• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.62 no.5
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• pp.610-617
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• 2019

Objective : This study aimed to assess the surgical results of the intradural transpetrosectomy for petrous apex meningiomas (PAMs). In addition, we describe the methods and techniques used to expose and manage superior petrous vein and greater superficial petrosal nerve. Methods : The authors conducted a retrospective study of 16 patients with PAMs operated by the senior author via the intradural transpetrosectomy between February 2012 to May 2017. We reviewed patient data regarding the general characteristics, surgical technique and surgery-related outcomes and adopted a combined follow-up strategy of clinic and telephone contacts to evaluate postoperative complications. Results : Simpson grade I and II resection was performed in 10 out of 16 cases (62.5%), and grade III resection were reported in the remaining six cases (37.5%) with no resultant mortality. The mean Karnofsky Performance Status score was 85.6 preoperatively and improved to 91.9 postoperatively, with a mean follow-up period of 34.4 months (range, 6-66 months). Tumor recurrence was found in two patients and they underwent the second surgical operation. Conclusion : PAMs could be completely resected by the intradural transpetrosectomy with an improved survival rate and postoperative life quality. Superior petrous vein and greater superficial petrosal nerve should be managed properly in avoidance of postoperative complications. Finally, most meningioma inside cavernous sinus or adhered to brainstem could be totally removed without postoperative complications.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.63 no.4
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• pp.519-531
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• 2020

Objective : The purpose of this study is identify the operation status of the neurosurgical care units (NCUs) in neurosurgical residency training hospitals nationwide and determine needed changes by comparing findings with those obtained from the Korean Neurosurgical Society (KNS) and Korean Society of Neurointensive Care Medicine (KNIC) survey of 2010. Method : This survey was conducted over 1 year in 86 neurosurgical residency training hospitals and two neurosurgery specialist hospitals and focused on the following areas : 1) the current status of the infrastructure and operating systems of NCUs in Korea, 2) barriers to installing neurointensivist team systems, 3) future roles of the KNS and KNIC, and 4) a handbook for physicians and practitioners in NCUs. We compared and analyzed the results of this survey with those from a KNIC survey of 2010. Results : Seventy seven hospitals (87.5%) participated in the survey. Nineteen hospitals (24.7%) employed a neurointensivist or faculty member; Thirty seven hospitals (48.1%) reported high demand for neurointensivists, and 62 hospitals (80.5%) stated that the mandatory deployment of a neurointensivist improved the quality of patient care. Forty four hospitals (57.1%) believed that hiring neurointensivist would increase hospital costs, and in response to a question on potential earnings declines. In terms of potential solutions to these problems, 70 respondents (90.9%) maintained that additional fees were necessary for neurointensivists' work, and 64 (83.1%) answered that direct support was needed of the personnel expenses for neurointensivists. Conclusion : We hope the results of this survey will guide successful implementation of neurointensivist systems across Korea.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.57 no.4
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• pp.292-294
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• 2015

Vestibular schwannoma (VS) usually present the widening of internal auditory canal (IAC), and these bony changes are typically limited to IAC, not extend to temporal bone. Temporal bone invasion by VS is extremely rare. We report 51-year-old man who revealed temporal bone destruction beyond IAC by unilateral VS. The bony destruction extended anteriorly to the carotid canal and inferiorly to the jugular foramen. On histopathologic examination, the tumor showed typical benign schwannoma and did not show any unusual vascularity or malignant feature. Facial nerve was severely compressed and distorted by tumor, which unevenly eroded temporal bone in surgical field. Vestibular schwannoma with atypical invasion of temporal bone can be successfully treated with combined translabyrinthine and lateral suboccipiral approach without facial nerve dysfunction. Early detection and careful dissection of facial nerve with intraoperative monitoring should be considered during operation due to severe adhesion and distortion of facial nerve by tumor and eroded temporal bone.

• Korean Journal of Computational Design and Engineering
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.243-249
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• 2013

This paper presents a tool-path generation methods for an automated robotic system for skull drilling, which is performed to access to some neurosurgical interventions. The path controls of the robotic system are classified as move, probe, cut, and poke motions. The four motions are the basic motion elements of the tool-paths to make a hole on a skull. Probing, rough cutting and fine cutting paths are generated for skull drilling. For the rough cutting path circular paths are projected on the offset surfaces of the outer top and the inner bottom surfaces of the skull. The projected paths become the paths on the top and bottom layers of the rough cutting paths. The two projected paths are blended for the paths on the other layers. Syntax of the motion commands for a file format is also suggested for the tool-paths. Implementation and simulation results show that the possibility of the proposed methods.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.137-140
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• 2007

HNP [Herniation of the necleus pulposus] generally occurs at ventral portion of lumbar thecal sac due to the anatomical position. We report two unusual cases of herniated dorsal portion of lumbar thecal sac causing diagnostic difficulties. Two patients with posteriorly migrated epidural disc fragments were evaluated with plain X-ray, and magnetic resonance imaging. These patients responded well to operation with complete relief of symptoms. Definite diagnosis of posteriorly located disc fragments is difficult because the radiological images of disc fragments may mimic those of other more common posterior epidural lesions.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.134-136
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• 2007

A woman who had a spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage [SAH] and temporal intracerebral hemorrhge [ICH] without any causative lesions on computed tomography [CT] and digital angiography at the day of the stroke. She was considered to have an angiographically negative SAH and scheduled for a repeated angiography. While she was waiting for the next study, she developed a second hemorrhage. CT angiography showed an aneurysmal shadow in the course of the posterior cerebral artery. After the operation, the aneurysm proved to be a pseudoaneurysm.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.127-129
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• 2007

Two unusual cases of traumatic spondyloptosis of the cervical spine at the C7-T1 level are reported. One patient was treated with a single-stage combined anterior-posterior and anterior operation to achieve realignment of the cervical spondyloptosis, decompression of the spinal cord and keep of a three-column stabilization of the spine. The other patient was treated with conservative management that consisted of a rigid neck collar and pain control for two months. The patients were managed successfully and both had good neurological outcomes. We present here a summary of the clinical presentations, the surgical technique and results, and a review of the relevant literature.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.367-369
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• 2011

Angiocentric glioma was recently recognized as a distinct clinicopathological entity in the 2007 World Health Organization classification of tumors of the central nervous system. Typically, it presents with seizure in children and young adults. However, our patient did not have a history of seizure. Seizure did not occur up to 6 months after operation. Although it usually does not have calcification brain magnetic resonance imaging in our patient showed T1-hyperintense and T2-hypointense signals with calcification.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.66-72
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• 2001

Apatient with multiple dissecting aneurysms of a posterior inferior cerebellar artery trunk who presented with SAH is reported. A 58-year-old woman presented with sudden occipital headache, dizziness and vomiting. The intial vertebral angiography revealed a suspicious pearl and string sign at the proximal posterior inferior cerebellar artery(PICA) segment. After 2 weeks, follow up angiography showed a progression of the proximal PICA dissection and newly developed dissecting aneurysm of the distal PICA segment. A far lateral suboccipital transcondylar appoach confirmed two dissecting aneurysms at distant sites of the PICA trunk. The dissection segments were wrapped with muslin wrap, which preserved the flow through the PICA and brain stem perforators. The angiographys at 3 weeks and 6 months after operation revealed serial disappearance of the dissecting aneurysms which is distal to proximal. The diagnosis, course and treatment of the dissecting aneurysms of the PICA are discussed with literature review.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.58 no.4
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• pp.397-400
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• 2015

The simultaneous occurrence of an intracranial and a spinal subdural hematoma (SDH) is rare. We describe a case of cranial SDH with a simultaneous spinal SDH. An 82-year-old woman visited the emergency room because of drowsiness and not being able to walk 6 weeks after falling down. A neurological examination showed a drowsy mentality. Brain computed tomography showed bilateral chronic SDH with an acute component. The patient underwent an emergency burr-hole trephination and hematoma removal. She exhibited good recovery after the operation. On the fourth postoperative day, she complained of low-back pain radiating to both lower limbs, and subjective weakness of the lower limbs. Spine magnetic resonance imaging revealed a thoracolumbosacral SDH. A follow-up spinal magnetic resonance imaging study that was performed 16 days later showed a significant decrease in the size of the spinal SDH. We discuss the pathogenesis of this simultaneous occurrence of spinal and cranial SDH.