No abstract available.
Catheters* ; Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt*

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to assess the complications, duration of admission, cost effectiveness, radiologic stabilization of the anterior cervical bone fusion in the treatment of cervical disc disease with and without plating. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-two surgically treated patients for cervical disc disease were reviewed. Group I consisted of consecutive treated patients with iliac auto-bone graft without instrumentation after anterior cervical discectomy. Group II consisted of consecutive treated patients with iliac autologous-bone graft with CASPER cervical plate fixations. Radiologic fusion was decided when loss of end plate boundary between graft bone and vertebral body and immobile, maintenance of the disc space were evident on simple dynamic plain films. The patients were discharged after the stabilization of cervical motion by films was of tained. These groups were analysed multiple variably with Mann-Whitney U-test. RESULTS: Group I consisted of 18 patients, group II consisted of 34 patients. Mean age was 49.0+/-8.1 years, mean duration of admission was 17.27+/-10.51 days, mean costs for treatment was 1,970,000+/-475,000 won. In group I, mean age was 47.7(34-60) years, 16 patients had undergo on one-level operation, 2-patients had undergo on two-level operation, mean duration of admission was 28.7+/-10.4 days, mean costs for treatment was 2,194,473+/-561,639 won. The periods of stabilization was 6.6+/-3.36 weeks on radiologic study. Mean periods of out patient follow up was 16.8(6-64) weeks after discharge. Mean period of radiologic follow up was 17.3(4-6) weeks after surgical operation. In group II, mean age was 49.7(37-62) years and 18 patients one-level operation, 14-patients had undergo on two-level operation and 2-patients three-level operation. Mean duration of admission was 11.24+/-3.29 days, mean costs for treatment was 1,850,823+/-389,372 won. The periods of stabilization was 5.88+/-7.07 weeks on radiologic study. Mean period of out patients follow up was 16.7(4-60) weeks after discharge. Mean period of radiologic follow up was 12.4(3-52) weeks after surgical operation. The duration of admission showed statistical significance in Group II but other items showed no significant difference between two groups. CONCLUSIONS: The more economic, early life return and effective method of cervical disc disease in our series were evident in patients who had undergone, iliac bone graft and plate fixations after anterior discectomy.
Cost-Benefit Analysis ; Diskectomy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Outpatients ; Transplants*

OBJECTIVE: In the central nervous system, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is well known to act as an inhibitory neurotransmitter by hyperpolarizing postsynaptic neurons through gating GABA-activated Cl- channels. To date, however, the functional roles of GABA remain unclear in the autonomic nervous system. In the present study, we characterize GABA-activated Cl- currents in the neurons of major pelvic ganglia (MPG). METHODS: MPG neurons, located on the lateral surfaces of the prostate gland, from male rats were enzymatically dissociated. Ionic currents were recorded using whole-cell variant patch-clamp technique. Membrane potential was recorded under current clamp mode. Current traces were filterd at 2kHz by using 4-pole Bassel filter in the amplifier. RESULTS: Application of GABA (100micrometer) induced inward currents in the neurons, with holding potentials being maintained below the Cl- equilibrium potential (ECl). The GABA response was concentration-dependent and its reversal potential was close to the theoretical ECl. The GABA-induced Cl- currents were largely blocked by bicuculline (10micrometer, n=5), a GABAA receptor antagonist, but were not affected by 9-AC and niflumic acid, chloride channel blockers. GABA also produced significant membrane depolarization (19mV, n=28). As in the case of the Cl- currents, the GABA-induced depolarizations were largely blocked by bicuculline(10micrometer, n=6), but not by DIDS(50micrometer, n=4), another chloride channel blocker. CONCLUSION: The data suggest that GABAergic roles may be due to it's activation of excitatory GABAA receptors, which are expressed in MPG neurons.
Animals ; Autonomic Nervous System ; Bicuculline ; Central Nervous System ; Chloride Channels ; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid* ; Ganglia* ; Humans ; Male ; Membrane Potentials ; Membranes ; Neurons* ; Neurotransmitter Agents ; Niflumic Acid ; Patch-Clamp Techniques ; Prostate ; Rats

OBJECTIVE: In these retrospective studies, the authors report an evaluation of clinical and radiological outcome in patients with cervical spine injury who underwent anterior cervical fusion with Caspar Plating system. METHODS: The authors studied 45 patients with unstable cervical spine after trauma between July 1996 and December 2001. Our series consist of 39 male and 6 female. The cervical spine injury was most common in men in fourth decade. Motor vehicle accidents were a frequent cause of cervical spine injury. Thirty-three patients had fractures with instablity, ten a ligamental injury without fracture, one traumatic hernated disc. Lateral cervical spine X-rays were reviewed for evaluation of fusion and instrumentation failure. RESULTS: In most cases, operation for stabilization was done around one weeks after trauma. In all patients excellent immediate postoperative stability of the spine was obtained, although posterior fusion was necessary at same time in one patient. Solid fusion was achieved in all except two patients who died during the first 2 months after the operation. Three patients developed instrumentation related failure(6.7%): Two patients had screw loosening, one infection. Two of these patients underwent reoperation. The most dreaded complication of dural or cord penetration by drilling or screw placement was not observed. There was no postoperative neurological disturbances. Four patients died of causes unrelated to operation: Two patients died of upper gasterointestinal bleeding, and the other two died of pneumonia and sepsis respectively. CONCLUSION: The Caspar plating system affords an effective means of improving the fusion rate with acceptable instrumentaton-related morbidity in cervical spine injury.
Female ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Ligaments ; Male ; Motor Vehicles ; Pneumonia ; Reoperation ; Retrospective Studies ; Sepsis ; Spine*

The presence of traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage on the initial computerized tomographic scans has been known to be associated with worse results. By means of a simple and reliable computerized tomographic grade system proposed by Greene and his colleagues, prognostic factors of the traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage was significantly related to clinical outcome at the time of discharge from acute hospitalization. Between February 1992 and August 1995, 3975 patients were admitted to our department of neurosurgery due to head injury. Clinical data were retrospectively reviewed to ascertain the relationship of the thickness of traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage, its location, evidence of mass lesion(s), midline shift, obliteration of the basal cistern, and cortical sulcal effacement to outcome. Additionally, initial Glasgow coma scale score, arterial gas study, systemic blood pressure and prothrombin time were also analyzed for the same purpose. Among 3975 head-injured patients, 213 patients were identified to h ave traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage on the initial computerized tomographic scan. Among 213 traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage patients, the patients treated with calcium channal blocker(32 patients) and 3 patients lost to follow-up were excluded from this study for a total of 178. The computerized tomographic scan findings were divided into a 3 grade system;Grade 1 indicating only traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage, Grade 2 indicating traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage with mass lesion(s) , Grade 3 indicating traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage with mass lesion(s) and midline shift. All these data were compared to Glasgow outcome scale on discharge, and arbitrarily these were divided into the good(good recovery and moderate disability) and the bad(severe disability, vegetative state and death). The authors conclude that the contributing factors to outcome at discharge were as follows:1. midline shift(p=0.002), PT< or =70%(p<0.001), obliteration of the basal cistern(p=0.001) and cortical sulcal effacement(p=0.001) were shown to the statistically significant. 2. initial computerized tomographic grade contributed to outcome at discharge.
Blood Pressure ; Calcium ; Craniocerebral Trauma ; Glasgow Coma Scale ; Glasgow Outcome Scale ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Lost to Follow-Up ; Neurosurgery ; Persistent Vegetative State ; Prothrombin Time ; Retrospective Studies ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage, Traumatic*

Dermoid cysts of the spinal canal are rare benign congenital tumors, accounting for 1~2% of all intraspinal tumors. We report a case of lumbar extramedullary cyst, combined with congenital sacral meningocele. The clinical features, characteristics on MRI, pathologic findings, and surgical treatment of such a rare extramedullary benign tumor is discussed with the relevant literature.
Dermoid Cyst* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Meningocele* ; Spinal Canal

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to compare the outcomes of two methods for stabilization and fusion: Postero-Lateral Fusion (PLF, pedicle screw fixation with bone graft) and Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (PLIF, cage insertion) for spinal stenosis and recurred disc herniation except degenerative spondylolisthesis. METHODS: Seventy one patients who underwent PLF (n=36) or PLIF (n=35) between 1997 and 2001 were evaluated prospectively. These two groups were compared for the change of interbody space, the range of segmental angle, the angle of lumbar motion, and clinical outcomes by Prolo scale. RESULTS: The mean follow-up period was 32.6 months. The PLIF group showed statistically significant increase of the interbody space after surgery. However, the difference in the change of interbody space between two groups was insignificant (P value= 0.05). The range of segmental angle was better in the PLIF group, but the difference in the change of segmental angle was not statistically significant (P value=0.017). Angle of lumbar motion was similar in the two groups. Changes of Prolo economic scale were not statistically significant (P value=0.193). The PLIF group showed statistically significant improvement in Prolo functional scale (P value=0.003). In Prolo economic and functional scale, there were statistically significant relationships between follow-up duration (P value<0.001), change of interbody space (P value<0.001), and range of segmental angle (P value<0.001). CONCLUSION: Results of this study indicate that PLIF is superior to PLF in interbody space augmentation and clinical outcomes by Prolo functional scale. Analysis of clinical outcomes showed significant relationships among various factors (fusion type, follow-up duration, change of interbody space, and range of segmental angle). Therefore, the authors recommend instrumented PLIF to offer better clinical outcomes in patients who needed instrumented lumbar fusion for spinal stenosis and recurred disc herniation.
Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Prospective Studies ; Spinal Stenosis ; Spondylolisthesis

No abstract available.
Carps* ; Killer Cells, Natural

A case of aneurysmal bone cyst(ABC) secondary to eosinophilic granuloma of the skull is reported. In the skull, the presence of ABC secondary to eosinophilic granuloma is rare. We reviewed the clinicopathological- and radiological features of this type of eocinophilic granuloma at the cranium.
Aneurysm* ; Eosinophilic Granuloma* ; Eosinophils* ; Granuloma ; Skull*

Fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD) is a rare, segmental nonatheromatous angiopathy of unknown etiology affecting small to medium-sized arteries. The most common angiographic pattern is the classic string-of-beads appearance. But the tubular stenosis type of the FMD is a rare finding and has not been reported previously. We report a case who presented with recurrent intracerebral hemorrhages, whose angiographic features were long tubular stenosis type of FMD affecting the both internal carotid arteries associated with terminal carotid occlusions.
Arteries ; Carotid Artery, Internal ; Cerebral Hemorrhage* ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Fibromuscular Dysplasia*