Avulsion fracture of the anterior superior iliac crest following autograft for anterior lumbar fusion: case report and literature review.

Avulsion fracture of the anterior superior iliac crest (ASIC) following autogenous bone grafting for anterior lumbar fusion (ALF) is an extremely rare complication. We describe a very rare case of avulsion fracture of the ASIC following autograft for ALF in a revision surgery for treating lumbar tuberculosis. A 68-year-old woman with lumbar tuberculosis underwent posterior debridement and posterior iliac crest bone graft fusion; however, her lumbar tuberculosis recurred 9 months after surgery. She then underwent a lumbar revision surgery, including removal of the posterior instrumentation and debridement, followed by anterior L2 corpectomy, debridement, anterior left iliac crest bone graft fusion, and internal fixation. When walking for the first time on postoperative day 3, she experienced a sharp, sudden-onset pain in the anterior iliac crest harvest area. X-ray revealed an avulsion fracture of the ASIC. Considering her failure to respond to conservative treatment for one week and large displacement of the fracture ends, an open reduction and internal fixation surgery was scheduled. Her pain symptoms were significantly relieved after the operation. Although rare, fracture of the ASIC following autograft for ALF should not be ignored. Fracture of the ASIC is usually treated conservatively. Additional surgical treatment is required only when intractable pain fails to respond to conservative treatment or when there is a large displacement of fracture ends that are not expected to heal spontaneously.

Reliability and application of the new morphological classification system for chronic symptomatic osteoporotic thoracolumbar fracture.

BACKGROUND: We propose a new classification system for chronic symptomatic osteoporotic thoracolumbar fracture (CSOTF) based on fracture morphology. Research on CSOTF has increased in recent years; however, the lack of a standard classification system has resulted in inconvenient communication, research, and treatment. Previous CSOTF classification studies exhibit different symptoms, with none being widely accepted. METHODS: Imaging data of 368 patients with CSOTF treated at our hospital from January 2010 to June 2017 were systematically analyzed to develop a classification system. Imaging examinations included dynamic radiography, computed tomography scans, and magnetic resonance imaging. Ten investigators methodically studied the classification system grading in 40 cases on two occasions, examined 1 month apart. Kappa coefficients (κ) were calculated to determine intraobserver and interobserver reliability. Based on the radiographic characteristics, the patients were divided into 5 types, and different treatments were suggested for each type. Clinical outcome evaluation included using the visual analog score (VAS), the Oswestry disability index (ODI), and the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) impairment scale. RESULTS: The new classification system for CSOTF was divided into types I-V according to whether the CSOTF exhibited dynamic instability, spinal stenosis or kyphosis deformity. Intra- and interobserver reliability were excellent for all types (κ = 0.83 and 0.85, respectively). The VAS score and ODI of each type were significantly improved at the final follow-up compared with those before surgery. In all patients with neurological impairment, the ASIA grading after surgery was significantly improved compared with that before surgery (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The new classification system for CSOTF demonstrated excellent reliability in this initial assessment. The treatment algorithm based on the classification can result in satisfactory improvement of clinical efficacy for the patients of CSOFT.

Rare Bony Diastematomyelia Associated with Intraspinal Teratoma.

We report a rare case of bony diastematomyelia associated with intraspinal teratoma. The patient was surgically treated with bony diastematomyelia and intradural teratoma resection, followed by lumbar duroplasty, and posterior fusion from L2-L4 in order to maintain the spinal stability of the approached segments. Despite the risks, it was necessary to perform early surgical treatment because of rapid neurologic deterioration. The patient had a good postoperative outcome.

Rare Cervicothoracic Intramedullary and Extramedullary Lipoma.

We report a rare case of cervicothoracic intramedullary and extramedullary lipoma. Complete resection of the extramedullary lipoma and almost complete resection of the intramedullary lipoma were performed using a microscope, followed by posterior fusion and internal fixation from C4-T2 to maintain the stability of the cervicothoracic junction. Despite the high risk, it was still necessary to perform the decompression surgery and the surgical results were favorable.

Intradural Lumbar Disc Herniation: A Case Report and Literature Review.

BACKGROUND: Lumbar disc herniation into the dural space is a very rare phenomenon of degenerative lumbar lesions in the elderly population, and its potential pathogenesis and natural course remain unclear. CASE DESCRIPTION: We describe a rare case of intradural lumbar disc herniation. A 68-year-old man presented with progressive lower back pain and radiating pain and numbness in both legs for 3 years. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a large herniated disc at L4-L5. Posterior discectomy and fusion of the L4-L5 was performed after conservative treatment failed. Intraoperatively, only minimal disc fragments in the epidural space were found after meticulous probing following laminectomy of the L4-L5 vertebrae. The dorsal dura mater was saturated, tense, and bulged at the L4-L5 levels; additionally, an intradural mass was palpable and confirmed by intraoperative ultrasonography. Subsequently, dorsal middle durotomy was performed. Upon opening the dural sac, a large cauliflower-like mass similar to nucleus pulposus tissue was found near the arachnoid membrane. The mass was dissociative and could be completely resected. The dorsal dural incisions were closed after careful exploration, followed by fixation and fusion of the L4-L5 levels. Pathological examination revealed disc tissue with central balloon-type cystic degenerative changes. The patient's lower back pain and radiating pain and numbness of both legs improved remarkably postoperatively, and he became asymptomatic at 3 months postoperatively. CONCLUSION: Intradural lumbar disc herniation should be highly suspected when intraoperative findings are incompatible with findings from the preoperative imaging examination, and it could be further confirmed via intraoperative ultrasonography and pathological examination of the resected tissue from the dural space. Prompt surgery is recommended, and surgical results are usually favorable. We also reviewed the literature and discussed the potential pathogenesis, natural course, diagnosis, and treatment of intradural lumbar disc herniation.

Transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion versus posterolateral fusion in degenerative lumbar spondylosis: A meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) versus posterolateral fusion (PLF) in degenerative lumbar spondylosis. METHODS: A systematic literature review was performed to obtain randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies (OSs) of TLIF and PLF for degenerative lumbar spondylosis. Trials performed before November 2015 were retrieved from the Medline, EMBASE, Cochrane library, and Chinese databases. Data extraction and quality evaluation of the trials were performed independently by 2 investigators. A meta-analysis was performed using STATA version 12.0. RESULTS: Two RCTs and 5 OSs of 630 patients were included. Of these subjects, 325 were in the TLIF and 305 were in the PLF group. Results showed that TLIF did not increase the fusion rate based on RCTs (relative risk [RR] = 1.06; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.95-1.18; P = 0.321), but increased it based on OSs (RR = 1.14; 95% CI: 1.07-1.23; P = 0.000) and overall (RR = 1.11; 95% CI: 1.05-1.18; P = 0.001) as compared with PLF. TLIF was able to improve the clinical outcomes based on 1 RCT (RR = 1.33; 95% CI: 1.11-1.59, P = 0.002) and overall (RR = 1.19; 95% CI: 1.07-1.33; P = 0.001), but not based on OSs (RR = 1.11; 95% CI: 0.97-1.27; P = 0.129) as compared with PLF. There were no differences between TLIF and PLF in terms of visual analogue scale, Oswestry Disability Index, reoperation, complications, duration of surgical procedure, blood loss, and hospitalization. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, evidence is not sufficient to support that TLIF provides higher fusion rate than PLF, and this poor evidence indicates that TLIF might improve only clinical outcomes. Higher quality, multicenter RCTs are needed to better define the role of TLIF and PLF.

Tuberculous Spondylitis Following Kyphoplasty: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Tuberculous spondylitis of the augmented vertebral column following percutaneous vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty has rarely been described. We report an unusual case of tuberculous spondylitis diagnosed after percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP). A 61-year-old woman presented to our institution complaining of back pain following a fall 7 days before. Radiologic studies revealed an acute osteoporotic compression L1 fracture. The patient denied history of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) and there were no signs of infection. The patient was discharged from hospital 4 days after undergoing L1 PKP with a dramatic improvement in her back pain. Two years later, the patient was readmitted with a 1 year history of recurrent back pain. Imaging examinations demonstrated long segmental bony destruction involving L1 vertebra with massive paravertebral abscess formation. The tentative diagnosis of tuberculous spondylitis was made, after a serum T-SPOT. The TB test was found to be positive. Anterior debridement, L1 corpectomy, decompression, and autologous rib graft interposition, and posterior T8-L4 instrumentation were performed. The histologic examination of the resected tissue results confirmed the diagnosis of spinal TB. Anti-TB medications were administered for 12 months and the patient recovered without sequelae. Spinal TB and osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures are similar clinically and radiologically. Spinal surgeons should consider this disease entity to avoid misdiagnosis or complications. Early surgical intervention and anti-TB treatment should be instituted as soon as the diagnosis of spinal TB after vertebral augmentation is made.