Surgical Technique and Long-term Follow-up of Cervical Laminoplasty using Titanium Miniplates

OBJECTIVE: The authors report a simple and reliable method for cervical open-door laminoplasty secured by titanium miniplate. METHODS: Sixteen patients with cervical myelopathy secondary to multilevel cervical spondylosis or ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament were treated with an expansive open-door laminoplasty using titanium miniplates to stabilize the posterior elements described by O'Brien et al between February 1998 and June 2002, and all had a minimum of 6 months of follow-up(mean 22.5months) review. Plain radiographs were used to measure sagittal canal diameter and monitor construct integrity. The neurological outcome was evaluated before and after operation using the Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) scoring system for cervical myelopathy. RESULTS: Only 1 titanium miniplate construct was failed out of 69 levels in 16 patients during follow-up period, but decompression was maintained. After surgery, in 15 patients(93.7%) different levels of clinical improvement were demonstrated, and in four of them(25%) full recovery was observed. The sagittal canal diameter and JOA score increased from 13.3+/-2.2mm and 9.19 preoperatively to 20+/-2.4mm and 12.88 postoperatively(p<0.01). CONCLUSION: The use of titanium miniplate to stabilize the posterior elements after laminoplasty is a simple, durable, and effective technique to maintain the increased sagittal canal diameter of the spinal canal and have another advantage of compatability of magnetic resonance imaging.

Intrasellar Cavernous Hemangioma

The authors present a very rare case of an intrasellar cavernous hemangioma that mimick a pituitary macroadenoma radiologically. A 63-year-old male patient was admitted with visual field defect and clinical manifestations of pituitary failure. MR image revealed intrasellar gadolinium-enhancing tumor with parasellar extension suggesting pituitary macroadenoma. But pathology was cavernous hemangioma. It was suggested that cavernous hemangioma should be included in the differential diagnosis of pituitary mass.

A Case of Isaacs' Syndrome Associated with Small Cell Lung Cancer

Isaacs' syndrome consists of spontaneously occurring muscle activity of peripheral nerve origins. This syndrome arises in association with/without polyneuropathy and rarely with malignancy. A 63-year-old man was admitted to our hospital due to generalized painful muscle stiffness. He complained of difficulty with standing and with finger exten-sion after grasping. Chvostek's and Trousseau's signs were noticed. Electrolytes, calcium, CK, and LDH were in the normal range. Small cell lung cancer was diagnosed by a needle biopsy. Electrophysiological testing revealed normal nerve conduction studies with the exception of a grossly abnormal EMG. Continuous neuromyotonic discharges with firing rates of 120-200 Hz were seen at rest. The amplitude of the response typically waned with 0.5-1.5 seconds of duration. The discharges persisted throughout sleep, after diazepam injection, and with brachial plexus blockage.Muscle stiffness improved with the administration of oral phenytoin. Under chemotherapy and radiotherapy, tumor remission was partially achieved and neurological symptoms markedly improved.