During the period from March 1990, through September 1993, 11 patients with moyamoya disease underwent superficial temporal artery(STA)-to-middle cerebral artery(MCA) anastomosis and encephalomyosynangiosis(EMS) bilaterally. The mean follow-up period was 30.6 months(range 17 to 42 months). The most frequent computed tomographic findings were intraventricular hemorrhage in adult patients and cortical infarction in pediatric patients. In all of the patients, confirmatory diagnosis could be made by angiography, and all had typical angiographic finding of moyamoya disease. According to angiographic classification by Suzuki, the most frequent phase was stage three. A modified continuous suture technique was used during anastomosis. The advantages of this microvascular suture technique are saving time for the surgical procedure, lessening bleeding from the anastomotic site and the ease and safety with which anastomosis can be achieved in the deep cranial cavity. Postoperatively, follow-up angiography was taken between 1 year and 2 years after operation. The angiography revascularization rate was 100%, excellent in 6, and good in 5. The typical postoperative angiography findings are as follows : 1) reduction of moyamoya vessels, 2) normalization or improvement of abnormal posterior circulation, 3) visualization of MCA territory through MCA-STA bypass, and 4) dilatation of STA. There were no major complication in patients with surgery, and no poor outcomes. These results indicate that the STA-MCA anastomosis and EMS in moyamoya disease can normalize cerebral circulation and reduce repeat ischemic attack and repeated bleeding.
Adult ; Angiography ; Cerebral Arteries* ; Classification ; Diagnosis ; Dilatation ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Infarction ; Moyamoya Disease* ; Suture Techniques

Recently we performed a modified sternum-splitting approach in surgery for anterior space-taking lesion in the upper thoracic region. In contrast to the original trans-sternal approach introduced by Cauchoix, we cut only the manubrium and split it using vertebral spreader. After reaching the anterior surface of the cervico-Thoracic vertebrae, the central portion of the vertebral body was removed with air-drill under an operating microscope. The longitudinal bone defect of the vertebral bodies was filled with a bone graft obtained from the iliac bone. Removal of the space-taking lesions in the cervico-thoracic junction and upper thoracic region can be performed safely by utilizing the modified sternum-splitting approach. This approach can be applied also to endarterectomies at the origins of the vertebral arteries and the subclavian artery.
Endarterectomy ; Manubrium ; Microsurgery ; Spine ; Subclavian Artery ; Transplants ; Vertebral Artery

Moyamoya disease is an unusual vascular disorder highlighted by progressive bilateral internal carotid artery occlusion and collateralization of intracranial blood flow. The purposes of the bypass procedures : 1) reduce or arrest of the chance of repeated ischemic attack by making the additional collateral blood flow, 2) decrease the chance of repeated bleeding by reducing the number of moyamoya vessels. During the period from June 1989 through February 1991, 8 moyamoya diseases associated with intraventricular hemorrhage were operated by STA-MCA anastomosis plus EMS. Results are as follows : 1) Slightly female dominancy in incidence(5 : 3), and all of the patients were middle aged(range 32 to 55 years). 2) All of the patients had sudden onset of headache, and most patients whad neck stiffness and vomiting. 3) In all of the patients, confirmatory diagnosis could be done by angiography, and all of the patients had gypical angiographic findings of moyamoya disease. 4) All of the patients had IVH in brain CT scan. 5) All of the patients were surgically treated : STA-MCA anastomosis plus EMS. 6) The postoperative revascularization rate was 89%(8 sides in 9 sides). 7) The postoperative results were excellent in 5, good in 1, and death in 2. The rarity of such lesions in KOrea and their surgical results are reviewed briefly.
Angiography ; Brain ; Carotid Artery, Internal ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Headache ; Hemorrhage* ; Humans ; Korea ; Moyamoya Disease* ; Neck ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Vomiting

The surgical intervention for secondary developmental cervical spinal stenosis that results in myelopathy and radiculopathy has been modified by technical improvement to obtain more reliable enlargement of the cervical spinal canal. The authours have experienced good results with the modified open door expansive laminoplasty, so we report this article. The patients were treated by surgical intervention during the period from October 1989 to February 1991. The results obtained were as follows : 1) The average age was 54.7 years, and the sex distribution ratio of female to male was 2 : 8. 2) In clinical symptoms and symptoms of both myelopathy and radiculopathy. 3) In morphological analysis of lesions, all patients except one case had lesions over 3 levels, The lesions were spondylosis, spondylosis combined with soft disc herniation, spondylosis combined with OPLL, spondylosis combined with OPLL and soft disc herniation, OPLL and OYL in the order of frequency. 4) The operation method was as follows : after the patient was positioned in modified Concorde position, open door lamina was anchored to faced joint capsule and surrounding tissue with nylon sutures. And then the raw epidural space was covered with Lyodura by the modified Hirabayashi method. By this method, reclosure of widened spinal canal was prevented. 5) The outcomes were evaluated by JOA score difference between preoperation and post operation times. The outcome of recovery rate was 100% in five cases. Therewere no aggravated or unimproved cases. The results were excellent 8 cases, good 1 case, unchanged 0 case, poor 0 case and expired 1 case.
Epidural Space ; Female ; Humans ; Joint Capsule ; Male ; Nylons ; Radiculopathy ; Sex Distribution ; Spinal Canal ; Spinal Cord Diseases ; Spinal Stenosis* ; Spondylosis ; Sutures

In order to investigate the antiepileptic effects of calcium antagonist, nimodipine, we studied the changes of seizure pattern and electroencephalographic finding of the epileptic rats before and after nimodipine administration which were induced by stereotaxic instillation of penicillin solution into the right amygadala. 40 Sprague-Dowley rats were divided into 2 groups:the control group(n=10) which underwent craniectomy on the biparietal area and was instilled penicillin solution into the right amygdala on the basis of stereotaxic coordinates, and the experimental group(n=30) which was subdivided into 3 subgraups:nimodipine pre-treatment group(n=10), nimodipine 0 minute post-treatment group(n=10) and nimodipine 20 minutes post-treatment group(n=10) depending on the intraperitoneal administration time of nimodipine. The results were as follows; 1) In control group typical epileptiform discharges were noted at 3.4+/-1.9 mm after penicillin instillation and the frequency and amplitude of discharges were 9.8+/-2.2/sec, 25.0+/-3.9mm/50+/-microV. The degree of behavioral seizure was between stage IV and VI. 2) In nimodipine pre-treatment group, there was inhibitory effects of seizure development. The frequency and amplitude were significantly decreased and the degree of behavioral seizure was attenuated in comparison to that of control group. 3) There was no statistical difference in effects of penicillin induced seizure between nimodipine 0 minute, 20 minutes post-treatment and control group. This experiment provided that calcium antagonist showed inhibitory effects on the penicillin-induced epileptic rats, but did not prevent seizure propagation. And calcium currents might play a role to evoke seizure. Therefore calcium antagonist "nimodipine" might be beneficial to the treatment of patients with seizure.
Amygdala ; Animals ; Calcium ; Electroencephalography* ; Humans ; Nimodipine* ; Penicillins ; Rats* ; Seizures*

In the treatment of fractures of the thoracolumbar junctiion area, surgical intervention was performed when posterior part of veretbral body, posterior structure supporting ligaments were involved and body compression more than 40%. Number of cases satisfying above criteria were seven between Aug. 1990 and Jun. 1991. Age distribution ranged from 15 to 57 years. Sex ratio was 4:3(F:M). Four patients presented with nerve root sign, one patient with cauda equina signs, and two patients were normal neurologically. In all cases, spinal canal decompression, internal instrument fixation, and bone fusion with iliac bone were performed via anterolateral approach. After surgical treatment, neurological deficits disappeared and kyphotic angle returned to normal range of thoracolumbar junction area in all cases. Percentage of body compression was improved from preop. 55% to postop. 21% in average. According to above results, we concluded that anterior instrumental fixation combined with bone fusion using iliac bone was supperior to posterior approach in providing biomechanical stability and decompression of protruding ventral bone fragments.
Age Distribution ; Cauda Equina ; Decompression ; Humans ; Ligaments ; Reference Values ; Sex Ratio ; Spinal Canal

OBJECTIVEL: Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion has been successfully performed for many years using a variety of techniques. Recently, the concept of internal fixation has been applied to the lower cervical lesions. The need for postoperative immobilization, usually required to stabilize the patient while the fusion mass heals, is decreased or negated by internal fixation. In order to determine the effects of plate stabilization on maintenance of interspace height during postoperative period, we assessed the potential differences between anterior interbody fusion without plate and fusion with plate in patients with lower cervical lesions. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The authors analyzed the results of 76 patients with lower cervical lesions, who underwent anterior interbody fusion between May, 1991 and December, 1997. Of these, 36 underwent only anterior interbody bony fusion and 40 underwent bony fusion plus interbody fixation with plate system. RESULTS: In order to compare the difference of two groups, we investigated the pre- and postoperative interspace height, clinical outcomes, and radiographic fusion success rates. Anterior interbody fusion with plate was found to be superior to anterior interbody fusion without plate after anterior cervical decompression procedures with respect to maintenance of cervical interspace height(p<0.01), and radiographic and clinical fusion success rates. CONCLUSION: The authors concluded that the use of anterior plate fixation may provide added security to the nervous system before bony fusion occurs, may potentiate the maintenance of interspace height, may increase the probability of successful fusion, and may permit early ambulation.
Decompression ; Diskectomy ; Early Ambulation ; Humans ; Immobilization ; Nervous System ; Postoperative Period

We present a case report to remind surgeons of this unusual complication that can occur in any surgery, even posterior cervical spine surgery under general anesthesia and discuss its causes, treatment methods, and the follow-up results in the literature. The peripheral Tapia's syndrome is a rare complication of anesthetic airway management. Main symptoms are hoarseness of voice and difficulty of tongue movement. Tapia's syndrome after endotracheal general anesthesia is believed to be due to pressure neuropathy of the vagus nerve and the hypoglossal nerve caused by the endotracheal tube. To our knowledge, no report has been published or given an explanation for Tapia's syndrome after posterior cervical spine surgery. Two patients who underwent posterior cervical surgery complained hoarseness and tongue palsy postoperatively. There is no direct anatomical relation between the operation, the vagus nerves and the hypoglossal nerves, and there is no record of displacement or malposition of the endotracheal tube. After several months, all symptoms are resolved. To avoid this problem in posterior cervical spine surgery, we suggest paying special attention to the position of the endotracheal tube to avoid excessive neck flexion before and during the positioning of the patient.
Airway Management ; Anesthesia, General* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hoarseness ; Humans ; Hypoglossal Nerve ; Methods ; Neck ; Paralysis ; Spine* ; Tongue ; Vagus Nerve

We experienced a case of falcine mesenchymal chondrosarcoma in a 22-year-old pregnant woman. Cartilage cell tumors within the cranium are very rare, only less than 0.2% of all intracranial tumors. Because a few examples of mesenchymal chondrosarcoma in this locttion have been reported, we reviewed previous reports cases, to determine the natural history of intracranial chondrosarcomas. The distinguishing features of this rare tumor are compared with previous cases of itracranial tumors derived from cartilage.
Cartilage ; Chondrosarcoma* ; Chondrosarcoma, Mesenchymal ; Female ; Humans ; Natural History ; Pregnant Women ; Skull ; Young Adult

With changing mechanisms of injury, heightened clinical awareness, and better diagnostic technology, odontoid fractures constitute 9~18% of cervical fractures in recent reports. The odontoid type II fracture is the most common axis fracture and it is also the most difficult to treat. Type II fractures with greater than 6mm dens dislocation have a higher incidence of nonunion with nonoperative therapy and should be offered early operative reduction with fusion. Recently we have experienced a young male patient with odontoid type II fracture. The degree of dens dislocation was 8mm. The fractured odontoid process was removed through transoral-transpharyngeal approach and bone fusion was performed with iliac bone. And the inserted bone was fixed with screws and mini-plate for further stabilization. The operative result was good without any serious complications. The operation technique is detailed.
Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Dislocations ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Odontoid Process