C2-3 Fusion, C3-4 Cord Compression and C1-2 Posterior Facetal Instability: An Evaluation of Treatment Strategy Based on Four Surgically Treated Cases

STUDY DESIGN: Four patients had C2-3 vertebral fusion and radiologically demonstrated cord compression at C3-4 level related to disc bulge with or without association of osteophytes and C1-2 posterior facetal dislocation. The outcome of treatment by atlantoaxial and subaxial facetal fixation is discussed. PURPOSE: The article evaluates the significance of atlantoaxial facetal instability in cases having C2-3 vertebral fusion and cord compression at the level of C3-4 disc. OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: C2-3 vertebral fusions are frequently encountered in association with basilar invagination and chornic atlantoaxial dislocations. Even when basilar invagination and atlantoaxial dislocation are not identified by conventional parameters, atlantoaxial instability can be the nodal point of pathogenesis in cases with C2-3 vertebral fusion. METHODS: Between June 2013 and November 2014 four patients having C2-3 fusion presented with progressive symptoms of myelopathy that were related to cord compression at the level opposite the C3-4 disc space. Further investigations revealed C1-2 posterior facetal dislocation. RESULTS: All patients were males. Ages ranged from 18 to 50 years (average, 36 years). All patients were treated by atlantoaxial facetal plate and screw, and subaxial single or multi-segmental transarticular screw fixation. Follow-up (average, 15 months) using a recently described clinical grading system and the Japanese Orthopaedic Association scoring system confirmed marked improvement of symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Identification and treatment of atlantoaxial facetal instability may be crucial for a successful outcome in cases having C2-3 fusion and high cervical (C3-4) disc related cord compression.

C2-3 Fusion, C3-4 Cord Compression and C1-2 Posterior Facetal Instability: An Evaluation of Treatment Strategy Based on Four Surgically Treated Cases

STUDY DESIGN: Four patients had C2-3 vertebral fusion and radiologically demonstrated cord compression at C3-4 level related to disc bulge with or without association of osteophytes and C1-2 posterior facetal dislocation. The outcome of treatment by atlantoaxial and subaxial facetal fixation is discussed. PURPOSE: The article evaluates the significance of atlantoaxial facetal instability in cases having C2-3 vertebral fusion and cord compression at the level of C3-4 disc. OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: C2-3 vertebral fusions are frequently encountered in association with basilar invagination and chornic atlantoaxial dislocations. Even when basilar invagination and atlantoaxial dislocation are not identified by conventional parameters, atlantoaxial instability can be the nodal point of pathogenesis in cases with C2-3 vertebral fusion. METHODS: Between June 2013 and November 2014 four patients having C2-3 fusion presented with progressive symptoms of myelopathy that were related to cord compression at the level opposite the C3-4 disc space. Further investigations revealed C1-2 posterior facetal dislocation. RESULTS: All patients were males. Ages ranged from 18 to 50 years (average, 36 years). All patients were treated by atlantoaxial facetal plate and screw, and subaxial single or multi-segmental transarticular screw fixation. Follow-up (average, 15 months) using a recently described clinical grading system and the Japanese Orthopaedic Association scoring system confirmed marked improvement of symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Identification and treatment of atlantoaxial facetal instability may be crucial for a successful outcome in cases having C2-3 fusion and high cervical (C3-4) disc related cord compression.

New Classification for Clinically Symptomatic Adjacent Segment Pathology in Cervical Disc Disease

STUDY DESIGN: Clinical adjacent segment pathology (CASP) is common after cervical disc surgery. A critical examination of 320 patients operated for cervical disc prolapse revealed that CASP can also occur in patients with congenital and degenerative fusion of cervical spine. This has not been studied in depth and there is a need for a practically applicable classification of CASP. PURPOSE: To develop a new classification scheme of CASP. OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: A review of the literature did not reveal a practically applicable classification incorporating the occurrence of CASP in congenital and degenerative fusion cases. METHODS: This was a retrospective analysis of 320 patients operated (509 disc spaces) on for cervical disc prolapse. Cases (n=316) were followed-up for 3-11 years. Random sampling of 220 patients with postoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in 165 cases was analyzed. RESULTS: Six symptomatic CASP cases required resurgery (1.9%), eight cases involved MRI proven CASP with axial neck pain only and 13 patients were asymptomatic with radiological adjacent segment pathology (RASP). The frequency rate was 8.5% (27/316). Four cases of congenital or degenerative fusion of vertebra developed CASP requiring surgery. CASP is classified as primary or secondary follows. Primary A1 was congenital fusion of vertebra and primary A2 was degenerative fusion of the vertebra. Secondary, which was after cervical disc surgery, comprised B1 (RASP in asymptomatic patients), B2 (CASP in patients with axial neck pain), and B3 (CASP with myeloradiculopathy). B3 was subdivided into single-level CASP (B3a) and multiple-level CASP (B3b). CONCLUSIONS: Symptomatic CASP requiring resurgery is infrequent. CASP can occur in patients with congenital and degenerative fusion of the cervical spine. A new classification for CASP along with treatment strategy is proposed. Patients in Primary CASP and B3 CASP require resurgery while others require only observation.

Migrated Disc at Cervicothoracic Junction Presenting as Acute Paraplegia

Herein, we report on an inferior migration of an intervertebral disc C6-7 to the cervicothoracic junction manifesting as acute paraplegia. The patient showed a remarkable recovery after the surgery. The diagnostic dilemma and management difficulties of such an entity are briefly discussed.

Posterior Epidural Migration of Sequestrated Cervical Disc Fragment: Case Series

STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective study was undertaken to delineate the characteristics of non-traumatic sequestrated epidurally migrated cervical disc prolapse. PURPOSE: To present first case series of eight such cases diagnosed preoperatively and to discuss their magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) characteristics and their management. OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: Non-traumatic spontaneous migration of the sequestrated disc fragment epidurally behind cervical vertebral body is rare. Only ten cases have been reported in literature. METHODS: Detailed clinico-radiological profiles of these 8 cases are presented. In six cases their clinical picture was suggestive of cervical myelopathy. MRI scan showed single level epidural migrated disc behind body of C4, C6, and C7 in six patients and two cases with multiple levels (C5-C6). In six cases, anterior corpectomy with excision of the disc was performed and the seventh patient underwent dorsal laminectomy. The eighth patient chose not to undergo surgery. RESULTS: T1 images of the MRI scan showed an isointense signal in all the 8 cases. T2 images revealed a varying intensity. In six cases who underwent anterior corpectomy, there was a rent in the posterior longitudinal ligament. Among those in two cases multiple disc fragments were seen. In the rest four cases, a single large fragment was observed. These patients improved after anterior corpectomy and disc excision. There was no improvement in the patient who had undergone dorsal laminectomy. The eighth patient who refused surgery progressively deteriorated. CONCLUSIONS: We opine that MRI scan especially T1 images are useful in these cases. We prefer to treat these cases through anterior corpectomy with excision of the sequestrated disc which proved to result in excellent outcome.