Spinal Surgery for Parkinson Disease With Camptocormia: Propensity Score-Matched Cohort Study With Degenerative Sagittal Imbalance (DSI).

STUDY DESIGN: A propensity score-matched cohort study. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to compare the radiologic and clinical outcomes of camptocormia in Parkinson disease (PD) with degenerative sagittal imbalance (DSI) patients. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Camptocormia in PD and DSI could be characterized by a dynamic deformity. However, no study has directly evaluated the outcomes of patients with camptocormia and DSI. METHODS: Thirteen consecutive PD patients undergoing surgical correction for camptocormia were matched in a 1-to-2 format with 26 patients in the DSI group by propensity score-matching. Radiologic outcomes, including paravertebral muscle changes, and clinical outcomes were compared between the 2 groups. The rate of proximal junctional problems and reoperations were assessed. RESULTS: PD patients with camptocormia had significantly greater preoperative coronal and sagittal malalignments (29.9 vs. 16.9 mm, P=0.019; 142.8 vs. 64.4 mm, P=0.0001, respectively) and weakness of paravertebral muscles compared with the DSI patients. Regarding the clinical outcomes, reoperations were significantly higher in the camptocormia group, compared with the DSI group (53.8% vs. 7.7%, P=0.001). Moreover, proximal junctional failure was developed in 8 patients in the camptocormia group, while 1 patient in the DSI group (61.5% vs. 3.8%, P=0.0001). In subgroup analysis, independent risk factors for the proximal junctional failure were the total fusion levels (hazard ratio=0.26, P=0.018) and the degree of fatty changes of the paravertebral muscles (hazard ratio=1.15, P=0.048). CONCLUSIONS: PD patients undergoing spinal surgery for camptocormia had global malalignment and higher rates of complications compared with DSI patients. Patients should be appropriately counseled regarding the increased risk of operative complications and closely followed for incipient failure.

Benign Gastric Ulcer with Epstein-Barr Virus Infection Mimicking Malignant Gastric Ulcer.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is the cause of infectious mononucleosis, which is characterized by fever, lymphadenopathy, and sore throat. On the other hand, gastrointestinal symptoms of EBV infection like dyspepsia, abdominal pain are non-specific and rarely encountered, which means it is difficult to diagnose gastric involvement of EBV infection without suspicion. The relation between gastric carcinoma and gastric lymphoma associated with EBV infection is well defined, but relations with other EBV-associated gastrointestinal diseases such as gastritis and peptic ulcer disease have rarely been reported. We report a case of benign gastric ulcer with EBV infection confirmed by endoscopic and histological findings.

Minimally Invasive Lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusion for Clinical Adjacent Segment Pathology: A Comparative Study With Conventional Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion.

STUDY DESIGN: This was a retrospective comparative study. OBJECTIVE: The main objective of this article was to evaluate the clinical and radiologic efficacies of minimally invasive lateral lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF) for clinical adjacent segment pathology (ASP). SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Minimally invasive techniques have been increasingly applied for spinal surgery. No report has compared LLIF with conventional posterior lumbar interbody fusion for clinical ASP. METHODS: Forty patients undergoing LLIF with posterior fusion (hybrid surgery) were compared with 40 patients undergoing conventional posterior lumbar interbody fusion (posterior surgery). The radiologic outcomes including indirect decompression in hybrid surgery group, and clinical outcomes such as the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and Visual Analog Scale (VAS) were assessed. Postoperative major complications and reoperations were also compared between the 2 groups. RESULTS: Correction of coronal Cobb's angle and segmental lordosis in the hybrid surgery were significantly greater postoperatively (2.8 vs. 0.9 degrees, P=0.012; 7.4 vs. 2.5 degrees, P=0.009) and at the last follow-up (2.4 vs. 0.5 degrees, P=0.026; 4.8 vs. 0.8 degrees, P=0.016) compared with posterior surgery. As regards indirect decompression of the LLIF, significant increases in thecal sac (83.4 vs. 113.8 mm) and foraminal height (17.8 vs. 20.9 mm) were noted on postoperative magnetic resonance imaging. Although postoperative back VAS (4.1 vs. 5.6, P=0.011) and ODI (48.9% vs. 59.6%, P=0.007) were significantly better in hybrid surgery, clinical outcomes at the last follow-up were similar. Moreover, intraoperative endplate fractures developed in 17.7% and lower leg symptoms occurred in 30.0% of patients undergoing hybrid surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Hybrid surgery for clinical ASP has advantages of segmental coronal and sagittal correction, and indirect decompression compared with conventional posterior surgery. However, LLIF-related complications such as endplate fracture and lower leg symptoms also developed. LLIF should be performed considering advantages and approach-related complications for the clinical ASP.

Clinical and Radiographic Features of Subtypes of Acute Proximal Junctional Failures Following Correction Surgery for Degenerative Sagittal Imbalance.

OBJECTIVE: To identify clinical and radiographic features of subtypes of acute proximal junctional failures (PJFs) following correction surgery for degenerative sagittal imbalance. METHODS: The study included 157 patients with mean age 68.0 ± 6.3 years who underwent correction surgery for degenerative sagittal imbalance. Acute PJFs were categorized into 4 subtypes: fracture at uppermost instrumented vertebra (UIV), fracture at vertebra just proximal to UIV (UIV+1), fixation failure at UIV, and junctional subluxation. Demographic, clinical, and radiographic data were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: There were 18 patients with acute PJFs. PJF group had significantly lower T-score (-3.3 ± 1.1 vs. -1.9 ± 1.5) on bone densitometry and lower body mass index (BMI) (23.0 ± 3.9 kg/m2 vs. 25.6 ± 3.7 kg/m2) than non-PJF group. Radiographic parameters exhibited no significant differences. UIV fracture, UIV+1 fracture, UIV fixation failure, and junctional subluxation were observed in 5, 6, 4, and 3 patients. Fixation failure developed the earliest (median 1.3 months), followed by UIV fracture (1.5 months). UIV fracture occurred earlier than UIV+1 fracture (36 months). Patients with UIV or UIV+1 fracture had significantly lower T-scores than others. Although BMI and T-score were significant risk factors for all PJFs (P = 0.043 and P = 0.021, respectively), different risk factors for each subtype of PJFs were identified on separate risk factor analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with acute PJFs had lower T-score and BMI. Each subtype of PJFs had different clinical and radiographic features. Although BMI and T-score were associated with all PJFs, each subtype may have different risk factors. Identifying risk factors for each subtype of acute PJFs may help avoid it.

Clinical Significance of Preoperative Embolization for Non-Hypervascular Metastatic Spine Tumors.

OBJECTIVE: The efficacy of preoperative embolization for hypervascular metastatic spine disease (MSD) such as renal cell and thyroid cancers has been reported. However, the debate on the efficacy of preoperative embolization for non-hypervascular MSD still remains unsettled. The purpose of this study is to determine whether preoperative embolization for non-hypervascular MSD decreases perioperative blood loss. METHODS: A total of 79 patients (36 cases of preoperative embolization and 43 cases of non-embolization) who underwent surgery for metastatic spine lesions were included. Representative hypervascular tumors such as renal cell and thyroid cancers were excluded. Intraoperative and perioperative estimated blood losses (EBL), total number of transfusion and calibrated EBL were recorded in the embolization and non-embolization groups. The differences in EBL were also compared along with the type of surgery. In addition, the incidence of Adamkiewicz artery and complications of embolization were assessed. RESULTS: The average age of 50 males and 29 females was 57.6±13.5 years. Lung (30), hepatocellular (14), gastrointestinal (nine) and others (26) were the primary cancers. The demographic data was not significantly different between the embolization and the non-embolization groups. There were no significant differences in intraoperative EBL, perioperative EBL, total transfusion and calibrated EBL between two groups. However, intraoperative EBL and total transfusion in patients with preoperative embolization were significantly lower than in non-embolization in the corpectomy group (1645.5 vs. 892.6 mL, p=0.017 for intraoperative EBL and 6.1 vs. 3.9, p=0.018 for number of transfusion). In addition, the presence of Adamkiewicz artery at the index level was noted in two patients. Disruption of this major feeder artery resulted in significant changes in intraoperative neuromonitoring. CONCLUSION: Preoperative embolization for non-hypervascular MSD did not reduce perioperative blood loss. However, the embolization significantly reduced intraoperative bleeding and total transfusion in corpectomy group. Moreover, the procedure provided insights into the anatomy of tumor and spinal cord vasculature.

Sex-specific and Age-specific Analgesia for Early Postoperative Pain Management After Lumbar Decompressive Surgery: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

STUDY DESIGN: This was a randomized clinical trial. OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy and safety of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug and opioid for acute pain management after lumbar decompressive surgery. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Multimodal analgesia is associated with synergistic effects while reducing opioid-related adverse effects. However, there is no consensus on the ideal multimodal analgesic regimen. We assumed that each agent in various multimodal regimens under different conditions may have different effects. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective randomized clinical trial recruited adult patients who underwent single-level lumbar decompressive surgery. Patients were randomized to receive our postoperative analgesic regimen including either nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (celecoxib) or opioid (extended-release oxycodone) from postoperative day 3 to 14. The Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and Oswestry Back Pain Disability Index (ODI) were used to evaluate effectiveness preoperatively and on postoperative days 2, 3, 7, and 14, and at 6 months. Drug-related adverse effects were also recorded. RESULTS: One hundred patients were enrolled and 93 patients (46 patients with celecoxib vs. 47 patients with oxycodone) were randomized. No differences were observed in patient demographics and preoperative VAS and ODI between the 2 groups. VAS and ODI were not different at all postoperative time points. However, subanalysis according to sex and age, revealed significant differences in efficacy: celecoxib was effective in female individuals and oxycodone was effective in male individuals on postoperative days 7 and 14; oxycodone was effective in patients aged above 65 years on postoperative days 7 and 14. Although nausea/vomiting and constipation were more common in the oxycodone group than in the celecoxib group, other adverse effects were not different. CONCLUSIONS: In patients who underwent single-level lumbar decompressive surgery, treatment with celecoxib and oxycodone for postoperative pain management showed no significant differences in efficacy. However, subanalysis showed that each drug was effective in different ages and sex groups. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level II.

A Comparative Study of Decompressive Laminectomy and Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion in Grade I Degenerative Lumbar Spondylolisthesis.

BACKGROUND: For Grade I degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis (DLS), both decompression alone and decompression with fusion are effective surgical treatments. Which of the two techniques is superior is still under debate. The purpose of this study was to compare clinical outcomes after decompression alone versus decompression with fusion for Grade I DLS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 139 patients who underwent surgery for Grade I DLS at L4-L5 were prospectively enrolled. Decompression alone was used to treat 74 patients, and decompression with fusion was used to treat 65 patients. Six patients in the first group and four patients in the second group were lost during the 2-year followup. Demographic data were recorded. Operation time, perioperative blood loss, total blood transfusion volume, and length of hospital stay were compared between the two groups. Back pain and functional outcomes were evaluated using the visual analog scale (VAS) and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), respectively. RESULTS: Baseline demographic data were not different between the two groups. Operation time, blood loss, total blood transfusion volume, and length of hospital stay were all significantly greater in the fusion group than in the decompression group. This would be expected because fusion is the more invasive procedure. VAS scores were not different up until 6 months postoperatively. Twelve months after surgery, however, VAS scores were significantly lower in the fusion group. The same results were shown in terms of ODI. Although ODI decreased in both groups over time, the fusion group showed better functional outcomes than did the decompression group. CONCLUSIONS: Although both decompression alone and decompression with fusion improved functional outcomes for Grade I DLS, fusion surgery resulted in better results compared to decompression alone. Therefore, fusion should be considered as the treatment of choice for Grade I DLS.

Predictive Factors for Postoperative Follow-up: Which Patients are Prone to Loss to Follow-up After Spinal Surgery?

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. OBJECTIVE: To find out the predictive factors for the failure to follow-up in patients who underwent spinal surgery. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Causes for loss to follow-up range from geographical accessibility to dissatisfaction with surgeons. There were few reports that investigated loss to follow-up after spinal surgery. METHODS: A total of 649 patients who underwent laminectomy and 193 patients who underwent L4-L5 fusion from August 2006 to August 2013 were enrolled in this retrospective study. In each surgical group, demographic data and comorbidities as assessed by the Charlson index were investigated and analyzed for correlation with follow-up. The between-group difference of failure to follow-up was also evaluated. RESULTS: The fusion group (n=193) was more likely to follow-up and the between-group difference was statistically significant (P=0.047). In the laminectomy group (n=649), 271 patients (41.8%) made regular hospital visits. Those who were male, had a spouse, or had fewer comorbidities were less prone to loss to follow-up (P<0.001). Other parameters including age, number of spinal segments operated on during surgery, distance from home to hospital, income, education level, and whether or not patients exercised were also significantly correlated with follow-up compliance (P>0.05). In contrast, 51.8% (n=100) of patients who underwent fusion had regular follow-ups. The fusion group showed a statistical difference in follow-up rate based only on sex (P=0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows that patients who underwent decompression alone were less likely to attend follow-up than were patients who underwent fusion surgery. Whereas the factors correlated with loss to follow-up after laminectomy alone were sex, marital status, and number of comorbidities, the only predictor after fusion was male sex. Sex was the only shared risk factor for loss to follow-up. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III.

Liver Function Assessment Using Albumin-Bilirubin Grade for Patients with Very Early-Stage Hepatocellular Carcinoma Treated with Radiofrequency Ablation.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Assessment of liver function is essential for management of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Recently, albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) grade has been reported as a useful tool for assessing hepatic reserve in patients with HCC. The objective of this study was to determine whether ALBI grade could be used to predict the overall survival of very early-stage HCC patients treated with radiofrequency ablation (RF ablation). METHODS: A cohort of 368 patients with very early-stage HCC treated with RF ablation was retrospectively analyzed. The overall survival and recurrence-free survival were calculated in groups classified by ALBI grade and Child-Pugh score. RESULTS: Overall survival of patients with ALBI grade 1 was better than that of patients with ALBI grade 2 (5-year survival rate 88.5 vs. 73.8%, P < 0.001). In multivariable-adjusted model, ALBI grade was found to be an independent factor associated with overall survival (hazard ratio 2.44; 95% confidence interval 1.43-4.15). ALBI grade was able to stratify patients with distinct overall survival among patients within the same Child-Pugh score (5-year survival rate for Child-Pugh score 5: 88.5 vs. 76.6%, P = 0.002; for Child-Pugh score 6: 88.9 vs. 70.1%, P = 0.064). In contrast, Child-Pugh score was unable to stratify patients with distinct overall survival within the same ALBI grade. CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with very early-stage HCC treated with RF ablation, ALBI grade was a good stratifying biomarker. ALBI grade was better tool for assessing liver function than Child-Pugh score for very early-stage HCC treated with RF ablation.

Risk factors for adjacent segment degeneration after iliac screw fixation in lumbar degenerative kyphoscoliosis.

PURPOSE: To analyze pre- and postoperative spinopelvic parameters and sagittal profiles in lumbar degenerative kyphoscoliosis (LDK) patients who underwent surgery using iliac screw (IS) and the incidence and risk factor of radiological adjacent segment degeneration (ASD). METHODS: A total of 32 patients, who had undergone surgical correction and lumbar/thoracolumbar fusion with pedicle screws and IS instrumentation for LDK with a minimum 2-year follow-up, were included. Ten cases with ASD (group 1) and 22 cases without ASD (group 2) were compared to see pre- and postoperative change in sagittal view of spine and adjacent segment. Parameters of both groups were analyzed before and after surgery with each parameters being tested on correlativity. All deformity types of patients were classified using Scoliosis Research Society (SRS)-Schwab classification. Risk factors of ASD were evaluated using variables of SRS-Schwab classification. RESULTS: Group 1, rather than group 2, showed significant increment in pelvic incidence (PI). Curve types, classified using SRS-Schwab classification, were all corrected using IS; and after correction, coronal curve type was N curve and PI minus lumbar lordosis (LL) and pelvic tilt showed tendency to decrease. Cases with preoperative sagittal vertical axis (SVA) more than 10 cm and with postoperative PI minus LL more than 20° were at higher risk of developing ASD. CONCLUSION: For those with high PI, it might be a risk to cause ASD. Maintaining normal thoracic and lumbar angle, correction of SVA less than 4 cm, and PI minus LL below 20° are proper ways to avoid ASD after surgery.

Immunoproteasome induction is suppressed in hepatitis C virus-infected cells in a protein kinase R-dependent manner.

By changing the relative abundance of generated antigenic peptides through alterations in the proteolytic activity, interferon (IFN)-γ-induced immunoproteasomes influence the outcome of CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses. In the present study, we investigated the effects of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection on IFN-γ-induced immunoproteasome expression using a HCV infection cell culture system. We found that, although IFN-γ induced the transcriptional expression of mRNAs encoding the ß1i/LMP2, ß2i/MECL-1 and ß5i/LMP7 immunoproteasome subunits, the formation of immunoproteasomes was significantly suppressed in HCV-infected cells. This finding indicated that immunoproteasome induction was impaired at the translational or posttranslational level by HCV infection. Gene silencing studies showed that the suppression of immunoproteasome induction is essentially dependent on protein kinase R (PKR). Indeed, the generation of a strictly immunoproteasome-dependent cytotoxic T lymphocyte epitope was impaired in in vitro processing experiments using isolated 20S proteasomes from HCV-infected cells and was restored by the silencing of PKR expression. In conclusion, our data point to a novel mechanism of immune regulation by HCV that affects the antigen-processing machinery through the PKR-mediated suppression of immunoproteasome induction in infected cells.

Preemptive multimodal analgesia for postoperative pain management after lumbar fusion surgery: a randomized controlled trial.

PURPOSE: To assess the efficacy of a novel preemptive multimodal analgesic regimen for reducing postoperative pain and complications after primary lumbar fusion surgery. Preemptive multimodal analgesia is revealed to be an effective alternative to conventional morphine administration providing improved postoperative pain control with diminished side effects. However, an optimal regimen for spinal fusion surgery remains unknown. METHODS: After Institutional Review Board approval, 80 patients who underwent primary lumbar 4-5 fusion surgery were randomly assigned to receive either only intravenous morphine or a preemptive multimodal (celecoxib, pregabalin, extended-release oxycodone, and acetaminophen) analgesic regimen. Postoperative pain and functional levels were measured by the visual analog scale (VAS) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), respectively, and intraoperative blood loss, postoperative Hemovac drain output, and nonunion rates were evaluated for complications. RESULTS: No differences were observed in the patient demographics, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative Hemovac drain output, or nonunion rate between two groups. The VAS and ODI were lower at all postoperative time points, except the ODI on postoperative day 1 in patients randomized to receive the preemptive multimodal analgesic regimen. No major identifiable postoperative complications were observed in either treatment group. CONCLUSIONS: The preemptive multimodal analgesic combination in this study appears to be safe and effective after lumbar fusion surgery.

Immune-mediated Liver Injury in Hepatitis B Virus Infection.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is responsible for approximately 350 million chronic infections worldwide and is a leading cause of broad-spectrum liver diseases such as hepatitis, cirrhosis and liver cancer. Although it has been well established that adaptive immunity plays a critical role in viral clearance, the pathogenetic mechanisms that cause liver damage during acute and chronic HBV infection remain largely known. This review describes our current knowledge of the immune-mediated pathogenesis of HBV infection and the role of immune cells in the liver injury during hepatitis B.

Risk factors for adjacent segment degeneration after surgical correction of degenerative lumbar scoliosis.

BACKGROUND: Degenerative lumbar scoliosis surgery can lead to development of adjacent segment degeneration (ASD) after lumbar or thoracolumbar fusion. Its incidence, risk factors, morbidity and correlation between radiological and clinical symptoms of ASD have no consensus. We evaluated the correlation between the occurrence of radiologic adjacent segment disease and certain imperative parameters. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 98 patients who had undergone surgical correction and lumbar/thoracolumbar fusion with pedicle screw instrumentation for degenerative lumbar scoliosis with a minimum 5 year followup were included in the study. We evaluated the correlation between the occurrence of radiologic adjacent segment disease and imperative patient parameters like age at operation, sex, body mass index (BMI), medical comorbidities and bone mineral density (BMD). The radiological parameters taken into consideration were Cobb's angle, angle type, lumbar lordosis, pelvic incidence, intercristal line, preoperative existence of an ASD on plain radiograph and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and surgical parameters were number of the fusion level, decompression level, floating OP (interlumbar fusion excluding L5-S1 level) and posterolateral lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF). Clinical outcomes were assessed with the Visual Analogue Score (VAS) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). RESULTS: ASD was present in 44 (44.9%) patients at an average period of 48.0 months (range 6-98 months). Factors related to occurrence of ASD were preoperative existence of disc degeneration (as revealed by MRI) and age at operation (P = 0.0001, 0.0364). There were no statistically significant differences between radiological adjacent segment degeneration and clinical results (VAS, P = 0.446; ODI, P = 0.531). CONCLUSIONS: Patients over the age of 65 years and with preoperative disc degeneration (as revealed by plain radiograph and MRI) were at a higher risk of developing ASD.

A case of acute myocarditis as the initial presentation of Crohn's disease.

We experienced a case of acute myocarditis as the initial presentation of Crohn's disease. A 19-year-old woman was admitted with impaired consciousness, shock, and respiratory failure. She had suffered from frequent diarrhea and abdominal pain for several years. Cardiac troponin I and creatine kinase-MB fraction levels were elevated to 5.32 and 16.66 ng/mL, respectively. A 12-lead electrocardiogram showed sinus tachycardia, and a chest radiograph revealed interstitial pulmonary edema. An echocardiogram showed dilated ventricles with akinesia of the basal to apical inferoseptal, anteroseptal, anterior, and inferior left ventricular walls and severely impaired systolic function. Intensive care with inotropic support was effective, and her clinical condition gradually improved. Two weeks later, a colonoscopy revealed ulceration with stenosis in the terminal ileum and multiple aphthous ulcers in the rectum. A biopsy of the rectum revealed non-caseating granulomatous inflammation. She was diagnosed with Crohn's disease presenting with acute myocarditis.

Adjacent segment degeneration after instrumented posterolateral lumbar fusion: a prospective cohort study with a minimum five-year follow-up.

PURPOSE: To (1) clarify the role of various risk factors in the development of ASD, (2) compare instrumentation configuration with the development of ASD, (3) correlate the radiological incidence of ASD and its clinical outcome and (4) compare the clinical outcome between patients with radiological evidence of ASD and without ASD. METHODS: This study prospectively examined 74 consecutive patients who underwent instrumented lumbar/lumbosacral fusion for degenerative disease with a minimum follow-up of 5 years. Among the patients, 68 were enrolled in the study. All of the patients had undergone preoperative radiological assessment and postoperative radiological assessment at regular intervals. The onset and progression of ASD changes were evaluated. The patients were divided in two groups: patients with radiographic evidence of ASD (group 1) and patients without ASD changes (group 2). Comprehensive analysis of various risk factors between group 1 and group 2 patients was performed. The Visual Analog Scale (VAS) was used to evaluate the clinical outcome and the functional outcome was evaluated using the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) before and after surgery along with radiological assessment. RESULTS: Radiographic ASD occurred in 20.6% (14/68) of patients. Preoperative disc degeneration at an adjacent segment was a significant risk factor for ASD. Other risk factors such as the age of a patient at the time of surgery, gender, preoperative diagnosis, length of fusion, instrumentation configuration, sagittal alignment and lumbar or lumbosacral fusion were not significant risk factors for the development of ASD. There was no correlation between ASD and its clinical outcome as determined at the final follow-up session. In addition, clinical outcome of patients with ASD and without ASD were not comparable. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with preoperative disc degeneration at an adjacent segment were more at risk for the development of ASD. Other risk factors including instrumentation configuration were not significantly associated with ASD. There was no correlation between both the radiological development of ASD and its clinical outcome and the clinical outcome of patients with and without ASD.

Case report: Lower extremity sparganosis in a bursa.

BACKGROUND: Sparganosis is a rare parasitic infection caused by the plerocercoid tapeworm larva of the genus Spirometra. CASE DESCRIPTION: We report the case of a 67-year-old man with a mass over the anteromedial surface of the proximal extremity of the tibia. We surgically excised a bursa containing Spirometra larvae. LITERATURE REVIEW: Sparganosis is a rare parasitic infection. We found no cases of lower extremity sparganosis combined with bursitis reported in the literature. PURPOSES AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Sparganosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of soft tissue tumors, especially among patients who frequently have consumed mountain water or raw snakes or frogs.

The effect of irradiation and methylprednisolone in spinal cord injured rats.

STUDY DESIGN: This study investigated the outcome of combined therapy with irradiation and methylprednisolone (MP) after a traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI). OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the neurologic outcomes as well as the antiapoptotic and anti-inflammatory effects on traumatic SCI in rats after combined therapy. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Although irradiation carries the risk of secondary SCI, it has been effective for the regeneration of the axons of nerve cells by reducing gliosis. Thus, to minimize apoptosis and irradiation risks after SCI, this study investigated the effects of steroid injections before irradiation. METHODS: Thirty-two rats were used for the experimental procedure. After a traumatic SCI, they were divided into 4 groups of 8 rats each: (1) a control group that only had rats with a SCI (Group 1); (2) a group that received MP at 30 minutes, 6 hours and 24 hours, and then received irradiation 2 days after the SCI (Group 2); (3) a group that received MP at 30 minutes, and irradiation 2 days after the SCI (Group 3); and (4) a group that received irradiation 2 days after the traumatic SCI (Group 4). RESULTS: The degree of recovery using the inclined plane climbing test was greatest in Group 2, followed by Group 3, Group 4, and Group 1. The cavitation lesions, Terminal Deoxynucleotidyl Transferase dUTP Nick End Labeling -positive apoptosis, glial fibrillary acidic protein-positive astrocyte count, and CC-1-positive oligodendrocyte count significantly decreased in the irradiated groups (Groups 2, 3, 4) compared to the control group (Group 1). In particular, they decreased considerably more in the group that received MP 3 times (Group 2) compared to the group that received MP only once (Group 3). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the combined therapy was effective and might provide synergistic effects for neurologic recovery after a traumatic SCI.

Revision surgery after vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty.

BACKGROUND: We wanted to investigate the leading cause of failed vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty. METHODS: Twelve patients (10 females and 2 males) who underwent revision surgery after vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty were included. In 4 cases, vertebroplasty was done for two or more levels. Six cases with kyphoplasty were included. Through the retrospective review of the radiographic studies and medical record, we analyzed the etiology of the revision surgery. RESULTS: Uncontrolled back pain was the main clinical presentation. In 4 cases, neurological symptoms were noted, including one case with conus medullaris syndrome. The average time to the revision surgery after vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty was 15 months. Infection (4 cases) and progressive kyphosis with collapse (8 cases) were the causes for the revision. A solid pattern of inserted bone cement and bone resorption around the cement were noted in the all cases with progressive collapse and kyphosis. CONCLUSIONS: Infection, misdiagnosis and progressive kyphosis were causes of the revision surgery after vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty. A solid pattern of accumulation of bone cement and peri-cement bone resorption might be related with the progressive collapse.

Vertebral compression fracture in the middle of fused segments without a history of injury: a case report.

STUDY DESIGN: A case report and review of the literature. OBJECTIVES: To report a rare case of a vertebral compression fracture in the middle of fused segments in the absence of a history of trauma, and to investigate the contributory factors. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Few articles have been published on vertebral fractures among fused segments. However, several articles have addressed fractures at juxtafused segments after implant removal. To the best of the authors' knowledge, only one case of compression fracture within fused segments has been previously reported. METHODS: This study involved the case of a 62-year-old woman with vertebral compression fracture of L4 within a solid fused segment region after implant removal. An investigation was conducted to identify the factors that contributed to this compression fracture. RESULTS: Plain radiographs and bone scanning showed a compression fracture of L4 within a region of fused segments (L3-S1) after implant removal without the history of injury. BMD revealed osteopenia of -2.3 SD on the neck of the femur. The patient's symptoms were relieved by conservative treatment. The contributory factors may have been persistent anterior motion, osteopenia and/or osteoporosis, and a subcortical substance defect associated with screw tracks after implant removal. CONCLUSION: Vertebral compression fractures in solid fused segments may occur as a complication of implant removal. Accordingly, if spinal implant removal is needed for revision surgery, surgeons should be aware of this significant complication.