Clinical and Radiological Comparison of Femur and Fibular Allografts for the Treatment of Cervical Degenerative Disc Diseases

OBJECTIVE: This consecutive retrospective study was designed to analyze and to compare the efficacy and outcomes of anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) using a fibular and femur allograft with anterior cervical plating. METHODS: A total of 88 consecutive patients suffering from cervical degenerative disc disease (DDD) who were treated with ACDF from September 2007 to August 2010 were enrolled in this study. Thirty-seven patients (58 segments) underwent anterior interbody fusion with a femur allograft, and 51 patients (64 segments) were treated with a fibular allograft. The mean follow-up period was 16.0 (range, 12-25) months in the femur group and 19.5 (range, 14-39) months in the fibular group. Cage fracture and breakage, subsidence rate, fusion rate, segmental angle and height and disc height were assessed by using radiography. Clinical outcomes were assessed using a visual analog scale and neck disability index. RESULTS: At 12 months postoperatively, cage fracture and breakage had occurred in 3.4% (2/58) and 7.4% (4/58) of the patients in the femur group, respectively, and 21.9% (14/64) and 31.3% (20/64) of the patients in the fibular group, respectively (p<0.05). Subsidence was noted in 43.1% (25/58) of the femur group and in 50.5% (32/64) of the fibular group. No difference in improvements in the clinical outcome between the two groups was observed. CONCLUSION: The femur allograft showed good results in subsidence and radiologic parameters, and sustained the original cage shape more effectively than the fibular allograft. The present study suggests that the femur allograft may be a good choice as a fusion substitute for the treatment of cervical DDD.

Comparison of Percutaneous Endoscopic Lumbar Discectomy and Open Lumbar Microdiscectomy for Recurrent Disc Herniation

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare clinical and radiological outcomes of percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy (PELD) and open lumbar microdiscectomy (OLM) for recurrent disc herniation. METHODS: Fifty-four patients, who underwent surgery, either PELD (25 patients) or repeated OLM (29 patients), due to recurrent disc herniation at L4-5 level, were divided into two groups according to the surgical methods. Excluded were patients with sequestrated disc, calcified disc, severe neurological deficit, or instability. Clinical outcomes were assessed using Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). Radiological variables were assessed using plain radiography and/or magnetic resonance imaging. RESULTS: Mean operating time and hospital stay were significantly shorter in PELD group (45.8 minutes and 0.9 day, respectively) than OLM group (73.8 minutes and 3.8 days, respectively) (p < 0.001). Complications occurred in 4% in PELD group and 10.3% in OLM group in the perioperative period. At a mean follow-up duration of 34.2 months, the mean improvements of back pain, leg pain, and functional improvement were 4.0, 5.5, and 40.9% for PELD group and 2.3, 5.1, and 45.0% for OLM group, respectively. Second recurrence occurred in 4% after PELD and 10.3% after OLM. Disc height did not change after PELD, but significantly decreased after OLM (p = 0.0001). Neither sagittal rotation angle nor volume of multifidus muscle changed significantly in both groups. CONCLUSION: Both PELD and repeated OLM showed favorable outcomes for recurrent disc herniation, but PELD had advantages in terms of shorter operating time, hospital stay, and disc height preservation.

Effect of PDN(R)(Prosthetic Disc Nucleus) on the Mobility and Height of the Intervertebral Disc: Preliminary Report

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the current study is to investigate the effect of the prosthetic disc nucleus replacement on the mobility and height of the intervertebral disc and adjacent segments. METHODS: Thirteen patients who underwent L4-L5 prosthetic disc nucleus replacement were included in this study. A retrospective review of clinical and radiological data was conducted. The L4-L5 disc height and sagittal rotation angle of L3-L4, L4-L5, L5-S1 were measured in the static and dynamic lateral radiographs pre- and postoperatively. RESULTS: There were seven men and six women whose mean age was 37 years(range, 24-49 years). The mean follow-up period was nine months(range, 6-14 months). In all cases the L4-L5 motion segment demonstrated angular motion between flexion and extension with a mean of 4degrees(+/-2.3degrees) of sagittal rotation angle. The disc height increased from preoperative levels by 117%. There was no difference in angular motion of adjacent segments between pre- and postoperative data. CONCLUSION: The prosthetic disc nucleus replacement after discectomy is shown to restore the disc height and maintain segmental mobility.

Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion for Focal Type of Degenerative Flat Back: Preliminary Report

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to determine the efficacy of anterior lumbar interbody fusion(ALIF) for the patients with focal type of degenerative flat back. METHODS: The authors reviewed clinical and radiologic data of 16 patients with focal type of degenerative flat back who underwent ALIF during the period between December 1999 and November 2000. The operation procedure was ALIF using titanium or carbon fiber cages of lordotic angle, which were filled with allograft or autograft mixed with allograft through minilaparotomy. RESULTS: The majority of the patients were female(15 female: 1 male) and the mean age was 60.1 years. Six patients were operated on one level, ten on two levels. The mean follow up period was 10.7 months. The mean operation time was 131minutes and the average estimated blood loss was 133ml. Transfusion was not needed in any case. The mean preoperative lumbar lordotic angle was 4.1 degree(-7.4-41.6) and improved to 17.5 degree(-4.5-41.9) postoperatively. Radiological fusion was achieved in 13 patients(81%). The Oswestry disability index score improved from 62.5% to 23.9% and the patient's subjective improvement rate was 80%. Complications were infection in one patient, incisional hernia in one, symptomatic pseudoarthrosis in one and transient sympathetic disturbance in left leg in three. CONCLUSION: In a subset of the patients with degenerative flat back who showed disc degeneration in one or two levels, ALIF using cages improved patient's symptoms effectively. It seems that ALIF through minilaparotomy can be one of the surgical options in the treatment of the focal type of degenerative flat back.

Ligation of Anterior Superrior Sagittal Sinus in Approaching Distal Anterior Cerebral Artery Aneurysm

Interhemispheric approach has been accepted as a standard method approaching distal anterioir cerebral artery(DACA) aneurysm. In the approach, most authors use the surgical method retracting the superior sagittal sinus(SSS) after dural reflection. However, it results in limited surgical space and makes the surgical procedure difficult technically. To overcome the limitation, we tried to ligate and cut SSS in 13 patients out of 23 patients of DACA aneurysm from Mar. 1983 to Feb. 1993. Out of total 583 intracranial aneurysms operated on in that period, the proportion of DACA aneurysm was 3.95%. Mean age was 52.7 years ranging from 32 to 66 years. The sex ration was 7:16, showing female predominancy. As presenting symptoms, twenty two patients had subrachnoid hemorrhage and one patient had a third nerve palsy due to an unruptured posterior communicating artery aneurysm. On admission, 4 patients(17.4%) were in grade I, 10(43.5%) in grade II, 6(26.1%) in grade III, 3(13%) in grade IV according to the Hunt and Hess grading system. In 18 patients(78.3%), aneurysms were located at bifurcation of pericallosal and callosomarginal artery and in 5(21.7%) at bifurcation of frontopolar and pericallosal artery. Associated vascular anomalies were A1 hypoplasia(2 cases), multiple aneurysms(5 cases), fenestration of anterior cerebral(1 case) and arteriovenous malformation(1 case). Thirteen cases were operated on with ligation of the SSS and 10 without ligation. Overall surgical outcomes scored by Glasgow outcome scale were : 11 patients(47.8%) in Grade I, 6(26.1%) in Grade II, 2(8.7%) in Grade III, 4(17.4%) in Grade V. The outcomes in ligation group were : 8 patients(61.5%) in Grade I, 4(30.8%) in Grade II, 1(7.7%) in Grade III, and no death. The outcomes in non-ligation group were : 4 patients(40%) in Grade I, 1(10%) in Grade II, 1(10%) in Grade III, and 4(40%) in Grade V. These results showed that the patients operated on with ligation of SSS had more favorable outcomes than the patients without ligation. It seems that the SSS in the interhemispheric approach might provide several advantages and better operative outcome over the conventional method.

A Clinical Analysis of the Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Authors reviewed 37 cases of 25 patients with carpal tunnel syndrome treated surgically at Department of Neurosurgery of Kyung Hee University Hospital from January 1981 to February 1992. The sex ratio was 1:24 showing female predominancy. Distribution of age ranged from 26 years to 65 years. Duration of symptoms ranged from 15 days to 20 years. Tinel's sign was positive in 24 patients ans 10 patients had muscle atrophy. Twelve patients were operated on both hands, 7 patients on the right and 6 patients on the left. Operations were performed under the general anesthesia in 4 patients, under the axillary block in 3 patients and under the local lidocaine infiltration in 18 patients. In postoperative periods, 5 patients experienced transient aggravation of numbness of fingers, 1 patient had wound problem, 1 patient hypalgesia and 1 patient transient motor weakness which was thought to be due to residual effect of axillary block. Surgical outcomes were good in 35 cases(94.6%), fair in 1 case(2.7%) and poor in 1 case(2.7%).