Intradural Extramedullary Cysticercosis Involving the Thoracolumbar Spinal Canal in a Patient with Cerebral Cysticercosis / 대한정형외과학회잡지

Neurocysticercosis (NCC) by Taenia solium is the most common parasitic infection of the central nervous system involving the cerebrum. However, spinal involvement of NCC is rare. Spinal NCC can cause radiculopathy, myelopathy, cauda equina syndrome, and even paraparesis, depending on its location and size. Spinal NCC may require surgical treatment as a first-line treatment because medical therapy can further aggravate the inflammation due to dead cysts, resulting in clinical deterioration. The current standard therapy for spinal NCC is surgical decompression followed by medical therapy. We experienced a case of widespread thoracolumbar intradural extramedullary cysticercosis involving the spinal canal with cerebral cysticercosis. We report this rare case with literature review.

Diagnosis of C2 Spondylotic Radiculopathy by Physical Examination and Imaging Studies and Treatment by Microscopic Posterior Foraminotomy: A Case Report

OBJECTIVES@#We report the case of a patient with C2 spondylotic radiculopathy who was treated by microscopic posterior foraminotomy.SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: C2 spondylotic radiculopathy is rare, but it can occur due to spondylosis, compression by a venous plexus or vertebral artery, or hypertrophy of the atlantoepistrophic ligament.@*MATERIALS AND METHODS@#A 64-year-old woman was hospitalized with severe occipital pain radiating toward the left cervical area and posterior to the left ear. It started 3 years previously, and became aggravated 3 months previously. Foraminal stenosis of C1-2 was observed on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and degenerative changes of the facet joint of C1-2 and osteophytes originating from the left atlantoaxial joint were shown on computed tomography (CT). Dynamic rotational CT showed narrowing of the left C1-2 neural foramen when it was rotated to the left. Selective C2 root block was done, but the pain was aggravated. Thus, we decompressed the C2 nerve root by microscopic posterior laminotomy of the C1 vertebra. After surgery, the patient's occipitocervical pain mostly resolved. By the 6-month follow up, pain had not recurred, and instability was not observed on plain radiographs.@*RESULTS@#C2 Spondylotic radiculopathy was diagnosed by physical examination and imaging studies and it was treated by a surgical approach.@*CONCLUSIONS@#C2 spondylotic radiculopathy should be considered when a patient complains of occipitocervical pain triggered by cervical rotation and C1-2 foraminal stenosis is observed on MRI and CT.

Widespread Lumbosacral Subdural Abscess after Bee Venom Therapy: A Case Report

OBJECTIVES@#We report a case of widespread lumbosacral subdural abscess in a patient who underwent bee venom therapy.SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: Subdural abscess is rare, but has a poor prognosis. Therefore, prompt recognition and appropriate treatment are paramount.@*MATERIALS AND METHODS@#A 54-year-old woman was hospitalized due to severe back pain. Two days previously, she had undergone bee venom therapy. The patient then visited the emergency room because of severe back pain. However, a paraspinal infection was not detected on enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Six days after admission, the patient showed signs of meningeal irritation and an emergency cerebrospinal fluid analysis showed typical findings of bacterial meningitis. Although adequate antibiotic treatment was administered, 20 days after admission, the patient's symptoms became aggravated. Pachymeningeal enhancement, myelomeningitis, and subdural abscess compressing the cauda equina were found on enhanced MRI. Thus, laminectomy between L3–L4 and L5–S1 was performed, as well as subdural abscess drainage. Antibiotic agents were applied for 6 weeks after the operation, and resolution of the subdural abscess was identified on follow-up MRI.@*RESULTS@#In this patient, lumbosacral subdural abscess occurred due to bee venom therapy. It was cured by adequate surgical and antibiotic treatment.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Bee venom therapy can cause subdural abscess of the spinal cord. Even if it is a rare case, this possibility is worth consideration in the Korean medical context.

Diagnosis of C2 Spondylotic Radiculopathy by Physical Examination and Imaging Studies and Treatment by Microscopic Posterior Foraminotomy: A Case Report / 대한척추외과학회지

STUDY DESIGN: Case report. OBJECTIVES: We report the case of a patient with C2 spondylotic radiculopathy who was treated by microscopic posterior foraminotomy. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: C2 spondylotic radiculopathy is rare, but it can occur due to spondylosis, compression by a venous plexus or vertebral artery, or hypertrophy of the atlantoepistrophic ligament. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A 64-year-old woman was hospitalized with severe occipital pain radiating toward the left cervical area and posterior to the left ear. It started 3 years previously, and became aggravated 3 months previously. Foraminal stenosis of C1-2 was observed on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and degenerative changes of the facet joint of C1-2 and osteophytes originating from the left atlantoaxial joint were shown on computed tomography (CT). Dynamic rotational CT showed narrowing of the left C1-2 neural foramen when it was rotated to the left. Selective C2 root block was done, but the pain was aggravated. Thus, we decompressed the C2 nerve root by microscopic posterior laminotomy of the C1 vertebra. After surgery, the patient's occipitocervical pain mostly resolved. By the 6-month follow up, pain had not recurred, and instability was not observed on plain radiographs. RESULTS: C2 Spondylotic radiculopathy was diagnosed by physical examination and imaging studies and it was treated by a surgical approach. CONCLUSIONS: C2 spondylotic radiculopathy should be considered when a patient complains of occipitocervical pain triggered by cervical rotation and C1-2 foraminal stenosis is observed on MRI and CT.

Widespread Lumbosacral Subdural Abscess after Bee Venom Therapy: A Case Report / 대한척추외과학회지

STUDY DESIGN: Case report. OBJECTIVES: We report a case of widespread lumbosacral subdural abscess in a patient who underwent bee venom therapy. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: Subdural abscess is rare, but has a poor prognosis. Therefore, prompt recognition and appropriate treatment are paramount. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A 54-year-old woman was hospitalized due to severe back pain. Two days previously, she had undergone bee venom therapy. The patient then visited the emergency room because of severe back pain. However, a paraspinal infection was not detected on enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Six days after admission, the patient showed signs of meningeal irritation and an emergency cerebrospinal fluid analysis showed typical findings of bacterial meningitis. Although adequate antibiotic treatment was administered, 20 days after admission, the patient's symptoms became aggravated. Pachymeningeal enhancement, myelomeningitis, and subdural abscess compressing the cauda equina were found on enhanced MRI. Thus, laminectomy between L3–L4 and L5–S1 was performed, as well as subdural abscess drainage. Antibiotic agents were applied for 6 weeks after the operation, and resolution of the subdural abscess was identified on follow-up MRI. RESULTS: In this patient, lumbosacral subdural abscess occurred due to bee venom therapy. It was cured by adequate surgical and antibiotic treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Bee venom therapy can cause subdural abscess of the spinal cord. Even if it is a rare case, this possibility is worth consideration in the Korean medical context.

Bilateral Hypertrophy of Abductor Digiti Minimi Simulating a Localized Soft Tissue Mass: A Case Report / 대한족부족관절학회지

Soft tissue tumors of the foot have a low incidence rate, and most of them are symptom free, thus it is difficult to diagnose accurately. Herein, we report a 15-year-old male patient who had swelling without pain on the lateral margin of both feet. We performed excisional biopsy of the abductor digiti minimi via subtotal resection, following radiograph and magnetic resonance imaging. According to the histological analysis, hypertrophy of abductor digiti minimi was positive, and other soft tissue tumors were negative. Six months after the operation, normal appearance of both feet was maintained and the patient was satisfied with the result.

More than 5-Year Follow-up Results of Two-Level and Three-Level Posterior Fixations of Thoracolumbar Burst Fractures with Load-Sharing Scores of Seven and Eight Points

BACKGROUND: The development of pedicle screw-based posterior spinal instrumentation is recognized as one of the major surgical treatment methods for thoracolumbar burst fractures. However, the appropriate level in posterior segment instrumentation is still a point of debate. To assesses the long-term results of two-level and three-level posterior fixations of thoracolumbar burst fractures that have load-sharing scores of 7 and 8 points. METHODS: From January 1998 to May 2009, we retrospectively analyzed clinical and radiologic outcomes of 45 patients with thoracolumbar burst fractures of 7 and 8 points in load-sharing classification who were operated on using two-level posterior fixation (one segment above and one segment below: 28 patients, group I) or three-level posterior fixation (two segments above and one segment below: 17 patients, group II). Clinical results included the grade of the fracture using the Frankel classification, and the visual analog score was used to evaluate pain before surgery, immediately after surgery, and during follow-up period. We also evaluated pain and work status at the final follow-up using the Denis pain scale. RESULTS: In all cases, non-union or loosening of implants was not observed. There were two screw breakages in two-level posterior fixation group, but bony union was obtained at the final follow-up. There were no significant differences in loss of anterior vertebral body height, correction loss, or change in adjacent discs. Also, in clinical evaluation, there was no significant difference in the neurological deficit of any patient during the follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS: In our study, two-level posterior fixation could be used successfully in selected cases of thoracolumbar burst fractures of 7 and 8 points in the load-sharing classification.