Clinical Application of Spinal Surgery using Ultrasonic Osteotome

Abstract

Objectives : Spinal surgeons generally use an air drill system for operations. We report our results using ultrasonic osteotome in recent years for spinal surgery. Subjects and Methods : The period of this study was from September 1997 to December, 1998. The subjects numbered 42 patients (18 cervical disc disease, 6 cervical OPLL, 15 lumbar canal stenosis, 2 lumber disc hernia and 1 spinal tumor). Ages ranged from 25 to 78 with 54.2 as the mean age. We performd anterior decompression in a total of 17 cases (11 cases at level one, 6 cases at level two), in 4 cases of laminectomy, in 16 cases of laminectomy and medial facetectomy, and in one case of hemilaminectomy and herniotomy. We used ultrasonic osteotome (Sumisonic ME-2400 made by SUMITOMO BAKELITE CO., LTD) in all these cases. Conclusion : We were able to perform spinal surgery more safely with this method as compared with the air drill system, especially when dealing with soft tissue. This ultrasonic osteotome did not roll into the surrounding tissues, because the material as it did not have rotative movement. Risks of damege for the dura matter and compression of the spinal cord were reduced, because we were able to break bone tissue using only a light touch.