C4/5 foraminal stenosis predicts C5 palsy after expansive open-door laminoplasty.

INTRODUCTION: Laminoplasty is frequently performed in cervical myelopathy patients, but can lead to unexpected postoperative C5 palsy. Although several studies have examined the pathogenesis and prevention of postoperative C5 palsy, many controversies remain and some radiological findings identified as risk factors were not correlated with our outcomes. PURPOSE: This study sought reliable radiological findings that predict C5 palsy after laminoplasty and examined why the predictors of C5 palsy did not apply in our series. METHODS: This study reviewed 116 patients who underwent open-door laminoplasty for cervical spondylotic myelopathy between January 2014 and April 2016, retrospectively. C5 palsy was defined as weakness of the deltoid muscle. We evaluated the incidence of C5 palsy, the preoperative C2-7 Cobb's angle, and Pavlov ratio at the C4/C5 level using simple cervical lateral radiographs. We also evaluated the existence of an ossified posterior longitudinal ligament, the transverse diameter of the C4/5 foramen, and increases in the anteroposterior diameter of the spinal canal at the C4/5 levels after surgery. Furthermore, a high signal intensity on T2-weighted images of the cervical spinal cord preoperatively was noted. RESULTS: Of the 116 patients, 16 cases were excluded and 100 cases were analyzed; postoperative C5 palsy occurred in 8 patients (8%). There were no significant differences between the two groups except the average diameter of the C4/5 foramen. A diameter of the C4/5 foramen of less than 2 mm was significantly related to C5 palsy in the binary logistic regression test. CONCLUSIONS: A smaller diameter of the C4/5 foramen was the only factor significantly correlated with C5 palsy after laminoplasty. The results suggest that C4/5 foraminal stenosis is one of the best predictors of C5 palsy, which might be related to ischemic/reperfusion injury of the C5 root nerve after laminoplasty.

Usefulness of Prosthesis Made of Antibiotic-Loaded Acrylic Cement as an Alternative Implant in Older Patients With Medical Problems and Periprosthetic Hip Infections: A 2- to 10-Year Follow-Up Study.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to compare the clinical outcomes after 2-stage revision with those following single-stage revision in patients who developed periprosthetic joint infection after primary hip arthroplasty. METHODS: Between January 2004 and January 2013, we retrospectively reviewed patients who developed periprosthetic joint infection after primary hip arthroplasty and who underwent surgery for placement of a prosthesis made of antibiotic-loaded acrylic cement (PROSTALAC). Patients were divided into 2 groups based on the stages of revision. Group A was made up of patients who had undergone 2-stage revision using PROSTALAC as an interim prosthesis. Group B was made up of patients who had been compelled to undergo single-stage revision using PROSTALAC as an alternative implant because of older age and/or medical problems. Clinical outcomes were evaluated using a visual analog scale to score pain by calculating the Harris Hip Score and by determining the patient's walking ability. RESULTS: There were 20 patients in group A and 19 patients in group B. The mean follow-up period after final surgery was 68.8 months (range, 24-114 months). The infection resolution rate after initial PROSTALAC placement was 92.3%, and the final resolution rate was 94.9%. The visual analog scale and Harris Hip Score of group A were significantly better than those of group B. However, no significant difference in walking ability was found between the 2 groups. CONCLUSION: Although the clinical outcomes in patients with PROSTALAC implants were not as good as those who underwent 2-stage revision, PROSTALAC can be a useful alternative implant in selected patients who are debilitated because of older age and/or who have critical medical problems.

Fentanyl Patches to Supplement Ultrasound-Guided Nerve Blocks for Improving Pain Control After Foot and Ankle Surgery: A Prospective Study.

The analgesic effects of preoperative ultrasound-guided nerve blocks wear off after about 12 hours, leaving some patients in substantial pain. Transdermal fentanyl concentrations peak at 12 to 24 hours after application and maintain this concentration for approximately 72 hours. We sought to determine whether combining the use of a transdermal fentanyl patch with either a sciatic or femoral-sciatic nerve block would improve pain control in patients undergoing foot and/or ankle surgery. Consecutive patients in the no-patch control group (n = 104) were enrolled from July 2011 to October 2011, and those in the treatment group (n = 232) were enrolled from November 2011 to May 2012 and received a transdermal patch (4.125 mg/7.5 cm(2) releasing 25 µg of fentanyl per hour) applied to their chest postoperatively. Pain was assessed using a visual analog scale at 6, 12, 24, and 48 hours after surgery. The primary outcome measure was the number of requests for additional postoperative pain medication. Additional postoperative analgesia was requested by 49 of the 104 control patients (47.1%) and 63 of the 232 treated patients (27.1%; p = .002). The mean pain scores were also lower in the treatment group, with a statistically significant difference (p < .05) at 12, 24, and 48 hours. Thus, patients receiving a fentanyl patch combined with an ultrasound-guided nerve block required less supplemental analgesia to maintain adequate pain control than did those receiving a nerve block alone. In conclusion, a fentanyl patch is a useful adjunct to an ultrasound-guided nerve block in foot and ankle surgery.

Comparison between Radiological and Clinical Outcomes of Laminoplasties with Titanium Miniplates for Cervical Myelopathy.

BACKGROUND: Laminoplasty is a surgical procedure frequently performed for cervical myelopathy. We investigated correlations between changes in the anteroposterior diameter (APD) of the spinal canal, spinal canal area (SCA), and laminar angle (LA) and clinical outcomes of laminoplasty. METHODS: Of the 204 cervical myelopathy patients who underwent laminoplasty from July 2010 to May 2015, 49 patients who were evaluated with pre- and postoperative computed tomography of the cervical vertebrae were included. The average age of the patients was 60.4 years (range, 31 to 82 years), and the average duration of follow-up was 31.6 months (range, 9 to 68 months). Changes in the APD and SCA were measured at the middle of the vertebral body. Changes in LA were measured where both pedicles were clearly visible. Clinical outcomes were assessed using the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score and visual analog scale score for pain preoperatively (1 day before surgery) and postoperatively (last outpatient visit) and examining postoperative complications. RESULTS: The APD showed an average of 54.7% increase from 11.5 to 17.8 mm. The SCA showed an average of 57.7% increase from 225.9 to 356.3 mm2. The LA increased from 34.2° preoperatively to 71.9° postoperatively. The JOA score increased from an average of 9.1 preoperatively to 13.4 postoperatively. Three patients were found to have hinge fractures during surgery. Postoperative complications, including two cases of C5 palsy, were recorded. The correlation coefficient between the LA change and JOA score improvement was -0.449 (p < 0.05). Patients with a < 33° (25%) increase in the LA showed the most significant clinical improvement. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with a < 33° (25%) change in the LA after laminoplasty with a titanium miniplate showed the most significant clinical improvement. Thus, LA changes can be useful in predicting the clinical outcome of laminoplasty.