Anatomical Evaluation of the Sacral Hiatus Using Ultrasound Imaging: Factors That Inhibit Needle Insertion During Caudal Epidural Block Procedures.

OBJECTIVE: Caudal epidural blocks often fail due to the difficulty of appropriate needle insertion. This study aimed to evaluate the anatomy of the sacral hiatus using ultrasound imaging. METHODS: This was a retrospective study involving 76 patients with spinal disorders. The following factors were analyzed to see if they affected the palpability of the sacral hiatus: sex, body mass index (BMI), and the morphology of the sacral hiatus on ultrasound imaging. The difficulty of needle insertion and the factors that influenced it were investigated in 28 of the 76 patients, who underwent landmark-based caudal epidural block procedures performed by the same doctor. RESULTS: Among the 76 patients, the mean length of the sacral hiatus was 21.3 ± 5.6 mm, the mean distance from the skin to the sacral cornua was 5.2 ± 3.4 mm, and the mean angle of the sacral hiatus was 16.4 ± 5.5 degrees. Sacral base protrusion was present and absent in 35 and 41 cases, respectively. The sacral hiatus exhibited good and poor palpability in 53 and 23 cases, respectively. The mean distance from the skin to the sacral cornua and BMI were found to significantly influence the palpability of the sacral hiatus. Only sacral base protrusion significantly influenced the difficulty of needle insertion. CONCLUSION: The mean distance from the skin to the sacral cornua and BMI were found to be associated with the palpability of the sacral hiatus, and sacral base protrusion was demonstrated to be associated with the difficulty of needle insertion into the sacral hiatus.

Neurological outcome of treatment for patients with impending paralysis due to epidural spinal cord compression by metastatic spinal tumor.

BACKGROUND: Therapeutic intervention has recently been actively performed for metastatic spine tumor even though spinal cord paralysis is not clearly observed, but there has been no report in which the degree of spinal cord compression by tumor was taken into consideration for the paralysis-preventing effect of treatment. Thus, we investigated the neurological outcome after treatment of patients with spinal cord compression in a state of impending paralysis. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study. The subjects were 88 patients with epidural spinal cord compression (ESCC) scale 1b or severer compression with American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) E spinal metastasis. The neurological outcome after the therapeutic intervention was investigated at regular intervals until death. The therapeutic intervention was posterior decompression and stabilization in 18 patients, stabilization without posterior decompression in 15, and radiotherapy in 55 patients (3 groups). RESULTS: The ASIA aggravation group was comprised of 15 patients, and the severity of paralysis was ASIA A in 3, B in 3, C in 6, and D in 3. Paralysis appeared in 16.7% in the posterior decompression and stabilization group, 13.3% in the posterior stabilization without decompression group, and 18.8% in the radiotherapy group. In the transverse view, the incidence was high in cases with advancement to the intervertebral foramen and circumferential-type advancement, and paralysis developed in more than 20% of ESCC 1c or severer cases. Factors influencing neurological aggravation were investigated, but there was no significant factor. CONCLUSION: In ESCC 1b or severer cases with ASIA E spinal metastasis, paralysis aggravated after therapeutic intervention in 16.7% in the posterior decompression and stabilization group, 13.3% in the stabilization without decompression group, and 16.7% in the radiotherapy group. There was no significant factor influencing the development of paralysis.

Detection of apoptosis and matrical degeneration within the intervertebral discs of rats due to passive cigarette smoking.

Although low-back pain is considered to be associated with cigarette smoking, the influence of cigarette smoking on the intervertebral discs (IVD) has not been confirmed. We established a rat model of passive cigarette smoking-induced IVD degeneration, and investigated the cytohistological changes in the IVD and the accompanying changes in gene expression. IVD from rats exposed to 8 weeks of passive cigarette smoking were stained with Elastica van Gieson, and exhibited marked destruction of the supportive structure of the reticular matrix in the nucleus pulposus (NP). Positive signals on safranin O, alcian blue, type II collagen and aggrecan staining were decreased in the destroyed structure. Safranin O and type II collagen signals were also decreased in the cartilage end-plate (CEP) after 4- and 8-weeks of cigarette smoking. In the CEP, the potential for apoptosis was increased significantly, as demonstrated by staining for single-strand DNA. However, there were no signs of apoptosis in the NP or annulus fibrosus cells. Based on these findings, we hypothesized that passive cigarette smoking-induced stress stimuli first affect the CEP through blood flow due to the histological proximity, thereby stimulating chondrocyte apoptosis and reduction of the extracellular matrix (ECM). This leads to reduction of the ECM in the NP, destroying the NP matrix, which can then progress to IVD degeneration.

Vertebral fracture in elderly female patients after posterior fusion with pedicle screw fixation for degenerative lumbar pathology: a retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: There have been only a few reports of subsequent postoperative vertebral fracture following posterior spinal instrumentation fusion, especially in elderly female patients. This study attempted to evaluate the long-term prevalence of subsequent postoperative vertebral fracture in female patients aged 70 years and older who underwent spine decompression and fusion surgery with pedicle screw fixation. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed prospectively collected data from 125 patients who met our inclusion and exclusion criteria. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to age: patients aged 70 years and older (Group A) and patients aged under 70 years of age (Group B). We evaluated incidence of subsequent postoperative vertebral fractures, type and timing of vertebral fractures, preoperative bone mineral density (BMD), preoperative diagnosis, surgical procedure, number of levels fused, extension of fusion to the lumbosacral junction, and presence of a transverse fixator. RESULTS: Baseline characteristics excluding patients' age were not statistically different between the two groups. Preoperative BMD of Group A was an average 81.7% of the young adult mean (YAM) value and that of Group B was an average 85.1% YAM value. Subsequent postoperative vertebral fractures occurred in 22 (41.5%) of 53 in Group A. On the other hand, fracture occurred in 17 (23.6%) of 72 in Group B. There were significant differences between the groups (p = 0.02). The odds ratio for subsequent vertebral fracture was 2.4 (95% confidence interval: 1.1-5.2) in favor of Group A. Survival analysis showed that the rate of subsequent vertebral fracture was significantly higher in Group A (log-rank test, P = 0.007). CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of subsequent vertebral fracture in patients aged 70 years and older was significantly higher than in patients aged under 70 years of age. In the case of pedicle screw fixation in elderly female patients, it is necessary to note the high risk of subsequent vertebral fracture despite short or non-rigid fusion. Vertebral fracture after posterior fusion surgery even for degenerative lumbar pathology could occur in more than one-third of female patients aged 70 years and older.

Delayed-onset paralysis induced by spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma communicated with hematoma in the paraspinal muscle in a 6-month-old girl: a case report.

Spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma (SSEH) very rarely develops in infants younger than 1 year old. To our knowledge, no previous case of delayed-onset paralysis induced by SSEH communicated with hematoma in the paraspinal muscle has been reported in the literature. The authors present the case of a 6-month-old girl with a tumor mass on her back who developed a paresis of her bilateral lower limbs. On spinal magnetic resonance imaging, the epidural mass appeared to be a dumbbell type and communicated with the mass in the paraspinal muscle through T12/L1 intervertebral foramen at the right side. After excision of the mass in the paraspinal muscle, hemi-laminectomy of T10-L3 was performed. No solid lesion was also present in the spinal canal and it was found to be an epidural hematoma. No malignancy was observed on pathological examination, and vascular and nerve system tumors were negative. When a tumor mass suddenly develops on the back of an infant and motor impairment of the lower limbs develops as the mass gradually enlarges, differential diagnosis should be performed taking SSEH into consideration.

Clinical Results of Minimally Invasive Spine Stabilization for the Management of Metastatic Spinal Tumors Based on the Epidural Spinal Cord Compression Scale.

PURPOSE: Minimally invasive spine stabilization (MISt) using percutaneous pedicle screws plays a significant role in palliative surgery for metastatic spinal tumors. However, few studies have investigated surgical outcomes based on the epidural spinal cord compression scale (ESCCS). The purpose of this study was to examine outcomes of metastatic spinal tumors as evaluated by ESCCS in patients treated by MISt. METHODS: The subjects were 56 patients who underwent MISt for metastatic spinal tumors, including 34 patients with ESCCS 2 or milder (group A) and 22 patients with ESCCS 3 (group B). We analyzed baseline characteristics, perioperative factors and clinical results such as postoperative survival time, neurological outcomes, Barthel Index for activities of daily living (ADL), visual analogue scale (VAS), and the rate of discharge to home. RESULTS: The baseline age (P=0.07), tumor diagnosis (P=0.23), spinal level of compression (P=0.35), American Spinal Injury Association classification (P=0.49), revised Tokuhashi score (P=0.92), spinal instability neoplastic score (P=0.28), VAS (P=0.35), Barthel Index (P=0.07), American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status classification (P=0.76), and type of surgery (P=0.40) did not differ significantly between the two groups. The median postoperative survival time did not differ significantly between the groups (12.0 versus 15.0 months, P=0.60). Neurological improvement by at least 1 grade or maintenance of grade E was favorable in group A. Patients in group A had less posterior decompression (P=0.006), a higher rate of chemotherapy (P=0.009), a higher postoperative Barthel Index (P=0.04), and a higher rate of discharge to home (P=0.01) and no patients died in the hospital (P=0.004). CONCLUSIONS: No significant difference was noted in the postoperative survival time between the 2 groups. Patients in the ESCCS 2 or milder group had favorable neurological improvement, higher rates of chemotherapy, better postoperative ADL, and the higher rate of discharge to home.

Surgical management of coincidental metastases to upper cervical spine and skull from hepatocellular carcinoma: a case report.

Metastases to the skull or upper cervical spine from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are very rare. We herein report a unique case of two-site surgery for both skull and upper cervical spine metastases from HCC. The patient was a 64-year-old man with cervical pain. Computed tomography (CT) revealed osteolytic change related to metastatic cervical spine and occipital bone tumors. Two-stage surgery involving posterior occipitocervical fusion and occipital bone tumor resection was performed. The patient's pain decreased in severity, and postoperative radiotherapy and chemotherapy could be conducted. The postoperative course was favorable, and the patient exhibited improvement in his activities of daily living. Neither cervical spine X-ray examination nor CT showed any instrumentation failure, such as screw loosening, before the patient died of liver failure 13 months after surgery. Patients with both skull and upper cervical spine metastases from liver cancer may have a markedly unfavorable prognosis. Even in these patients, however, surgery as an aggressive palliative treatment may prolong the survival period or maintain the quality of life as long as the patient's general condition permits.

Exploratory analysis of predictors of revision surgery for proximal junctional kyphosis or additional postoperative vertebral fracture following adult spinal deformity surgery in elderly patients: a retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Proximal junctional kyphosis (PJK) following adult spinal deformity (ASD) surgery in elderly patients is markedly influenced by osteoporosis causing additional vertebral fracture and loosening of pedicle screws (PS). This study aimed to investigate the association between mean bone density represented in Hounsfield units (HU) on spinal computed tomography (CT) and revision surgery for PJK or postoperative additional vertebral fracture following ASD surgery in elderly patients. METHODS: The subjects were 54 ASD patients aged 65 years or older who were treated with correction and fusion surgery of four or more levels and could be followed for 2 years or longer. Bone density was measured before surgery using lumbar dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and spinal CT in all patients. The patients were divided into group A (n = 14) in which revision surgery was required for PJK or additional vertebral fracture and group B (n = 40) in which revision surgery was not required. We retrospectively investigated incidences of PJK, additional vertebral fracture, and PS loosening, perioperative parameters, radiographic parameters before and after surgery, and osteoporosis treatment administration rate. RESULTS: No significant difference was noted in young adult mean (YAM) on DXA between groups A and B, respectively (P = 0.62), but the mean bone densities represented in HU of the T8 (P = 0.002) and T9 (P = 0.01) vertebral bodies on spinal CT were significantly lower in group A, whereas those of the L4 (P = 0.002) and L5 (P = 0.01) vertebral bodies were significantly higher in group A. The incidence of PJK was not significantly different (P = 0.07), but the incidence of additional vertebral fracture was significantly higher in group A (P < 0.001). The incidences of uppermost PS loosening within 3 months after surgery were 71% and 40% in groups A and B, respectively (P = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: In elderly patients who required revision surgery, the mean bone densities of vertebral bodies at T8 and T9 were significantly lower. The mean bone density represented in HU on spinal CT may be useful for risk assessment of and countermeasures against revision surgery after ASD surgery in elderly patients.

Efficacy of posterior decompression and fixation based on ossification-kyphosis angle criteria for multilevel ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament in the thoracic spine.

OBJECTIVE The range of decompression in posterior decompression and fixation for ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament in the thoracic spine (T-OPLL) can be established using an index of spinal cord decompression based on the ossification-kyphosis angle (OKA) measured in the sagittal view on MRI. However, an appropriate OKA cannot be achieved in some cases, and posterior fixation is applied in cases with insufficient decompression. Moreover, it is unclear whether spinal cord decompression of the ventral side is essential for the treatment of OPLL. In this retrospective analysis, the efficacy of posterior decompression and fixation performed for T-OPLL was investigated after the range of posterior decompression had been set using the OKA. METHODS The MRI-based OKA is the angle from the superior margin at the cranial vertebral body of the decompression site and from the lower posterior margin at the caudal vertebral body of the decompression site to the prominence of the maximum OPLL. Posterior decompression and fixation were performed in 20 patients. The decompression range was set so that the OKA was ≤ 23° or the minimum if this value could not be achieved. Cases in which an OKA ≤ 23° could and could not be achieved were designated as groups U (13 patients) and O (7 patients), respectively. The mean patient ages were 50.5 and 62.1 years (p = 0.03) and the mean preoperative Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) scores were 5.9 and 6.0 (p = 0.9) in groups U and O, respectively. The postoperative JOA score, rate of improvement of the JOA score, number of levels fused, number of decompression levels, presence of an echo-free space during surgery, operative time, intraoperative blood loss, and perioperative complications were examined. RESULTS In groups U and O, the mean rates of improvement in the JOA score were 50.0% and 45.6% (p = 0.3), the numbers of levels fused were 6.7 and 6.4 (p = 0.8), the numbers of decompression levels were 5.9 and 7.4 (p = 0.3), an echo-free space was noted during surgery in 92.3% and 42.9% of cases (p = 0.03), the operative times were 292 and 238 minutes (p = 0.3), and the intraoperative blood losses were 422 and 649 ml (p = 0.7), and transient aggravation of paralysis occurred as a perioperative complication in 2 and 1 patient, respectively. CONCLUSIONS There was no significant difference with regard to the recovery rate of the JOA score between patients with (group U) and without (group O) sufficient spinal cord decompression. The first-line surgical procedure of posterior decompression and fixation with the range of posterior decompression set as an OKA ≤ 23° before surgery involves less risk of postoperative aggravation of paralysis and may result in a better outcome.

Comparison between minimally invasive spine stabilization with and without posterior decompression for the management of spinal metastases: a retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Posterior decompression and stabilization plays significant roles in palliative surgery for metastatic spinal tumor. However, the indication for addition of posterior decompression have not been examined. The purpose of this study was to investigate a retrospective cohort of outcomes of metastatic spinal tumor treated with minimally invasive spine stabilization (MISt) with or without posterior decompression. METHODS: The subjects were 40 patients who underwent MISt using percutaneous pedicle screws for metastatic spinal tumor, including 20 patients treated with stabilization alone (group A) and 20 patients with added posterior decompression (group B). We analyzed baseline characteristics, postoperative survival time, and perioperative factors such as neurological outcomes, Barthel Index, VAS, and rate of discharge to home. RESULTS: The mean ages were 70 and 66 years old (P = 0.06), the mean revised Tokuhashi scores were 7.2 and 5.8 (P = 0.1), the mean spinal instability neoplastic scores (SINS) were 10.5 and 9.0 (P = 0.04), and the mean Barthel Index for ADL were 65.5 and 41.0 (P = 0.06) in groups A and B, respectively. The median postoperative survival time did not differ significantly between groups A and B (12.0 vs. 6.0 months, P = 0.09). Patients in group A had a significantly shorter operation time (166 vs. 232 min, P = 0.004) and lower intraoperative blood loss (120 vs. 478 mL, P < 0.001). Postoperative paralysis (P = 0.1), paralysis improvement rate (P = 0.09), postoperative Barthel Index (P = 0.06), and postoperative VAS (P = 0.6) did not differ significantly between the groups. The modified Frankel classification improved from D1 or D2 before surgery to D3 or E after surgery in 4 of 10 cases (40%) in group A and 8 of 8 patients (100%) in group B (P = 0.01). Significantly more patients were discharged to home in group A (P = 0.02), whereas significantly more patients died in the hospital in group B (P = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Patients treated without decompression had a shorter operation time, less blood loss, a higher rate of discharge to home, and lower in-hospital mortality, indicating a procedure with lower invasiveness. MISt without decompression is advantageous for patients with D3 or milder paralysis, but decompression is necessary for patients with D2 or severer paralysis.

Multiple vertebral fractures associated with glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis treated with teriparatide followed by kyphosis correction fusion: a case report.

Surgical treatment of multiple vertebral fractures in patients with glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis is difficult because of a high rate of secondary fracture postoperatively. A case is described in which initial treatment with teriparatide to improve osteoporosis followed by treatment of kyphosis with correction fusion achieved a favorable outcome. INTRODUCTION: Secondary fracture frequently occurs after treatment of vertebral fracture with vertebroplasty and balloon kyphoplasty in patients with glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis, but effective treatment of multiple vertebral fractures has rarely been reported. Thus, a treatment of kyphosis following multiple vertebral fractures associated with glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis is required. METHODS: The patient was a 24-year-old woman diagnosed with glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis who was under treatment with oral alendronate, vitamin D, and elcatonin injection. Secondary multiple vertebral fractures occurred despite these treatments and low back pain gradually aggravated. RESULTS: Vertebroplasty or balloon kyphoplasty was not performed in the early phase. Instead, treatment with teriparatide was used for initial improvement of osteoporosis. Kyphosis in the center of the residual thoracolumbar junction was then treated with posterior correction fusion. At 2 years after surgery, the corrected position has been maintained and no new fracture has occurred. CONCLUSION: There is no established method for treatment of multiple vertebral fractures caused by glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis. Initial treatment with teriparatide to improve osteoporosis followed by treatment of kyphosis with correction fusion may result in a more favorable outcome.

Clinical results of multidisciplinary therapy including palliative posterior spinal stabilization surgery and postoperative adjuvant therapy for metastatic spinal tumor.

BACKGROUND: Surgeries performed for metastatic spinal tumor are mostly palliative and are controversial for patients with short life expectancy. We investigated whether palliative posterior spinal stabilization surgery with postoperative multidisciplinary therapy results in improvement of life prognosis and activities of daily living (ADL) in patients with metastatic spinal tumor. METHODS: The subjects were 55 patients who underwent palliative posterior-only instrumentation surgery for metastatic spinal tumor at our hospital between 2012 and 2015. Postoperative survival, early paralysis improvement, ADL improvement, and rate of discharge to home were examined. RESULTS: The patients included 37 males and 18 females, and the mean age at the time of surgery was 66.8 years old. The mean Tokuhashi score was 7.1, the mean spinal instability neoplastic score (SINS) was 9.4, and the epidural spinal cord compression scale (ESCCS) was grade 3 in 20 patients (36.3%). The mean Barthel index for ADL was 48.7. The median postoperative survival time determined using the Kaplan-Meier method was 12.0 months (95% confidence interval 2.4-21.5). Regarding improvement of paralysis, the modified Frankel scale was improved by one grade or more or grade E was maintained in 35 patients (63.6%), whereas paralysis aggravated in 2 (3.6%). In surgery, conventional posterior decompression and fixation were applied in 31 patients (56.3%), and minimally invasive spine stabilization was applied in 24 (43.6%). Postoperative chemotherapy was performed in 31 patients (56.3%), radiotherapy was used in 38 (69.0%), and a bone-modifying agent was administered in 39 (70.2%). Regarding ADL, the mean Barthel index improved from 48.5 before surgery to 74.5 after surgery. Thirty-seven patients (67.2%) were discharged to home. CONCLUSIONS: ADL improved and allowed discharge to home, and postoperative adjuvant therapy could be administered at a high rate in patients who received palliative posterior spinal stabilization surgery. Survival time extended beyond the preoperative life expectancy in many patients. Patients with a metastatic spinal tumor have short life expectancy and paralysis caused by spinal instability and spinal cord compression. However, multidisciplinary therapy including palliative posterior spinal stabilization surgery with reduced invasiveness and postoperative adjuvant therapy are effective in these patients.