• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• 제2권1호
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• pp.103-112
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• 1990

The intervertebral disc in the anterior portion of the function unit gives the spine its flexibility. The disc is attached closely to the vertebral endplates. Between these endplates and the annulus fibrosus, the nucleus pulposus of the lumbar disc is enclosed in a circle of unyielding tissues. Compressive pressure placed on the disc is dissipated circumferentially in a passive manner In response to the greater axial forced exerted on the lumbar spine in comparison to the cervical and thoracic spines, the nucleus pulposus has its greatest surface area in the lumbar spine. The intervertebral disc is not only structure that helps diss pate stresses placed on the spine. With flexion, extension, rotation, or shear stress, the load distribution on the function unit is shared by the intervertebral disc, anterior and posterior longitudinal ligaments, the facet joints and capsules, and other ligamentous structures like the ligamentum flavum, interspinous and supraspinous ligaments, which attach to the posterior elements of the functional unit.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제46권3호
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• pp.265-268
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• 2009

Two cases of dynamic lumbar spinal stenosis were identified by the authors using axial loaded magnetic resonance image (MRI). In both cases, the patients presented with neurogenic claudication but MRI in decumbency showed no definite pathologic condition associated with their symptoms. In contrast, axial loaded MRI demonstrated constrictive spinal stenosis and a significantly decreased dural sac caused by epidural fat buckling and thickening of the ligamentum flavum in both cases. In the second case, a more prominent disc protrusion was also demonstrated compared with decumbent MRI. After decompressive surgery, both patients had satisfactory outcomes. Axial loaded MRI can therefore give decisive information in dynamic spinal disorders by allowing simulation of an upright position.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제65권5호
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• pp.719-729
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• 2022

Objective : The ossification of the ligamentum flavum (OLF) is one of the major causes of thoracic myelopathy. Surgical decompression with or without instrumented fusion is the mainstay of treatment. However, few studies have reported on the added effect of instrumented fusion. The objective of this study was to compare clinical and radiological outcomes between surgical decompression without instrumented fusion (D-group) and that with instrumented fusion (F-group). Methods : A retrospective review was performed on 28 patients (D-group, n=17; F-group, n=11) with thoracic myelopathy due to OLF. The clinical parameters compared included scores of the Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA), the Visual analogue scale of the back and leg (VAS-B and VAS-L), and the Korean version of the Oswestry disability index (K-ODI). Radiological parameters included the sagittal vertical axis (SVA), the pelvic tilt (PT), the sacral slope (SS), the thoracic kyphosis angle (TKA), the segmental kyphosis angle (SKA) at the operated level, and the lumbar lordosis angle (LLA; a negative value implying lordosis). These parameters were measured preoperatively, 1 year postoperatively, and 2 years postoperatively, and were compared with a linear mixed model. Results : After surgery, all clinical parameters were significantly improved in both groups, while VAS-L was more improved in the F-group than in the D-group (-3.4±2.5 vs. -1.3±2.2, p=0.008). Radiological outcomes were significantly different in terms of changes in TKA, SKA, and LLA. Changes in TKA, SKA, and LLA were 2.3°±4.7°, -0.1°±1.4°, and -1.3°±5.6° in the F-group, which were significantly lower than 6.8°±6.1°, 3.0°±2.8°, and 2.2°±5.3° in the D-group, respectively (p=0.013, p<0.0001, and p=0.037). Symptomatic recurrence of OLF occurred in one patient of the D-group at postoperative 24 months. Conclusion : Clinical improvement was achieved after decompression surgery for OLF regardless of whether instrumented fusion was added. However, adding instrumented fusion resulted in better outcomes in terms of lessening the progression of local and regional kyphosis and improving leg pain. Decompression with instrumented fusion may be a better surgical option for thoracic OLF.

• 대한약침학회지
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• 제6권3호
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• pp.75-80
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• 2003

Lumbar spinal stenosis results from the progressive combined narrowing of the central spinal canal, the neurorecesses, and the neuroforaminal canals. In the absence of prior surgery, tumor, or infection, the spinal canal may become narrowed by bulging or protrusion of the intervertebral disc annulus, herniation of the nucleus pulposis posteriorly, thickening of the posterior longitudinal ligament, hypertrophy of the ligamentum flavum, epidural fat deposition, spondylosis of the intervertebral disc margins, or a combination of two or more of the above factors. Patients with spinal stenosis become symptomatic when pain, motor weakness, paresthesia, or other neurologic compromise causes distress. In one case, we administrated oriental medical treatment with acupuncture treatment and herb-medicine. Oriental medical treatment showed desirable effect on lumbar spinal stenosis.

• Clinics in Orthopedic Surgery
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• 제10권4호
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• pp.508-512
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• 2018

Foraminal decompression using a minimally invasive technique to preserve facet joint stability and function without fusion reportedly improves the radicular symptoms in approximately 80% of patients and is considered one of the good surgical treatment choices for lumbar foraminal or extraforaminal stenosis. However, proper decompression was not possible because of the inability to access the foramen at the L5-S1 level due to prominence of the iliac crest. To overcome this challenge, endoscopy-based minimally invasive spine surgery has recently gained attention. Here, we report the technical skills required in unilateral extraforaminal biportal endoscopic spinal surgery using a $30^{\circ}$ arthroscope to enable foraminal decompression at the L5-S1 level. Two 0.8-cm portals were created 2 cm lateral from the lateral border of the pedicles at the L5-S1 level. After sufficient working space was made, half of the superior articular process (SAP) in the hypertrophied facet joint was removed using a high-speed burr and a 5-mm wide osteotome, whereas the remaining inside part of the SAP was removed using a Kerrison punch and pituitary punch. The foraminal ligamentum flavum should be removed to inspect the conditions of the L5 exiting root and disc. Removing of the extruded disc could decompress the L5 root. The extraforaminal approach using a $30^{\circ}$ arthroscope is considered a minimally invasive alternative technique for decompressing foraminal stenosis at the L5-S1 level that preserves facet stability and provides symptomatic relief.

• 척추신경추나의학회지
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• 제4권1호
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• pp.95-102
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• 2009

Objectives : We studied in order to compare the differences between the symptoms of patients and findings of MRI and X-Ray of patients with herniated disc which has been diagnosed often recently. Methods : We randomly selected among the 301 patients with X-Ray and L-spine MRI films who have visited Jaseng Hospital with low-back pain and lumbar and low extremity pain from Jan.1st of 2009 to Jan.28. We used SPSS 13.0 for Windows I in analyzing statistical data of study results and the level of significance were below 0.05. Results and Conclusions : 1. If there were radiating pain, based on MRI findings, the amount of herniation was more severe(P>0.05). 2. If the finding of a X-ray showed narrowing, based on MRI findings, the amount of herniation was more severe(P>0.05). 3. There were no significant differences between the presence of radiating pain and the findings of X-Ray(P>0.05). 4. Among the 301 cases, cases which showed findings beside HIVD were 79. 7 cases of hemanggioma(2.3%), 24 cases of spinal neoplasm(cord cyst, tumor etc)(8%), 7 cases of spondylitis(2.3%), 16 cases of spinal canal stenosis(5,3%) 9 cases of ligamentum flavum thickening(3%) and 16 cases of facet syndrome(5.3%).

• 대한영상의학회지
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• 제82권4호
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• pp.862-875
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• 2021

목적 요추신경근병증이 있는 60세 이상의 환자의 신경공 협착에 영향을 줄 수 있는 인자를 자기공명영상 평가를 통해 알아보고자 하였다. 대상과 방법 요추신경근병증이 있는 60세 이상의 환자 133명이 본원에서 시행 받은 2018년 1월부터 4월까지의 요추 자기공명영상을 대상으로 하였다. 제4/5 요추간과 제5 요추/제1 천추간에서 신경공 협착이 있는 군과 없는 군으로 나눈 후 척추전방전위증, 척추후방전위증, 추간판 간격 감소, 추간판탈출증, 중심성 척추관 협착, 황색인대비후, 척추후관절 비후 여부를 2명의 판독자가 분석한 후 단변량 및 다변량 로지스틱 회귀분석을 시행하였다. 결과 단변량 분석에서 제4/5 요추간에 대해 추간판 간격 감소(p = 0.006), 제5 요추/제1 천추간에 대해서는 척추전방전위증(p = 0.005)과 척추후관절 비후(p = 0.006)가 신경공 협착과 유의한 연관성을 보였다. 다변량 분석에서는 제4/5 요추간에 대해 추간판 간격 감소[odds ratio(이하 OR) = 4.272; 95% confidence interval (이하 CI) 1.736~10.514]가 신경공 협착과 관련된 인자였다. 제5 요추/제1 천추간에서는 척추전방전위증(OR = 3.696; 95% CI 1.297~10.530)과 척추후관절 비후(OR = 6.468; 95% CI 1.238~32.617)가 이와 관련된 인자였다. 결론 제4/5 요추간에서는 추간판 간격 감소가, 제5 요추/제1 천추간에서는 척추전방전위증과 척추후관절 비후가 신경공 협착과 관련된 인자였다.