• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.57 no.2
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• pp.108-113
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• 2015

Objective : Although the L5-S1 has distinct structural features in comparison with other lumbar spine segments, not much is known about adjacent segment degeneration (ASD) at the L5-S1 segment. The aim of study was to compare the incidence and character of ASD of the cephalad and L5-S1 segments after L5 floating lumbar fusion. Methods : From 2005 to 2010, 115 patients who underwent L5 floating lumber fusion were investigated. The mean follow-up period was 46.1 months. The incidence of radiological and clinical ASD of the cephalad and the L5-S1 segments was compared using survival analysis. Risk factors affecting ASD were analyzed using a log rank test and the Cox proportional hazard model. Results : Radiological ASD of the L5-S1 segment had a statistically significant higher survival rate than that of the cephalad segment (p=0.001). However, clinical ASD of the L5-S1 segment was significantly lower survival rates than that of the cephalad segment (p=0.038). Risk factor analysis showed that disc degeneration of the cephalad segment and preoperative spinal stenosis of the L5-S1 segment were risk factors. Conclusion : In L5 floating fusion, radiological ASD was more common in the cephalad segment and clinical ASD was more common in the L5-S1 segment. At the L5-S1 segment, the degree of spinal stenosis appears to be the most influential risk factor in ASD incidences, unlike the cephalad segment.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.184-190
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• 2007

Objective : The authors retrospectively analyzed clinical and radiographic features of patients who developed symptomatic adjacent segment degeneration (ASD) that required re-operation. Methods : From 1995 to 2004, among 412 patients who underwent posterior lumbar fusion surgery, the authors experienced twenty-six patients who presented symptomatic ASD. Records of these patients were reviewed to collect clinical data at the first and second operations. Results : The patients were 9 males and 17 females whose mean age was $63.5{\pm}8.7$ years. Among 319 one segment and 102 multi-segment fusions, 16 and 10 patients presented ASD, respectively. Seventeen ASDs were noticed at the cephalad to fusion (65%), eight at the caudad (31%), and one at the cephalad and caudad, simultaneously (4%). All patients underwent decompression surgery. Nine patients underwent additional fusion surgeries to adjacent degenerated segments. In 17 patients who underwent only decompression surgery without fusion, the success rate was 82.4%. In fusion cases. the success rate was observed as 55.5%. There were no statistically significant factors to be related to development of ASD. However, in cases of multi-level fusion surgery, there was a tendency toward increasing ASD. Conclusion : Multi-segment fusion surgery could be associated with a development of ASD. In surgical treatment of symptomatic ASD, selective decompression without fusion may need to be considered as a primary procedure, which could reduce the potential risk of later occurrence of the other adjacent segment disease.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.344-348
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• 1996

Continuous epidural block can be useful in the management of acute and chronic pain. For the most effective analgesia, it is important to localize the tip of epidural catheter and the spread of radiopaque dye. Epidural catheterization was performed in 12 patients on the sitting position. Catheters were advanced by 10 cm cephalad in the cervical epidural space by median approach and radiopaque dye 3 ml was injected through the catheters. The position of cervical epidural catheters and the spread of dye was confirmed by radiography. The course of epidural catheter were: coiled 3/12 (25%), loop 2/12 (16.7%), straight 2/12 (16.7%). In 8 cases, the tip of epidural catheters were located within one vertebral segment from the level of insertion site. Radiopaque dye spreaded average 3.68 vertebral segment to cranially and 1.67 vertebral segment to caudally from the insertion site.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.212-216
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• 2011

Objective : It is well known that plate-to-disc distance (POD) is closely related to adjacent-level ossification following anterior cervical plate placement. The study was undertaken to compare the outcomes of two different anterior cervical plating methods for degenerative cervical condition. Specifically, the new method involves making holes for plate screws first with an air drill and then choosing a plate size. The other method was standard, that is, decide on the plate size first, locate the plate on the anterior vertebral body, and then drilling the screw holes. Our hypothesis was that the new technical tip may increase POD as compared with the standard anterior cervical plating procedure. Methods : We retrospectively reviewed 49 patients who had a solid fusion after anterior cervical arthrodesis with a plate for the treatment of cervical disc degeneration. Twenty-three patients underwent the new anterior cervical plating technique (Group A) and 26 patients underwent the standard technique (Group B). POD and ratios between POD to anterior body heights (ABH) were measured using postoperative lateral radiographs. In addition, operating times and clinical results were reviewed in all cases. Results : The mean durations of follow-up were $16.42{\pm}5.99$ (Group A) and $19.83{\pm}6.71$ (Group B) months, range 12 to 35 months. Of these parameters mentioned above, cephalad POD (5.43 versus 3.46 mm, p=0.005) and cephalad POD/ABH (0.36 versus 0.23, p=0.004) were significantly greater in the Group A, whereas operation time for two segment arthrodesis (141.9 versus 170.6 minutes, p=0.047) was significantly lower in the Group A. There were no significant difference between the two groups in caudal POD (5.92 versus 5.06 mm), caudal POO/ABH (0.37 versus 0.32) and clinical results. Conclusion : The new anterior cervical plating method represents an improvement over the standard method in terms of cephalad plate-to-disc distance and operating time.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.153-158
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• 1972

The esophageal atresia with tracheoesophageal fistula occurs approximately once in 3, 000 live births. In Korea, about 20 cases were reported with five successful surgical corrections. The atresia characteristically occurs at the level of, or just cephalad to, the carina and is associated with a tracheoesophageal fistula. In about 90% of the cases, the upper esophagus ends in a blind pouch, and the lower esophageal segment communicates with the trachea through the membranous posterior wall just above the carina. Many of the Infants with esophageal atresia have other congenital anomalies. The most common of these are congenital cardiac anomalies, imperforate anus, genitourinary malformations, and intestinal atresia. Recently we experienced four cases of esophageal atresia, of which three were Gross type C and one was type A. Two of them were treated by primary repair, and one [type A] was taken cervical esophagostomy and gastrostomy. The another was refused surgery.