Solitary Cervical Neurenteric Cyst in an Adolescent Patient

Spinal neurenteric cysts are uncommon congenital lesions, furthermore solitary neurenteric cysts of the upper cervical spine are very rare. A 15-year-old boy having an intraspinal neurenteric cyst located at cervical spine presented with symptoms of neck pain and both shoulders pain for 2 months. Cervical spine magnetic resonance (MR) imaging demonstrated an intradural extramedullary cystic mass at the C1-3 level without enhancement after gadolinium injection. There was no associated malformation on the MR imaging, computed tomography, and radiography. Hemilaminectomy at the C1-3 levels was performed and the lesion was completely removed through a posterior approach. Histological examination showed the cystic wall lined with ciliated pseudostratified columnar epithelium containing mucinous contents. Neurenteric cyst should be considered in the diagnosis of spinal solitary cystic mass.

Sagittal Sacropelvic Morphology and Balance in Patients with Sacroiliac Joint Pain Following Lumbar Fusion Surgery

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the sagittal sacropelvic morphology and balance of the patients with SIJ pain following lumbar fusion. METHODS: Among 452 patients who underwent posterior lumbar interbody fusion between June 2009 and January 2013, patients with postoperative SIJ pain, being responded to SIJ block were enrolled. For a control group, patients matched for sex, age group, the number of fused level and fusion to sacrum were randomly selected. Patients were assessed radiologic parameters including lumbar lordosis, pelvic incidence (PI), pelvic tilt (PT) and sacral slope (SS). To evaluate the sagittal sacropelvic morphology and balance, the ratio of PT/PI, SS/PI and PT/SS were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 28 patients with SIJ pain and 56 patients without SIJ pain were assessed. Postoperatively, SIJ pain group showed significantly greater PT (p=0.02) than non-SIJ pain group. Postoperatively, PT/PI and SS/PI in SIJ pain group was significantly greater and smaller than those in non-SIJ pain group respectively (p=0.03, 0.02, respectively) except for PT/SS (p=0.05). SIJ pain group did not show significant postoperative changes of PT/PI and SS/PI (p=0.09 and 0.08, respectively) while non-SIJ pain group showed significantly decrease of PT/PI (p=0.00) and increase of SS/PI (p=0.00). CONCLUSION: This study presents different sagittal sacropelvic morphology and balance between the patients with/without SIJ pain following lumbar fusion surgery. The patients with SIJ pain showed retroversed pelvis and vertical sacrum while the patients without SIJ pain have similar morphologic features with asymptomatic populations in the literature.

Accuracy and Safety in Pedicle Screw Placement in the Thoracic and Lumbar Spines : Comparison Study between Conventional C-Arm Fluoroscopy and Navigation Coupled with O-Arm(R) Guided Methods

OBJECTIVE: The authors performed a retrospective study to assess the accuracy and clinical benefits of a navigation coupled with O-arm(R) system guided method in the thoracic and lumbar spines by comparing with a C-arm fluoroscopy-guided method. METHODS: Under the navigation guidance, 106 pedicle screws inserted from T7 to S1 in 24 patients, and using the fluoroscopy guidance, 204 pedicle screws from T5 to S1 in 45 patients. The position of screws within the pedicle was classified into four groups, from grade 0 (no violation cortex) to 3 (more than 4 mm violation). The location of violated pedicle cortex was also assessed. Intra-operative parameters including time required for preparation of screwing procedure, times for screwing and the number of X-ray shot were assessed in each group. RESULTS: Grade 0 was observed in 186 (91.2%) screws of the fluoroscopy-guided group, and 99 (93.4%) of the navigation-guided group. Mean time required for inserting a screw was 3.8 minutes in the fluoroscopy-guided group, and 4.5 minutes in the navigation-guided group. Mean time required for preparation of screw placement was 4 minutes in the fluoroscopy-guided group, and 19 minutes in the navigation-guided group. The fluoroscopy-guided group required mean 8.9 times of X-ray shot for each screw placement. CONCLUSION: The screw placement under the navigation-guidance coupled with O-arm(R) system appears to be more accurate and safer than that under the fluoroscopy guidance, although the preparation and screwing time for the navigation-guided surgery is longer than that for the fluoroscopy-guided surgery.

Direct Pars Repair Surgery Using Two Different Surgical Methods : Pedicle Screw with Universal Hook System and Direct Pars Screw Fixation in Symptomatic Lumbar Spondylosis Patients

OBJECTIVE: The authors performed a retrospective study to assess the clinical and radiological outcome in symptomatic lumbar spondylolysis patients who underwent a direct pars repair surgery using two different surgical methods; pedicle screw with universal hook system (PSUH) and direct pars screw fixation (DPSF), and compared the results between two different treated groups. METHODS: Forty-seven consecutive patients (PSUH; 23, DPSF; 15) with symptomatic lumbar spondylolysis who underwent a direct pars repair surgery were included. The average follow-up period was 37 months in the PSUH group, and 28 months in the DPSF group. The clinical outcome was measured using visual analogue pain scale (VAS) and Oswestry disability index (ODI). The length of operation time, the amount of blood loss, the duration of hospital stay, surgical complications, and fusion status were also assessed. RESULTS: When compared to the DPSF group, the average preoperative VAS and ODI score of the PSUH group were less decreased at the last follow-up; (the PSUH group; back VAS : 4.9 vs. 3.0, leg VAS : 6.8 vs. 2.2, ODI : 50.6% vs. 24.6%, the DPSF group; back VAS : 5.7 vs. 1.1, leg VAS : 6.1 vs. 1.2, ODI : 57.4% vs. 18.2%). The average operation time was 174.9 minutes in the PSUH group, and 141.7 minutes in the DPSF group. The average blood loss during operation was 468.8 cc in the PSUH group, and 298.8 cc in the DPSF group. The average hospital stay after operation was 8.9 days in the PSUH group, and 7 days in the DPSF group. In the PSUH group, there was one case of a screw misplacement requiring revision surgery. In the DPSF group, one patient suffered from transient leg pain. The successful bone fusion rate was 78.3% in the PSUH group, and 93.3% in the DPSF group. CONCLUSION: The present study suggests that the technique using direct pars screw would be more effective than the method using pedicle screw with lamina hook system, in terms of decreased operation time, amount of blood loss, hospital stay, and increased fusion success rate, as well as better clinical outcome.

Heterotopic Ossification Following Cervical Total Disc Replacement: Iatrogenic or Constitutional?

OBJECTIVE: To elucidate etiological factors of heterotopic ossification (HO) by evaluating retrospectively if HO is a unique finding following cervical total disc replacement (CTDR) or a finding observable following an anterior cervical interbody fusion (ACIF). METHODS: The authors had selected 87 patients who underwent anterior cervical surgery (TDR or ACIF), and could be followed up more than 24 months. A cervical TDR was performed using a Bryan disc or a ProDisc-C and an ACIF using a stand-alone cage or fibular allograft with a plate and screws system. The presence of HO was determined by observing plain radiography at the last follow up. The relation between HO occurrence and specific preoperative radio-logical findings (osteophyte and calcification of posterior longitudinal ligament (PLL)) at the index level was investigated. RESULTS: Cervical TDR was performed in 40 patients (43 levels) and ACIF in 47 patients (54 levels). At the final radiographs, HO was demonstrated at 27 levels (TDR-Bryan; 8/18, TDR-Prodisc-C; 12/25, ACIF-cage alone; 7/29, and ACIF-plate screw; 0/25). Mean ROM at the last follow-up of each TDR subgroup were 7.8+/-4.7degrees in Bryan, 3.89+/-1.77degrees in Prodisc-C, and it did not correlated with the incidence of HO. Fusion status of ACIF groups was observed as 2 case of grade 1, 6 of grade 2, and 21 of grade 3 in cage alone subgroup, and no case of grade 1, 4 of grade 2, and 21 of grade 3 in plate screw subgroup. Fusion status in ACIF-cage alone subgroup was significantly related to the HO incidence. The preoperative osteophyte at the operated level observed in 27 levels, and HO was demonstrated in 12 levels (TDR-Bryan; 3/5, TDR-Prodisc-C; 2/3, ACIF-cage alone; 7/11, and ACIF-plate screw; 0/8). Preoperative PLL calcification at the operated level was observed 22 levels, and HO was defined at 14 levels (TDR-Bryan; 5/5, TDR-Prodisc-C; 4/5, ACIF-cage alone; 5/7, and ACIF-plate screw; 0/5). The evidence of preoperative osteophyte and PLL calcification showed statistically significant relations to the occurrence of HO. CONCLUSION: HO was observed in both TDR and ACIF groups. HO was more frequently occurred in TDR group regardless of prosthesis type. In ACIF group, only cage alone subgroup showed HO, with relation to fusion status. Preoperative calcification of longitudinal ligaments and osteophyte were strongly related to the occurrence of HO.

Unrecognized Shoulder Disorders in Treatment of Cervical Spondylosis Presenting Neck and Shoulder Pain

OBJECTIVE: Cervical spondylosis and shoulder disorders share with neck and shoulder pain. Differentiating between the two can be challenging and patient with combined pathologies is less likely to have pain improvement even after successful cervical operation. We investigated clinical characteristics of the patients who were diagnosed as cervical spondylosis however, were turned out to have shoulder disorders or the patients whose pain was solely originated from shoulder. METHODS: Between January 2008 and October 2009, the patients presenting neck and shoulder pain with diagnosis of cervical spondylosis were enrolled. Among them, the patients who met following inclusion criteria were grouped into shoulder disorder group and the others were into cervical spondylosis group. Inclusion criteria were as follows. (1) To have residual or unresponsive neck and shoulder pain despite of optimal surgical treatment due to concomitant shoulder disorders. (2) When the operation was cancelled for the reason that shoulder and neck pain was proved to be related with unrecognized shoulder disorders. The authors retrospectively reviewed and compared clinical characteristics, level of pathology, diagnosis of cervical spondylosis and shoulder disorders. RESULTS: A total of 96 patients were enrolled in this study. Shoulder disorder group was composed of 15 patients (15.8%) and needed additional orthopedic treatment. Cervical spondylosis group was composed of 81 patients (84.2%). There was no significant differences in mean age, sex ratio and major diagnosis in both shoulder disorder and cervical spondylosis group (p=0.33, 0.78, and 0.68 respectively). However, the distribution of pathologic levels was found to be significantly different (p=0.03). In shoulder disorder group, the majority of lesions (15 of 19 levels, 78.9%) were located at the level of C4-5 (36.8%) and C5-6 (42.1%). On the other hand, in cervical spondylosis group, C5-6 (39.0%) and C6-7 (37.1%) were the most frequently observed level of lesions (80 of 105 levels, 16.1%). CONCLUSION: It is very important for spine surgeons to perform a complete history taking and physical examination using the special tests, and to discover the underlying shoulder disorders causing of symptom in treatment of cervical spondylosis presenting neck and shoulder pain.

Symptomatic Adjacent Segment Degeneration Following Posterior Lumbar Arthrodesis: Retrospective Analysis of 26 Patients Experienced in 10-year of Periods

OBJECTIVE: The authors retrospectively analyzed clinical and radiographic features of patients who developed symptomatic adjacent segment degeneration (ASD) that required re-operation. METHODS: From 1995 to 2004, among 412 patients who underwent posterior lumbar fusion surgery, the authors experienced twenty-six patients who presented symptomatic ASD. Records of these patients were reviewed to collect clinical data at the first and second operations. RESULTS: The patients were 9 males and 17 females whose mean age was 63.5+/-8.7 years. Among 319 one segment and 102 multi-segment fusions, 16 and 10 patients presented ASD, respectively. Seventeen ASDs were noticed at the cephalad to fusion (65%), eight at the caudad (31%), and one at the cephalad and caudad, simultaneously (4%). All patients underwent decompression surgery. Nine patients underwent additional fusion surgeries to adjacent degenerated segments. In 17 patients who underwent only decompression surgery without fusion, the success rate was 82.4%. In fusion cases, the success rate was observed as 55.5%. There were no statistically significant factors to be related to development of ASD. However, in cases of multi-level fusion surgery, there was a tendency toward increasing ASD. CONCLUSION: Multi-segment fusion surgery could be associated with a development of ASD. In surgical treatment of symptomatic ASD, selective decompression without fusion may need to be considered as a primary procedure, which could reduce the potential risk of later occurrence of the other adjacent segment disease.

Symptomatic Adjacent Segment Degeneration Following Posterior Lumbar Arthrodesis: Retrospective Analysis of 26 Patients Experienced in 10-year of Periods

OBJECTIVE: The authors retrospectively analyzed clinical and radiographic features of patients who developed symptomatic adjacent segment degeneration (ASD) that required re-operation. METHODS: From 1995 to 2004, among 412 patients who underwent posterior lumbar fusion surgery, the authors experienced twenty-six patients who presented symptomatic ASD. Records of these patients were reviewed to collect clinical data at the first and second operations. RESULTS: The patients were 9 males and 17 females whose mean age was 63.5+/-8.7 years. Among 319 one segment and 102 multi-segment fusions, 16 and 10 patients presented ASD, respectively. Seventeen ASDs were noticed at the cephalad to fusion (65%), eight at the caudad (31%), and one at the cephalad and caudad, simultaneously (4%). All patients underwent decompression surgery. Nine patients underwent additional fusion surgeries to adjacent degenerated segments. In 17 patients who underwent only decompression surgery without fusion, the success rate was 82.4%. In fusion cases, the success rate was observed as 55.5%. There were no statistically significant factors to be related to development of ASD. However, in cases of multi-level fusion surgery, there was a tendency toward increasing ASD. CONCLUSION: Multi-segment fusion surgery could be associated with a development of ASD. In surgical treatment of symptomatic ASD, selective decompression without fusion may need to be considered as a primary procedure, which could reduce the potential risk of later occurrence of the other adjacent segment disease.