Efficacy and Safety of Beta-Tricalcium Phosphate/Polylactic-Co-Glycolic Acid for Implantation of Bone Defects.

INTRODUCTION: Bone defects are often observed after surgery for fractures and bone tumors. Their treatment is technically difficult and sometimes results in negative clinical and economic outcomes. To repair bone defects, a bone graft is implanted by selecting a transplant material from an autologous or artificial bone. Each method has its advantages and disadvantages. Compared to the gold standard of autologous bone graft, bone graft substitutes are not limited by the amount of harvested graft and avoid complications at the donor site. ORB-03 is a new cotton-like bone graft substitute composed of beta-tricalcium phosphate (ß-TCP) and a bioabsorbable polymer, polylactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA). ORB-03 is easy to mold and can fill various bone defect shapes, and its three-dimensional microfiber scaffold can enhance the differentiation of osteoblasts and promote osteogenesis. We investigated the efficacy, ease of handling, and safety of ORB-03 as a bone graft substitute. A multicenter, open-label, single-group study was conducted at six institutions. METHODS: Between July 2018 and August 2019, 60 patients with bone defects caused by fracture, benign tumors, or an iliac donor site from bone harvesting were enrolled in this study; 54 patients were finally included for the safety analysis and 48 patients for the image analysis. During surgery, ORB-03 was mixed with the patient's blood and molded into a bone defect. To evaluate the efficacy of ORB-03, radiography and computed tomography (CT) were performed at intervals until 24 weeks after surgery. RESULTS: The effective rate and its accurate bilateral 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated based on the efficacy criteria at 24 weeks postoperatively. The ease with which ORB-03 could be handled in surgery was evaluated. Adverse events that occurred after surgery were evaluated, and those associated with ORB-03 were examined. Bone fusion was good in all cases, and the radiography and CT effective rates were 100.0% and 91.5%, respectively. Handling was easy in all cases. There were four adverse events, none of which were clinically problematic. CONCLUSIONS: ORB-03 was found to be easy to handle, safe, and effective as a bone graft substitute for bone defects.

Efficacy and Safety of Condoliase Disc Administration as a New Treatment for Lumbar Disc Herniation.

INTRODUCTION: Condoliase is a newly approved drug that improves symptoms associated with lumbar disk herniation (LDH) by intradiscal administration. This study aimed to evaluate the mid-term outcomes of condoliase injection, examine the adverse events, including cases that required surgery after condoliase administration, and verify cases in which condoliase could be effective. METHODS: We enrolled patients with LDH who were treated conservatively for at least six weeks and received condoliase. We assessed the visual analog scale (VAS) score, Japanese Orthopaedic Association Back Pain Evaluation Questionnaire, Oswestry Disability Index, disk height, and disk degeneration for up to 6 months, and we examined the complications. Furthermore, a 50% or more improvement in leg pain VAS score was considered effective. Factors related to symptom improvement were investigated by determining whether lower limb pain improved in six months. RESULTS: In total, 84 patients were recruited (52 men, 32 women; mean age, 44.2 ± 17.1 [16-86 years]). The duration of illness was 6.7 ± 6.8 (1.5-30) months. All patient-based outcomes significantly improved at 4 weeks after the administration compared with pretreatment. The intervertebral disc height decreased significantly at four weeks after condoliase administration compared with that before administration. Progression of intervertebral disc degeneration occurred in 50% of the patients. Eleven patients underwent herniotomy due to poor treatment effects. Moreover, treatment in 77.4% of the patients was considered effective. A logistic regression analysis revealed that L5/S1 disk administration (p = 0.029; odds ratio, 5.94; 95% confidence interval, 1.20-29.45) were significantly associated with clinical effectiveness. CONCLUSIONS: Condoliase disk administration improved pain and quality of life over time. Condoliase disk administration was more effective in L5/S1 intervertebral administration.

Determining the short-term neurological prognosis for acute cervical spinal cord injury using machine learning.

It is challenging to predict neurological outcomes of acute spinal cord injury (SCI) considering issues such as spinal shock and injury heterogeneity. Deep learning-based radiomics (DLR) were developed to quantify the radiographic characteristics automatically using a convolutional neural network (CNN), and to potentially allow the prognostic stratification of patients. We aimed to determine the functional prognosis of patients with cervical SCI using machine learning approach based on MRI and to assess the ability to predict the neurological outcomes. We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of SCI patients (n=215) who had undergone MRI and had an American Spinal cord Injury Association Impairment Scale (AIS) assessment at 1 month after injury, enrolled with a total of 294 MR images. Sagittal T2-weighted MR images were used for the CNN training and validation. The deep learning framework TensorFlow was used to construct the CNN architecture. After we calculated the probability of the AIS grade using the DLR, we built the identification model based upon the random forest using 3 features: the probability of each AIS grade obtained by the DLR method, age, and the initial AIS grade at admission. We performed a statistical evaluation between the actual and predicted AIS. The accuracy, precision, recall and f1 score of the ensemble model based on the DLR and RF were 0.714, 0.590, 0.565 and 0.567, respectively. The present study demonstrates that prediction of the short-term neurological outcomes for acute cervical spinal cord injury based on MRI using machine learning is feasible.

Effect of Early vs Delayed Surgical Treatment on Motor Recovery in Incomplete Cervical Spinal Cord Injury With Preexisting Cervical Stenosis: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: The optimal management for acute traumatic cervical spinal cord injury (SCI) is unknown. Objective: To determine whether early surgical decompression results in better motor recovery than delayed surgical treatment in patients with acute traumatic incomplete cervical SCI associated with preexisting canal stenosis but without bone injury. Design, Setting, and Participants: This multicenter randomized clinical trial was conducted in 43 tertiary referral centers in Japan from December 2011 through November 2019. Patients aged 20 to 79 years with motor-incomplete cervical SCI with preexisting canal stenosis (American Spinal Injury Association [ASIA] Impairment Scale C; without fracture or dislocation) were included. Data were analyzed from September to November 2020. Interventions: Patients were randomized to undergo surgical treatment within 24 hours after admission or delayed surgical treatment after at least 2 weeks of conservative treatment. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary end points were improvement in the mean ASIA motor score, total score of the spinal cord independence measure, and the proportion of patients able to walk independently at 1 year after injury. Results: Among 72 randomized patients, 70 patients (mean [SD] age, 65.1 [9.4] years; age range, 41-79 years; 5 [7%] women and 65 [93%] men) were included in the full analysis population (37 patients assigned to early surgical treatment and 33 patients assigned to delayed surgical treatment). Of these, 56 patients (80%) had data available for at least 1 primary outcome at 1 year. There was no significant difference among primary end points for the early surgical treatment group compared with the delayed surgical treatment group (mean [SD] change in ASIA motor score, 53.7 [14.7] vs 48.5 [19.1]; difference, 5.2; 95% CI, -4.2 to 14.5; P = .27; mean [SD] SCIM total score, 77.9 [22.7] vs 71.3 [27.3]; P = .34; able to walk independently, 21 of 30 patients [70.0%] vs 16 of 26 patients [61.5%]; P = .51). A mixed-design analysis of variance revealed a significant difference in the mean change in ASIA motor scores between the groups (F1,49 = 4.80; P = .03). The early surgical treatment group, compared with the delayed surgical treatment group, had greater motor scores than the delayed surgical treatment group at 2 weeks (mean [SD] score, 34.2 [18.8] vs 18.9 [20.9]), 3 months (mean [SD] score, 49.1 [15.1] vs 37.2 [20.9]), and 6 months (mean [SD] score, 51.5 [13.9] vs 41.3 [23.4]) after injury. Adverse events were common in both groups (eg, worsening of paralysis, 6 patients vs 6 patients; death, 3 patients vs 3 patients). Conclusions and Relevance: These findings suggest that among patients with cervical SCI, early surgical treatment produced similar motor regain at 1 year after injury as delayed surgical treatment but showed accelerated recovery within the first 6 months. These exploratory results suggest that early surgical treatment leads to faster neurological recovery, which requires further validation. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01485458; umin.ac.jp/ctr Identifier: UMIN000006780.

Comparison between intervertebral oblique lumbar interbody fusion and transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion: a multicenter study.

This study aimed to perform a comparative analysis of postoperative results between lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis (LDS) treated with oblique lateral interbody fusion (OLIF) and transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) from the Chiba spine surgery registry database. Sixty-five patients who underwent single-level OLIF (O group) for LDS with ≥ 3 years' follow-up were retrospectively reviewed. The control group comprised 78 patients who underwent single-level TLIF (T group). The analyzed variables included global alignment, radiological parameters of fused segments, asymptomatic and symptomatic ASD incidence, clinical outcomes at 3 years postoperatively using the Japanese Orthopedic Association Back Pain Evaluation Questionnaire data, visual analogue scale scores for low back pain, lower extremity pain, and lower extremity numbness. There was no significant change in global alignment between the two groups. The rate of improvement in anterior intervertebral disc height was not significantly different between the groups at 1-month postoperatively. However, at the final evaluation, the anterior intervertebral disc height and incidence of asymptomatic ASD were significantly higher in the O group. There was no significant difference in symptomatic ASD, reoperation cases, or clinical results between groups. Thus, single-level OLIF can maintain the corrected disc height, but as it has no effect on global alignment, its benefit is limited.

Associated injury complicated by pediatric lower limb shaft fractures and clinical efficacy of flexible stainless-steel intramedullary nailing in children less than 15 years old.

Although pediatric lower limb shaft fractures are common, little is known about associated injuries. The purpose of this study was to examine associated injuries complicated by pediatric lower limb shaft fractures and the efficacy of surgical treatment using a flexible stainless-steel intramedullary Ender nail in children less than 15 years old. This is a retrospective review of 29 children younger than 15 years old who were diagnosed with femoral or tibial shaft fractures and treated using Ender nails from 2005 to 2016. Baseline data, etiology, associated injuries, fracture site and patterns, operative and post-operative assessment were evaluated. The average age of the patients was 9.0 years, and mean follow-up was 18.2 months. Eleven patients (79%) had associated injury. At the final follow up, six patients (43%) sustained complications associated with the insertion area of the nail. There was no evidence of deep infection or nonunion at either fracture site. The clinical results were excellent in 10 (67%) fractures, and good in 5 (33%) fractures, based on the modified Flynn criteria. Almost all patients with a femoral fracture had an associated injury including abdominal visceral injury, cerebral contusion or other fractures. This study indicated good clinical and functional outcomes. On the other hand, the minor complications rate was high. Nevertheless, elastic stable intramedullary nailing recently has become available in Japan, and a prospective and comparative study is needed.

Randomized trial of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor for spinal cord injury.

Attenuation of the secondary injury of spinal cord injury (SCI) can suppress the spread of spinal cord tissue damage, possibly resulting in spinal cord sparing that can improve functional prognoses. Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) is a haematological cytokine commonly used to treat neutropenia. Previous reports have shown that G-CSF promotes functional recovery in rodent models of SCI. Based on preclinical results, we conducted early phase clinical trials, showing safety/feasibility and suggestive efficacy. These lines of evidence demonstrate that G-CSF might have therapeutic benefits for acute SCI in humans. To confirm this efficacy and to obtain strong evidence for pharmaceutical approval of G-CSF therapy for SCI, we conducted a phase 3 clinical trial designed as a prospective, randomized, double-blinded and placebo-controlled comparative trial. The current trial included cervical SCI [severity of American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) Impairment Scale (AIS) B or C] within 48 h after injury. Patients are randomly assigned to G-CSF and placebo groups. The G-CSF group was administered 400 µg/m2/day × 5 days of G-CSF in normal saline via intravenous infusion for five consecutive days. The placebo group was similarly administered a placebo. Allocation was concealed between blinded evaluators of efficacy/safety and those for laboratory data, as G-CSF markedly increases white blood cell counts that can reveal patient treatment. Efficacy and safety were evaluated by blinded observer. Our primary end point was changes in ASIA motor scores from baseline to 3 months after drug administration. Each group includes 44 patients (88 total patients). Our protocol was approved by the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Device Agency in Japan and this trial is funded by the Center for Clinical Trials, Japan Medical Association. There was no significant difference in the primary end point between the G-CSF and the placebo control groups. In contrast, one of the secondary end points showed that the ASIA motor score 6 months (P = 0.062) and 1 year (P = 0.073) after drug administration tend to be higher in the G-CSF group compared with the placebo control group. Moreover, in patients aged over 65 years old, motor recovery 6 months after drug administration showed a strong trend towards a better recovery in the G-CSF treated group (P = 0.056) compared with the control group. The present trial failed to show a significant effect of G-CSF in primary end point although the subanalyses of the present trial suggested potential G-CSF benefits for specific population.

Frequency of Adverse Drug Reactions and Analgesic Effects of Mirogabalin during Treatment of Peripheral Neuropathic Pain: A Retrospective Clinical Investigation.

INTRODUCTION: Mirogabalin should be equivalent to pregabalin, but with fewer incidences of adverse drug reactions (ADRs). To verify these benefits in actual clinical trials, our study investigated the frequency of ADRs and mirogabalin's analgesic effects during treatment of peripheral neuropathic pain. METHODS: This study included 74 patients with lower limb pain. We surveyed patient reports of ADRs during the follow-up period as the primary endpoint and examined the visual analog scale (VAS) reported for lower limb pain as the secondary endpoint (before administration, and two and four weeks after administration). RESULTS: The occurrence of ADR was 27.0%, like the frequency of ADRs in the clinical trials for other disorders. However, the discontinuation rate of administration was 10.8%, which was significantly lower than the frequency of ADR occurrences. When the analgesic effect was assessed, a significant decrease in the temporal change of VAS for lower limb pain was observed before administration, and two and four weeks after administration. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, the occurrence of ADRs reported by the patients was like the frequency of ADRs reported in the clinical trials for other disorders. When assessing the analgesic effect, the temporal change of VAS for lower limb pain was found to decrease significantly before administration, and two and four weeks after administration.

Segmental motion at the peak of the ossification foci is independent risk factor except for mal-alignment and thick ossification foci for poor outcome after laminoplasty for cervical ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament: analyses in patients with positive K-line, lordotic alignment, and lower canal occupying ratio.

PURPOSE: To elucidate the independent preoperative factors that have a significant impact on poor surgical outcome after laminoplasty for K-line (+) ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL). Analyses in K-line (+) patient population can exclude the influence by mal-alignment and thick OPLL, both of which are well known two major factors that have significant impact on clinical outcome. METHODS: The present study included 72 patients (50 male and 22 female) who underwent laminoplasty for K-line (+) cervical OPLL and were followed-up for at least 1 year. Recovery of Japanese Orthopedic Association score (JOA score) for cervical myelopathy was used as the measure of clinical outcome. For radiographic assessment, the type of OPLL, the maximum OPLL occupation ratio, the C2-C7 angle, and the segmental range of motion at the peak of OPLL (segmental ROM) were assessed. To elucidate the factors that are significantly associated with a poor clinical outcome after laminoplasty for K-line (+) OPLL, statistical analyses were conducted. RESULTS: The mean preoperative JOA score was 8.9 points and improved to 12.8 points after surgery. The recovery of JOA score was 47 ± 35%. Stepwise logistic regression following univariate analyses revealed that preoperative segmental ROM at the peak of OPLL is an independent factor associated with a poor outcome (p = 0.04, odds ratio = 1.15). CONCLUSIONS: Large preoperative segmental ROM at the peak of the OPLL is an independent factor that has significant impact on poor surgical outcome after laminoplasty for K-line (+) OPLL.

Short-term mortality and risk factors associated with reoperation after emergency amputation of the lower limbs.

BACKGROUND: As Japan has an aging population, elderly patients with multiple complicating comorbidities have increased in number. The purpose of the present study was to examine the 90-day mortality and reoperation rate after emergency amputation of the lower limbs and to clarify patient characteristics and preoperative comorbidities that are risk factors for reoperations. METHODS: This retrospective case study was conducted between January 2005 and December 2017. Ninety-one patients with 108 limbs who had undergone emergency amputation of the lower limbs were included in this study. Baseline data, medical comorbidities, surgical procedures and laboratory data including C-reactive protein (CRP), white blood cells (WBC) and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) were evaluated. Outcome measurements were mortality, reoperation rate, and factors associated with reoperation in 90 days and any complication after amputation of the lower limbs. RESULTS: The patients (male/female ratio = 64/27) had a mean age of 64.9 years, a mean WBC count of 16,747/µL, a mean CRP value of 15.6 mg/dL, and a mean HbA1c value of 7.5%. The 90-day mortality rate in the study population was 12.1%. The 90-day reoperation rate was 35.2% (32/91) patients with 32.4% (35/108) limbs. The factor significantly associated with reoperation in 90 days was peripheral arterial disease (PAD) (p = 0.022, HR = 2.75), identified with Cox proportional hazards regression analysis. A total of 41.8% (38/91) patients with 40.7% (44/108) limbs experienced postoperative wound complications. The overall rate of medical complications was 18.7% (17/91) patients with 16.7% (18/108) limbs. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that the 90-day mortality and reoperation rates after emergency amputation of the lower limbs were high. Furthermore, PAD influences the rate of reoperation in 90 days. However, there was no association between laboratory results or diabetes mellitus and reoperation. These findings will have important implications for the treatment of lower leg amputation and prevention of reoperation.

Stress fracture of the midshaft clavicle associated with sternocostoclavicular hyperostosis-Case report.

INTRODUCTION: Stress fracture is generally a result of cumulative and repetitive stress in athletes, which accelerates the normal remodeling process of bones, and the most frequently involved areas are the tibia and metatarsal bones. Therefore, stress fractures of the midshaft of the clavicle are very rare. PRESENTATION OF CASE: A 58-year-old female was admitted to our hospital because of pain in the middle of the right clavicle. Based on laboratory and radiographic inspection, it was concluded that the stress fracture of the midshaft of the clavicle in this case was caused by sternocostoclavicular hyperostosis (SCCH). Because the clavicular fracture had no displacement or callus formation, conservative treatment with a clavicle band was undertaken. Shoulder function at the final follow-up visit was satisfactory. DISCUSSION: SCCH is a rare chronic inflammatory disorder of the axial skeleton and ossifying diathesis associated with a predominantly osteogenic response. Synovitis, acne, pustulosis, hyperostosis, and osteitis (SAPHO) syndrome and ankylosing spondylitis (AS) should be considered in the differential diagnosis of SCCH. If a patient with this type of fracture has no history of traumatic injury or sports activity, the differential diagnosis might be very difficult. CONCLUSION: We report the case of a female who had a stress fracture of the midshaft of the clavicle associated with SCCH in SAPHO or AS. Although the patient was treated conservatively, and the shoulder function was satisfactory at the final follow-up visit, re-fracture may occur in the future.

Study protocol for the G-SPIRIT trial: a randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blinded phase III trial of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor-mediated neuroprotection for acute spinal cord injury.

INTRODUCTION: Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) is generally used for neutropaenia. Previous experimental studies revealed that G-CSF promoted neurological recovery after spinal cord injury (SCI). Next, we moved to early phase of clinical trials. In a phase I/IIa trial, no adverse events were observed. Next, we conducted a non-randomised, non-blinded, comparative trial, which suggested the efficacy of G-CSF for promoting neurological recovery. Based on those results, we are now performing a phase III trial. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: The objective of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of G-CSF for acute SCI. The study design is a prospective, multicentre, randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled comparative study. The current trial includes cervical SCI (severity of American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) Impairment Scale B/C) within 48 hours after injury. Patients are randomly assigned to G-CSF and placebo groups. The G-CSF group is administered 400 µg/m2/day×5 days of G-CSF in normal saline via intravenous infusion for 5 consecutive days. The placebo group is similarly administered a placebo. Our primary endpoint is changes in ASIA motor scores from baseline to 3 months. Each group includes 44 patients (88 total patients). ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The study will be conducted according to the principles of the World Medical Association Declaration of Helsinki and in accordance with the Japanese Medical Research Involving Human Subjects Act and other guidelines, regulations and Acts. Results of the clinical study will be submitted to the head of the respective clinical study site as a report after conclusion of the clinical study by the sponsor-investigator. Even if the results are not favourable despite conducting the clinical study properly, the data will be published as a paper. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: UMIN000018752.

Acute Traumatic Patellar Tendon Rupture at the Tibial Tuberosity Attachment without Avulsion Fracture.

Patellar tendon rupture in children is especially rare. The fact that the area of traumatic rupture has wide variations makes surgical treatment difficult. We present an 11-year-old boy with acute traumatic patellar tendon rupture at the tibial tuberosity attachment without avulsion fracture. Primary end-to-end repair and reinforcement using 1.5 mm stainless steel wires as a surgical strategy were undertaken. Early range of motion began with a functional knee brace and the reinforced stainless wire was removed 3 months after surgery. Knee function at the final follow-up was satisfactory. We suggest that this strategy may provide a useful option for surgical treatment.

Perioperative Complications in 155 Patients Who Underwent Oblique Lateral Interbody Fusion Surgery: Perspectives and Indications From a Retrospective, Multicenter Survey.

STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective multicenter survey. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the perioperative complications of oblique lateral interbody fusion (OLIF) surgery. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: OLIF has been widely performed to achieve minimally invasive, rigid lumbar lateral interbody fusion. The associated perioperative complications are not yet well described. METHODS: The participants were patients who underwent OLIF surgery under the diagnosis of degenerative lumbar diseases between April 2013 and May 2015 at 11 affiliated medical institutions. The collected data were classified into intraoperative and early-stage postoperative (≤1 mo) complications. The intraoperative complications were then subcategorized into organ damage (neural, vertebral, vascular, and others) and other complications, mainly related to instrumental failure. The collected data were also divided and analyzed based on whether the surgeon was certified to perform the surgery and the incidence of complications in the early (April 2013-March 2014) and late stages (April 2014-May 2015) of OLIF introduction. RESULTS: In the 155 included patients, 75 complications were reported (incidence rate, 48.3%). The most common complication was endplate fracture/subsidence (18.7%), followed by transient psoas weakness and thigh numbness (13.5%) and segmental artery injury (2.6%). Almost all these complications were transient, except for three patients who had permanent damage: one had ureteral injury and two had neurological injury. Postoperative complications included surgical site infection (1.9%) and reoperation (1.9%). Whether the primary operator was experienced did not affect the incidence of complications. Regarding the introductory stage, the incidence of complications was 50% in the early stage and 38% in the late stage. CONCLUSION: The overall incidence of perioperative complications of OLIF surgery reached 48.3%, of which only 1.9% resulted in permanent damage. Our analysis based on surgeon experience indicated that the OLIF procedure could be performed without increasing incidence of complications, under the guidance of experienced supervisors. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3.

Multicenter prospective nonrandomized controlled clinical trial to prove neurotherapeutic effects of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor for acute spinal cord injury: analyses of follow-up cases after at least 1 year.

STUDY DESIGN: An open-labeled multicenter prospective nonrandomized controlled clinical trial. OBJECTIVE: To confirm the feasibility of using granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) for treatment of acute spinal cord injury (SCI). SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: We previously reported that G-CSF promotes functional recovery after compression-induced SCI in mice. On the basis of these findings, we conducted a multicenter prospective controlled clinical trial to assess the feasibility of G-CSF therapy for patients with acute SCI. METHODS: The trial ran from August 2009 to March 2011, and included 41 patients with SCI treated within 48 hours of onset. Informed consent was obtained from all patients. After providing consent, patients were divided into 2 groups. In the G-CSF group (17 patients), G-CSF (10 µg/kg/d) was intravenously administered for 5 consecutive days, and in the control group (24 patients), patients were similarly treated except for the G-CSF administration. We evaluated motor and sensory functions using the American Spinal Cord Injury Association score and American Spinal Cord Injury Association impairment scale at 1 week, 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year after onset. RESULTS: Only 2 patients did not experience American Spinal Cord Injury Association impairment scale improvement in the G-CSF group. In contrast, 15 patients in the control group did not experience American Spinal Cord Injury Association impairment scale improvement. In the analysis of increased American Spinal Cord Injury Association motor score, a significant increase in G-CSF group was detected from 1 week after the administration compared with the control group. After that, some spontaneous increase of motor score was detected in control group, but the significant increase in G-CSF group was maintained until 1 year of follow-up. CONCLUSION: Despite the limitation that patient selection was not randomized, the present results suggest the possibility that G-CSF administration has beneficial effects on neurological recovery in patients with acute SCI. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3.

Short-segment fixation without fusion for thoracolumbar burst fractures with neurological deficit can preserve thoracolumbar motion without resulting in post-traumatic disc degeneration: a 10-year follow-up study.

STUDY DESIGN: Prospective consecutive series. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the post-traumatic disc degeneration and range of motion 10 years after short-segment fixation without fusion for thoracolumbar burst fractures with neurological deficit. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Early clinical results of short-segment fixation without fusion for thoracolumbar burst fractures were satisfactory. However, the long-term results have not been reported, and post-traumatic disc degeneration and preservation of thoracolumbar motion have not been elucidated. METHODS: Twelve patients who had thoracolumbar burst fractures and associated incomplete neurological deficit, operatively treated within 4 days of admission and had their implants removed within 1 year, were prospectively followed for at least 10 years. Following indirect reduction and pedicle screw fixation, transpedicular intracorporeal hydroxyapatite grafting to the fractured vertebrae was performed. RESULTS: Sagittal alignment was improved from a mean preoperative kyphosis of 17° to -2° (lordosis) by operation, but was found to have slightly deteriorated to 2° at the final follow-up observation. With respect to back pain, 8 patients did not report back pain. Three reported occasional minimal pain, and 1 reported moderate pain. None reported severe pain or needed daily dosages of analgesics.Regarding disc degeneration, the shape of the disc adjacent to the fractured vertebra had not changed from the preoperative to the 10-year postoperative magnetic resonance image (MRI). Although signal intensity of the disc had decreased by 1 grade from the preoperative to the 2-year postoperative MRI, the intensity had not changed from the 2-year postoperative MRI to the 10-year postoperative MRI. At the 10-year follow-up, flexion-extension radiographs revealed that a mean range of motion at the disc adjacent to the fractured vertebra was 12º (range; 5-19). CONCLUSION: This unprecedented 10-year follow-up study demonstrated that posterior indirect reduction, transpedicular hydroxyapatite grafting, and pedicle screw fixation does not require fusion to a segment, thereby preserves thoracolumbar motion without resulting in post-traumatic disc degeneration. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4.

Anomalous vertebral arteries in the extra- and intraosseous regions of the craniovertebral junction visualized by 3-dimensional computed tomographic angiography: analysis of 100 consecutive surgical cases and review of the literature.

STUDY DESIGN: Consecutive case series and literature review. OBJECTIVE: To describe the utility of 3-dimensional computed tomographic angiography (3D CTA) for evaluating vertebral artery (VA) anomalies before surgery. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Recent advances in instrumentation surgery at the craniovertebral junction (CVJ) enable us to perform rigid internal fixation. However, the risk of VA injury as a complication of the surgery has become a major problem. Thus, the importance of preoperative evaluation of the VA course has been emphasized. METHODS: Cases of 100 consecutive patients who underwent CVJ instrumentation surgery since July 1998 were analyzed. Occipitocervical/thoracic or C1-C2 posterior fusion was performed for atlantoaxial subluxation (AAS) in 59 patients and cervical fixation including C2 was required for middle-to-lower cervical lesions in 41 patients. Twenty-seven patients with AAS had a congenital skeletal anomaly (CSA) at the CVJ including os odontoideum and occipitalization of C1 (AAS-CSA[+] group). Anomalous VAs at the extra- and intraosseous regions were evaluated by 3D CTA. RESULTS: No neurovascular injury occurred during surgery. Abnormal courses of the VA at the extraosseous region were detected in 10 cases: 2 had fenestration and 8 had a persistent first intersegmental artery. All 10 cases were in the AAS-CSA(+) group. A high-riding VA was detected in 31 cases. Fourteen out of the 31 cases were in the AAS-CSA(+) group, indicating 51.9% of the AAS-CSA(+) group had high-riding VA. In the AAS-CSA(+) group, a C1-C2 transarticular screw and C2 pedicle screw were actually inserted in 58% and 31% of the planned insertions, respectively. CONCLUSION: The present findings suggest that the frequency of an abnormal VA at the extra- and intraosseous regions is increased when patients have AAS and CSA at the CVJ. Using preoperative 3D CTA, we can precisely identify anomalous VAs and thereby reduce the risk of their intraoperative injury.

Neuroprotective therapy using granulocyte colony-stimulating factor for patients with worsening symptoms of thoracic myelopathy: a multicenter prospective controlled trial.

STUDY DESIGN: An open-labeled multicenter prospective controlled clinical trial. OBJECTIVE: To confirm the feasibility of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) administration for patients with thoracic myelopathy. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Although G-CSF is best known as an important cytokine commonly used to treat neutropenia, it also has nonhematopoietic functions. Previous experimental studies have shown that G-CSF can enhance tissue regeneration of several organs, such as the heart and the brain. We previously reported that G-CSF promotes functional recovery after spinal cord injury in rodents. On the basis of those findings, we started a clinical trial of neuroprotective therapy, using G-CSF for patients with worsening symptoms of thoracic myelopathy. METHODS: Patients whose Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score for thoracic myelopathy had decreased 2 points or more during a recent 1-month period were eligible for entry. After giving informed consent, patients were assigned to G-CSF and control groups. The G-CSF group (n = 10) received G-CSF 10 µg/kg per day intravenously for 5 consecutive days. The control group (n = 14) received similar treatments as the G-CSF group except for G-CSF administration. The primary outcome was JOA recovery rate at 1 month after G-CSF administration or initial treatment. RESULTS: There was greater improvement in neurological functioning between baseline and 1-month follow-up in the G-CSF group (JOA recovery rate: 29.1 ± 20.5%) than in the control group (JOA recovery rate: 1.1 ± 4.2%) (P < 0.01). No serious adverse events occurred during or after the G-CSF administration. CONCLUSION: The results provide evidence that G-CSF administration caused neurological recovery in patients with worsening symptoms of thoracic compression myelopathy.

Neuroprotective therapy using granulocyte colony-stimulating factor for acute spinal cord injury: a phase I/IIa clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) is a cytokine that is clinically used to treat neutropenia. G-CSF also has non-hematopoietic functions and could potentially be used to treat neuronal injury. To confirm the safety and feasibility of G-CSF administration for acute spinal cord injury (SCI), we have initiated a phase I/IIa clinical trial of neuroprotective therapy using G-CSF. METHODS: The trial included a total of 16 SCI patients within 48 h of onset. In the first step, G-CSF (5 µg/kg/day) was intravenously administered for 5 consecutive days to 5 patients. In the second step, G-CSF (10 µg/kg/day) was similarly administered to 11 patients. We evaluated motor and sensory functions of patients using the American Spinal Cord Injury Association (ASIA) score and ASIA impairment scale (AIS) grade. RESULTS: In all 16 patients, neurological improvement was obtained after G-CSF administration. AIS grade increased by one step in 9 of 16 patients. A significant increase in ASIA motor scores was detected 1 day after injection (P < 0.01), and both light touch and pin prick scores improved 2 days after injection (P < 0.05) in the 10 µg group. No severe adverse effects were observed after G-CSF injection. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that intravenous administration of G-CSF (10 µg/kg/day) for 5 days is essentially safe, and suggest that some neurological recovery may occur in most patients. We suggest that G-CSF administration could be therapeutic for patients with acute SCI.

Neuroprotective therapy using granulocyte colony-stimulating factor for patients with worsening symptoms of compression myelopathy, Part 1: a phase I and IIa clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: Based on the neuroprotective effects of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) on experimental spinal cord injury, we initiated a clinical trial that evaluated the safety and efficacy of neuroprotective therapy using G-CSF for patients with worsening symptoms of compression myelopathy. METHODS: We obtained informed consent from 15 patients, in whom the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score for cervical myelopathy decreased two points or more during a recent 1-month period. G-CSF (5 or 10 µg/kg/day) was intravenously administered for five consecutive days. We evaluated motor and sensory functions of the patients and the presence of adverse events related to G-CSF therapy. RESULTS: G-CSF administration suppressed the progression of myelopathy in all 15 patients. Neurological improvements in motor and sensory functions were obtained in all patients after the administration, although the degree of improvement differed among the patients. Nine patients in the 10-µg group (n=10) underwent surgical treatment at 1 month or later after G-CSF administration. In the 10-µg group, the mean JOA recovery rates 1 and 6 months after administration were 49.9±15.1 and 59.1±16.3%, respectively. On the day following the start of G-CSF therapy, the white blood cell count increased to more than 22,700 cells/mm3. It varied from 12,000 to 50,000 and returned to preadministration levels 3 days after completing G-CSF treatment. No serious adverse events occurred during or after treatment. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that G-CSF administration at 10 µg/kg/day is safe for patients with worsening symptoms of compression myelopathy and may be effective for their neurological improvement.