• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.285-291
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• 2009

Objective : This study examined the change of range of motion (ROM) at the segments within the dynamic posterior stabilization, segments above and below the system, the clinical course and analyzed the factors influencing them. Methods : This study included a consecutive 27 patients who underwent one-level to three-level dynamic stabilization with Bioflex system at our institute. All of these patients with degenerative disc disease underwent decompressive laminectomy with/without discectomy and dynamic stabilization with Bioflex system at the laminectomy level without fusion. Visual analogue scale (VAS) scores for back and leg pain, whole lumbar lordosis (from L1 to S1), ROMs from preoperative, immediate postoperative, 1.5, 3, 6, 12 months at whole lumbar (from L1 to S1), each instrumented levels, and one segment above and below this instrumentation were evaluated. Results : VAS scores for leg and back pain decreased significantly throughout the whole study period. Whole lumbar lordosis remained within preoperative range, ROM of whole lumbar and instrumented levels showed a significant decrease. ROM of one level upper and lower to the instrumentation increased, but statistically invalid. There were also 5 cases of complications related with the fixation system. Conclusion : Bioflex posterior dynamic stabilization system supports operation-induced unstable, destroyed segments and assists in physiological motion and stabilization at the instrumented level, decrease back and leg pain, maintain preoperative lumbar lordotic angle and reduce ROM of whole lumbar and instrumented segments. Prevention of adjacent segment degeneration and complication rates are something to be reconsidered through longer follow up period.

• Journal of the Korean Orthopaedic Association
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• v.56 no.4
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• pp.283-293
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• 2021

Degenerative disc disease has traditionally been thought of as low back pain caused by changes in the nucleus pulposus and annulus fibrous, in recent studies, however, changes in the upper and lower endplates cause degeneration of the disc, resulting in mechanical pressure, inflammatory reactions and low back pain. Recently, the bone marrow of the vertebral body-endplate-nucleus pulposus and annulus fibrous were considered as a single unit, and the relationship was explained. Once the endplate is damaged, it eventually aggravates the degeneration of the bone marrow, nucleus pulposus, and annulus fibrosus. In this process, the compression force of the annulus fibrosus increases, and an inflammatory reaction occurs due to inflammatory mediators. Hence, the sinuvertebral nerves and the basivertebral nerves are stimulated to cause back pain. If these changes become chronic, degenerative changes such as Modic changes occur in the bone marrow in the vertebrae. Finally, in the case of degenerative intervertebral disc disease, the bone marrow of the vertebral body-endplate-nucleus pulposus and annulus fibrous need to be considered as a single unit. Therefore, when treating patients with chronic low back pain, it is necessary to consider the changes in the nucleus pulposus and annulus fibrosus and a lesion of the endplate.

• Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.289-319
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• 1995

The clinical studies were performed on 301 cases who took Yongkakkyo-tang from June 1993 to December 1994 The results were as follows: 1. About 80%(239 cases) patients who took Yongkakkyo-tang were improved. 2. The ratio of male to female patients was 106:133. In the age distribution, it was found that under 20's were 8%(24/301), 30's and 40's were 33%(98/301), and over 50's was 39%(117/301). 3. In the regional distribution, it was found that Cervical region was 22 cases, thoracic region was 12 cases, cervical & lumbar region complex was 50 cases, upper limbs region was 6 cases, lower limbs region was 12 cases, and lumbar region was 153 cases(64%). 4. Among improved cases, the cases treated only with Yongkakkyo-tang were 16(5%), the cases treated with Yongkakkyo-tang, and treated with Chiropractic were 19(6%), the cases treated with Yongkakkyo-tang and Yanggun-tang chiropratic were 133(44%). 5. Among improved cases, the number of Chiropractic treatment, less then 15 teimes were 69 cases, 15 to 30 times were 91cases. Basedon these results, it was shown that Yongkakkyo-tang could be used for the treatment of degenerative disease of vertebra, and the treatment with Yongkakkyo-tang, Yanggun-tang and Chiropratic is more effective.

• 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.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.65 no.4
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• pp.539-548
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• 2022

Objective : Although full-endoscopic lumbar interbody fusion (Endo-LIF) has been tried as the latest alternative technique to minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interobody fusion (MIS-TLIF) since mid-2010, the evidence is still lacking. We compared the clinical outcome and safety of Endo-LIF to MIS-TLIF for lumbar degenerative disease. Methods : We systematically searched electronic databases, including PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library to find literature comparing Endo-LIF to MIS-TLIF. The results retrieved were last updated on December 11, 2020. The perioperative outcome included the operation time, blood loss, complication, and hospital stay. The clinical outcomes included Visual analog scale (VAS) of low back pain and leg pain and Oswestry disability index (ODI), and the radiological outcome included pseudoarthosis rate with 12-month minimum follow-up. Results : Four retrospective observational studies and one prospective observational study comprising 423 patients (183 Endo-LIF and 241 MIS-TLIF) were included, and the pooled data analysis revealed low heterogeneity between studies in our review. Baseline characteristics including age and sex were not different between the two groups. Operation time was significantly longer in Endo-LIF (mean difference [MD], 23.220 minutes; 95% confidence interval [CI], 10.669-35.771; p=0.001). However, Endo-LIF resulted in less perioperative blood loss (MD, -144.710 mL; 95% CI, 247.941-41.478; p=0.023). Although VAS back pain at final (MD, -0.120; p=0.586), leg pain within 2 weeks (MD, 0.005; p=0.293), VAS leg pain at final (MD, 0.099; p=0.099), ODI at final (MD, 0.141; p=0.093) were not different, VAS back pain within 2 weeks was more favorable in the Endo-LIF (MD, -1.538; 95% CI, -2.044 to -1.032; p<0.001). On the other hand, no statistically significant group difference in complication rate (relative risk [RR], 0.709; p=0.774), hospital stay (MD, -2.399; p=0.151), and pseudoarthrosis rate (RR, 1.284; p=0.736) were found. Conclusion : Relative to MIS-TLIF, immediate outcomes were favorable in Endo-LIF in terms of blood loss and immediate VAS back pain, although complication rate, mid-term clinical outcomes, and fusion rate were not different. However, the challenges for Endo-LIF include longer operation time which means a difficult learning curve and limited surgical indication which means patient selection bias. Larger-scale, well-designed study with long-term follow-up and randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm and update the results of this systematic review.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.58 no.1
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• pp.43-49
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• 2015

Objective : $Dynesys^{(R)}$ is one of the pedicle-based dynamic lumbar stabilization systems and good clinical outcome has been reported. However, the cylindrical spacer between the heads of the screws undergoes deformation during assembly of the system. The pre-strain probably change the angle of instrumented spine with time and oblique-shaped spacer may reduce the pre-strain. We analyzed patients with single-level stabilization with $Dynesys^{(R)}$ and simulated oblique-shaped spacer with finite element (FE) model analysis. Methods : Consecutive 14 patients, who underwent surgery for single-level lumbar spinal stenosis and were followed-up more than 24 months (M : F=6 : 8; age, $58.7{\pm}8.0$ years), were analyzed. Lumbar lordosis and segmental angle at the index level were compared between preoperation and postoperative month 24. The von Mises stresses on the obliquely-cut spacer ($5^{\circ}$, $10^{\circ}$, $15^{\circ}$, $20^{\circ}$, $25^{\circ}$, and $30^{\circ}$) were calculated under the compressive force of 400 N and 10 Nm of moment with validated FE model of the L4-5 spinal motion segment with segmental angle of $16^{\circ}$. Results : Lumbar lordosis was not changed, while segmental angle was changed significantly from $-8.1{\pm}7.2^{\circ}$ to $-5.9{\pm}6.7^{\circ}$ (p<0.01) at postoperative month 24. The maximum von Mises stresses were markedly decreased with increased angle of the spacer up to $20^{\circ}$. The stress on the spacer was uneven with cylindrical spacer but it became even with the $15^{\circ}$ oblique spacer. Conclusion : The decreased segmental lordosis may be partially related to the pre-strain of Dynesys. Further clinical and biomechanical studies are required for relevant use of the system.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.30 no.sup2
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• pp.254-258
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• 2001

Objective : The terminology of degenerative disc disease lacks official standardization. Lacks of such standardization may provoke some clinical and litigation problems. The authors investigated interobserver and intraobserver variability in interpretation of lumbar disc abnormality. Methods : Magnetic resonance imaging studies of the lumbar spine performed prospectively in 50 patients, were read blindly by three doctors dealing spinal disorders, using two nomenclature. Nomenclature I was normal, bulging, protrusion, extrusion. Nomenclature II was normal, bulging, herniation without neural compression, with neural compression. Intraobserver and interobserver variation were measured statistically. Results : Interobserver agreement was 70.4-80.8% for nomenclature I, 76.2-80.2% for nomenclature II. Intraobserver agreement was 84.0-88.0% for nomenclature I, 79.2-86.8% for nomenclature II. Interobserver Kappa statistic was 0.53-0.56 for nomenclature I, 0.54-0.57 for nomenclature II. Intraobserver Kappa statistic was 0.60-0.85 for nomenclature I, 0.53-0.72 for nomenclature II. Conclusion : Experienced doctors showed only moderate interobserver agreement when interpreting disc status on lumbar magnetic resonance imaging. Intraobserver agreement was superior to interbserver. The standardization of nomenclatures for lumbar disc extension beyond interspace are needed.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.60 no.5
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• pp.485-497
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• 2017

Surgical treatment of the degenerative disc disease has evolved from traditional open spine surgery to minimally invasive spine surgery including endoscopic spine surgery. Constant improvement in the imaging modality especially with introduction of the magnetic resonance imaging, it is possible to identify culprit degenerated disc segment and again with the discography it is possible to diagnose the pain generator and pathological degenerated disc very precisely and its treatment with minimally invasive approach. With improvements in the optics, high resolution camera, light source, high speed burr, irrigation pump etc, minimally invasive spine surgeries can be performed with various endoscopic techniques for lumbar, cervical and thoracic regions. Advantages of endoscopic spine surgeries are less tissue dissection and muscle trauma, reduced blood loss, less damage to the epidural blood supply and consequent epidural fibrosis and scarring, reduced hospital stay, early functional recovery and improvement in the quality of life & better cosmesis. With precise indication, proper diagnosis and good training, the endoscopic spine surgery can give equally good result as open spine surgery. Initially, endoscopic technique was restricted to the lumbar region but now it also can be used for cervical and thoracic disc herniations. Previously endoscopy was used for disc herniations which were contained without migration but now days it is used for highly up and down migrated disc herniations as well. Use of endoscopic technique in lumbar region was restricted to disc herniations but gradually it is also used for spinal canal stenosis and endoscopic assisted fusion surgeries. Endoscopic spine surgery can play important role in the treatment of adolescent disc herniations especially for the persons who engage in the competitive sports and the athletes where less tissue trauma, cosmesis and early functional recovery is desirable. From simple chemonucleolysis to current day endoscopic procedures the history of minimally invasive spine surgery is interesting. Appropriate indications, clear imaging prior to surgery and preplanning are keys to successful outcome. In this article basic procedures of percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy through transforaminal and interlaminar routes, percutaneous endoscopic cervical discectomy, percutaneous endoscopic posterior cervical foraminotomy and percutaneous endoscopic thoracic discectomy are discussed.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.363-368
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• 2006

Objective : Little is known about the comprehensive molecular and biological mechanism on the development of the degeneration of the intervertebral disc. Many kinds of matrix metalloproteinase[MMP] initiate the degradation of the extracellular matrix including several kinds of collagens and proteoglycans. We compared molecular and immunohistochemical features of degenerated intervertebral disc and normal counterparts in order to investigate the role of MMP-1, 2, 3, 9. Methods : We have evaluated MMP-1, 2, 3, 9 expression in 30 surgically resected lumbar disc from degenerative disc disease patients and 5 normal control cases. RT-PCR[reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction] and immunohistochemistry were performed. Results : By RT-PCR, normal tissue samples showed merely scant expression of MMP-1, 2, 3, 9 mRNA, but degenerated disc samples revealed more pronounced expression. mRNA amplifications were detected in 60%, 63.3%, 70%, 53.3% cases By immunohistochemistry, normal tissue samples showed minimal protein expression of MMP-1, 2, 3, 9, but degenerated disc samples revealed more pronounced expression. Protein expressions were detected in 73.3%, 63.3%, 76.7%, 63.3% cases. Both the mRNA amplification and protein overexpression rates were significantly higher in degenerated disc than in the normal tissue. Concordance between both the mRNA amplification and protein expressions of MMP-1, 3, 9 were not observed, but there is well correlation in MMP-2 expression. Conclusion : We concluded that the over-expressions of the MMP-1, 2, 3, 9 may contribute to the development of degeneration of the intervertebral disc.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.363-369
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• 2011

Objective : We investigated the clinical and radiological advantages of unilateral laminectomy in posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) procedure comparing with bilateral laminectomy, under the same procedural condition including bilateral instrumentation and insertion of two cages, in patients with degenerative lumbar disease with unilateral leg symptoms. Methods : We retrospectively reviewed 124 consecutive cases of PLIF via unilateral or bilateral approach between January 2006 and April 2010. In 80 cases (bilateral group), two cages were inserted via bilateral laminectomy, and in 44 cases (unilateral group), via unilateral laminectomy. The average follow-up duration was 29.5 months. The clinical outcomes were evaluated with the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and the Oswestry disability index (ODI). The fusion rates and disc space heights were determined by dynamic standing radiographs and/or computed tomography. Operative times, intra-operative and post-operative blood losses and hospitalization periods were also evaluated. Results : In clinical evaluation, the VAS and ODI scores showed excellent outcomes in both groups. There were no significant differences in term of fusion rate, but the perioperative blood loss and the operative time of the unilateral group were lower than that of the bilateral group. Conclusion : Unilateral laminectomy can minimize the operative time and perioperative blood loss in PLIF procedure. However, the different preoperative disc height between two groups is a limitation of this study. Despite this limitation, solid fusion and satisfactory symptomatic improvement could be achieved uniquely by our surgical method. This surgical method can be an alternative surgical technique in patients with unilateral leg pain.