• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제19권1호
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• pp.119-122
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• 2006

Upper thoracic back pain can be musculoskeletal in origin or it could be visceral referred pain, which may be indicative of a serious medical condition. We experienced a case of a 55-years-old female patient who complained of upper thoracic back pain for 1 month, which started 10 days after a traffic accident. She described the pain as being a dull, constant nagging sensation with an intensity of 4/10 on the visual analogue scale. Her pain did not subside after trigger point injection of the rhomboid and trapezius muscles. She reported intermittent palpitation, which indicated that the cardiovascular or pulmonary systems were involved. She was diagnosed with pulmonary thromboembolism by the imaging studies. Refractory upper thoracic back pain should be investigated to rule out this treatable, but potentially fatal condition.

• Clinical Pain
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• 제20권2호
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• pp.141-144
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• 2021

There are some cases of myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) with chronic upper back pain that does not respond to dry needling or trigger point injection, well-known treatments for MPS. A 67-year-old female developed a stabbing upper back pain with trigger point at left T7~8 levels 10 years ago. She complained of the pain with Numeral Rating Scale (NRS) 8 points. Myofascial release technique and trigger point injection had no effect. Under ultrasound guidance 20 ml of 1% lidocaine was injected into thoracic paravertebral space. Immediately, the pain was reduced to NRS 4 points. One week later, the second block was performed in the same way as the first, and the pain was reduced to NRS 2 points. The stabbing pain disappeared, and oral opioids were discontinued. Ultrasound guided thoracic paravertebral space block is an effective and safe treatment for refractory MPS with chronic upper back pain.

• 대한물리의학회지
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• 제5권3호
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• pp.363-373
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• 2010

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to compare differences in thoracolumbar ranges of motions by comparing ratios among 4 type diagnosis for patient with chronic low back pain. Methods : The subjects were 58 chronic low back pain patients. A motion analysis program (Global Postural System) was used after photography for posture measurement. To analyze differences in mobility percentages and ratios of thoracolumbar ranges of motion, one-way ANOVA was used. Results : Regional difference spinal posture and movement were found to diagnosis patients with chronic low back pain. Comparison of thoracolumbar ranges of motion revealed significant differences in the thoracic region during forward-bending of the trunk (p<.05). In the upper thoracic region, the herniated intervertebral lumbar disc (HILD) group was significantly larger than the spinal stenosis/herniated intervertebral lumbar disc (SS/HILD) group (p<.05). In the lower thoracic region, chronic sprains (CS) were significantly greater than in the spinal stenosis (SS) group and in the (SS/HJLD) group (p<.05). Comparative analysis of thoracic/lumbar mobility ratio showed the CS group's ratio during forward bending was largest: 1.66, while the HILD group's ratio was smallest: 84 a significant difference between the two groups (p<.01). Diagnosis was not associated with difference in thoracolumbar backward-bending range of motion (p>.05). Conclusion : Theses results indicate the clinical efficacy of diagnosing for chronic low back pain by evaluating spinal mobility.

• 국제물리치료학회지
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• 제7권2호
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• pp.1066-1070
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• 2016

The purpose of this article was to investigate the effects of Maitland's transverse movement on change of pain, trunk flexion movement and Cobb's angle in patient with upper thoracic scoliosis. The subject are 37 years old with chronic low back pain participated in this study and has no experience surgery within the last six months due to back pain. 10 set was applied 10 times on the T3-T5 applied the transverse movement with grade IV to each segment by skilled physical therapist. Transverse movement was applied convex toward the concave side. Pressure pain threshold was reduced from 4/10 to 2/10. Trunk flexion range that is the distance between the middle finger and floor was increase from 7.3cm to 2cm. Cobb's angle was decreased from degree 18 to 16. This result demonstrated that the Maitland's transverse movement was benefit to reduce the pain and Cobb's angle, and to increase the trunk flexion movement.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제63권4호
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• pp.372-377
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• 2007

척추결핵은 경과가 느리고 서서히 진행하며 특이한 증상이 없으므로 임상적으로 의심하지 않으면 병이 상당히 진행된 후에야 진단되기 쉽다. 또한 침범된 부위가 척추결핵이 흔하지 않은 상부흉추, 경추, 천추부라면 진단은 더욱 늦어질 수 있다. 저자들은 국립의료원 결핵과에서 발열과 약 5개월간 지속된 상부 배부 통증으로 입원한 폐결핵환자에서 MRI 촬영으로 T5-6의 압박골절까지 초래한 상부흉추결핵을 진단하고 신경학적 이상이 생기기 전에 수술을 시행하고 항결핵약제의 치료로 좋은 결과를 얻었기에 이에 보고하는 바이다.

• 한국전문물리치료학회지
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• 제25권4호
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• pp.37-45
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• 2018

Background: Posterior-anterior (PA) vertebral mobilization, a manual therapy technique has been used for relieving pain or stiffness treating in spinal segment for in clinical practice, however evidence to gauge efficacy is yet to be synthesised. Objects: This study aimed to investigate the effect of PA mobilization of the thoracic spine on the respiratory function in patients with low back pain (LBP). Methods: The study participants included 30 patients with chronic LBP. They were randomly allocated to the experimental and control groups. The experimental and control groups received PA mobilization of the T1-T8 level of the thoracic spine and placebo mobilization, respectively. All patients received interventions for 35 minutes a day, five times a week, over 2-week period, respectively. Forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 second ($FEV_1$), peak expiratory flow (PEF), forced expiratory flow 25~75% ($FEF_{25{\sim}75%}$), and chest wall expansion were measured before and after the intervention. Statistical analysis was performed using independent t-test and two-way analysis of variance, and Pearson's correlation analysis was used to compare the correlation between respiratory function and chest measurement. Results: The experimental group showed significant improvements in FVC, $FEV_1$, PEF, $FEF_{25{\sim}75%}$ (p<.05), and chest wall expansion (p<.05) compared with the control group. Conclusion: PA mobilization of the upper thoracic spine may be beneficial for improving respiratory function parameters including FVC, $FEV_1$, PEF, $FEF_{25{\sim}75%}$, and chest wall expansion in patients with chronic LBP.

• Clinical Pain
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• 제20권1호
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• pp.39-42
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• 2021

A 29-year-old woman had 1-month history of back pain radiating into lower extremities, motor weakness, and sensory abnormalities in both lower extremities. Contrast-enhanced spinal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a homogeneously enhancing mass at the T12~L1 and several intradural enhancing nodular lesions at L2~S1. Tumor resection surgery was performed and following histological examination showed that the tumor satisfied the diagnostic criteria for atypical choroid plexus papilloma (CPP). To find primary tumor sites, contrast-enhanced brain MRI, whole spine MRI, and PET-CT were carried out and additional lesions were detected at the fourth ventricle, right cerebellum, and upper thoracic spinal cord. This is a very rare case of metastatic atypical CPP that involves brain, upper thoracic spinal cord, and cauda equina with initial manifestation of radicular symptoms without clinical signs of primary brain lesion.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제40권4호
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• pp.289-292
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• 2006

Thoracic spinal actinomycosis causing epidural abscess and significant spinal cord compression is very rare. A case is presented of a 56-year-old woman with rapid progressive upper back pain and weakness in both legs without evidence of systemic infection. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a thoracic epidural enhancing lesion at the T1-T5 level. After decompression by laminectomy, precise diagnosis was accomplished using specific histopathological studies of the surgical specimens. A histopathologic findings showing typical Actinomyces sulfur granules surrounded by acute inflammatory cells. The clinical radiological findings of spinal actinomycosis closely resemble metastatic tumors and other infectious processes. Delay in diagnosis and treatment can significantly worsen the condition of patient.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제37권2호
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• pp.154-156
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• 2005

We present a case of chondroblastoma in the thoracic vertebra. A 40-year-old patient with upper back pain and lower extremity weakness was admitted to our clinic. On neurological examination, the patient exhibited lower extremity spastic paraparesis. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a mass infiltrating the 7th thoracic vertebra and its adjacent structures with concomitant compression of the epidural space. After right upper lung tuberculoma was resected through the transthoracic approach, T7 total corpectomy was done with anterior stabilization using a MESH cage and T7 rib bone graft. Two weeks after the first operation, remained part of vertebra was removed and posterior stabilization was performed using a pedicle screw fixation and cross linkage bar with the assistance of the navigation system. The final pathologic diagnosis of the vertebral lesion was benign chondroblastoma.

• 대한두경부종양학회지
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• 제28권2호
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• pp.143-145
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• 2012

Follicular thyroid cancer(FTC) accounts for about 10-15% of thyroid cancer. Distant metastasis is common, usually to lung, bone and brain. 71-years-old man visited neurosurgery outpatient department. He complained of recent 6kg weight loss, left upper extremity pain with weakness and back pain. The radiologic findings showed multiple bone metastasis including thoracic spine and left scapular resulting from FTC. There was a probable brain metastatic lesion on right temporal fossa. The core biopsy of thyroid and thoracic spine(T11) confirmed metastatic follicular carcinoma. Radioactive iodine therapy and radiotherapy was done following total thyroidectomy. We report a unique case of multiple bone metastasis from follicular carcinoma of thyroid with literature review.