The Clinical Effects of C2 and C3 Medial Branch Block for Medically Intractable Headache : a Retrospective Study.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the clinical effects of medial branch blocks (MBBs) C2 and C3 in treating patients with medically intractable headaches.

Methods: The medical records of 81 patients with medically intractable headaches who underwent a C2/3 MBB between January 2019 and March 2022 were retrospectively reviewed. The degrees of pain were evaluated using a Visual analogue scale (VAS) score (rating 0-10) on baseline and after procedures.

Hyperkinetic Rat Model Induced by Optogenetic Parafascicular Nucleus Stimulation.

Objective: The parafascicular nucleus (PF) plays important roles in controlling the basal ganglia. It is not well known whether the PF affects the development of abnormal involuntary movements (AIMs). This study was aimed to find a role of the PF in development of AIMs using optogenetic methods in an animal model.

Half-Centennial History of Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society : Midway from Domestic Journal to International Journal with Good Influence in Global Neurosurgery.

October 2022 marks the 50th anniversary of the founding of Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society (JKNS). Staring as official journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society (KNS) in 1972, JKNS is a journal that is listed in the science citation index (SCI) and its impact factor has been steadily rising in recent years. The past history of JKNS was reviewed with a focus on important milestone, and the direction of future development is suggested.

Outcome of pallidal deep brain stimulation for treating isolated orofacial dystonia.

Background: Isolated orofacial dystonia is a rare segmental neurological disorder that affects the eye, mouth, face, and jaws. Current literature on pallidal surgery for orofacial dystonia is limited to case reports and small-scale studies. This study was to investigate clinical outcomes of deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the globus pallidus internus (GPi) in patients with isolated orofacial dystonia.

Neuromodulation for Trigeminal Neuralgia.

Clinical studies on neuromodulation intervention for trigeminal neuralgia have not yet shown promising results. This might be due to the fact that the pathophysiology of chronic trigeminal neuropathy is not yet fully understood. Chronic trigeminal neuropathy includes trigeminal autonomic neuropathy, painful trigeminal neuropathy, and persistent idiopathic facial pain.

Clinical Outcomes after Spinal Cord Stimulation According to Pain Characteristics.

Objective: Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is an effective treatment for chronic neuropathic pain. However, its clinical efficacy in regard to specific types of pain has not been well studied. The primary objective of this study was to retrospectively analyze the clinical outcomes of paddle-type SCS according to the type of neuropathic pain.

The Evolution of Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society from 2017 to 2020 : The Beginning of a Great Development.

Every researcher wants their research to gain more recognition, and this desire is achieved by publishing their article in a journal with higher impact. It is very important to get researchers interested in the Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society (JKNS). Therefore, the first goal was to promote the publication of papers in our journal.

Range of voluntary neck motility predicts outcome of pallidal DBS for cervical dystonia.

Background: The effectiveness of pallidal deep brain stimulation (GPi DBS) for cervical dystonia has been extensively described, but controversies exist about which prognostic factor is clinically useful. We previously reported that classification of tonic- or phasic-type cervical dystonia is useful for predicting clinical prognosis; however, the approach used by physicians to distinguish between the two types remains subjective.

Objective: The aim of this study was to develop a prognostic factor of GPi DBS for cervical dystonia.

Surgical Reconstruction Using a Flanged Mesh Cage without Plating for Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy and a Symptomatic Ossified Posterior Longitudinal Ligament.

Objective: We introduce innovative method of cervical column reconstruction and performed the reconstruction with a flanged titanium mesh cage (TMC) instead of a plate after anterior corpectomy for cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) and an ossified posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL).

Methods: Fifty patients with CSM or OPLL who underwent anterior cervical reconstruction with a flanged TMC were investigated retrospectively. Odom's criteria were used to assess the clinical outcomes.

Implications of Mechanical Endovascular Thrombectomy for Acute Basilar and Posterior Cerebral Artery Occlusion.

Objective: Protocols for posterior circulation ischemic stroke have not been established by randomized clinical trials. Mechanical endovascular thrombectomy (MET) devices are evolving, and many of these devices already developed or in development are suitable for posterior circulation MET.

Materials And Methods: We investigated the medical records of patients who underwent MET for posterior circulation ischemic stroke from January 2012 to August 2016.

Neuropsychological consequences of pallidal deep brain stimulation altering brain networks.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate postoperative changes in the neuropsychological function of cervical dystonia patients who had undergone deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the internal segment of the globus pallidus (GPi) and to investigate how DBS affects neuropsychological function by altering the neural networks of the brain. In 12 cervical dystonia patients, the Toronto Western Spasmodic Torticollis Rating Scale (TWSTRS) was used to measure the preoperative and postoperative status of cervical dystonia, and the Seoul Neuropsychological Screening Battery was used to gather neuropsychological data. The data were analyzed using a Wilcoxon signed-rank test.

Utility of the Lateral Base Dural Tacking Method in Cord Tumor Surgery Performed Using Unilateral Hemilaminectomy: A Comparison of Dural Window Widths.

Objective: Unilateral hemilaminectomy, which is used to remove spinal cord tumors, is simpler than laminoplastic laminotomy and affords certain biomechanical advantages. However, both incomplete tumor removal and inadvertent infliction of spinal cord damage attributable to the narrow surgical corridor remain of concern. When a spinal cord tumor is to be removed, it is important to ensure that the dural window along the surgical corridor is of adequate width.

Electrophysiological interpretations of the clinical response to stimulation parameters of pallidal deep brain stimulation for cervical dystonia.

Objective: Deep brain stimulation (DBS) at the posterolateral ventral portion of the globus pallidus internus (GPi) has been regarded as a good therapeutic modality. Because the theoretical principle behind the stimulation parameters is yet to be determined, this study aimed to interpret analyses of the stimulation parameters used in our department based on an electrophysiological review.

Methods: Nineteen patients with medically refractory idiopathic cervical dystonia who underwent GPi DBS were enrolled.

Side predilections of offending arteries in hemifacial spasm.

The side predilections of various offending arteries in hemifacial spasm (HFS) have not been well studied. The relationship between clinical and radiological features of HFS and offending arteries were investigated in the present study. A retrospective analysis of 370 patients who underwent microvascular decompression for HFS was performed.

Different clinical course of pallidal deep brain stimulation for phasic- and tonic-type cervical dystonia.

Background: Dystonia has been treated well using deep brain stimulation at the globus pallidus internus (GPi DBS). Dystonia can be categorized as two basic types of movement, phasic-type and tonic-type. Cervical dystonia is the most common type of focal dystonia, and sequential differences in clinical outcomes between phasic-type and tonic-type cervical dystonia have not been reported.

Correlating Parkinson's disease motor symptoms with three-dimensional [(18)F]FP-CIT PET.

Purpose: To investigate the correlation between the striatal three-dimensional location and the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) motor score in the context of idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD) through radiolabeled N-(3-fluoropropyl)-2β-carboxymethoxy-3β-(4-iodophenyl) nortropane positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FP-CIT PET/CT).

Materials And Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we assessed the UPDRS motor score and performed FP-CIT PET/CT in patients with PD. Thirty-eight patients with idiopathic PD [average 70 years of age (range 49-86); male:female ratio 12:26] were enrolled.