• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.103-108
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• 2011

Objective : There are few studies comparing small and large craniotomies for the initial treatment of chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) which had non-liquefied hematoma, multilayer intrahematomal loculations, or organization/calcification on computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. These procedures were compared to determine which would produce superior postoperative results. Methods : Between 2001 and 2009, 317 consecutive patients were surgically treated for CSDH at our institution. Of these, 16 patients underwent a small craniotomy with partial membranectomy and 42 patients underwent a large craniotomy with extended membranectomy as the initial treatment. A retrospective review was performed to compare the postoperative outcomes of these two techniques, focusing on improvement of neurological status, complications, reoperation rate, and days of post-operative hospitalization. Results : The mean ages were $69.4{\pm}12.1$ and $55.6{\pm}9.3$ years in the small and large craniotomy groups, respectively. The recurrence of hematomas requiring reoperation occurred in 50% and 10% of the small and large craniotomy patients, respectively (p<0.001). There were no significant differences in postoperative neurological status, complications, or days of hospital stay between these two groups. Conclusion : Among the cases of CSDH initially requiring craniotomy, the large craniotomy with extended membranectomy technique reduced the reoperation rate, compared to that of the small craniotomy with partial membranectomy technique.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.206-209
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• 2006

Objective : Traditionally, standard access to the posterior fossa was a suboccipital craniectomy. After introducing the technique and benefit of posterior fossa craniotomy, several surgeons have used this procedure to manage various pathologies in posterior fossa in children. Though this approach offers several advantages over conventional suboccipital craniectomy, the elevation of bone flap is not easy in adult because of the irregular contour of inner bone surface and tight adhesion of dura to the skull. The aim of this article is to describe the technical aspects of this approach and to delineate the important landmarks for a safe and quick performance in adult. Methods : We report on our series of twenty-five adult patients who underwent craniotomy for posterior fossa pathologies between 2002 and 2005. The maximal follow-up period was 4 years. Results : None of the patients complained of persistent headache and no CSF leaks have occurred postoperatively. We have encountered only two cases of transient subcutaneous CSF retention after craniotomy. Three-dimensional reconstruction of the CT scan confirmed the well-fitted suboccipital bone contour after craniotomy. And patients were satisfied with the cosmetic results. Conclusion : This method is safer and simpler. It restores normal anatomical planes and improves protection of the contents of the posterior fossa. The authors recommend craniotomy as an alternative method of access to the posterior fossa in all age groups.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.60 no.3
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• pp.301-305
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• 2017

Multiloculated hydrocephalus (MLH) is a condition in which patients have multiple, separate abnormal cerebrospinal fluid collections with no communication between them. Despite technical advancements in pediatric neurosurgery, neurological outcomes are poor in these patients and the approach to this pathology remains problematic especially given individual anatomic complexity and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) hydrodynamics. A uniform surgical strategy has not yet been developed. Current treatment options for MLH are microsurgical fenestration of separate compartments by open craniotomy or endoscopy, shunt surgery in which multiple catheters are placed in the compartments, and combinations of these modalities. Craniotomy for fenestration allows better visualization of the compartments and membranes, and it can offer easy fenestration or excision of membranes and wide communication of cystic compartments. Hemostasis is more easily achieved. However, because of profound loss of CSF during surgery, open craniotomy is associated with an increased chance of subdural hygroma and/or hematoma collection and shunt malfunction. Endoscopy has advantages such as minimal invasiveness, avoidance of brain retraction, less blood loss, faster operation time, and shorter hospital stay. Disadvantages are also similar to those of open craniotomy. Intraoperative bleeding can usually be easily managed by irrigation or coagulation. However, handling of significant intraoperative bleeding is not as easy. Currently, endoscopic fenestration tends to be performed more often as initial treatment and open craniotomy may be useful in patients requiring repeated endoscopic procedures.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.195-198
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• 2009

Objective : Medpor porous polyethylene was used to reconstruct small bone defects (gaps and burr holes) along a craniotomy bone flap. The feasibility and cosmetic results were evaluated. Methods : Medpor Craniotomy Gap Wedges, V and T, were designed. The V implant is a 10 cm-long wedge strip, the cross section of which is an isosceles triangle with a 4 mm-long base, making it suitable for gaps less than 4 mm after trimming. Meanwhile, the Medpor T wedge includes a 10 mm-wide thin plate on the top surface of the Medpor V Wedge, making it suitable for gaps wider than 4 mm and burr holes. Sixty-eight pterional craniotomies and 39 superciliary approaches were performed using the implants, and the operative results were evaluated with respect to the cosmetic results and pain or tenderness related to the cranial flap. Results : The small bone defects were eliminated with less than 10 minutes additional operative time. In a physical examination, there were no considerable cosmetic problems regarding to the cranial bone defects, such as a linear depression or dimple in the forehead, anterior temporal hollow, preauricular depression, and parietal burr hole defect. Plus, no patient suffered from any infectious complications. Conclusion : The Medpor Craniotomy Gap Wedge is technically easy to work with for reconstructing small bone defects, such as the bone gaps and burr holes created by a craniotomy, and produces excellent cosmetic results.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.335-339
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• 2006

Objective : The authors present eight cases of immediate post-operative epidural hematomas[EDHs] adjacent to the craniotomy site, describe clinical details of them, and discuss their pathogenesis. Methods : Medical records of eight cases were retrospectively reviewed and their clinical data, operation records, and radiological findings analyzed. Any risk factors of the EDHs were searched. Results : In 5 of 8 cases, adjacent EDHs developed after craniotomies for the surgical removal of brain tumors. Three cases of adjacent EDHs developed after a pterional approach and neck clipping of a ruptured anterior communicating artery aneurysm, a ventriculoperitoneal shunt, and a craniotomy for a post-traumatic EDH, respectively. In all eight cases, brain computed tomography[CT] scans checked immediately or a few hours after the surgery, revealed large EDHs adjacent to the previous craniotomy site, but there was no EDH beneath the previous craniotomy flap. After emergent surgical removal of the EDHs, 7 cases demonstrated good clinical outcomes, with one case yielding a poor result. Conclusion : Rapid drainage of a large volume of cerebrospinal fluid or intra-operative severe brain collapse may separate the dura from the calvarium and cause postoperative EDH adjacent to the previous craniotomy site. A high-pressure suction drain left in the epidural space may contribute to the pathogenesis. After the craniotomy for brain tumors or intracranial aneurysms, when remarkable brain collapse occurs, an immediate postoperative brain CT is mandatory to detect and adequately manage such unexpected events as adjacent EDHs.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.130-138
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• 2012

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to verify the effects of gum chewing temporalis muscle exercise on masticatory discomforts after craniotomy. Methods: Data collection was performed from July 10 to October 24, 2008. Forty participants who were treated with elective craniotomy were enrolled in this study. Twenty participants in the exercise group were given a gum chewing exercise protocol for five days and twenty participants in the control group received usual postoperative care only. All the participants were examined on the first, third and fifth postoperative day regarding the masticatory pain score, mouth opening range, and satisfaction with mastication. Collected data were analyzed using t-test, $x^2$-test and repeated measures ANOVA. Result: Masticatory pain of experimental group was significantly lower than the control group ($p$ <.001). Mouth opening range and satisfaction with mastication of experimental group were significantly improved in experimental group compared with the control group ($p$ <.001). Conclusion: The gum chewing temporalis muscle exercise after craniotomy is a useful intervention to reduce masticatory pain and to improve mouth opening range, recovery rate of mouth opening range and satisfaction with mastication.

• Journal of Korean Society for Quality Management
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.40-50
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• 2006

The authors aimed to analyze the quality improvement efficiency of wound dressing with 2-octyl cyanoacrylate(2-OCA) in stereotactic image guided linear or sigmoid incisions in a cohort of consecutive craniotomy patients, and to compare clinical results with those of iodine-dressing and silk sutured patients underwent conventional craniotomy surgery with large pedicle flap incisions without stereotactic guidance. In methods, 26 patients were involved as the study group at one hospital. We retrospectively compared their results with those of 38 consecutive control patients at the same unit. The suggested new medical material, 2-octyl cyanoacrylate(2-OCA), resultantly decreased or prevented the contaminated fluid influx from scalp outside. The mean infection rate for the control group (7.89%) was relatively higher than that of the study group (3.85%). In addition, the use of stereotactic image guided craniotomy was significant to reduce operation time, to simplify operative procedures and to decrease potential risk factors.

• Korean Journal of Anesthesiology
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• v.71 no.6
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• pp.483-485
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• 2018

A 34-year-old man who previously underwent a craniotomy due to oligodendroglioma was admitted with a diagnosis of recurrent brain tumor. An awake craniotomy was planned. Approximately 15 minutes after completing the scalp nerve block, his upper torso suddenly moved and trembled for 10 seconds, suggesting a generalized clonic seizure. He recovered gradually and fully in 55 minutes without any neurological sequelae. The emergency computed tomography scan revealed a localized fluid collection and small intracerebral hemorrhage nearby in the temporoparietal cortex beneath the skull defect. He underwent surgery under general anesthesia at 8 hours after the seizure and was discharged from the hospital after 10 days. This report documents the first case of generalized seizure that was caused by the accidental intracerebral injection of local anesthetics. Although the patient recovered completely, the clinical implications regarding the scalp infiltration technique in a patient with skull defects are discussed.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.252-254
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• 2013

Textiloma is an inflammatory mass containing surgical sponges that are unintentionally left behind in a surgical wound. This complication has been most commonly described by abdominal and gynecologic surgeons. However, the occurrence of textiloma after intracranial procedures especially under the temporalis muscle has not been documented. The author reports a rare case of textiloma of the pterion in a patient who presented with a subcutaneous tumor developed eight years after frontotemporal craniotomy for aneurysm clipping.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.204-209
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• 2016

Temporal hollowing occurs to varying degrees after pterional craniotomy. The most common cause of temporal hollowing is a bony defect of the pterional and temporal regions due to the resection of the sphenoid ridge and temporal squama for adequate exposure without overhang. The augmentation of such bony defects is important in preventing craniofacial deformities and postoperative hollowness. Temporal cranioplasty has been performed using a range of materials, such as acrylics, porous polyethylene, bone cement, titanium, muscle flaps, and prosthetic dermis. These methods are limited by the risk of damage to adjacent tissue and infection, a prolonged preparation phase, the possibility of reabsorption, and cost inefficiency. We have developed a method of temporal augmentation using a calvarial onlay graft as a single-stage neurosurgical reconstructive operation in patients requiring craniotomy. In this report, we describe the surgical details and review our institutional outcomes. The patients were divided into pterional craniotomy and onlay graft groups. Clinical temporal hollowing was assessed using a visual analog scale (VAS). Temporal soft tissue thickness was measured on preoperative and postoperative computed tomography (CT) studies. Both the VAS and CT-based assessments were compared between the groups. Our review indicated that the use of an onlay graft was associated with a lower VAS score and left-right discrepancy in the temporal contour than were observed in patients undergoing pterional craniotomy without an onlay graft.