• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.358-365
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• 2001

Objectives : Although posterior lumbar fusion operations had been reported to accelerate spinal degeneration, there have been only a few studies for their biomechanical effects. We have studied the change of motion range at the vertebral joint one level above the fusion(UVJ) in pedicle screw fixation group(PSF)(n=13) where facet capsule was destroyed and in posterior lumbar interbody fusion group(PLIF)(n=8) where it was spared. Patients and Methods : The patients were divided into early(3 to 6 months) and late(over 12 months) according to postoperative follow-up period. The flexion, extension and flexion-extension angles(FA, EA, FEA) were measured at the UVJ with pre-operative, early and late post-operative films. Results : Mean age and male to female ratio were $52.7{\pm}9.3$ and 1 : 3.2. Mean follow-up periods were $144.1{\pm}30.0$ and $528.8{\pm}160.3$ days in early and late groups, respectively. The FEA and FA in the late PSF($11.8{\pm}3.1$, $8.5{\pm}2.9$) were significantly greater than pre-operative angles($7.8{\pm}3.9$, $5.1{\pm}3.7$)(p<0.01, p<0.05). All angles in the PLIF showed no significant changes with time. The FEA and FA in the late PSF($11.8{\pm}3.1$, $8.5{\pm}2.9$) were significantly greater than those of the late PLIF($7.6{\pm}2.3$, $3.4{\pm}2.0$)(p<0.01, p<0.001). All angles at early follow-up period were similar between PSF and PLIF. The EA showed no significant change in relation with follow-up period or fusion method. Conclusion : As a result, the facet capsule injury in pedicle screw fixation seems to be related with increased flexion angle or degeneration of the adjacent joint above the fused vertebra in the late phase.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.193-196
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• 2005

A posterior 3-portal arthroscopic approach with the patient in the prone position provides a novel and optimal approach for isolated subtalar arthrodesis. This approach facilitates access to the posterior talocalcaneal facet and facilitates safe access with regard to the posteromedial neuromuscular bundle. The technique involves prone positioning, establishment of two posterolateral portals and one posteromedial portal, arthroscopic posterior talocalcaneal facet debridement, percutaneous morcellized bone grafting and internal screw fixation. Preliminary results have shown high patient satisfaction, an excellent fusion rate and less postoperative morbidity than open subtalar arthrodesis.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.25-29
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• 2013

Objective : To clarify the landmark for deciding the entry point for C1 lateral mass screws via the posterior arch by using 3-dimensional (3D) computed images. Methods : Resnick insisted that the C1 posterior arch could be divided into pure posterior and lateral lamina (C1 pedicle). Authors studied where this transition point (TP) is located between the posterior lamina and the C1 pedicle and how it can be recognized. The 3D computed images of 86 cadaver C1s (M : F=45 : 41) were used in this study. Results : The superior ridge of the C1 posterior arch had 2 types of orientation. One was in the vertical direction in the C1 posterior lamina and the other was in the horizontal direction in the C1 pedicle. The TP was located at the border between the 2 areas, the same site as the posterior end of the groove of the vertebral artery. On posterior-anterior projection, the posterior arch was sharpened abruptly at TP. We were unable to identify the TP in 6.4% of specimens due to complete or partial osseous bridges. A total of 93.8% of the TP were located between the most enlarged point of the spinal canal and the medial wall of the vertebral artery. Conclusion : The anatomic entry zone of C1 lateral laminar screws was clarified and identified based on the TP by using preoperative 3D computed images.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.303-307
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• 2008

Objective: The authors reviewed clinical and radiological outcomes in patients with three column injury of the cervical spine who had undergone posterior cervical fixation using Nitinol shape memory alloy loop in the anterior-posterior combined approach. Materials: Nine patients were surgically treated with anterior cervical fusion using an iliac bone graft and dynamic plate-screw system, and the posterior cervical fixation using Nitinol shape memory loop ($Davydov^{TM}$) at the same time. A retrospective review was performed. Clinical outcomes were assessed using the Frankel grading method. We reviewed the radiological parameters such as bony fusion rate, height of iliac bone graft strut, graft subsidence, cervical lordotic angle, and instrument related complication. Results: Single-level fusion was performed in five patients, and two-level fusion in four. Solid bone fusion was presented in all cases after surgery. The mean height of graft strut was significantly decreased from $20.46{\pm}9.97mm$ at immediate postoperative state to $18.87{\pm}8.60mm$ at the final follow-up period (p<0.05). The mean cervical lordotic angle decreased from $13.83{\pm}11.84^{\circ}$ to $11.37{\pm}6.03^{\circ}$ at the immediate postoperative state but then, increased to $24.39{\pm}9.83^{\circ}$ at the final follow-up period (p<0.05). There were no instrument related complications. Conclusion: We suggest that the posterior cervical fixation using Nitinol shape memory alloy loop may be a simple and useful method, and be one of treatment options in anterior-posterior combined approach for the patients with the three column injury of the cervical spine.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.416-421
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• 2005

Objective: Despite general agreement on the goals of surgical treatment in thoracolumbar burst fractures, considerable controversy exists regarding the choice of operative techniques. This study is to evaluate the efficacy of short-segment fixation for thoracolumbar burst fractures after long-term follow-up and to analyze the causes of treatment failures. Methods: 48 out of 60 patients who underwent short-segment fixation for thoracolumbar burst fractures between January 1999 and October 2002 were enrolled in this study. Their neurological status, radiological images, and hospital records were retrospectively reviewed. Simple radiographs were evaluated to calculate kyphotic angles and percentages of anterior body compression (%ABC). Results: The average kyphotic angles were $20.0^{\circ}$ preoperatively, $9.6^{\circ}$ postoperatively, and $13.1^{\circ}$ at the latest follow-up. The average %ABC were 47.3% preoperatively, 31.2% postoperatively, and 33.3% at the latest follow-up. The treatment failure, defined as correction loss by $10^{\circ}$ or more or implant failure, was detected in 6 patients (12.5%). 5 out of 6 patients had implant failures. 2 out of 5 patients were related with osteoporosis, and the other 2 were related with poor compliance of spinal bracing. 3 patients with poor initial postoperative alignment had implant failure. 4 patients with screws only on the adjacent vertebrae and not on the injured vertebra itself showed poor initial and overall correction. Conclusion: With proper patient selection, adequate intraoperative reduction with screw fixation involving the injured vertebra, and strict postoperative spinal bracing, the short-segment fixation is an efficient and safe method in the treatment of thoracolumbar burst fracture.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.55 no.5
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• pp.289-292
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• 2014

A case of total spondyloptosis of the cervical spine at C6-7 level with cord compression is described in a 51-year-old male. Because the bodies of C6 and 7 were tightly locked together, cervical traction failed. Then the patient was operated on by a posterior approach. Posterior stabilization and fusion were performed by C4-5 lateral mass and C7-T1 pedicle screw fixation and rod instrumentation with bridging both C4-5's rods to the C7-T1's extended ones. After C6 total laminectomy and foraminotomy, the C6 body was returned to its proper position. Secondly, anterior stabilization and fusion were performed by C6-7 discectomy with a screw-plate system. A postoperative lateral plain radiograph showed good realignment. In this case, we report the clinical presentation and discuss the surgical modalities of C6-7 total spondyloptosis and the failed close reduction.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.144-150
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• 2017

Purpose: To assess the clinical and radiographic results and complications of arthroscopy-assisted reduction and percutaneous fixation for patients with tongue-type Sanders type II calcaneal fractures. Materials and Methods: Between August 2014 and December 2015, 10 patients who underwent surgery using subtalar arthroscopic assisted reduction and percutaneous fixation for tongue-type Sanders type II calcaneal fractures were reviewed. The mean age was 50.8 years (36~62 years), and the mean follow-up period was 24 months (12~40 months). The clinical results were evaluated using the visual analogue scale (VAS) and American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot score at the regular follow-ups, and the foot function index (FFI) at the last follow-up. The subtalar range of motion (ROM) was evaluated and compared with the uninjured limb at the last follow-up. The radiographic results were assessed using the Bohler's angle from the plain radiographs and the reduction of the posterior calcaneal facet using computed tomography (CT). The postoperative complications were assessed by a chart review. Results: The VAS and AOFAS ankle-hindfoot score improved until 12 months after surgery. The FFI was 15 (1.8~25.9) and subtalar ROM was 75.5% (60%~100%) compared to the uninjured limb at the last follow-up. The $B{\ddot{o}}hler^{\prime}s$ angle was increased significantly from $2^{\circ}$ ($-14^{\circ}{\sim}18^{\circ}$) preoperatively to $21.8^{\circ}$ ($20^{\circ}{\sim}28^{\circ}$) at the last follow-up. The reduction of the posterior facet was graded as excellent in five feet (50.0%) and good in five (50.0%) on CT obtained at 12 months after surgery. One foot (10.0%) had subfibular pain due to a prominent screw head. One foot (10.0%) had pain due to a longitudinal tear of the peroneal tendon that occurred during screw insertion. Conclusion: Subtalar arthroscopic-assisted reduction of the posterior calcaneal facet of the subtalar joint and percutaneous fixation is a useful surgical method for tongue-type Sanders type II calcaneal fractures.

• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
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• 2008.11a
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• pp.1527-1532
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• 2008

45% of the sports accidents is the knee damage and the representative case is the damage of an Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) and the Posterior Cruciate Ligament(PCL). Although the past different views of ACL reconstruction comes to an agreement, the disputes of PCL is remained yet. The most important engineering approach for these various surgery techniques is accurately to understand and to evaluate the fatigue behavior depending on the stress flow and the stress distribution under the allotted load and the cyclic load, which are caused by the graft fixing device, the proximal tibia of the PCL reconstructing structure. Therefore, this study is the basic research of these above facts. The current transtibial tunnel surgery using the cadaveric Achilles tendon grafts is chosen for the various PCL reconstruction. The relationships between the slippage, the extension ratio, and the slippage ratio by the heel bone fixing method and the soft tissue fixing method of the Achilles tendon were also defined. This research will be the essential data to help the resonable operating techniques for the next PCL reconstruction.

• Proceedings of the KOSOMBE Conference
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• v.1995 no.05
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• pp.23-26
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• 1995

The objectives of the present study are 1)to find the effect of the diameter of transpedicular screws on their fixational strength in pedicles under static pull-out loading, 2)to determine the biomechanical correlation between the pedicle diameter and the screw diameter, and 3)to find the effects of other factors in the screw design, such as materials, screw pitch, thread height and shape on their fixational strength. Biomechanical tests (Test I) were performed to evaluate the effect of the screw diameter on pull-out strength by using 60 porcine pedicls and six groups of custom-made pedicle screws with different diameters (the major and the minor diameter of the screws used in the testing varied from 4mm upto 9mm and from 3mm upto 8mm, respectively) while all other factors (materials, screw pitch, thread height and shape etc.) were fixed. In Test II, by using 61 porcine pedicles, the relationship between the ratio of the pedicle diameter and the screw diameter(=aspect ratio) of the custum-made screw and the pull-out strength of the screw was investigated. Test III was performed with 94 porcine pedicles and 8 different types of the commercial screws from 6 major productors in order to determine the effect of the screw diameter, pitch and the thread shape on the pull-out strength of the screw, respectively. The results of Test I showed that the axial pull-out resistance of the screw could be increased prportionaly to the screw diameter(P<0.05). But this increase in the pull-out resistance did not found when the screws of 4mm or 9mm in the diameter were employed. It was found from the results of Test II that the screws had its maximum pull-out resistant force when the aspect ratio ranging 40 - 69% (P<0.05). based on the results for the major diameter against the minor diameter of screw, the maximal pull-out resistance was found at 60-65% (P<0.05). According to these biomechanical testing results, it seems that the screw with a moderately large pitch is more desirable and the buttress-shaped screw can provide stronger fixation than the V-shape one can, if other designal factor and conditions were fixed.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.213-218
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• 2009

Objective : This study is a retrospective clinical study over more than 4 years of follow up to understand the mechanism of load sharing across the graft-bone interface in the static locking plate (SLP) fixation compared with non-locking plate (NLP). Methods : Orion locking plates and Top non-locking plates were used for SLP fixation in 29 patients and NLP fixation in 24 patients, respectively. Successful interbody fusion was estimated by dynamic X-ray films. The checking parameters were as follows : screw angle (SA) between upper and lower screw, anterior and posterior height of fusion segment between upper and lower endplate (AH & PH), and upper and lower distance from vertebral endplate to the end of plate (UD & LD). Each follow-up value of AH and PH were compared to initial values. Contributions of upper and lower collapse to whole segment collapse were estimated. Results : Successful intervertebral bone fusion rate was 100% in the SLP group and 92% in the NLP group. The follow-up mean value of SA in SLP group was not significantly changed compared with initial value, but follow-up mean value of SA in NLP group decreased more than those in SLP group (p=0.0067). Statistical analysis did not show a significant difference in the change in AH and PH between SLP and NLP groups (p>0.05). Follow-up AH of NLP group showed more collapse than PH of same group (p=0.04). The upper portion of the vertebral body collapsed more than the lower portion in the SLP fixation (p=0.00058). Conclusion : The fused segments with SLP had successful bone fusion without change in initial screw angle, which was not observed in NLP fixation. It suggests that there was enough load sharing across bone-graft interface in SLP fixation.