• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
• /
• v.17 no.1
• /
• pp.41-48
• /
• 2022

PURPOSE: This study examined the relationship between the cervical lordosis angle (CLA) and the craniovertebral angle (CVA) and between CVA and a cross-sectional area (CSA) of the cervical muscles. METHODS: In 17 healthy college students, the CLA was measured using a posterior tangent technique. The CVA was analyzed using photographic images, and the CSA of the cervical muscles, including longus colli, longus capitis, and sternocleidomastoid, was evaluated using computerized tomography. The Pearson's correlation coefficient was used to determine the relationship between these variables and a neck disability index. RESULTS: The CVA correlated with the CLA and with a CSA of longus colli (r = .487, p = .047 and r = .592, p = .012, respectively). The CLA correlated with a CSA of longus colli (r = .578, p = .015). CONCLUSION: This study clarified the relationship between the postural, structural, and muscular changes in the cervical regions. A significant correlation was observed between the CVA and a CSA of the longus colli with the CLA and between the CVA and the CSA of the longus colli. Prescription strengthening exercises for the deep neck flexors for individuals with a forward head posture and reduced cervical lordosis are useful.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
• /
• v.29 no.6
• /
• pp.889-895
• /
• 2010

This study compared the effects of craniocervical flexion exercise with conservative cervical flexion exercise in workers with chronic neck pain. Subjects were randomly allocated to two groups: control (n=20) and experimental group (n=20), respectively. The conservative exercise for the control group consisted of cervical flexion exercise, whereas the experimental group performed a craniocervical flexion exercise. To compare the two groups, the visual analogue scale (VAS) for a pain, neck disability index (NDI) for a neck disability scale, and cross sectional area (CSA) of longus colli muscle using ultrasound image were assessed on pre-intervention, post-intervention, and 2 weeks follow-up. 2-way repeated ANOVA was used with Bonferroni post-hoc test. (1) There were significant main effects (within and between groups) (p<0.05) and interaction effect (p<0.05) in VAS. Post-hoc test revealed that there were significant differences in all pair-wise comparisons. (2) There were significant main effects (within and between groups) (p<0.05) and interaction effect (p<0.05) in NDI. Post-hoc test revealed that there were significant differences between pre-intervention and post-intervention, pre-intervention and 2 weeks follow-up. (3) There were significant main effects (within and between groups) (p<0.05) and interaction effect (p<0.05) in CSA of longus colli muscle. Post-hoc test revealed that there were significant differences in all pair-wise comparisons. The findings indicate that craniocervical flexion exercise are more effective for improving pain, neck disability, and CSA of longus colli muscle than cervical flexion exercise in workers with chronic neck pain.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.50 no.1
• /
• pp.30-35
• /
• 2011

Objective : Morphometric data for the sympathetic ganglia (SG) of the upper thoracic spine was investigated to identify the exact location of the SG in order to reduce normal tissue injury in the thoracic cavity during thoracoscopic sympathectomy. Methods : In 46 specimens from 23 formalin-fixed adult cadavers, the authors measured the shortest distance from the medial margin of the T1, T2 and T3 SG to the most prominent point and medial margin of the corresponding rib heads, and to the lateral margin of the longus colli muscle. In addition, the distance between the most prominent point of the rib head and the lateral margin of longus colli muscle and the width of each SG were measured. Results : The shortest distance from the medial margin of the SG to the prominent point of corresponding rib head was on average 1.9 mm on T1, 4.2 mm, and 4.1 mm on T2, T3. The distance from the medial margin of the SG to the medial margin of the corresponding rib head was 4.2 mm on T1, 5.9 mm, and 6.3 mm on T2, T3. The mean distance from the medial margin of the SG to the lateral margin of the longus colli muscle was 6.7 mm on T1, 8.8 mm, 9.9 and mm on T2, T3. The mean distance between the prominent point of the rib head and the lateral margin of the longus colli muscle was 4.8 mm on T1, 4.6 mm, and 5.9 mm on T2, T3. The mean width of SG was 6.1 mm on T1, 4.1 mm, and 3.1 mm on T2, T3. Conclusion : We present morphometric data to assist in surgical planning and the localization of the upper thoracic SG during thoracoscopic sympathectomy.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.216-220
• /
• 2001

There are many approaches in surgery of posterior hypopharyngeal wall cancer according to location, extent, and invasion depth of primary cancer. And many reconstruction methods have been used in reconstruction of surgical defect remaining after wide resection of primary cancer. Posterior hypopharyngeal wall cancer is relatively rare, so its surgical experiences are fewer than those of pyriform sinus cancer and there have been few reports of surgical approaches and reconstruction methods of posterior hypopharyngeal wall cancer. Recently, we experienced a case of posterior hypopharyngeal wall cancer reconstructed with longus colli flap and skin graft after failure of radial forearm free flap in a 72-year -old man and report it with the review of the literatures.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
• /
• v.29 no.1
• /
• pp.48-52
• /
• 2016

Differential diagnosis of posterior neck pain is very challenging based on symptoms and physical examination only. Retropharyngeal calcific tendinitis is a rare and frequently misdiagnosed entity in various causes of neck pain. It results from calcium hydroxyapatite deposition in the longus colli muscle which is characterized by severe neck pain, painful restriction of neck movement, dysphagia, and odynophagia. We herein report a case of a patient with acute retropharyngeal calcific tendinitis, who complained of posterior neck pain, initially diagnosed and treated as a myofascial neck pain syndrome.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.39 no.5
• /
• pp.340-346
• /
• 2006

Objective : The lack of anatomical knowledge for the anterior cervical microforaminotomy is liable to injure the neurovascular structures. The surgical anatomy is examined with special attention to the ventral aspect exposed in anterior cervical microforaminotomy. Methods : In 16adult formalin fixed cadaveric cervical spine, the author measured the distances from the medical margin of the longus colli to the medical wall of the ipsilateral vertebral artery and the angle for the ipsilateral vertebral artery. The distances from the lateral margin of the posterior longitudinal ligament to the medial margin of the ipsilateral medial wall of the vertebral artery, to the ipsilateral dorsal root ganglion was measured too. Results : The distance from the medial margin of the longus colli to the ipsilateral vertebral artery was $13.3{\sim}14.7mm$ and the angle for the ipsilateral vertebral artery was $41{\sim}42.5\;degrees$. The range of distance from the lateral margin of the posterior longitudinal ligament to the ipsilateral vertebral artery was $11.9{\sim}16.1mm$, to the ipsilateral dorsal root ganglion was $11.6{\sim}12.9mm$. Conclusion : These data will aid in reducing neurovascular injury during anterior cervical approaches.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
• /
• v.23 no.4
• /
• pp.59-66
• /
• 2011

Purpose: The objective of this study was to evaluate the inter- and intra-examiner reliability of ultrasonography (US) for measuring the thicknesses and cross-sectional area of the longus colli muscle (LCM) in healthy subjects. Methods: Twenty-five healthy adults participated in this study as subjects and two examiners attended to the study. LCM size was measured at the level of the thyroid cartilage. All subjects were randomly allocated to one of the three different methods. Method 1 was that the examiner A conducts the first measurement and one hour later conducts the second measurement and twenty four hours later conducts the third measurement, respectively. Method 2 was that the examiner B conducts the measurements in the same way as the examiner A. Method 3 was that the examiners A and B randomly conduct the measurements twice at an interval of one hour. Results: The intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) for the intra-examiner reliability ranged from 0.78 to 0.98 at rest and 0.57 to 0.98 during contraction for the examiner A. The $ICC_{3,3}$ for the intra-examiner reliability ranged from 0.60 to 0.96 at rest and 0.57 to 0.92 during contraction for the examiner B. The $ICC_{2,3}$ for the inter-examiner reliability ranged from 0.80 to 0.91 at rest and 0.84 to 0.93 during contraction. Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that US is a reliable method for measuring the LCM size.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
• /
• v.16 no.3
• /
• pp.81-87
• /
• 2021

PURPOSE: This study compared the cross-sectional areas (CSA) of the cervical muscles of straight neck patients and normal participants during a craniocervical flexion exercise (CCFE) using computerized tomography (CT) to investigate the effects of CCFE on the cervical curve. METHODS: Eighteen subjects were recruited for this study. Nine subjects were allocated to the straight neck group (subjects with pain and a cervical lordosis angle of less than 20°); the remainder formed the control group (subjects with a cervical lordosis angle greater than 20°). The CSA of the subjects' neck flexors (longus colli, longus capitis, and sternocleidomastoid) were measured by CT during rest and CCFE in the supine position, and the range of motion (ROM) of neck flexion was measured using a C-ROM instrument in a sitting. RESULTS: The straight neck group had a significantly smaller CSA of the longus colli, longus capitis, and sternocleidomastoid than the control group (p < .05). Both the straight neck and control groups showed statistically significant increases in the CSA of the neck flexors during CCFE compared to that at rest (p < .05). In addition, the straight neck group showed a significantly smaller ROM of neck flexion than the control group (p < .05). CONCLUSION: The results of this study provide more concrete evidence for therapists by demonstrating that CCFE improves the neck function by strengthening the neck flexors and increasing the neck stability for straight neck patients. Therefore, it is necessary to perform CCFE and neck extension exercises to rehabilitate straight neck patients.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.30 no.7
• /
• pp.870-875
• /
• 2001

Objectives : Anterior tunnelling technique consist of anterior cervical fractional interspace decompression without fusion. This method provides sufficient space for adequate neuroforaminal decompression but avoids the need for fusion or fixation. We report early clinical results of 32 cases that underwent anterior tunnelling operation for treatment of cervical radiculopathy. Methods : This method is identical to conventional approach until the exposure of anterior cervical body and bilateral retraction of longus colli is made. A vertical window is then made at the vertebral bodies and disc space lateral to the insertion site of the longus colli. The window is deepened with drilling that follows a tunnelling fashion down to the compressive lesion. We analyzed clinical results from 32 patients who treated between December 1998 and August 2000. Results : Satisfactory results were obtained in 87% of the patients. Two patients required revision surgery. None revealed surgical spinal instability on last follow-up. Conclusion : Anterior tunnelling operation is an acceptable surgical option for the treatment of cervical radiculopathy. Its advantages are short hospitalization, minimal postoperative discomfort, and technical feasibility.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.22 no.2
• /
• pp.659-666
• /
• 2021

This study aimed to investigate the effect of changes in pressure levels and gaze directions on deep neck flexor muscle thickness. Twenty-seven subjects participated in this study. Ultrasound imaging of the longus colli (LC) and sternocleidomastoid (SCM) were measured in four gaze directions (0°, 20°, 40°, 60°) and five pressure levels (20 mmHg, 22 mmHg, 24 mmHg, 26 mmHg, 28 mmHg) during cranial-cervical flexor (CCF) exercises. Repeated ANOVA was performed for analysis of muscle thickness difference according to gaze direction and pressure levels in LC and SCM. Results: LC showed a significant difference between 0° and 20°, 0° and 40°, and 0° and 60° at pressures of 20 mmHg and 22 mmHg (p<.05). SCM displayed a significant difference between 0° and 20°, 20° and 40°, and 40° and 60° at 28 mmHg (p<.05). In this study, it was found that setting the gaze direction to 20° for the CCF exercise can increase the activation of LC and lower the activity of SCM to obtain the effect of exercise. Based on the results of this study, it is hoped that the beneficial effects of the CCF exercise can be increased by setting an optimal gaze direction in a clinical environment.