• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.61 no.4
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• pp.530-536
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• 2018

We present two cases of unexpected postoperative intractable cervicalgia due to over-sized implant insertion during simple anterior cervical decompression and fusion (ACDF) or artificial disc replacement (ADR). These patients experienced severe cervicalgia mostly related to their neck motion even after standard cervical operations. In both cases, the restored disc heights after the operations were prominently greater than the preoperative disc heights. The patients had not responded to any of the conservative treatments, and unloading of these excessively distracted segments through ultimate revision surgery led to dramatic pain relief. This report emphasizes the increase in distractional forces that takes place after a standard ACDF or ADR, as well as the importance of a proper sized implant. It also includes the reviews of other biomechanical or clinical reports dealing with this issue, thereby cautioning the surgeons not to disregard these factors, which might have an adverse effect in patients with cervicalgia even after radiographically successful cervical procedures.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.67 no.3
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• pp.376-381
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• 2024

Choroid plexus hyperplasia (CPH), also known as diffuse villous hyperplasia of choroid plexus, is a rare condition characterized by excessive production of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), resulting in hydrocephalus. Diagnosing CPH can be challenging due to the absence of clear imaging criteria for choroid plexus hypertrophy and the inability to assess CSF production non-invasively. As a result, many CPH patients are initially treated with a ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt, but subsequently require additional surgical intervention due to intractable ascites. In our study, we encountered two CPH patients who presented with significantly enlarged subarachnoid spaces, reduced parenchymal volume, and prominent choroid plexus. Initially, we treated these patients with a VP shunt, but eventually opted for endoscopic choroid plexus cauterization (CPC) to address the intractable ascites. Following the treatment with endoscopic CPC, we observed a gradual reduction in subarachnoid spaces and an increase in parenchymal volume. In cases where bilateral prominent choroid plexus, markedly enlarged subarachnoid spaces, and cortical atrophy are present, CPH should be suspected. In these cases, considering initial treatment with combined endoscopic CPC and shunt may help minimize the need for multiple surgical interventions.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.473-483
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• 2001

Background : There are only a few studies regarding the causes of treatment failure for tuberculosis. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the causes of intractable tuberculosis. Methods : M. tuberculosis, differentiated MOTT (Mycobacterium Other Than Tuberculosis) were isolated, and the RFLP (Restriction fragments length polymorphisms) pattern was analyzed from 204 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis and 53 suffering from neck tuberculosis. The IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-12, $^*1\;IFN{\gamma}$ and $^*2\;TNF{\alpha}$ blood levels were measured. All patients were regularly followed for 18 months after treatment. Results : There was no correlation between the RFLP patterns of M. tuberculosis treatment failure. From the 204 cases, 31.9% were intractable. The characteristics of patients with intractable tuberculosis were old age, being male and recurrent cases. The causes of treatment failure were identified as follows ; a decrease in the IL-12(59.4%) concentration, drug resistant strain(54.7%), irregular medication(15.4%), MOTT(6.2%) and a heavy infection(4.6%). The causes of all cases of intractable tuberculosis could be investigated. The IL-12 concentration in the blood was significantly lower in the intractable cases, where it disclosed a maximum sensitivity(64.7%) and specificity(75.4%) at 165.0 pg/mL. Most of the 53 cases of neck node tuberculosis were treated successfully. Therefore, we were unable to analyze the cause of treatment failure. Conclusion : A decrease in the blood IL-12 concentration and drug resistant strains were identified as the most significant causes of treatment failure for tuberculosis. In Korea, infection by clusters were prevalent, but no difference in the clinical course between clusters and non-clusters could be found.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.60-64
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• 2010

Despite recent methodological advancement of the practical pain medicine, many cases of the chronic anorectal pain have been intractable. A 54-year-old female patient who had a month history of a constant severe anorectal pain was referred to our clinic for further management. No organic or functional pathology was found. In spite of several modalities of management, such as medications and nerve blocks had been applied, the efficacy of such treatments was not long-lasting. Eventually, she underwent temporary then subsequent permanent sacral nerve stimulation. Her sequential numerical rating scale for pain and pain disability index were markedly improved. We report a successful management of the chronic intractable anorectal pain via permanent sacral nerve stimulation. But further controlled studies may be needed.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.16-19
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• 2006

Objective : The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of the corpus callosotomy and to elucidate possible prognostic factors. Methods : The cases of 39 patients who underwent corpus callosotomy were reviewed retrospectively. Clinical outcomes were analyzed using Engel's classification, with consideration of various presurgical conditions and the extent of the callosal resection during follow-up more than one year. Results : Satisfactory outcome [Engel's class I, II] was obtained in 20 patients [51%] of 39 patients. In 36 cases with drop attack seizures, the class I, II outcomes were 22 patients [61%]. When the patients were grouped according to the extent of callosal resection, the class I, II outcomes were 50% of the patients with anterior 1/2 or 2/3, 50% of those with anterior 4/5 callosotomy, and 57% of those with total callosotomy, respectively. The mean follow-up period was 34 months [24 to 58 months]. Conclusion : Although it is not statistically significant, the patients who had underwent total callosotomy show better outcomes than those with partial callosotomy. Corpus callosotomy is efficacious in controlling medically intractable epilepsy in appropriately selected patients.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.29 no.9
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• pp.1195-1203
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• 2000

Objective : To confirm the efficacy of functional hemispherectomy and peri-insular hemispherotomy on treatment of intractable epilepsy. Materials & Methods : From April 1997 to February 1999, we performed 1 functional hemispherectomy and 6 peri-insular hemispherotomy in 7 consecutive patients. These procedures result in completely disconnected hemisphere while maintaining the disconnected portion of the hemisphere intact within the surgical cavity. The indications were hemimegalencephaly in 2 cases, infarction with encephalomalacia in 2, Sturge-Weber syndrome in 1, hemiconvulsion hemiplegia epilepsy syndrome in 1, cortical dysplasia with leptomeningeal cyst in 1. Mean follow-up is 15.8 months(range 8-28 months). Results : Among 7 patients, 1 patient died immediately after peri-insular hemispherotomy. Five patients became seizure free with reduced doses of medications. One patient developed rare disabling seizure with medication. In 6 patients, there were improvements in the function of the hemiparetic limbs in the postoperative phase. A 3-year-old boy with infarction and encephalomalacia died few hours after surgery due to postoperative hypothermia. Two patients required shunt after surgery. Two patients developed postoperative brain swelling but were successfully managed with conservative care. Conclusion : In conclusion, functional hemispherectomy and peri-insular hemispherotomy may provide substantial seizure control in selected cases of young hemiplegic patients with intractable epilepsy.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.75-78
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• 1985

From April, 1984 to January, 1985, 57 cases of cardiovascular surgeries were performed at Yeung Nam University Hospital consisting 31 cases of open heart surgery and 26 cases of ligating patent ductus arteriosus. Among 31 cases of open heart surgery, all cases are congenital acyanotic heart disease except a case of rheumatic aortic valvular heart diseases taken aortic valve replacement with Bjrk-Shiley 25mm. Only 2 cases of transient hemoglobinuria were complicated. A case of surgical mortality was present died of acute respiratory failure and intractable arrhythmia, which resulting 3.2% of mortality rate.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.663-666
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• 2012

Current treatments for hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) include prolonged courses of antibiotics, retinoids, immunosuppressants, and biologics. Severe cases that are resistant to prolonged medical treatment pose a therapeutic challenge. We propose radical excision and lateral thoracic flap reconstruction as a treatment option for such cases. In our experience with two patients, good aesthetic and functional outcomes were achieved, with a high level of patient satisfaction. The availability of suitable flap coverage allows for wide resection of all of the hair-bearing skin, leading to a low incidence of residual disease and subsequent recurrence. Following excision of the affected tissue, the ideal reconstructive method in the axilla provides suitable coverage without unacceptable donor site morbidity and also avoids axillary contractures. A long lateral thoracic flap with delay has excellent coverage with minimal donor tissue sacrifice. With a suitable flap coverage option, the management paradigm of intractable HS should shift from prolonged medical treatment to allow decisive radical excision, which will improve the quality of life for patients.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.81-87
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• 2005

Epicondylitis, as a tendinopathy characterized by fibroblast and microvascular hyperplasia, is a common musculoskeletal problem especially related with repetitive hand and wrist motion. It has a prevalence of between 0.2% and 5% in general population depending on the amount of exposure to manual labor jobs. Although it is known that the pathological lesions lie in the flexor or extensor common tendons, there could be collateral ligament lesions and/or reactive synovitis accompanied, which may make a case unresponsive to the treatment aimed only at the tendinopathy. Epicondylitis is easy to diagnose with typical pain, tenderness, and positive provocation tests. However, many conditions can mimic epicondylitis that further imaging or electrodiagnostic studies should be undertaken to exclude other possible problems. Ultrasonography provides information about the existence and extent of tendinopathy with relatively high specificity. Magnetic resonance imaging is often required to rule out other problems and confirm the diagnosis of the cases intractable to long term treatment. Many options of treatment are available for epicondylitis while numerous conflicting evidences have been noted, debating one treatment method is better than the others. Since it was reported that over 80% of epicondylitis improved within a year no matter what was done as treatment, it is a challenge to make accurate diagnosis and combine effective therapeutic regimens for the 20% of intractable cases.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.506-511
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• 2005

Hiccup is a common clinical symptom, and may be caused from over 100 medical origins. Generally hiccup happens temporarily, and continues only a few seconds or minutes, and is cured easily by physical methods or even by itself. But in some cases, hiccup is so refractory that patients may be tired and very troubled by it. At worst, it may cause death. Intractable hiccup is defined as hiccup persisting for more than 48 hours, and this appears in various diseases. Persistent hiccup is very difficult to treat by conventional methods. A 69-year-old man was admitted due to intractable hiccup without gastroenteral system abnormalities or peripheral nervous systemic involvement. So Paljung-san(八正散) was prescribed. The intensity and frequency of hiccup dramatically improved.