A Rare Case of Pituicytoma Presenting Cystic Formation.

Pituicytoma is a rare solid benign tumor of the sellar and/or suprasellar region originating from the pituicytes of the neurohypophysis or infundibulum, which is not differentiated from a pituitary adenoma that is diagnosed mostly in the sellar and/or suprasellar region. In addition, cystic tumors are very rare and have not been reported due to their solid and hypervascular natures. A 33-year-old man presented with a chronic headache which exacerbated recently.

Research articles published by Korean spine surgeons: Scientific progress and the increase in spine surgery.

There has been a marked increase in spine surgery in the 21st century, but there are no reports providing quantitative and qualitative analyses of research by Korean spine surgeons. The study goal was to assess the status of Korean spinal surgery and research. The number of spine surgeries was obtained from the Korean National Health Insurance Service.

Surgical outcomes in patients with mild symptoms, but severely compressed spinal cord from cervical ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament.

Surgical treatment is indicated in patients with moderate to severe myelopathy from cervical ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligaments (OPLL), but undertaking prophylactic surgery for asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic patients with a severely compressed spinal cord is debatable. Patients with <8mm space available in the spinal canal on CT scan, were divided into groups I (mild symptoms, Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) score range 15-16) and II (moderate to severe symptoms, JOA score <14). Medical charts including operative records were reviewed to obtain preoperative, perioperative, and final postoperative follow-up data.

Difference in canal encroachment by the fusion mass between anterior cervical discectomy and fusion with bone autograft and anterior plating, and stand-alone cage.

We conducted a prospective randomized study comparing stand-alone cage and bone autograft and plate implants in anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (www.clinicaltrials.gov, NCT01011569).

En Bloc Cervical Laminoplasty Using Translaminar Screws (T-laminoplasty): Novel Procedure for Preserving Midline Ligamentous Structures.

Study Design: Prospectively maintained and retrospectively analyzed study.

Objective: The authors have newly developed an en bloc cervical laminoplasty using translaminar screws (T-laminoplasty) to preserve the posterior midline structures so as to maintain spinal stability and prevent postoperative axial pain and deformity.

Summary Of Background Data: Cervical laminoplasty is a popular surgical procedure for patients with multilevel compressive cervical lesions.

Clinical Experiences of Non-fusion Dynamic Stabilization Surgery for Adjacent Segmental Pathology after Lumbar Fusion.

Background: As an alternative to spinal fusion, non-fusion dynamic stabilization surgery has been developed, showing good clinical outcomes. In the present study, we introduce our surgical series, which involves non-fusion dynamic stabilization surgery for adjacent segment pathology (ASP) after lumbar fusion surgery.

Methods: Fifteen patients (13 female and 2 male, mean age of 62.

Diversity and homogeneity of oral microbiota in healthy Korean pre-school children using pyrosequencing.

Objectives The purpose of this study was designed to identify the oral microbiota in healthy Korean pre-school children using pyrosequencing. Materials and methods Dental plaque samples were obtained form 10 caries-free pre-school children. The samples were analysed using pyrosequencing.

Surgical Outcomes of the Ossification of the Posterior Longitudinal Ligament According to the Involvement of the C2 Segment.

Objective: The complex structure around the upper cervical spine makes surgical treatment difficult. the present study aimed to analyze how patients with ossification of the longitudinal ligament (OPLL) involving the C2 were managed and to compare the surgical outcomes according to the C2 involvement.

Methods: Ninety-five patients with cervical OPLL who underwent surgical treatment were divided into C2 involvement (C2+ group, 40 patients) or none (C2- group, 55 patients).

Dynamic stabilization using the Dynesys system versus posterior lumbar interbody fusion for the treatment of degenerative lumbar spinal disease: a clinical and radiological outcomes-based meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE The Dynesys, a pedicle-based dynamic stabilization (PDS) system, was introduced to overcome the drawbacks of fusion procedures. Nevertheless, the theoretical advantages of PDS over fusion have not been clearly confirmed. The aim of this study was to compare clinical and radiological outcomes of patients who underwent PDS using the Dynesys system with those who underwent posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF).

Facet joint changes after application of lumbar nonfusion dynamic stabilization.

OBJECTIVE The long-term effects on adjacent-segment pathology after nonfusion dynamic stabilization is unclear, and, in particular, changes at the adjacent facet joints have not been reported in a clinical study. This study aims to compare changes in the adjacent facet joints after lumbar spinal surgery. METHODS Patients who underwent monosegmental surgery at L4-5 with nonfusion dynamic stabilization using the Dynesys system (Dynesys group) or transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion with pedicle screw fixation (fusion group) were retrospectively compared.

Clinical Factors and Perioperative Strategies Associated with Outcome in Preinjury Antiplatelet and Anticoagulation Therapy for Patients with Traumatic Brain Injuries.

Objective: Long-term oral anticoagulation or antiplatelet therapy has been used with increasing frequency in the elderly. These patients are at increased risk of morbidity and mortality from expansion of intracranial hemorrhage. We conducted a single-center retrospective case control study to evaluate risk factors associated with outcomes and to identify the differences in outcome in traumatic brain injury between preinjury anticoagulation use and without anticoagulation.

Intracranial Hypertension in a Patient with a Chiari Malformation Accompanied by Hyperthyroidism.

The Chiari malformation is an infrequently detected congenital anomaly characterized by the downward displacement of the cerebellum with a tonsillar herniation below the foramen magnum that may be accompanied by either syringomyelia or hydrocephalus. Surgery, such as foramen magnum decompression, is indicated for a symptomatic Chiari malformation, although an incidental lesion may be followed-up without further treatment. Infrequently, increased intracranial pressure emerges due to hyperthyroidism.

Hybrid Surgery Combined with Dynamic Stabilization System and Fusion for the Multilevel Degenerative Disease of the Lumbosacral Spine.

Background: As motion-preserving technique has been developed, the concept of hybrid surgery involves simultaneous application of two different kinds of devices, dynamic stabilization system and fusion technique. In the present study, the application of hybrid surgery for lumbosacral degenerative disease involving two-segments and its long-term outcome were investigated.

Methods: Fifteen patients with hybrid surgery (Hybrid group) and 10 patients with two-segment fusion (Fusion group) were retrospectively compared.

Different Surgical Approaches for Spinal Schwannoma: A Single Surgeon's Experience with 49 Consecutive Cases.

Objective: Comparing different surgical approaches for spinal schwannoma, the safety and efficacy of the minimally invasive surgery (MIS) approach were demonstrated, and a suitable indication for each surgical approach was analyzed.

Methods: This study comprised 49 consecutive patients with intradural extramedullary schwannoma who underwent surgical resection: 31 patients via MIS approach (MIS group; 6 patients via a muscle-splitting approach using a tubular retractor and 25 patients via unilateral hemilaminectomy preserving the contralateral paraspinal muscle) and 18 patients via total laminectomy (TL group). Medical records including perioperative data and radiologic data were reviewed.

Risk Prediction for Development of Traumatic Cervical Spinal Cord Injury without Spinal Instability.

Study Design Retrospective comparative study. Objective A narrow spinal canal is an important risk factor for predicting a spinal cord injury (SCI); however, the radiologic parameters have not been fully established. The authors conducted a comparative study to forecast SCI risk by determining a predictive spinal canal diameter (SCD) cutoff value from magnetic resonance image (MRI) in the Korean population.

Correlation between cervical lordosis and adjacent segment pathology after anterior cervical spinal surgery.

Purpose: To evaluate the incidence and risk factors for adjacent segment pathology (ASP) after anterior cervical spinal surgery.

Methods: Fourteen patients (12 male, mean age 47.1 years) who underwent single-level cervical disk arthroplasty (CDA group) and 28 case-matched patients (24 male, mean age 53.

Emergency response team activation in the outpatient clinic of a single dental teaching hospital in Korea: a retrospective study of 10 years' records.

Background: To prepare for possible emergency situations during dental treatment, it is helpful to know how often and what kinds of emergencies may arise. This study set out to evaluate the incidences, causes, treatments, and outcomes of emergency situations in the outpatient clinic of a dental teaching hospital in Korea.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the records of patients who had experienced an emergency situation and emergency response team activated in a selected outpatient clinic between November 2004 and November 2013.

Adverse effect of trauma on neurologic recovery for patients with cervical ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament.

Study Design Retrospective study. Objective Minor trauma, even from a simple fall, can often cause cervical myelopathy, necessitating surgery in elderly patients who may be unaware of their posterior longitudinal ligament ossification (OPLL). The aim of this study is to determine the influence of trauma on the neurologic course in patients who have undergone surgery for cervical OPLL.

Factor XI deficiency and orthognathic surgery: a case report on anesthesia management.

Factor XI deficiency (Hemophilia C) is a very rare autosomal recessive bleeding disorder. Patients with factor XI deficiency do not typically show any spontaneous bleeding or specific symptoms. Sometimes those who have this disorder are identified during special situations such as trauma or surgery.

Telephone follow-up care for disabled patients discharged after receiving dental treatment under outpatient general anesthesia.

Background: Patients were subjected to post-discharge follow-up (by telephone) in order to investigate the potential complications of outpatient general anesthesia or deep sedation that could develop in disabled dental patients discharged from the hospital. The ultimate aim of this study was to establish an appropriate response measure for such complications.

Methods: The caregivers of 79 disabled patients who underwent dental procedures under general anesthesia at our outpatient clinic were interviewed over telephone.

Acute intracranial bleeding and recurrence after bur hole craniostomy for chronic subdural hematoma.

Object: There is inconsistency among the perioperative management strategies currently used for chronic subdural hematoma (cSDH). Moreover, postoperative complications such as acute intracranial bleeding and cSDH recurrence affect clinical outcome of cSDH surgery. This study evaluated the risk factors associated with acute intracranial bleeding and cSDH recurrence and identified an effective perioperative strategy for cSDH patients.

A platform technique for growth factor delivery with novel mode of action.

Though growth factors allow tissue regeneration, the trade-off between their effectiveness and adverse effects limits clinical application. The key issues in current growth factor therapy largely derive from initial burst pharmacokinetics, rapid clearance, and proteolytic cleavage resulting in clinical ineffectiveness and diverse complications. While a number of studies have focused on the development of carriers, issues arising from soluble growth factor remain.

Decompression and nonfusion dynamic stabilization for spinal stenosis with degenerative lumbar scoliosis: Clinical article.

Object: Spinal stenosis with degenerative lumbar scoliosis (DLS) mostly occurs in the elderly population (typically > 65 years old), causing pain in the legs and back, claudication, and spinal deformity. The surgical strategy for DLS is controversial concerning the surgical approach, fusion area, decompression area, correction methods, and ideal angle of curve correction. A nonfusion stabilization system with motion preservation has been recently used for degenerative spinal diseases with favorable outcomes.

Dural tear and resultant cerebrospinal fluid leaks after cervical spinal trauma.

Purpose: Traumatic cervical spinal cord injuries (SCIs) frequently develop dural tears and resultant cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks. They are not usually identified with advanced imaging, and there are no reports on managing CSF leaks after cervical trauma. Hence, the authors evaluated the incidence of CSF leaks after cervical SCIs and described how to predict and manage CSF leaks.