Effects of anti-osteoporosis medications on radiological and clinical results after acute osteoporotic spinal fractures: a retrospective analysis of prospectively designed study.

Effects of anti-osteoporosis medications such as anti-resorptive and anabolic agents on healing of osteoporotic spinal fracture were retrospectively investigated. The use of anabolic agent significantly enhanced fracture healing, reduced progressive collapse, and presented good pain relief. These findings suggest that proper selection of medication could improve initial management of acute osteoporotic spinal fractures (OSFs). INTRODUCTION: Although anti-osteoporosis medications have beneficial effects on prevention of osteoporotic spinal fractures (OSFs), few studies have compared effects of medications on fracture healing following OSFs. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to elucidate the effects of different anti-osteoporosis medications on radiological and clinical outcomes after acute OSFs. METHODS: A total of 132 patients diagnosed with acute OSFs were enrolled and allocated into three groups [group I (n = 39, no anti-osteoporosis medication), group II (n = 66, bisphosphonate), and group III (n = 27, parathyroid hormone (PTH)]. Radiological parameters including magnetic resonance (MR) classification, occurrence of intravertebral cleft (IVC), and clinical outcomes such as numerical rating scale (NRS) and Oswestry disability index were assessed. Risk analyses for IVC and progressive collapse were done along the related factors and medication type. RESULTS: IVC sign was observed in 30 patients. The rate of IVC sign was lower in group III (7.4%) than that in group I (20.5%) or group II (30.3%), although the difference was not statistically significant. Moreover, the degree of NRS improvement was better in group III than that in group I or group II (5.7 vs. 3.1 vs. 3.5, p < 0.001). On multiple regression analysis, mid-portion type fracture in MR classification was a significant risk factor for progressive OSFs. The use of PTH showed significant lower incidences of occurrence of IVC (odds ratio (OR) = 0.160) and increase in height loss (OR = 0.325). CONCLUSIONS: Different anti-osteoporosis medications presented different clinical and radiological results after acute OSFs. The use of anabolic agent significantly enhanced fracture healing, reduced progressive collapse, and presented better clinical outcomes. Proper selection of medication might improve initial management of acute OSFs.

Does bisphosphonate-based anti-osteoporosis medication affect osteoporotic spinal fracture healing?

UNLABELLED: Effects of bisphosphonate on fracture healing were prospectively investigated for osteoporotic spinal fracture. Although there were no significant differences in clinical outcomes, the presence of intravertebral cleft was related to the medication use. These results suggest that suspension of bisphosphonate use should be considered during the fracture healing period. INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this prospective study is to investigate whether bisphosphonate-based anti-osteoporosis medication affects fracture healing and clinical outcomes of conservatively treated osteoporotic spinal fractures (OSFs). METHODS: A total of 105 patients who were diagnosed with acute OSFs were prospectively enrolled. According to their previous medication history, the patients were allocated into group I (n = 39, no history of bisphosphonate use) or group II (n = 66, history of bisphosphonate use). Clinical outcomes were assessed using visual analogue scale (VAS), and Oswestry disability index (ODI). Radiographic parameters including changes in height loss and kyphotic angle at the index vertebra were measured, and radiographic findings suggesting impaired fracture healing such as the intravertebral cleft (IVC) sign and fracture instability were evaluated. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were used to identify related factors. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the last VAS and ODI between groups. There were also no significant differences in the radiographic parameters. Although the IVC sign was seen more commonly in group II (30.3 %) than in group I (20.5 %), fracture instability combined with IVC was noted in the same number of cases. On multiple regression analysis, medication history showed no significant relationship with the clinical parameters. However, the presence of the IVC sign was related to medication history (odds ratio 4.8; 95 % confidence interval [CI] 1.02-22.69). CONCLUSIONS: Bisphosphonate use does not significantly affect the clinical results during conservative treatment for OSFs. However, the occurrence of the IVC sign was related to medication history. Although further studies are needed to verify our findings, these results suggest that suspension of bisphosphonate use should be considered during the fracture healing period for acute OSFs.

Risk factors affecting progressive collapse of acute osteoporotic spinal fractures.

UNLABELLED: We prospectively investigated related clinical and radiological risk factors for progression following acute osteoporotic spinal fractures. Fracture location, morphological feature (mid-portion), and involvement of vertebral posterior wall were statistical significant risk factors considering increase of height loss and kyphotic angle, and occurrence of intravertebral cleft sign as a progressive collapse. INTRODUCTION: This study was designed to investigate the clinical and radiological risk factors related to progressive collapse of acute osteoporotic spinal fractures (OSF). METHODS: In total, 100 patients with acute OSF were prospectively enrolled at a single institute. Five pathological fractures were excluded. Twelve patients dropped out of the study because of conversion to surgical treatment during follow-up. Eight patients were excluded as follow-up losses. Thus, 75 patients were analyzed. Clinical data and radiological data were recorded and analyzed. As a definition of progressive OSF, height loss≥15%, kyphotic angle≥10°, and the occurrence of an intravertebral cleft sign at the 6-month follow-up compared to the initial values were adopted. Correlation analysis and multiple logistic regression analyses were performed to elucidate the related clinical or radiological factors for progressive OSF. RESULTS: The occurrence of intravertebral cleft was not related to any significant differences in the clinical results and was only related to the fracture level in the regression analysis. A ≥15% increase in height loss and a ≥10° increase in kyphotic angle were related to worse clinical results. Mid-portion type fractures and involvement of the posterior wall were significant risk factors with relatively high odds ratios for progressive OSF under these criteria. CONCLUSION: A thoracolumbar fracture, a mid-portion type fracture, and involvement of the vertebral posterior wall are relative risk factors for progressive collapse following acute OSF. More attention should be paid to patients with OSF and these risk factors during conservative management.

Miscellaneous tumour-like lesions of the ovary: cross-sectional imaging review.

Miscellaneous tumour-like ovarian lesions are histobiologically diverse, and are often mistaken for the more common ovarian cancers, leading to aggressive management. Knowledge of characteristic clinical, laboratory and imaging findings of these select non-neoplastic ovarian entities allows correct diagnoses and permits optimal management.

Percutaneous vertebroplasty for vertebral compression fractures with and without intravertebral clefts.

We present the clinical and radiological results of percutaneous vertebroplasty in the treatment of 58 vertebral compression fractures in 51 patients at a minimum follow-up of two years. Group 1 consisted of 39 patients, in whom there was no associated intravertebral cleft, whilst group 2 comprised 12 patients with an intravertebral cleft. The Oswestry disability index (ODI) and visual analogue scale (VAS) scores were recorded prospectively. The radiological evidence of kyphotic deformity, vertebral height, leakage of cement and bone resorption around the cement were studied retrospectively, both before and after operation and at the final follow-up. The ODI and VAS scores in both groups decreased after treatment, but the mean score in group 2 was higher than that in group 1 (p = 0.02 (ODI), p = 0.02 (VAS)). There was a greater initial correction of the kyphosis in group 2 than in group 1, although the difference was not statistically significant. However, loss of correction was greater in group 2. Leakage of cement was seen in 24 (41.4%) of 58 vertebrae (group 1, 32.6% (15 of 46); group 2, 75% (9 of 12)), mainly of type B through the basal vertebral vein in group 1 and of type C through the cortical defect in group 2. Resorption of bone around the cement was seen in three vertebrae in group 2 and in one in group 1. There were seven adjacent vertebral fractures in group 1 and one in group 2. Percutaneous vertebroplasty is an effective treatment for osteoporotic compression fractures with or without an intravertebral cleft. Nonetheless, higher rates of complications related to the cement must be recognised in patients in the presence of an intravertebral cleft.

Traumatic posterior atlantooccipital dislocation with Jefferson fracture and fracture-dislocation of C6-C7: a case report with survival.

Atlantooccipital dislocation (AOD) is a rare and usually fatal injury. In the current study, the authors reported an extremely rare case of posterior AOD with Jefferson fracture and fracture-dislocation of C6-C7. The patient survived the injury and had only incomplete quadriplegia below the C7 segment with anterior cord syndrome. He was successfully managed with in situ occipitocervical fusion using the Cotrel-Dubousset rod system, corpectomy of C6, and anterior interbody fusion of C5-C7 with plating. To our knowledge, this is the first report of posterior AOD with two other non-contiguous cervical spine injuries. A high index of suspicion and careful examination of the upper cervical spine should be considered as the key to the diagnosis of AOD in cases that involve multiple or lower cervical spine injuries.

Volumetric change of the graft bone after intertransverse fusion.

STUDY DESIGN: Patients in whom good intertransverse fusion had been achieved were selected for the volumetric study of the fusion mass using sequential computed tomography scans. OBJECTIVES: To assess the natural volumetric change of intertransverse fusion mass and the effect of the disease entity and spinal instrumentation on the fusion mass volume. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: The magnitude of volumetric change of the graft bone after intertransverse fusion is still inconclusive. METHODS: Fifteen adult patients who underwent decompression surgery with single-level lumbar and lumbosacral intertransverse fusion were selected for this study. Preoperative diagnoses were degenerative spondylolisthesis in nine patients and isthmic spondylolisthesis in six. Seven of the 15 patients received pedicle screw fixation. They were categorized into two major groups: 1) instrumented and noninstrumented groups and 2) isthmic and degenerative groups. To assess the volumetric change of the graft bone, sequential computed tomography scans were obtained 2 weeks after surgery and again 18 months after surgery. RESULTS: The overall initial mean graft volume was 6251 mm3, which decreased to 2842 mm3 by 18 months after surgery (P < 0.001). The overall mean volume loss between the two periods was 54.8% of the initial graft volume. Although there was no significant difference in the mean graft volume between the groups at either 2 weeks or 18 months after surgery (P > 0.05 in all comparisons), the mean graft volume in each group decreased significantly during the observation period (P < 0.01 in all comparisons). There was no significant difference in the mean volume loss or in the ratio of residual volume to the initial graft volume between the groups during the study period (P > 0.05 in all comparisons). The initial graft volume correlated positively with the graft volume at 18 months after surgery (r = 0.612, P < 0.01) and volume loss (r = 0.949, P < 0.01), but negatively with the residual volume ratio (r = -0.507, P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: These results showed that more than one half of the initial graft bone volume was being absorbed during the consolidation processes of the graft bone, and that the volume loss during the period was not significantly affected by the spinal instrumentation or by the disease entity. It was also found that the greater the amount of the initial graft bone, the larger the fusion mass at 18 months after surgery. The volume loss, however, increased proportionally to an increase in the initial graft bone volume. The efficiency (ratio of residual volume to the initial graft volume) of the intertransverse fusion also tended to decline as the initial graft volume increased.

Fate of the facet joints after instrumented intertransverse process fusion.

A success or failure of an intertransverse process fusion has been determined by the fusion status of the intertransverse fusion mass alone, and little consideration has been given to the fusion status of the facet joint. The purpose of this study was to assess the fusion status of the facet joints at the fusion level and its impact on the overall fusion outcome. Sixteen patients (19 levels) treated with decompression and intertransverse process fusion using pedicle screw fixation without facet arthrodesis were entered into a cross sectional study in which the fusion status of the intertransverse fusion masses and facet joints at each fusion level were evaluated and combined at an average duration of followup of 35 months (range, 22-61 months). Union rate of the intertransverse process fusion (58%, 22 of 38) was lower than the spontaneous fusion rate of the facet joint (68%, 26 of 38). However, the combination of the two fusion statuses at each fusion level generated 89% of the overall fusion rate (17 of 19 levels). With surgery, all patients had a good or excellent clinical outcome, but the outcome had no relation to the overall fusion status. The results suggest that the fusion status of the facet joint should be considered in determining overall fusion status after combined decompression with instrumented intertransverse process fusion.

Pott's Paraplegia--67 cases.

Sixty-seven patients were treated for Pott's paraplegia: 58 were adults and 9 were children. Sixty-four patients had active disease, and 3 had healed disease. All patients had triple chemotherapy with or without decompression surgery. Thirteen patients, including 9 children, were treated conservatively, whereas 54 patients who met the selection criteria for surgery were treated surgically. Fifty-two patients had anterior radical decompression surgery, and for 14 of them, anterior surgery was preceded by posterior instrumental stabilization surgery. Two patients with healed disease had posterior decompressive corpectomy. There was functional recovery in 60 (89.6%) patients, including 13 who had active disease that was treated conservatively. In 47 of the 54 surgically treated patients there was neurologic recovery, and 2 of these recovered incompletely with some residual spasticity. In the remaining 7 patients, there was no recovery. It took 2 to 6 months for recovery for the patients with conservative treatment, whereas it took <2 months for the patients with anterior decompression. The patients who had the combined 2-stage procedure could be mobilized earlier after neurologic recovery than could the patients having the anterior radical surgery and the conservatively treated patients. It was proven that paraplegia of active disease can be treated successfully by conservative or surgical means and that paraplegia caused by healing of fibrosis in the severely deformed spine was difficult to treat successfully, even with radical surgery.

Posterior instrumentation and anterior interbody fusion for tuberculous kyphosis of dorsal and lumbar spines.

STUDY DESIGN: Thirty-nine adults and five children with active spinal tuberculosis and resulting kyphosis of the dorsal and lumbar spine who had combined posterior instrumentation and anterior interbody fusion were observed to determine whether the corrected spinal deformity could be maintained until solid fusion. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of the combined two-stage procedure for treating kyphosis due to active spinal tuberculosis. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Until 1970, with all methods of treatment, kyphosis due to active spinal tuberculosis tended to increase during therapy. Most of the patients treated with these methods were not happy with this residual kyphosis, even though their disease was arrested or cured. Kyphosis became their main concern regarding further treatment. METHODS: A combined two-stage procedure, under the cover of 18 months of triple chemotherapy, was used for all patients. For posterior stabilization, the Harrington distraction system, Rush nails or Steinmann pins and wires, and Texas Scottish Rite Hospital instrumentation were used. The diagnosis of successful interbody fusion was made if there was no loss of correction, no graft resorption or graft bed resorption, and if there was visible graft remodeling, such as trabeculation between the graft beds and graft and the graft hypertrophy. RESULTS: In the 39 adults, average preoperative, immediate postoperative, and last follow-up kyphosis angles were 37 degrees, 16 degrees, and 18 degrees, respectively. In four children, the average preoperative, immediate postoperative, and last follow-up kyphosis angles were 55 degrees, 28 degrees, and 31 degrees, respectively. The loss of correction did not exceed 3 degrees. For one-segment spondylodesis, the average fusion times were 4 months in adults and 3.5 months in children. For a two-segment fusion, the average fusion times were 6 months in adults and 6.3 months in children. CONCLUSION: Posterior instrumental stabilization and anterior interbody fusion were found helpful in arresting the disease early, providing early fusion, preventing progression of kyphosis, and correcting the kyphosis.

Effect of immobilization and configuration on lumbar adjacent-segment biomechanics.

The motion and facet load changes at the adjacent segment after lumbosacral immobilization (with different angles) were quantified in vitro using canine spines. Changes were examined under flexion, extension, and lateral bending. An increase (extension: 62%; flexion: 85%; left bend: 30%; right bend 26%) in motion at the adjacent segment was found for all motions after immobilization. Adjacent-segment facet load remained constant under any load state or immobilized configuration. For all configurations, the facet contact site impinged in extension, remained unchanged in left bending, and moved superiorly in right bending. This study has shown that after immobilization the facet contact patterns at the adjacent segment changed, load was unchanged, and segmental motion increased when the lumbar spine reproduced the same range of motion. The configuration of the immobilized segments had no effect on these changes.

Tuberculosis of the ischiopubic ramus. A report of five cases.

Five cases of tuberculosis of the ischiopubic ramus are reported. All presented with abscesses. Treatment by simple curettage and INH, rifampicin and ethambutol given for 18 to 24 months gave satisfactory results in the 4 patients who were children. The one adult had severe disruption of the symphysis pubis, and sacroiliac involvement; a good result was obtained after bone grafting and fixation with a plate.

The effect of posterior spinal fixation with acrylic cement on the vertebral growth plate and intervertebral disc in dogs.

We have attempted to clarify the serial histological changes in the growing spine of dogs following posterior fixation with acrylic cement. Twenty-four male mongrel dogs aged 8 weeks were used for the study. The lumbar spine from L.3 to L.5 was fixed posteriorly with acrylic cement. Three dogs were then sacrificed every four weeks up to 32 weeks, and the histological changes of the vertebral disc, growth plate and vertebral bodies were observed by light microscopy. Thinning of the growth plate and distortion of the cartilage columns has been demonstrated, but premature fusion of the growth plate did not result and vertebral body growth continued. Anterior wedging of the intervertebral disc was seen with some thinning of the bony trabeculae of the vertebral body. Degeneration of the nucleus pulposus resulted, with replacement by fibrous tissue. The normal horizontal arrangement of the fibres of the annulus fibrosus altered to a vertical configuration by 32 weeks.