Effects of Reduction in Surgical Treatment of Low Grade Spondylolisthesis

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of reduction on postoperative results in patients with low grade spondylolisthesis, the authors retrospectively analyze ninety three patients managed surgically. METHODS: Ninety three patients with low grade spondylolisthesis underwent surgery were classified into two groups. Reduction was obtained in one group and not obtained in the other group. The clinical severity was assessed with Prolo's grade and radiological severity was measured with simple lateral radiographs(static and dynamic views). The patients were followed for a mean of 18.6 months(range 9 to 21 months). RESULTS: All patients were treated with decompression, instrumentation, and bone graft. Reduction was done in fifty eight patients and not in thirty five cases. Overall postoperative clinical results(Prolo's grade) were not statistically different in both groups. CONCLUSION: In surgical management of spondylolisthesis, decompression and stabilization with instrumentation and bone graft provide good clinical outcome. In cases of low grade spondylolisthesis, reduction performed additionally has no advantage on clinical outcome.

Comparison of the Result of Lumbar Posterolateral Bone Fusion using Autogenous Bone Graft with Allobone Graft

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to analyze clinical outcome of lumbar spinal fusion with autobone graft and with allobone graft as an additional autograft extender. METHODS: Fifty two patients who underwent lumbar posterolateral arthrodesis for degenerative lumbar diseases between February, 1998 and October, 2000 were evaluated. Arthrodesis was performed by transpedicular screw fixation. We used autogenous bone graft in 32 cases (Group A) and allobone graft in 20 cases (group B). Post operative radiographs were obtained to review the resorption of graft bone and the evidence of fusion. A modified Lenke scale was used to assess the status of the fusion. RESULTS: There were 17 men and 35 women. Mean follow up period was 12 months. According to the modified Lenke scale, spinal bone fusion rate was 93.75% in the group A and 85% in the groub B. CONCLUSION: Lumbar spinal fusion using allobone graft is favorably good compare to autobone graft.

Atlantoaxial Instability due to Hypoplasia of the Odontoid Process

The authors present a case of a 39-year old man, admitted with neck pain and tingling sensation on his right upper extremity. On radiological investigation, atlantoaxial instability due to odontoid process hypoplasia and mild upper cervical cord compression by abnormal soft tissue were revealed. We performed posterior C1-2 transarticular screw fixation with posterior bone graft and could obtain good postoperative result.

Clinical Analysis of Postoperative Prognostic Factors of Cervical Anterior Decompression and Interbody Fusion for Ossification of Posterior Longitudinal Ligament

No abstract available.

A Case of Giant-cell Tumor of the Thoracic Spine

No abstract available.

A Case of Frontal Ganglioglioma Coincidence with Pituitary Adenoma

A case of frontal ganglioglioma coexisting with pituitary adenoma is reported. A 37-year-old male presented with chief complaint of headache for 2 months. A neurological examination of the patient revealed no deficit. Brain MRI showed a well enhanced lobulated mass on left frontal lobe and another homogeneously enhanced mass on intrasellar and suprasellar portion. The frontal mass was grayish in color and rubbery hard in consistency on operative field, having relatively good boundary from the adjacent normal brain tissue. The sellar mass was 3X3cm in size and compressed optic chiasm. Histological diagnosis of frontal mass was ganglioglioma and sella mass showed typical features of pituitary adenoma.

Osteochondroma of the Lumbar Spine Misdiagnosed as Calcified Disc

Cartilage-forming tumors are benign cartilaginous tumors that rarely affect the spinal canal. They account for 2% of all spinal tumors and 2.6% of all benign bone tumors, and involvement of the vertebral column is found in 3-5% of the cases. Pathologically, they may be classified as chondroma, osteochondroma, chondroblastoma and chondromyxoid fibroma. This oncotype may remain asymptomatic or may present as a hard paravertebral swelling, or -more rarely- be accompanied by a slowly developing neurologic syndrome. We report the case of a 38 -year- old man in whom pain in the left buttock and left leg developed. Surgery involved a left partial hemilaminectomy and the mass was totally excised.

Spontaneous Cervical Epidural Hematoma: Case Report

Spontaneous cervical epidural hematoma is an infrequent entity that usually requires emergency decompression on account of impending neurologic deficit. We present a case of a 36-year-old man who visited our emergency room complainng of severe neck pain with progressive weakness of both upper extrmities. On cervical MRI, fusiform epidural hematoma was found extending from the fifth to the seventh cervical vertebrae. Emergency surgical evacuation was performed. The patient was fully recovered and discharged uneventfully.

Surgical Removal of a Large Distal Posterior Inferior Cerebellar Artery Aneurysm: Case Report

The authors report a rare case of right distal posterior inferior cerebellar artery(PICA) aneurysm arising from just distal to its vermian brance. A 36-year-old female patient presented with a sudden onset of headache, nausea, dizziness and ataxia without any other neurologic deficit. On brain computerized tomographic(CT) scan and magnetic resonance imaging(MRI), a well-defined round mass was detected just behind the fourth ventricle. On transfemoral vertebral angiogram(TFVAG), it was confirmed as a saccular aneurysm arising from the vermian brance of the right PICA. The aneurysm was initially directly clipped through bilateral suboccipital approach. Postoperative follow up angiogram after two weeks revealed a more enlarged aneurysm and an incompletely clipped neck. After making sufficient exposure of the aneurysm, the neck was reclipped and the sac removed. Postoperative results were uneventful.