Comparison of the clinical and radiologic outcomes obtained with single- versus two-level anterior cervical decompression and fusion using stand-alone PEEK cages filled with allograft.

BACKGROUND: Although anterior cervical decompression and fusion with a stand-alone cage (ACDF-SAC) is accepted as a suitable procedure, the outcomes of the multi-level procedure remain controversial. The aim of this study is to compare the clinical and radiologic outcomes achieved with single versus two-level ACDF-SAC along with identification of the factors that contribute to loss in mean disc height (MDH) and change in cervical lordotic angle (CLA). METHODS: A total of 109 consecutive patients who underwent ACDF-SAC for degenerative spondylosis were reviewed. Patients were divided into two groups according to surgical level (group A, single; group B, two) and were followed for at least 1 year. Clinical outcomes were evaluated using the visual analog scale (VAS) and Robinson's criteria. The fusion and subsidence rates, MDH, CLA, anterior, and posterior vertebral body height of the fused segments (AVBH, PVBH) were measured retrospectively from plain radiographs. RESULTS: Clinical outcomes were similar in both groups, in terms of decreasing VAS score and a grade higher than "good" by Robinson's criteria. The fusion and subsidence rates for each group were found to be 92.2, 91.1, 14.1, and 20.0 %, respectively. The MDH (mm) increased by 1.44 ± 0.96 in group A, 1.57 ± 0.79 and 1.66 ± 0.69 for each surgical level in group B over the 12 postoperative months. The CLA (°) decreased by 1.70 ± 4.04 and 0.75 ± 6.12 over the 12 postoperative months from its presurgery value, the rate of kyphosis >5° was 26.6 and 22.2 % for each group. All compared values were not significantly different between the two groups. Correlation analysis revealed that the AVBH/PVBH ratio exhibited a positive correlation with CLA change in both groups (r = 0.368, 0.397; p = 0.018, 0.040). CONCLUSIONS: The overall outcomes achieved with two-level ACDF-SAC were similar to those achieved with single-level ones. In addition, the AVBH/PVBH ratio might be a predictable marker for a postoperative kyphosis.

A Concomitant Occurrence of the Atlantoaxial Subluxation with Rare Vertebral Formation and Segmentation Defects.

An atlantoaxial subluxation from the unstable Os odontoideum by the failure of proper integrations between the embryological somites might be a commonly reported pathology. However, its suspicious origin or paralleled occurrence with other congenital anomalies of vertebral body might be a relatively rare phenomenon. The authors present two cases, who simply presented with clinical signs of prolonged, intractable cervicalgia without any neurological deficits, revealed this rare feature of C1-2 subluxation from the unstable, orthotropic type of Os odontoideum that coincide with congenitally fused cervical vertebral bodies between C2-3. Surprisingly, in one case, when traced from the lower cervical down to the thoracic-lumbar levels during the preoperative work-up process, was also compromised with multi-level butterfly vertebrae formations. Presented cases highlight the association of various congenital vertebrae anomalies and the rationale to fuse only affected joints.

Esophageal Basaloid Squamous Carcinoma Treated by Endoscopic Resection and Radiation.

Esophageal basaloid squamous carcinoma (BSC) is a rare, aggressive variant of squamous cell carcinoma. BSC is usually diagnosed in advanced stage and its prognosis is relatively poor. A 59-year-old male with subepithelial lesion of the esophagus that was incidentally discovered during health promotion examination was referred to our hospital. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy showed a 10-mm bulging mucosa with an intact surface at 34 cm from incisor teeth. Endoscopic ultrasonography revealed a smooth margined homogenous hypoechoic lesion, measuring 11.3×3.9 mm with a submucosal layer of origin. The patient underwent endoscopic mucosal resection of the subepithelial lesion. Pathologic examination of the resected specimen revealed BSC with involvement of vertical margin by tumor. The patient then underwent radiotherapy, and is doing well without recurrence for 35 months. We report a case of esophageal BSC confined to submucosal layer successfully treated with endoscopic resection followed by radiation.

Esophageal subepithelial lesion diagnosed as malignant gastrointestinal neuroectodermal tumor.

A 21-year-old male visited our hospital with a complaint of aggravating dysphagia and odynophagia for a few days. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy showed huge bulging mucosa with an intact surface causing luminal narrowing at 35 cm from the incisor teeth. Endoscopic ultrasonography showed an about 35 mm sized irregular margined in-homogenous hypoechoic lesion with an obscure layer of origin. Endoscopic ultrasonography fine needle aspiration revealed spindle cell proliferation without immunoreactivity for CD117, SMA, and cytokeratin. The patient underwent excision of the subepithelial lesion at the distal esophagus. On pathologic examination of the specimen, the tumor was composed of short fascicles of oval to spindle cells with eosinophilic and clear cytoplasm and vesicular nuclei. The tumor cells were positive for S-100 and SOX10 and negative for CD117, SMA, HMB-45, melan-A, cytokeratin, and CD99. The split-apart signal was detected in EWSR1 on FISH, suggesting a malignant gastrointestinal neuroectodermal tumor. At the time of writing, the patient is on radiation therapy at the operated site of esophagus and doing well, with no recurrence for three months. Malignant gastrointestinal neuroectodermal tumor is a rare gastrointestinal tumor with features of clear cell sarcoma, without melanocytic differentiation, and shows a poor prognosis. This is the first reported case of malignant gastrointestinal neuroectodermal tumor arising as subepithelial lesion in the esophagus.

Prospective observational study of the early loading of nanostructured calcium phosphate-coated tapered implants in the mandible and maxilla.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prospective clinical results of early loading. Implants were inserted in 11 maxillae (group I, 23 implants) and 12 mandibles (group II, 19 implants). Six months after prosthetic loading, several factors were investigated. Significant differences between the primary and secondary stability were not observed in groups I and II. The primary stability in the mandible was 81.1 implant stability quotient (ISQ), which was significantly higher than the 73.3 ISQ value observed in the maxilla (P = .003). The survival rates were 100% in group I and 94.7% in group II for 9 and 10.4 months, respectively. The marginal bone loss was 0.07 mm in group I and -0.07 mm in group II. After the placement of nanostructured calcium phosphate- coated implants, excellent primary and second stability was obtained.