• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.248-251
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• 2018

This retrospective study reports the effects of combined traditional Korean treatment of cervical radiculopathy in patients who underwent ineffective epidural steroid injection treatment. This study analyzed cervical radiculopathy in patients who visited traditional Korean medicine hospital following an ineffective epidural steroid injection. There were 29 cases included in this study. Scores for Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and Neck Disability Index (NDI) were measured before and after combined treatment with acupuncture, herbal medicine, and chuna therapy. The results of this study showed that patient VAS scores for neck and shoulder pain were significantly reduced (p < 0.001) when comparing scores before treatment ($6.03{\pm}2.04$) with after treatment ($2.14{\pm}1.27$). In addition, the VAS score for radiating pain before treatment ($6.67{\pm}1.44$) compared with after treatment ($2.89{\pm}1.83$) showed a significant reduction (p < 0.001). Furthermore, the NDI score before treatment ($25.85{\pm}6.33$) compared with after treatment ($11.33{\pm}7.47$), also showed a significant reduction (p < 0.001). The results in this study showed the positive effects of combined traditional Korean medicine treatment in significantly reducing pain for patients with cervical radiculopathy, who had ineffective anesthesia.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.50-56
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• 2014

Background: To assess the clinical outcomes of short-term oral corticosteroid therapy for impingement syndrome of the shoulder and determine whether it can be substituted as an alternative to the intra-articular injection. Methods: The clinical outcomes of the 173 patients, the oral steroid group (n=88) and the injection group (n=85), were measured at 3 weeks, 2, 4, and 6 months postoperatively. The clinical outcomes were assessed by measuring the the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) score, visual analog scale (VAS) and range of motion (ROM) at every follow-up. Any complications and recurrence rate were noted. A relationship between the treatment outcomes and factors such as demographic factors, clinical symptoms and radiographic findings were determined. Results: No difference was observed in VAS and UCLA scores between the two groups, but forward flexion and internal rotation of ROM were significantly improved in the injection group at the 2nd and 4th postoperative month (p < 0.05). At 6th postoperative month, recurrence rate of symptoms was 26% in the oral steroid group and 22% in the injection group. No major adverse effects were observed. When the clinical outcomes of the oral steroid group were compared to either demographic, clinical symptoms, or radiographic findings, UCLA score was found to be significantly low (p < 0.05) in patients with joint stiffness and UCLA score, whereas VAS score was significantly improved in patients with night pain (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Short-term low-dose oral corticosteroid therapy of impingement syndrome showed comparable clinical outcomes to intra-articular injection without any remarkable adverse effects. Low-dose oral steroids can be regarded as a partial alternative to intra-articular injection for the initial therapy of impingement syndrome of the shoulder.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.72-76
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• 2006

Background: The objective of this study was to describe the extent of pain relief after an epidural steroid injection in the patients suffering from chronic low back pain from herniated disks or lumbar spinal stenosis. Methods: The study was prospectively designed for patients suffering with lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) and herniated disks (HD) who were referred to a hospital-based pain clinic for epidural steroid injections (ESI). The pain was assessed with using a visual analog scale at baseline, two weeks after the first ESI and two weeks after the third ESI. Results: Eighty patients were enrolled, and all of them provided pain ratings before and after the injections. The LSS patients seemed to improve less than did the HD patients. The results showed no significant differences in the triamcinolone dosage and the frequency of injections for determining the efficacy of ESI. Conclusions: The LSS patients tended to have a less effective respond to ESIs than did the HD patients. The unsatisfactory response to ESI by the LSS patients underscores the need for randomized controlled trials of performing ESI in this population.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.550-559
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• 2002

This study was conducted to determine whether low intensity regular exercise following dexamethasone treatment could attenuate steroid-induced muscle atrophy. Method: 36 Wistar-rats(90-110g) were divided into six groups: control group(C), dexamethasone treatment group(D), sedentary group after normal sedentary period(C+S), sedentary group after dexamethasone treatment period(D+S), exercise group after normal sedentary period(C+E), and excercise group after dexamethasone treatment period(D+E). D, D+S, and D+E groups received dexamethasone injection(5mg/Kg) for seven days whereas C, C+S, and C+E groups received normal saline injection. Both C+E and D+E groups ran on a treadmill for 60 minutes/day(20minutes/4hours) at 15m/min and a 10$^{\circ}$grade for seven recovery days. Result: Post-weight(body weight before muscle dissection) of D group significantly decreased by 16.03%, and that of D+E group significantly increased by 15.51% compared with pre-weight(body weight before steroid treatment). TypeII muscle(plantaris and gastrocnemius) weights of D group were significantly lower than those of C group. Myofibrillar protein contents of typeII muscles of D group tended to decrease comparing with C group. In D+E groups, body weights and relative weights of typeII muscles(muscle weight(mg)/post-weight(g)) tended to increase comparing with D+S group. Conclusion: It is suggested that steroid- induced muscle atrophy can be ameliorated through low intensity regular exercise after dexamethasone treatment.

• Korean Journal of Audiology
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.24-28
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• 2020

Background and Objectives: Systemic steroid therapy (SST) and intratympanic steroid injection (ISI) have been the treatment of choice for sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL). We studied the effect of ISI administered at different intervals on hearing outcomes in patients with SSNHL. Subjects and Methods: We performed a retrospective study of 427 patients diagnosed with SSNHL at Bundang Jesaeng Hospital, of whom 51 patients with SSNHL who received SST and four ISIs were included in this study. Patients were treated with four ISIs either every day for 4 days (group 1) or at intervals (mean duration of interval: 2.21 days) (group 2). Hearing outcomes were evaluated using the pure-tone test before the injection and 14 days, 1 month, and 3 months after the final injection. Recovery rates were classified based on Siegel's criteria. Results: The amount of improvement was 27.67 dB (±20.45) in group 1 and 32.79 dB (±21.42) in group 2. However, there were no significant differences between the two groups (p= 0.714). The recovery rates based on Siegel's criteria were 18/27 (66.7%) and 16/24 (66.7%) in groups 1 and 2, respectively, with no significant difference (p=1.000). Considering only complete recoveries in hearing recovery, the recovery rates were 15/27 (55.6%) and 14/24 (58.3%) in groups 1 and 2, respectively, with no significant difference (p=0.842). Conclusions: There were no significant differences in hearing outcomes or recovery rates after ISI administration every day or at intervals of 2-3 days.

• Journal of Audiology & Otology
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.24-28
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• 2020

Background and Objectives: Systemic steroid therapy (SST) and intratympanic steroid injection (ISI) have been the treatment of choice for sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL). We studied the effect of ISI administered at different intervals on hearing outcomes in patients with SSNHL. Subjects and Methods: We performed a retrospective study of 427 patients diagnosed with SSNHL at Bundang Jesaeng Hospital, of whom 51 patients with SSNHL who received SST and four ISIs were included in this study. Patients were treated with four ISIs either every day for 4 days (group 1) or at intervals (mean duration of interval: 2.21 days) (group 2). Hearing outcomes were evaluated using the pure-tone test before the injection and 14 days, 1 month, and 3 months after the final injection. Recovery rates were classified based on Siegel's criteria. Results: The amount of improvement was 27.67 dB (±20.45) in group 1 and 32.79 dB (±21.42) in group 2. However, there were no significant differences between the two groups (p= 0.714). The recovery rates based on Siegel's criteria were 18/27 (66.7%) and 16/24 (66.7%) in groups 1 and 2, respectively, with no significant difference (p=1.000). Considering only complete recoveries in hearing recovery, the recovery rates were 15/27 (55.6%) and 14/24 (58.3%) in groups 1 and 2, respectively, with no significant difference (p=0.842). Conclusions: There were no significant differences in hearing outcomes or recovery rates after ISI administration every day or at intervals of 2-3 days.

• The Journal of the Korean bone and joint tumor society
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.23-29
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• 2006

Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness of steroid injection for treatment of simple bone cyst in adults. Materials and Methods: 11 patients who were able to be followed up from February 1998 to February 2003. These lesions were attained by needle aspiration or trepanation and 80 mg to 200 mg of Depo-medrol (methylprednisolone acetate, Shin Poong Pharm. Co., Korea) was injected. The follow-up roentgenograms were done every 2 weeks, and if there were no evidence of recovery, re-injection was done 8 weeks later. Injection has done maximally 5 times, and we evaluated the result with modified Neer, Pentimalli, Scaglietti and Sandra classification. Results: There were no cases in which one Injection was enough for full recovery, and 3 cases after 2 injections, 3 cases after 3 injections, 2 case after 5 injections had good result. but 2 cases after more than 5 injections did not show improvements and are currently under observation. One case showed a increase in size of the bone cyst after 2 injections of steroid and underwent curettage and autogenous bone graft. Overall outcomes by Pentimalli classification were good in One case, fair in 7 cases and poor in 3 cases at final follow-up. Conclusion: Local injection of steroids is effective method in adults and can be considered as a first line treatment modality.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.254-257
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• 2010

Background: Epidural steroid injection is an established treatment modality for intervertebral disc prolapse to radiculopathy. In cases where two levels of radiculopathy are present, two separate injections are warranted. Herein, we present our experience of management of such cases with a single epidural injection of local anaesthetic, tramadol and methylprednisolone, and table tilt for management of both radiculopathies. Methods: 50 patients of either sex aged between 35-65 years presenting with features of cervical and lumbar radiculopathic pain were included and were subjected to single lumbar epidural injection of local anaesthetic, tramadol and methylprednisolone, in the lateral position. The table was then tilted in the trendelberg position with a tilt of 25 degrees, and patients were maintained for 10 minuted before being turned supine. All patients were administered 3 such injections with an interval of 2 weeks between subsequent injections, and pain relief was assessed with a visual analogue scale. Immediate complications after the block were assessed. Results: Immediate and post procedural complications observed were nausea and vomiting (20%), painful injection site (4%), hypotension (10%) and high block (4%). Pain relief was assessed after the three injections by three grades: 37 (74%) had complete resolution of symptoms; 18% had partial relief and 8% did not benefit from the procedure. Conclusions: This technique may be used as an alternative technique for pain relief in patients with unilateral cervical and lumbar radiculopathies.

• Journal of Electrodiagnosis and Neuromuscular Diseases
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.153-158
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• 2018

Posterior interosseus (PI) nerve compression is a rare form of compressive neuropathy. It can cause pain along the radial nerve course and weakness of radial nerve innervating muscles without sensory symptoms. A 65-year-old man visited our institution complaining weakness of finger extension and thumb abduction after 2 times of injections at the right elbow in local clinic. The patient's clinical history and physical examination implied an iatrogenic radial nerve injury caused by the injection. The electrophysiologic study revealed of posterior interosseus neuropathy (PIN) with incomplete conduction block. However, the ultrasound study showed that the PI nerve was compressed by an anechoic cyst. The magnetic resonance imaging also confirmed of a ganglion cyst, not a hematoma. After repeated aspirations and a steroid injection, the electrophysiologic study showed recovery of motor weakness. Despite of the clue which implying an iatrogenic injury, clinician should consider other possibilities such as ganglion cysts and ultrasound guided aspiration and steroid injection could be an effective option for conservative management.

• The Journal of the Korean bone and joint tumor society
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.20-26
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• 2002

Fibrous dysplasia is a benign pathologic condition in which the normal cancellous bone is replaced by the fibro-osseous tissue. It is found mostly in the femur, tibia, skull, rib, and humerus. Clinically it may develops pain, progressive deformity, and pathologic fracture. Curettage with bone graft has been the most popular treatment method thesedays. A 17-year-old female who had fibrous dysplasia of the humerus combined with multiple cystic lesion was treated by intralesional steroid injection into the lesion total 2 times. The follow-up plain X-ray which was taken 11 months after steroid injection reveals decrease in size and increase in bone density and cortex thickness. The follow-up MRI reveals significant decrease in size and signal intensity. The signal intensity was decreased to that of normal bone marrow in T2 weighted image. She complains no pain and lives symptom free in last follow-up at 2 years and 8 months after steroid injection.