• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.211-215
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• 2007

Cervicothoracic junction instability should be stabilized with the circumferential fusion. In addition, cervicothoracic junctional area should be examined carefully in acute traumatic injury not only to confirm hidden lesions but also to make the proper surgical plans. Here, three patients who underwent cervicothoracic arthrodesis at our institution are presented with a review of literature.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.136-139
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• 2008

A great variety of penetrating injuries is happening due to the increasing population and violence today. An optimal surgical approach is the key factor for successful repair of a complicated penetrating injury. A 23-year-old woman fell down the stairs from the second floor and received cervico-thoracic penetration injury due to a metalic bar. The metalic bar ruptured the right jugular vein and penetrated the left upper and lower lung. Under cervico-median sternotomy, neck vessels were repaired and the left thorax was successfully entered to repair the damaged lung through the mediastinal pleura. With this approach, the patient's position did not need to be changed during operation, while reduced the operation time compared to the conventional approach (cervical incision and standard thoracotomy).

• Korean Journal of Bronchoesophagology
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.76-79
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• 2001

A 60-year-old male was admitted due to cervical spine injury (C7-T1 fracture dislocation) and quadriparesis after slip down. During conservative management in department of neurologic surgery, he complainted of fever, dyspnea, neck swelling. Follow up cervicothoracic CT revealed abscess pocket in paraglottic, retropharyngeal, anterior cervical spaces and mediastinum. Also noted bilateral pleural effusions. Under impression of descending necrotizing mediastinitis (DNM). cervical drainage and bilateral chest tube insertion was performed immediately. On next day. mediastinal drainage through mediastinotomy was performed with careful handling of cervical spine. Escherichia coli was identified in bacteriologic culture. Wire fixation of dislocated C7-T1 spine through Posterior approach was performed on 30th days after mediastinotomy. Right chest tube was removed on 40th days. At now, the patient is on rehabilitation and physical training program. DNM is relatively rare, but lethal disease with high mortality. Immedate and sufficient mediastinal drainage is essential in treatment.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.274-279
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• 2000

A 35-year-old female patient who had been paraplegic since her upper thoracic cord injury one and a half years before was presented with a syringomyelia involving C7 to T2 cord segments on follow-up magnetic resonance imaging(MRI). Her pain on the chest and bilateral axilla worsened since about 2 years after initial injury, and MRI demonstrated a progressively enlarging cystic syrinx cavity of the cervicothoracic cord. The posttraumatic syringomyelia was managed operatively by lysis of the arachnoid adhesions, myelotomy, and expansile duraplasty. Post-operatively her pain was relieved, and MRI showed decrease in size of the syrinx, and digital infrared thermographic imaging(DITI) showed diminution of the hyperthermic area on the anterior chest. In conclusion, the posttraumatic syringomyelia can be managed successfully without shunt operation. It seems apparent that expansile duraplasty is effective in controlling the posttraumatic syrinx.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.128-131
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• 1999

Stellate ganglion block is a well established method for the management of certain pain syndromes (e.g., chronic regional pain syndrome, facial pain) in the cervicothoracic region and upper extremity. The stellate ganglion resides between the C7 transverse process and the head of the first rib. Anesthetic injections for the stellate ganglion block are typically made at the level of the transverse process of either the C6 or C7 vertebrae to avoid the pleura, vessels, and nerve roots. Method of positioning the needle tip directly at the ganglion has been described, but are problematic because of the risk of injury to or injection into adjacent structures. It is necessary to know the exact anatomic position of the stellate ganglion when permanent blockade is required by means of radiofrequency thermocoagulation. Whereas fluroscopy shows only bony feature, computerized tomography also images nerves, vessels, and lung, allowing accruate needle placement. We report a case of the percutaneous radiofrequency thermocoagulation of the stellate ganglion after computerized tomography-guided localization.

• Clinical Pain
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.138-141
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• 2020

Clay-shoveler's fractures are rare stress-type avulsion fractures of the spinous processes especially in sports. There have been two case reports that discussed clay-shoveler's fractures in golf. A 36-year-old beginner golfer presented with a pain in the back after practicing golf swing. No fractures were detected using cervical radiography; however, computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed T2~T3 spinous process fractures. The patient was treated conservatively and his pain subsided. The mechanism of injury is speculated to that of clay-shoveler's fractures. Therefore, if a golfer suffers persistent pain in the cervicothoracic region, clay-shoveler's fracture is one possibility to consider.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.129-133
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• 2010

Objective : The use of segmental instrumentation technique using pedicle screw has been increasingly popular in recent years owing to its biomechanical stability. Recently, intralaminar screws have been used as a potentially safer alternative to traditional fusion constructs involving fixation of C2 and the cervicothoracic junction including C7. However, to date, there have been few clinical series of C7 laminar screw fixation in the literature. Thus, the purpose of this study is to report our clinical experiences using C7 laminar screw and the early clinical outcome of this rather new fixation technique. Methods : Thirteen patients underwent C7 intralaminar fixation to treat lesions from trauma or degenerative disease. Seventeen intralaminar screws were placed at C7. The patients were assessed both clinically and radiographically with postoperative computed tomographic scans. Results : There was no violation of the screw into the spinal canal during the procedure and no neurological worsening or vascular injury from screw placement. The mean clinical and radiographic follow up was about 19 months, at which time there were no cases of screw pull-out, screw fracture or non-union. Complications included two cases of dorsal breech of intralaminar screw and one case of postoperative infection. Conclusion : Intralaminar screws can be potentially safe alternative technique for C7 fixation. Even though this technique cannot be used in the cases of C7 laminar fracture, large margin of safety and the ease of screw placement create a niche for this technique in the armamentarium of spine surgeons.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.465-470
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• 1999

Background: Facial hyperhidrosis patients have as much difficulty in personal relationships as the palmar and axillary hyperhidrosis patients. There have been no appropriate treatment, but recently, satisfactory results have been obtained through sympathetic blockade. Thoracoscopic thoracic sympathectomy for facial hyperhidrosis has been known to resect cervicothoracic (stellate) ganglion, but its inherent complications such as Horner syndrome have made the surgeons hesitant to use this method. We, through our experiences in treating palmar and axillary hyperhidrosis for the past 6 years, believed that T2 sympathicotomy would be enough for facial hyperhidrosis and have experimented and obtained satisfactory results. Material and Method: From June 1997 to May 1998, 38 consecutive patients underwent bilateral thoracoscopic T2 sympathicotomy with 2mm instruments at Seoul National University Hospital. Result: All patients were relieved of excessive sweating in their faces immediately after the operation. Postoperatively, 5 patients (13.2%) required insertion of chest tubes because 3 had incomplete reexpansion of the lung, and 2 had hemothorax from severe adhesion. Other complications related to the surgical procedures, such as Horner's syndrome, and brachial plexus injury, were not detected in any cases. The mean hospital stay was mean 1.7$\pm$0.9 days after surgery. Conclusion: T2 sympathetic ganglion is the appropriate resection site for facial hyperhidrosis, and complications such as Horner syndrome can be prevented by not cutting the stellate ganglion. In addition, it is possible to perform the operation by using a 2 mm thoracoscopic instrument, and may obtain much better results.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.63 no.6
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• pp.738-746
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• 2020

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to evaluate surgical outcomes and complications of spinal deformity associated with neurofibromatosis type-1 (NF-1). Methods : From 2012 to 2018, patients suffering from spinal deformity associated with NF-1 who underwent surgical correction were identified. Demographic data and radiographic measures were retrospectively reviewed. Pre- and postoperative whole spine radiograph images were used to determine both coronal and sagittal Cobb angles. All of patients underwent 3-dimentional computed tomographic scan and magnetic resonance imaging scan to confirm dystrophic features. For evaluation of clinical outcomes, we surveyed the pre- and postoperative scoliosis research society-22r (SRS-22r) score. Results : Seven patients with spinal deformity associated with NF-1 were enrolled in this study. The mean age of patients was 29.5±1.2 years old. The mean follow-up period was 2.8±1.4 years. The apex of the deformity was located in cervicothoracic (n=1), thoracic (n=4), and lumbar region (n=2). Most patients have poor bone quality and decreased bone mineral density with average T-score of -3.5±1.0. All patients underwent surgical correction via posterior approach. The pre- and postoperative mean coronal and sagittal Cobb angle was 61.6±22.6° and 34.6±38.1°, 56.8±18.5° and 40.2±9.1°, respectively. Mean correction rate of coronal and sagittal angle was 44.7% and 23.1%. Ultimate follow-up SRS-22r score (average score, 3.9±0.4) improved comparing to preoperative score (average score, 3.3±0.9). Only one patient received revision surgery due to rod fracture. No serious complication occurred, such as neurological deficit, and viscerovascular injury. Conclusion : The surgical correction of patients having spinal deformity associated with NF-1 is challenging, however the radiographic and clinical outcomes are satisfactory. The all posterior approach can be a safe and effective surgical option for patients having dystrophic curves associated with NF-1.