• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.54 no.2
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• pp.100-106
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• 2013

Objective : To investigate the cases of intracranial abnormal brain MRI findings even in the negative brain CT scan after mild head injury. Methods : During a 2-year period (January 2009-December 2010), we prospectively evaluated both brain CT and brain MRI of 180 patients with mild head injury. Patients were classified into two groups according to presence or absence of abnormal brain MRI finding even in the negative brain CT scan after mild head injury. Two neurosurgeons and one neuroradiologist validated the images from both brain CT scan and brain MRI double blindly. Results : Intracranial injury with negative brain CT scan after mild head injury occurred in 18 patients (10.0%). Headache (51.7%) without neurologic signs was the most common symptom. Locations of intracranial lesions showing abnormal brain MRI were as follows; temporal base (n=8), frontal pole (n=5), falx cerebri (n=2), basal ganglia (n=1), tentorium (n=1), and sylvian fissure (n=1). Intracranial injury was common in patients with a loss of consciousness, symptom duration >2 weeks, or in cases of patients with linear skull fracture (p=0.00013), and also more frequent in multiple associated injury than simple one (35.7%>8.6%) (p=0.105). Conclusion : Our investigation showed that patients with mild head injury even in the negative brain CT scan had a few cases of intracranial injury. These findings indicate that even though the brain CT does not show abnormal findings, they should be thoroughly watched in further study including brain MRI in cases of multiple injuries and when their complaints are sustained.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.30-33
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• 2013

A 55-year-old woman was seen in the emergency department with posterior neck pain and a headache after a traffic accident. Physical examination revealed tenderness on palpation over the posterior skull and a midline spinous process of the cervical spine without neurologic deficit. A plain radiograph of the cervical spine demonstrated the absence of the lateral portion of the posterior arch of the atlas and very lucent shadowing of the anterior midline of the atlas, suggesting a fracture of the anterior arch. On three-dimensional computed tomography (CT) of the cervical spine, anterior and posterior bony defects of the atlas were noted. Well-corticated defects were noted with sclerotic change and with no evidence of soft tissue swelling adjacent to the bony discontinuities, consistent with a congenital abnormality. With conservative therapy, the patient gradually showed a lessening of the midline tenderness. Careful investigation with radiography or CT is needed for these patients to avoid confusion with a fracture, because these patients seldom need surgical treatment.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.83-91
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• 2007

Background: Cerebral blood vessels are innervated by sympathetic nerves that originate in the superior cervical ganglia (SCG). This study was conducted to determine the effect of an SCG block on brain injury caused by focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion in a rat model. Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats (270-320 g) were randomly assigned to one of three groups (lidocaine, ropivacaine, and control). After brain injury induced by middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion/reperfusion, the animals were administered an SCG bloc that consisted of $30{\mu}l$ of 2% lidocaine or 0.75% ropivacaine, with the exception of animals in the control group, which received no treatment. Twenty four hours after brain injury was induced, neurologic scores were assessed and brain samples were collected. The infarct and edema ratios were measured, and DNA fragmented cells were counted in the frontoparietal cortex and the caudoputamen. Results: No significant differences in neurologic scores or edema ratios were observed among the three groups. However, the infarct ratio was significantly lower in the ropivacaine group than in the control group (P < 0.05), and the number of necrotic cells in the caudoputamen of the ropivacaine group was significantly lower than in the control group (P < 0.01). Additionally, the number of necrotic and apoptotic cells in theropivacaine group were significantly lower than inthe control group in both the caudoputamen and the frontoparietal cortex (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Brain injury induced by focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion was reduced by an SCG block using local anesthetics. This finding suggests that a cervical sympathetic block could be considered as another treatment option for the treatment of cerebral vascular diseases.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.279-284
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• 2022

Objective: This study was conducted to confirm the effect of physiotherapy on the balance and walking in dog with sciatic nerve injury and degenerative arthritis of stifle joints. Design: Single case study Methods: The dog walked abnormally for six months and was administrated in S animal hospital. The dog's right hindlimb was operated for cranial cruciate ligament repair and the dog had been taking a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory analgesic before being refered. There was severe degenerated osteoarthritis in the right hindlimb. During stance and walking, the right hindlimb was often shown partial weight bearing. The dog's left hindlimb was shown plantigrade stance and walking. The radiograph was shown an intact calcaneal tendon in the left hindlimb. In the neurologic examination, sciatic nerve injury in the left hindlimb was confirmed. The dog was treated using muscle strengthening, proprioceptive exercise, underwater treadmill and Laser therapy two, or three times a week for 3 months. At the 10th and 17th treatment, it was evaluated through stance and gait analyzer system to measure dog's balance and walking. Results: 3 months following physiotherapy, the dog's balance was improved in center of pressure(COP). And peak vertical force(PVF), vertical impulse(VI) was increased in right hindlimb and double stance was decreased. Conclusions: Physiotherapy may have improved the prognosis in this dog with severe osteoarthritis and sciatic nerve injury. This study suggested that animal physiotherapy is a valuable way to improve balance and walking.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.52 no.6
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• pp.523-527
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• 2012

Objective : The incidence of spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma (SSEH) is rare. Patients with SSEH, however, present disabling neurologic deficits. Clinical outcomes are variable among patients. To evaluate the adequate treatment method according to initial patients' neurological status and clinical outcome with comparison of variables affecting the clinical outcome. Methods : We included 15 patients suffered from SSEH. Patients were divided into two groups by treatment method. Initial neurological status and clinical outcomes were assessed by the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) impairment scale. Also sagittal hematoma location and length of involved segment was analyzed with magnetic resonance images. Other factors such as age, sex, premorbid medication and duration of hospital stay were reviewed with medical records. Nonparametric statistical analysis and subgroup analysis were performed to overcome small sample size. Results : Among fifteen patients, ten patients underwent decompressive surgery, and remaining five were treated with conservative therapy. Patients showed no different initial neurologic status between treatment groups. Initial neurologic status was strongly associated with neurological recovery (p=0.030). Factors that did not seem to affect clinical outcomes included : age, sex, length of the involved spinal segment, sagittal location of hematoma, premorbid medication of antiplatelets or anticoagulants, and treatment methods. Conclusion : For the management of SSEH, early decompressive surgery is usually recommended. However, conservative management can also be feasible in selective patients who present neurologic status as ASIA scale E or in whom early recovery of function has initiated with ASIA scale C or D.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.658-667
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• 2017

Objectives: This is a case report regarding the effect of Korean traditional medicine on vision disorder and quadriplegia in a patient with neuromyelitis optica. Methods: We treated a patient who was diagnosed with neuromyelitis optica with Korean traditional medicine, including acupuncture, moxibustion, and herbal medicine (Gigugyanghyeol-tang gamibang) for 106 days. We evaluated the patient with the International Standards for Neurological Classification of Spinal Cord Injury (ISNCSCI), Modified Barthel Index (MBI), Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) Grade, and Numeric Rating Scale-11 (NRS-11). Results: After treatment, the patient's symptoms were improved. The ISNCSCI scores increased from 42 to 66 in motor score, from 152 to 196 in sensory score, and from A to D in the ASIA impairment scale; the MBI score increased from 9 to 33, while the score of the MAS Grade decreased from I+ to I, and the NRS-11 scores of vision disorder, spasticity, and tingling decreased from 10 to 7, 3, and 2-3, respectively. Conclusions: Korean traditional medicine may be effective for treatment of vision disorder and quadriplegia in patients with neuromyelitis optica.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.67 no.3
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• pp.289-298
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• 2024

Pediatric intracranial arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are challenging lesions managed by pediatric neurosurgeons. The high risk of hemorrhage and neurologic injury is compounded by the unique anatomy of each malformation that requires individualizing treatment options. This article reviews the current status of pediatric AVM epidemiology, pathophysiology and clinical care, with a specific focus on the rationale and methodology of surgical resection.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.277-283
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• 1999

This study was aimed at furnishing the data of Naso-orbito-ethmoidal fractures and aiding treatmenting Naso-orbito-ethmoidal fractures A 5-year review of Naso-orbito-ethmoidal fractures and concomitant injuries is presented. The patients were treated in the Dept. of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery of Wankwang University Hospital from Jan. 1, 1993 to Dec. 31, 1997. The results were as followes: Male predominated over female by a ratio of 4.6 : 1. The most common reasons is traffic accident(88.2%). The elapsed time from injury to operation is average 9.2 days, and the mean admission days were 79 days and removal of plates were average 217.3 days. The most associated facial bone fractures is Zygomatico-Maxillary complex fracture(20%). Associated injuries were neurologic injury(29.4%), orthopedic injury(23.5%), opthalmologic injury(17.6%), body injury(5.8%), neuropsychologic injury(5.8%) and otolaryngologic injury(5.8%) in this order. The most injured teeth were upper and lower incisors. The intubation methods for surgery were orotracheal(29.57%), submental(29.5%), and nasotracheal technique(41%). Most patients had complications, that were post-traumatic telecanthus, nasal depression, scar formation. This results suggest that early diagnosis and treatment is prerequisits to satisfactory result. Aggressive management of NOE fracture with direct or bicoronal exposure with aid of CT is now an accepted norm.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2007

Objective : The purpose of this study is to determine the factors that have effects on the neurological deficit in the patients with thoracolumbar fracture. Methods : Forty-eight patients were included. Cause of injury, type of injury, time interval, combined injury, kyphotic angle, spinal canal compromise, sagittal diameter, the most narrow sagittal diameter, transverse diameter, the most narrow transverse diameter, and remained height of vertebra body were concerned as the factors. The patients with American Spinal Injury Association[ASIA] impairment scale grade A to D were considered as having neurology while others with ASIA grade E were considered to be without neurology. The patients with ASIA grade A were classified to paraplegia group and the patients with ASIA grade B to E were not thought to be paraplegia. Statistical analysis for these groups were performed. Results : Spinal canal compromise [P<0.001] have correlation with neurological deficit. The most narrow sagittal diameter was smaller in the group with deficit than that in the group without deficit [P<0.004]. Also, combined injury have correlation with neurology [P=0.028]. Spinal canal compromise [P<0.001], sagittal diameter [P=0.032], the most narrow sagittal diameter [P=0.025], and Denis type [P<0.001] also have correlation with paraplegia. Conclusion : The factors of percentage of spinal canal compromise, the most narrow sagittal diameter, and combined injury are predictive of neurological deficit. The patients with paraplegia may be predicted by the factors such as type of injury, spinal canal compromise, sagittal diameter, the most narrow sagittal diameter, and Denis type.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.510-513
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• 2006

Purpose: The Rectus abdominis muscle free flap is utilized in various reconstruction surgeries due to easiness in harvesting, consistency of vascular pedicle and reduced donor site morbidity. But rarely, femoral nerve injury during rectus abdominis harvesting can be resulted. We report a case of femoral nerve injury after rectus muscle harvesting and discuss the injury mechanism with the follow-up process of this injury. Methods: To reconstruct the defect of middle cranial base after wide excision of cystic adenocarcinoma of the external ear, rectus muscle free flap was havested in usual manner. To achieve a long vessel, inferior epigastric artery was dissected to the dividing portion of femoral artery and cut. Results: One week after the surgery, the patient noted sensory decrease in the lower leg, weakness in muscle strength, and disabilities in extension of the knee joint resulting in immobilization. EMG and NCV results showed no response on stimulation of the femoral nerve of the left leg, due to the defects in femoral nerve superior to the inguinal ligament. With routine neurologic evaluations and physical therapy, on the 75th day after the operation, the patient showed improvement in pain, sensation and muscle strength, and was able to move with walking frame. In 6 months after the operation, recovery of the muscle strength of the knee joint was observed with normal flexion and extension movements. Conclusion: Rarely, during dissection of the inferior epigastric artery, injuries to the femoral nerve can be resulted, probably due to excessive traction or pressure from the blade of the traction device. Therefore, femoral nerve injury can be prevented by avoiding excessive traction during surgery.