Optimising treatment strategies in spinal ependymoma based on 20years of experience at a single centre.

Spinal ependymomas are rare tumours, with total resection favoured where possible. Several case series assessing the outcome following neurosurgical treatment for spinal ependymoma advocate the usage of adjuvant radiotherapy in cases of subtotal resection, or in unencapsulated tumours. We assessed the outcome of 61 consecutive cases of spinal ependymoma in a single centre over a 20year period using a variety of outcome measures. Sex distribution was equal, with a mean age at surgery of 43.6years (range 5-76years). Overall, most tumours occurred in the lumbosacral region (70.5%), with fewer in the thoracic (27.9%) and cervical regions (18.0%). Myxopapillary features were seen in 41.0% of tumours, and were more common when occurring in the lumbar region (51.2%). Gross total resection was achieved in 52.5%, subtotal resection in 37.7% and biopsy alone in 9.8% of patients and 31.1% received adjuvant radiotherapy. Two-thirds of patients achieved an excellent post-operative neurological outcome (Frankel grade E). Tumour recurrence was rare. Gross total resection and good preoperative neurological condition were most strongly predictive of good outcome. Post-operative radiotherapy did not seem to confer survival benefit in this case series, even in cases of incomplete resection, leading us to question its utility for all cases of spinal cord ependymoma.

Idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus: an important differential diagnosis.

Idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus, an uncommon but important differential diagnosis for ataxia, cognitive impairment and urinary incontinence, is surgically treatable, unlike many of its differential diagnoses. This article discusses its assessment, investigation and therapeutic interventions.

Anterior cervical discectomy plus intervertebral polyetheretherketone cage fusion over three and four levels without plating is safe and effective long-term.

Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) is an established treatment for single-level cervical spondylotic myelopathy and radiculopathy, yet its stand-alone use for multi-level disease of the subaxial cervical spine remains controversial. We report a prospectively studied case series of 30 patients receiving polyetheretherketone (PEEK) cage fusion over three and four cervical levels without anterior plating. Seven (23.3%) four-level procedures (all C3 to C7) were performed, the other 23 (76.7%) being three-level, with 19 (64.4%) at C4 to C7 and four (12.3%) at C3 to C6. Long-term follow-up of more than 2 years was available in 67% of patients. This cohort showed statistically significant improvements in visual analogue score for neck pain (p=0.0006), arm pain (p=0.0003) and Japanese Orthopaedic Association myelopathy score (p=0.002). Fused segment heights increased by 0.6-1.1%. Adjacent segment disease requiring ACDF at C3-4 was seen in 6.7% of patients (one after trauma) at a mean follow-up of 62 months. Same segment recurrence requiring posterior decompression with instrumented fusion was found in 10% of patients at a mean follow-up of 49 months, only one of whom had radiological evidence of cage subsidence. The results suggest the procedure is safe and effective with potentially less morbidity than anterior plating, shorter inpatient stays than posterior approaches, acceptable same segment recurrence and lower than predicted adjacent segment disease rates.

Use of the Solis cage and local autologous bone graft for anterior cervical discectomy and fusion: early technical experience.

OBJECT: The authors prospectively evaluated the clinical and radiological outcomes after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) involving placement of a Solis cage and local autograft in patients who presented with symptomatic cervical spondylosis. METHODS: Twenty-two consecutive patients underwent ACDF for radiculopathy (13 cases), myeloradiculopathy (eight cases), or myelopathy alone (one case) and were assessed at 3, 6, and 12 months. Plain cervical spine radiography demonstrated a significant change in both local (p < 0.05) and regional (p < 0.05) kyphotic angles as well as an increase in segmental height (p < 0.05). At 12 months, plain radiography demonstrated Grades I, II, and III new bone formation in two, three, and 17 patients, respectively. Clinical outcomes were assessed using a visual analog scale for both neck and arm pain and a modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) scale for myelopathy. There was a significant improvement in both arm (p < 0.05) and neck pain (p < 0.05). At 12 months, 16 (84%) of 19 and 19 (86%) of 22 patients reported complete resolution of arm pain and neck pain, respectively. There was a significant improvement in JOA scores following surgery (p < 0.05). There were two complications in the series: one case of deep venous thrombosis and one case of postoperative arm pain that resolved after conservative treatment. There were no technical complications. CONCLUSIONS: Early experience with Solis cage-augmented ACDF indicates good clinical and radiological outcomes; additionally, there are the advantages of absent donor site morbidity and anterior plate system-related morbidity.

Anterior correction of cervical kyphotic deformity: effects on myelopathy, neck pain, and sagittal alignment.

OBJECT: Cervical myelopathy may develop as a result of spinal cord compression with or without deformity. The effect of persistent kyphotic deformity on the ability of the cervical cord to recover following decompressive surgery is not known. METHODS: Between 1997 and 2000, a total of 28 patients with progressive myelopathy and kyphotic deformity underwent anterior decompression, deformity correction (0-4 degrees of lordosis), and fusion with anterior plating. Patients received clinical and radiological follow-up care, with independent analysis. Variables assessed included patient characteristics, severity of preoperative myelopathy, neck pain, and cervical sagittal alignment. Twenty-six patients (93%) underwent follow-up review for a minimum of 18 months. Two patients died: one died in the perioperative period and was excluded from further analysis, and in the other only 3 months of follow-up data could be obtained. Local deformity was corrected to neutral or lordosis in 24 cases (89%), and the overall cervical curve was corrected to neutral or lordosis in 20 cases (74%). There was a significant improvement in myelopathy scores in those patients in whom the target (0 to 4 degrees of lordosis) local angle was achieved (p = 0.04). There was a variable change in overall cervical sagittal alignment following local correction. Improvement in myelopathy was unrelated to patient age, previous surgery, or number of segments fused. Improvement in pain score was not related to correction of kyphotic angle. CONCLUSIONS: The correction of sagittal alignment may promote recovery in spinal cord function in patients with kyphotic deformity.