• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• 제53권5호
• /
• pp.288-292
• /
• 2013

Objective : Vertebral distraction is routinely performed during anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF). Overdistraction can injure the facet joints and may cause postoperative neck pain consequently. The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical relevance of distraction force during ACDF. Methods : This study included 24 consecutive patients with single level cervical disc disease undergoing single level ACDF. We measure the maximum torque just before the the arm of the Caspar retractor was suspended by the rachet mechanism by turning the lever on the movable arm using a torque meter. In order to turn the lever using the torque driver, we made a linear groove on the top of the lever. We compared the neck disability index (NDI) and visual analogue scale (VAS) scores between the high torque group (distraction force>6 $kgf{\cdot}cm$) and the low torque group (distraction force${\leq}6kgf{\cdot}cm$) at routine postoperative intervals of 1, 3, 5 days and 1, 3, 6 months. Results : The VAS scores for posterior neck pain had a linear correlation with torque at postoperative 1st and 3rd days ($y=0.99{\times}-1.1$, $r^2=0.82$; $y=0.77{\times}-0.63$, $r^2=0.73$, respectively). VAS scores for posterior neck pain were lower in the low torque group than in the high torque group on both 1 and 3 days postoperatively ($3.1{\pm}1.3$, $2.6{\pm}1.0$ compared with $6.0{\pm}0.6$, $4.9{\pm}0.8$, p<0.01). However, the difference in NDI scores was not statistically significant in all postoperative periods. Conclusion : Vertebral distraction may cause posterior neck pain in the immediate postoperative days. We recommend not to distract the intervertebral disc space excessively with a force of more than 6.0 $kgf{\cdot}cm$.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
• /
• 제4권2호
• /
• pp.140-145
• /
• 2002

Neurologic sequelae of tuberculous meningitis include hemiparesis, paraparesis, quadriparesis, aphasia, developmental delay, dementia, blindness, visual field defect, deafness, cranial nerve palsies, epilepsy, and hypothalamic and pituitary dysfunction. But cervical epidural abscess and cervical spondylitis are rare. A 64-year-old woman who was diagnosed as tuberculous meningitis presented a severe neck pain and stiffness after 3 weeks of anti-tuberculous medication. Electromyography and cervical X-ray showed a cervical spondylosis with polyradiculopathy. But cervical MRI showed an acute cervical epidural abscess and mild cervical spondylitis. After continuous anti-tuberculous medication with supportive care, she showed a slow clinical improvement. But about 1 month of anti-tuberculous therapy, she presented a more aggravation of neck pain, neck stiffness, radicular pain, and neck motion limitation. Follow-up cervical MRI showed an more advanced cervical spondylitis. Afterthen she has recovered slowly by cervical laminectomy with posterior stabilization and continuous anti-tuberculous medication.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• 제48권4호
• /
• pp.375-379
• /
• 2010

The Chiari 1.5 malformation is defined as a tonsillar hemiation within a Chiari I malformation with additional caudal descent of the brainstem through the foramen magnum. We describe a patient with Chiari I malformation who evolved to Chiari 1.5 malformation during longitudinal follow-up. A 15-year-old girl presented with neck pain during exercise for two years. She had been diagnosed with Chiari I malformation with mild hydrocephalus after minor cervical trauma at the age of six years. At that time, she was asymptomatic. After she complained of aggravated neck pain, neuroimaging (nine years after first imaging) revealed caudal descent of the brainstem and syringomyelia in addition to progression of tonsillar hemiation. Posterior fossa decompressive surgery resulted in complete resolution of neck pain. Based on neuroimaging and operative findings, she was diagnosed as Chiari 1.5 malformation. Neuroimaging performed seven months after surgery showed an increased anterior-posterior diameter of the medulla oblongata and markedly decreased syringomyelia. This case demonstrates progressive developmental process of the Chiari 1.5 malformation as an advanced form of the Chiari I malformation.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
• /
• 제40권3호
• /
• pp.115-123
• /
• 2015

Purpose: The aim of this study was to elucidate the coordination patterns of the sternocleidomastoid and posterior cervical muscles in response to symmetrical and asymmetrical jaw functions in normal adults. Methods: Twenty-seven healthy volunteers (8 females, 19 males; mean age, $30.4{\pm}2.5$ years) participated in this study. Surface electromyography (EMG) was used to record activities in the masseter, suprahyoid, sternocleidomastoid, and posterior cervical muscles at rest and during maximum tooth clenching, biting of a cotton roll with the anterior teeth, unilateral biting of a cotton roll with the posterior teeth, bilateral biting of cotton rolls with the posterior teeth, and jaw opening while seated. Normalized amplitude, activity indices, and asymmetry indices were compared between the muscles and the jaw tasks. Results: During symmetrical jaw functions (e.g., tooth clenching, biting with the anterior teeth, bilateral biting with the posterior teeth, jaw opening), the sternocleidomastoid and posterior cervical muscles showed elevated EMG amplitudes compared with the resting condition. The co-activation pattern of the sternocleidomastoid muscle was more pronounced than those of the posterior cervical muscles during these tasks. During asymmetrical jaw functions (e.g., unilateral biting with the posterior teeth), the ipsilateral sternocleidomastoid and masseter muscles showed higher contraction activity than did the contralateral muscles, but the contralateral posterior cervical muscles were more active than the ipsilateral muscles. Conclusions: The sternocleidomastoid and posterior cervical muscles were shown to be co-activated and coordinated anteroposteriorly or bilaterally according to symmetrical or asymmetrical jaw function. These results suggest an integrated neural control mechanism for the jaw and neck muscles, and provide further evidence supporting the intimate functional coupling between the trigeminal and cervical neuromuscular systems.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• 제46권6호
• /
• pp.522-527
• /
• 2009

Objective : Atlantal arch defects are rare. Few cadaveric and imaging studies have been reported on the variations of such anomalies. Our goal in this study was to examine the incidence and review the clinical implications of this anomaly. Methods : A retrospective review of 1,153 neck or cervical spine computed tomography (CT) scans was performed to identify patients with atlantal arch defects. Neck CT scans were performed in 650 patients and cervical spine CT scans were performed in 503 patients. Posterior arch defects of the atlas were grouped in accordance with the classification of Currarino et al. In patients exhibiting this anomaly, special attention was given to defining associated anomalies and neurological findings. Results : Atlantal arch defects were found in 11 (11/1153, 0.95%) of the 1,153 patients. The type A posterior arch defect was found in nine patients and the type B posterior arch defect was found in two patients. No type C, D, or E defects were observed. One patient with a type A posterior arch defect had an anterior atlantal-arch midline cleft (1/1153, 0.087%). Associated cervical spine anomalies observed included one $C_{6-7}$ fusion and two atlantal assimilations. None of the reviewed patients had neurological deficits because of atlantal arch anomalies. Conclusion : Most congenital anomalies of the atlantal arch are found incidentally during investigation of neck mass, neck pain, radiculopathy, and after trauma.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
• /
• 제14권2호
• /
• pp.86-88
• /
• 2012

• 대한약침학회지
• /
• 제17권4호
• /
• pp.7-14
• /
• 2014

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to analyze trends in domestic studies on pharmacopuncture therapy for treating cervical disease. Methods: This study was carried out on original copies and abstracts of theses listed in databases or published until July 2014. The search was made on the Oriental medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System (OASIS) the National Digital Science Library (NDSL), and the Korean traditional knowledge portal. Search words were 'pain on cervical spine', 'cervical pain', 'ruptured cervical disk', 'cervical disc disorder', 'stiffness of the neck', 'cervical disk', 'whiplash injury', 'cervicalgia', 'posterior cervical pain', 'neck disability', 'Herniated Nucleus Pulposus (HNP)', and 'Herniated Intervertebral Disc (HIVD)'. Results: Twenty-five clinical theses related to pharmacopuncture were selected and were analyzed by year according to the type of pharmacopuncture used, the academic journal in which the publication appeared, and the effect of pharmacopuncture therapy. Conclusion: The significant conclusions are as follows: (1) Pharmacopunctures used for cervical pain were Bee venom pharmacopuncture, Carthami-flos pharmacopuncture, Scolopendra pharmacopuncture, Ouhyul pharmacopuncturen, Hwangryun pharmacopuncture, Corpus pharmacopuncture, Soyeom pharmacopuncture, Hwangryunhaedoktang pharmacopuncture, Shinbaro phamacopuncture. (2) Randomized controlled trials showed that pharmacopuncture therapy combined with other methods was more effective. (3) In the past, studies oriented toward Bee venom pharmacopuncture were actively pursued, but the number of studies on various other types of pharmacopuncture gradually began to increase. (4) For treating a patient with cervical pain, the type of pharmacopuncture to be used should be selected based on the cause of the disease and the patient's condition.

• 대한물리의학회지
• /
• 제15권1호
• /
• pp.19-24
• /
• 2020

PURPOSE: This paper describes the effects of the myofascial release (MFR) approach in a 20-year-old female patient with neuroforaminal encroachment and regional kyphosis in the cervical area, who also had neck pain. METHODS: A 20-year-old female presented with the chief complaint of neck pain while studying with a level of seven on the rating analogue scale (RAS) and was not taking any drugs or undergoing treatment for the control of neck pain prior to visiting. The cervical radiograph demonstrated neuroforaminal encroachment from C4-5. The patient showed 3.5° kyphosis at C4-5 and 22.9° lordosis at C2-7 according to the Harrison posterior tangent method. The anterior head translation (AHT) was 13.9mm. She reported pain of RAS 5 at the scapular medial border while rotating her neck in the left direction and flexing forward. The patient was treated a total 16 times, three times/week for six weeks using the MFR approach. RESULTS: After the treatment sessions, studying without pain was possible for approximately two hours, but after approximately two hours of studying, she experienced pain of RAS 6 and a stiff feeling in front of the neck. Neuroforaminal encroachment was not detected in the radiographs taken after applying MFR. Improvement of C4-5 kyphosis was noted (from 3.5° kyphosis to 3.8° lordosis). AHT was decreased by 13.6 mm (from 13.9 mm to 0.3 mm). The pain with motion had disappeared. CONCLUSION: The MFR approach in this patient with neuroforaminal encroachment could reduce the pain related to motion and restore the regional cervical lordosis.

• 대한족부족관절학회지
• /
• 제14권1호
• /
• pp.79-83
• /
• 2010

Purpose: To compare the clinical and radiological results between the anterior and posterior screw fixation for the treatment of talar neck fracture. Materials and Methods: Among 30 patients who received surgical treatment for talar neck fracture from 2001 to 2008. Twenty-seven patients with a follow-up period of more than 1 year were divided into two groups. Twelve patients were treated with anterior screw fixation and 15 patients with posterior approaches. We analyzed preoperative, postoperative and follow-up radiographs. Clinical results were evaluated by Hawkins criteria. Results: The posteriorly inserted screws were placed across the more central portion of the talar neck and perpendicular to the plane of fracture (p<0.05). There were no difference in clinical results, the duration of union, and complications including avascular necrosis between two groups. However, 2 patients complained of pain around the talonavicular joint in the anterior insertion group. Conclusion: Although the clinical results were good irrespective of insertion methods, the posterior approach of screw fixation for talar neck fractures allows for a better mechanical advantage than anterioly placed screws. This may allow early motion with a reduced risk of failure of fixation or of displacement of the fracture.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• 제53권2호
• /
• pp.125-128
• /
• 2013

A 65-year-old man who had lateral cervical disc herniation underwent cervical posterior laminoforaminotomy at C5-6 and C6-7 level right side. During the operation, there was no serious surgical bleeding event. After operation, he complained persistent right shoulder pain and neck pain. Repeated magnetic resonance image (MRI) showed diffuse cervical epidural hematoma (EDH) extending from C5 to T1 level right side and spinal cord compression at C5-6-7 level. He underwent exploration. There was active bleeding at muscular layer. Muscular active bleeding was controlled and intramuscular hematoma was removed. The patient's symptom was reduced after second operation. Symptomatic postoperative spinal EDH requiring reoperation is rare. Meticulous bleeding control is important before wound closure. In addition, if patient presents persistent or aggravated pain after operation, rapid evaluation using MRI and second look operation is needed as soon as possible.