• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.99-108
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• 2000

This study was performed to investigate the effect of suboccipital stretch on the head and neck posture and the electromyographic(EMG) activity of some cervical muscles. For this study, 39 patients with temporomandibular disorders(TMD) and 34 dental students without any signs and symptoms in the masticatory system were selected as the patients group and as the normal group, respectively. Head position by goniometer CROM$^{(R)}$(Performance attainment, St. Paul, USA), EMG activity by BioEMG$^{(R)}$(Bioresearch Inc., Milwaukee, USA), and craniocervical posture by cephaloradiography were observed in both natural head posture(NHP) and head posture with suboccipital stretch(tuck posture) abtained from slight posteroinferior finger pressure on the chin. Variables measured on the cephaloradiograph were SN angle, atlas angle, CVT angle, occiput-atlas and atlas-axis distance, and pharyngeal width. The data obtained were analysed by SPSS windows program and the results of this study were as follows : 1. In the sagittal plane, degree of anterior rotation of the head by suboccipital stretch was 6.3 in the patients group, and 6.2 in the normal group, respectively. So there was no significant difference between the two groups for degree of anterior rotation, but the position of the head in the patients group were more posteriorly extended than in the normal group in both NHP and tuck posture. 2. EMG activity of the stemocleidomastoideus in the patients group, and that of the upper trapezius and the sternocleidomastoideus in the normal group were increased by suboccipital stretch. The range of EMG activity, however, in these cervical muscles were 1.6 -2.3)u.V. 3. Cephalometric variables such as SN angle, atlas angle, CVT angle, occiput-atlas and atlas-axis distance except pharyngeal width were generally increased by suboccipital stretch. There was some difference, however, in results between the two groups. Atlas angle was not changed in the patients group whereas CVT angle was not changed in the normal group. 4. The distance from subocciput to spinous process of axis was significantly increased as much as 3.0mm in the patients group, and 3.7mm in the normal group by suboccipital stretch.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.96-101
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• 2007

Laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) is the retrograde movement of gastric contents into the larynx, pharynx, and upper aero-digestive tract. LPR differs from gastroesophageal reflux in that it is often not associated with heartburn and regurgitation symptoms. Otolaryngological manifestations of acid reflux include a wide range of pharyngeal and laryngeal symptoms. Belafsky et al. developed a useful self-administered tool, the reflux symptom index (RSI), for assessing the degree of LPR symptoms. Patients are asked to use a 0 to 5 point scale to grade the following symptoms: 1) hoarseness or voice problems; 2) throat clearing; 3) excess throat mucus or postnasal drip ; 4) difficulty swallowing; 5) coughing after eating or lying down; 6) breathing difficulties ; 7) troublesome or annoying cough; 8) sensation of something sticking or a lump in the throat; 9) heartburn, chest pain, indigestion or stomach acid coming up. A RSI score greater than 13 is considered abnormal. As there is no validated instrument to document the physical findings and severity of LPR, Belafsky et al. developed an eight-item clinical severity scale for judging laryngoscopic finding, the reflux finding score (RFS). They rated eight LPR-associated findings on a scale from 0 to 4 : subglottic edema, ventricular obliteration, erythema/hyperemia, vocal-fold edema, diffuse laryngeal edema, posterior commissure hypertrophy, granuloma/granulation tissue, and thick endolaryngeal mucus. A RFS score of greater than 7 was found to suggest LPR-associated laryngitis. Although both indices (RSI and RFS) are widely used, there is some controversy about their validity (sensitivity and specificity) and reliability (intra-rater and inter-rater) in LPR diagnosis and treatment. We discuss the validity and reliability of RSI and RFS with literature review.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.516-521
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• 2006

The following conclusions are drawn from Hyungsang medicinal review on th globs hystericus through Donguibogam and other literatures. The globs hystericus appears in the throat and the epigastric region. It is a subjective sensation as if a plum pit is stick in the throat and is compressed, usually ac companied by stuffiness in chest, depression, nausea, and hiccup. But the throat is not marked with redness and swelling. Because Gi stagnation due to seven emotions is the main cause, the globs hystericus is usually followed by Seven Gi injuries, Pain and depressive syndrome due to disorder of Gi, palpitation due to fright, continuous violent palpitation, Gi phlegm, precordial pain with palpitation, epigastric pain due to seven emotions, cough and dyspnea due to disorder of Gi, and six kinds of stagnations. When head and body or chest and abdomen is compared to heaven and earth, the blockage of Gi between heaven and earth is common to the persons with the following charcteristics in Hyungsang; Dam type rather than Bankwang type, Gi type and Shin type rather than deer type and fish type, Taeum and Yangmyeong meridian types out of six meridian types, manly women, womanly man, too long or short neck, and signs of stagnation between the eyebrows. The globus hystericus needs, distinguishing from aphonia, acute tonsilitis, goiter, and pectorial pain with stuffiness. The affected area of aphonia and acute tonsilitis is the throat but they are not cause by the disturbance of seven emotions. Goiter can be distinguished by the changes in the appearance of neck. Even though the symptoms are similar, globus hystericus is caused by the stagnation of Gi, but the pectorial pain with stuffiness, by the insufficiency of the Heart blood. The general prescriptions are Chilgitang, Sachiltang, Gamisachiltang, Gamiijintang, and Sinihwan.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.57-66
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• 2016

Background: For the treatment of forward head posture (FHP) and forward shoulder posture, methods for strengthening scapular retractors and deep cervical flexors and stretching pectoralis and upper cervical extensors are generally used. No study has yet assessed whether suboccipital release (SR) followed by cranio-cervical flexion exercise (CCFE) (SR-CCFE) will result in a positive change in the shoulders and neck, showing a "downstream" effect. Objects: The purpose of this study was to investigate the immediate effects of SR-CCFE on craniovertebral angle (CVA), shoulder abduction range of motion (ROM), shoulder pain, and muscle activities of upper trapezius (UT), lower trapezius (LT), and serratus anterior (SA) and LT/UT and SA/UT muscle activity ratios during maximal shoulder abduction in subjects with FHP. Methods: In total, 19 subjects (7 males, 12 females) with FHP were recruited. The subject performed the fifth phase of CCFE immediately after receiving SR. CVA, shoulder abduction ROM, shoulder pain, muscle activities of UT, LT, and SA, and LT/UT and SA/UT muscle activity ratios during maximal shoulder abduction were measured immediately after SR-CCFE. A paired t-test and Wilcoxon signed-rank test were used to determine the significance of differences in scores between pre- and post-intervention in the same group. Results: The CVA (p<.001) and shoulder abduction ROM (p<.001) were increased significantly post-versus pre-intervention. Shoulder pain was decreased significantly (p<.001), and LT (p<.05) and SA (p<.05) muscle activities were increased significantly post- versus pre-intervention. The LT/UT muscle activity ratio was increased significantly post- versus pre-intervention (p<.05). However, there was no significant change in UT muscle activity and SA/UT muscle activity ratio between pre- and post-intervention (p>.05). Conclusion: SR-CCFE was an effective intervention to improve FHP and induce downstream effect from the neck to the trunk and shoulders in subjects with FHP.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.611-616
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• 2009

Purpose: The rate of fistulas occuring followed by resection of oral cavity, oropharyngeal, hypopharyngeal, and laryngeal cancer are reported to be 9 ~ 23% according to various documents. Neglected treatment of the fistula can result in a setback in proper treatment with restrictions in oral intake leading to delayed return to daily life. Furthurmore, in severe cases, it may injure important vessels and adjacent structures of the neck area. The author reviewed previously reported cases of treatment methods for fistulas recurring after diverse head and neck operations and with sharing the treatment experiments of our patients, we tried to present a treatment algorism for different fistula types. Methods: Our study was based on retrograde analysis of 64 patients who were clinically diagnosed with fistula after operation for cancer of the head and neck from 1997 to 2008 at Severance Hospital. Their primary sites of cancer were 8 oral cavity, 22 oropharynx, 25 hypopharynx, and 9 larynx. The patients were aged 45 to 75 years and the male to female ratio was 11 to 1. The patient's operation records and progress notes were evaluated for determination of degree of fistula and treatment methods. Results: Most fistulas were clinically suspected after postoperative 5 days and symptoms noted for detection of the fistula were erythema, purulent discharge, edema, tenderness, and fluctuation. The fistula was definitely diagnosed at postoperative 2 weeks with barium test and treatment method ranging from conservative management to operative procedure were applied to each patients. Total 21 patients were managed with conservative protocol. In 15 cases, direct repair of the fistula was done and more stable repair of the fistula was possible with using of TachoComb$^{(R)}$. Pharyngostoma was performed in 14 patients. Among them, 4 patients healed spontaneously, 5 patients were taken direct closure, 4 patients were taken pectoralis major musculocutaneous flap, and one patient was taken esophageal transfer. The other 14 patients were taken 11 pectoralis major musculocutaneous flaps and 3 free flaps without pharyngostoma formation. Conclusion: Fistula is a troublesome complication resulting after resection of head and neck cancer. Early detection and adequate treatment according to the period and condition of the fistula may prevent further complications and reduce the pain of the patient.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.206-212
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• 2013

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to report the clinical effects of Dangkisoo-san and acupuncture on a patient with Tension Type headache. Methods : We have given Dangkisoo-san and acupuncture treatment to a patient with Tension Type headache for 8days, and checked changes of symptoms. Main symptoms were numbness and pains in a head and a neck. Results : After treatment, the numbness and pains in a head and a neck were improved considerably. Conclusions : This study shows that Dangkisoo-san and acupuncture are significantly effective in treatment of Tension Type headache.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.77-80
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• 2021

Plexiform neurofibromas (PNFs) represent an uncommon variant (30%) of neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF-1), in which neurofibromas arise from multiple nerves as bulging and deforming masses involving connective tissue and skin folds. We report the case of a 17-year-old man with known NF-1 presenting with bilateral occipital neuralgia that began in his late adolescence. His chief complaint was radiating pain in the occiput induced by protective helmet wear when riding alpine skiing. Craniofacial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) confirmed the presence of fusiform masses arising from the bilateral greater occipital nerves. Histopathological examination of the biopsy samples showed PNFs. After surgical treatment, the patient's symptoms completely improved. Unlike cutaneous neurofibromas, PNFs have different clinical characteristics and have the risk of malignant mutations. Correct diagnosis and adequate surgical treatment are necessary for PNFs.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.46-52
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• 1994

This review is based on the 52 cases of salivary gland tumors treated at the department of surgerym Hallym University Kangdong Sacred Heart hospital during the period from March 1987 to May 1992. There were 43 benign and 9 malignant tumors. Twenty eight(54%) of these cases were located in the parotid gland, 14(27%) in the submandibular gland, the rest of 10 cases(19%) in the minor salivary glands. Female outnumbered male by the ratio 1.6:1. Pleomorphic adenoma was the most common tumor followed by carcinoma and adenolymphoma(Warthin's tumor). The most common presenting symptom in both benign and malignant tumors was palpable mass. However, some patients with malignancy presented symptoms such as pain, facial palsy and dysphagia. Among 9 cases with malignancies 3 cases were found to have metastasis in the regional lymphnodes and two cases had distant metastasis. In majority of benign parotid tumors, superficial parotidectomy was carried out. In three cases of carcinoma of parotid gland with lymphnode metastasis, total parotidectomy with radical neck dissection was done. One case out of two cases of carcinoma of submandibular gland was treated with total excision of the gland with radical neck dissection. There were no postoperative mortalies. Two cases each of facial palsies and wound infections were observed as complication.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.19-21
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• 2023

Lipomas are a common soft-tissue tumor of mesenchymal origin, but intermuscular lipomas are very infrequently found especially in the cervical region. Although lipoma itself rarely causes complications, an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment are important. Surgical excision is indicated for deep lipomas that are 5 cm or larger, grow, or are accompanied by symptoms such as pain. It is also important to differentiate malignant tumors through pathological examination. Since the size of the lipoma was large, lipoma was divided into several pieces to successful removal, and the patient in this case showed successful recovery after surgery.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.246-248
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• 2009

Atlantoaxial rotatory fixation (AARF) in adult is a rare disorder that occurs followed by a trauma. The patients were presented with painful torticollis and a typical 'cock robin' position of the head. The clinical diagnosis is generally difficult and often made in the late stage. In some cases, an irreducible or chronic fixation develops. We reported a case of AARF in adult patient which was treated by immobilization with conservative treatment. A 25-year-old female was presented with a posterior neck pain and limitation of motion of cervical spine after a traffic accident. She had no neurological deficit but suffered from severe defect on the scalp and multiple thoracic compression fractures. Plain radiographs demonstrated torticollis, lateral shift of odontoid process to one side and widening of one side of C1-C2 joint space. Immobilization with a Holter traction were performed and analgesics and muscle relaxants were given. Posterior neck pain and limitation of the cervical spine' motion were resolved. Plain cervical radiographs taken at one month after the injury showed that torticollis disappeared and the dens were in the midline position. The authors reported a case of type I post-traumatic AARF that was successfully treated by immobilization alone.