterior approach. The mean time between stages was 1.4 days (range, 1-6). The mean follow-up was 19.6 months. Lumbar lordosis was significantly restored from $36.4^{\circ}$ preoperatively up to $48.9^{\circ}$ (71.4% of total correction) after LIF and $53.9^{\circ}$ after PSF. Lumbar coronal Cobb was prominently improved from $38.6^{\circ}$ preoperatively to $24.1^{\circ}$ (55.8% of total correction) after LIF, $12.6^{\circ}$ after PSF respectively. The mean pelvic incidence-lumbar lordosis mismatch was markedly improved from $22.2^{\circ}$ preoperatively to $8.1^{\circ}$ (86.5% of total correction) after LIF, $5.9^{\circ}$ after PSF. Correction of coronal imbalance and sagittal vertebral axis did not reach significance. The rate of perioperative complication was 37.5%. Five patients underwent revision surgery due to wound infection. No major perioperative medical complications occurred. At last follow-up, there were significant improvements in VAS, SF-36 Physical Component Summary and ODI scores. Conclusion : LIF provides significant corrections in the coronal and sagittal plane in the patients with adult degenerative scoliosis. However, LIF combined with staged PSF provides more excellent radiographic and clinical outcomes, with reduced perioperative risk in the treatment of adult degenerative scoliosis.

• Journal of the Korean Orthopaedic Association
• /
• v.54 no.3
• /
• pp.211-218
• /
• 2019

Herniation of the intervertebral disc is a medical disease manifesting as a bulging out of the nucleus pulposus or annulus fibrosis beyond the normal position. Most lumbar disc herniation cases have a favorable natural course. On the other hand, surgical intervention is reserved for patients with severe neurological symptoms or signs, progressive neurological symptoms, cauda equina syndrome, and those who are non-responsive to conservative treatment. Numerous surgical methods have been introduced, ranging from conventional open, microscope assisted, tubular retractor assisted, and endoscopic surgery. Among them, microscopic discectomy is currently the standard method. Biportal endoscopic spinal surgery (BESS) has several merits over other surgical techniques, including separate and free handling of endoscopy and surgical instruments, wide view of the surgical field with small skin incisions, absence of the procedure of removing fog from the endoscope, and lower infection rate by continuous saline irrigation. In addition, existing arthroscopic instruments for the extremities and conventional spinal instruments can be used for this technique and surgery for recurred disc herniation is applicable because delicate surgical procedures are performed under a brightness of 2,700 to 6,700 lux and a magnification of 28 to 35 times. Therefore, due to such advantages, BESS is a novel technique for the surgical treatment of lumbar disc herniation.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
• /
• v.85 no.1
• /
• pp.36-53
• /
• 2024

As the number of spinal surgeries being performed expands, the number of medical imaging procedures such as radiography, CT, and MRI is also increasing, and the importance of their interpretation is becoming more significant. Herein, we present the radiological findings of a variety of complications that can occur after spinal surgery and discuss how effectively and accurately they can be diagnosed through imaging. In particular, this study details the characteristic imaging findings specific to the early and long-term postoperative periods. Early complications of spinal surgery include improper placement of surgical instruments (instrument malpositioning), seromas, hematomas, pseudomeningoceles, and infections in the region surrounding the surgical site. Conversely, long-term complications may include osteolysis around surgical instruments, failure of fusion, adjacent segment disease, and the formation of epidural fibrosis or scar tissue. A precise understanding of the imaging assessments related to complications arising after spinal surgery is crucial to ensure timely and accurate diagnosis, which is necessary to achieve effective treatment.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
• /
• v.12 no.1
• /
• pp.144-147
• /
• 1999

A 72-year-old female patient was presented complaining of unbearable abdominal pain in the upper left quadrant at our hospital. Two weeks earlier she had developed a vesicular eruption on the right C3 dermatome and 1 week earlier she had experienced a vesicular eruption on the left T11 dermatome. Her medical history was unremarkable. She had suffered from severe abdominal pain in the upper left quadrant for 10 days and the mild pain in the right shoulder region for 20 days. The pain in the upper left quadrant had increased and was unresponsive to drugs prescribed by the local clinic. And we performed T11 root block with 0.5% lidocaine 5 ml and dexametasone 5 mg, and thoracic epidural blockade on 1st hospital day under diagnosis of herpes zoster infection. Her VAS were improved from 10 to 2 on 2nd hospital day. We performed thoracic epidural blockade with 0.5% lidocaine 6 ml. Her VAS were changed from 2 to 7 and so then we performed the thoracic epidural blockade with 0.5% lidocaine 5 ml and triamcinolone 40 mg on 3rd hospital day. On 4th hospital day, her VAS were from 7 to 1. After 4 month of our managements she was tolerable without any medications.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.37 no.12
• /
• pp.1022-1024
• /
• 2004

Pulmonary aspergillosis is the most common disease of fungal infection and has lower infectivity. Pulmonary asergillosis is classified by aspergilloma, bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, necrotic and invasive aspergillosis. Invasive aspergillosis is found in immune compromised host, immunosuppressive treatment after organ transplantation, anticancerous chemotherapy, blood abnormality, AIDS patients etc. We reported a case of invasive aspergillosis in an immunocompetent host, with review of literatures.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
• /
• v.2 no.1
• /
• pp.90-94
• /
• 1998

Hinman syndrome is a condition representing urinary voiding dysfunction in the neurologically intact child. The syndrome is probably caused by acquired behavioral and psychosocial disorders manifested by bladder and/or bowel dysfunction mimicking neurologic disease. Clinically, the symptom complex may include day and night time enuresis, encopresis, constipation, and recurrent urinary tract infections. Cystoscopy frequently demonstrates normal vesicourethral anatomy. Voiding films usually demonstarate a carrot-shaped proximal urethra with a persistent narrowing at the external sphincter. The bladder is large and often appears trabeculated with a thickened wall and significant postvoid residual. A 13-year-old male child was admitted due to fever, urinary tract infection, enuresis and flank pain. His neurologic examination was normal. Renal sonograms showed moderate hydronephrosis. Voiding cystourethrograms showed a huge, trabeculated bladder without vesicourethral reflux and urethral valves. No abnormal findings was found in spinal MRI.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
• /
• v.4 no.2
• /
• pp.67-71
• /
• 1970

Fourteen patients with typhoid fever were studied by scanning and clearance-rate measurements of subcritical dose colloidal radiogold($^{198}Au$). Mild to moderate enlargement of the liver and spleen was noted in 78.6 and 64.3 per cent of patients, respectively; and splenic and spinal bone-marrow uptake was seen in 78.6 and 57.1 per cent of cases, respectively. Typically, these scan changes occurred concomitantly (57.1%) and are considered to represent increased phagocytic activity of the RE cells which is characteristic of typhoid fever. The half clearance-time was significantly shortened during the first 10-day period of the illness indicating an increas in the hepatic blood in the early phase of typhoid infection. Hepatomegaly, splenomegaly and extrahepatic uptakes along with an accelerated (or later a normal) clearance time are characteristic of typhoid fever.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
• /
• v.9 no.2
• /
• pp.412-414
• /
• 1996

Herpes zoster is an infection by the varicella zoster virus in a partly immune compromised person such as old age, cancer, immune deficiency disease. When either the upper lumbar or sacral segments are involved, serious urinary retention caused by central spread of herpes zoster from dorsal root ganglion can occur. The urinary disturbance appears to have been due to motor dysfunction of detrusor muscle, trigone muscle, and internal sphincter. We experienced two cases of zoster affecting different segments of the spinal cord and resulting in urinary retention.