Posterolateral spondylodesis using bioactive glass S53P4 and autogenous bone in instrumented unstable lumbar spine burst fractures. A prospective 10-year follow-up study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: A prospective long-term follow-up study of bioactive glass (BAG)-S53P4 and autogenous bone (AB) used as bone graft substitutes for posterolateral spondylodesis in treatment of unstable lumbar spine burst fractures during 1996-1998 was conducted. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The lumbar fractures were fixed using posterior USS instrumentation. BAG was implanted on the left side of the fusion-bed and AB on the right side. The operative outcome was evaluated on X-rays and CT scans, and a clinical examination was also performed. RESULTS: The Oswestry score was excellent, and the mean pain score 1. The mean compression rate of the injured vertebral body was 25%. A solid bony fusion was seen on CT scans on the AB side in all patients and on the BAG side in five patients, and a partial fusion in five patients, resulting in a total fusion-rate of 71% of all fused segments in the BAG group. CONCLUSIONS: Our long-term results show that BAG-S54P4 bone graft material is safe to be used as a bone graft extender in spine surgery.

Aetiological diagnosis of brain abscesses and spinal infections: application of broad range bacterial polymerase chain reaction analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the usefulness of the broad range bacterial rDNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method combined with DNA sequencing in the aetiological diagnosis of intracranial or spinal infections in neurosurgical patients. METHODS: In addition to conventional methods, the broad range bacterial PCR approach was applied to examine pus or tissue specimens from cerebral or spinal lesions in patients treated in a neurosurgical unit for a clinical or neuroradiological suspicion of bacterial brain abscess or spondylitis. RESULTS: Among the 44 patients with intracranial or spinal lesions, the final diagnosis suggested bacterial disease in 25 patients, among whom the aetiological agent was identified in 17. A causative bacterial species was identified only by the rDNA PCR method in six cases, by both the PCR methodology and bacterial culture in six cases, and by bacterial culture alone in five. All samples in which a bacterial aetiology was identified only by the PCR approach were taken during antimicrobial treatment, and in three patients the method yielded the diagnosis even after >/= 12 days of parenteral treatment. One case also identified by the PCR approach alone involved a brain abscess caused by Mycoplasma hominis, which is not readily cultured by routine methods. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with brain abscesses and spinal infections, the broad range bacterial rDNA PCR approach may be the only method to provide an aetiological diagnosis when the patient is receiving antimicrobial treatment, or when the causative agent is fastidious.

Association between decreased disc signal intensity in preoperative T2-weighted MRI and a 5-year outcome after lumbar minimally invasive discectomy.

A total of 39 patients who had undergone microdiscectomy or percutaneous nucleotomy for lumbar disc herniation were examined after a follow-up of 5 years. The overall outcome was satisfactory in 80% of the patients treated, and only 1 (3%) patient had been reoperated during the follow-up. Clinical signs and symptoms of lumbar instability were detected in 10 (26%) patients. All these 39 patients had been examined with lumbar magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) on the day preceding the operation; the presence of disc degeneration was graded as severe, mild or non-existent depending on the visual brightness of the discs on T2-weighted images, as compared to the signal intensity of the lumbar vertebrae. None of the 12 patients with no preoperative disc degeneration in MRI suffered from postoperative clinical signs and symptoms of instability as compared to 10 (37%) of the 27 patients with mild or severe disc degeneration suffering from instability (p = 0.04). Thus, the results of the present study imply that the grade of the disc degeneration in preoperative T2-weighted MR images significantly predicted the occurrence of postoperative clinical instability.

Neurologic manifestations of infective endocarditis: a 17-year experience in a teaching hospital in Finland.

BACKGROUND: Many previous studies have endeavored to find appropriate means to reduce the occurrence of neurologic manifestations in patients with infective endocarditis (IE). We evaluated patients with IE-associated neurologic complications and compared them with patients with IE who did not have neurologic symptoms. Particular attention was focused on assessing the impact of cardiac surgery and the presence of potential risk factors for complications on the outcome of the patients. METHODS: A total of 218 episodes designated as definite or possible IE according to Duke criteria and treated during the years 1980 through 1996 in a Finnish teaching hospital were retrospectively evaluated for neurologic manifestations. RESULTS: Neurologic complications were identified in 55 episodes (25%), with an embolic event as the most frequent manifestation (23/55; 42%). In the majority (76%) of episodes, the neurologic manifestation was evident before antimicrobial treatment was started, being the first sign of IE in 47% of episodes. Only 1 recurrent cerebral embolization was observed. Neurologic complications were significantly associated with Staphylococcus aureus infection (29% vs 10%; P =.001) and with IE affecting both the aortic and the mitral valves (56% vs 23%; P<.01), but not with echocardiographic detection of vegetations or anticoagulant therapy. Death during the acute phase of IE occurred in 13 episodes (24%) with neurologic complications and in 17 episodes (10%) without neurologic complications (P<.03). In episodes with neurologic complications, the IE-associated mortality rate was 25% (10/40) in the medical treatment group and 20% (3/15) in the surgical group. No neurologic deterioration was observed in these surgically treated patients postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: Our results reinforce the belief that rapid diagnosis and initiation of antimicrobial therapy may still be the most effective means to prevent neurologic complications. These data underscore the importance of diagnostic alertness to the prognosis of patients with IE.

Cerebrospinal fluid flow in patients with dilated ventricles studied with MR imaging.

The purpose of this study was to measure the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) velocity and flow in the aqueduct in patients with wide ventricles with or without signs of normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) before and after shunt surgery. We studied 18 patients with wide ventricles with MRI and measured the CSF velocity values in the aqueducts. Twelve patients with the clinical triad of NPH were examined. Six patients were studied only before shunt surgery and 6 patients were studied both before and after shunt surgery. Three patients with wide ventricles without clinical triad of NPH, and 3 patients with hydrocephalus following subarachnoid hemorrhage were also examined. Seven NPH patients with hyperdynamic CSF flow and three NPH patients with normal CSF velocity and flow values showed a positive clinical response to shunt surgery. Two of the three patients with hydrocephalus and hyperdynamic CSF flow values in the aqueduct secondary to subarachnoid bleeding responded to shunt surgery. One patient with same disease and low CSF velocity and flow values did not respond. No change was detected in the CSF flow values of the aqueduct when measurements before and after shunt surgery were compared. Ventriculoperitoneal shunting does not change the CSF dynamics in the aqueduct.

Direct amplification of rRNA genes in diagnosis of bacterial infections.

A broad-range bacterial PCR targeting rRNA genes (rDNAs) was used to directly analyze 536 clinical samples obtained from 459 hospitalized patients during a 4-year study period. The molecular diagnosis based on DNA sequencing of the PCR product was compared to that obtained by bacterial culture. The bacteriological diagnosis was concordant for 447 (83%) specimens. Broad-range rDNA PCR was the only method that yielded an etiologic diagnosis for 11 (2.4%) of 459 patients. Compared to culture and clinical assessment, the sensitivity of the PCR method combined with sequencing was 74.2%, and the specificity was between 98.7 and 99.6%. At present, the described molecular approach proved superior to bacterial culture in two clinical situations: infections caused by bacteria with unusual growth requirements and specimens taken during antimicrobial treatment of the patient.

Percutaneous nucleotomy in the treatment of cervical disc herniation: report of three cases and review.

We describe here three patients with cervical disc herniation who were treated at our department with manual percutaneous nucleotomy. These patients had suffered from cervical pain radiating into an upper extremity, with the duration of the conservative treatment varying between three and six months before the operation. After a follow-up of three years, radiating pain into the upper extremity was totally recovered in one patient, markedly diminished in one and remained unchanged in one. All patients were continuously working. The outcome of patients who underwent percutaneous nucleotomy for cervical disc herniation has been evaluated in only three previous papers, all focusing on automated cervical nucleotomy. We review the literature on cervical percutaneous nucleotomy and discuss the usefulness of this methodology.

A microsurgical technique for posterior lumbar interbody fusion: technical note.

OBJECTIVE: To describe a microsurgical modification of the Ray Threaded Fusion Cage (TFC) instrumentation technique for achieving lumbar interbody fusion. TECHNIQUE: The lumbar fusion is established by application of two titanium cages through two different short skin incisions, first on one and then on the other side. The spinous processes and the whole interspinous ligament are preserved. Under microscopic control, the lower nerve root and foramen are identified and foraminotomy performed. The dural sac is carefully exposed so that a free and gentle retraction of the nerve root to the midline can be obtained. After removal of the disc material, the retractor is inserted. Special attention should be paid to visualization of the superior nerve root in order to avoid neural injuries. The end plate and disc material are then drilled and tapped for insertion of the appropriate cage. CONCLUSION: The Ray TFC lumbar fusion can be practically and safely performed under microscopic control.

Successful treatment of whiplash-type injury induced severe pain syndrome with epidural stimulation: a case report.

Chronic severe cervico-facial pain syndrome associated with a whiplash-type injury was successfully treated with epidural spinal cord stimulation. The patient had been in pain for 9 years, responding temporarily only to stellate ganglion blocks. The patient has now been painless for 18 months. We have been unable to find a similar case reported in the literature to date.

Proliferation potential of human lumbar disc after herniation.

To investigate the regenerative potential of human disc tissue, the disc samples were obtained during surgery from 24 adult patients with first lumbar prolapses and from 14 patients with recurrent lumbar prolapses. Preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) confirmed prolapse and disc degeneration in all cases. The proliferation activity of the sampled connective tissue cells was studied with the immunohistochemical expression of Ki-67(MIB-1) antigen. The antigen was positive in 6 of 24 (25%) specimens from first prolapse and in none of the 14 specimens from the recurrent prolapse. The amount of proliferative cells did not correlate to the degree of disc degeneration in MRI. Our results indicate that connective tissue cells in adult degenerative disc may show proliferation activity after the first herniation and thus regenerative potential. The enhanced matrix proliferation may not be a significant reason for recurrent prolapses because none of the recurrent disc specimen showed proliferation activity.

Long-term outcome of patients who underwent percutaneous nucleotomy for lumbar disc herniation: results after a mean follow-up of 5 years.

A total of 41 patients who had undergone percutaneous nucleotomy for a single level lumbar disc herniation were clinically examined after a mean postoperative follow-up of 5 years (range 4 to 7 years). There were 14 (34%) male and 27 (66%) female patients with a mean age of 49 years. By intra-operative discography, the herniation had been graded as a protrusion in 21 (51%) patients and as a prolapse in 20 (49%) patients. At the time of the investigation, sciatica had completely recovered or markedly diminished in 32 (78%) patients, and 29 (71%) patients had returned to work. Evaluated by a 100 mm visual analog pain scale (VAS), the postoperative pain relief was statistically significant (p < 0.0001). Clinical signs and symptoms of segmental instability of the lumbar spine were detected in 10 (24%) patients. Instability was significantly associated with an unsatisfactory long-term outcome in the patients with the occurrence of sciatica (p = 0.003) and low back pain (p = 0.001) as well as the VAS score (p = 0.005) and Oswestry index (p < 0.0001). Clinical investigation revealed sensory deficits in the leg in 12 (29%) patients, weakness of the extensor hallucis longus muscle in 5 (12%) patients and a total peroneal paresis in one (2%). The patellar and achilles tendon reflexes were depressed in 2 (5%) and 5 (12%) patients, respectively. During the follow-up period, recurrent disc herniation was detected in 3 (7%) patients who were all re-operated on. In addition, 3 (7%) patients were re-operated on for other back problems. Corroborating earlier findings, the results of this study indicate that percutaneous nucleotomy is an effective and safe alternative to open surgery in the treatment of patients with a small prolapse or a protrusion.

Long-term outcome of patients suffering from clinical instability after microsurgical treatment of lumbar disc herniation.

A total of 39 patients suffering from clinical instability of the lumbar spine after microdiscectomy were evaluated for their long-term outcome. Included there were 21 (54%) male and 18 (46%) female patients with a mean age of 55 years. All had been operated on for a virgin single-level lumbar disc herniation between the years 1985-1989 and they were evaluated for the presence of lumbar instability in 1991. Clinical signs and symptoms of segmental instability were then detected in all patients, with the symptom of "apprehension" positive in 30. During the follow-up, 2 (5%) patients had been treated by lumbar spondylodesis. At the time of the present investigation, both of them gave the information that their low back pain and sciatica had diminished as compared to the prediscectomy situation; both were retired. The symptom of "apprehension" was negative in both. Of the remaining 37 patients, low back pain had completely recovered in 4 (11%) and diminished in 23 (62%) patients, while in 9 (24%) patients, back pain had remained unchanged and become worse in 1 (3%). Further, sciatica had completely recovered in 4 (11%) and diminished in 23 (62%) patients, while in 7 (19%) patients, sciatica had remained unchanged and become worse in 3 (8%). Only 14 (38%) of these patients were able to work. However, evaluated by the Oswestry Index, the overall outcome in daily activities had significantly improved in all 37 patients since 1991 (p = 0.01). The symptom of "apprehension" was now positive in 26 patients. A significant correlation was observed between the positivity of this test and the persistence of low back pain (p = 0.02) and a poor outcome in daily activities (p < 0.0001). Comfirming earlier observations, the findings of this study support the concept that patients with postoperative lumbar instability have a poor prognosis. Further studies are needed to define the optimal treatment for this problematic patient group.

Paraparesis caused by a bilateral cervical synovial cyst.

We describe a 64-year-old man who suffered from rapidly progressive paraparesis. At operation the cervical cord of the patient was found to be displaced anteriorly due to compression caused by an epidural synovial cyst. The cyst was located bilaterally on the dorsolateral aspect of both CVII facet joints. The rapid development of paraparesis in this patient can, thus, be explained by the enlargement of the cyst on both sides of the spinal cord. After microsurgical removal of the cystic tumor, the recovery of the patient was good. Cervical epidural cysts are extremely rare, and only anecdotal cases have been reported in the literature. Among all previously described patients the present case is unique due to the bilateral location of the cyst.

Intradiscal glycerol or bupivacaine in the treatment of low back pain.

A total of 15 patients suffering from chronic low back pain were treated with an intradiscal injection of either 1 ml of 50% glycerol or 2 ml of 0.5% bupivacaine. Most (60%) of the patients had previously undergone spinal surgery for lumbar disc herniation or spinal stenosis and 73% showed clinical signs and symptoms of segmental instability of the lumbar spine. According to self-evaluation questionnaires, immediate response to both treatments was mainly good. Of the 9 patients who received glycerol, 56% showed subjective improvement on the first day after the injection and after two weeks, 45% of the patients still felt improvement. After one month, however, the pain had reappeared in all except one (11%) patient. The corresponding numbers for the 6 with bupivacaine treated patients were 83%, 67%, and 17%. Based on the very short duration of response to the treatment, we did not find intradiscal injections with these agents to be cost-effective. In our department, this therapeutic approach is no longer employed in patients with chronic discogenic pain.