ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Limited literature exists regarding the differences in demographics, causes, comorbidities, presentation, and structural changes associated with cervical spine degeneration in patients from distinct geographic regions. The authors aimed to evaluate the demographic and clinical characteristics of patients with cervical spine degeneration admitted to a single center in Mexico. METHODS: This study enrolled patients with degenerative disease of the cervical spine. Clinical data were retrieved from medical records and retrospectively characterized. RESULTS: A total of 50 patients with cervical spine degeneration were included in the analysis. Of these, 26% were men with a median age of 54 years. Hypertension, depression, anxiety, obesity, and alcohol consumption were presented in about a quarter of the participants. In addition, we observed hypertriglyceridemia and hypercholesterolemia in 72% and 46% of participants, respectively. The median duration of symptoms was 11 months, including radicular arm/neck pain (80%), tingling (80%), reduced muscle strength (48%), and gait disturbances (48%). Forty percent of patients had 2 cervical segments radiologically involved, mainly at C5-C6, with changes such as disc herniation (88%), foraminal stenosis with nerve root compression (67%), reduced spinal canal-to-vertebral body ratio (38%), and ligamentum flavum hypertrophy (24%). Also, 22% of patients showed degenerative cervical myelopathy. Strikingly, 48% of enrolled individuals showed cervicolumbar tandem spinal stenosis, mainly in L4-L5 and L5-S1, who were generally older, had a longer duration of symptoms, and had a higher comorbidity burden, including hyperglycemia, hypertension, and depression. CONCLUSIONS: The demographic and clinical characteristics of degenerative cervical spine disease in Mexico differ with respect to other geographical regions by a younger age of diagnosis, a high frequency of cardiovascular, metabolic, and mental health comorbidities, and an increased prevalence of concomitant lumbar spinal stenosis. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Our findings reveal a considerably high burden of cervicolumbar tandem spinal stenosis as a distinctive feature of Mexican patients with cervical spine degeneration.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Preserving the neurological function of sacral nerves during total or partial sacrectomy is challenging. OBSERVATIONS: The authors describe a case of an osseous desmoplastic fibroma of the sacrum in a 51-year-old woman. The patient attended the authors' institution with loss of muscle strength and sensitivity impairment in both legs, gait instability, bowel constipation, urinary incontinence, and weight loss. Preoperative magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography/computed tomography showed intrapelvic and posterior extension of the tumor but sparing of S1 and the sacroiliac and lumbosacral joints. After a multidisciplinary discussion of the case, a staged anterior-posterior approach to the sacrum was chosen. The abdominal approach allowed full mobilization of the uterus, ovaries, bladder, and colon and protection of iliac vessels. After tumor resection, a synthetic surgical mesh was placed over the sacrum to minimize soft tissue defects. Then, the posterior stage allowed the authors to perform a bicortical osteotomy, achieving wide tumor excision with minimal nerve root injury. Spinopelvic fixation was not necessary, because both sacroiliac and lumbosacral joints remained intact. A few days after the surgery, the patient restarted ambulation and recovered sphincter control. LESSONS: Multidisciplinary planning and a staged abdominal and posterior approach for partial sacrectomy were fundamental to preserve neurological function in this case.
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Besides typical respiratory symptoms, the coronavirus disease 2019, also known as COVID-19, is characterized by a wide range of neurological symptoms that result from the injury of the brain and peripheral nerves. Only a few reports have described the involvement of the spinal cord among COVID-19 patients. Furthermore, little is known about the risk of individuals with chronic degenerative conditions of the spine for acute neurological complications of COVID-19. CASE PRESENTATION: Here, we describe the case of a 73-year-old man with a subclinical cervical multifocal spondylotic myelopathy that manifested neurological symptoms of spinal cord injury only some days after getting infected with SARS-CoV-2. The patient did not show any data associated with respiratory involvement and improved clinically after decompressive spinal surgery and administration of steroids. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first reported case of an acute exacerbation of a chronic degenerative condition of the spine caused by COVID-19.
