• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.55-59
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• 2012

Lumbar spinal stenosis is a commonly treated with epidural injections of local anesthetics and corticosteroids, however, these therapies may relieve leg pain for weeks to months but do not influence functional status. Furthermore, the majority of patients report no substantial symptom change over the repeated treatment. Utilizing balloon catheters, we successfully treated with three patients who complained persistent symptoms despite repeated conventional steroid injections. Our results suggest that transforaminal decompression using a balloon catheter may have potential in the nonsurgical treatment of spinal stenosis by modifying the underlying pathophysiology.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.69-73
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• 2005

This report describes a case of spinal nerve root compression due to an acute inflammatory granuloma after lumbar surgery. A 39 year-old man with a history of increasing back pain with a 3-week duration was diagnosed with a herniated intervertebral disc (HIVD). The diagnosis of a HIVD was confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with indications for surgery. A discectomy and a partial laminectomy was performed and the symptoms were alleviated immediately after surgery for a five-day period. However, a slowly progressing pain was subsequently noted along a different dermatome. There was no pain relief despite the patient being given pharmacological treatments, combined with an epidural steroid injection. The follow up MRI images showed severe compression of the nerve roots by a epidural lesion. Another procedure was performed 17 days after the initial operation. The lesion responsible for the compression of the nerve roots was found to be an acute inflammatory granuloma. The pain was relieved after the second procedure and there were no other symptoms or neurological problems. This case is remarkable in that a granuloma formed relatively quickly and grew to such a size that it was able to severely compress the surrounding nerve roots.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.51-54
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• 1990

There are many methods for treatment of post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN) and of these, epidural steroid or intralesional steroid injection is one of the most effective treatments. But there are some problems in the use of steroids. One of which is steroid-induced hyperglycemia. In that case, the treatment of PHN is very difficult and not so effective. So we used the low level laser therapy (LLLT), He-Ne and IR, for the treatment of post-herpetic neuralgia without any changes of blood glucose level. It seemed that LLLT was a very effective method for PHN without any systemic changes.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.147-150
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• 2010

Background: Chronic low back pain can be a manifestation of lumbar degenerative disease, herniation of intervertebral discs, arthritis, or lumbar stenosis. When nerve roots are compromised, low back pain, with or without lower extremity involvement, may occur. Local inflammatory processes play an important role in patients with acute lumbosciatic pain. The purpose of this study was to assess the value of erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) measurements in patients with chronic low back pain or radiculopathy. Methods: ESR and hsCRP were measured in 273 blood samples from male and female subjects with low back pain and/or radiculopathy due to herniated lumbar disc, spinal stenosis, facet syndrome, and other diseases. The hsCRP and ESR were measured prior to lumbar epidural steroid injection. Results: The mean ESR was 18.8 mm/h and mean hsCRP was 1.1 mg/L. ESR had a correlation with age. Conclusions: A significant systemic inflammatory reaction did not appear to arise in patients with chronic low back pain.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.253-256
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• 2006

Cervical disc herniation is one of the most common causes of neck, shoulder and arm pain. There are many treatments for a cervical disc herniation, such as rest, physical therapy, medication, epidural steroid injection and surgery. However, conservative treatments sometimes have limited effectiveness, and a surgical discectomy is often associated with numerous complications. Nowadays, a percutaneous discectomy, using a $Dekompressor^{(R)}$, has been used in herniated disc patients, but a posterolateral extruded disc is not an indication. Herein, our experience using a 19 G $Dekompressor^{(R)}$, on a 52 year-old male patient with a left C6-⁣7 posterolateral extruded disc, is reported. Decompression was successfully performed, and the pain and range of motion was immediately improved.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.151-157
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• 2009

Background: We hypothesized that if a fluoroscopic image of the lumbar sympathetic ganglion block (LSGB) showed the spread patterns of contrast at both the L2/3 and L4/5 disc areas, then this would demonstrate a more profound blockade effect because the spread patterns are close to sympathetic ganglia. In addition, we compared the effects of LSGB and transforaminal epidural steroid injection (TFESI) for the patients suffering with spinal stenosis. Methods: Eighty patients were divided into two groups (Group S: the patients treated with TFESI, Group L: the patients treated with LSGB). The patients of group L were classified into three groups (groups A, B and, C) according to their contrast spread pattern. The preblock and postblock temperature difference between the ipsilateral and contralateral great toe ($DT^{pre}$, $DT^{post}$, $^{\circ}C$), and the DTnet were calculated as follows. $DT^{net}$ = $DT^{post}$ - $DT^{pre}$. Results: Both group showed a significant reduction of the visual analogue score (VAS) and the Oswestry disability index (ODI) score. Only the patients of group L showed a significant increase of their walking distance (WD). Group A showed the most significant changes in the $DT^{post}$ ($6.1{\pm}1.2^{\circ}C$, P = 0.021), and the DTnet ($6.0{\pm}1.0^{\circ}C$, p = 0.023), as compared to group C. Conclusions: LSGB showed a similar effect on the VAS, and ODI, and a significant effect, on WD, compared with TFESI. Group A showed a significant sympatholytic effect, as compared to group C.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.182-186
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• 2010

Purpose: Intramuscular stimulation (IMS) shows good results in the treatment of chronic pain patients who did not respond to other treatments such as oral analgesics, trigger point injection, nerve block and epidural steroid injection. But, IMS procedure especially, patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) has sometimes serious problem. So, we present a very rare case of intramuscular abscess in the sternocleiomastoid muscle after IMS with literature review. Methods: A 66 year old male visited our department 7 days after IMS in the neck. His premorbid conditions and risk factors of deep neck infection was DM and old age. Computed tomographic scans of the head and neck region were performed in this patient: signs of deep neck infection, were seen enhanced abscess in the sternocleidomastoid muscle, cellulitis overlying tissue of the neck, and air bubbles involved muscle. Necrotic wound was excised serially and we treated this with the Vacuum-assisted closure (VAC, Kinetics Concepts International, San Antonio, Texas) system device. After appropriately shaping the sponge in the pockets, continuous negative pressure of 125 mmHg was applied. The VAC therapy was utilized for a period of 12 days. Results: We obtained satisfactory results from wide excision, drainage of the abscess with the VAC system, and then primary closure. The postoperative course was uneventful. Results: We suggest that many of the infectious complications may be preventable by strict adherence to aseptic techniques and that some of the other complications may be minimized by refining the techniques with a clear understanding of the medical disorders of patients. And, the refined technique using the VAC system can provide a means of simple and effective management for the cervical intramuscular abscess, with better cosmetic and functional results.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.205-215
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• 2011

Background: Interventional pain management (IPM) is a branch of medical science that deals with management of painful medical conditions using specially equipped X-ray machines and anatomical landmarks. Interventional physiatry is a branch of physical medicine and rehabilitation that treats painful conditions through intervention in peripheral joints, the spine, and soft tissues. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using three years of hospital records (2006 to 2008) from the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department at Chittagong Medical College Hospital in Bangladesh, with a view toward highlighting current interventional pain practice in a tertiary medical college hospital. Result: The maximum amount of intervention was done in degenerative peripheral joint disorders (600, 46.0%), followed by inflammatory joint diseases (300, 23.0%), soft tissue rheumatism (300, 23.0%), and radicular or referred lower back conditions (100, 8.0%). Of the peripheral joints, the knee was the most common site of intervention. Motor stimulation-guided intralesional injection of methylprednisolone into the piriformis muscle was given in 10 cases of piriformis syndrome refractory to both oral medications and therapeutic exercises. Soft tissue rheumatism of unknown etiology was most common in the form of adhesive capsulitis (90, 64.3%), and is discussed separately. Epidural steroid injection was practiced for various causes of lumbar radiculopathy, with the exception of infective discitis. Conclusion: All procedures were performed using anatomical landmarks, as there were no facilities for the C-arm/diagnostic ultrasound required for accurate and safe intervention. A dedicated IPM setup should be a requirement in all PMR departments, to provide better pain management and to reduce the burden on other specialties.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.83-97
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• 2008

Cervical and thoracic radiculopathies are among the most common causes of neck pain. The most common causes are cervical disc herniation and cervical spondylosis in patients with cervical radiculopathy, and diabetes mellitus and thoracic disc herniation in thoracic radiculopathy. A thorough history, physical examination, and testing that includes electrodiagnostic examination and imaging studies may distinguish radiculopathy from other pain sources. Although various electrodiagnostic examinations may help evaluate radiculopathy, needle electromyography is the most important, sensitive, and specific method. Outcome studies of conservative treatments have shown varying results and have not been well controlled or systematic. When legitimate incapacitating symptoms continue despite conservative treatment attempts, more invasive spinal procedures and intradiscal treatment may be appropriate. Surgery has been shown to have excellent clinical outcomes in patients with disc extrusion and neurological deficits. However, patients with minimal disc herniation have fair or poor surgical outcomes. In addition, conventional open disc surgery entails various inadvertent surgical related risks. Although there has not yet been a non-surgical interventional procedure developed with the therapeutic efficacy of open surgery, conservative procedures can offer substantial benefits, are less invasive, and avoid surgical complications. While more invasive procedures may be appropriate when conservative treatment fails, prospective studies evaluating cervical and thoracic radiculopathies treatment options would help guide practitioners toward optimally cost-effective patient evaluation and care.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.307-310
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• 1998

Selective lumbosacral radiculography and nerve root block techniques are very useful in determining the nerve root involved. We have done the lumbar root block to 61-year-old female who had suffered from low back pain radiating to right lower leg which was not relieved by epidural steroid injection two times. $L_5$ root block was performed under the fluoroscopic C-arm guide. When the needle was in correct position, we injected contrast medium (Isovist$^{(R)}$ - 300, Schering, Germany). After we injected 1.5 cc isovist, the S1 root was figured but L5 root was not figured. When we reinjected 1.5 cc isovist, $S_1$ root was enhanced and $L_5$ root was slightly visible due to severe disc bulging and lateral spinal stenosis.