Changes in the incidence of cervical lesions owing to the development of rheumatoid arthritis treatment and the impact of cervical lesions on patients' quality of life.

Objectives: To clarify changes in the incidence of cervical lesions in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with advanced treatment and the impact of cervical lesions on the patients' quality of life (QOL).Methods: Incidence of radiographic cervical lesions in 1333 RA patients in 2015 was compared with that in our 1999 survey. The association between cervical lesions and QOL evaluated using three different patient-based questionnaires was also analyzed.Results: The incidence of atlantoaxial subluxation (AAS), vertical subluxation (VS), and subaxial subluxation (SAS) in 2015 decreased by 50%, 75%, and 5%, respectively, compared to the 1999 survey. Although QOL, evaluated using the Japanese Orthopedic Association Cervical Myelopathy Evaluation Questionnaire (JOACMEQ; specific to myelopathy), deteriorated as the cervical lesion progressed, there was no association between cervical lesion progression and QOL evaluated using the Short Form-8™ (SF-8™; comprehensive health-related QOL). Cervical lesion progression was also associated with QOL deterioration evaluated using the Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index (HAQ-DI; specific to RA), but age and disease duration had stronger influences.Conclusion: The incidence of cervical lesions decreased in 2015 compared to 1999. Cervical lesion progression may be associated with QOL deterioration due to myelopathy. Age and disease duration have more impact on disease-specific QOL.

Prevalence of and factors associated with dysfunctional low back pain in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

PURPOSE: To investigate the prevalence of and factors associated with dysfunctional low back pain (LBP) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 1276 RA outpatients from two hospitals. The Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire was used to address the functional-dysfunctional state criterion. Clinical variables, such as medical status, disease activity, bone mineral density, and spinopelvic alignment parameters, were compared between patients with and without dysfunctional LBP. RESULTS: Mean age and disease duration were 64.6 and 13.4 years, respectively; the prevalence of dysfunctional LBP was 32.8%. On univariate analysis, significant differences existed in many variables, except sex, body weight, C-reactive protein (CRP) level, and prevalence of biological agent users, between patients with and without dysfunctional LBP. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed body mass index (BMI; odds ratio [OR], 1.116; P < 0.001), onset age of RA (OR, 1.020; P = 0.020), disease duration of RA (OR, 1.043; P < 0.001), methotrexate (MTX) use (OR, 0.609; P = 0.007), vertebral fractures (OR, 2.189; P = 0.001), vertebral endplate and/or facet erosion (OR, 1.411; P = 0.043), disease activity score (DAS) in 28 joints-CRP (DAS-28CRP) (OR, 1.587; P = 0.001), pelvic tilt (PT; OR, 1.023; P = 0.019), and sagittal vertical axis (SVA; OR, 1.007; P = 0.043) as associated factors. CONCLUSION: The factors associated with dysfunctional LBP in patients with RA were more vertebral fractures, higher DAS-28CRP, vertebral endplate and/or facet erosion, higher BMI, longer disease duration, greater PT, older onset age, greater SVA, and less MTX use. Strictly controlling patients' body weight and disease activity with MTX and avoiding spinopelvic malalignment through vertebral fracture prevention are important. These slides can be retrieved under Electronic Supplementary Material.

Clinical features, outcomes, and survival factor in patients with vertebral osteomyelitis infected by methicillin-resistant staphylococci.

PURPOSE: To elucidate clinico-radiological features, therapeutic outcomes, and survival factors of vertebral osteomyelitis patients infected by methicillin-resistant staphylococci (MRS). METHODS: Vertebral osteomyelitis patients admitted to the orthopaedic department between 2007 and 2011 (n = 248) were selected for this multicenter study. We compared patients' backgrounds, therapeutic course, and in-hospital mortality between MRS and methicillin-susceptible staphylococci (MSS). We also examined survival factors of vertebral osteomyelitis due to MRS. RESULTS: Sixteen patients of MRS vertebral osteomyelitis and 55 patients of MSS were included in this study. In MRS vertebral osteomyelitis, the rates of comorbid diabetes mellitus, involvement of >2 vertebral bodies, in-hospital mortality, and operation of surgical debridement were higher compared to those in MSS vertebral osteomyelitis. Univariate analysis showed that operation of surgical debridement was a factor related to survival in MRS patients. CONCLUSIONS: Higher rate of comorbid diabetes mellitus, involvement of >2 vertebral bodies, in-hospital mortality, and performing surgical debridement are peculiar features of MRS vertebral osteomyelitis compared to MSS vertebral osteomyelitis. If patients with MRS vertebral osteomyelitis respond poorly to antibiotic therapy, it might be better to consider surgical debridement not to lose an opportunity of operation due to exacerbation of systemic conditions.

Rib Hyperostosis as a Risk Factor for Poor Prognosis in Cervical Spine Injury Patients With Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective multi-center study. OBJECTIVE: To identify the morphological features of costovertebral joints and ribs in surgically managed cervical injury patients with diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) and to examine its impact on their vital prognosis. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Several reports have indicated that DISH is an independent risk factor for mortality after spinal fracture. The reason for the high mortality in cervical injury patients with DISH is unclear, although some reports have suggested a possible association between pulmonary complications and mortality. METHODS: From 1999 to 2017, a total of 50 DISH patients (44 males) with cervical spine injuries who underwent spinal surgery were enrolled (average age 74 yrs). Prognosis and clinical risk factor data were collected; the morphological features of the patients' costovertebral joints and ribs were evaluated with computed tomography. The influence of each proposed risk factor and thoracic morphological feature on mortality was tested with univariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS: The survival rate at 5 years after surgery was 52.3%. Nineteen (38%) patients died, and the most common cause of death was pneumonia (68%). Costovertebral bone excrescences and rib hyperostosis were found to be thoracic pathognomonic signs; their frequencies were 94% and 82%, respectively, and these conditions occurred in an average of 7.0 joints and 4.7 bones, respectively. The results of the log-rank test showed a significant difference in age, injury severity score (ISS), costovertebral bone excrescences, and rib hyperostosis. The results of age-adjusted multivariate analysis indicated that age (hazard ratio [HR] = 8.65, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.10-68.28, P = 0.041) and rib hyperostosis (HR = 3.82, 95% CI = 1.38-10.57, P = 0.010) were associated with mortality. CONCLUSION: Reduced chest wall mobility associated with rib hyperostosis in cervical spine injury patients with DISH leads to a poor prognosis. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3.