• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.395-399
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• 2001

Primary spinal epidural lymphoma(SEL), i.e. occurring in the absence of any detectable extraspinal lymphoproliferative disorder, is an unusual cause of spinal cord compression. The authors report a 48-year-old, diabetic woman presented with back pain followed by acute paraparesis and voiding difficulty. She had been treated with acupunctures on her back before admission, and complete blood count showed leukocytosis with neutrophilia and increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate(ESR). Thoracic spine magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) revealed an epidural mass extending from T5 to T8 with compression of the spinal cord. Emergency decompressive laminectomy was performed with a tentative diagnosis of spinal epidural abscess, but a B-cell lymphoma was final pathologic diagnosis. Further staging showed no other sites of lymphoma, and the spinal lesion was treated by chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The authors stress that primary SEL can mimic spinal epidural abscess(SEA) in the diabetic patient and should be a diagnostic consideration in patients with a syndrome of acute spinal cord compression manifested by a prodrome of back pain and neuroimaging consistent with an epidural compressive lesion, especially in a diabetic.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.29 no.10
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• pp.1365-1371
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• 2000

Objectives : Spinal cord compression is a rare presentation of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma(NHL), occurring in 0.1% to 10.2% of patients. Primary spinal extradural NHL, i.e. occurring in the absence of any detectable extraspinal lymphoproliferative disorder, has a potentially favourable outcome if diagnosed and treated early. The authors describe two patients with a clinical picture of acute spinal cord compression as the first presentation of NHL. Methods : The patients were 48-year-old female and 27-year-old female. Both presented with back pain followed by acute paraparesis and voiding difficulty. One patient was diabetic. Plain radiographs of the spine were not specific. Thoracic spine magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) revealed evidence of extradural soft tissue mass extending multiple vertebral segments. Results : The patients underwent emergency laminectomy for decompression and tissue diagnosis. Histological and immunohistochemical study revealed B-cell lymphoma, intermediate grade in both patients. Postoperative staging did not reveal any additional lesions other than extradural manifestation of the malignant lymphoma. Surgery with additional chemotherapy and radiotherapy allowed the clinical improvement of both patients. Conclusion : The authors report two patients with a clinical picture of acute spinal cord compression as the first presentation of NHL, and stress that primary spinal epidural NHL should be a diagnostic consideration in the patient without prior history of malignancy who presents with a prodrome of back pain followed by a rapid neurological deterioration.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.56 no.2
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• pp.162-165
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• 2014

Idiopathic hypertrophic spinal pachymeningitis (IHSP) is a chronic, progressive, inflammatory disorder characterized by marked fibrosis of the spinal dura mater with unknown etiology. According to the location of the lesion, it might induce neurologic deficits by compression of spinal cord and nerve root. A 58-year old female with a 3-year history of progressive weakness in both lower extremities was referred to our institute. Spinal computed tomography (CT) scan showed an osteolytic lesion involving base of the C6 spinous process with adjacent epidural mass. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed an epidural mass involving dorsal aspect of cervical spinal canal from C5 to C7 level, with low signal intensity on T1 and T2 weighted images and non-enhancement on T1 weighted-enhanced images. We decided to undertake surgical exploration. At the operation field, there was yellow colored, thickened fibrous tissue over the dura mater. The lesion was removed totally, and decompression of spinal cord was achieved. Symptoms improved partially after the operation. Histopathologically, fibrotic pachymeninges with scanty inflammatory cells was revealed, which was compatible with diagnosis of idiopathic hypertrophic pachymeningitis. Six months after operation, motor power grade of both lower extremities was normal on physical examination. However, the patient still complained of mild weakness in the right lower extremity. Although the nature of IHSP is generally indolent, decompressive surgery should be considered for the patient with definite or progressive neurologic symptoms in order to prevent further deterioration. In addition, IHSP can present as an osteolytic lesion. Differential diagnosis with neoplastic disease, including giant cell tumor, is important.

• The Journal of the Korean life insurance medical association
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.37-38
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• 2008

The concept of Chiari malformations emerged toward the end of $19^{th}$ century from Chiari's initial descriptions of "alterations in the cerebellum resulting from cerebral hydrocephalus." In 1891, Hans Chiari(1851-1916) suggested cerebellar ectopia in which he classified Type I as "elongation of the tonsils and medial parts of the inferior lobes of the cerebellum into cone-shaped projections, which accompany the medulla oblongata into the spinal canal. The incidence of Chiari malformation has been found to be between 0.56% and 0.77% on MR imaging studies, as well as 0.62% in brain dissection studies. the definition of the adult Chiari malformation has varied with the evolution of neurodiagnositic capabilities and knowledge of physiopathology. This disorder can be associated with significant symptomatology, risk of secondary injury due to trauma, and the risk of progression and damage of the spinal cord due to associated Syringomyelia. Syringomyelia is found in 50 to 70% of Chiari I malformation. It is the clinical judgment of the physicians evaluating this disorder that is of the importance to avoid the therapeutic extremes of pursuing unnecessary surgery or withholding necessary treatment from patients.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.114-122
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• 2003

Acute transverse myelitis is a focal inflammatory disorder of the spinal cord, resulting in motor, sensory, and autonomic dysfunction which would be the initial manifestation of acute disseminated encephalomyelitis. A 7-year-old boy developed weakness of lower extremities associated with dizziness and urinary dysfunction after upper respiratory infection. He showed gradual decreased mental status with respiratory difficulty. Spinal MRI showed diffuse spinal cord swelling from C3 to C7 levels with high signal intensity lesion on T2-weighted image, which is involved central gray matter of spinal cord from C3 to C7, proximal portion to cervicomedullary junction, and distal portion to the cornus medullaris. After the supplement of high dose intravenous methylprednisolone therapy with ventilator care, he showed gradual improvement. The brain MRI after extubation showed multifocal high signal intensity lesions in bilateral cerebral white matter on axial T2-weighted image. Immunoserologic test(neutral antibody test) for enterovirus 71 was positive. Dysfunction of the bladder lasted for 33 days. We report a case of transverse myelitis which progressed to acute disseminated encephalomyelitis by enterovirus 71 in a 7-year-old boy with related literatures.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.1663-1669
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• 2007

Acute transverse myelitis(ATM) is defined as an acute intramedullary dysfunction of the spinal cord, ascendng or static involving both halves of the cord and appearing without any history of previous neurological diseases due to traumatic accident, tumor of all kind, encephalitis and of course excluding all possible viral, bacterial and fungal infection. It is mainly characterized by acute motor disorder of both limbs in respect to which spinal segments are affected as well as sensory disorder and dysuria & dyschezia. The exact cause is unknown, however it is recently suggested that immunological factors are highly involved. It has been reported by several reliable sources that it is often accompanied by immunological diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE). As treatments non steroid anti-inflammatory drugs(NSAIDS) are primarily recommended as to steroids, limited doses are injected only with the proper prescription from the physician. Operative methods are not options as traumatic accidents and tumors are excluded as factors. To enhance muscle strength and prevent articular contracture physical therapy and passive exercise is imperative. The following patient whose chief complaints were mainly about hypoesthesia of Rt. lower limb and stiffness of phalanges of both fingers as well as to weakness of lower extermity. Therefore it has been diagnosed as arthalgia syndrome. In oriental medicine factors such as wind evil heat-evil, dampness-heat evil, cold evil cause the arthalgia syndrome. In this case the patient was diagnosed as dampness-heat evil and herbal medicine Chunglijagam-Tang and Dong-Qi acupuncture was applied to treat bladder disorder.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.197-204
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• 2000

Neuromuscular disorders are common causes of weakness and hypotonia in the infantile period and in childhood. Accurate diagnosis of specific neuromuscular disorders depends first on identification of which aspect of the peripheral neuromuscular system is affected-the motor neuron in the spinal cord, the nerve root or peripheral nerve, the neuromuscular junction, or the muscle-and then on the determination of the etiology and specific clinical entity. Spinal muscular atrophy(SMA) is the most common autosomal-recessive genetic disorder lethal to infants. The three major childhood-onset forms of SMA are now usually called type I, type II and typeⅢ. Progression of the disease is due to loss of anterior horn cells, thought to be caused by apoptosis. Diagnosis is based on the course of the illness, as well as certain changes seen on nerve and muscle biopsy and electrodiagnostic studies. More recently, our understanding of the genetics of this disorder has provided a noninvasive approach to diagnosis. We report on a 3-year-old male patient with spinal muscular atrophy type II. He had progressive muscular weakness since 18 months of age. The upper arms were slightly, and the thighs moderately atrophic. There was muscle weakness of both the upper and lower limbs, being more proximal in distribution. Electromyogram revealed a neurogenic pattern.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.152-158
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• 2006

Background: Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a painful, disabling disorder for which no proven treatment has been established. The purpose of this investigation was to assess the evidence of the efficacy of spinal cord stimulation (SCS) in the management of pain in CRPS patients. Methods: Between March 2004 and June 2006, 11 patients with CRPS were treated with SCS. The visual analog scale (VAS) score for pain (0⁣-10) and pain disability index (PDI) were obtained in all patients prior to treatment, and 1, 3 and 6 months post-implantation. Results: All 11 patients, 5 men and 6 women, with a median age and duration of CRPS of 44 years and 48.8 months, respectively, successfully received a lead implantation for SCS. The mean VAS pain score prior to the treatment was 85.5 out of 100 mm. After SCS implantation, the mean VAS pain scores were 49.5, 57.0 and 56.0 at 1, 3 and 6 months after the procedure, respectively. The mean pain score for allodynia was decreased by 50%, with a significant reduction of the PDI also observed after the treatment. Conclusions: Our current study suggests that SCS implantation is a safe and effective method in the management of CRPS patients.

• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.187-194
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• 2022

This study is to encourage physical activity and exercise in people with spinal cord disabilities so that they can have a positive effect on health outcomes. Current evidence shows that IT-based muscle strength and muscle endurance, cardiopulmonary exercise, electrical stimulation exercise, and robot exercise can all improve physical components, reduce the risk of secondary health complications, and have a positive impact on the overall health of people with chronic physical disabilities. To improve muscle strength and muscle endurance, exercise frequency should be conducted twice and three sets a week, <5 Reps to improve muscle strength, general strength should be repeated 6 to 15 times, and 15 to 30 times to improve muscle endurance. In order to improve cardiopulmonary ability, it should be conducted 3-5 times a week, 20-60 minutes, and 50-80% of the maximum heart rate. Therefore, higher resource investment is needed to realize various IT-based exercise benefits and access professional equipment, facilities and trainers.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.53 no.1
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• pp.49-51
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• 2013

A case of traumatic spondyloptosis of the cervical spine at the C6-C7 level is reported. The patient was treated succesfully with a anterior-posterior combined approach and decompression. The patient had good neurological outcome after surgery. A-51-year-old female patient was transported to our hospital's emergency department after a vehicle accident. The patient was quadriparetic (Asia D, MRC power 4/5) with severe neck pain. Plain radiographs, computerize tomography and spinal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed C6-7 spondyloptosis and C5, C6 posterior element fractures. Gardner-Wells skeleton traction was applied. Spinal alignment was reachived by traction and dislocation was decreased to a grade 1 spondylolisthesis. Then the patient was firstly operated by anterior approach. Anterior stabilization and fusion was firstly achieved. Seven days after first operation the patient was operated by a posterior approach. The posterior stabilization and fusion was achieved. Postoperative lateral X-rays and three-dimensional computed tomography showed the physiological realignment and the correct screw placements. The patient's quadriparesis was improved significantly. Subaxial cervical spondyloptosis is a relatively rare clinical entity. In this report we present a summary of the clinical presentation, the surgical technique and outcome of this rarely seen spinal disorder.