Central Venous Catheter Penetrating the Spinal Canal via the Spinal Foramen: A Case Report and Literature Review.

The insertion of a neck central venous catheter (CVC) is a common procedure in medical practice; however, malposition and complications frequently occur. A 66-year-old woman had CVC inserted through the right internal jugular vein. CVC malposition was observed on chest radiography and computed tomography. The catheter was accidentally inserted via the vertebral vein and had entered the C6-C7 intervertebral foramen, penetrating the spinal canal with the tip at the T2 epidural space. We present this rare CVC complication to demonstrate the possibility of incorrect insertion of the catheter and penetration of the spinal canal, possibly causing neuronal damage.

An intraoperative 3D image-based navigation error during cervical pedicle screw insertion.

A 67-year-old man underwent posterior cervical decompression surgery for ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) with fixation using cervical pedicle screws (CPSs) guided by intraoperative 3D image-based navigation. Intraoperatively, while creating the screw hole using the navigation probe, the virtual trajectory on the intraoperative navigation screen showed a 10-degree angle discrepancy in the axial plane depending on whether a probing force was or was not applied for making the hole. This was potentially caused by vertebra rotation and a bent probe. Consequently, the CPSs were placed more laterally than the ideal trajectory, which resulted in <2 mm lateral perforation to the foramen transversarium. There were no screw insertion-related perioperative complications. Based on this case, we conclude that navigation error during CPS insertion can occur even with intraoperative 3D image-based navigation. The risk of a bowed navigation probe caused by posterior cervical muscle and vertebra rotation should be considered, even with use of a navigation reference frame.

Retained bullet in the cervical spinal canal and the associated surgical management conundrum: case report and review of the literature.

INTRODUCTION: Gunshot wounds (GSW) to the cervical spine remain uncommon. Surgery often does not yield significant neurological improvement and the decision to utilize surgery depends on a number of factors. We describe the case of a 28 year-old male suffering a complete spinal cord injury (SCI) secondary to a bullet lodged in the cervical spinal canal. We present the unique radiological findings and review the indications for and utility of spine surgery for cervical GSW. CASE PRESENTATION: The patient was a 28 year-old male involved in a motor vehicle accident immediately after sustaining a gunshot wound to the cervical spine. Neurologic exam revealed a complete SCI at the C4 level. CT scan revealed a retained bullet in the spinal canal at the C4/5 level without vascular injury or unstable vertebral fracture. He was managed nonoperatively, however, he remained ventilator dependent and ultimately expired secondary to cardiac arrest from a suspected pulmonary embolism. DISCUSSION: We present a case of complete SCI secondary to a retained bullet in the cervical spine. These cases can be managed both operatively and nonoperatively. Given the high risk of morbidity and overall poor neurological recovery after surgical intervention for SCI secondary to GSW, physicians must understand the appropriate indications for surgical intervention. These indications include, but are not limited to, progressive neurological deficit, cerebrospinal fluid leak, spinal instability, and acute lead toxicity.

Percutaneous Transforaminal Endoscopic Removal of Spinal Shrapnel.

BACKGROUND: Gunshot injuries are one of the most common causes of the penetrating injuries of the spine. The victims of these injuries usually have neurologic deficits. Percutaneous endoscopic lumbar surgery is one of the most popular surgical spine interventions. We report a case with incomplete radiculopathy due to shrapnel located in L5 foramen that was removed by percutaneous endoscopic technique. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 23-year-old man sustaining a gunshot injury penetrating to the abdomen presented to our hospital. His first examination revealed a single gunshot wound with entry hole in the left low lumbar region without exit hole and right lower abdominal quadrant tenderness. Plain radiographs and computed tomography showed a bullet in the abdomen and left L5 transverse process fracture and shrapnel in L5 foraminal zone. The bullet was removed by abdominal surgeons without any surgical plan for the shrapnel in the foramen. He was referred to our clinic 3 weeks after discharge. Without any further neurologic deterioration, he had uninterrupted severe pain that was mostly unbearable during the night. Despite gradually increasing dosages of different drugs, his pain relief was insufficient. Percutaneous transforaminal endoscopic removal of the shrapnel was planned. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the absence of a universally approved algorithm in the treatment of spinal gunshot injuries, endoscopic technique can be kept in mind for a minimal access and invasiveness in case of indication for removal. With experience in endoscopic procedures and familiarity with surgical anatomy, the treatment of this unique case was completed successfully.

Prevalence of cervical canal stenosis in farmers: Epidemiological study based on radiographic parameter of spinal cord injury patients.

BACKGROUND: Farming is one of the effective community activities for preventing the need for new long-term care insurance services. This study was conducted to compare spinal canal diameters between patients injured during orchard work (i.e., cultivating apples) and other situations that lead to cervical spinal cord injury without major fracture or dislocation and to investigate the frequency of cervical spinal canal stenosis among farmers in a Japanese community. METHODS: Subjects were 23 patients with cervical spinal cord injury without major fracture and dislocation. Charts and radiographs of these patients were retrospectively reviewed to evaluate the characteristics of the spinal cord injury. The spinal canal diameter at the injury level in the mid-sagittal plane of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and mechanism of injury were compared between patients injured by orchard work and other situations. Moreover, 358 Japanese general residents were evaluated for the prevalence of cervical canal stenosis using MRI and comparisons were made between farmers group and non-farmers group. RESULTS: Spinal canal diameters at the injury level were 5.8 ± 1.4 mm in patients injured during orchard work and 5.6 ± 1.0 mm in those injured in other situations; there were no differences between the two groups. Head contusion as mechanism of injury was more frequent in the orchard work group than in other situations group. Among farmers, the rate of spinal canal stenosis increased with age, and it was 62.3% in men and 66.2% in women. CONCLUSIONS: The frequency of cervical spinal canal stenosis was high with age regardless of farming work. In addition, head contusion might be a characteristic mechanism that causes spinal cord injury during orchard work. Therefore, screening of cervical degenerative conditions among farmers and education for prevention of cervical spinal cord injury during farming work are necessary.

A mysterious risk factor for bone cement leakage into the spinal canal through the Batson vein during percutaneous kyphoplasty: a case control study.

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) can effectively treat osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCFs). Although satisfactory clinical outcomes can be achieved, bone cement leakage remains a primary complication of PKP. Previous studies have found many high risk factors for bone cement leakage into the spinal canal; however, less attention to the posterior wall morphologies of different vertebral bodies may be one reason for the leakage. Here, we investigated the effect of posterior vertebral wall morphology in OVCF patients on bone cement leakage into the spinal canal during PKP. METHODS: Ninety-eight OVCF patients with plain computed tomography (CT) scans and three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction images from T6 to L5 were enrolled. 3D-CT and multiplanar reconstructions (MPR) were used to measure the concave posterior vertebral wall depth (PVWCD) and the corresponding midsagittal diameter of the nonfractured vertebral body (VBSD), and the PVWCD/VBSD ratio was calculated. All subjects were divided into the thoracic or lumbar groups based on the location of the measured vertebrae to observe the value and differences in the PVWCD between both groups. The differences in PVWCD and PVWCD/VBSD between the thoracic and lumbar groups were compared. Three hundred fifty-seven patients (548 vertebrae) who underwent PKP within the same period were also divided into the thoracic and lumbar groups. The maximal sagittal diameter (BCSD), the area of the bone cement intrusion into the spinal canal (BCA), and the spinal canal encroachment rate (BCA/SCA × 100%) were measured to investigate the effect of the thoracic and lumbar posterior vertebral wall morphologies on bone cement leakage into the spinal canal through the Batson vein during PKP. RESULTS: The PVWCDs gradually deepened from T6 to T12 (mean, 4.6 mm); however, the values gradually became shallower from L1 to L5 (mean, 0.6 mm). The PVWCD/VBSD ratio was approximately 16% from T6 to T12 and significantly less at 3% from L1 to L5 (P < 0.05). The rate of bone cement leakage into the spinal canal through the Batson vein was 10.1% in the thoracic group and 3.7% in the lumbar group during PKP. In the thoracic group, the BCSD was 3.1 ± 0.5 mm, the BCA was 30.2 ± 3.8 mm2, and the BCA/SCA ratio was 17.2 ± 2.0%. In the lumbar group, the BCSD was 1.4 ± 0.3 mm, the BCA was 14.8 ± 2.2 mm2, and the BCA/SCA ratio was 7.4 ± 1.0%. The BCSD, BCA and BCA/SCA ratio were significantly higher in the thoracic group than in the lumbar group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The PVWCD in the middle and lower thoracic vertebrae can help reduce bone cement leakage into the spinal canal by enabling avoiding bone cement distribution over the posterior 1/6 of the vertebral body during PKP. The effect of the difference between the thoracic and lumbar posterior vertebral wall morphology on bone cement leakage into the spinal canal through the Batson vein in OVCF patients during PKP is one reason that the rate of bone cement leakage into the thoracic spinal canal is significantly higher than that into the lumbar spinal canal.

Quantitative and qualitative analyses of spinal canal encroachment during cervical laminectomy using the kerrison rongeur versus High-Speed burr.

BACKGROUND: Several cervical laminectomy techniques have been described. One commonly used method involves making bilateral trough laminotomies using either a Kerrison rongeur or a high speed burr, and then removing the lamina en-bloc. Alternatively, some surgeons prefer to thin the lamina with the burr, and then remove the lamina in a piecemeal fashion using Kerrison rongeurs. Some surgeons have warned against the potential risk of iatrogenic spinal cord injury from inserting the Kerrison footplate into a stenotic canal. We aim to quantify the amount of canal encroachment for various methods of cervical laminectomies. METHODS: Three attending spine surgeons and two fellows each performed laminectomies using C5 sawbones models. The canal was completely filled with modeling putty to simulate a stenotic spinal cord. Bilateral trough laminotomies were performed using a 1 mm Kerrison, a 2 mm Kerrison, and a 3 mm matchstick high-speed burr. Piecemeal laminectomies were performed with a 2 mm Kerrison. A blinded spine surgery fellow performed all quantitative measurements. Three blinded researchers qualitatively ranked the amount of "canal encroachment". RESULTS: The average canal encroachment was 0.50 ± 0.45mm for the burr, 1.37 ± 0.68 mm for the 1 mm Kerrison, and 1.47 ± 0.37 mm for the 2 mm Kerrison (p = .002). There was a statistically significant difference between the burr and 1 mm Kerrison (p = .01) and between the burr and the 2 mm Kerrison (p = .001). There was no statistical difference between the 1 mm and 2 mm Kerrison (p = .78). The mean rank of the burr group, the Kerrison rongeur group, and the piecemeal group were 1.41, 1.94, and 2.65, respectively, on an ordinal scale of 1-3. CONCLUSION: When performing a trough laminotomy, the high-speed burr results in less canal encroachment compared to 1 mm or 2 mm Kerrison rongeurs. In the setting of a stenotic spinal canal, spine surgeons should consider using the burr to perform laminectomy to minimize the degree of canal encroachment.

Pull-out of Upper Thoracic Pedicle Screws Can Cause Spinal Canal Encroachment in Growing Rod Treatment.

BACKGROUND: Proximal foundation failure is a common complication of growing rod (GR) treatment for early-onset scoliosis. Spinal canal encroachment due to pull-out of pedicle screw used as proximal foundation has been anecdotally reported in GR patients. The aim of this study is to report the prevalence of spinal canal encroachment of pedicle screws in GR treatment and determine risk factors using a single-center cohort. METHODS: Inclusion criteria were: (1) GR for early-onset scoliosis and (2) pull-out of at least 1 proximal anchor pedicle screw. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to the presence of medial screw migration. Medial migration of the screw was confirmed by computed tomography. The extracted data included demographic, clinical, and radiographic information. RESULTS: A total of 21 patients (of 96) met inclusion criteria (21.8%). None of the screws appeared malpositioned on early postoperative x-ray. Average follow-up until screw failure was 50.4 months (64 to 85 mo) and average number of lengthenings 8.1 (4 to 13). Computed tomography revealed canal encroachment in 11 patients (group 1), and no encroachment in 10 (group 2). There was no significant difference between groups for age, follow-up or number of lengthenings. At the time of screw pull-out, coronal plane deformity was increased compared with early postoperative x-ray in all; however, this increase was significantly higher in group 1 (45.7 vs. 35 degrees, P=0.002). Proximal junctional angle (PJA) was increased in both groups at the time of pull-out. While not statistically significant, PJA increased linearly in group 1 but spiked in group 2 at the time of pull-out. There was no neurological event preoperatively, intraoperatively or postoperatively. Failed screws were safely revised in either planned/unplanned surgeries. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with proximal anchor failure of GR, especially if there is increase of coronal deformity and/or PJA, possible spinal encroachment should be kept in mind. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV-retrospective case series.

Cervical porcupine quill foreign body involving the spinal cord of a dog: A description of various imaging modality findings.

Although porcupine quill injuries are common in dogs, the detailed appearance of the quill on diagnostic ultrasound, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging has not been sufficiently described. A 4-year-old, intact, female Jack Russel terrier presented with severe neck pain and ataxia after an altercation with a porcupine 2 weeks earlier. Radiology, diagnostic ultrasound, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging were all utilised to identify a quill imbedded in the cervical vertebral canal and cervical musculature and were compared to each other. Surgical removal of the quill, guided by imaging findings, led to the resolution of the clinical signs in the patient. Previous ultrasound imaging reports have just stated that the quill consists of paralell hyperechoic lines, and do not mention the finer hyperechoic lines inbetween and do not try to provide a reason for the appearance. Previous computed tomography (CT) reports just mention identifying the quill on CT images (whether or not CT could identify the fragments), but do not go into detail about the attenuating appearance of the quill nor try to relate this to the composition of the quill. This is to the authors' knowledge the first report with detailed imaging descriptions of a case of cranial cervical vertebral canal porcupine quill foreign body in a dog. This is also the first report to allude to a possible difference in imaging findings related to quill structure because of keratin orientation and melanin content. The ideal imaging modality to use remains elusive, but ultrasound, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging could all identify the quill.

Protrusion of a rod into the spinal canal 10 years after segmental lumbar spine surgery.

The objective of this article is to report an unusual case of a spinal rod that protruded into the spinal canal after lumbar spine surgery.Only 4 cases of spinal rod migration with protrusion into the spinal canal have been reported. This is the first report of a case involving the use of posterior low lumbar segmental instrumentation with a screw-rod system. The left side of the rod gradually migrated and finally protruded into the canal and compressed the cord.A 60-year-old woman presented with pain and numbness of the posterior aspect of the left leg after a long-distance walk. Intermittent claudication became worse, and she developed pain and numbness in the perineal region. An x-ray showed that the left side of a spinal rod among the segmental spinal instruments that had been placed 10 years previously had protruded into the spinal canal.We removed the rod and decompressed the canal at the level of L5-S1. The patient became totally asymptomatic.Rods used as spinal instrumentation have the possibility of protruding into the spinal canal and endangering the nervous system. Long-term follow-up with radiological examinations should be conducted upon completion of spinal operations conducting using instrumentation.

Successfully treated transoral crossbow injury to the axial spine causing mild neurologic deficit: case presentation.

PURPOSE: To detail the management, complications and results of a crossbow arrow injury, where the broadhead went through the mouth, tongue, soft palate, C2 vertebra, spinal canal, dural sack, exiting the neck posteriorly and the arrow shaft lodged in the spine causing mild spinal cord injury. METHODS: Case presentation. RESULTS: A penetrating axial cervical spine crossbow injury was treated successfully in spite of the following interdisciplinary complications: meningitis, cerebrospinal fluid leakage, re-bleeding, and cardiac arrest. The shaft was removed from the neck, and C1-3 dorsal stabilization was performed. Controlled Computed Tomography (CT) showed adequate implant position. After 4 months the patient's fine motor skills improved, and he became able to button his shirt on his own, and to eat and drink without any help. Additionally, he was able to walk without any support. At the time of control at the outpatient clinic his behavior was adequate: he cooperated with the examining doctor and answered with short sentences although his psychomotor skills were slightly slower. CONCLUSIONS: Although bow and crossbow spine injuries are rare nowadays they still occur. The removal of a penetrating missile resulting in such a spinal injury required a unique solution. General considerations, such as securing the airway, leaving the penetrating arrow in the neck and immobilizing both the arrow and neck for transport, thorough diagnostic imaging, preventing cerebrospinal fluid leakage, administering prophylactic antibiotics with broad coverage and stabilizing the spine if required, are advised.

Actualización en la fisiopatología y manejo de traumatismo raquimedular: revisión bibliográfica / Actualization in pathophysiology and management of traumatic spinal cord injury: literature review

El Traumatismo Raquimedular (TRM) implica todas las lesiones traumáticas que dañan los huesos, ligamentos, músculos, cartílagos, estructuras vasculares, radiculares o meníngeas a cualquier nivel de la médula espinal. Las consecuencias personales, familiares, sociales y económicas de esta enfermedad, hacen que sea un tema relevante en la actualidad. El propósito de esta revisión es entregar al lector las herramientas elementales sobre el TRM, y está principalmente enfocada en el tratamiento, el cual se aborda estrechamente relacionado con la fisiopatología para comprender los mecanismos moleculares y biomecánicos de trauma, incluyendo sus complicaciones y el manejo de éstas. Respecto al tratamiento del TRM, se aborda la evidencia que ofrecen las terapias actualmente validadas y las aún controversiales, incluyendo los glucocorticoides, la reducción cerrada y la cirugía precoz. Además las terapias emergentes como la hipotermia terapéutica, los nuevos agentes neuroprotectores que se encuentran en fases preclínicas y clínicas de estudio como el riluzol, la minociclina, el litio, los antagonistas opioides, entre otros, y los agentes neurorregenerativos como el Cethrin y el Anti-Nogo que han mostrado buenos resultados en la recuperación neurológica. Las recomendaciones actuales respecto a la terapia con células madre y subtipos de células madre en la actualidad, es que deben llevarse a cabo sólo en el contexto de ensayos clínicos. Aunque aún no existen terapias que permitan la recuperación neurológica completa en todos o la mayoría de los pacientes, las terapias emergentes prevén un futuro promisorio en los resultados clínicos de los pacientes con TRM.

The traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI) involves all traumatic injuries that harm the bones, ligaments, muscles, cartilage, vascular, radicular or meningeal structures, at any level of the spinal cord. The personal, family, social and economic consequences of this disease, make it an important issue today. The purpose of this review is to provide the reader, the basic tools of the TRM, and it is mainly aimed at the treatment, which it approaches closely related to the pathophysiology, to understand the molecular and biomechanical mechanisms of trauma, including its complications and his management. Regarding treatment of TSCI, the evidence offered by currently validated and controversial therapies is discussed, including glucocorticoids, closed reduction and early surgery. Also emerging therapies such as therapeutic hypothermia, new neuroprotective agents currently in preclinical and clinical phases as riluzole, minocycline, lithium, opioid antagonists, among others, and neuroregenerative agents like Cethrin and Anti- Nogo that have shown good results in neurological recovery. Current recommendations for therapy with stem cells and subtype stem cell, is that only should be carried out in the context of clinical trials. Although there are not still therapies that allow full neurological recovery in all or most patients, emerging therapies provide a promising future in the clinical outcomes of patients with TRM.

Video-assisted removal of metal pellet fragments from the vertebral canal following gunshot injury and long-term outcome in a cat.

OBJECTIVE:  To describe the surgical management and long-term outcome of a spinal gunshot injury in a cat. CLINICAL REPORT: A two-year-old, 4.2 kg castrated European Shorthair male cat was referred for evaluation of bilateral acute hindlimb paralysis with loss of deep pain perception in the right hindlimb associated with a perforating gunshot wound in the left side of the flank. Based on the clinical findings, the injury was localized to the fourth lumbar-first sacral spinal cord segment. The orthogonal spinal radiographs and computed tomography examination showed several metal pellet fragments within the vertebral canal of the sixth lumbar vertebra. A left mini-hemilaminectomy of the sixth lumbar vertebra pedicle combined with a mini dorsal laminectomy over the sixth to seventh lumbar vertebrae disc space were performed. A 2.4 mm 30° arthroscope was then introduced within the spinal canal to improve visibility and help with the fragment extraction. The cat was discharged from the hospital five days after surgery and the owners were encouraged to continue passive and active physiotherapy movements. RESULTS: The cat was ambulatory with a plantigrade stance eight weeks following surgery. At the last follow-up examination (24 months postoperatively), the cat was able to jump on chairs, although intermittent urinary and faecal incontinence, proprioceptive deficits, and plantigrade stance were still present. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE:  Decompressive surgery may promote neurological status improvement following spinal gunshot injury.

Percutaneous Kyphoplasty for Kummell Disease with Severe Spinal Canal Stenosis.

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) has been proven as an effective, minimally invasive procedure for the treatment of Kummell's disease in the early stages. However, a risk of cement leakage and further neurological damage remains during and after PKP, especially in chronic osteoporotic stage III Kummell's disease with severe spinal canal stenosis. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of PKP for the treatment of chronic osteoporotic stage III Kummell's disease with severe spinal canal stenosis. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective evaluation of postoperative radiographs. SETTING: Pain management clinic. METHODS: A retrospective study was performed on 9 patients with 11 levels managed with PKP for chronic osteoporotic stage III Kummell's disease with severe spinal canal stenosis. Clinical and radiological outcomes were assessed. RESULTS: Substantial pain relief was attained in all the patients. Both visual analogue scale (VAS) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scores improved significantly from pre- to post-operation (P < 0.05), and remained unchanged at every follow-up. No neurological deterioration was found. Postoperatively, the anterior and midline vertebral body heights were significantly corrected (P < 0.05), and were sustained at the final follow-up. Similar results were seen in the correction of kyphotic angle. Neither cement leakage into the spinal canal nor further dislodging of the posterior vertebral fragments occurred. Two cases experienced subsequent fractures with one having a second PKP and the other being treated conservatively. LIMITATIONS: Retrospective study of 9 cases with 11 levels due partly to the rarity of the disorder. CONCLUSIONS: PKP is an effective, minimally invasive procedure for the treatment of chronic osteoporotic stage III Kummell's disease with severe spinal stenosis, leading to a significant relief of symptoms and improvement of functional status. INSTITUTIONAL REVIEW: This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board.

Medially misplaced pedicle screws in patients without neurological deficits following scoliosis surgery: to observe or to remove?

PURPOSE: This study investigated whether pedicle screws medially misplaced into the spinal canal without neurological complications should be removed or not. METHODS: A total of 86 patients with scoliosis that underwent spinal fusion using 988 pedicle screws were retrospectively reviewed after a minimum follow-up of 2 years. The inclusion criteria were: (1) patients without outstanding problems during the insertion of pedicle screws, (2) patients without neurological deficits either intraoperatively or postoperatively, and (3) patients that had all implants removed after bone union upon the request of the patient. Medial perforations were evaluated using immediate postoperative helical CT images and classified into three grades: grade 1 (0-2 mm), grade 2 (2-4 mm), and grade 3 (over 4 mm). All unexpected events were recorded at the time of removal. RESULTS: CT images obtained 2 years postoperatively exhibited neither loosening of screws nor pseudoarthrosis in all patients. CSF leakage from screw holes were recognized in 3 of 87 medially misplaced screws (3.4 %). There was no CSF leakage in grade 1 (35 screws), one CSF leakage (2.5 %) in grade 2 (40 screws), and two (16.7 %) in grade 3 (12 screws). No neurological abnormalities occurred either intraoperatively or postoperatively. CONCLUSION: This study indicated that screws medially misplaced at a distance greater than 2 mm, especially 4 mm, may be a cause of negative effects on the neural structure and should be removed during the early phase of the postoperative period, even among patients without postoperative neurological abnormalities.

Clinical relationship between cervical spinal canal stenosis and traumatic cervical spinal cord injury without major fracture or dislocation.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the clinical relationship between cervical spinal canal stenosis (CSCS) and incidence of traumatic cervical spinal cord injury (CSCI) without major fracture or dislocation, and to discuss the clinical management of traumatic CSCI. METHODS: Forty-seven patients with traumatic CSCI without major fracture or dislocation (30 out of 47 subjects; 63.83 %, had an injury at the C3-4 segment) and 607 healthy volunteers were measured the sagittal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) column diameter at five pedicle and five intervertebral disc levels using T2-weighted midsagittal magnetic resonance imaging. We defined the sagittal CSF column diameter of less than 8 mm as CSCS based on the previous paper. We evaluated the relative and absolute risks for the incidence of traumatic CSCI related with CSCS. RESULTS: Using data from the Spinal Injury Network of Fukuoka, Japan, the relative risk for the incidence of traumatic CSCI at the C3-4 segment with CSCS was calculated as 124.5:1. Moreover, the absolute risk for the incidence of traumatic CSCI at the C3-4 segment with CSCS was calculated as 0.00017. CONCLUSIONS: In our results, the relative risk for the incidence of traumatic CSCI with CSCS was 124.5 times higher than that for the incidence without CSCS. However, only 0.017 % of subjects with CSCS may be able to avoid developing traumatic CSCI if they undergo decompression surgery before trauma. Our results suggest that prophylactic surgical management for CSCS might not significantly affect the incidence of traumatic CSCI.

The effect of posterior instrumentation of the spine on canal dimensions and neurological recovery in thoracolumbar and lumbar burst fractures.

A prospective study was designed to determine whether posterior instrumentation of the spine in thoracolumbar and lumbar burst fractures produces indirect decompression of the spinal canal leading to better remodeling and neurological recovery. The study was conducted in Kasturba Medical College Manipal, India. Sixty-eight consecutive cases of thoracolumbar and lumbar burst fractures were treated by posterior instrumentation, and approval from the hospital ethical committee was obtained. The degree of initial spinal canal compromise, indirect decompression, and remodeling were assessed from the computed tomography scans. The neurological status at the time of presentation and at final follow-up was assessed by the American Spinal Injury Association's modified Frankel's grading. The median canal compromise in patients with and without neurological deficit was 47.32 and 39.33%, respectively. The overall mean canal compromise at the time of admission, post-operative, and final follow-up were 47.37, 26.58 and 14.85%, respectively (P = <0.001). The median canal compromise in patients who recovered was 44.5% and in those with no neurological recovery was 55.85%. The median percentage of canal decompression achieved in patients who recovered was 22.15%, whereas it was 22% in those who did not recover. The median remodeling in recovered and non-recovered groups was 64.50 and 80%, respectively. None of these differences was statistically significant. This study shows that posterior instrumentation of the spine produces significant indirect decompression of the spinal canal and better remodeling. However, these factors may not improve the neurological recovery.

Analysis of the risk factors for severity of neurologic status in 216 patients with thoracolumbar and lumbar burst fractures.

STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective, consecutive case series. OBJECTIVE: To determine the risk factors that have a significant correlation with the severity of neurologic impairment in thoracolumbar and lumbar burst fractures. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: The correlation between spinal canal stenosis due to bony fragments and the severity of neurologic deficits in thoracolumbar and lumbar burst fractures remains controversial. Moreover, there have so far been no reports in the literature in which the risk factors (spinal canal stenosis and the disruption of posterior ligamentous complex) causing a severe neurologic deficit were analyzed using a multiple logistic regression model. METHODS: A review of the clinical data (neurologic impairments on admission and a finding of posterior ligamentous complex disruption at the time of operation), axial computed tomography, and plain lateral radiography of 216 patients in thoracolumbar (T11-L1) and lumbar (L2-L5) burst fractures was performed. The factors related to neurologic impairments were analyzed using a multiple logistic regression model. RESULTS: In all cases, both the spinal canal stenosis (P < 0.01) and disruption of posterior ligamentous complex (P < 0.01) were significant risk factors. Interestingly, these two risk factors varied according to the injury levels: at thoracic level, the spinal canal stenosis (P < 0.01); at the first lumbar spine, the disruption of the posterior ligamentous complex (P < 0.01); and at the lumbar spine below L2, both of the spinal canal stenosis (P < 0.01) and the disruption of posterior ligamentous complex (P < 0.05) were significant risk factors, respectively. CONCLUSION: In the patients with thoracolumbar and lumbar burst fractures, the significance of the two important risk factors related to clinical results, namely, the stenosis ratio of spinal canal and the disruption of posterior ligamentous complex, were found to vary depending on the level of injury.

Post-traumatic cervical pneumorrhachis--a rare entity.

Pneumorrhachis(PR) is a rare phenomenon and post traumatic PR even more so. Presentation can vary from asymptomatic to significant neurological deficit and so the management has to be individualised. We present a case of post-traumatic cervical PR.