The efficacy and safety of decompression with interspinous fixation for lumbar spondylolisthesis when compared with posterior lumbar interbody fusion: A pilot study.

Posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) is widely used to treat degenerative spondylolisthesis because it provides definitive decompression and fixation. Although it has several advantages, it has some disadvantages and risks, such as paraspinal muscle injury, potential intraoperative bleeding, postoperative pain, hardware failure, subsidence, and medical comorbidity. Lumbar decompressive bilateral laminectomy with interspinous fixation (DLISF) is less invasive and can be used on some patients with PLIF, but this has not been reported. To compare the efficacy and safety of DLISF in the treatment of low-grade lumbar spondylolisthesis with that of PLIF. We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of 81 patients with grade I spondylolisthesis, who had undergone PLIF or DLISF and were followed up for more than 1 year. Surgical outcomes, visual analog scale, radiologic outcomes, including Cobb angle and difference in body translation, and postoperative complications were assessed. Forty-one patients underwent PLIF, whereas 40 underwent DLISF. The operative times were 271.0 ±â€…57.2 and 150.6 ±â€…29.3 minutes for the PLIF and DLISF groups, respectively. The estimated blood loss was significantly higher in the PLIF group versus the DLISF group (290.7 ±â€…232.6 vs 122.2 ±â€…82.7 mL, P < .001). Body translation did not differ significantly between the 2 groups. Overall pain improved during the 1-year follow-up when compared with baseline data. Medical complications were significantly lower in the DLISF group, whereas perioperative complications and hardware issues were higher in the PLIF group. The outcomes of DLISF, which is less invasive, were comparable to PLIF outcomes in patients with low-grade spondylolisthesis. As a salvage technique, DLISF may be a good option when compared with PLIF.

Normal Functional Local Alignment and Segmental Motion at the Thoracolumbar Junction: A Cross-Sectional Study of Healthy Subjects.

OBJECTIVE: Several studies have investigated the mechanical behavior of the thoracolumbar spine. However, finding an accurate reference for the normal functional local alignment and segmental motion (SM) at the thoracolumbar junction (TLJ) is challenging. Therefore, this study aimed to assess age- and sex-related changes and differences in local alignment and SM at the TLJ. METHODS: The study recruited healthy subjects aged 20 to 79 without complaints of back pain. Healthy subjects (60 males and 60 females) with appropriate imaging results were enrolled in the study. The subjects were divided into age groups (20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, and 70-79 years); each group included 10 subjects of each sex. RESULTS: The SM at the TLJ was small but noticeable, and the motion gradually increased toward the lower level of the TLJ, closer to the lumbar region. No significant differences were observed between male and female subjects in any SM measurements at the TLJ. The SM at the TLJ gradually decreased with age, while local kyphosis of TLJ progressed. The results also showed that the thoracolumbar slope value did not change with age and remained at a mean of -12.8 ± 7.2° (P = 0.893). CONCLUSIONS: This study's results provide valuable guidance for appropriate surgical planning and rehabilitation of patients with spinal diseases or trauma. Furthermore, the results can be the basis for categorizing accurate criteria to evaluate the degree of disability after treatment.

Case Reports of Tectal Plate Gliomas Showing Indolent Course.

From 2004 to 2020, we studied three pediatric patients (age: 9-13 years, all male) and one adult patient (age: 29 years, female) with tectal plate glioma with obstructing hydrocephalus on MRI. One patient had neurofibromatosis type 1. All patients complained about headaches and vomiting, and one patient had diplopia. Endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) was underwent in all patients and a biopsy was obtained from two patients. Pathologic diagnoses were a pilocytic astrocytoma and a low-grade glioma. After ETV with or without biopsy, neurological symptoms were improved in all patients. Three patients did the clinical and radiological follow-up without adjuvant treatment. One patient underwent gamma knife radiosurgery. In two pediatric patients and the adult patient, there was no clinical and radiological progression after 6.2, 6.9, and 8.0 years, respectively. One pediatric patient whose lesion had focal enhancement had radiologic progression without any neurologic symptoms after 5.1 years. Without adjuvant treatment for this lesion, there was no clinical deterioration neither further radiological progression for 6.2 years after radiological aggravation. Tectal plate gliomas showed indolent clinical courses, even after radiologic tumor progression. After the treatment of obstructing hydrocephalus, clinical and radiologic follow-up can be recommended for indolent tectal plate gliomas.

Clinical warning signs of life-threatening hematochezia in neurosurgical patients with long-term bed rest: Three cases report.

RATIONALE: Patients with long term bed rest in intensive care unit after neurosurgery could experience splanchnic hypoperfusion. These patients have several other medical conditions that exacerbate splanchnic hypoperfusion during treatment and the splanchnic hypoperfusion could result in "stress-induced intestinal necrosis", which could cause massive hematochezia. We report here the experience of life-threatening hematochezia in 3 patients who underwent brain surgery in our institution. PATIENTS CONCERNS: One female patient (72-year-old) and 2 male patients (58- and 35-year-old) were admitted to our institution because of traumatic intracerebral hemorrhage, subarachnoid hemorrhage due to a ruptured anterior communicating artery, and subarachnoid hemorrhage with unknown cause respectively. All patients underwent emergency brain surgery for diagnosis and treatment. After surgery, they all experienced long-term bed rest in intensive care unit. Hematochezia occurred on postoperative day 15, 17, and 49, respectively. DIAGNOSES: All of the patients were assessed by abdomen/pelvis computed tomography and underwent a colonoscopy. INTERVENTIONS: The female patient underwent embolization through pelvic arteriography and epinephrine injection through colonoscopy, but a total colectomy and ileostomy was performed due to refractory hematochezia. 58-year-old male patient had a laparoscopic ileostomy for the bowel rest. The other patient underwent nil per os and conservative treatment for 2 weeks. OUTCOMES: The female patient was discharged without further treatment plan, 58-year-old male patient survived after laparoscopic ileostomy, while the other patient survived after 2 weeks of nil per os. LESSON: Abdominal symptoms, such as hematochezia, should be actively managed in neurosurgical patients who are undergoing long-term bed rest in an intensive care unit under physiologically stressful medical conditions.

Thoracolumbar burst fractures in patients with neurological deficit: Anterior approach versus posterior percutaneous fixation with laminotomy.

BACKGROUND: Thoracolumbar burst fractures (TLBFs) are the most common spinal trauma; however, their appropriate management has not yet been determined. In this study, we aimed to compare the clinical and radiological results of percutaneous pedicle screw fixation (PPSF) following posterior decompression technique versus anterior corpectomy and fusion technique for the treatment of TLBFs. METHODS: A total of 46 patients (2002-2015) with TLBFs were included in this study. The inclusion criteria were a single-level Magerl type A3 burst fracture of the thoracolumbar junctional spine (T12-L2). The patients were divided into two groups; Group A (22 patients) underwent anterior corpectomy and fusion, and Group B (24 patients) underwent PPSF after posterior decompression. Anterior corpectomy and fusion surgery were performed in 22 cases before April 2009, and PPSF following posterior decompression technique was used in 24 cases since then. For radiological assessment, the kyphosis angle was measured preoperatively, early postoperatively, and at the last follow-up using the Cobb angle. Mean correction of the Cobb angle after surgery, and loss of correction between the immediate postoperative and final Cobb angle were calculated accordingly. All neurological deficits were identified in the initial evaluation and graded using the American Spinal Injury Association(ASIA) grading system. Perioperative parameters including operation time, amount of blood loss, and mean hospital stay were also evaluated. RESULTS: The patients comprised 17 males and 5 females in Group A and 13 males and 11 females in Group B. In terms of the involved levels, there were three cases of T12, twelve L1, and seven L2 in Group A and one case of T12, thirteen L1, and ten L2 in Group B. The mean follow-up duration was 44.9 months in Group A and 14.7 months in Group B. The kyphotic angle was significantly corrected after surgery by 6.4° in Group A (p = 0.001) and 9.2° in Group B (p < 0.001). Among patients with neurological deficit, 11 of 15 in Group A and 20 of 23 in Group B demonstrated improvement by at least one ASIA grade at the final observation. However, there was no significant difference in neurological improvement between the two groups (p = 0.13). Mean operation time was significantly shorter (p < 0.001) and mean blood loss was significantly less (p < 0.001) in Group B than in Group A. Mean hospital stay was also significantly shorter in Group B (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Spinal canal decompression through small laminectomy followed by PPSF in the treatment of TLBFs with neurological deficits offers excellent clinical and radiological improvement as well as biomechanical stability. Furthermore, this can be a safe and effective surgical option with the advantage of less invasiveness in the treatment of TLBFs.

Importance of collateral venous circulation on indocyanine green videoangiography in intracranial meningioma resection: direct evidence for venous compression theory in peritumoral edema formation.

OBJECTIVE: Indocyanine green videoangiography (ICGVA) has been used in many neurosurgical operations, including vascular and brain tumor fields. In this study, the authors applied ICGVA to intracranial meningioma surgery and evaluated it usefulness with attention to collateral venous flow. METHODS: Forty-two patients with intracranial meningioma who underwent ICGVA during microsurgical resection were retrospectively analyzed. For ICGVA, the ICG was injected intravenously at the standard dose of 12.5 mg before and/or after tumor resection. Intravascular fluorescence from blood vessels was imaged through a microscope with a special filter and infrared excitation light to illuminate the operating field. The authors assessed the benefits of ICGVA and analyzed its findings with preoperative radiological findings on MRI. RESULTS: ICGVA allowed real-time assessment of the patency and flow direction in very small peritumoral vessels in all cases. A safe dural incision could also be done based on information from ICGVA. The collateral venous channel due to venous obstruction of tumoral compression was found in 10 cases, and venous flow restoration after tumor resection was observed promptly after tumor resection in 4 cases. Peritumoral brain edema (PTBE) was observed on preoperative T2-weighted MRI in 19 patients. The presence of collateral venous circulation or flow restoration was significantly related to PTBE formation in multivariate analysis (p = 0.001; HR 0.027, 95% CI 0.003-0.242). CONCLUSIONS: ICGVA, an excellent method for monitoring blood flow during meningioma resection, provides valuable information as to the presence of venous collaterals and flow restoration. Furthermore, the fact that the presence of venous collaterals was found to be associated with PTBE may directly support the venous theory as the pathogenesis of PTBE formation.

Remarkable improvement in a very severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder patient after use of noninvasive intermittent positive pressure ventilator: A case report.

RATIONAL: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) impairs lung function and induces systemic effects, resulting in impaired quality of life. Skeletal muscle dysfunction-characteristic of advanced COPD patients-limits a patient's ability to perform activities of daily living (ADL). In addition, dysphagia is commonly observed in COPD patients. PATIENT CONCERN: This case report documents a 42-year-old man with very severe COPD. He experienced aggravation of the symptoms during standard medical treatment and his ability to perform the ADL was significantly impaired. Furthermore, his dysphagia worsened despite oromotor training. DIAGNOSIS: He was diagnosed as very severe COPD have a problem with swallowing and respiratory function. INTERVENTION: Upon NIPPV treatment, the patient's ability to perform the ADL, as well as his dysphagia, showed improvement. OUTCOMES: Thus, we report the remarkable improvement of physical function, as well as dysphagia, in a very severe COPD patient after NIPPV treatment. LESSONS: NIPPV may be useful as a treatment option for such patients.

Can radial bone mineral density predict spinal bone mineral density in patients with advanced Duchenne muscular dystrophy?

In advanced Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), patients with high bone fracture risk due to osteoporosis, it is difficult to measure spinal bone mineral density (BMD) because of maintaining proper posture. This study began with the idea that if we diagnose and manage osteoporosis by predicting spinal BMD through easily testable radial BMD, we could prevent fracture and improve quality of life in DMD patients. In 61 DMD patients aged 20 years or older who were admitted to Gangnam Severance Hospital from April 2013 to May 2015, radial BMD and spinal BMD were measured to compare their Z-scores. In 45 patients, the z-score was less than -2.0 in spinal BMD defined as osteoporosis. And the optimal range of Z-score in the radius was -5.2 to -5.0 (sensitivity 78.9%, specificity 71.4%). Only through the radius BMD, spinal BMD can be predicted and we suggest appropriate times for treatments.

Improvement of Peak Cough Flow After the Application of a Mechanical In-exsufflator in Patients With Neuromuscular Disease and Pneumonia: A Pilot Study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate and demonstrate persistent increase of peak cough flow after mechanical in-exsufflator application, in patients with neuromuscular diseases and pneumonia. METHODS: A mechanical in-exsufflator was applied with patients in an upright or semi-upright sitting position (pressure setting, +40 and -40 cmH2O; in-exsufflation times, 2-3 and 1-2 seconds, respectively). Patients underwent five cycles, with 20-30 second intervals to prevent hyperventilation. Peak cough flow without and with assistive maneuvers, was evaluated before, and 15 and 45 minutes after mechanical in-exsufflator application. RESULTS: Peak cough flow was 92.6 L/min at baseline, and 100.4 and 100.7 L/min at 15 and 45 minutes after mechanical in-exsufflator application, respectively. Assisted peak cough flow at baseline, 15 minutes, and 45 minutes after mechanical in-exsufflator application was 170.7, 179.3, and 184.1 L/min, respectively. While peak cough flow and assisted peak cough flow increased significantly at 15 minutes after mechanical in-exsufflator application compared with baseline (p=0.030 and p=0.016), no statistical difference was observed between 15 and 45 minutes. CONCLUSION: Increased peak cough flow after mechanical in-exsufflator application persists for at least 45 minutes.

Visual outcome after endoscopic third ventriculostomy for hydrocephalus.

PURPOSE: Hydrocephalus-related symptoms are mostly improved after successful endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV). However, visual symptoms can be different. This study was focused on visual symptoms. We analyzed the magnetic resonance images (MRI) of the orbit and visual outcomes. METHODS: From August 2006 to November 2016, 50 patients with hydrocephalus underwent ETV. The male-to-female ratio was 33:17, and the median age was 61 years (range, 5-74 years). There were 18 pediatric and 32 adult patients. Abnormal orbital MRI findings included prominent subarachnoid space around the optic nerves and vertical tortuosity of the optic nerves. We retrospectively analyzed clinical symptoms, causes of hydrocephalus, ETV success score (ETVSS), ETV success rate, ETV complications, orbital MRI findings, and visual impairment score (VIS). RESULTS: The median duration of follow-up was 59 months (range, 3-113 months). The most common symptoms were headache, vomiting, and gait disturbance. Visual symptoms were found in 6 patients (12%). The most common causes of hydrocephalus were posterior fossa tumor in 13 patients, pineal tumor in 12, aqueductal stenosis in 8, thalamic malignant glioma in 7, and tectal glioma in 4. ETVSS was 70 in 3 patients, 80 in 34 patients, and 90 in 13 patients. ETV success rate was 80%. ETVSS 70 showed the trend in short-term survival compared to ETVSS 90 and 80. ETV complications included epidural hematoma requiring operation in one patient, transient hemiparesis in two patients, and infection in two patients. Preoperative abnormal orbital MRI findings were found in 18 patients and postoperative findings in 7 patients. Four of six patients with visual symptoms had abnormal MR findings. Three patients did not show VIS improvement, including two with severe visual symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with severe visual impairment were found to have bad outcomes. The visual symptoms related with increased intracranial pressure should be carefully monitored and controlled to improve outcomes.