Spinal intradural microsurgery in a nascent neurosurgical department: Lessons learned from the first 25 cases.

BACKGROUND: Between 2017 and 2021, the newly established Department of Neurosurgery at Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem, a high volume metropolitan hospital, operated on 25 intradural lesions in 24 patients (one patient had multiple tumors). In this retrospective study, we review results and lessons learned as experienced surgeons opened a new service line. METHODS: A multidisciplinary team was assembled and led by experienced neurosurgeons with skills in both microneurosurgery and complex spine care. Standard operative techniques were used. A chart review was done to assess complications and outcome. RESULTS: 25 lesions were reviewed in 24 patients (14 female; 10 male) between the ages of 11-82 years of age. In 14 cases, gross total resection (GTR) was achieved; 11 cases underwent partial resection. Of the 11 non-GTR cases, 3 were initially planned as biopsies. In one case, there was a significant neurologic decline directly related to surgery. In a separate case, there was iatrogenic instability, necessitating further treatment. CONCLUSIONS: We identify six lessons learned in a nascent neurosurgical department, noting that surgical excellence is of paramount importance, but that the surgeon must also expand his/her role from master technician to team leader. Both microsurgical expertise for neural anatomy and understanding of spinal biomechanics for osseous anatomy is mandatory for surgery of SIDT. This retrospective analysis of our case series demonstrates experienced neurosurgeons can successfully deploy a new service line for challenging cases to the benefit of the hospital and local community.

Gamification of Cervical Spine Physiotherapy by Virtual Reality Software: Is This Real Rehabilitation?

Objective: Physical rehabilitation by virtual reality (VR) gamification is gaining acceptance. This study was designed to verify whether neck movements invoked by a fully immersive VR game environment may be physiotherapist-prescribed rehabilitation exercise. Methods: This was a single-visit prospective clinical trial (NCT03104647). Healthy participants put on VR headsets and entered a fully immersive game environment (VRPhysio, XRHealth, Tel Aviv, Israel) that prompted neck movement (flexion, extension, rotation, lateral bend, and combinations repeated twice in random order) accompanied by feedback encouraging correct performance. Four board-certified physiotherapists independently viewed videotapes recorded during the session, identified movements, and determined whether they were recommended as neck rehabilitation exercises. Results: Twenty (n = 20) participants (male-female ratio = 13:7; age = 38 ± 14 years old) completed the training session (16 movements per participant). All movements were identified correctly and determined to be appropriate for neck rehabilitation. No adverse events were reported. Conclusions: The VRPhysio software invoked movements identified by board-certified physiotherapists as appropriate for neck rehabilitation. The potential advantage of home-based VR gamification of cervical spine rehabilitation programs over common practice in motivating patient adherence warrants evaluation by randomized controlled trials.

Photobiomodulation as an Adjunctive Treatment to Physiotherapy for Reduction of Anterior Knee Pain in Combat Soldiers: A Prospective, Double-Blind, Randomized, Pragmatic, Sham-Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Anterior knee pain (AKP) is the most common knee pathology in athletes and occurs in 15% of army recruits of elite units during basic training. Of these, 50% are symptomatic 6 years later. Photobiomodulation (PBM) is a nonthermal red-to-near-infrared irradiation used for pain reduction of a variety of etiologies. This study was designed to determine whether addition of PBM to physiotherapy (PT) for AKP in combat soldiers is superior to PT alone. STUDY DESIGN/MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this prospective, double-blind, sham-controlled, randomized clinical trial (NCT02845869), 26 combat soldiers/policemen (male:female, 15:11; body mass index [BMI] = 24.2 ± 3.9, n = 46 knees), with AKP due to overuse/load, received 4 weeks of PT + sham (PT + Sham) or active PBM (wavelength = 660 and 850 nm, pulsing = 2.5 Hz, LED power = 50 mW/cm2 [local tissue/regional lymph nodes]; 810 nm continuous beam, laser cluster 6 W/cm2 [analgesia] and laser pointer 4.75 W/cm2 [trigger points]) (PT + PBM). The main outcome measures were subjective pain by visual analog scale (VAS) (0 [none]-100 [intolerable]) and functional disability by Kujala score (0 [worst]-100 [best]). Evaluations were carried out at baseline, end of treatments, and 3-month follow-up. RESULTS: All participants completed the treatment protocol without any reported adverse device effects. Post-treatment pain was significantly reduced in the PT+PBM group, compared with baseline and sham (Δpain, VAS, mean ± SD: PT + PBM = -19 ± 23, P = 0.002; PT + Sham = -6 ± 21, P = 0.16; between groups, P = 0.032). At 3-month follow-up, pain reduction was similar between groups; however, the Kujala score was significantly improved only in the PBM-treated group (ΔKujala: PT + PBM = 11 ± 10, P = 0.003; PT + Sham = 5 ± 7, P = 0.059). CONCLUSIONS: Addition of PBM to PT for AKP resulted in earlier reduction in pain and improved functionality, compared with PT alone. This noninvasive, nonpharmacologic, adjunctive therapeutic modality can be easily incorporated into team healthcare frameworks or end units and may lead to earlier return to competition or combat-level service. Lasers Surg. Med. © 2021 Wiley Periodicals LLC.

Spondylodiskitis and endocarditis due to Streptococcus gordonii.

BACKGROUND: Streptococcus gordonii is an infrequent cause of infective endocarditis (IE); associated spondylodiskitis has not yet been described in the literature. PURPOSE: We describe 2 patients who presented with new-onset, severe back pain; blood cultures revealed S. gordonii bacteremia, which led to the diagnosis of spondylodiskitis and IE. We review our 2-decade experience with S. gordonii bacteremia to describe the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of these patients. RESULTS: In our hospital over the last 20 years (1998-2017), a total of 15 patients with S. gordonii bacteremia were diagnosed, including 11 men and 4 women, and the mean age was 65 ± 22 (range 23-95). The most common diagnosis was IE (9 patients), spondylodiskitis (the presented 2 patients, who in addition were diagnosed with endocarditis), necrotizing fasciitis (1), sternitis (1), septic arthritis (1) and pneumonia (1). The 11 patients with IE were treated with penicillin ± gentamicin, or ceftriaxone for 6 weeks, 5 required valve surgery and 10/11 (91%) attained complete cure. The 2 patients with diskitis required 2-3 months of intravenous antibiotics to achieve complete cure. CONCLUSION: Spondylodiskitis was the presenting symptom of 2/11 (18%) patients with S. gordonii endocarditis. Spondylodiskitis should probably be looked for in patients diagnosed with S. gordonii endocarditis and back pain as duration of antibiotic treatment to achieve complete cure may be considerably longer.

Informal (Hallway) medical consultation in orthopedics-is it as common as it seems?

INTRODUCTION: Informal (hallway) medical consultation is an integral part of the physician's work. As musculoskeletal complaints are very common, orthopedic surgeons stand in the frontline of this practice. Many of these consultations are poorly, if at all, documented, thus imposing a potential medical danger to the patient and a medicolegal danger to the surgeon. We conducted this first study to examine whether this practice is common among the orthopedic surgeons in university hospital. METHODS: In this prospective study, a 2-month record of informal consultations was kept. Six orthopedic surgeons-two joint reconstruction surgeons, one spine surgeon, two arthroscopy and sports medicine surgeons, and a shoulder surgeon participated. They recorded the details of the consulter, whether the consultation was for himself or somebody else, the major complaint, and whether it was a second opinion. All patients were advised to go to the formal orthopedic consultation and no advice or treatment was given. At the end of 2 months, each surgeon was asked to evaluate the percentage of cases he had failed to report. RESULTS: During the 2-month period, 158 people asked for informal (hallway) consultations. 11 of them (7%) were physicians, 114 (72%) were other hospital personnel, 26 (17%) were unrelated to hospital, and 6 (4%) were treated patients' relatives. 93 (59%) of consultations were about the consulter himself and the rest were about a relative or a friend. 41 (26%) were requests for a second opinion. The estimated percentage of not reported cases was 10-40%; when the number of consultations was corrected for these figures, it reached 208 consultations in 2 months. DISCUSSION: In this prospective study, six participating surgeons recorded 158 informal consultation requests in 2 months. If a correction is performed, it averages 0.6 consultations a day for a surgeon (or, if only workdays are counted-0.8 consultations a day). Orthopedic surgeons should be aware of this frequent habit and send these patients to a formal consultation.

Erratum: Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis and Pregnancy: An Unsolved Paradigm.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1055/s-0035-1552987.].

Spinal epidural abscess with a rapid course in young healthy infantry recruits with multiple skin lacerations.

In recent years, there has been high prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) infection among soldiers in the Israeli military, with devastating sequelae in several cases. Emergency department physicians have developed a high level of suspicion for spinal epidural abscess (SEA) in patients presenting known risk factors; however, SEA is a particularly elusive diagnosis in young healthy adults with no history of drug abuse. We review three cases of SEA secondary to methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (MSSA) infection in young healthy soldiers without known risk factors. We retrospectively reviewed clinical files of soldiers treated at our Medical Center from 2004-2015 to identify patients diagnosed with SEA. Those aged less than 30years with no history of intravenous drug use, spine surgery or spine trauma were included in the study. Three young army recruits met the inclusion criteria. These young men developed SEA through extension of MSSA infection to proximal skin and soft tissue from impetigo secondary to skin scratches sustained during "basic" training. All presented with mild nuchal rigidity and severe persistent unremitting lancinating radicular pain. Although healthy at baseline, they had a severe, rapidly progressive course. Following urgent surgery, two patients recovered after rehabilitation; one remained with paraparesis at late follow-up. Neurological deficits and systemic evidence of S. aureus infection progressed rapidly in these young healthy SEA patients with no history of drug abuse, emphasizing the critical role of timely MRI, diagnosis, and surgery.

Minocycline Effectively Protects the Rabbit's Spinal Cord From Aortic Occlusion-Related Ischemia.

OBJECTIVES: To identify the minocycline anti-inflammatory and antiapoptotic mechanisms through which it is believed to exert spinal cord protection during aortic occlusion in the rabbit model. DESIGN: An animal model of aortic occlusion-related spinal cord ischemia. Randomized study with a control group and pre-ischemia and post-ischemia escalating doses of minocycline to high-dose minocycline in the presence of either hyperglycemia, a pro-apoptotic maneuver, or wortmannin, a specific phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase antagonist. SETTING: Tertiary medical center and school of medicine laboratory. PARTICIPANTS: Laboratory animals-rabbits. INTERVENTIONS: Balloon obstruction of infrarenal aorta introduced via femoral artery incision. RESULTS: Severe hindlimb paralysis (mean Tarlov score 0.36±0.81 out of 3) was observed in all the control group animals (9 of 11 with paraplegia and 2 of 11 with paraparesis) compared with 11 of 12 neurologically intact animals (mean Tarlov score 2.58±0.90 [p = 0.001 compared with control]) in the high-dose minocycline group. This protective effect was observed partially during a state of hyperglycemia and was completely abrogated by wortmannin. Minocycline administration resulted in higher neurologic scores (p = 0.003) and a shift to viable neurons and more apoptotic-stained nuclei resulting from reduced necrosis (p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In a rabbit model of infrarenal aortic occlusion, minocycline effectively reduced paraplegia by increasing the number of viable neurons in a dose-dependent manner. Its action was completely abrogated by inhibiting the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase pathway and was inhibited partially by the pro-apoptotic hyperglycemia maneuver, indicating that the activation of cell salvage pathways and mitochondrial sites are possible targets of minocycline action in an ischemic spinal cord.

Value of repeat CT scans in low back pain and radiculopathy.

We assessed the clinical value of repeat spine CT scan in 108 patients aged 18-60 years who underwent repeat lumbar spine CT scan for low back pain or radiculopathy from January 2008 to December 2010. Patients with a neoplasm or symptoms suggesting underlying disease were excluded from the study. Clinical data was retrospectively reviewed. Index examinations and repeat CT scan performed at a mean of 24.3 ± 11.3 months later were compared by a senior musculoskeletal radiologist. Disc abnormalities (herniation, sequestration, bulge), spinal stenosis, disc space narrowing, and bony changes (osteophytes, fractures, other changes) were documented. Indications for CT scan were low back pain (60 patients, 55%), radiculopathy (46 patients, 43%), or nonspecific back pain (two patients, 2%). A total of 292 spine pathologies were identified in 98 patients (90.7%); in 10 patients (9.3%) no spine pathology was seen on index or repeat CT scan. At repeat CT scan, 269/292 pathologies were unchanged (92.1%); 10/292 improved (3.4%), 8/292 worsened (2.8%, disc herniation or spinal stenosis), and five new pathologies were identified. No substantial therapeutic change was required in patients with worsened or new pathology. Added diagnostic value from repeat CT scan performed within 2-3 years was rare in patients suffering chronic or recurrent low back pain or radiculopathy, suggesting that repeat CT scan should be considered only in patients with progressive neurologic deficits, new neurologic complaints, or signs implying serious underlying conditions.

Patients with chronic non-specific low back pain who reported reduction in pain and improvement in function also demonstrated an improvement in gait pattern.

PURPOSE: To assess the changes in gait pattern and clinical symptoms of patients with chronic non-specific low back pain (CNSLBP) following a home-based biomechanical treatment (HBBT). METHODS: This was a retrospective analysis of 60 CNSLBP patients. All patients underwent a gait evaluation and completed self-assessment questionnaires at pre-treatment and after 3 and 6 months of a HBBT (AposTherapy). Twenty-four healthy, aged-matched individuals served as a reference group. RESULTS: Significant differences were found in all gait parameters and clinical symptoms between patients with CNSLBP and healthy people before treatment. Significant improvements were found in all gait parameters and clinical measures following 6 months of therapy including an increase in gait velocity (10.6 %), step length (5.6 %), cadence (5 %), and quality of life and a decrease in pain (13.3 %). There were no significant differences between groups in the gait parameters following 6 months of treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Significant differences exist between patients with CNSLBP and healthy controls in terms of gait pattern and self-assessed health status. The examined HBBT led to significant improvements in gait pattern, reduction in pain, improved function and increased quality of life. However, future studies should validate these results while comparing this treatment to other treatment modalities.

Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis and Pregnancy: An Unsolved Paradigm.

Study Design Retrospective cohort study with a cross-sectional comparison. Objective To compare the rates of anesthesia prescription and satisfaction with surgery, prevalence and severity of low back pain, prevalence of depression, and sexual dysfunction among pregnant and nonpregnant patients with AIS undergoing correction surgery with pedicle-based systems and healthy woman with a history of pregnancy. Methods Women between the ages of 18 and 40 years who underwent correction surgery for AIS with a pedicle screw system were interviewed regarding pregnancies, child delivery, method of pain control during delivery, and any long-term outcome after delivery. In addition, sexual dysfunction (Female Sexual Distress Scale-Revised [FSDS]), depression (the Beck Depression Assessment Questionnaire), and Scoliosis Research Society 24 (SRS24) questionnaires were administered. Data was compared between patients with AIS without a history of pregnancy and healthy controls. Results Satisfaction with surgery in the AIS pregnant group using the SRS24 questionnaire scored 3.76/5 (p = 0.0047 when compared with nonpregnant AIS group). Six of the 17 of the women with AIS had severe back pain during pregnancy (35%) mandating home treatment or hospitalization. Of the 17 women, 13 complained of a sustained back pain after child delivery (76%) that impacted their life. In the nonscoliosis group, no back pain attributed to pregnancy was reported. The rates of regional anesthesia prescription among pregnant patients with AIS who underwent correction surgery was 30% (5/17), whereas among healthy pregnant women, rates were 100% (6/6). The SRS24 scores in the patients with AIS were 72% (88/120), showing a low score of 3.69/5 in the pain domains (p = 0.0048 when compared with nonpregnant patients with AIS). Depression rates were in the normal range and similar in all groups. FSDS scores, used to assess sexual dysfunction, were 4.02 in the pregnancy group and 5.67 in the nonpregnant group (not significant) and 4.6 in the nonscoliosis control group (not significant). Conclusion Women who underwent scoliosis correction suffered from long-term back pain after pregnancy and had decreased satisfaction with surgery. In addition, anesthesiologists refused epidurals in a large number of these patients. A larger study is needed on the topic.

Efficacy and safety of vertebral stenting for painful vertebral compression fractures in patients with metastatic disease.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Painful vertebral compression fractures in cancer patients reduce quality of life and may limit survival. We assessed pain relief, vertebral height restoration, and kyphosis correction following vertebral augmentation using a novel expandable titanium stent implant in cancer patients with painful vertebral compression fractures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients >18 years of age with metastatic disease who presented symptomatic compression fractures of vertebral bodies T5-L5, with or without a history of osteoporosis, were included in the study. Back pain at presentation, immediately after vertebral stenting, and at 1-, 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-up was estimated using the visual analog scale (VAS). Vertebral height and local kyphotic angle (alpha angle) were measured on lateral standing X-ray before and 1-3 months after stenting. RESULTS: Forty-one cancer patients with painful vertebral compression fractures underwent vertebral stenting procedures at 55 levels. There was no perioperative mortality and no significant complication. Median preoperative VAS was 8.0 (range 8-10), falling to 2.0 immediately postop (range 1-6, P  =  0.000) and 0 at all subsequent follow-up (P ≤ 0.012). Mean preoperative vertical height loss was 25.8% (range 0-84.0%) versus a postoperative mean of 18.0% (range 0-66.0%, P  =  0.000). Median pre- and postoperative kyphotic angle improved from 8.3° (range 0.2°-54.0°) to 7.1° (range 0.2°-25.0°, P  =  0.000). Wilcoxon signed rank test or student's t-test was used for comparisons. CONCLUSIONS: Vertebral augmentation using a novel vertebral stenting system provided immediate and enduring pain relief and improved vertebral height loss and kyphotic angle.

Are they too old? Surgical treatment for metastatic epidural spinal cord compression in patients aged 65 years and older.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to assess the efficacy of surgical decompression of metastatic epidural spinal cord compression (MESCC) in patients ≧65 years and review our multidisciplinary surgical decision-making process. METHODS: We identified all patients operated for MESCC from August 2008 to June 2012. Patients ≧65 years, with a single area of cord compression, back/radicular pain, neurological signs of cord compression, surgery within 48 hours after onset of MESCC-related paraplegia, and follow-up for ≧1 year or until death were included. Files were reviewed retrospectively. The requirement for informed consent was waived. Neurological status was assessed with the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) Impairment Scale (AIS). Duration of ambulation and survival were assessed with Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analysis. RESULTS: Twenty-one patients met inclusion criteria (11 women/10 men; mean age 73 years, range 65-87). All presented with debilitating back/neck pain. Ten patients (48%) were not ambulatory before surgery and four suffered urinary incontinence/constipation (19%). Preoperative AIS was E in 5 patients (24%), D in 11 (62%), and C in 5 (24%). Motor symptoms had been present for a mean of 3·8 days (range 1-14). All patients regained ambulation. Overall, mean survival was 320 days (range 19-798) and mean ambulation was 302 days (range 18-747). On 31 March 2013, 7 patients (33%) were alive and ambulatory at a mean of 459 days (range 302-747); 14 patients had died (67%) at a mean of 251 days (range 19-798), with a mean ambulation of 223 days (range 18-730). DISCUSSION: With careful patient selection, surgery may achieve long duration of ambulation in patients ≧65 years with MESCC.

Preoperative embolization of hypervascular spinal tumors: current practice and center experience.

Preoperative transarterial embolization of hypervascular spinal tumors has been extensively used, and is considered to be a highly effective adjuvant technique in reducing intraoperative blood loss during surgery. Moreover, it has been reported to increase the feasibility and safety of the surgical procedure, leading to better surgical outcomes. We review the English literature in an attempt to identify indications, appropriate timing of embolization in relation to surgery, technical aspects of the procedure, complications, and the contribution of embolization to the surgical management of spinal tumors. In addition, we report our experience with embolization of hypervascular metastases.

Robot-assisted vertebral body augmentation: a radiation reduction tool.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective. OBJECTIVE: To assess radiation exposure time during robot-guided vertebral body augmentation compared with other published findings. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Rising incidence of vertebral compression fractures in the aging population result in widespread use of vertebral body cement augmentation with significant radiation exposure to the surgeon, operating room staff, and patient. Radiation exposure leads to higher cancer rates among orthopedic and spine surgeons and patients. METHODS: Thirty-three patients with 60 vertebral compression fractures underwent robot-guided vertebral body augmentation performed by 2 surgeons simultaneously injecting cement at 2 levels under pulsed fluoroscopy. The age of patients was in the range from 29 to 92 (mean, 67 yr). One to 6 vertebrae were augmented per case (average 2). Twenty-five patients had osteoporotic fractures and 8 had pathological fractures. Robotic guidance data included execution rate, accuracy of guidance, total surgical time, and time required for robotic guidance. Radiation-related data included the average preoperative computed tomographic effective dose, radiation time for calibration, registration, placement of Kirschner wires, and total procedure radiation time. Radiation time per level and surgeon's exposure were calculated. RESULTS: Kyphoplasty was performed in 15 patients (1 sacroplasty), vertebroplasty in 13, and intravertebral expanding implants in 5. The average preoperative computed tomographic effective dose was 50 mSv (18-81). Average operative time was 118 minutes (49-350). Mean robotic guidance took 36 minutes. Average operative radiation time was 46.1 seconds per level (33-160). Average exposure time of the surgeons and the operating room staff per augmented level was 37.6 seconds. The execution rate was 99%, with an accuracy of 99%. Two complications (hemothorax and superficial wound infection) occurred. CONCLUSION: The radiation exposure of the surgeon and the operating room staff in a series of robot-assisted vertebral body augmentation was 74% lower than published results on fluoroscopy guidance and approximately 50% lower than the literature on navigated augmentation. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4.

Can global positioning systems quantify participation in cerebral palsy?

This study examined whether motor-related participation could be assessed by global positioning systems in individuals with cerebral palsy. Global positioning systems monitoring devices were given to 2 adolescent girls (14-year-old with diplegic cerebral palsy and her 15-year-old healthy sister). Outcome measures were traveling distances, time spent outdoors, and Children's Assessment of Participation and Enjoyment questionnaires. Global positioning systems documented that the girl with cerebral palsy did not visit nearby friends, spent less time outdoors and traveled shorter distances than her sister (P = .02). Participation questionnaire corroborated that the girl with cerebral palsy performed most activities at home alone. Lower outdoor activity of the girl with cerebral palsy measured by a global positioning system was 29% to 53% of that of her sibling similar to participation questionnaires (44%). Global positioning devices objectively documented low outdoor activity in an adolescent with cerebral palsy compared to her sibling reflecting participation reported by validated questionnaires. Global positioning systems can potentially quantify certain aspects of participation.

Spinal meningioma becoming symptomatic in the third trimester of pregnancy.

We report a rare case of a spinal meningioma leading to symptoms of spinal cord compression starting in the third trimester of gestation in a 32-year-old woman. Neurological symptoms, which continued to progress after the patient had given birth, were assumed to be sequelae of pregnancy and delivery, leading to a 6 month delay in diagnosis and treatment. Fortunately a gross total resection was achieved at surgery and the patient recovered fully, without permanent consequences. Associated symptoms of spinal cord compression may be falsely attributed to pregnancy, both by the pregnant women and her treating physician. A high index of suspicion and thorough history and physical examination to identify red flags should be performed in patients with neurological symptoms.

Cauda equina syndrome after spinal epidural steroid injection into an unrecognized paraganglioma.

OBJECTIVE: Clinically significant spinal hemorrhage is an extremely rare but potentially devastating complication of spinal epidural steroid injection. We report a rare case of cauda equina syndrome after spinal epidural injection that inadvertently penetrated an unrecognized spinal paraganglioma. METHODS: The clinical records for a patient presenting with cauda equina syndrome were retrospectively reviewed. A literature search was performed to identify reports of cauda equina syndrome in patients undergoing spinal epidural steroid injection, as well as recent large series describing complications associated with these injections. CASE REPORT: A 37-year-old man presented to our emergency department with severe low back pain radiating bilaterally to the lower extremities and urinary incontinence. His pain had greatly intensified 1 day after spinal epidural steroid injection. He had a 1-year history of low back pain diagnosed as disk herniation and managed conservatively but had experienced recent onset of a similar pain and new onset of nocturnal back pain causing sleep disturbance. Epidural injection had been administered based on the earlier diagnosis of disk herniation. Examination using magnetic resonance imaging revealed a previously unrecognized oval hemorrhagic mass lesion at L2-3, which had been inadvertently penetrated during epidural injection. Emergent en bloc resection resolved the patient's neurological symptoms. At histopathologic analysis, the tumor was diagnosed as a spinal paraganglioma. DISCUSSION: The presented case indicates the importance of a thorough history, physical examination, and imaging assessment before spinal epidural steroid injection.

Symptomatic facet cysts of the subaxial cervical spine.

Subaxial cervical facet cysts are uncommon. We report two patients with intraspinal, extradural, subaxial cervical spinal facet cysts, and review the literature to describe the epidemiology, clinical presentation, imaging findings, and treatment options for these lesions. Intraspinal, extradural, cervical spinal cysts should be considered as part of the differential diagnosis in patients presenting with clinical signs of cervical radiculopathy or myelopathy.

Thoracic elongation in type III osteogenesis imperfecta patients with thoracic insufficiency syndrome.

STUDY DESIGN: Prospective patient series. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate outcome of children experiencing severe osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) with thoracic insufficiency syndrome (TIS), who were treated with a novel expandable spinothoracic fixation device. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Current treatment options for TIS in patients with OI are limited. As in other patients with TIS, thoracic elongation is the treatment of choice; however, the use of vertical expandable prosthetic titanium rib device is contraindicated for patients with poor bone quality. METHODS: From 2007 to 2009, 4 patients with type III OI with TIS, aged 8 to 12 years, were treated with a novel expandable spinothoracic fixation device. Pre- and postoperative mobility, Cobb angle, PO2, PCO2, forced vital capacity, forced expiratory flow, use of accessory muscles when breathing, body weight, complication rates, and patient satisfaction were assessed. RESULTS: Prior to surgery, 2 patients were wheelchair bound and 2 walked with assistive devices. Average follow-up was 24 months (range, 14-36 mo). Mean Cobb angle improved by up to 32% in the coronal plane. Pulmonary function improved in all patients, with mean increases of 45% in forced vital capacity, 93% in forced expiratory flow, and 43% in PO2. PCO2 declined 30% on average, returning to normal values. Mean patient weight at 6-month follow-up increased by 10.9%. Patients moved from less than 3rd weight percentile per age group to the 3rd to 7th percentiles at the 6-month follow-up, with continuing weight gain. There were no major complications. All patients and their caregivers were satisfied that the procedure led to improved self-image and functional level. CONCLUSION: Thoracic elongation improved pulmonary function, facilitated weight gain, and made an indirect correction of spinal deformities (Cobb angle) by more than 30%, with no significant complications. Because of the rarity of this condition, a multicenter study to gain experience in a larger number of patients is recommended.