• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.350-354
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• 2005

Objective : The aim of this study is to assess the immediate and long-term efficacy of percutaneous vertebroplasty for treating painful vertebral osteoporotic fractures. Methods : A retrospective review of 149patients who had undergone 167 vertebroplasty procedures for osteoporotic fractures was performed. Clinical, radiologic, and procedural datas were analyzed as parameters of prognostic significance, including age, sex, bone marrow density score, symptom duration, bone cement filling grade, number of fractured vertebrae, compression grade of vertebrae, leakage of bone cement, volume of bone cement injected and complications. Results : In 158 of the 167 procedures assessed, immediate pain relief was obtained [94.6%]. The extent of collapse of the vertebral body was assessed as a parameter for prognostic significance [p=0.015]. Three months postoperatively, no improvement of the pain was observed in four of the 167 procedures that had undergone the vertebroplasty [2%]. At long-term follow-up, the improvement of pain was not correlated with the compression grade of vertebrae [p=0.420]. Conclusion : The immediate outcome of vertebroplasty are less effective in vertebrae more collapsed.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.265-270
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• 2006

Objective : Microvascular decompression[MVD] at root exit zone[REZ] of the facial nerve has been largely popularized and it has become the standard treatment for patients with hemifacial spasm[HFS]. This sturdy is performed to evaluate the efficacy of MVD over the course of time. Methods : From 1994 to 2003, 50 patients with HFS who underwent MVD were followed up for more than 6 months. We retrospectively analyzed results with medical records and telephone researches. Results : The mean age of patients at the time operation was 57.6 years and 84% of the patients were female. The mean duration of follow-up after operation was 3.4 years [range $0.5{\sim}7.8\;years$]. One day after MVD, 54% of patients had complete relief of spasm immediately. Continuous improvements of HFS were observed during the follow-up period and these improvements were statistically significant with time (P< 0.05). Until 6 months after operation, complete relief of spasm was observed in 84% of patients. The delayed relief of spasm was observed in 35.7% of our patients who experienced complete relief. Conclusion : The efficacy of MVD in HFS is improves with time. Continuous follow-up evaluations for the duration of more than at least 6 months after MVD are important for the decision of its clinical results because delayed relief of spasms occurs.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.255-260
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• 2000

The authors report a posttraumatic syringomyelia in a 30-year-old man who has complained pain, weakness of upper arm and dissociation sensory loss since 2 months before. He was underwent by decompressive laminectomy from T12 to L1, reduction of encroached bony fragments, transpedicular screw fixation from T12 to L2 and posterolateral bony fusion due to burst fracture of L1 at other hospital 3 years ago. Preoperative spinal MRI was highly suggestive of wide-spread, multiseptated syringomyelia from C3 to thoracolumbar junction. We performed wide decompressive laminectomy from T10 to L2 and subarachnoid space reconstrucion composed of microdissection of meningeal fibrosis widely, iatrogenic meningocele formation with lefting the dura mater opened for treatment of spinal-spinal pressure dissociation. Clinical manifestations and radiological findings of the patient were improved after the operation. This technique was thought to be superior to shunting procedures in cases of wide-spread, multiseptated post-traumatic syringomyelia.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.11-15
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• 2007

Objective : The authors attempted to confirm the risk factors for recurrent chronic subdural hematoma[CSDH] after simple burr-hole drainage. Methods : A total of 302 patients with CSDH who were treated at our hospital between January 1998 and May 2005 were studied. Various parameters considered for analysis of factors associated with CSDH recurrence; demographic and clinical findings [age, sex, history of seizures, diabetes, vascular diseases], initial and perioperative CT findings [hematoma density, location of catheter tip, post operative intracranial air, intracranial hematoma extension, hematoma width, hematoma site]. Results : Twenty-four patients [7.9%] experienced recurrence, whereas 278 patients [92.1%] did not. Five major risk factors should be considered : 1) layered type by hematoma density, 2) type I, II by location of catheter tip, 3) presence of postoperative intracranial air, 4) cranial base type of intracranial hematoma extension, 5) greater hematoma width. Conclusion : In this study, we report that the incidence of postoperative CSDH recurrence can be reduced by the examination of the hematoma characteristics on initial and perioperative CT findings and by preventing subdural air accumulation during operation. In addition, the location of the catheter tip can be used as a helpful factor in reducing the recurrence.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.638-641
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• 2001

Carboplatin intra-arterial chemotherapy(IAC) has an advantage of increased uptake during the first passage of the drugs through tumor capillaries. Although not common, this type of therapy is known to cause neurological complications, myelosuppression, and ototoxicity. However, the incidence of ocular toxicity is reported to be rare. Eleven of our patients with glioma(Grade II Astrocytoma : 3, Grade III Astrocytoma : 1, Grade IV Astrocytoma : 5, Gliofibroma : 1, Oligodendroglioma : 1) underwent IAC regimen with carboplatin($300mg/m^2$) which were administrated after blood-brain barrier disruption. Of there, 3 patients had ocular complications after supra-ophthalmic IAC injection of carboplatin but fully recovered following steroid therapy. Although our results from IAC seem to be favorable for these patients, we suggest that its complications, such as ocular toxicity, need to be carefully considered prior to treatment.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.537-540
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• 2001

Fractures of C1 are not uncommon, constituting only 10% of all cervical spine injuries. There is a high prevalence of concomitant fractures of the second and first cervical vertebral complex. Surgical treatment is controversal. Mainstay of treatment is various combination of traction and cervical orthosis according to degree of displacement and location of fracture. We experienced unusual type of fracture, anterior arch fracture of C1 who had a history of total laminectomy of C1,2 due to cervical cord tumor(neurilemmoma arising from C2 root). We performed C1,2 lateral mass screw fixation with posterior fusion with good postoperative outcome.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.67-71
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• 2008

Objective : Radiosurgery may be contraindicated for lesions adjacent to the optic pathways because of the substantial risk of visual complication. Multisession radiosurgery has been tried as a compromise between single session radiosurgery and fractionated radiotherapy. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the outcomes of multisession gamma knife radiosurgery (GKRS) in 22 patients with perioptic lesions of benign pathology. Methods : In all 22 cases, the lesions were within 1 mm of the optic apparatus and were therefore not considered suitable for single session radiosurgery. Radiation was delivered in 3 to 4 fractions with a median cumulated marginal dose of 20 Gy (range, 15-20 Gy). Results : During a mean follow-up of 29 months (range, 14-44 months), tumor control was achieved in 21 patients. Visual function improved in 7 patients, remained unchanged in 14 patients, and deteriorated in 1 patient with tumor progression. No other complication was observed. Conclusion : This preliminary result supports the idea that multisession GKRS may be an effective and safe alternative for treatment in perioptic lesions that are unsuitable for single session radiosurgery.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.29 no.10
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• pp.1328-1332
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• 2000

We present a modified method for the treatment of brain abscess. The double lumen extraventricular drainage (EVD) catheter which was developed for the intracerebral hematoma management, was applied for the treatment of brain abscess drainage. We placed the double lumen EVD catheter into the abscess cavity by free-hand technique and irrigated the abscess cavity continuously with antibiotics solution for 7 days. Simultaneous intravenous antibiotics was administered for 4 weeks. The continuous irrigation with double lumen catheter was found to be safe and effective treatment modality in the brain abscess.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.30 no.9
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• pp.1127-1129
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• 2001

The vast majority of schwannomas occur on cranial nerves, and rarely in the retroperitoneum. Solitary schwannoma in the psoas muscle is extremely rare. The authors present a case of retroperitoneal neoplasm in the psoas muscle identified as schwannoma which is not associated with von Recklinghausen's disease. A 68 years old female patient was admitted because of low back pain and weakness at the left leg. CT and MRI revealed a large cystic mass with well-defined margin and multiple internal septation within the left psoas muscle. The tumor was totally extirpated and histologically confirmed as a schwannoma.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.777-780
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• 2001

Cholesterol granuloma of frontal bone is a rare disease which usually occurs at the lateral part of the supraorbital ridge. This expanding lesion grows slowly and extends into the orbit and anterior cranial fossa. The most common symptom is proptosis. This granuloma is composed of a granulomatous reaction surrounding cholesterol crystals. Surgical treatment involves aspiration of contents and stripping or curettage of the lining which is highly successful. We experienced a case of cholesterol granuloma of frontal bone with huge intracranial extension, which was cured by surgical removal. The clinical features, radiologic, and pathologic finding were discussed and the pertinent literatures were reviewed.