• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.30 no.11
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• pp.1271-1277
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• 2001

Objectives : Since vertebroplasty has been introduced, we performed short segment pedicle screw fixation with augmented intra-operative vertebroplasty in patients with unstable thoraco-lumbar fracture. Our intentions are to demonstrate the efficacy and indication of this new technique compare to conventional methods. Material and Methods : The surgery comprised of pedicle screw fixations on one level above and below the fracture site, and the fractured level itself, if pedicle is intact, and intra-operative vertebroplasty under the fluoroscopic guide with in-situ postero-lateral bone graft. Also, in cases of bone apposition, we removed those with small impactor through a transfascetal route. During the last 2 years, we performed in seven(7) unstable thoraco-lumbar fracture patients who consisted of two different characteristics, those four(4) with primary or secondary osteoporosis and three(3) of young and very healthy. All patients were followed clinically by A.S.I.A. score and radiography. Results : Mean follow up period was 14 months. We observed well decompressed state via transfascetal route in cases of bone fragments apposition and no hardware pullout in osteoporotic cases, no poly-methyl-methacrylate (PMMA) leakage through the fracture sites into the spinal canal, and no kyphotic deformities in both cases during follow-up periods. All patients demonstrated solid bony fusion except one following osteoporotic compression fracture on other sites. Conclusions : In the management of unstable thoraco-lumbar fracture, we believe that this short segment pedicle screw fixation with augmented intra-operative vertebroplasty reduce the total length or levels of pedicle screw fixation without post-operative kyphotic deformity.

• Asian Spine Journal
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.1053-1059
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• 2018

Study Design: Retrospective review. Purpose: To detect the effect of cannulated (poly-axial head) and solid (mono-axial head) screws on the local kyphotic angle, vertebral body height, and superior and inferior angles between the screw and the rod in the surgical management of thoracolumbar fractures. Overview of Literature: Biomechanics studies showed that the ultimate load, yield strength, and cycles to failure were significantly lower with cannulated (poly-axial head) pedicle comparing to solid core (mono-axial head). Methods: The medical charts of patients with thoracolumbar fractures who underwent pedicle screw fixation with cannulated or solid pedicle screws were retrospectively reviewed; the subjects were followed up from January 2011 to December 2015. Results: Total 178 patients (average age, $36.1{\pm}12.4years$; men, 142 [84.3%]; women, 28 [15.7%]) with thoracolumbar fractures who underwent surgery and were followed up at Hamad Medical Corporation were classified, based on the screw type as those with cannulated screws and those with solid screws. The most commonly affected level was L1, followed by L2 and D12. Surgical correction of the local kyphotic angle was significantly different in the groups; however, there was no significant difference in the loss of correction of the local kyphotic angle of the groups. Surgical correction of the reduction in the vertebral body height showed statistical significance, while the average loss of correction in the reduction of the vertebral body height was not significantly different. The measurement of the angles made by the screws on the rods was not significantly different between the cannulated (poly-axial head) and solid (mono-axial head) screw groups. Conclusions: Solid screws were superior in terms of providing increased correction of the kyphotic angle and height of the fractured vertebra than the cannulated screws; however, no difference was noted between the screws in the maintenance of the superior and inferior angles of the screw with the rod.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 1997.10a
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• pp.634-638
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• 1997

The objectives of this research are to develop lumber and lower-thoracic pedicle fixation system for Korean patients. To achieve the aimed goals, first, optimized shape design process is performed, and finite element methods are applied to evaluate the mechanical strength of the developed fixation system. Second, appropriate machining experiments are carried out to develop optimum machining conditions for titan~um alloys those are known as one of the most difficult-to-cut material. As the results of this research, new pedicle screw system, considering the morphological characteristics of Korean patients, is developed by applying the finite element analysis, optimum shape processing method and optimize design algorithm.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.181-188
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• 2009

Objective : To evaluate the anatomical parameters that must be considered when performing thoracic transpedicular or extrapedicular screw fixation. Methods : We selected 958 vertebrae (1,916 pedicles) from 98 patients for analysis. Eight parameters were measured from CT scans : the transverse outer pedicular diameter, transverse inner pedicular diameter, length, angle, chord length of the pedicles and the transverse width, angle, and chord length of the pedicle-rib units. Results : The age of the patients ranged from 21 to 82 years (mean: 48.2 years) and there were 57 men and 41 women. The narrowest transverse outer pedicular diameter was at T5 (4.4 mm). The narrowest pedicle length was at T1 (15.9 mm). For pedicle angle, T1 was 31.6 degrees, which was the most convergent angle, and it showed the tendency of the lower the level, the lesser the convergent angle. The chord length showed a horizontal pattern with similar values at all levels. For the PRU width, T5 showed a similar pattern to the pedicle width at 13.4 mm. For the PRU angle, T1 was the largest angle at 46.2 degrees and the tendency was the lower the level. the narrower the angle. For chord length, T1 was the shortest at 46.9 mm and T8 was the longest at 60.1 mm. Conclusion : When transpedicular screw fixations carried out at the mid-thoracic level, special care must be taken because there is a high chance of danger of medial wall violation. In these circumstances, extrapedicular screw fixation may be considered as an alternative treatment.

• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
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• v.22 no.12
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• pp.125-130
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• 2017

Screw insertion surgery is frequently required among surgical procedures. Especially, very careful attention should be paid to the insertion of screw in the operation of the cervical vertebra. Therefore, there is a need for a guide that allows the surgeon to reliably and promptly perform treatment by calculating the desired insertion angle and length for screw insertion. In this study, the center and direction of the pedicle were calculated through 3D modeling and 3D vector numerical analysis using the CT or MRI image of the patient for the safe operation of the guide, and based on this, After that, we will implement surgical guide based on this.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2009.10a
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• pp.619-620
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• 2009

• Journal of the Korean Society of Manufacturing Process Engineers
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.72-78
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• 2004

In this paper, mechanical behaviors of developed pedicle screw system, made of bio-mechanical materials(Ti-6Al-4V, Grade 5), ale predicted using FEM analysis. As a first step, morphologic construction of normal Korean spines and surgical operation convenience are considered to design optimum pedicle screw system. In this step, various design variables are considered as design parameters to develop optimized models. As a next step, tension and bending tests are performed to improve the structural performance of the developed system using finite element method. In this step, required Static compression and bending test specifications by ASTM F-04 25 04 01 are applied to understand the bio-mechanical behaviors of the designed spinal implant system under various load types. As the results of this research, it is possible to develop efficient pedicle screw system, having enough rigidity and fixation to stand any spinal damage under allowable stress conditions.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.58 no.1
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• pp.65-71
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• 2015

Objective : Lumbar spinal stenosis is conventionally treated with surgical decompression. However, bilateral decompression and laminectomy is more invasive and may not be necessary for lumbar stenosis patients with unilateral radiculopathy. We aimed to report the outcomes of unilateral laminectomy and bilateral pedicle screw fixation with fusion for patients with lumbar spinal stenosis and unilateral radiculopathy. Methods : Patients with lumbar spinal stenosis with unilateral lower extremity radiculopathy who received limited unilateral decompression and bilateral pedicle screw fixation were included and evaluated using visual analog scale (VAS) pain and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scores preoperatively and at follow-up visits. Ligamentum flavum thickness of the involved segments was measured on axial magnetic resonance images. Results : Twenty-five patients were included. The mean preoperative VAS score was $6.6{\pm}1.6$ and $4.6{\pm}3.1$ for leg and back pain, respectively. Ligamentum flavum thickness was comparable between the symptomatic and asymptomatic side (p=0.554). The mean follow-up duration was 29.2 months. The pain in the symptomatic side lower extremity (VAS score, $1.32{\pm}1.2$) and the back (VAS score, $1.75{\pm}1.73$) significantly improved (p=0.000 vs. baseline for both). The ODI improved significantly postoperatively ($6.60{\pm}6.5$; p=0.000 vs. baseline). Significant improvement in VAS pain and ODI scores were observed in patients receiving single or multi-segment decompression fusion with fixation (p<0.01). Conclusion : Limited laminectomy and unilateral spinal decompression followed by bilateral pedicle screw fixation with fusion achieves satisfactory outcomes in patients with spinal stenosis and unilateral radiculopathy. This procedure is less damaging to structures that are important for maintaining posterior stability of the spine.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.204-209
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• 2012

Objective : The authors performed a retrospective study to assess the accuracy and clinical benefits of a navigation coupled with O-arm$^{(R)}$ system guided method in the thoracic and lumbar spines by comparing with a C-arm fluoroscopy-guided method. Methods : Under the navigation guidance, 106 pedicle screws inserted from T7 to S1 in 24 patients, and using the fluoroscopy guidance, 204 pedicle screws from T5 to S1 in 45 patients. The position of screws within the pedicle was classified into four groups, from grade 0 (no violation cortex) to 3 (more than 4 mm violation). The location of violated pedicle cortex was also assessed. Intra-operative parameters including time required for preparation of screwing procedure, times for screwing and the number of X-ray shot were assessed in each group. Results : Grade 0 was observed in 186 (91.2%) screws of the fluoroscopy-guided group, and 99 (93.4%) of the navigation-guided group. Mean time required for inserting a screw was 3.8 minutes in the fluoroscopy-guided group, and 4.5 minutes in the navigation-guided group. Mean time required for preparation of screw placement was 4 minutes in the fluoroscopy-guided group, and 19 minutes in the navigation-guided group. The fluoroscopy-guided group required mean 8.9 times of X-ray shot for each screw placement. Conclusion : The screw placement under the navigation-guidance coupled with O-arm$^{(R)}$ system appears to be more accurate and safer than that under the fluoroscopy guidance, although the preparation and screwing time for the navigation-guided surgery is longer than that for the fluoroscopy-guided surgery.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.265-270
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• 2007

Objective : The current literature implies that the use of short-segment pedicle screw fixation for spinal fractures is dangerous and inappropriate because of its high failure rate, but favorable results have been reported. The purpose of this study is to report the short term results of thoracolumbar burst and compression fractures treated with short-segment pedicle instrumentation. Methods : A retrospective review of all surgically managed thoracolumbar fractures during six years were performed. The 19 surgically managed patients were instrumented by the short-segment technique. Patients' charts, operation notes, preoperative and postoperative radiographs (sagittal index, sagittal plane kyphosis, anterior body compression, vertebral kyphosis, regional kyphosis), computed tomography scans, neurological findings (Frankel functional classification), and follow-up records up to 12-month follow-up were reviewed. Results : No patients showed an increase in neurological deficit. A statistically significant difference existed between the patients preoperative, postoperative and follow-up sagittal index, sagittal plane kyphosis, anterior body compression, vertebral kyphosis and regional kyphosis. One screw pullout resulted in kyphotic angulation, one screw was misplaced and one patient suffered angulation of the proximal segment on follow-up, but these findings were not related to the radiographic findings. Significant bending of screws or hardware breakage were not encountered. Conclusion : Although long term follow-up evaluation needs to verified, the short term follow-up results suggest a favorable outcome for short-segment instrumentation. When applied to patients with isolated spinal fractures who were cooperative with 3-4 months of spinal bracing, short-segment pedicle screw fixation using the posterior approach seems to provide satisfactory result.