Clinical Features and Treatment Outcomes of Acute Multiple Thoracic and Lumbar Spinal Fractures: A Comparison of Continuous and Noncontinuous Fractures

OBJECTIVE: The treatment of multiple thoracolumbar spine fractures according to fracture continuity has rarely been reported. Herein we evaluate the clinical features and outcomes of multiple thoracolumbar fractures depending on continuous or noncontinuous status.METHODS: From January 2010 to January 2016, 48 patients with acute thoracic and lumbar multiple fractures who underwent posterior fusion surgery were evaluated. Patients were divided into two groups (group A : continuous; group B : noncontinuous). We investigated the causes of the injuries, the locations of the injuries, the range of fusion levels, and the functional outcomes based on the patients’ general characteristics.RESULTS: A total of 48 patients were enrolled (group A : 25 patients; group B : 23 patients). Both groups had similar pre-surgical clinical and radiologic features. The fusion level included three segments (group A : 4; group B : 5) or four segments (group A : 19; group B : 5). Group B required more instrumented segments than did group A. Group A scored 23.5 and group B scored 33.4 on the Korean Oswestry Disability Index (KODI) at the time of last follow-up. In both groups, longer fusion was associated with worse KODI score.CONCLUSION: In this study, due to the assumption of similar initial clinical and radiologic features in both group, the mechanism of multiple fractures is presumed to be the same between continuous and noncontinuous fractures. The noncontinuous fracture group had worse KODI scores in long-term follow-up, thought to be due to long fusion level. Therefore, we recommend minimizing the number of segments that are fused in multiple thoracolumbar and lumbar fractures when decompression is not necessary.

Clinical Features and Treatment Outcomes of Acute Multiple Thoracic and Lumbar Spinal Fractures: A Comparison of Continuous and Noncontinuous Fractures

OBJECTIVE: The treatment of multiple thoracolumbar spine fractures according to fracture continuity has rarely been reported. Herein we evaluate the clinical features and outcomes of multiple thoracolumbar fractures depending on continuous or noncontinuous status. METHODS: From January 2010 to January 2016, 48 patients with acute thoracic and lumbar multiple fractures who underwent posterior fusion surgery were evaluated. Patients were divided into two groups (group A : continuous; group B : noncontinuous). We investigated the causes of the injuries, the locations of the injuries, the range of fusion levels, and the functional outcomes based on the patients’ general characteristics. RESULTS: A total of 48 patients were enrolled (group A : 25 patients; group B : 23 patients). Both groups had similar pre-surgical clinical and radiologic features. The fusion level included three segments (group A : 4; group B : 5) or four segments (group A : 19; group B : 5). Group B required more instrumented segments than did group A. Group A scored 23.5 and group B scored 33.4 on the Korean Oswestry Disability Index (KODI) at the time of last follow-up. In both groups, longer fusion was associated with worse KODI score. CONCLUSION: In this study, due to the assumption of similar initial clinical and radiologic features in both group, the mechanism of multiple fractures is presumed to be the same between continuous and noncontinuous fractures. The noncontinuous fracture group had worse KODI scores in long-term follow-up, thought to be due to long fusion level. Therefore, we recommend minimizing the number of segments that are fused in multiple thoracolumbar and lumbar fractures when decompression is not necessary.

Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis of the Thoracic Spine in an Adult

We report a case of a 45-year-old man with a complaint of both leg weakness and hypoesthesia. Radiological evaluation revealed an osteolytic lesion of the ninth thoracic vertebra. The patient underwent posterior corpectomy with total excision of the tumor, mesh cage insertion with posterior screw fixation and subsequent radiotherapy. Histology confirmed the diagnosis of Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH). This case report presents the diagnostic work-up, histopathological evaluation, and the treatment procedures of rare LCH in the thoracic spine.

Posterior Vertebrectomy and Circumferential Fusion for the Treatment of Advanced Thoracolumbar Kümmell Disease with Neurologic Deficit

STUDY DESIGN: Single-center, retrospective case series. PURPOSE: To investigate the effectiveness of posterior vertebrectomy and circumferential fusion in patients with advanced Kümmell disease with neurologic deficit. OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: Various surgical options exist for the treatment of Kümmell disease, and determination of the appropriate treatment is based on the clinical and radiologic status of the patient. However, surgical intervention is required for patients with advanced Kümmell disease accompanied by neurologic deficit. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 22 neurologically compromised patients with advanced Kümmell disease who were treated surgically at Ewha Womans Hospital between January 2011 and January 2014. The surgical approach used by us was a posterior vertebrectomy with mesh cage insertion and segmental cement-augmented pedicle screw fixation. The tissue from the corpectomy was histopathologically examined. Anterior vertebral height, kyphotic angle, visual analog scale (VAS) score, and the Frankel classification were used to evaluate the efficacy of the procedure. RESULTS: The mean follow-up period was 26 months (range, 13–40 months). VAS score, anterior vertebral height, kyphotic angle, and neurologic state were significantly improved immediately postoperatively and at the last follow-up compared with preoperatively (p<0.05). Most patients exhibited intravertebral clefts on imaging, and postoperative pathology revealed bone necrosis. CONCLUSIONS: Posterior vertebrectomy with mesh cage insertion and segmental cement-augmented pedicle screw fixation is an effective approach for treating patients with advanced Kümmell disease with neurologic deficit.

Evaluation of Global Sagittal Balance in Koreans Adults

OBJECTVIE: The global sagittal postural patterns as characterized by Roussouly classification have been previously described in various ethnicities, there were no studies investigated in Koreans. To analyze the distribution of the global sagittal postural patterns in Korean adults using Roussouly classification, the author prospectively studied. METHODS: 252 asymptomatic Korean adults was recruited. Data was obtained by reviewing the films for each subject. Spinopelvic parameters were measured and sagittal postural patterns were then determined according to Roussouly classification. We compared the data across different ethnicities from our study and a previous study to further characterize Korean sagittal postures. RESULTS: The subject included 151 males and 101 females, with mean age of 33.2±8.2 years. The average descriptive results were as below: thoracic kyphosis 28.6±7.7°, lumbar lordosis 48.3±10.2°, sacral slope 37.8±5.8°, pelvic incidence 45.1±7.5°, pelvic tilt 9.4±6.7°, spinosacral angle 130.1±5.4°, and sagittal vertical axis 16.25±22.5 mm. 125 subjects among 252 (49.6%) belonged to Roussouly type 3 (namely neutral). There were also 58 (23%), 33 (13.1%), and 36 (14.3) subjects in type 1, 2, and 4 (namely non-neutral), respectively. CONCLUSION: Enrolling 252 asymptomatic Korean adults, this prospective study found that 49.6% of asymptomatic Korean adults possessed a sagittal posture of Roussouly type 3. All radiologic parameters follows general concept of spinal sagittal balance pattern. Overall, this study might be a basis for further investigation of spinal sagittal balance.

The Change of Range of Motion at Anterior Compression of the Cervical Cord after Laminoplasty in Patients with Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy

OBJECTIVE: Degenerative diseases of the spine, such as cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM), are increasing among the old age population, and surgical treatment of CSM is becoming more and more common. The aim of this study was to investigate how functional recovery can be influenced by anterior compression of the spinal cord (ACS) after laminoplasty for treatment of patients with CSM. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 32 patients admitted to Ewha Womans Mok-Dong Hospital with CSM who underwent open-door laminoplasty from January 2012 to December 2014. We divided patients into 2 groups according to whether ACS was or not preoperatively. Each group was analyzed clinical and radiological parameters which were Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) scores and its recovery rate, sagittal alignment and range of motion (ROM). RESULTS: The mean duration of symptom was 11.2 months (range, 6-22 months). A significant difference in recovery rate of the total JOA score was shown between the 2 groups, especially upper extremity motor function. No difference in preoperative JOA score between the 2 groups, but recovery rate of each group was 20.05%±18.1%, 32.21%±25.4%, statistically significant (p<0.005). Upper motor and sensory function was not significantly different in the 2 groups. Preoperative, postoperative and preservation of ROM was 44.3°±10.1°, 41.8°±15.7°, 87.9%±35.4% each at ACS (-) group. A significant difference in postoperative ROM was identified between ACS (-) and ACS (+) group. Postoperative anterior compression of the spinal cord was recognized 14 cases which were classified from its causes. CONCLUSION: Cervical ROM decreased significantly after laminoplasty, but 85.3% of the preoperative ROM was preserved. The postoperative reduction of ROM in group with anterior compression of spinal cord was identified.