Segmentary mobility of the mobile lumbar spines upon a total of 90 cases was studied by means of the functional radiographic examination. Segmentary mobility was determined by Falconer method. The cases were divided into four groups as Group I, 20 cases, who had no symptoms on low back, Group II, 20 cases, who had herniated disc in L4-5 confirmed either by surgery or by myelography, Group III, 30 cases, who had low back pain and neurological signs of L5 root irritation, and Group IV, 20 cases, who had low back pain as well as neurological signs of S1 root irritation. The result of the analysis was concluded as follows: 1. Total mobility of the lumbar spine in group I was significantly higher than other groups. Large normal variation in segmentary mobility of the lumbar spine was found, however, the mean angle of the segmentary mobility was highest in L4-5 and higher in the order of L5-S1, L4-3, L3-2 and L2-1. 2. Total mobility of the lumbar spine in group II was markedly reduced compared with group I, however, proportion of the segmentary mobility of L4-5 versus total mobility of the lumbar spine was somewhat higher than that of group 3. Total mobility of the lumbar spine in group III was significantly reduced than group I and significantly higher than group II. Proportion of the segmentary mobility of L4-5 versus total mobility of the lumbar spine in group III was somewhat higher than group I and the same as group II. 4. Total mobility of the lumbar spine in group IV was reduced than group I and group III, and higher than group II. Proportion of the segmentary mobility of L5-S1 was significantly higher than any other group. 5. In the groups with low back pain and herniated disc, in other words, there was found relatively increased segmentary mobility in the affected lumbar segments in contrast to reduced mobility of the total lumbar segments.
Diagnosis ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; Low Back Pain ; Methods ; Myelography ; Spine

Epidural venography is a relatively simple and highly accurate method in the diagnosis of lumbar disc herniation. Angiographic visualization of the epidural vein has been tried and investigated by intraosseus injection of contrast agent into lumbar spinous process and intravascular injection into iliac vein since first report in 1954. Recently, lumbar epidural venography is instituted by selective catheterization of ascending lumbar vein or internal iliac vein. Lumbar epidural venography is valuable for the diagnosis of herniated lumbar disc, not demonstrated by myelography. Especially, lumbar epidural venography is more accurate than myelography in the diagnosis of L5-Sl disc herniation and in the case of extreme lateral herniation. Other advantages of epidural venography are low incidence of complication and ease of performance. Epidural venography may be recommended as an alternative rnethod rather than as adjunctive to myelography. We report 20 cases of epidural venography, compared with myelographic and operative findings.
Catheterization ; Catheters ; Diagnosis ; Iliac Vein ; Incidence ; Methods ; Myelography ; Phlebography ; Veins

There was a development of the diagnostic aids such as electromyography, discography, epidural venography, myelography, and CT in lumbar disc herniation. In 1984, Edgardo et al. described that the diagnosis of unusual extreme lateral disc herniation might be suggested by CT, but the diagnosis was made more certain with CT done after discography. Also, in 1986, Michael et al. reported,that the addition of CT to lumbar discography could help the clinician to obtain an anatomically valid diagnosis in people who, in spite of prior negative diagnosis evaluation, continue with significant clinical symptoms of low back pain and sciatica. The authors have studied 25 cases of CT after discography from July 1984 to June 1987. The results were as follows;1) CT after discography, which was a diagnostic method of direct visualization of nucleus pulposus herniation, shown same finding as previous CT in 16 cases and more accurate finding of herniated site snd size in 2 cases. 2) In one csse, the diagnosis of extreme lateral disc herniation, which was suggested by previous CT, made more certain with CT after discography. 3) There was false negative in 6 cases.
Diagnosis ; Electromyography ; Low Back Pain ; Methods ; Myelography ; Phlebography ; Sciatica

During last 10 years we experienced 25 cases of C.N.S. cysticercosis. Now clinical analysis and evaluation of our cases were made and the results are followings; 1. Prevalence in man and women are nearly same and about 70% of cases are distributed between 20-50 years old. 2. According to Nieto's classification, mostly are ventricular (44%) and parenchymal type (36%). 3. Clinical manifestations were IICP (92%), focal neurological deficits (68%), seizure (48%), altered mental status (36%) and others listed on table 7. 4. In ventricular type, IICP and cerebellar dysfunction signs were predominated but seizure and focal neurological deficits were commonly seen in parenchymal type. 5. Subcutaneous cysticercus nodules were palpated in 32% of cases. 6. Positive stool ova was observed in 29% of cases. 7. Radiologic studies revealed as followings: 16% of cases showed abnormal findings on plain film, 84% on angiography, 94% on ventriculography and 100% on computed tomography and myelography. Computed tomography looks like most helpful diagnostic method for C.N.S. cysticercosis, they usually revealed lucent cystic lesion, hydrocephalic findings and contrast enhancement. 8. Suboccipital craniectomy, craniotomy with removal of parenchymal cyst or laminectomy were done according to location and types of lesion. 72% of operated cases revealed good results and mortality was 4% of cases.
Angiography ; Cerebellar Diseases ; Classification ; Craniotomy ; Cysticercosis* ; Cysticercus ; Female ; Humans ; Laminectomy ; Methods ; Mortality ; Myelography ; Ovum ; Prevalence ; Seizures

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Electrodiagnostic studies can be used to confirm the diagnosis of lumbosacral radiculopathies, but more sensitive diagnostic methods are often needed to measure the ensuing motor neuronal loss and sympathetic failure. METHODS: Twenty-six patients with lumbar radiculopathy and 30 controls were investigated using nerve conduction studies, motor unit number estimation (MUNE), testing of the sympathetic skin response (SSR), quantitative electromyography (QEMG), and magnetic resonance myelography (MRM). RESULTS: Using QEMG as the gold standard, the sensitivity and specificity of MUNE for the abductor hallucis longus muscle were 71.4% and 70%, respectively. While they were 75% and 68.8%, respectively, when used MRM as gold standard. The sensitivity and specificity of MUNE for the extensor digitorum brevis muscle were 100% and 84.1%, respectively, when the peroneal motor amplitude as the gold standard. The SSR latency was slightly longer in the patients than in the controls. CONCLUSIONS: MUNE is a simple and sensitive test for evaluating autonomic function and for diagnosing lumbosacral radiculopathy in patients. MUNE could be used routinely as a guide for the rehabilitation of patients with radiculopathies. SSR measurements may reveal subtle sympathetic abnormalities in patients with lumbosacral radiculopathy.
Axons* ; Diagnosis ; Electromyography ; Humans ; Methods ; Motor Neurons ; Muscles ; Myelography ; Neural Conduction ; Radiculopathy* ; Rehabilitation ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Skin*

Liquid crystal thermography is a new diagnostic imaging method detecting the temperature change by the physiologic disturbance as compared with the radilogic method detecting the anatomical distortion. We have used liquid crystal thermography in 54 patients with complaining low back pain during the period form 2nd. March 1989 to 30th. April 1989. Of these 54 patients, 35 had myelography and C-T scan, 23 had EMG, and 13 were operated upon. 1. There were 35 clinically positive patients on whom concomitant myelography and C-T scan was performed; 32 patients(91%) had a positive myelography and C-T scan, and 30 patients (86%) had a positive thermography. Of these 35 patients, 23 had EMG concomitantly; 17 patients(74%) had a positive EMG and 18 patients(78%) had a positive thermography. 2. Liquid crystal thermography correlated with myelography and C-T scan in 31 patients(89%), EMG in 18 patients(78%). 3. Concomitant thermography, myelography and C-T scan, and surgery were performed on 13 patients among them EMG was added on 5 patients; Myelography and C-T scan had 100% accuracy, thermography had 92% accuracy, and EMG had 80 % accuracy. 4. Liquid crystal thermography is non-invasive method, dose not involve the use of ionizing radiation, and correlates well with clinical and surgical findings and other diagnostic methods, and costs relatively low. So, liquid crystal thermography is useful and reliable diagnostic method in patients with low back pain.
Diagnostic Imaging ; Humans ; Liquid Crystals ; Low Back Pain ; Methods ; Myelography ; Radiation, Ionizing ; Thermography

Lumbar spinal stenosis may be defined as any type of narrowing of the spinal canal, nerve root canals or intervertebral foramina. It may be local, segmental or generalized and may be caused by the encroachment of bone or soft tissue. The narrowing may involve the bony canal alone or the dural sac or both. Myelo-enhanced computerized tomography(MECT) has been accepted as especially useful diagnostic method for spinal steonsis after its application in the orthopedic fields. The goal of this study was to analyze the diagnostic accuracy and sensitivity of MECT and to determine the prevalance of stenosis in various regions of lumbar spine. During the period of 3 years, from January 1991 to December 1993, 40 cases of lumbar spinal stenosis were analyzed, all of whom took myelography, computerized tomography and surgical treatment. The results of the study were as follows: 1. The myelographic findings were, respectively, hourglass bilateral defect 15(37.5%), complete block 14(35%) and the unilateral focal defect 5(12.5%). 2. The most prevalent from of spinal stenosis was the combined central-lateral-foraminal stenosis(47.5%) and the degenerative change in the lumbar spine was the principal etiologic factor(55%) by Arnoldi classification. 3. The involved levels were as follows:1 level 18(45%), 2 level 16(40%) and 3 level 6(15%). And among single level, the most frequent level was L5-S1 intervertebral space(30%). The diagnostic accuracies according to operative finding and above results were 83% by myelography and 97.5% by MECT. The MECT showed absolutely superior to myelography or CT and it was especially useful in lateral stenosis and multi-level stenosis.
Classification ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Dental Pulp Cavity ; Methods ; Myelography ; Orthopedics ; Spinal Canal ; Spinal Stenosis ; Spine

197 spine CTs were performed from 29th, March 1982 to 7th March, 1984. Among them, 39 patients preoperatively diagnosed as herniated nucleus pulposus ar bulging disc with CT and myelography were operated. 43 disc spaces ofdisc disease were analysed in true positive and false negative cases. Finally the accuracy, sensitivity and specifictiy of spine CT and myelography ar calculated. The resuslts are as follows; 1. The CT findings of disc diseases are in order of frequency, asymmetrical obliteration of epidural fat (82%), ventral indentation orcompression on dural sac(72%), focal protrusion of disc(64%), root changs
Constriction, Pathologic ; Humans ; Hypertrophy ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; Methods ; Myelography ; Spine ; Vacuum ; Zygapophyseal Joint

One hundred and fifty-four operative cases of herniated intervertebral disc were evaluated in department of Orthopedic Surgery, National Police Hospital from June 1973 to May 1979. The results were obtained as follows: 1. Out of the 154 patients, there were 137 male and 17 female cases. The ratio between male and female was 8:1. 2. The majority (72%) of the herniated intervertebral disc was found in the age group of 20 to 40 years. 3. The most common site of the lesion was between L4 and L5 vertebrae (70%). 4. About 90% of the patient showed significant sign in myelographic and clinical studies. 5. To prevent adhesion of sciatic nerve & dura after the operation, spraying the methyl-prednisolone over the operative site and covering dura with fat in spinal canal could be resulted in good method. 6. The dissecting type is considered to be what operators should observe attentively during the operation. 7. The result of treatment was excellent in 94 cases (61%) and good in 47 cases (30%).
Female ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc ; Male ; Methods ; Myelography ; Orthopedics ; Police ; Sciatic Nerve ; Spinal Canal ; Spine

Spinal stenosis is a localized narrowing of spinal canal due to strurctural abnormalities. Its symptoms are obscure, and characterized by chronic, poorly localized, bilateral nerve root compression signs. Computerized tomography(CT) has been accepted as almost an absolute diagnostic method for spinal stenosis after its application in the orthopedic field. During the period of 2 years, from March 1982 to March 1984, 26 cases of spinal stenosis were treated surgically after botlt CT scanning and myelography. We obtained following results about advantage of CT scanning in spinal stenosis. 1. Myelography showed following findings: Hourglass defect 9, Complete block 8, Unilateral focal defect 4, Uniform narrowing 1, Mixed 2, Negative finding 2. Myelographic finding was not specific for spinal stenosis and diagnostic accuracy was inferior to CT. 2. The type of spinal stenosis was identified by CT scan finding. Of 26 cases, 21 cases were degenerative spinal stenosis, of which central stenosis was present in 7 cases, and lateral stenosis was present in all cases. The remaining 5 cases were combined type, and both central and lateral stenosis were present in all cases. 3. The diagnostic accuracy,in localizing the level of stenosis was 61.5% by myelography, and 96.2% by CT scan. CT was especially superior to myelography in the localization of the multi-segmental stenosis. 4. CT gives valuable information about extent and degree of stenosis, especially lateral recess stenosis, thus helping the surgeon to decide on the extent of decompressive lamininectomy preoperatively.
Clothing ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Methods ; Myelography ; Orthopedics ; Radiculopathy ; Spinal Canal ; Spinal Stenosis ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed