• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
• /
• v.11 no.2
• /
• pp.13-16
• /
• 2016

PURPOSE: The Fukuda test can be used at home and in school to diagnose scoliosis at an early stage and prevent serious curvature of the spine. This study aimed to use the Fukuda test to detect scoliosis. An additional aim was to invoke the national interest in imbalanced postures and habits, which result in scoliosis, by providing data obtained in periodic assessments. METHODS: The study consisted of 35 idiopathic scoliosis patients (22 in right lumbar spinal region and 13 in the left lumbar spinal region). The distance of displacement and angle of displacement were measured following the Fukuda test. A correlation analysis was then used to examine the distance of displacement and angles of displacement and rotation with regard to the direction of the curve in scoliosis. RESULTS: There was a significant negative correlation (p<0.00) between the direction of the curve in scoliosis and the angle of displacement, but there was no correlation between the cobb's angle and distance of displacement or between the cobb's angle and angle of rotation. CONCLUSION: The Fukuda test did not capture changes in spinal curvature such as the cobb's angle, or subsequent changes in the muscles. Thus, the Fukuda test is not suited to examining the direction or status of the thoracic curve in scoliosis patients. Simple methods to objectively measure scoliosis need to be developed.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
• /
• v.39 no.3
• /
• pp.89-100
• /
• 2018

Objectives: Korean Standard Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (KCF), a useful tool for a comprehensive consideration of the health-related overall implications, might be also promising way to validate the effectiveness of Korean medicine. This study reports the change of pre- and post-hospitalization using the KCF in a patient with spinal cord infarction who underwent rehabilitation plus Korean medicine treatment. This study aims to apply the KCF to this case, evaluate its applicability, and review its expected benefits and obstacles in the clinical practice of Korean medicine. Methods: The changes in the overall health status of the patient were assessed by the KCF as well as the chief complaints, diagnosis, neurological deficits, and activities of daily living (ADL), impairment scale etc. before and after admission to a Korean medicine hospital were investigated. Results: Most of the chief complaints of the patient were improved enough to perform her daily routine activities independently. These improvements were reflected in the neurological function and ADL scores, but could not change the diagnosis according to the Korean Standard Classification of Diseases nor the impairment scale. The KCF, on the other hand, was able to grasp the changes of the patient in various aspects in terms of body function, body structure, activity and participation, and environmental factors. Conclusions: Through this case, we found the applicability of the KCF in clinical practice of Korean medicine and the possibility that the KCF can be a promising tool to show the effectiveness and benefits of Korean medicine.

• Journal of the Korean Orthopaedic Association
• /
• v.54 no.6
• /
• pp.562-566
• /
• 2019

Osteochondroma is a common benign bone tumor, but relatively rare in the spine. Spinal osteochondroma originates mainly from the posterior column and sometimes invades the spinal canal causing cord compression and myelopathy. A 36-year-old man was admitted to the authors' institution with a two-year history of neck pain. A radiology examination revealed osteochondroma, arising from the left superior articular process of the T1 vertebra with significant central canal narrowing. Most cases of the spinal osteochondroma originate in the cervical vertebra, but there are few reports of an origin of the cervicothoracic junction. This paper reports a case of osteochondroma at the cervicothoracic junction with a review of the relevant literature.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.49 no.4
• /
• pp.234-236
• /
• 2011

Lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) is a common spinal disease in the elderly. The cardinal symptom of LSS is neurogenic claudication, but not all patients present with such typical symptom. The clinical symptoms are often confused with symptoms of peripheral neuropathy, musculo-skeletal disease and other medical conditions in elderly patients. In particular, LSS presenting with rapid progression of leg weakness must be distinguished from other combined diseases. We report a case of rapid progressive leg weakness in a patient with LSS and iatrogenic adrenal insufficiency that was induced by obscure health supplement.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
• /
• v.30 no.4
• /
• pp.1018-1034
• /
• 2000

The purpose of this study was to construct model of sexual adjustment in people with spinal cord injury and to determine factors that relate to sexual adjustment using methodological triangulation. A total of 134 persons who were registered members of spinal cord injury organization and admitted rehabilitation unit in the hospital were included in the study. Participants answered questionnaire concerning importance of life events, sexual concern, sexual adjustment. Qualitative data were collected through semi-structured indepth interviews from 10 individuals with spinal cord injury who were previously included in the quantitative study. Constant compatative method was used to analyze the data. The results were as follows : 1) With respect to eleven other areas of life, sex life ranked the sixth and economic status ranked the highest in terms of importance. However social life ranked the lowest among the 11areas. 2) Among seven topics related to sexuality were methods and techniques to achieve sexual satisfaction, and helping a partner cope emotionally with limitation on sexual dysfunction was the second greastest. 3) The mean score for sexual adjustment was 19.47 which can be considered. 4) A process on how individuals with spinal cord injury adjust to their changed sexual life immerged from the qualitative data. It includs 4 stages: 'stage of loss' 'stage of endeavoring' 'stage of effort' and 'stage of adjustment'. Categories showing context for the action/interaction strategies were 'steadiness' and 'rediscovery as a sexual being'. There were three factors which may stimulate the adjustment process while the others may interrupt it. Those factors included personal matters, family matters and social matters. The individuals may follow each stage step by step but may go back to the previous step depending on the outcomes of their adjustment. 5) There were three factors which may stimulate the adjustment process while the others may interrupt it. Those factors included personal matters, family matters and social matters.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.45 no.2
• /
• pp.81-84
• /
• 2009

Objective : Many biomechanical and clinical studies on adjacent segment degeneration (ASD) have addressed cranial segment. No study has been conducted on caudal segment degeneration after upper segment multiple lumbar fusions. This is a retrospective investigation of the L5-S1 segment after spinal fusion at and above L4-5, which was undertaken to analyze the rate of caudal ASD at L5-S1 after spinal fusion on and above L4-5 and to determine that factors that might have influenced it. Methods : The authors included 67 patients with L4-5, L3-5, or L2-5 posterior fusions. Among these patients, 28 underwent L4-5 fusion, 23 L3-5, and 16 L2-5 fusions. Pre- and postoperative radiographs were analyzed to assess degenerative changes at L5-S1. Also, clinical results after fusion surgery were analyzed. Results : Among the 67 patients, 3 had pseudoarthrosis, and 35 had no evidence of ASD, cranially and caudally. Thirteen patients (19.4%) showed caudal ASD, 23 (34.3%) cranial ASD, and 4 (6.0%) both cranial and caudal ASD. Correlation analysis for caudal ASD at L5-S1 showed that pre-existing L5-S1 degeneration was most strongly correlated. In addition, numbers of fusion segments and age were also found to be correlated. Clinical outcome was not correlated with caudal ASD at L5-S1. Conclusion : If caudal and cranial ASD are considered, the overall occurrence rate of ASD increases to 50%. The incidence rate of caudal ASD at L5-S1 was significantly lower than that of cranial ASD. Furthermore, the occurrence of caudal ASD was found to be significantly correlated with pre-existing disc degeneration.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.63 no.4
• /
• pp.407-414
• /
• 2020

Objective : Since the first discovery of the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19), rapid and wide spread of the disease has been reported and the World Health Organization announced that a 'pandemic' has started. Up to date there is little known regarding the impact of this outbreak on spinal specialists' daily clinical practice. We intended to evaluate how COVID-19 has affected the number of spinal disease patients we meet and operate in daily practice. Methods : The de-identified data regarding number of patients visiting the spine clinic at a tertiary referral hospital and a secondary level hospital from January, February and March of 2017 to 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. The number of out-patient department (OPD) visits, number of emergency room (ER) visits as well as number of surgeries performed during the reviewed period were collected and analyzed, comparing 2020 to the previous 3 years. Results : The number of daily OPD visits showed a steady decrease starting from January, and presented a statistically significant decrease by early March 2020, compared to the previous 3 years. During the same period, decrease in number of daily ER visits was statistically significant as well. The number of elective surgeries or number of surgeries for patients admitted via ER during COVID-19 outbreak remained similar to that of 2017-2019 suggesting, despite the decrease of patients visiting the hospital for spinal diseases, those whom required surgery still visited the hospital. The results were consistant among other hospital level. Conclusion : The outbreak of COVID-19 affected our daily practice as OPD and ER visits reduced but did not affect the number of surgeries. We believe that this report will be informative to spinal specialists worldwide fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.38 no.1
• /
• pp.16-22
• /
• 2005

Objective : The authors characterize a syndrome of multiple neurogenic tumors in the spinal canal, which is unclassifiable by the current National Institute of Health[NIH] criteria for neurofibromatosis. Methods : We retrospectively examined cases in which two or more spinal neurogenic tumors were detected by magnetic resonance[MR] imaging and which had been pathologically confirmed. Eighteen patients were recruited between February 1986 and March 2002. According to NIH criteria, eight cases were neurofibromatosis type 1[NF1], four were type 2[NF2], and six were neither type 1 nor type 2 [Unclassifiable : UC]. The locations of lesions, clinical presentations, radiological findings, and pathological results with immunohistochemistry were reviewed. Results : In the case of NF2, three of four cases were intradural tumors. Pathological examinations revealed neurilemmomas in two of four NF2 and all of the UC cases. In the case of NF1, pathological examinations showed seven neurofibromas and one neurilemmoma. Concerning UC, the age at presentation was middle-aged to late [mean age 48.5, range 35 to 64], which contrasted with ordinary NF2, where patients tended to become symptomatic before 20years of age. The pathological examinations of UC cases revealed neurilemmoma similar to most of NF2 and the immunohistochemical study showed characteristic of NF1. Conclusion : Multiple neurogenic tumors in the spinal canal are an under-recognized disease entity. Further studies for genetic aberration in multiple spinal neurogenic tumors are needed.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.62 no.2
• /
• pp.153-165
• /
• 2019

Objective : Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a very serious health problem, usually caused by a trauma and accompanied by elevated levels of inflammation indicators. Stem cell-based therapy is promising some valuable strategies for its functional recovery. Nestin-positive progenitor and/or stem cells (SC) isolated from pancreatic islets (PI) show mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) characteristics. For this reason, we aimed to analyze the effects of rat pancreatic islet derived stem cell (rPI-SC) delivery on functional recovery, as well as the levels of inflammation factors following SCI. Methods : rPI-SCs were isolated, cultured and their MSC characteristics were determined through flow cytometry and immunofluorescence analysis. The experimental rat population was divided into three groups : 1) laminectomy & trauma, 2) laminectomy & trauma & phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), and 3) laminectomy+trauma+SCs. Green fluorescent protein (GFP) labelled rPI-SCs were transplanted into the injured rat spinal cord. Their motilities were evaluated with Basso, Beattie and Bresnahan (BBB) Score. After 4-weeks, spinal cord sections were analyzed for GFP labeled SCs and stained for vimentin, $S100{\beta}$, brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), 2',3'-cyclic-nucleotide 3'-phosphodiesterase (CNPase), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and proinflammatory (interleukin [IL]-6, transforming growth factor $[TGF]-{\beta}$, macrophage inflammatory protein [MIP]-2, myeloperoxidase [MPO]) and anti-inflammatory (IL-1 receptor antagonis) factors. Results : rPI-SCs were revealed to display MSC characteristics and express neural and glial cell markers including BDNF, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), fibronectin, microtubule associated protein-2a,b (MAP2a,b), ${\beta}3$-tubulin and nestin as well as anti-inflammatory prostaglandin E2 receptor, EP3. The BBB scores showed significant motor recovery in group 3. GFP-labelled cells were localized on the injury site. In addition, decreased proinflammatory factor levels and increased intensity of anti-inflammatory factors were determined. Conclusion : Transplantation of PI-SCs might be an effective strategy to improve functional recovery following spinal cord trauma.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
• /
• v.26 no.2
• /
• pp.73-80
• /
• 2020

Background: This study examined the effects of myofascial release exercise using an inflatable compression therapy ball on spinal flexibility in adults to present basic data to improve spinal flexibility. Methods: The participants were assigned randomly to two groups: the myofascial release exercise group (MRE, n=60) and the stretching exercise group (SE, n=60). The MRE group performed myofascial release exercise for the erector spine muscles using an inflatable compression therapy ball. The SE group performed stretching exercises of the erector spine muscles. Each exercise was performed in 3 sets of 10 repetition daily for one week. Results: The within-group comparison revealed a statistically significant difference between the pre-intervention and post-intervention measurements in only MRE group (p<.05). On the other hand, the between-group comparison revealed the MRE group to show statistically significant improvement in spinal flexibility (p<.05). In effect size, the MRE group was -1.82 (95% CI= -2.24~-1.39), and the SE group was -.7 (95% CI= -1.15~-.41). Conclusion: Myofascial release exercise for the erector spine muscles using an inflatable compression therapy ball was more effective in improving spinal flexibility than stretching exercises for the erector spinae muscles. However, although myofascial release exercise using inflatable compression therapy ball is more effective than stretching exercise, it is insignificant, and research is also insignificant. It is believed that more diverse studies using props will be needed in the future.