Long-Term Outcome of Posterior Cervical Inclinatory Foraminotomy

OBJECTIVE: A modified surgical technique of posterior cervical foramintomy called posterior cervical inclinatory foraminotomy (PCIF) was introduced in previous preliminary article. PCIF allows better preservation of facet joint and capsule than conventional techniques. The authors conducted a study to investigate long-term outcomes of PCIF. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed demographic, radiologic, and clinical data from the patients who underwent PCIFs at our institution. Criteria included a minimum of 48 month follow-up and PCIFs for patients with radiculopathy from foraminal stenosis (C2-T1; single or multilevel) with persistent or recurrent root symptoms despite conservative treatment for more than 3 months. Patients who had undergone previous cervical operation were excluded. The visual analogue scale (VAS) score was used for clinical follow-up, and radiologic follow-up was performed to compare the changes of cervical sagittal alignment, focal angle and disc-space height of treated segment. RESULTS: The PCIFs were performed between April 2007 and March 2011 on 46 patients (32 males and 14 females) with a total of 73 levels affected. The average duration of follow-up was 74.4 months. Improvements in radiculopathic pain were seen in 39 patients (84.7%), and VAS score decreased from 6.82±1.9 to 2.19±1.9. Posterior neck pain also improved in 25 patients (71.4%) among 35 patients, and VAS score decreased from 4.97±2.0 to 2.71±1.9. The mean disc-space heights of treated segment were 5.41±1.03 mm preoperatively and decreased to 5.17±1.12 mm postoperatively. No statistically significant changes in cervical sagittal alignment, focal angle were seen during the follow-up period (Cox proportional hazards analysis and Student t-test, p>0.05). CONCLUSION: The PCIF is highly effective in treating patients with cervical spondylotic radiculopathy, leading to long-lasting relief in pain. Long-term radiologic follow-up showed no significant spinal angular imbalance.

A Morphometric Study of the Obturator Nerve around the Obturator Foramen

OBJECTIVE: Obturator neuropathy is a rare condition. Many neurosurgeons are unfamiliar with the obturator nerve anatomy. The purpose of this study was to define obturator nerve landmarks around the obturator foramen. METHODS: Fourteen cadavers were studied bilaterally to measure the distances from the nerve root to relevant anatomical landmarks near the obturator nerve, including the anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS), the pubic tubercle, the inguinal ligament, the femoral artery, and the adductor longus. RESULTS: The obturator nerve exits the obturator foramen and travels infero-medially between the adductors longus and brevis. The median distances from the obturator nerve exit zone (ONEZ) to the ASIS and pubic tubercle were 114 mm and 30 mm, respectively. The median horizontal and vertical distances between the pubic tubercle and the ONEZ were 17 mm and 27 mm, respectively. The shortest median distance from the ONEZ to the inguinal ligament was 19 mm. The median inguinal ligament lengths from the ASIS and the median pubic tubercle to the shortest point were 103 mm and 24 mm, respectively. The median obturator nerve lengths between the ONEZ and the adductor longus and femoral artery were 41 mm and 28 mm, respectively. CONCLUSION: The obturator nerve exits the foramen 17 mm and 27 mm on the horizontal and sagittal planes, respectively, from the pubic tubercle below the pectineus muscle. The shallowest area is approximately one-fifth medially from the inguinal ligament. This study will help improve the accuracy of obturator nerve surgeries to better establish therapeutic plans and decrease complications.

A Case of Giant Skull Base Chondroma

Intracranial chondroma is a rare benign tumor. Here, we present the case of a 29-year-old female who was afflicted with left eye blindness and ptosis. Brain computerized tomography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed the presence of a giant calcified mass accompanied by a solid mass in the middle and posterior fossa. A differential diagnosis regarding chordoma, chondrosarcoma, and other chondroid tumors based on radiologic information was inconclusive. The lesion was resected completely under a microscope using a combined pterional and subtemporal approach. The pathologic report confirmed the diagnosis of chondroma. No evidence of neurological worsening was observed. The tumor had a calcified mass with mature hyaline cartilage surrounded by a thick fibrous capsule. We dissected the periphery of the tumor mass and removed it via aspiration. It was readily distinguished from normal brain parenchymal tissue. The large calcified mass at the center of the tumor had relatively high vascularity, and a high-speed drill and various rongeurs were used to remove the tumor.