Limitation of previous Allen classification and subaxial cervical spine injury classification (SLIC) system in distractive-extension injury of cervical spine: proposal of modified classification system.

PURPOSE: To verify the clinical applicability of a modified classification system in distractive-extension cervical spine injury that reflects the degrees of soft tissue damage and spinal cord injury while complementing previous Allen classification and subaxial cervical spine injury classification (SLIC) system. METHODS: A total of 195 patients with cervical spine distraction-extension (DE) injury were retrospectively classified. We added stages IIIA (with concomitant spinal cord injury without bony abnormalities) and IIIB (with concomitant additional soft tissue swelling) to the existing stages I and II of the Allen classification. We also supplemented the SLIC system by refining and assigning scores to bony morphology and soft tissue damage. The previous and proposed classification systems were compared by analyzing their scoring performances in terms of clinical features and prognosis. RESULTS: The Allen classification yielded 153 and 42 patients with stage 1 and 42 stage 2 injuries, respectively. Patients classified according to the proposed system were stratified as follows: stage I, 58; stage II, 27; stage IIIA, 33; and stage IIIB, 77. Regarding neurological symptoms and prognosis, stages IIIA and IIIB were poorer than stage I but significantly better than stage II (P < 0.05). On the SLIC system, 146 patients scored ≥5; and 37 and 12 patients scored 4 and ≤3 points, respectively, whereas the numbers of patients who scored ≥5, 4, and ≤3 points on the modified SLIC system were 170, 21, and 4, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The proposed classification and scoring system to complement the Allen classification and SLIC system with respect to the degrees of soft tissue damage and spinal cord injury is considered effective for diagnosing and determining therapeutic directions and prognosis in cases of cervical spine extension injury.

Relationship between magnetic resonance imaging findings and spinal cord injury in extension injury of the cervical spine.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings and neurologic symptoms in cervical spine extension injury and to analyze the MRI parameters associated with neurologic outcome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study included 102 patients with cervical spine extension injury, whose medical records and MRI scans at the time of injury were available. Quantitative MRI parameters such as maximum spinal canal compression (MSCC), maximum cord compromise (MCC), and lesion length showing intramedullary signal changes were measured. Furthermore, intramedullary hemorrhage, spinal cord edema, and soft tissue damage were evaluated. Fisher's exact test was used for a cross-analysis between the MRI findings and the three American Spinal Injury Association category groups depending on the severity level of neurologic injury: complete (category A), incomplete (categories B-D), and normal (category E). RESULTS: MSCC accounted for 23.05, 19.5, and 9.94 % for the complete, incomplete, and normal AIS categories, respectively, without showing statistically significant differences (P = 0.085). MCC was noted in 22.05, 15.32, and 9.2 %, respectively, with the complete-injury group (AIS category A) showing significantly higher. In particular, cases of complete injury had >15 % compression, accounting for 87.5 % (P < 0.001). The mean intramedullary lesion length was significantly higher in complete-injury patients than in incomplete-injury patients (24.22 vs. 8.24 mm). Intramedullary hemorrhage and spinal cord edema were significantly more frequently observed in complete-injury cases (P < 0.001). The incidence of complete injury was proportional to the severity of soft tissue damage. CONCLUSION: MCC, intramedullary lesion length, intramedullary hemorrhage, and spinal cord edema were MRI parameters associated with poor neurologic outcomes in patients with cervical spine extension injury.

Prognostic factors in distractive extension injuries of the subaxial cervical spine.

BACKGROUND: The subaxial spine has high risk of fatal damage by trauma and thereby requires more accurate and aggressive treatment. For the proper treatment and predicting the prognosis, the evaluation to reveal the risk factors for the prognosis is important. We analyzed the various factors contributing to the prognosis in distractive extension injuries of the subaxial cervical spine. METHODS: The study included 103 patients who were diagnosed as distractive extension injury of subaxial cervical spine. We evaluate the patient age, sex, cause of injury, initial neurological impairment, number and portion of injured segment, spinal stenosis, extent of soft tissue damage, ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament, and degenerative spondylosis as a prognostic factor. To analyze the factor related with prognosis, the subjects were divided into group A, in which patients had neurological recovery ≥grade 2 on the ASIA scale or showed normal in final follow-up and group B, in which patients have no neurological recovery. RESULTS: Prognosis was not associated with age, sex, and cause of injury (P = 0.677, 0.541, and 0.965, respectively). Prognosis was poor in cases with spinal stenosis (P = 0.009), soft tissue damage ≥grade 3 on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (P = 0.002), or severe neurological impairment (P ≤ 0.001). Logistic regression analysis also showed that prognosis was poor in cases with spinal stenosis (OR 5.03; 95% CI 1.20-16.93), soft tissue damage ≥grade 3 on MRI (OR 7.63; 95% CI 1.86-31.34), or severe neurological impairment (ASIA C, D, OR 0.59, 95% CI 0.14-2.41; ASIA A, B, OR 18.43, 95% CI 1.64-207.69). CONCLUSION: The prognosis of patients with distractive extension injury of the subaxial cervical spine was poor in cases with spinal stenosis, severe soft tissue damage in MRI findings or severe initial neurological impairment.

Is OPLL-induced canal stenosis a risk factor of cord injury in cervical trauma?

The purpose of this study is to identify the relationship between trauma severity and the degree of cord injury in patients with ossification of posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL). Four-hundred-one patients were classified into Group A (OPLL(+)), Group B (spinal stenosis (+) and OPLL(-)), and Group C (OPLL (-) and spinal stenosis(-)). Trauma severity and neurological injury severity were compared according to presence of OPLL and spinal stenosis. OPLL was associated with a higher incidence of neurological injury with statistical significance (p = 0.002), whereas spinal stenosis did not (p = 0.408). With Group B+C (no OPLL group) in M (minimal) trauma group as baseline, Group A in M trauma group showed about 5 times, and Group A in S (severe) trauma group showed about 16 times as many cord injury. Patients with OPLL more frequently sustained spinal cord injury from minimal trauma.

Use of autogenous bone graft compared with RhBMP in high-risk patients: a comparison of fusion rates and time to fusion.

STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective study. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein (rhBMP-2) can improve fusion rates and time to fusion in high-risk patients when compared with autograft in lumbar posterolateral fusion. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: The use of rhBMP-2 in the general population for posterolateral fusion has resulted in relatively good reported outcomes; however, it is currently considered "off-label" use. Few studies, however, have determined the outcomes of rhBMP-2 when used in patients with numerous risk factors for a pseudarthrosis. METHODS: One hundred ninety-five patients were divided into 4 groups depending on fusion material and the presence/absence of fusion-related risk factors for nonunions; group A was defined as rhBMP-2 used in the presence of high-risk factors (FRRF), group B was defined as rhBMP-2 used in the absence of FRRF, group C was defined as autograft used in the presence of FRRF, and group D was defined as autograft used in the absence of FRRF. The time to fusion, fusion rate were compared between each group. RESULTS: The time to fusion was significantly faster in group B than in group D in patients with no history of smoking (P<0.05), hypertension (P<0.01), or other significant comorbidity (P<0.05). The time to complete fusion was also significantly faster in group B than in group D in patients under the age of 65 (P<0.05), patients undergoing primary surgery (P<0.05), single-level surgery (P<0.01), no smoking history (P<0.05), no diabetes mellitus (P<0.01), no hypertension (P=0.001), no osteoporosis (P<0.01), and no significant comorbidity (P<0.01). Although the fusion rate was higher in group B than in group D, with the exception of sex and single-level surgery, there were no significant differences between groups B and D. Although initial fusion mass and time to solid fusion was faster in group A than in group C, there were no significant differences between groups A and C. In addition, fusion rates were higher in group C than in group A, looking at all factors except revision surgery, but the differences were not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: With relative low dosage of rhBMP-2 compared with the dose used in Food and Drug Administration trial, in patients without fusion-related risk factors, rhBMP-2 may lead to acceptable fusion rates and faster fusion time when compared with autograft. Therefore, rhBMP-2 may serve as an acceptable alternative to autogenous bone graft in patients without fusion-related risk factors undergoing instrumented posterolateral lumbar fusions. When compared with patients with fusion-related risk factors, the use of rhBMP-2 was comparable with autograft but was not sufficient to overcome all aspects of the weakened osteoinductive capacity encountered in patients with these risk factors.

Efficacy of multilevel anterior cervical discectomy and fusion versus corpectomy and fusion for multilevel cervical spondylotic myelopathy: a minimum 5-year follow-up study.

PURPOSE: We evaluated radiologic and clinical outcomes to compare the efficacy of anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) and anterior corpectomy and fusion (ACCF) for multilevel cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM). METHODS: A total of 40 patients who underwent ACDF or ACCF for multilevel CSM were divided into two groups. Group A (n = 25) underwent ACDF and group B (n = 15) ACCF. Clinical outcomes (JOA and VAS scores), perioperative parameters (length of hospital stay, blood loss, operation time), radiological parameters (fusion rate, segmental height, cervical lordosis), and complications were compared. RESULTS: Both group A and group B demonstrated significant increases in JOA scores and significant decreases in VAS. Patients who underwent ACDF experienced significantly shorter hospital stays (p = 0.031), less blood loss (p = 0.001), and shorter operation times (p = 0.024). Both groups showed significant increases in postoperative cervical lordosis and achieved satisfactory fusion rates (88.0 and 93.3%, respectively). There were no significant differences in the incidence of complications among the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Both ACDF and ACCF provide satisfactory clinical outcomes and fusion rates for multilevel CSM. However, multilevel ACDF is associated with better radiologic parameters, shorter hospital stays, less blood loss, and shorter operative times.

Three- and four-level anterior cervical discectomy and fusion with a PEEK cage and plate construct.

INTRODUCTION: Three- or four-level anterior cervical discectomy and fusion with autograft and plate fixation have demonstrated relatively good fusion rates and outcomes, but donor site morbidity and the limitations of autograft harvest remain problematic. The purpose of this study is to assess the radiographic and clinical outcomes of three- or four-level anterior cervical discectomy and fusion with a PEEK cage and plate construct. METHODS: This retrospective review included 43 consecutive patients who underwent three- or four-level anterior cervical discectomy and fusion with a PEEK cage and plate construct (three level: 39 cases, four level: 4 cases). The fusion rate, time to fusion, Cobb angle and disc height were assessed radiographically. Clinical outcomes were evaluated with the VAS, NDI, and SF36 scores. Complications were also recorded. RESULTS: Solid fusion was achieved in all the patients, and mean time to fusion was 13.7 ± 5.1 weeks. The postoperative Cobb angle, lordotic angle, and disc height (5.6°, 10.5° and 3.15 mm, respectively) increased significantly compared to preoperative values (p = 0.038, p = 0.032, and p = 0.0004, respectively), and these improvements were maintained through final follow-up. The postoperative NDI (17.2), VAS (2.8), and SF36 (13.1) scores increased significantly compared to the preoperative scores (p = 0.026, p = 0.0007 and p = 0.041, respectively). Complications included three cases of respiratory difficulty, four cases of dysphagia and one case of hoarseness. There were no cases of donor site morbidity. CONCLUSIONS: Three- or four-level anterior cervical discectomy and fusion with a PEEK cage, and plate construct provide good clinical and radiographic outcomes including high fusion rates, low complication rates, low donor site morbidity, and good maintenance of the lordotic angle and disc height in the treatment of multilevel cervical spondylosis.

Pediatric odontoid fracture causing Brown-Sequard syndrome: a case report.

An odontoid fracture leading to Brown-Sequard syndrome (BSS) is an uncommon condition with only seven cases reported to date. To our knowledge, there are no reports of occurrence in paediatric patients. We report a paediatric odontoid fracture leading to Brown-Sequard syndrome (BSS) with satisfactory recovery following surgical treatment. Odontoid fractures may lead to Brown-Sequard syndrome in cases of high-energy trauma in paediatric patients. Direct anterior screw fixation may be a treatment of choice in paediatric odontoid fractures of the comminuted, displaced type when occurring in conjunction with neurologic injuries.

Adjacent segment degenerative disease: is it due to disease progression or a fusion-associated phenomenon? Comparison between segments adjacent to the fused and non-fused segments.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study was to determine whether fusion causes adjacent segment degeneration or whether degeneration is due to disease progression. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighty-seven patients that had undergone single level anterior cervical decompression and fusions with at least 5 years of follow-up were enrolled in this retrospective study. Segments adjacent to fusion levels (above or below) were allocated to group A, and all others were allocated to group B. Radiographic evaluations of adjacent level changes included assessments of; disc degenerative changes, anterior ossification formation, and segmental instability. The developments of new clinical symptoms were also evaluated. RESULTS: In group A, adjacent segment degenerative change developed in 28 segments (16%) and two cases (2%) developed new clinical symptoms. In group B, adjacent segment degenerative change developed in 10 segments (3%), and two cases (0.7%) also developed new clinical symptoms. Additional operations were performed in one patient in each group. CONCLUSION: Although, fusion per se can accelerate the severity of adjacent level degeneration, no significant difference was observed between adjacent and non-adjacent segments in terms of the incidence of symptomatic disease. The authors conclude that adjacent segment disease is more a result of the natural history of cervical spondylosis than the presence of fusion.

Removal of displaced foreign body from the maxillary sinus using replaceable bony windows and saline irrigation, followed by suctioning of the foreign body.

Various surgical techniques for the removal of a foreign body from maxillary sinuses have been reported. However, the access window in the lateral wall of the maxillary sinus cavity is not replaced by a bony wall when sinus grafting is not performed. The replaceable bony window provides an access window into the sinus cavity and maintains the integrity of the lateral wall of the sinus cavity after the removal of a foreign body from the sinus. Saline irrigation and suction are simple and quick techniques to remove foreign bodies from the sinus. This technique does not require special equipment, including that of endoscopy.

Contribution of the anterior longitudinal ligament to ossification and growth of the vertebral body: an immunohistochemical study using the human fetal lumbar vertebrae.

Using 15 mid-term human fetuses, we examined the role of the spine anterior and posterior longitudinal ligaments (ALL, PLL) in ossification of the lumbar vertebral body. By 18 weeks, a pair of calcified tissue or cortical walls had developed on the anterior and posterior sides of the ossification center. These calcified cortical walls were more highly eosinophilic than trabecular or woven bone in the ossification center. Vimentin-positive osteoblasts were arranged in line along the outer surface of the walls. However, few CD68-positive osteoclasts were evident around the walls, suggesting that the calcification in the walls was similar to periosteal ossification. The anterior cortical wall was connected tightly with the ALL by fiber bundles, but the posterior wall was separated from the PLL by the basivertebral (central) vein and loose tissues. Notably, by 30 weeks, the anterior cortical wall had become attached to and incorporated into the ALL. Thus, the ALL seemed to act as an active periosteum for ossification. Although our materials were limited in number and stage, we hypothesized that, in contrast to the PLL, the mature anterior cortical wall corresponds to a calcified fibrocartilage adjacent to the ALL and forms a bone-ligament interface maintaining an ossification potential.

Plate augmentation in anterior cervical discectomy and fusion with cage for degenerative cervical spinal disorders.

Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) with cage alone (ACDF-C) is associated with a significant incidence of subsidence, local kyphosis, and migration. The use of concurrent plate augmentation may decrease the incidence of these complications while improving the fusion rate. The purpose of the study is to present our results with ACDF with cage and plate augmentation (ACDF-CPA) and to compare these results to previous reports of outcomes following ACDF-C. We evaluated the radiologic and clinical parameters of 83 patients (266 fusion sites) who had an ACDF-CPA between March 2002 and May 2006. Radiologic parameters included fusion rate, fusion time, fusion type, site of pseudoarthrosis and rate and degree of subsidence. Clinical parameters included complications and overall outcomes assessed with Robinson's criteria; 79 of 83 patients showed bony fusion (95.1%) at last follow-up postoperatively, and there was no significant difference in fusion rate between the number of fusion levels. Type I (pseudoarthrosis) was noticed in 9 patients (12 fusion sites), type II in 14 (19 fusion sites), and type III in 60 (235 fusion sites). Five type I and all type II fusions converged into type III by the last follow-up; 76 of 83 patients (91.6%) experienced good clinical outcomes. Pseudoarthrosis occurred more commonly in more proximal locations, and the subsidence rate was significantly greater in two-level fusions when compared with single-level fusions (P = 0.046). There were four metal-related complications. Plate augmentation in one- or two-level anterior cervical fusions for degenerative cervical spine disorders may improve fusion rates and reduce subsidence and complication rates, resulting in improved clinical outcomes.

The efficacy of rhBMP-2 versus autograft for posterolateral lumbar spine fusion in elderly patients.

Few studies have specifically examined the outcomes following rhBMP-2 usage in patients 65 years and older. The purpose of this retrospective study is to evaluate the efficacy of rhBMP-2 with allograft versus autograft for posterolateral lumbar fusion in patients 65 years and older. One hundred twenty-seven patients were divided into three groups based on fusion material and age. Subjects in group A (n = 34) consisted of patients 65 years and older who received rhBMP-2 and allograft. Group B (n = 52) was composed of patients under 65 years of age with rhBMP-2 and allograft. Subjects in group C (n = 41) were 65 years and older with autograft use. A comparison was made of fusion rate, fusion time (noticed, solid), clinical outcome, VAS, perioperative complications and revision rate between each group. The fusion rate and fusion time were similar in groups A and C; however, these were lower than that observed in group B. Clinical outcomes were similar amongst the groups. There were no significant differences in VAS and perioperative complication rate between groups A and C. In patients 65 years and older, rhBMP-2 with allograft may lead to acceptable fusion rates and fusion times, good clinical outcomes and reduced perioperative complications. The combination of rhBMP-2 with allograft yields equivalent outcomes as autograft in elderly patients undergoing instrumented posterolateral lumbar fusion. Additionally, when compared to patients under 65 years of age undergoing posterolateral lumbar fusion, the use of rhBMP-2 was not sufficient to overcome all aspects of the age-related weakened osteoinductive capacity encountered in elderly patients.

Comparative histomorphometric analysis of maxillary sinus augmentation with and without bone grafting in rabbit.

PURPOSE: The aim of this animal study was to evaluate, by histomorphometric analysis, new bone formation in rabbit maxillary sinuses with, and without, bone grafting. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Bilateral sinus augmentation procedures were performed in 20 adult male rabbits. Bony windows were made by a saw insert connected with a piezoelectric surgical device in both groups. In the experimental group, the replaceable bony window was repositioned after careful elevation of the sinus mucosa without bone grafting. In the control group, anorganic bovine graft (Bio-Oss; Geistlich AG, Wolhusen, Switzerland) was grafted in the new compartment of the maxillary sinus after elevation of the sinus membrane, and resorbable collagen membrane was used to cover over the bone graft. A mini screw was placed on the bony window to support the elevated sinus membrane. Animals were sacrificed at 1, 2, 4, 6, or 8 weeks after surgical procedure. The augmented sinuses were evaluated by histomorphometric analysis using hematoxylin-eosin and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase stain. RESULTS: Histologically, new bone was revealed along the elevated sinus membrane, but new bone was not revealed under the collagen membrane or Bio-Oss in the control group after 1 week. In the control group, new bone formation was revealed on the surface of Bio-Oss particles from 2 weeks and continued to 8 weeks. However, new bone formation began from the floor of the replaced bony window and the elevated sinus membrane in the experimental group after 1 week. New bone formation increased under the floor of the repositioned bony window and the elevated sinus membrane, and blood clots appeared in the new compartment of the maxillary sinus throughout the experimental period in the experimental group. Significant higher new bone formation was revealed in the experimental group than in the control group. CONCLUSION: New bone formation in the experimental group was faster and denser than that in the control group. Replaceable bony window, as an autologous barrier, accelerates new bone formation early in the healing phase compared with the collagen membrane over a bone graft in the maxillary sinus. The replaceable bony window and elevated sinus membrane revealed osteoinductive potential.

Prognosis of Hardware-Related Problems in Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion with Cage and Plate Constructs.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze hardware-related problems and their prognoses after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) using cages and plates for degenerative and traumatic cervical disc diseases. METHODS: The study included 808 patients who underwent anterior cervical discectomy and fusion for degenerative and traumatic disc diseases with >1 year of follow-up. We investigated time of onset and progression of problems associated with instrumentation and cage usage. The mean follow-up time was 3.4 years. Type of plate, range and level of fusion, patient factors (age, sex, body mass index, and bone mineral density), and local kyphosis were evaluated. RESULTS: Complications were found in 132 cases (16.5%), including subsidence in 69 cases, plate loosening in 8 cases, screw loosening in 8 cases, screw breakage in 1 case, and multiple complications in 36 cases. In 3 cases, additional posterior cervical surgery was performed. One case needed hardware revision. There were no esophageal, tracheal, or neurovascular structural injuries secondary to metal failure. There were no significant differences in type of plate, level of surgery, or patient factors. The greater the number of fusion segments, the greater the incidence of complications (P = 0.001). The clinical outcomes improved regardless of the complications (P = 0.083). CONCLUSIONS: Most hardware-related complications are not symptomatic and can be treated conservatively. Only a few cases need revision surgery. Precise surgical techniques are needed in multilevel anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (>3 levels) because of the increased complication rate.

Traumatic Atlanto-occipital Dislocation: Analysis of 15 Survival Cases With Emphasis on Associated Upper Cervical Spine Injuries.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case analyses. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence and characteristics of associated upper cervical spine injuries in 15 survival cases of traumatic atlanto-occipital dislocation (AOD). SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Traumatic AOD is a rare and generally fatal injury. Information regarding associated upper cervical spine injuries that may affect treatment methods, outcomes, and prognosis is limited. METHODS: Fifteen patients (11 patients with posterior-type AOD and four patients with vertical-type AOD) who survived traumatic AOD were included in this study. Plain radiographs, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and medical records were reviewed. The incidence and characteristics of associated upper and lower cervical spine and thoracolumbar spine injuries and brain injuries were evaluated. RESULTS: Thirteen patients with traumatic AOD (11 patients with posterior-type AOD and two patients with vertical-type AOD) showed associated upper cervical spine injuries; the overall incidence was 87% (100% in posterior-type AOD and 50% in vertical-type AOD). In posterior-type AOD, eight (72.7%) patients had C1 fractures (four patients had three-part fracture, three patients had two-part fracture, and one patient had four-part fracture), four (36.4%) patients had C1 lateral mass fractures, two (18.2%) patients had transverse atlantal ligament injuries. In vertical-type AOD, two (50%) patients had C1-C2 vertical subluxation with C1 anterior arch horizontal and sagittal split fractures. In posterior-type AOD, two (18%) patients had lower cervical spine injuries and one (9%) patient had brain injury. In vertical-type AOD, one (25%) patient had thoracic spine injury, and three (75%) patients had brain injuries additionally. CONCLUSION: Survival cases with traumatic AOD showed a high incidence of associated upper cervical spine injuries and brain injuries. High index of suspicion and careful radiologic examination are needed to investigate the presence of associated upper cervical spine injuries and brain injuries in traumatic AOD, which affects treatment, outcome, and prognosis. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4.

Clinical usefulness of CT-myelogram comparing with the MRI in degenerative cervical spinal disorders: is CTM still useful for primary diagnostic tool?

STUDY DESIGN: A radiographic review of 50 patients (29 radiculopathy and 21 myelopathy) who had undergone the anterior cervical discectomy and fusion was performed by 3 observers retrospectively. OBJECTIVE: To compare the accuracy between magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and postmyelographic computed tomography (CTM) in degenerative cervical spine disease by assessing the degree of interobserver and intraobserver agreement. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: The assessment of degenerative cervical spinal disease is still demanding. Now MRI is accepted as a primary diagnostic tool for degenerative cervical spine disease. Compared with MRI, usage of CTM has diminished, but it is usually reserved for the patients for whom MRI results were ambiguous or technically suboptimal. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed MRIs and CTMs of 50 patients (29 radiculopathy and 21 myelopathy) who had undergone the anterior cervical discectomy and fusion procedure. Using an assessment scale, 3 observers examined 5 parameters: spinal canal narrowing, foraminal stenosis, bony abnormality, intervertebral disk herniation, and nerve root compression. The degree of severity was graded using a 4-point scale for each item. Intraobserver, interobserver agreement, and the accentuation of each image were analyzed. RESULTS: Intraclass correlation coefficiency statistical analysis showed moderate intraobserver agreement (Cronbach's alpha=0.63) and interobserver agreement (0.52). There was no significant difference in intraobserver, interobserver agreement between MRI (0.58) and CTM (0.57). Compared between MRI and CTM, disc abnormality and nerve root compression on MRI and foraminal stenosis and bony lesion on CTM showed better agreement. CONCLUSIONS: CTM was still useful in diagnosis of the foraminal stenosis and bony lesion comparing with MRI but showed limitation in disc abnormality and nerve root compression. So even though CTM may provide valuable additional information in difficult or ambiguous cases, it also requires universal standards and sound experience for constant and objective information.

Etiology and Related Factors of Postoperative Delirium in Orthopedic Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Delirium is a serious complication for elderly patients after orthopedic surgery. The purpose of this study was to assess the etiology and related factors of delirium after orthopedic surgery in Korea. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 3,611 patients over 50 years who had orthopedic surgery. The age of patients (50s, 60s, 70s, and > 80s), type of anesthesia (general, spinal, and local), operation time (more than 2 hours vs. less than 2 hours), surgical site (spine, hip, knee, or others), and etiology (trauma or disease) were compared to determine possible risk factors of delirium after orthopedic surgery. RESULTS: Of 3,611 patients, 172 (4.76%) were diagnosed with delirium after orthopedic surgery. Postoperative delirium occurred in 1.18% in their 50s, 3.86% in their 60s, 8.49% in their 70s, and 13.04% in > 80s (p < 0.001). According to anesthesia type, 6.50% of postoperative delirium occurred after general anesthesia, 0.77% after spinal anesthesia, and 0.47% after local anesthesia (p < 0.001). More than 2 hours of operation was associated with higher occurrence of delirium than less than 2 hours was (5.88% vs. 4.13%, p = 0.017). For the etiology, 8.17% were trauma cases and 3.02% were disease (p < 0.001). Postoperative delirium occurred in 22 of 493 patients (4.46%) after spine surgery, 18 of 355 patients (5.07%) after hip surgery, 17 of 394 patients (4.31%) after knee surgery, and 15 of 1,145 patients (1.31%) after surgery at other sites (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative delirium was more common in older patients who had surgery under general anesthesia, whose surgery took more than 2 hours, and who were hospitalized through the emergency room.

Clinical and radiological outcomes of conservative treatment for unilateral sagittal split fractures of C1 lateral mass.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the effect of transverse atlantal ligament (TAL) integrity on clinical and radiological outcomes in patients with unilateral sagittal split fracture (USSF) of the C1 lateral mass (LM). METHODS: Twenty-six consecutive patients (16 men and 10 women; mean age: 52 years (range: 32-69)) with C1 LM USSF were included in this study. Sixteen were TAL injury group (nine of type I injuries and seven of type II injuries according to Dickman's classification) and ten were TAL intact group. All cases were conservatively treated with a rigid brace for TAL intact or by halo-vest stabilization for TAL injury for three months. The mean follow-up was 16 months (range, 12-47 months). The results were compared with radiological assessment of fracture healing, LM displacement and Neck visual analog scale. RESULTS: At the last follow-up, for TAL intact group, total LM displacement (LMD), unilateral LMD of fracture side, atlanto-dental interval, basion-dental interval, clivus canal angle, and atlanto-occipital joint axis angle were maintained compared to initial presentation. However, for TAL injury group, all radiological parameters were worsened. The worsening of radiological parameters was more severe in type I injury than type II injury except for total LMD and unilateral LMD. Neck visual analog scale significantly decreased and patient's satisfaction was higher in TAL intact group compared to TAL injury group. CONCLUSION: Conservative treatment for USSF of C1 LM with TAL injury failed to achieve healing of the fracture, which resulted in lateral displacement of C1 LM. This caused coronal and sagittal malalignment of occipitocervical junction, resulting in unsatisfactory clinical outcomes. Our results suggest that early surgical stabilization should be considered in USSF of C1 LM with TAL injury, especially type I injury. However, conservative treatment may be sufficient for a USSF of the C1 LM with TAL intact. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, Therapeutic Study.

Radiologic criteria to predict injury of the transverse atlantal ligament in unilateral sagittal split fractures of the C1 lateral mass.

Unilateral sagittal split fracture (USSF) of the C1 lateral mass (LM) has been recently recognized as a rare variant of C1 atlas fracture. To date, there has been no study to investigate whether radiologic criteria can be applied to determine the presence or absence of transverse atlantal ligament (TAL) injury in USSF of the C1 LM.Twenty six consecutive cases of USSF of the C1 LM were included in this study. According to Dickman classification, 16 cases were TAL injury, and 10 cases were TAL intact. Radiologic parameters were measured and compared between the 2 groups.Total LM displacement (LMD) of the 2 sides (5.9 ±â€Š2.0 mm vs 1.2 ±â€Š2.0 mm), unilateral LMD of the fracture side (4.3 ±â€Š1.2 mm vs 1.0 ±â€Š1.1 mm), atlanto-dental interval (ADI) (2.0 ±â€Š0.9 mm vs 1.5 ±â€Š0.4 mm), and fracture gap (6.9 ±â€Š2.7 mm vs 2.1 ±â€Š1.1 mm) were statistically higher in the TAL injury group than the TAL intact group. However, basion-dental interval, clivus canal angle, and atlanto-occipital joint axis angle were not different between the 2 groups. Total LMD and unilateral LMD positively correlated with ADI and fracture gap. The incidence of fracture gap larger than 7 mm was statistically higher in the TAL injury group than the TAL intact group (81% vs 30%).In conclusion, total LMD > 5.9 mm or unilateral LMD > 4.3 mm suggests the presence of TAL injury in USSF of the C1 LM. The possibility of diagnostic error for TAL injury can be further reduced in USSF of the C1 LM by considering the fracture gap larger than 7 mm.