Studies in the Falls Efficacy Scale-International for patients with cervical compressive myelopathy: Reliability, validity, and minimum clinically important difference.

CONTEXT: Patients with cervical compressive myelopathy (CCM) often complain of body balance problems, such as fear of falling and bodily unsteadiness. However, no accepted patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) for this symptomatology exist. The Falls Efficacy Scale-International (FES-I) is one of the most widely used PROMs for evaluating impaired body balance in various clinical fields. OBJECTIVE: To examine reliability, validity, and minimum clinically important difference (MCID) of the FES-I for the evaluation of impaired body balance in patients with CCM. METHODS: Patients who underwent surgery for CCM were retrospectively reviewed. The FES-I was administered preoperatively and at 1 year postoperatively. Further, cJOA-LE score (subscore for lower extremities in the Japanese Orthopaedic Association score for cervical myelopathy) and stabilometric data, obtained at the same time points of the FES-I administration, were analyzed. Reliability was examined through internal consistency with Cronbach's alpha. Convergent validity was studied using correlation analysis. The MCID was estimated using anchor- and distribution-based methods. RESULTS: Overall, 151 patients were included for analysis. Cronbach's alpha coefficient was the acceptable value of 0.97 at both baseline and 1 year postoperatively. As for convergent validity, the FES-I had significant correlations with the cJOA-LE score and stabilometric parameters both at baseline and 1 year postoperatively. The MCID calculated using anchor- and distribution-based methods was 5.5 and 10, respectively. CONCLUSION: FES-I is a reliable and valid PROM to evaluate body balance problems for the CCM population. The established thresholds of MCID can help clinicians recognize the clinical significance of changes in patient status.

The Effects of Surgery on Postural Instability in Patients With Cervical Compressive Myelopathy: Evaluating Subjective Perceptions and Objective Measurements.

STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective study. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of surgery on the subjective perception of bodily unsteadiness and the objective measurements of postural instability in patients with cervical compressive myelopathy (CCM). SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Several studies have demonstrated that CCM patients have impaired postural stability and investigated its surgical outcomes. However, these studies have only objectively measured postural stability by using a stabilometer or three-dimensional motion capture system. There have been no studies examining the subjective perception of postural instability in CCM patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed patients who underwent decompressive surgery for CCM. The Fall Efficacy Scale-International (FES-I) and a self-prepared questionnaire were used to evaluate subjective perception of bodily unsteadiness. To objectively assess postural instability, a stabilometric analysis was performed with the following parameters: sway area (SwA, cm2), sway velocity (SwV, cm/s), and sway density (SwD, /cm). The evaluations were performed preoperatively, during the early postoperative period (3-6 mo postoperatively), and at 1-year postoperatively in patients with CCM. The evaluation results were compared with age-matched, sex-matched, and body mass index-matched healthy subjects. RESULTS: We included 70 CCM patients and 36 healthy subjects in this study. In both the FES-I and self-prepared questionnaire, CCM patients reported significantly milder postoperative bodily unsteadiness. The stabilometric parameters were significantly improved during the postoperative period when compared with preoperative values. Nevertheless, neither the self-reported outcome measures nor stabilometric parameters of CCM patients reached the levels of those in healthy controls in the postoperative period. CONCLUSION: This was the first study to examine CCM surgical outcomes in terms of both subjective perception and objective postural instability. While both objective postural stability and subjective perception improved following decompressive surgery, they did not reach the levels seen in healthy participants. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III.

Usefulness of Percutaneous Ultrasonography for Deciding the Need of Surgical Evacuation of Epidural Hematoma After Cervical Double-door Laminoplasty.

STUDY DESIGN: This was a retrospective study. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to investigate the diagnostic utility of percutaneous ultrasonography (PUS) for postoperative epidural hematoma (EH) as a postoperative complication. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: We investigated the usefulness of PUS for determining the need of surgical evacuation of postoperative EH by comparing the postoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and PUS of the spinal cord. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study included patients who underwent cervical laminoplasty using suture anchors. Regular MRI and PUS were performed 1 week postoperatively. Whenever the patients exhibited neurological deterioration, MRI and PUS were performed. The spinal cord decompression status was classified into 3 grades using MRI and PUS. The existence of spinal pulsation was determined by PUS. RESULTS: One hundred thirty-one patients were investigated. The decompression status by MRI and PUS, and the pulsation status by PUS showed a correlation with neurological deterioration (P<0.001). Four cases showed postoperative neurological deterioration and required revision surgery. The decompression status in these cases was classified as "poor" by both MRI and PUS, and as "no-pulsation" by PUS pulsation. The sensitivity and specificity for neurological deterioration was 100% and 95.1% in MRI decompression, 100% and 92.9% in PUS decompression, and 100% and 99.2% in PUS pulsation, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report that the disappearance of spinal pulsation was associated with neurological deterioration. PUS was useful in determining the need of surgical evacuation for postoperative EH. PUS should be the first choice of examination in the event of postoperative neurological deterioration following a cervical laminoplasty. When the disappearance of pulsation is confirmed, an additional hematoma evacuation surgery should be considered immediately without undertaking MRI. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III.

Decompression status of the spinal cord after cervical laminoplasty in various body positions and neck postures observed using percutaneous ultrasonography: Relationship with neurological recovery.

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous ultrasonography (PUS) is used to evaluate the status of the spinal cord after cervical laminoplasty (CLP). This technique helps assess real-time movements of the spinal cord and provides immediate information regarding the decompression status. Additionally, it can also be utilized to evaluate the status of the spinal cord in various body positions and neck postures. This study aimed to examine changes in the decompression status of the spinal cord after CLP for cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) in different body positions and neck postures using PUS and to assess whether these decompression statuses are related to clinical outcomes at each time point. METHODS: The study included 66 consecutive participants with CSM who underwent double-door CLP with suture anchors. PUS was performed postoperatively at 2 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year in sitting [neck flexion (Flexion), neutral (Neutral), and extension (Extension)] and supine (Supine) positions. The decompression status was classified into grade I (noncontact), grade II (contact and apart), and grade III (contact). Clinical outcomes were evaluated using Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) scores. RESULTS: The decompression status improved until 3 months postoperatively in all body positions and neck postures and was stable onwards. It changed depending on body positions and neck postures and was worse in Flexion and better in Supine at all postoperative time points. Participants with grade I decompression status in Supine had a significantly better recovery rate of JOA scores after 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year postoperatively than those with grade II + III decompression status. However, this significant relationship was not observed in each sitting position. CONCLUSIONS: The spinal cord after CLP is most decompressed in Supine. Sufficient and continuous restoration of the anterior subarachnoid space in supine position may indicate positive clinical outcomes after CLP.

Hidden coexisting pathology diagnosed after cervical surgery in patients with degenerative cervical myelopathy or myeloradiculopathy: A case series report.

Many neurological disorders can present similar symptomatology to degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) or myeloradiculopathy (DCMR). Therefore, to avoid misdiagnosis, it is important to recognise the differential diagnosis, which has been well described in previous literature. Additionally, DCM or DCMR can also coexist with other diseases that overlap some of its clinical manifestations, which may be overlooked before cervical surgery. Nevertheless, few studies have addressed this clinical situation. In clinical practice, the diagnosis of coexisting disease with DCM or DCMR would be typically made when some symptoms persist without improvement after cervical surgery. To inform the patients of this possibility preoperatively and arrive at the early diagnosis during the postoperative period, some knowledge of the possible coexisting diseases would be necessary. In this report, we reviewed 230 patients who underwent surgery for DCM or DCMR in an academic centre to examine the prevalence and kind of underlying disease that was overlooked preoperatively. The coexisting diseases relevant to their baseline symptoms were diagnosed only after cervical surgery in three patients (1.3%) and included amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, lung cancer and polymyalgia rheumatica. The overlapping symptoms were gait difficulty, scapular pain and neck pain, respectively. Surgeons should recognise that the coexisting disease with DCM or DCMR may be overlooked before cervical surgery because of overlapping symptomatology, although its prevalence is not certainly high. Further, when the specific symptom persisted without improvement after surgery for DCM or DCMR, the patient should be comprehensively examined, considering diverse pathological conditions, not only neurological disorders.

Preoperative Cyst Formation as a Predictive Feature of Spontaneous Regression of Retro-Odontoid Pseudotumor After Posterior Fusion.

OBJECTIVE: Although the spontaneous regression of pseudotumors after posterior fusion has been reported, the predictive factors remain unclear. We examined the radiological features that predict for the regression of retro-odontoid pseudotumors after posterior fusion, with a specific focus on cyst formation. METHODS: We included 28 patients with a diagnosis of retro-odontoid pseudotumor using preoperative magnetic resonance imaging. The radiographic parameters and pseudotumor thickness were measured pre- and postoperatively. The regression rate for each pseudotumor was calculated. The presence of a cyst around the retro-odontoid pseudotumor was investigated. If present, the cyst thickness was measured. To elucidate the predictors for the postoperative regression of pseudotumors, the patients were divided into 2 cohorts: the regression group with a regression rate >40% and the no-regression group with a regression rate of <40%. Multivariate logistic regression analysis, including the demographic data and preoperative radiographic parameters as independent variables, was performed. RESULTS: The mean pseudotumor size had decreased significantly from 8.8 ± 3.6 mm preoperatively to 5.3 ± 2.0 mm postoperatively (P < 0.0001). The mean regression rate was 35.9% during a magnetic resonance imaging follow-up period of 8.6 months (range, 6-12 months). Cystic lesions were noted in 10 patients (35.7%) preoperatively. The mean cyst size was 4.7 ± 1.9 mm. All cysts were located dorsal to the pseudotumors and were involved at the maximum spinal compression levels. Nevertheless, all the cysts had disappeared postoperatively. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the pseudotumor regression group had had a significantly greater proportion of cysts (57.1% vs. 14.3%; odds ratio, 11.7; P = 0.013). CONCLUSIONS: The presence of cystic lesions protruding from retro-odontoid pseudotumors might serve as a predictive factor for the spontaneous regression of pseudotumors after posterior fusion.

Biologic Agents Preserve the C-2 Pedicle in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Comparative Imaging Study Using Three-Dimensional Computed Tomography.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether biologic agents (BAs) reduce a narrow C-2 pedicle screw trajectory, which is often a key stabilizer in surgical treatment, in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: A total of 100 patients with RA treated with and without BAs (BA [+] group [n = 50] and BA [-] group [n = 50]), respectively, were included in the present study. Computed tomography (CT) images of their cervical spine, including C-2, were analyzed. The maximum screw diameter at C-2 that could be inserted without breaching the cortex, measured on 3-dimensional images using a CT-based navigation system, was compared between the groups with and without BA administration. Furthermore, the destruction of the atlantoaxial joint was examined using CT images. The risk factors for a narrow C-2 pedicle were elucidated among the patients treated with BAs. RESULTS: The pedicle in the BA (+) group had a significantly larger C-2 maximum screw diameter than the BA (-) group (6.00 mm vs. 5.13 mm, P < 0.001), with less destruction of the atlantoaxial joint. Among the BA (+) group, a longer period until the initial administration of BAs and RA disease duration were associated with a narrow C-2 pedicle. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that BAs can maintain the trajectory for C-2 pedicle screws, which acts as a key stabilizer in surgical management for the rheumatoid cervical spine, by halting the destruction of the atlantoaxial joint. Early introduction of BAs can be especially important to prevent the narrowing of the C-2 pedicle.

Significance of flexion range of motion as a risk factor for kyphotic change after cervical laminoplasty.

Kyphotic deformity is a rare but serious complication after cervical laminoplasty (CLP), and several studies have investigated its predictors. In these studies, a kyphotic Cobb angle of 0°-5° between C2 and C7 at a certain postoperative time-point was often used to detect kyphotic deformity. However, studies considering the amount of cervical lordosis loss compared to the preoperative measurement are scarce. This study aimed to elucidate risk factors for kyphotic change after CLP by comparing patients with and without marked loss of cervical lordosis postoperatively. The study population was divided into seven patients with and 92 patients without a loss of >10° of the C2-7 angle during the follow-up period compared to the preoperative measurements [cervical lordosis loss (CLL) group and no CLL (NCLL) group, respectively]; demographic characteristics, surgical information, preoperative radiographic sagittal parameters of the cervical spine, and posterior paravertebral muscle morphology evaluated by magnetic resonance imaging were compared between two groups. A univariate analysis revealed that the CLL group had significantly greater flexion range of motion (fROM) than the NCLL group (43.0° vs. 25.8°, P < 0.001); however, no statistical significance was identified for other parameters. The fROM had a high capacity to discriminate between the CLL and NCLL groups (area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve, 0.880; P < 0.001; 95% confidence interval, 0.589-0.974) with an optimal cutoff point of 37°. This study suggests that greater fROM is a risk factor for the development of kyphotic changes after CLP. For patients with preoperative fROM exceeding 40°, CLP should be carefully indicated.

Surgical Outcomes of Postural Instability in Patients With Cervical Myelopathy.

STUDY DESIGN: This is a retrospective study. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to investigate the surgical outcomes of postural instability and its predictors in patients with cervical myelopathy (CM). SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Although several studies have shown impaired postural stability in CM patients, there remains a paucity of literature examining its surgical outcome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Postural stability was assessed using a stabilometer preoperatively, at the early phase (3-6 months postoperatively), and 1-year postoperatively, employing 2 stabilometric parameters: sway area [SwA (cm): the amount of sway of gravity center assessed by the outer peripheral area of the stabilogram] and sway density [SwD (/cm): the indicator of proprioceptive reflexes calculated by the locus length of the stabilogram per SwA]. Twenty-seven healthy age-matched, sex-matched, and body mass index-matched subjects were recruited as controls. To investigate the predictors of postoperative postural instability, univariate, and multivariate analyses were performed, including demographic data, preoperative neurological symptom severity, radiographic findings, and preoperative stabilometric parameters as independent variables. RESULTS: Altogether, 54 CM patients were included in the present study. SwA was 7.89±0.84, 4.78±0.68, and 4.85±0.49, and SwD was 14.63±0.85, 20.41±1.23, and 19.36±1.40 preoperatively, at the early phase, and 1-year postoperatively, respectively, and significant improvement was found in both parameters postoperatively. However, at all timepoints, these parameters were significantly worse in CM patients than in the healthy subjects (SwA: 2.68±0.24, SwD: 24.91±1.83). Multivariate analyses showed that worse preoperative stabilometric parameters were significantly related to worse postoperative stabilometric parameters. CONCLUSIONS: Surgery significantly improved postural stability in CM patients; however, it did not reach the level observed in healthy controls, even postoperatively. A predictor of greater residual postoperative postural instability was a greater level of preoperative postural instability. In CM patients, to achieve better surgical outcome of postural stability, surgical intervention is recommended before the symptoms related to bodily imbalance deteriorate. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III.

Gas containing intraspinal synovial cyst in the lumbar spine: Case report and literature review.

Intraspinal synovial cyst (ISC) is a well-documented pathology. It is sometimes found in the degenerative lumbar spine and can result in neurological disorders. ISC typically contains xanthochromic fluid, blood, inflammatory tissue, and/or osseous structures, enclosed by fibrous tissue. Regarding the treatment modalities, the effectiveness of both nonsurgical management, such as oral analgesics, needle aspiration, and intra-articular injection of corticosteroid drugs, and surgical management, have been reported. Previous studies have described that the ISC can contain gas, which is derived from the vacuum phenomenon of an adjacent facet joint; however, this clinical condition has never been systematically investigated because of its rarity. In the present report, we describe the case of a 68-year-old male with gas-containing ISC in the lumbar spine who was successfully treated with surgical management; additionally, we performed a literature review to discuss the decision-making process for cases of gas-containing ISC. Based on our findings and previous literature, we recommend that considering the peculiarity of the content of such lesions in addition to the ball-valve effect of a synovial cyst, prompt transition to surgical management would be pertinent when nonsurgical treatment cannot achieve satisfactory outcomes in such cases.

Health-related quality of life, including marital and reproductive status, of middle-aged Japanese women with posterior spinal fusion using Cotrel-Dubousset instrumentation for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: Longer than 22-year follow-up.

BACKGROUND: Few studies have examined long-term outcomes after posterior spinal fusion using Cotrel-Dubousset instrumentation (CDI) for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). Most patients with AIS are female, and their main concern is how spinal fusion will affect their future life. This study aimed to investigate the long-term health-related quality of life (HRQOL), including marital and reproductive status, of middle-aged Japanese women who underwent posterior spinal fusion using CDI for AIS in its earliest days in Japan. METHODS: Japanese women who were younger than 20 years of age at the time of surgery using CDI, between 1985 and 1995, were targeted. Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire, Oswestry Disability Index, Scoliosis Research Society-22 questionnaire, and 36-Item Short-Form Survey (SF-36) were used to evaluate HRQOL. Marital and reproductive status were also investigated. These results were compared to those of healthy women controls and Japanese national data for 2015. RESULTS: Of 87 female patients, 29 (33.3%) were included, with 71 healthy women as controls. The average age of the patient group was 42.7 years (range 37-48 years), and the average follow-up period was 27.5 years (range 22-32 years). HRQOL scores in the patient group were generally lower than that in the healthy control group, although there was no significant difference between the two groups in the role component summary score (RCS) of SF-36. Marital and reproductive status were not significantly different between patient and control groups, and results for the patient group were similar to Japanese national data. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study of HRQOL in middle-aged patients who underwent posterior spinal fusion using CDI for AIS in Japan. Although HRQOL scores expect RCS of the patient group were lower than those of the healthy control group, the effects of posterior spinal fusion using CDI on women's social life and marital and reproductive statuses were minimal.

Percutaneous ultrasonographic evaluation of the spinal cord after cervical laminoplasty: time-dependent changes.

PURPOSE: The first purpose of this study is to confirm whether the spinal cord and the surrounding tissues can be visualized clearly after laminoplasty using percutaneous ultrasonography. And second purpose is to evaluate the changes in the status of the spinal cord over time. METHODS: Fifty patients who underwent cervical laminoplasty with suture anchors were evaluated using intraoperative ultrasonography and postoperative (1 week, 2 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year) percutaneous ultrasonography. We classified the decompression status of the spinal cord into three grades and the pattern of the spinal cord pulsation into six categories. Clinical outcomes were evaluated using the Japanese Orthopaedic Association Score for cervical myelopathy, and the recovery rate was calculated. RESULTS: In all cases and all periods, we could observe the status of the spinal cord using percutaneous ultrasonography after cervical laminoplasty. The decompression status of the spinal cord improved until 3 months postoperatively, and the clinical outcomes improved up to 6 months postoperatively. Although the pulsation pattern of the spinal cord varied in each individual and in each period, spinal pulsation itself was observed in all cases and all periods, except one, when an epidural hematoma caused quadriplegia and a revision surgery was needed. Decompression status and pulsation pattern of the spinal cord were not associated with clinical outcomes as far as pulsation was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Percutaneous ultrasonography was very useful method to evaluate the postoperative status of the spinal cord, particularly in the diagnosis of the postoperative epidural hematoma. These slides can be retrieved under Electronic Supplementary Material.

The Evaluation of Indirect Neural Decompression After Lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusion Using Intraoperative Computed Tomography Myelogram.

BACKGROUND: The effect of indirect decompression after lateral lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF) is widely acknowledged; however, its details remain unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the immediate effects of indirect decompression just after LLIF cage placement but just before posterior instrumentation, using intraoperative computed tomography myelogram (iCTM). METHODS: Fifty-three levels from 28 patients undergoing LLIF with iCTM, were included in this retrospective study. Radiographic parameters were obtained from preoperative computed tomography myelogram and iCTM. Segmental correction, cross-sectional areas of the spinal canal, and bilateral foramen were compared preoperatively and intraoperatively to assess the neural decompression just after LLIF cage placement. Canal stenosis status during axial computed tomography myelogram was classified into 3 grades according to modified Schizas's grading to determine the necessity of additional posterior decompression procedures. The Oswestry Disability Index was obtained before and 3 months after the operation. RESULTS: Significant improvements in all radiological parameters of segmental correction, cross-sectional areas of the spinal canal, and bilateral foramen were observed just after LLIF cage placement. However, 11 (21%) levels had insufficient neural decompression status with iCTM grade (10 central canal and 1 lateral recess stenosis), requiring further direct posterior decompression. The difference in the improvement of Oswestry Disability Index between the decompression and nondecompression group was not significant, suggesting the validity of our decision. CONCLUSIONS: Detailed evaluation with iCTM revealed that adequate indirect decompression with LLIF was not always obtained, validating the intraoperative decision of further posterior decompression. This procedure, LLIF with iCTM, may reduce the risk of unnecessary direct decompression and reoperation after insufficient indirect decompression.