• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.55-60
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• 2011

In this paper, we propose a new method for extracting muscles from lumbar images. The proposed method sets areas without distortions with field expert's assistance as areas of measuring interest and removing noises from initial ultrasonic videos. Then, the method emphasizes the brightness contrast with Ends-in search stretching algorithm and separate thoracic vertebra from subcutaneous fat area using morphological characteristics. 4-directions contour tracing algorithm is applied to extract the bottom of subcutaneous fat area. Extracting thoracic vertebra area requires noise removal and morphological characteristics as well among candidate areas obtained by controlling min-max brightness. The thickness of muscles is then defined as the length between subcutaneous fat area and extracted thoracic vertebra. The experiment which consists of 368 image analysis verifies that the proposed method is more effective in measuring the thickness of muscles than before.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.54 no.2
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• pp.128-131
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• 2013

Transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) is commonly used procedure for spinal fusion. However, there are no reports describing anterior cage dislodgement after surgery. This report is a rare case of anterior dislodgement of fusion cage after TLIF for the treatment of isthmic spondylolisthesis with lumbosacral transitional vertebra (LSTV). A 51-year-old man underwent TLIF at L4-5 with posterior instrumentation for the treatment of grade 1 isthmic spondylolisthesis with LSTV. At 7 weeks postoperatively, imaging studies demonstrated that banana-shaped cage migrated anteriorly and anterolisthesis recurred at the index level with pseudoarthrosis. The cage was removed and exchanged by new cage through anterior approach, and screws were replaced with larger size ones and cement augmentation was added. At postoperative 2 days of revision surgery, computed tomography (CT) showed fracture on lateral pedicle and body wall of L5 vertebra. He underwent surgery again for paraspinal decompression at L4-5 and extension of instrumentation to S1 vertebra. His back and leg pains improved significantly after final revision surgery and symptom relief was maintained during follow-up period. At 6 months follow-up, CT images showed solid fusion at L4-5 level. Careful cage selection for TLIF must be done for treatment of spondylolisthesis accompanied with deformed LSTV, especially when reduction will be attempted. Banana-shaped cage should be positioned anteriorly, but anterior dislodgement of cage and reduction failure may occur in case of a highly unstable spine. Revision surgery for the treatment of an anteriorly dislodged cage may be effectively performed using an anterior approach.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.62 no.4
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• pp.442-449
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• 2019

Objective : Bone mineral density (BMD) is an important consideration during fusion surgery. Although dual X-ray absorptiometry is considered as the gold standard for assessing BMD, quantitative computed tomography (QCT) provides more accurate data in spine osteoporosis. However, QCT has the disadvantage of additional radiation hazard and cost. The present study was to demonstrate the utility of artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithm for assessing osteoporosis using Hounsfield units (HU) of preoperative lumbar CT coupling with data of QCT. Methods : We reviewed 70 patients undergoing both QCT and conventional lumbar CT for spine surgery. The T-scores of 198 lumbar vertebra was assessed in QCT and the HU of vertebral body at the same level were measured in conventional CT by the picture archiving and communication system (PACS) system. A multiple regression algorithm was applied to predict the T-score using three independent variables (age, sex, and HU of vertebral body on conventional CT) coupling with T-score of QCT. Next, a logistic regression algorithm was applied to predict osteoporotic or non-osteoporotic vertebra. The Tensor flow and Python were used as the machine learning tools. The Tensor flow user interface developed in our institute was used for easy code generation. Results : The predictive model with multiple regression algorithm estimated similar T-scores with data of QCT. HU demonstrates the similar results as QCT without the discordance in only one non-osteoporotic vertebra that indicated osteoporosis. From the training set, the predictive model classified the lumbar vertebra into two groups (osteoporotic vs. non-osteoporotic spine) with 88.0% accuracy. In a test set of 40 vertebrae, classification accuracy was 92.5% when the learning rate was 0.0001 (precision, 0.939; recall, 0.969; F1 score, 0.954; area under the curve, 0.900). Conclusion : This study is a simple machine learning model applicable in the spine research field. The machine learning model can predict the T-score and osteoporotic vertebrae solely by measuring the HU of conventional CT, and this would help spine surgeons not to under-estimate the osteoporotic spine preoperatively. If applied to a bigger data set, we believe the predictive accuracy of our model will further increase. We propose that machine learning is an important modality of the medical research field.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.54 no.5
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• pp.426-430
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• 2013

The prognosis of solitary plasmacytoma varies greatly, with some patients recovering after surgical removal or local fractional radiation therapy, and others progressing to multiple myeloma years later. Primary detection of progression to multiple myeloma is important in the treatment of solitary plasmacytoma. There have been several analyses of the risk factors involved in the early progression to multiple myeloma. We describe one case of solitary plasmacytoma of the lumbar vertebra that was treated with surgical decompression with stabilization and additional radiotherapy. The patient had no factors associated with rapid progression to multiple myeloma such as age, size, immunologic results, pathological findings, and serum free light chain ratio at the time of diagnosis. However, his condition progressed to multiple myeloma less than two months after the initial diagnosis of solitary plasmacytoma. We suggest that surgeons should be vigilant in watching for rapid progression to multiple myeloma even in case that the patient with solitary plasmacytoma has no risk factors for rapid progression to multiple myeloma.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.128-130
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• 2011

The low lumbar spine is deeply located in flexible segments, and has a physiologic lordosis. Therefore, burst fractures of the low lumbar spine are uncommon injuries. The treatment for such injuries may either be conservative or surgical management according to canal compromise and the neurological status. However, there are no general guidelines or consensus for the treatment of low lumbar burst fractures especially in neurologically intact cases with severe canal compromise. We report a patient with a burst fracture of the fourth lumbar vertebra, who was treated surgically but without fusion because of the neurologically intact status in spite of severe canal compromise of more than 85%. It was possible to preserve motion segments by removal of screws at one year later. We also discuss why bone fusion was not necessary with review of the relevant literature.

• The Journal of the Korean bone and joint tumor society
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.188-193
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• 2005

Fibrous dysplasia is a condition characterized by the replacement of the medullary component of predominantly long bone with fibrous tissues. The monostotic form of the fibrous dysplasia occurs more frequent than the polyostotic form. Only the twenty three previous cases of vertebral involvement in monostotic fibrous dysplasia have been reported. Authors experienced a case of monostotic fibrous dysplasia of the third lumbar vertebra, so we report this case. Report details the diagnosis and treatment of a 34 years old man with back pain from monostotic fibrous dysplasia of the third lumbar vertebra. We discuss the experience in the consideration of previous report to recommend the optimal management of this disease.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.5-9
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• 2003

The fused thoracic vertebra and deformity of the lumbar vertebrae in the female Thoroughbred horse were observed macroscopically. The 11th and 12th thoracic vertebrae (T) were partially fused. They were composed of three parts between the spinous process of the 11th and 12th T, left and right caudal articular processes of the 11th T, and left and right cranial articular processes of the 12th T. The vertical surface of cranial articular process of the 11th T and left mamillary process of the 12th T were absent. The left caudal part of the transverse process of the 12th T and left costal fovea of the transverse process of the 12th T were severely deformed. On the other hand, the left transverse process of the first lumbar vertebra (L) was a typical rib-like transverse process and two times longer than the right transverse process of the 2nd L. The right transverse process of 4th L has an oval concave facet on the medial part of caudal border for articulation with the right transverse process of 5th L; the latter has a corresponding convex facet on the medial part of the cranial border in the right transverse process of the 5th L.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.29 no.9
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• pp.1262-1266
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• 2000

Objective : Flat back syndrome constitutes a syndrome complex characterized by the loss of normal lumbar lordosis. Various techniques of correction for flat back syndrome have been reported. Posterior extension osteotomy has certain drawbacks. Forceful hyperextension of the spine may result in vascular complications such as rupture of the aorta or the inferior vena cava and stretching of superior mesenteric artery, and pseudoarthrosis. We describe a rationale and technique of transvertebral posterior extension osteotomy to avoid complications of posterior extension osteotomy and to achieve an correction of 30 degrees of flat back syndrome. Method : A 63-year-old woman with degenerative lumbar kyphosis presented with low back pain, thigh pain, knee pain and walking difficulty. Transpedicular fixation from L1 vertebra to S1 vertebra was accomplished for lumbar degenerative kyphosis. After 6 months, the patient presented with flat back syndrome. A second operation was performed with transvertebral posterior extension osteotomy. Result : With short segemental fusion, early bone fusion and correction of 30 degrees were achieved. Conclusion : Transvertebral posterior extension osteotomy provide an 30-60 degrees of correction of flat back syndrome. This technique is considered to be good method for the revision of lumbar degenerative kyphosis.

• The Journal of Churna Manual Medicine for Spine and Nerves
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.15-26
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• 2014

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of Korean medicicine treatment in patients with Spondylolisthesis and Lumbar Herniated Intervertebral Disc(HIVD). Methods : This clinical study was carried out on 62 patients who were diagnosed as spondylolisthesis and lumbar herniated intervertebral disc(HIVD) on L-spine X-ray and L-spine magnetic resonance imaging(MRI), who had been admitted from Feb. 2013 to Apr. 2014. All of 62 patients were treated with acupuncture, chuna treatment and herbal medicine during the whole admission period. Numerical rating scale(NRS) was used to evaluated the effectiveness of the oriental medical treatment. Results : 1. Distribution showed female predominance in general. 2. Degenerative type is the most common in this study. 3. In the duration of symptoms, the largest group was" Subacute"(32.26%). 4. Almost of patients had radiation pain, but in SLR test and valsalva test, more patients had no significant sign. 5. Spondylolytic type involved the 5th lumbar vertebra in 80% and degenerative type involved the 4th lumbar vertebra in 53.84%. 6. Most of case were grade 1(93.54%) in degree of slipping. 7. By the oriental medical treatment, NRS reduction in spondylolytic spondylolisthesis, was better than degenerative spondylolisthesis. Conclusions : The result of treatment by Korean medical is satisfactory for the tretment of spondylolisthesis.

• Proceedings of the Korea Contents Association Conference
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• 2011.05a
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• pp.259-260
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• 2011

한국과학기술정보연구원과 가톨릭대학교 의과대학 가톨릭응용해부연구소에서는 기초기술연구회 National agenda project 일환으로 척추 연구자들이 쉽게 사용할 수 있는 기초 자료를 구축하고 있다. 척추 관련 컴퓨터 시뮬레이션 연구에 활용할 수 있는 모델 제작을 위한 형상 정보와 물리적 성질 정보를 구축하고 있다. 물리적 성질 정보 구축은 60대, 70대 기증시신 10여 표본을 활용하여 척추뼈의 임상적, 물리적 골밀도를 측정하고, 목척추(cervical vertebra), 등척추(thoracic vertebra), 허리척추(lumbar vertebra) 부분의 굽힘-폄(flexion-extension) 시험, 가쪽 굽힘(lateral bending) 시험, 회전(torsion), 압축(body/disc compression) 시험을 수행하여 작용력과 굽힘량의 관계를 구축하고 있다. 구축된 물성 시험 결과는 형상 모델과 함께 제공되어 자료의 활용도를 높이고 있으며, 이를 이용하여 한국인 특성이 반영된 척추 관련 연구 및 제품 개발에 활용될 수 있다.