Clinical Features and Surgical Results of Cervical Myelopathy Caused by Soft Disc Herniation

OBJECTIVE: There are many causes of cervical myelopathy including trauma, degenerative conditions, tumors and demyelinating disorders. However, myelopathy caused by soft disc herniation might be seen rarely than the spondylosis caused by hard disc. Here, authors retrospectively analyzed the clinical features and results of cervical myelopathy caused by soft disc herniation. METHODS: From March 2010 to December 2010, 134 patients with degenerative cervical spinal disease were treated with anterior cervical discectomy and interbody fusion. Among them, 21 patients with cervical myelopathy secondary to cervical soft disc herniation were analyzed. Their clinical features, preoperative and, postoperative clinical results were evaluated by Nurick Grade and Japanese Orthopaedic Association scale (JOA) retrospectively. Preoperative clinical features including duration of myelopathy, pain intensity and postoperative clinical results including improvement rate of myelopathy and radiculopathy were retrospectively analyzed by Nurick Grade and JOA scale. We also evaluated correlation between the duration of symptom, type of the disc herniation, pain intensity and clinical outcome. RESULTS: Mean age was 49.7 and male was predominant. Gait disturbance with mild to moderate pain was most common symptom in clinical features. Severe pain was shown in only 9 cases, and the other 12 cases experienced mild to moderate pain. Mean duration of myelopathy was 1.18 month. The mean JOA scores were 11.22 before surgery and 14.2 after surgery. The mean Nurick grades were 2.78 before treatment and 1.67 after treatment. Neurologic status of mild or moderate pain group on preoperative state is worse than that of severe pain group. The patients with duration of myelopathy symptom (<1 month) showed lower clinical improvement rate than the patients with myelopathy over 1 month. Patients with median type of disc herniation showed poorer neurological status than those with paramedian type of herniation in preoperative state. CONCLUSION: Authors reviewed the clinical features and surgical outcome of the cervical myelopathy secondary to cervical soft disc herniation. We presumed that patients of more than one month of symptom duration, mild to moderate initial symptom would be related with better postoperative improvement rate.

Percutaneous Endoscopic Thoracic Discectomy: Posterolateral Transforaminal Approach

OBJECTIVE: Development of diagnostic tools has resulted in early detection of thoracic disc herniations(TDH) even when the herniated disc is soft in consistency. In some of the cases, it is considered better not to opt for surgical treatment due to the unduly high morbidity and potential complications associated with conventional approaches. The authors have applied percutaneous endoscopic thoracic discectomy(PETD) technique to soft TDHs in order to avoid the morbidity associated with conventional approaches. METHODS: Eight consecutive patients (range, 31 to 75 years) with soft lateral or central TDH (from T2-3 to T11-12) underwent PETD between May 2001 and June 2004. The patient was positioned in a prone position with intravenous sedation and local anesthetic infiltration. The authors introduced a cannula into the thoracic intervertebral foramen using endoscopic foraminoplasty technique. Discectomy was performed with mechanical tools and a laser under continuous endoscopic visualization and fluoroscopic guidance. Functional status was assessed preoperatively and postoperatively using the Oswestry Disability Index(ODI). RESULTS: The mean ODI scores improved from 52.8 before the surgery to 25.8 at the final follow-up. In cases of myelopathy, long tract signs showed improvement. The mean operative time was 55 minutes, and no patient required conversion to open surgery. CONCLUSION: The technique allows a smaller incision and less morbidity. Soft TDH is amenable to this minimally invasive approach in selected patients with myeloradiculopathy.

Surgical Treatment of Cervical Myelopathy Due to Soft Disc Herniation / 대한정형외과학회잡지

PURPOSE: To analyze the characteristics and surgical results in cervical myelopathy patients caused by soft disc herniation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From June 1997 to August 1998. The authors treated cervical myelopathy patients who had a soft disc herniation. We evaluated the symptoms and signs, simple X-rays, the MRI, the JOA score and Hirabayashi's recovery rate. RESULTS: On simple X-ray, the narrowest A-P diameter was 13 mm, as the average was 14.9 mm, and no bony structural stenosis was found. On MRI, the average of the cord compression was 2.92 mm, and the average A-P compression ratio was 40.2%. An intermediate to high signal change in the cord was found in 8 cases. All patients improved after surgery and the average Hirabayashi's recovery rate was 61.1%. CONCLUSION: If, cord compression due to posterior soft disc herniation is severe, patients can have cervical myelopathy. Lateral disc herniation can also be a cause of cervical myelopathy. Cervical myelopathy due to soft disc herniation can be treated with a good results by using an anterior discectomy and interbody fusion method.

Anterior Cervical Discectomy

Between February-1, 1977 and August-31, 1981, 46 patients underwent anterior cervical discectomy without interbody fusion for the treatment of the cervical disc protrusion. Of these patients, 40 patients who were followed up for more than 6 months after surgery were analyzed. 1. 87.5% of patients had good or excellent clinical results(93.3% in soft disc patients and 84% in hard disc patients). 2. 92.5% of patients revealed good or excellent alignment of the cervical spine and none were worsen. 3. The incidence of anatomical fusion was 20% by a year and 30% by 1-2 years. Comparing with the anterior interbody fusion, the simple discectomy is technically simpler and show similar clinical results.