Retraction: Minimally Invasive Anterior Decompression Technique without Instrumented Fusion for Huge Ossification of the Posterior Longitudinal Ligament in the Thoracic Spine: Technical Note And Literature Review

This article has been retracted by the author. This article involves in conflicts in authorship. We apologize to the readership of Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society.

Retraction: Minimally Invasive Anterior Decompression Technique without Instrumented Fusion for Huge Ossification of the Posterior Longitudinal Ligament in the Thoracic Spine: Technical Note And Literature Review

This article has been retracted by the author. This article involves in conflicts in authorship. We apologize to the readership of Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society.

Clinical implications in laboratory parameter values in acute Kawasaki disease for early diagnosis and proper treatment / 소아과

PURPOSE: This study aimed to analyse laboratory values according to fever duration, and evaluate the relationship across these values during the acute phase of Kawasaki disease (KD) to aid in the early diagnosis for early-presenting KD and incomplete KD patients. METHODS: Clinical and laboratory data of patients with KD (n=615) were evaluated according to duration of fever at presentation, and were compared between patients with and without coronary artery lesions (CALs). For evaluation of the relationships across laboratory indices, patients with a fever duration of 5 days or 6 days were used (n=204). RESULTS: The mean fever duration was 6.6±2.3 days, and the proportions of patients with CALs was 19.3% (n=114). C-reactive proteins (CRPs) and neutrophil differential values were highest and hemoglobin, albumin, and lymphocyte differential values were lowest in the 6-day group. Patients with CALs had longer total fever duration, higher CRP and neutrophil differential values and lower hemoglobin and albumin values compared to patients without CALs. CRP, albumin, neutrophil differential, and hemoglobin values at the peak inflammation stage of KD showed positive or negative correlations each other. CONCLUSION: The severity of systemic inflammation in KD was reflected in the laboratory values including CRP, neutrophil differential, albumin, and hemoglobin. Observing changes in these laboratory parameters by repeated examinations prior to the peak of inflammation in acute KD may aid in diagnosis of early-presenting KD patients.

Minimally Invasive Anterior Decompression Technique without Instrumented Fusion for Huge Ossification of the Posterior Longitudinal Ligament in the Thoracic Spine: Technical Note And Literature Review

OBJECTIVE: Several surgical methods have been reported for treatment of ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) in the thoracic spine. Despite rapid innovation of instruments and techniques for spinal surgery, the postoperative outcomes are not always favorable. This article reports a minimally invasive anterior decompression technique without instrumented fusion, which was modified from the conventional procedure. The authors present 2 cases of huge beak-type OPLL. Patients underwent minimally invasive anterior decompression without fusion. This method created a space on the ventral side of the OPLL without violating global thoracic spinal stability. Via this space, the OPLL and anterior lateral side of the dural sac can be seen and manipulated directly. Then, total removal of the OPLL was accomplished. No orthosis was needed. In this article, we share our key technique and concepts for treatment of huge thoracic OPLL. METHODS: Case 1. 51-year-old female was referred to our hospital with right lower limb radiating pain and paresis. Thoracic OPLL at T6–7 had been identified at our hospital, and conservative treatment had been tried without success. Case 2. This 54-year-old female with a 6-month history of progressive gait disturbance and bilateral lower extremity radiating pain (right>left) was admitted to our institute. She also had hypoesthesia in both lower legs. Her symptoms had been gradually progressing. Computed tomography scans showed massive OPLL at the T9–10 level. Magnetic resonance imaging of the thoracolumbar spine demonstrated ventral bony masses with severe anterior compression of the spinal cord at the same level. RESULTS: We used this surgical method in 2 patients with a huge beaked-type OPLL in the thoracic level. Complete removal of the OPLL via anterior decompression without instrumented fusion was accomplished. The 1st case had no intraoperative or postoperative complications, and the 2nd case had 1 intraoperative complication (dural tear) and no postoperative complications. There were no residual symptoms of the lower extremities. CONCLUSION: This surgical technique allows the surgeon to safely and effectively perform minimally invasive anterior decompression without instrumented fusion via a transthoracic approach for thoracic OPLL. It can be applied at the mid and lower level of the thoracic spine and could become a standard procedure for treatment of huge beak-type thoracic OPLL.

Clinical outcome of patients with refractory Kawasaki disease based on treatment modalities / 소아과

PURPOSE: Although a significant number of reports on new therapeutic options for refractory Kawasaki disease (KD) such as steroid, infliximab, or repeated intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) are available, their effectiveness in reducing the prevalence of coronary artery lesions (CAL) remains controversial. This study aimed to define the clinical characteristics of patients with refractory KD and to assess the effects of adjuvant therapy on patient outcomes. METHODS: We performed a retrospective study of 38 refractory KD patients from January 2012 to March 2015. We divided these patients into 2 groups: group 1 received more than 3 IVIG administration+ steroid therapy, (n=7, 18.4%), and group 2 patients were unresponsive to initial IVIG and required steroid therapy or second IVIG (n=31, 81.6%). We compared the clinical manifestations, laboratory results, and echocardiographic findings between the groups and examined the clinical utility of additional therapies in both groups. RESULTS: A significant difference was found in the total duration of fever between the groups (13.0±4.04 days in group 1 vs. 8.87±2.30 days in group 2; P=0.035). At the end of the follow-up, all cases in group 1 showed suppressed CAL. In group 2, coronary artery aneurysm occurred in 2 patients (6.4 %). All the patients treated with intravenous corticosteroids without additional IVIG developed CALs including coronary artery aneurysms. CONCLUSION: No statistical difference was found in the development of CAL between the groups. Prospective, randomized, clinical studies are needed to elucidate the effects of adjunctive therapy in refractory KD patients.

Aneurysmal Bone Cyst of the Orbit : A Case Report with Literature Review

Aneurysmal bone cyst (ABC) is benign vascular lesion destructing the cortical bone by the expansion of the vascular channel in the diploic space that usually involve long bone and spine. Orbital ABC is rare and the clinical symptoms deteriorate rapidly after initial slow-progression period for a few months. A 12-year-old female patient visited ophthalmologist due to proptosis and upward gaze limitation of the right eye, and orbital mass was noted in the upper part of right eye on orbital MRI. Five months later, exophthalmos was worsened rapidly with other features of ophthalmoplegia. Orbital mass was enlarged on MRI with intracranial extension. Surgery was done through frontal craniotomy and intracranial portion of the tumor was removed. Destructed orbital roof and mass in the orbit was also removed, and surrounding bone which was suspected to have lesion was resected as much as possible. Histopathological diagnosis was aneurysmal bone cyst. Postoperative course was satisfactory and the patient's eye symptoms improved. Authors report a rare case of orbital ABC with review of the literature. Exact diagnosis by imaging studies is important and it is recommended to perform surgical resection before rapid-progressing period and to resect the mass completely to prevent recurrence.

Outcome Following Decompressive Craniectomy for Malignant Middle Cerebral Artery Infarction in Patients Older Than 70 Years Old

OBJECTIVE: Malignant middle cerebral artery (MCA) infarction occurs in 10% of all ischemic strokes and these severe strokes are associated with high mortality rates. Recent clinical trials demonstrated that early decompressive craniectomy reduce mortality rates and improves functional outcomes in healthy young patients (less than 61 years of age) with a malignant infarction. The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of decompressive craniectomy in elderly patients (older than 70 years of age) with a malignant MCA infarction. METHODS: Between February 2008 and October 2011, 131 patients were diagnosed with malignant MCA infarctions. We divided these patients into two groups: patients who underwent decompressive craniectomy (n = 58) and those who underwent conservative care (n = 73). A cut-off point of 70 years of age was set, and the study population was segregated into those who fell above or below this point. Mortality rates and functional outcome scores were assessed, and a modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score of > 3 was considered to represent a poor outcome. RESULTS: Mortality rates were significantly lower at 29.3% (one-month mortality rate) and 48.3% (six-month mortality rate) in the craniectomy group as compared to 58.9% and 71.2%, respectively, in the conservative care group (p or =70 years vs. < 70 years) did not statistically differ between groups for the six-month mortality rate (p = 0.137). However, the pre-operative National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score did contribute to the six-month mortality rate (p = 0.047). CONCLUSION: Decompressive craniectomy is effective for patients with a malignant MCA infarction regardless of their age. Therefore, factors other than age should be considered and the treatment should be individualized in elderly patients with malignant infarctions.

Percutaneous Cannulated Screw Fixation of Fifth Proximal Metatarsal Stress Fracture in Athletes / 대한스포츠의학회지

The purpose of this study was to know utility of percutaneous cannulated screw fixation of fifth proximal metatarsal stress fractures in athletes by assessment of radiological and clinical outcome. This study examined clinical and radiological union time of eleven cases of percutaneous screw fixation, which used the 4.0 mm cannulated screw, of fifth proximal metatarsal stress fracture in athletes. Type I of Torg classification is 7 cases, type II is 3 cases and type III is 1 case. All the cases showed fracture union, and all the patients resumed their athletics at the final follow-up. None of the cases complained of refracture or pain around where they had surgery, and visual analogue scale of pain, and American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society score was 0.73 and 93.4. The results of the study confirm that percutaneous screw fixation, which used the cannulated screw, of fifth proximal metatarsal stress fracture would help athletes resume their athletics in early stages.