A Retrospective Study of the Fusion Rate and Clinical Outcome after Mini-open ALIF using Paired Stand-alone Rectangular Cages

OBJECTIVE: We conduct a study to determine the fusion rate and clinical outcome after mini-open anterior lumbar interbody fusion(ALIF) in selected patients with a degenerative lumbar disc disease. METHODS: Ninety-four patients underwent the ALIF procedure between November 2000 and June 2002. The subjects were 23 men and 71 women, with a mean age of 52 years(range, 25-72). The mean follow-up duration was 21 months(range, 13-32). Clinical outcome was assessed using the modified Japanese Orthopedic Association(JOA) low back pain score and the 10-point visual analogue scale(VAS). Radiologic evaluation was performed using plain radiographs. The intervertebral disc height was measured and expressed as the percentage of the total disc height to the AP diameter of the vertebral body. RESULTS: The overall fusion rate in our series was 88.3%. The mean preoperative JOA score was 8.3+/-1.6. At the last follow up visit, the mean JOA score was increased to 13.1+/-1.1, respectively(p<0.001). VAS showed a similar result to JOA score(p<0.001). The preoperative intervertebral disc height was 36.7+/-9.9%. Postoperatively, the disc height spread to 53.3+/-10.8% one month after surgery, but diminished to 46.6+/-11.9% at the last follow-up. CONCLUSION: Our study shows that ALIF using stand-alone rectangular cages remains effective for the indicated conditions in patients with a degenerative lumbar disc disease.

Clinical Analysis of the Brain Abscess

The authors reviewed 24 patients with brain abscess from January 1986 to December 1990. The male to female ratio was 16:8 and most frequently developed at second decades. The commonest cause was chronic ear infection with abscess in the temporal lobe, and common organism was proteus species. All patients received a total of 6 weeks of antiobiotic therapy. Surgery was performed in 24 patients, Drainage of drainage and later capsulectomy may offer a simple, safe and easy removal of capsule. There was no postoperative death or empyema. The most important predictor of outcome was the patients condition when first seen. Early specialist care, computerized tomography, correct choice and dosage of antibiotics, and the surgical methods in present use should make this a benign disease.

Clinical Analysis of the Brain Abscess

The authors reviewed 24 patients with brain abscess from January 1986 to December 1990. The male to female ratio was 16:8 and most frequently developed at second decades. The commonest cause was chronic ear infection with abscess in the temporal lobe, and common organism was proteus species. All patients received a total of 6 weeks of antiobiotic therapy. Surgery was performed in 24 patients, Drainage of drainage and later capsulectomy may offer a simple, safe and easy removal of capsule. There was no postoperative death or empyema. The most important predictor of outcome was the patients condition when first seen. Early specialist care, computerized tomography, correct choice and dosage of antibiotics, and the surgical methods in present use should make this a benign disease.

Cervical Cord Injury Associated with Osteochondroma Involving Cervical Lamina: Case Report

Osteochondroma of long bone are common lesions : however spinal involvement may occur in 2.5% to 7% of all, and usually occurs from the neural arch of spinous process. Neurological complications are rare, occurring in less than 1% of patients of them. The authors report a solitary osteochondroma occurring in the lamina of C5, causing spinal cord compression.

Cerebellar Nocardiosis: Case Report

The authors report a extemely rare case of primary cerebellar nocardial abscess. Cerebral nocardiosis is arare disease and often fatal, and commonly spreaded from nocardiosis of lung or skin. Total excision of abscess and medication with sulfonamide is the treatment of choice. The patient was treated by continuous external dirainage with intermittent irrigation of abscess cavity by sulfonamide and given with sulfonamide for 10 months.