Full-endoscopic decompression for thoracic myelopathy caused by ossification of the ligamentum flavum: patient series.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to describe the least invasive surgical technique of endoscopic decompression for thoracic myelopathy caused by ossification of the ligamentum flavum (OLF) and to review the literature available on the diagnosis and treatment of OLF. OBSERVATIONS: The mean age of the patients was 51.2 (range, 40-62) years, and the mean preoperative, 2-week postoperative, and last follow-up modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association scores were 6.6 (range, 4-10), 9.6 (range, 7-11), and 13 (range, 10-14), respectively. All patients were discharged within 48 hours after the surgery. The mean follow-up period was 13.2 (range, 7-18) months. No complication was found perioperatively, and none of the patients had postoperative instability during the follow-up period. LESSONS: Based on this clinical case series and literature review, the authors conclude that endoscopic decompression surgery is feasible and effective for managing thoracic myelopathy caused by OLF while minimizing surrounding tissue damage. Additionally, it enables shorter periods of hospital stay.

Minimally Invasive Percutaneous Modified Iliac Screw Placement Using Intraoperative Navigation: A Technical Note.

OBJECTIVE: The modified iliac screw fixation technique was proposed to be an interesting alternative option for spinopelvic fixation. In this study, we describe a new minimally invasive technique for percutaneous placement of modified iliac screws. METHODS: A 64-year-old man with ankylosing spondylitis suffered from a 3-column fracture at the L5 vertebra without any neurologic deficit. We performed percutaneous pedicle screw fixation from L2 to S1 with additional modified iliac screws augmentation using an intraoperative navigation. We inserted both S1 pedicle screw and modified iliac screw within a stab incision on each side of the patient's back without using rod connector. RESULTS: The patient's severe low back pain subsided on the day following the operation. There was no clinical low back pain at 2-week follow-up. The 1-year follow-up x-ray showed that the fracture was healed successfully without signs of screw loosening or breakage. CONCLUSIONS: The modified iliac screws can be placed safely via percutaneous approach with an intraoperative image guidance. By using this new technique, surgeons can easily adjust the screw head to align with S1 pedicle screw via the same small incision. The rod connectors are not necessary for this technique. This method also prevents the acute angle that can develop between the screw head and shaft of the screw, which is typically found in S2 alar-iliac screw technique.

Curved versus straight-cut hinges for open-door laminoplasty: A finite element and biomechanical study.

In this study, the stabilities of the hinge sides of plate-augmented open-door laminoplasties based on cutting in a curved or straight line were compared using a finite element (FE) model and an experimental assessment. Using FE models generated from CT scans of a human subject, straight and curved techniques for cutting the hinge side were evaluated. Compressive forces were applied to both simulated models, and the stress distributions on the respective hinge sites were evaluated by comparing the maximum von Mises stresses. Biomechanical testing procedures were then carried out on porcine cervical vertebrae, with straight- and curved-cut groups loaded to failure, and the corresponding reaction forces on the hinge sites were recorded using a loading cell. The FE analysis results revealed no significant differences between the straight- and curved-cut groups in terms of maximum stress forces on the superior, middle, or inferior portions of the hinge sites. In the experimental study, the curved-cut group withstood higher loads to failure at the hinge site than the straight-cut group. The ability of the curved-cut laminoplasty hinges to withstand higher compressive loading to failure than straight-cut hinges suggests the potential of the proposed technique to reduce the risk of hinge fracture and displacement.

A capsular dilatation facilitated shoulder manipulation for treating patients with frozen shoulder.

Forty patients with a diagnosis of frozen shoulder who had symptom for an average of 8 months and failed conservative treatment of at least 6 weeks of physical therapy were treated with capsular dilatation facilitated shoulder manipulation. Post-manipulation, the patient underwent arthroscopy for visualization, fibrin debridement and bleeding point coagulation. All the essential intra-articular structures ie, glenohumeral ligament, rotator cuff were intact. Post-operatively, all patients revealed substantial gain in shoulder range of motion as well as diminished shoulder pain. The average flexion, abduction, and internal rotation gain were 76.9+/-8.9, 18.1+/-5.7, 9.6+/-7.1 degrees respectively. External rotation gain in the position of 90 degrees shoulder abduction and shoulder adduction were 53.0+/-9.97 and 31.4+/-7.2 degrees respectively. The average pain score by visual analogue scale pre and 6-month post-manipulation were 80.6+/-8.6 and 7.6+/-7.3 respectively with the average of pain score of 73.0+/-10.4. The authors proposed an effective and safe technique employing intra-articular pressure to facilitate shoulder manipulation in order to treat frozen shoulder.