• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제29권3호
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• pp.372-378
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• 2000

The carpal tunnel syndrome is one of the most common entrapment neuropathy. Surgical treatments consist of conventional open technique, alternative technique using retinaculatome, and endoscopic surgery. This study compares the outcomes of surgical treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome following conventional versus endoscopic release. The authors reviewed 56 cases of 33 patients with carpal tunnel syndrome treated surgically in our institute from January 1991 to May 1998. The follow-up evaluation was possible in 36 cases of 20 patients who had conventional release and in 11 cases of 7 patients with endoscopic release. The following parameters were evaluated for comparison : improvement of symptom, return to normal work, recovery of strength of grip and pinch, rate of complication, follow-up electrophysiologic finding. Compared with open decompression, the group of endoscopic decompression needed significantly less time to go back to work(p<0.001). Also strength of grip and pinch improved faster in the group of endoscopic decompression as well, compared with open decompression(p<0.05). These results indicate that endoscopic procedure is an excellent, minimally invasive method to treat carpal tunnel syndrome, performed by surgeons who are fully aware of the anatomy.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제36권2호
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• pp.100-106
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• 2019

Background: In Korean medicine, carpal tunnel syndrome is treated by stimulating the acupoints around the wrist. Although a deep understanding of anatomy and guidance is needed to stimulate these acupoints to avoid undesirable side-effects, currently there are no published guidelines for acupotomy treatment. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of fluoroscopy-guided acupotomy compared with conventional acupotomy treatment. Methods: This is a randomized, patient-assessor, patient blind, parallel clinical trial. A total of 30 patients will be enrolled at Wonkwang University Gwangju Hospital, and will be allocated to either an experimental group or a control group. The experimental group will be treated using fluoroscopy-guided acupotomy and the control group will be treated using the conventional acupotomy method. Results: The primary outcome measure will be identification of a cross-section area of the median nerve measured by ultrasonography, and the secondary outcome measure will be the alleviation of pain measured by the Visual Analogue Scale, improvement in the Nerve Conduction Study, Tinel test, Phalen's test, EuroQol 5-dimension scale, and Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire score. Safety components will be measured by monitoring vital signs, electrocardiographs, blood tests, general chemical tests, urine tests and pregnancy tests. In addition, observations for adverse effects will be performed during the trial. Conclusion: This study will provide a more effective, and less harmful way of treating carpal tunnel syndrome compared with conventional acupotomy. Fluoroscopy-guided acupotomy will help practitioners to be accurate in direction and depth of the needle for treating carpal tunnel syndrome.

• 한방재활의학과학회지
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• 제33권2호
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• pp.57-76
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• 2023

Objectives This study aims to develop Korean Medicine Clinical Pathway (CP) based on Clinical Practice Guideline of carpal tunnel syndrome to improve quality of treatment and reduce medical cost to maximize the quality of patient management. Methods A draft version of CP for carpal tunnel syndrome is developed by expert agreement and a prospective case study was carried out based on the draft CP. Twenty experts working at various medical institution answered validity verification survey of developed CP. Fifteen patients enrolled in the prospective case study answered survey on demand and satisfaction. Qualification and adjustment process of the draft CP was conducted based on results of both surveys. Results Final version of CP for carpal tunnel syndrome is confirmed after qualification and adjustment on the draft version. Conclusions CP for carpal tunnel syndrome will provide patients with standardized, high-quality Korean medicine treatment and also reduce financial burden of health insurance by reducing medical cost.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• 제49권6호
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• pp.750-754
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• 2022

Trigger wrist, characterized by a clicking or snapping sensation around the wrist joint during finger or wrist motion, and bifid or trifid median nerve, which occurs in carpal tunnel syndrome along with anatomical variation of median nerve, are rare conditions. We report the case of a patient with a thickened tendon caused by severe tenosynovitis and flexor tendon subluxation to the hamate hook due to bowing of the flexor retinaculum, thereby resulting in trigger wrist as well as an anatomical median nerve variation (bifid median nerve in the right wrist and trifid median nerve in the left wrist). A 59-year-old housewife visited our hospital with bilateral fingertip numbness, tingling sensation, and aggravated severe night cramping that began 2 months ago. She also complained about trigger wrist during small finger flexion. Based on magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasonography, and nerve conduction study, trifid median nerve and bilateral severe median nerve neuropathy of the wrist were diagnosed; therefore, transverse carpal tunnel release and exploration under wide-awake anesthesia were planned. Intraoperative findings showed trifid and bifid median nerves in left and right wrists, respectively. Additionally, bowing of flexor retinaculum and severe flexor tendon tenosynovitis were observed. Tenosynovitis with thickened flexor sheath resulted in subluxation of the small finger flexor tendon above the hamate hook. After transverse carpal ligament release with antebrachial fascia release and tenosynovectomy, subluxation of the flexor tendon was resolved. At 6 months postoperatively, the tingling and dullness in fingertips also resolved, and no trigger wrist or any other complications were noted.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제52권5호
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• pp.472-475
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• 2012

Objective : The aim of this study is to establish the value of hand elevation test as a reproducible provocative test for the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Methods : We had a prospective study of 45 hands of 38 patients diagnosed with CTS between April 2005 and February 2009. The diagnosis of CTS was based on the American Academy of Neurology clinical diagnostic criteria. Experimental and control group patients underwent Tinel's test, Phalen's test, carpal compression test and hand elevation test as provocative tests for CTS. Results : We used chi-square analysis to compare Tinel's test and Phalen's test, carpal compression test with hand elevation test. The sensitivity and specificity of the hand elevation test is 86.7% and 88.9% each. Tinel's test had 82.2% sensitivity and 88.9% specificity. Phalen's test had 84.4% sensitivity and 86.7% specificity. Carpal compression test had 84.4% sensitivity 82.2% specificity. Comparisons of sensitivity and specificity between hand elevation test and Tinel's test, Phalen's test, and carpal compression test had no statistically significant differences. To compare the diagnostic accuracies of four tests, the area under the non-parametric receiver operating character curve was applied. Conclusion : The hand elevation test has higher sensitivity and specificity than Tinel's test, Phalen's test, and carpal compression test. Chi-square statistical analysis confirms the hand elevation test is not ineffective campared with Tinel's test, Phalen's test, and carpal compression test.

• 대한관절경학회지
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• 제5권2호
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• pp.120-123
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• 2001

목적 : 수근관 증후군의 치료로서 내시경적 수근관 절개술을 시행할 때 저자들은 유연한 투명 도관을 활용하여 정중신경 및 주변 구조물을 직접 눈으로 확인하며 횡수근인대를 절개하는 방법을 고안하여 시행함으로써 합병증을 줄일 수 있을 것으로 사료되어 그 술기의 안전성을 평가해 보고자하였다. 대상 및 방법 : 1997년 3월부터 2000년 3월까지 본원 정형외과에서 수근관 증후군으로 진단되어 유연한 투명도관을 이용한 내시경적 수근관 절개술을 시행 받은 12명(20례)의 환자를 대상으로 하였으며 수술방법은 two portal 술식을 사용하여 유연한 투명 도관을 삽입하여 정중신경 및 주변 구조물을 직접 눈으로 확인하면서 횡수근인대를 절개하였다. 결과 : 술전에 보였던 임상증상은 14례$(70\%)$에서 소실되었으며 6례$(30\%)$에서 부분적인 개선을 보였다. 절개 부위나 수근 관절부위의 압통을 호소하는 예는 없었으며 신경 손상 등의 심각한 합병증은 없었다. 결론 : 수근관의 내시경적 절개술시 저자들은 유연한 투명도관을 사용하여 정중신경을 직접 눈으로 보면서 횡수근인대를 절개하는 방법으로 $360^{\circ}$의 좋은 시야를 확보할 수 있어 신경 손상 등의 합병증을 피할 수 있었으며 유연한 도관을 사용하므로 수술중 항상 수근관절의 과신전 상태를 유지하지 않아도 되며 또한 수액의 정맥 주사용 line 이나 병원에서 흔히 사용하는 도관을 이용함으로서 기존의 비싼 수술장비를 구입하지 않아도 된다는 장점이 있다.

• 대한관절경학회지
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• 제4권2호
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• pp.159-165
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• 2000

목적 : 전통적인 개방적 수근관 감압술 시행 후의 병적 상태와 합병증을 줄이고자 내시경적 수근관 감압술이 개발되어 시행되어지고 있다. 이에 저자들은 단일 입구를 이용한 내시경적 수근관 감압술의 결과와 임상적 유용성을 알아보고자 한다. 대상 및 방법 : 임상증상, 이학적 검사, 전기 진단학적 검사로 수근관 증후군으로 진단되고, 수근관절부에 전완부 종축에 대해 비스듬히 약 1cm 정도의 소절개를 가하여 단일입구를 만들고 수근관 감압술을 시행하였던 18명 30례에 대해 임상증상 및 이학적 소견과 전기 진단학적 검사소견의 결과를 분석하고 주관적 증상의 회복정도를 환자 스스로 평가하는 판정 기준을 이용하여 최종 추시시의 결과를 분석하였다. 추시기간의 범위는 술 후 6개월에서 13개월이었다. 결과 : 술 후 임상증상과 이학적 검사상 및 전기 진단적 검사에서 호전을 보였다. 최종 추시시 23례$(76.7\%)$에서 감각 이상증상이 완전히 해소되었고, 정상적인 일상활동 및 직장으로의 복귀는 27례$(90\%)$에서 6주 이내에 가능 하였고, 전례에서 8주 이내에 가능하였다. 악력은 6개월째에 29례 $(96.6\%)$에서 술전의 힘을 회복하였다. 무지구근의 위축을 보인 22례중에서 술 후 6개월 추시시 12례$(55\%)$에서 호전되는 소견을 보였다. Cseuz 및 Kelly의 판정 기준상 우수 23례 $(76.7\%)$, 양호 6례 $(20\%)$, 보통 1례$(3.3\%)$이었다. 결론 : 저자들은 단일 입구를 이용한 수근관 감압술은 술자가 적응증에 맞는 환자를 선별하여 손과 손목의 충분한 해부학적 지식을 가지고 안전 영역내에서 시행한다면 기술적으로 안전하고 간단한 수술방법이며, 개방적 방법에 비해 많은 장점이 있고 임상적으로 유용한 방법이라고 사료된다. 또한 기술적 문제점이 생기거나 기구를 수근관내로 삽입하기가 어렵거나 내시경 시야에서 횡수근 인대의 횡섬유가 분명히 보이지 않는 경우 등에서는 개방적 방법으로 전환할 준비가 되어야 한다고 사료된다.

• 대한정형외과 초음파학회지
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• 제5권2호
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• pp.99-101
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• 2012

정중 동맥은 전완 및 완관절에서 정상적으로 태생 전에 사라져 성인에서 수근관 내에 존재하는 정중 동맥은 드물다. 저자들은 수근관 증후군 환자에 시행한 초음파 검사에서 수근관 내에 정중 동맥이 관찰 되어 보고한다.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제48권4호
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• pp.380-382
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• 2010

The authors present an extremely rare case of a pseudoaneurysm of the ulnar artery as a complication of a two-portal endoscopic carpal tunnel release (ECTR). A 70-year-old man with chronic renal failure and on maintenance hemodialysis with a left arteriovenous fistula presented with paresthesia of his right hand. A clinical diagnosis of right carpal tunnel syndrome was confirmed by ultrasonography and an electro physiologic study. He underwent two-portal ECTR, and the paresthesia was much improved. However, he presented to us one month after operation with severe pain, a tender mass distal to the right wrist crease and more aggravation of the paresthesia in the ulnar nerve distribution. Doppler ultrasound was performed and revealed a hypo echoic lesion 20 mm in diameter in the right palm, with arterial Doppler flow inside connected to the palmar segment of the ulnar artery. An ulnar artery pseudoaneurysm was diagnosed and treated by ultrasound-guided percutaneous thrombin injection. Transverse color Doppler ultrasound image showed complete thrombosis of the pseudoaneurysm and flow cessation after a total injection of 500 units of thrombin. The symptoms were also improved.

• Journal of the Korean Data and Information Science Society
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• 제20권1호
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• pp.97-107
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• 2009

정형의학적 마사지가 수근관 증후군 환자의 통증, 악력, 기능적 평가의 등급에 미치는 영향에 대하여 연구하였다. 수근관 증후군 환자 30명을 대상으로 실험군과 대조군의 두 그룹으로 나누어 실험 전과 후의 통증, 악력, 기능적 평가의 등급을 측정 하였다. 실험군은 적외선, 초음파, 정형의학적 마사지를 적용하였으며, 대조군은 적외선과 초음파를 적용하였다. 두 그룹 모두에서 실험 전에 비하여 실험후에 효과적이었다. 그러나 두 그룹 간의 비교에서는 실험군에서 통계학적으로 유의성이 있었다.