Single-stage double motor nerve transfer for all finger flexion in iatrogenic C8-T1 spinal nerve injury: a case report and review of literature.

Restoration of hand function after C8-T1 spinal nerve injury is challenging. We report a case of a young patient who underwent single-stage transfer of extensor carpi radialis brevis (ECRB) branch of radial nerve to flexor digitorum superficialis (FDS) branch of median nerve and transfer of brachialis branch of musculocutaneous nerve to anterior interosseous nerve (AIN), aiming for restoration of all finger flexion in iatrogenic C8-T1 spinal nerve injury after the resection of a dumbbell-shaped C8 neurofibroma. At 18 months after the operation, the fingers and thumb functions were successfully restored. The operation might be useful for restoration of hand function in selected patients with C8, T1 brachial plexus injury. From the literature review, this is the first case that the technique of double motor nerve transfer and the transfer of ECRB branch to FDS branch were used to restore finger flexion in a patient with brachial plexus injury.

Sacral Extradural Angiolipoma Associated with Tight Filum Terminale and Spina Bifida Coexisting with Spinal Arteriovenous Fistula.

BACKGROUND: Spinal arteriovenous fistula (AVF) may rarely associate with spinal dysraphism, that is, tethered spinal cord and spinal intradural lipoma. Spinal extradural angiolipoma coexisting with spinal AVF has not been reported in the literature. We reported an extremely rare case of sacral angiolipoma associated with tight filum terminale and sacral spina bifida coexisting with spinal AVF within this tumor. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 55-year-old women presented with progressive myelopathy for 10 months. She had a painless, slow-growing mass at her left buttock since birth. Magnetic resonance imaging of the lumbosacral spine showed an extradural mass at the level of S3-S4, extending from the spinal canal through the spina bifida to the subcutaneous fat of the left buttock. There was a low conus medullaris at S2. Magnetic resonance imaging of the thoracic spine disclosed venous congestion with tortuous intradural flow voids along both ventral and dorsal surfaces of the spinal cord. Magnetic resonance angiography and spinal angiography revealed a hypervascular mass at the sacral level and associated arteriovenous shunt with cranial drainage into an enlarged medullary vein. Due to an infected pressure sore on the mass, endovascular treatment was initially performed with minimal recovery. Six months after complete healing of her infected pressure ulcer, the patient underwent surgical removal of extradural mass containing the AVF, and subsequent release of the tight filum. Histologic findings were consistent with angiolipoma. CONCLUSIONS: Sacral extradural angiolipoma in the present case may be congenital in origin with development of an acquired spinal AVF within the tumor.

Comparison of Quality-of-Life after the Three Different Techniques of Transpedicular Screw Fixation (TPSF) in Lumbar Spondylolisthesis (LS): Results of a Therapeutic Cohort Study.

Background: Transpedicular screw fixation in lumbar spondylolisthesis remains debatable for which aspects that provide better quality of life outcomes such as procedure of convention, navigation-assisted or mini-open technique. Objective: To analyze the clinical outcomes and assess pre-operative versus postoperative quality-of-life outcomes of patients diagnosed with LS who underwent three different techniques of spinal fusion. Material and Method: A prospective cohort study was conducted with 60 patients with LS who received conventional TPSF or navigation-assisted TPSF or mini-open TPSF at Prasat Neurological Institute between 2010 and 2012. The 12-month follow-up patients were recruited for a structured interview regarding social life, mental health, functional capacity or an independent living status. The quality-of-life measurement was determined using Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and the Short Form-36 Health Survey (SF-36). Results: Comparisons of quality of life outcomes declared significant differences through the 12-month follow-up evaluation. According to ODI, navigation-assisted group presented with significant level of faster recovery than conventional and miniopen groups at one week (p = 0.031) and one month (p = 0.008) after surgery. At one year follow-up, the navigation-assisted technique was noted to have a significant better improvement (p = 0.033 and mean ODI scores = 5.8) compared with conventional and mini-open techniques (mean ODI scores = 8.7 and 10.6, respectively). Moreover, SF36 assessment indicated considerably improvement at 12 months after surgery. In addition, the finding reveals no statistically significant differences among three techniques. Conclusion: Overall, three different techniques provide the positive outcomes of quality of life. The 12-month follow-up of quality of life measures based on ODI suggest that the navigation-assisted technique was significantly associated with wellrecovered at one week and one month after surgery. However, in terms of clinical outcomes, they do not make any considerable differences to patient care within the 12-month follow-up period.

Complete Spontaneous Regression of the Intraspinal Synovial Cyst at the C1-C2 Junction Following with Atlantoaxial Fusion of Non-Union Odontoid Fracture: A Case Report.

The author reported an extremely rare case of intraspinal synovial cyst at C1-C2 junction, located posteriorly to the odontoid process, compressing the upper cervical spinal cord. The patient had a history of spinal trauma 40 years ago without prior definitive treatment, presenting with two months of left leg and arm numbness with neck pain. Imaging studies including plain radiographs, computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the cervical spine showed a large synovial cyst associated with atlantoaxial instability from non-union fracture of the odontoid process. The atlantoaxial fusion was performed without a direct excision of the synovial cyst, the patient showed significant improvement of neck pain and numbness of all extremities. In addition to the fracture stabilization, the follow-up post operative MRI revealed spontaneous regression of the intraspinal synovial cyst after atlantoaxial fusion alone

Clinical and radiological outcomes of segmental spinal fusion in transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion with spinous process tricortical autograft.

STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective study. PURPOSE: To investigate clinical and radiological outcomes when using spinous process as a tricortical autograft for segmental spinal fusion in transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF). OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: Interbody spinal fusion is one of the important procedures in spinal surgery. Many types of autografts are harvested at the expense of complications. Clinical and radiographic results of patients who underwent TLIF with intraoperative harvested spinous process autograft in Prasat Neurological Institue, Bangkok, Thailand, were assessed as new technical innovation. METHODS: Between October 2005 to July 2009, 30 cases of patients who underwent TLIF with spinous process tricortical autograft were included. Clinical evaluations were assessed by visual analog scales (VAS) and Prolo functional and economic scores at the preoperation and postoperation and at 2 years postoperation. Static and dynamic plain radiograph of lumbar spine were reviewed for achievement of fusion. RESULTS: Initial successful fusion time in lumbar interbody fusion with spinous process tricortical autograft was 4.72 months (range, 3.8-6.1 months) postoperation and 100% fusion rate was reported at 2 years. Our initial successful fusion time in lumbar interbody fusion was compared to the other types of grafts in previous literatures. CONCLUSIONS: The use of intraoperative harvested spinous process tricortical autograft has overcome many disadvantages of harvesting autograft with better initial successful fusion time (4.72 months). VAS and Prolo scores showed some improvement in the outcomes between the preoperative and postoperative periods.

Mini-open transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion.

OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate the surgical technique and advantages of the mini-open transforaminal approach for lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) combined with transpedicular screw fixation. Clinical and radiographic results were assessed to determine the clinical outcomes in twelve consecutive patients selected for minimally invasive access (mini-open technique) for TLIF in Prasat Neurological Institute. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A retrospective analysis was performed on 12 patients (age range, 38-74 yr; mean, 54. 8 yr) who underwent mini-open transforaminal approach for lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) combined with transpedicular screw fixation between September 2006 and June 2008. The titanium pedicle screws were introduced bilaterally through the 3.5 cm length, skin incisions with Spine Classics MLD- system retractor, autologous bone graft were inserted to perform TLIF in all patients. Eight patients were augmented anterior column support with titanium interbody cage, unilateral cage insertion in four patients and the others were inserted bilaterally interbody cages. Six patients presented with low back pain and associated radiculopathy, and six presented with low back pain only. Transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion was performed at L3-L4 in two patients, L4-L5 in four patients, L5-S1 in five patients, and two levels fusion in one patient. RESULTS: All patients were able to ambulate after spinal fusion. The patients were able to walk within 1.4 days (range 1-2 days). The hospital stay averaged 4.4 days (range 3-7 days). Periodic follow-up took place 1 to 21 months after surgery (mean, 7.4 months). The radiological fusion was archived in all nine patients who were operated on more than two months age. The other three patients who had been follow-up less than two months were probably fusion on the 1-month followed-up radiological examination. CONCLUSIONS: The use of mini-open technique for pedicle screw instrumentation with spinal fusion procedure provides excellent clinical results and may be an operation of choice for lumbar spinal fusion in selected patients.