Williams Syndrome with Multiple Cervical Vertebral Fusion Presenting Dysphagia: A Case Report / 대한연하장애학회지

Williams syndrome is a multiple-system disorder, caused by deletion of the locus 7q11-23 gene and characterized by an ‘elfin’ facial appearance, developmental delay, cardiovascular disorders, and transient hypercalcemia. Vertebral abnormalities in Williams syndrome have not been reported yet, except for one case report on cervical stenosis at the C1 level. In this case, the authors incidentally found Williams syndrome with the fusion of the fifth and sixth cervical vertebrae and an associated dysphagia showing delayed, forward-deviating esophageal passage during a videofluoroscopic swallowing study. The authors could not confirm whether the multiple cervical vertebrae fusion was related with the Williams syndrome or was just incidental. However, because physiatrists frequently encounter children with Williams syndrome and numerous kinds of developmental delay, if a patient with Williams syndrome suffers from swallowing difficulty, evaluation of dysphagia and cervical abnormalities should be considered. The present authors report the case of multiple cervical vertebral fusion in Williams syndrome.

Late Results of Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion with Interbody Cages

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective analysis. PURPOSE: To evaluate the effectiveness of anterior cervical discectomy with fusion for degenerative cervical disc disease. OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: Anterior spinal surgery originated in the mid-1950s and graft for fusion was also employed. Currently anterior cervical microdiscectomy and fusion with an intervertebral cage is a widely accepted procedure for treatment of cervical disc hernia. Artificial grafts and cages for fusion are preferred because of their lower morbidity, reduced operating time and acceptable fusion rate. METHODS: The study involved retrospective analysis and investigation of long-term results for 41 consecutive patients who had undergone anterior cervical discectomy and fusion with an intervertebral cage for cervical disc hernia. The angle of lordosis, segmental height and range of motion were evaluated preoperatively and postoperatively at 1 month and 2 years. The clinical outcome was assessed by the visual analog scale and Odom's criteria. RESULTS: The angle of lordosis increased by 2.62degrees and the range of motion angle increased by 5.14degrees after the operation. The segmental height did not change. The visual analog scale and Odom's criteria scores decreased significantly after the operation. CONCLUSIONS: Using a cage in anterior cervical discectomy prevents segmental collapse, so the segmental height and the angle of lordosis are preserved and newly-developed pain does not occur.

Experiment study of intervertebral fusion cage made by a new biomimetic grafting material / 重庆医科大学学报

Objective:To evaluate the characteristics of fusion using biomimetic n-HA/PA66 interbody cage with rhBMP-2 and discuss the feasibility of it.Methods:Thirty adult female goats underwent C_(3-4) discectomy and interverbral fusion performed with nHA/PA66 interbody cage without rhBMP-2(n=10).nHA/PA66 interbody cage with rhBMP-2(n=10),autogenous iliac crest bone graft(n=10).X ray was carried out at 4 and12 weeks after surgery to evaluate fusion quality.The goats were killed respectively on the 12th week.Nondestructive biomechanical testing for stiffness,un-decalcified histology were performed.Result:The goats in the n-HA/PA66 with rhBMP-2 group and the autogrft group all showed complete fusion at 12th week.there was no statisti- cally significant differience between the n-HA/PA66 with rhBMP-2 group and the autogrft group upon biomechanics,radiography and histomorphology.Conclusion:The interverbral fusion cage with n-HA/PA66 has good hiocompatibifity and osteoconductive ability and it may be good osteoionductive with rhBMP-2,so it was one ideal interbody fusion cage.

In vivo study on intervertebral fusion cage made by nano-hydroxyapatite and ployamide66 composites / 第三军医大学学报

0.05).Conclusion The intervertebral fusion cage of n-HA/PA66 has good biocompatibility and osteo-conductibility.It may be the ideal interbody fusion cage.