Neurologia medico-chirurgica
Online ISSN : 1349-8029
Print ISSN : 0470-8105
ISSN-L : 0470-8105
Volume 54, Issue 9
Displaying 1-13 of 13 articles from this issue
Special Theme Topic: The 28th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society of Spinal Surgery—Lumbar Instrumentation and Fusion
  • Toshiyuki TAKAHASHI, Junya HANAKITA, Mizuki WATANABE, Taigo KAWAOKA, N ...
    2014 Volume 54 Issue 9 Pages 691-697
    Published: 2014
    Released on J-STAGE: September 15, 2014
    Advance online publication: August 27, 2014
    JOURNAL OPEN ACCESS
    Transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) is widely accepted for the treatment of lumbar arthrodesis. However, the exact characteristics of TLIF depend on the number, location, shape, or materials of the interbody implants, and the type of posterior instrument. Clinical and biomechanical characteristics of each TLIF procedure are still unclear. The present study investigated the clinical and radiological improvements after single level asymmetrical TLIF, in which a single box-shaped spacer was obliquely inserted into the intervertebral space, for lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis in patients with or without local coronal imbalance (LCI) at the operated level. The clinical records of 60 patients who underwent single level asymmetrical TLIF augmented with the pedicle screw fixation system from January 2005 to January 2011, were retrospectively reviewed. The patients were divided into the LCI group (n = 19) and non-LCI group (n = 41), based on segmental lateral translation or disc wedging at the operated site. Clinical recovery was significantly good in both groups at 2 years after surgery, but improvement of low back pain was significantly worse in the LCI group. Radiological examination revealed that the mean lumbar scoliotic angle was significantly worse in the LCI group postoperatively. Preoperative greater scoliotic angle and coronal off balance of the lumbar spine were related to unfavorable radiological outcomes. The present study showed that single level asymmetrical TLIF is an acceptable method for achieving good clinical and radiological outcomes for patients with symptomatic degenerative spondylolisthesis, however, the clinical benefits and realignment are limited if the patient has LCI at the operated site with greater scoliotic angle or coronal off balance of the lumbar spine.
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  • Tatsuya OHTONARI, Nobuharu NISHIHARA, Katsuyasu SUWA, Taisei OTA, Tsun ...
    2014 Volume 54 Issue 9 Pages 698-706
    Published: 2014
    Released on J-STAGE: September 15, 2014
    Advance online publication: August 29, 2014
    JOURNAL OPEN ACCESS
    Lumbar interbody fusion is a widely accepted surgical procedure for patients with lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis and lumbar spinal instability in the active age group. However, in elderly patients, it is often questionable whether it is truly necessary to construct rigid fixation for a short period of time. In recent years, we have been occasionally performing posterior dynamic stabilization in elderly patients with such lumbar disorders. Posterior dynamic stabilization was performed in 12 patients (6 women, 70.9 ± 5.6 years old at the time of operation) with lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis in whom % slip was less than 20% or instability associated with lumbar disc herniation between March 2011 and March 2013. Movement occurs through the connector linked to the pedicle screw. In practice, 9 pairs of D connector system where the rod moves in the perpendicular direction alone and 8 pairs of Dynamic connector system where the connector linked to the pedicle screw rotates in the sagittal direction were installed. The observation period was 77–479 days, and the mean recovery rate of lumbar Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) score was 65.6 ± 20.8%. There was progression of slippage due to slight loosening in a case with lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis, but this did not lead to exacerbation of the symptoms. Although follow-up was short, there were no symptomatic adjacent vertebral and disc disorders during this period. Posterior dynamic stabilization may diminish the development of adjacent vertebral or disc disorders due to lumbar interbody fusion, especially in elderly patients, and it may be a useful procedure that facilitates decompression and ensures a certain degree of spinal stabilization.
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  • Yusuke NISHIMURA, Masahito HARA, Yasuhiro NAKAJIMA, Shoichi HAIMOTO, Y ...
    2014 Volume 54 Issue 9 Pages 707-715
    Published: 2014
    Released on J-STAGE: September 15, 2014
    Advance online publication: August 27, 2014
    JOURNAL OPEN ACCESS
    The outcomes and complications of posterior-only lumbar instrumented long fusions exceeding three segments with selective segmental transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion for the treatment of degenerative lumbar scoliosis, kyphosis, or both combined with spondylolisthesis were analyzed to investigate risk factors associated with surgical instrumentation failure. Fifteen consecutive patients with degenerative lumbar scoliosis, kyphosis, or both combined with spondylolisthesis were studied retrospectively. There were 5 male and 10 female patients, with a mean age of 71.8 years. All the patients were followed for a mean duration of 19.4 months postoperatively. Radiographic evaluation included coronal Cobb angle, lumbar lordosis (LL) angle, pelvic incidence (PI), and pelvic tilt (PT). The clinical outcomes were assessed by means of Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) score. Patients were divided into two groups: group 1—7 patients with surgical complications; group 2—8 patients without complications. The preoperative and postoperative coronal Cobb’s angle were not significantly different between groups 1 and 2. The LL highly correlated with developing surgical complications. There were statistically significant differences in preoperative and postoperative LL and the mean difference between PI and the LL (PI–LL) between groups 1 and 2. Linear correlation and regression analysis showed that there was no correlation between JOA score and the coronal Cobb angle in degenerative scoliosis patients. However, we found a positive correlation between JOA and LL. Our series of long lumbar fusions had a high complication and instrumentation failure. Creating adequate LL angle in harmony with PI was a key to prevent surgical complications and attain neurological improvement.
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  • Masaki MIZUNO, Keita KURAISHI, Yasuyuki UMEDA, Takanori SANO, Masanori ...
    2014 Volume 54 Issue 9 Pages 716-721
    Published: 2014
    Released on J-STAGE: September 15, 2014
    Advance online publication: August 29, 2014
    JOURNAL OPEN ACCESS
    A novel cortical bone trajectory (CBT) screw technique provides an alternative fixation technique for lumbar spine. Trajectory of CBT screw creates a caudo-cephalad path in sagittal plane and a medio-lateral path in axial plane, and engages cortical bone in the pedicle. The theoretical advantage is that it provides enhanced screw grip and interface strength. Midline lumbar fusion (MIDLF) is composed of posterior midline approach, microsurgical laminectomy, and CBT screw fixation. We adopted the MIDLF technique for lumbar spondylolisthesis. Advantages of this technique include that decompression and fusion are available in the same field, and it minimizes approach-related damages. To determine whether MIDLF with CBT screw is as effective as traditional approach and it is minimum invasive technique, we studied the clinical and radiological outcomes of MIDLF. Our results indicate that MIDLF is effective and minimum invasive technique. Evidence of effectiveness of MIDLF is that patients had good recovery score, and that CBT screw technique was safety in clinical and stable in radiological. MIDLF with CBT screw provides the surgeon with additional options for fixation. This technique is most likely to be useful for treating lumbar spondylolisthesis in combination with midline decompression and insertion of an interbody graft, such as the transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion or posterior lumbar interbody fusion techniques.
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  • Motohiro HIRASAWA, Hideo MURE, Hiroyuki TOI, Shinji NAGAHIRO
    2014 Volume 54 Issue 9 Pages 722-726
    Published: 2014
    Released on J-STAGE: September 15, 2014
    Advance online publication: August 29, 2014
    JOURNAL OPEN ACCESS
    Clinical and radiological outcomes of lumbar interbody fusion using artificial fusion cages filled with calcium phosphate cements (CPCs) were retrospectively reviewed. Between 2002 and 2011, 25 patients underwent lumbar interbody fusion at Tokushima University Hospital, and 22 patients were enrolled in this study. Of these, 5 patients received autologous local bone grafts and 17 received CPC. Japan Orthopedic Association (JOA) score was used for clinical outcome assessments. Lumbar radiography and computed tomography (CT) were performed at 12, 24 months and last follow-up period to assess bony fusion. The mean JOA score of all patients improved from 9.3 before surgery to 21.0 at 24 months after surgery. Fusion had occurred in 5 of 5 patients in the local bone graft group and in 16 of 17 patients in CPC group at 24 months postoperatively. No surgically related complication was occurred in both groups. CPC is a useful and safe graft material for lumbar interbody fusion.
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Original Articles
  • Jae Taek HONG, Muhammad QASIM, Alejandro A. ESPINOZA ORÍAS, Raghu N. N ...
    2014 Volume 54 Issue 9 Pages 727-735
    Published: 2014
    Released on J-STAGE: September 15, 2014
    Advance online publication: January 10, 2014
    JOURNAL OPEN ACCESS
    The intralaminar screw construct has been recently introduced in C6–C7 fixation. The aim of the study is to compare the stability afforded by three different C7 posterior fixation techniques using a three-dimensional finite element model of a C6–C7 cervical spine motion segment. Finite element models representing three different cervical anchor types (C7 intralaminar screw, C7 lateral mass screw, and C7 pedicle screw) were developed. Range of motion (ROM) and maximum von Mises stresses in the vertebra for the three screw techniques were compared under pure moments in flexion, extension, lateral bending, and axial rotation. ROM for pedicle screw construct was less than the lateral mass screw construct and intralaminar screw construct in the three principal directions. The maximum von Misses stress was observed in the C7 vertebra around the pedicle in all the three screw constructs. Maximum von Mises stress in pedicle screw construct was less than the lateral mass screw construct and intralaminar screw construct in all loading modes. This study demonstrated that the pedicle screw fixation is the strongest instrumentation method for C6–C7 fixation. Pedicle screw fixation resulted in least stresses around the C7 pedicle-vertebral body complex. However, if pedicle fixation is not favorable, the laminar screw can be a better option compared to the lateral mass screw because the stress around the pedicle-vertebral body complex and ROM predicted for laminar screw construct was smaller than those of lateral mass screw construct.
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  • Kanthika WASINPONGWANICH, Permsak PAHOLPAK, Panya TUAMSUK, Winai SIRIC ...
    2014 Volume 54 Issue 9 Pages 736-745
    Published: 2014
    Released on J-STAGE: September 15, 2014
    Advance online publication: August 29, 2014
    JOURNAL OPEN ACCESS
    Malpositioning of cervical screws risks neurovascular injury. A cervical screw fixation system can provide proper rigidity, alignment correction, and high rates of fusion afforded by high pullout biomechanical strength. The objective is to assess the dimensions and axis of the C3–C7 cervical pedicles. A 1-mm slice thickness computed tomography (CT) scan of the cervical spine of 30 patients (15 males, 15 females) were analyzed and reconstructed in three-dimensions using Mimics® 10.01 software. We measured pedicle axis length (PAL), pedicle and lateral mass length (PL-LM), pedicle length (PL), outer pedicle width (OPW), and pedicle transverse angle (PTA) from the axial image and outer pedicle height (OPH) and pedicle sagittal angle (PSA) from the sagittal image. The OPH and OPW at all subaxial cervical spines were suitable for insertion of 3.5 mm cervical pedicle screws. PSA was directed cranially at C3 to C5 (13.84, 7.09, and 2.71) and directed caudally at C6 and C7 (−4.55, −6.94). PTA was greatest at C5 and smallest at C7. The respective difference between the left and right side for nearly all parameters was not statistically significant (except for C6 PL and C7 OPH). Females had a significantly smaller OPH and OPW than males at nearly all levels. The PTA was not significantly different between the sexes. Cervical pedicle screw fixation in the Thai population can be safely performed and guidelines for insertion at each vertebra documented. Appropriate preoperative planning is necessary to achieve safe and accurate placement of the screws.
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  • Mikinobu TAKEUCHI, Mitsuhiro KAMIYA, Norimitsu WAKAO, Koji OSUKA, Mune ...
    2014 Volume 54 Issue 9 Pages 746-751
    Published: 2014
    Released on J-STAGE: September 15, 2014
    Advance online publication: March 07, 2014
    JOURNAL OPEN ACCESS
    The aim is to provide a detailed procedure of a simple and 10-minute cervical nerve root block (CNRB) under ultrasonic guidance, and to report the clinical outcomes, disorders, and complications. Records of patients who had undergone CNRB, were reviewed under ultrasonic guidance at the hospital from 2010 through 2012. The procedure is described in detail. Arm and shoulder pain was evaluated by use of the visual analogue scale (VAS). Forty-three patients agreed to undergo CNRB under ultrasonic guidance. Nerve roots from C5 to C8 were affected in 41, and these nerve roots were readily distinguished. Two of the 43 participants did not receive injections because impediments in visualizing the affected nerve root. Of the 41 who received injections, radicular pain immediately disappeared in 39, who continued to feel pain relief 1 month later. However, pain recurred in 15 patients (38%), of whom 11 underwent cervical spine surgery. The rest of 24 patients felt sustained pain relief longer than 3 months after the injection, significantly. Although one patient had recurrent radicular pain 10 months later, the pain could be controlled by medication. At the final follow-up periods, 17.2 (10–24 months), the median VAS score of the patients, 23 (0 to 71 mm), was significantly improvement (P = 0.001) in comparison to before injection 88 (range; 56–100). No complications occurred. The cervical nerve root block under ultrasonic guidance simply, safely, and efficaciously decreased radicular pain for 17.2 months in 62% patients with intolerable radicular pain.
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Case Reports
  • Hidetaka ARISHIMA, Ryuhei KITAI, Toshiaki KODERA, Shinsuke YAMADA, Ken ...
    2014 Volume 54 Issue 9 Pages 752-756
    Published: 2014
    Released on J-STAGE: September 15, 2014
    Advance online publication: January 10, 2014
    JOURNAL OPEN ACCESS
    Neurofibromas are occasionally present in spinal roots; however, an intramedullary neurofibroma is especially rare. Although a few cases of intramedullary neurofibromas in cervical spinal cord have been reported, to the best of our knowledge, there are no reports of intramedullary neurofibromas in thoracic spinal cord, and moreover, no reports have clearly reported immunohistochemical findings. We report a rare case of a large intramedullary neurofibroma in the thoracic spinal cord and show immunohistochemical examination of the tumor. A 52-year-old man presented with a 2-year history of progressive gait disturbance. Neurological examinations demonstrated complete motor and sensory deficit of his legs. Magnetic resonance imaging of the thoracic spine demonstrated an intramedullary enhancing mass within the spinal cord between T4 and T5 levels. The patient underwent T3–T6 laminectomy surgery. The dura mater was opened to reveal fusiform dilatation of the spinal cord and a midline myelotomy was performed. An intramedullary mass was revealed and could be resected totally. Histopathological examination revealed that the tumor cells exhibited spindle-shaped and wavy nuclei with abundant collagen, which resembled schwannoma or fibrous meningioma. By immunohistochemical examination, some tumor cells were positive for S-100 proteins; however, most tumor cells were strongly positive for CD34. From these pathological findings and immunohistochemical reactions, we diagnosed the intramedullary tumor as a neurofibroma.
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  • Hitoshi YAMAHATA, Muneyoshi YASUDA, Tatsuro AOYAMA, Koji OSUKA, Kazuno ...
    2014 Volume 54 Issue 9 Pages 757-760
    Published: 2014
    Released on J-STAGE: September 15, 2014
    Advance online publication: January 28, 2014
    JOURNAL OPEN ACCESS
    We report a rare case of cervical radiculopathy associated with facet hypertrophy and disc herniation. The patient was a 38-year-old woman with sudden-onset left arm pain. As conservative therapy failed to alleviate her symptoms she was referred to us. On physical examination she manifested no neurological deficits except pain and dysesthesia in the left C7 territory. Computed tomography revealed hypertrophic ossified changes in the left T1 facet joint with encroachment on the spinal canal. Magnetic resonance imaging showed compression of the spinal cord at C6/7 by disc herniation at C6/7. Anterior cervical decompression and fusion by corpectomy (C7 corpectomy and C6/T1 fixation with a titanium cage) ameliorated her pain. Facet hypertrophy in a morphologically normal cervicothoracic spine is extremely rare and its etiology is unknown. We speculate the possibility that our patient harbored a congenital anomaly and that the morphologic changes were the consequence of an injury she sustained in a traffic accident.
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  • Yusuke NISHIMURA, Michael John ELLIS, Jennifer ANDERSON, Masahito HARA ...
    2014 Volume 54 Issue 9 Pages 761-767
    Published: 2014
    Released on J-STAGE: September 15, 2014
    Advance online publication: February 28, 2014
    JOURNAL OPEN ACCESS
    Cervical spondylolysis is a rare condition defined as a corticated cleft at the pars interarticularis in the cervical spine. This is the case of C2 spondylolysis demonstrating progressive significant instability, which was successfully treated by anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) with cervical anterior plate. We describe a 20-year-old female with C2 spondylolysis presenting with progressive worsening of neck pain associated with progressive instability at the C2/3 segment. The progression of instability was well-documented on flexion-extension cervical spine x-rays. She was successfully treated by C2/3 ACDF with anterior cervical plate. Her preoperative significant neck pain resolved immediately after the surgical intervention. She was completely free from neurological symptoms at 1-year postoperative follow-up. We also review the literature and discuss 24 reported cases with C2 spondylolysis. When planning treatment, we should make sure to differentiate this pathology from acute traumatic fracture, which is a hangman’s fracture. Assessment of C2/3 instability associated with neurological deficits is extremely important to consider management properly. C2/3 ACDF with cervical plate is biomechanically viable, less invasive, and provides adequate surgical stabilization for unstable C2 spondylolysis.
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Technical Note
  • Nobutaka YOSHIOKA
    2014 Volume 54 Issue 9 Pages 768-773
    Published: 2014
    Released on J-STAGE: September 15, 2014
    Advance online publication: August 27, 2014
    JOURNAL OPEN ACCESS
    Frontal sinus infection after incorrect treatment of an opened frontal sinus may require extended approaches. This article aims to introduce modified cranialization technique and secondary cranioplasty for frontal sinus infection involving the frontal sinus outflow tract after craniotomy. Eight patients with delayed onset frontal sinus infection involving frontal outflow tract after craniotomy were treated from 2008 to 2012. Debridement and cranialization involving the elimination of the frontal outflow tract was performed. Unilateral sinus cranialization combined with reduction of the non-affected contralateral sinus was carried out for the patients with unilateral sinusitis. A pericranial-frontalis muscle flap was used to separate the intracranial and extracranial spaces. Secondary cranioplasty with hydroxyapatite was performed approximately 3 months after the cranialization. The patients’ original conditions included brain tumors (n = 3), frontal sinus fractures (n = 2), and subarachnoid hemorrhage (n = 3). The mean interval between the initial treatment and the onset of sinus infection was 23 years. The frontal sinus infection was bilateral in six cases and unilateral in two cases. Frontal sinus outflow tract was involved in sinus infection in every case. None of the patients suffered recurrent rhinogenic infections within the follow-up period (mean = 35 months) after the secondary cranioplasty. Aesthetic results were satisfactory in every case. Modified cranialization involving elimination of the frontal outflow tract is an alternative method for the patients with pathology in the frontal outflow tract after frontal craniotomy. Secondary cranioplasty provides an esthetically pleasing appearance in such cases.
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