Bone Turnover Markers in Patients With Ossification of the Posterior Longitudinal Ligament in the Thoracic Spine.

STUDY DESIGN: A prospective, single-center, observational study. OBJECTIVE: To explore the association between serum levels of bone turnover markers and ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) in the thoracic spine. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: The relationship between bone turnover markers, such as N-terminal propeptide of type I procollagen (PINP) or tartrate-resistant acid phosphate 5b (TRACP-5b), and OPLL has previously been examined. However, the correlation between these markers and thoracic OPLL, which is more severe than cervical-only OPLL, remains unclear. METHODS: This prospective study included 212 patients from a single institution with compressive spinal myelopathy and divided them into those without OPLL (Non-OPLL group, 73 patients) and those with OPLL (OPLL group, 139 patients). The OPLL group was further subdivided into cervical OPLL (C-OPLL, 92 patients) and thoracic OPLL (T-OPLL, 47 patients) groups. Patients' characteristics and biomarkers related to bone metabolism, such as calcium, inorganic phosphate (Pi), 25-hydroxyvitamin D, 1α,25 dihydroxyvitamin D, PINP, and TRACP-5b, were compared between the Non-OPLL and OPLL groups, as well as the C-OPLL and T-OPLL groups. Bone metabolism biomarkers were also compared after adjusting for age, sex, body mass index, and the presence of renal impairment using propensity score-matched analysis. RESULTS: The OPLL group had significantly lower serum levels of Pi and higher levels of PINP versus the Non-OPLL group as determined by propensity score-matched analysis. The comparison results between the C-OPLL and T-OPLL groups using a propensity score-matched analysis showed that T-OPLL patients had significantly higher concentrations of bone turnover markers, such as PINP and TRACP-5b, compared with C-OPLL patients. CONCLUSIONS: Increased systemic bone turnover may be associated with the presence of OPLL in the thoracic spine, and bone turnover markers such as PINP and TRACP-5b can help screen for thoracic OPLL.

Does surgical site infection affect patient-reported outcomes after spinal surgery? A multicenter cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Surgical site infections are common in spinal surgeries. It is uncertain whether outcomes in spine surgery patients with vs. without surgical site infection are equivalent. Therefore, we assessed the effects of surgical site infection on postoperative patient-reported outcomes. METHODS: We enrolled patients who underwent elective spine surgery at 12 hospitals between April 2017 and February 2020. We collected data regarding the patients' backgrounds, operative factors, and incidence of surgical site infection. Data for patient-reported outcomes, namely numerical rating scale, Neck Disability Index/Oswestry Disability Index, EuroQol Five-Dimensional questionnaire, and 12-Item Short-Form Health Survey scores, were obtained preoperatively and 1 year postoperatively. We divided the patients into with and without surgical site infection groups. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify the risk factors for surgical site infection. Using propensity score matching, we obtained matched surgical site infection-negative and -positive groups. Student's t-test was used for comparisons of continuous variables, and Pearson's chi-square test was used to compare categorical variables between the two matched groups and two unmatched groups. RESULTS: We enrolled 8861 patients in this study; 74 (0.8 %) developed surgical site infections. Cervical spine surgery and American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status classification ≥3 were identified as risk factors; microendoscopy was identified as a protective factor. Using propensity score matching, we compared surgical site infection-positive and -negative groups (74 in each group). No significant difference was found in postoperative pain or dysesthesia of the lower back, buttock, leg, and plantar area between the groups. When comparing preoperative with postoperative pain and dysesthesia, statistically significant improvement was observed for both variables in both groups (p < 0.01 for all variables). No significant differences were observed in postoperative outcomes between the matched surgical site infection-positive and -negative groups. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with surgical site infections had comparable postoperative outcomes to those without surgical site infections.

Effect of exercise devised to reduce arm tremor in the sighting phase of archery.

BACKGROUND: In archery training, side bridges are performed in a posture similar to archery shooting for training the muscles around the shoulder joint and the shoulder girdle of the pusher. AIM: The purpose of this study was to determine whether a low-tremor side-bridge exercise for 4 weeks improves bow tremor during archery movements. METHODS: Participants were 20 male college students. First, we measured the tremor during side bridges performed with trunk inclinations of 25°, 40°, 55°, and 70° using an accelerometer attached to the elbow joint and identified low-tremor side bridges. The participants were then randomly divided into intervention and non-intervention groups, and the low-tremor side bridges were performed for 4 weeks. RESULTS: The effect of the intervention was determined by measuring the total tremor value using an accelerometer attached to the bow and changes in the median power frequency (MdPF) of the middle deltoid, upper trapezius, and lower trapezius. This intervention reduced the bow tremor and the median power frequency of the middle deltoid (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggested that the tremor during the archery sighting phase could be reduced by performing side bridges with a specific trunk angle for a certain period of time. This intervention was also shown to reduce the intermediate frequency of the middle deltoid. The reduced tremor can shorten the sighting phase, which can facilitate injury prevention.

Congenital atlanto-occipital dislocation in a patient with Down syndrome: a case report.

Down syndrome, also known as trisomy 21, is associated with congenital cervical spine abnormalities, including atlantoaxial instability with or without os odontoideum, atlanto-occipital instability, and hypoplasia of the atlas. Herein, we report a case of Down syndrome complicated by congenital atlanto-occipital dislocation. The patient presented with severe cervical myelopathy at 13 years of age after a 10-year follow-up. Radiography and computed tomography revealed os odontoideum protruding into the foramen magnum and congenital anterior atlanto-occipital dislocation. Additionally, a bifurcated internal occipital crest with a thinned central portion of the occipital bone was noted. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed kyphotic alignment of the spinal cord with severe compression at the foramen magnum level. As the neurological impairment was partially improved by halo vest immobilization, we performed in situ O-C2 fusion with an iliac autograft and decompression of the foramen magnum and posterior arch of C1. An improvement was observed immediately after surgery. Two years after surgery, radiography and computed tomography showed solid O-C2 segment fusion. The accumulation of similar cases is essential for determining the prognosis or optimal treatment for this rare congenital condition.

Noninvasive Skin Autofluorescence of Advanced Glycation End Products for Detecting Ossification of the Posterior Longitudinal Ligament in the Thoracic Spine.

STUDY DESIGN: A single-center prospective observational study. OBJECTIVE: The aim was to clarify the usefulness of assessing advanced glycation end products (AGEs) by noninvasive skin autofluorescence in patients with ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL). SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: AGE accumulation is associated with various systemic disorders, including aging, diabetes mellitus, and obesity. AGEs have also been associated with OPLL, but their assessment by noninvasive skin autofluorescence has not been yet studied in these patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We enrolled patients with degenerative spinal spondylosis and divided them into non-OPLL and OPLL groups. The OPLL group was further subdivided into cervical OPLL (C-OPLL) and thoracic OPLL (T-OPLL) groups. We compared patients' characteristics, serum laboratory data (i.e. hemoglobin A1c, total cholesterol, creatinine, and estimated glomerular filtration rate), and the skin autofluorescence intensity of AGEs (the AGE score) between the non-OPLL and OPLL groups and among the non-OPLL, C-OPLL, T-OPLL groups. Finally, the association of the AGE score with the presence of C-OPLL or T-OPLL was assessed by multinomial logistic regression. RESULTS: Among the 240 eligible patients, 102 were in the non-OPLL group and 138 were in the OPLL group (92 with C-OPLL and 46 with T-OPLL). We observed no significant difference in the AGE score between the non-OPLL and OPLL groups, but when comparing the score among the non-OPLL, C-OPLL, and T-OPLL groups, we found that the T-OPLL group had a significantly higher AGE score. The results of multinomial regression analysis showed that a higher AGE score was significantly associated with T-OPLL (odds ratio: 1.46; 95% CI: 1.01-2.11; P=0.044). CONCLUSION: The AGE score determined by noninvasive skin autofluorescence could help to screen for OPLL in the thoracic spine.

Association Between Deep Posterior Cervical Paraspinal Muscle Morphology and Clinical Features in Patients With Cervical Ossification of the Posterior Longitudinal Ligament.

STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective observational study. OBJECTIVE: To clarify the association of the paraspinal muscle area and composition with clinical features in patients with cervical ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL). METHODS: Consecutive patients with cervical OPLL who underwent cervical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) before surgery were reviewed. The cross-sectional area (CSA) and fatty infiltration ratio (FI%) of deep posterior cervical paraspinal muscles (multifidus [MF] and semispinalis cervicis [SCer]) were examined. We assessed the association of paraspinal muscle measurements with the clinical characteristics and clinical outcomes, such as Neck Disability Index (NDI) score. Moreover, we divided the patients into 2 groups according to the extent of the ossified lesion (segmental and localized [OPLL-SL] and continuous and mixed [OPLL-CM] groups) and compared these variables between the 2 groups. RESULTS: 49 patients with cervical OPLL were enrolled in this study. The FI% of the paraspinal muscles was significantly associated with the number of vertebrae (ρ = 0.283, p = 0.049) or maximum occupancy ratio of OPLL (ρ = 0.397, p = 0.005). The comparative study results indicated that the NDI score was significantly worse (OPLL-SL, 22.9 ± 13.7 vs. OPLL-CM, 34.4 ± 13.7) and FI% of SCer higher (OPLL-SL, 9.1 ± 1.7% vs. OPLL-CM, 11.1 ± 3.7%) in the OPLL-CM group than those in the OPLL-SL group. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that OPLL severity may be associated with fatty infiltration of deep posterior cervical paraspinal muscles, which could affect neck disability in patients with cervical OPLL.

Does Surgical Treatment Affect the Degree of Anxiety or Depression in Patients With Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy?

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. OBJECTIVES: Preoperative mental state has been reported as one of the factors affecting the surgical outcomes of spine surgery, but few studies have examined in detail how patients' mental state is affected by spine surgery. The purpose of this study was to investigate using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) whether surgery improves preoperative depression and anxiety in patients with degenerative cervical myelopathy. METHODS: We investigated patient-reported outcomes (Mental Component Summary, Physical Component Summary of SF-12 Health Survey, and EQ-5D, Neck Disability Index, JOACMEQ, satisfaction with treatment) and HADS one year after surgery, comparing them before and after surgery between April 2017 and February 2020. Among the cases diagnosed as preoperative anxiety and depression, we additionally compared the patient-reported outcomes based on the presence or absence of postoperative improvement in mental state, having also investigated the correlation between patient-reported outcomes and HADS for sub-analysis. RESULTS: Among the 99 patients eligible for inclusion in the present study, we found that patient-reported outcomes and the HADS scores improved significantly after surgery. There was a moderate correlation between the amount of change in HADS-D score before and after surgery and the amount of change in NDI (moderate, r = .41), NRS of neck (moderate, r = .46), and JOACMEQ (cervical spine function; moderate, r = .43, upper extremity function; moderate, r = .41, QOL; moderate, r = .41). CONCLUSIONS: We found that surgical treatment for patients with degenerative cervical myelopathy may improve postoperative anxiety and depression as well as other patient-reported outcomes.

Does T1 slope minus cervical lordosis mismatch affect surgical outcomes of cervical laminoplasty in the absence of preoperative severe kyphosis?

BACKGROUND: The impact of the T1 slope minus cervical lordosis (T1S-CL) on surgical outcomes in patients with degenerative cervical myelopathy undergoing laminoplasty (LP) remain uncertain. METHODS: One hundred patients who underwent cervical LP were retrospectively reviewed. Radiographic measurements included C2-C7 lordosis (CL), T1 slope (T1S), and C2-C7 sagittal vertical axis (SVA). Additionally, pain numeric rating scale, neck disability index (NDI), 12-Item Short-Form Health Survey, Euro QOL 5 dimensions (EQ5D), and Japanese Orthopedic Association score were investigated. According to past reports, T1S-CL > 20° was defined as mismatched. Then, based on T1S-CL mismatching, patients were divided into 2 groups. RESULTS: This research understudied 67 males and 33 females with a mean age of 67 y. Preoperatively, only eight patients showed a T1S-CL mismatch. While the C2-7 Cobb angles did not change significantly after surgery, the T1 slope (T1S) angle increased, increasing the T1S-CL as a result. As we compared the clinical outcomes based on the preoperative T1S-CL mismatching, there were no significant differences between the two groups. On the other hand, the number of patients in the mismatched group increased to 21 patients postoperatively. As we compared clinical outcomes based on the postoperative T1S-CL mismatching, the postoperative NDI score and preop/postop EQ5D score were significantly worse in the mismatch group. CONCLUSIONS: Although cervical LP showed inferior outcomes in patients with postoperative T1S-CL mismatch even in the absence of severe preoperative kyphosis (> 10°), preoperative T1S-CL mismatch was not adversely prognostic.

Evaluation of bone strength using finite-element analysis in patients with ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament.

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Patients with ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) are often reported to have increased bone mineral density (BMD). The bone strength of the proximal femur measured by quantitative computed tomography-based finite element analysis (QCT/FEA) is reportedly comparable between healthy subjects with and without OPLL. However, the bone strength in symptomatic OPLL patients remains unknown. PURPOSE: To investigate bone strength measured by QCT/FEA in symptomatic patients with OPLL. STUDY DESIGN/SETTING: A single-center prospective observational study. PATIENT SAMPLE: A total of 157 patients with cervical or thoracic compressive myelopathy were included in the study. OUTCOME MEASURES: We analyzed patients' characteristics, Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) score, serum laboratory tests including calcium (Ca), inorganic phosphate (Pi), and bone turnover markers, BMD of the proximal femur and lumbar spine measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, and predicted bone strength (PBS) of the proximal femur and lumbar spine measured using QCT/FEA. METHODS: Eligible patients were divided into the non-OPLL and OPLL groups. We compared the patients' characteristics, JOA scores, laboratory data, BMD, and PBS of the proximal femur and lumbar spine between the non-OPLL and OPLL groups among total, male, and female patients by performing Fisher's exact test for categorical variables and the unpaired t test for continuous variables. Then, we used the inverse probability weighted logistic regression model after calculating propensity scores to compare the bone metabolism-associated markers, BMD, and PBS measurements between the groups. RESULTS: Among the eligible 157 patients, 68 were in the non-OPLL group and 89 were in the OPLL group. Compared with the non-OPLL group, the OPLL group had a significantly younger age and higher BMI in the total, male, and female patients. The JOA scores in the total and female patients were significantly higher in the OPLL group than in the non-OPLL group. The OPLL group showed significantly lower Ca levels in the female patients and significantly lower Pi levels in the total or male patients compared with the non-OPLL group in the inverse probability weighting method. The BMD of the proximal femur and lumbar spine and the PBS of the proximal femur were significantly higher in the OPLL group than in the non-OPLL group. There were no significant differences in the PBS and BMD between the male subgroups. However, the BMD and PBS of the proximal femur and lumbar spine were significantly higher in the OPLL females than in the non-OPLL females. CONCLUSIONS: Hyperostosis of the posterior longitudinal ligament in OPLL was associated with higher bone strength by QCT/FEA, especially in female OPLL patients.

Comparison Between the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) Score and Patient-Reported JOA (PRO-JOA) Score to Evaluate Surgical Outcomes of Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy.

STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective cohort study. OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score can be used for patients with degenerative cervical myelopathy as a patient-reported outcome (PRO) through the JOA written questionnaire. METHODS: A total of 75 patients who underwent posterior decompression surgery for degenerative cervical myelopathy were reviewed. Patients responded to questionnaires including PRO-JOA, EuroQOL-5D, Neck Disability Index, and Short Form-12 preoperatively and at >12 months postoperatively. Spearman's rho and Bland-Altman analyses were used to investigate the correlations. RESULTS: Preoperative JOA and PRO-JOA scores were 10.8 and 10.6, respectively, with Spearman's rho of 0.74. Similarly, postoperative JOA and PRO-JOA scores were 13.3 and 12.9, respectively, with Spearman's rho of 0.68. However, the recovery rates for JOA and PRO-JOA scores were 42% and 27%, respectively, with Spearman's rho of 0.45. Compared with other PROs, JOA and PRO-JOA scores were moderately correlated. The minimum clinically important difference was 2.5 for JOA score, 3.0 for PRO-JOA score, 42% for JOA recovery rate, and 33% for PRO-JOA recovery rate. Bland-Altman analyses revealed that limits of agreement were -4.3 to 4.7, -3.4 to 4.3, and -75% to 106% for the preoperative score, postoperative score, and recovery rate, respectively. CONCLUSION: PRO-JOA score can also be used as a disease-specific scoring measure instead of JOA score. However, although both measures demonstrate a similar trend as a group analysis, PRO-JOA and JOA scores should be regarded as different outcomes.

Microendoscope-Assisted Versus Open Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion for Lumbar Degenerative Disease: A Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background and objectives: Minimally invasive surgery has become popular for posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF). Microendoscope-assisted PLIF (ME-PLIF) utilizes a microendoscope within a tubular retractor for PLIF procedures; however, there are no published reports that compare Microendoscope-assisted to open PLIF. Here we compare the surgical and clinical outcomes of ME-PLIF with those of open PLIF. Materials and Methods: A total of 155 consecutive patients who underwent single-level PLIF were registered prospectively. Of the 149 patients with a complete set of preoperative data, 72 patients underwent ME-PLIF (ME-group), and 77 underwent open PLIF (open-group). Clinical and radiographic findings collected one year after surgery were compared. Results: Of the 149 patients, 57 patients in ME-group and 58 patients in the open-group were available. The ME-PLIF procedure required a significantly shorter operating time and involved less intraoperative blood loss. Three patients in both groups reported dural tears as intraoperative complications. Three patients in ME-group experienced postoperative complications, compared to two patients in the open-group. The fusion rate in ME-group at one year was lower than that in the open group (p = 0.06). The proportion of patients who were satisfied was significantly higher in the ME-group (p = 0.02). Conclusions: ME-PLIF was associated with equivalent post-surgical outcomes and significantly higher rates of patient satisfaction than the traditional open PLIF procedure. However, the fusion rate after ME-PLIF tended to be lower than that after the traditional open method.

Validity of the Japanese core outcome measures index (COMI)-neck for cervical spine surgery: a prospective cohort study.

PURPOSE: To investigate the psychometric properties of the Japanese version of the Core Outcome Measures Index-Neck (COMI-Neck) in patients undergoing cervical spine surgery. METHODS: A total of 177 patients undergoing cervical spine surgery for spinal disorders from April to December 2017 were enrolled. Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) included EuroQOL, Neck Disability Index, and treatment satisfaction. To address whether the questionnaire's scores relate to other outcomes based on a predefined hypothesis, the correlations between the COMI-Neck and the other PROs were measured (Spearman's rank correlation coefficients). The minimum clinically important difference (MCID) of the COMI summary score was calculated using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve with a 7-point Likert scale of satisfaction with the treatment results. To assess reproducibility, another group of 59 volunteers with chronic neck pain were asked to reply to the COMI-Neck twice with an interval of 7-14 days. RESULTS: The COMI summary score showed no floor or ceiling effects preoperatively or postoperatively. Each of the COMI domains and the COMI summary score correlated to the hypothesized extent with the scores of the reference questionnaires (ρ = 0.40-0.79). According to the ROC curve with satisfaction (including "very satisfied" and "satisfied"), the area under the curve and MCID of the COMI summary score were 0.78 and 2.1. The intraclass correlation coefficient and the minimum detectable change (MDC 95%) of the COMI summary score were 0.97 and 0.77. CONCLUSION: The Japanese version of the COMI-Neck is valid and reliable for Japanese-speaking patients with cervical spinal disorders.

Risk factors for progression of ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament in asymptomatic subjects.

OBJECTIVE: The incidence and risk factors for the progression of ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) have been previously reported in surgically and nonsurgically treated symptomatic patients. However, the correlates of OPLL progression in asymptomatic subjects with OPLL are not well characterized. This study aimed to clarify the incidence and risk factors for OPLL progression in asymptomatic subjects based on whole-body CT. METHODS: The authors retrospectively reviewed 2585 healthy subjects who underwent whole-body CT at a single health center from September 2007 to December 2011. This study included asymptomatic subjects with OPLL who underwent CT scans twice with an interval of at least 5 years. Progression of OPLL was assessed based on initial and final CT scan. Subjects were divided into two groups: nonprogression (OPLL-NP) and progression (OPLL-P) groups. Clinical characteristics, bone mineral density status, OPLL types, and OPLL involvement of multiple vertebral levels between the two groups were compared. Risk factors for progression of OPLL were identified by logistic regression analysis after propensity score adjustment. RESULTS: Of the 109 subjects with OPLL (91 men and 18 women), 20 (18.3%) exhibited OPLL progression (OPLL-P group). Subjects in the OPLL-P group were significantly younger (p = 0.031), had higher prevalence of multilevel OPLL involvement (p = 0.041) and continuous type of OPLL (p = 0.015), and had higher uric acid (UA) levels (p = 0.004) at the time of initial CT examination compared to the OPLL-NP group. Younger age (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.95, 95% CI 0.90-0.99), OPLL involvement of multiple vertebral levels (aOR 2.88, 95% CI 1.06-7.83), continuous type of OPLL (aOR 4.21, 95% CI 1.35-13.10), and higher UA levels (aOR 2.09, 95% CI 1.24-3.53) were significant risk factors for OPLL progression. CONCLUSIONS: Younger age, OPLL involvement of multiple vertebral levels, continuous type of OPLL, and higher UA levels are significant risk factors for OPLL progression in asymptomatic subjects.

Different patterns in age-related morphometric alteration of myelinated fibers and capillaries of the tibial nerve: a longitudinal study in normal rats.

Age-related regression of myelinated fibers in peripheral nerves of the lower limbs is strongly influenced by capillaries and results in balance dysfunction and falls. However, the temporal relationships between alteration patterns of myelinated fibers and capillaries have not yet been clarified. This study aimed to investigate age-related morphological and histological changes of both myelinated fibers and capillaries in peripheral nerves to clarify whether myelinated fibers or capillaries change earlier. Seven male Wistar rats each were randomly selected at 20 weeks (young group), 70 weeks (middle group), and 97 weeks (old group) for histological evaluations. The left and right tibial nerves were removed morphologically and histologically to examine myelinated fibers and capillaries. Axon diameter and myelin thickness were almost unaltered in the middle group compared with the young group but were significantly reduced in the old group when compared with the other two groups. However, the capillary diameter and number of microvascular branch points were substantially reduced in the middle group. The current study demonstrates that myelinated fibers of peripheral nerves show signs of regression in elderly rats, whereas capillaries start to reduce in middle-aged animals. In normal aging of the tibial nerve, capillaries may regress before myelinated fibers.

Validity of the Japanese Core Outcome Measures Index (COMI)-Back for thoracic and lumbar spine surgery: a prospective cohort study.

PURPOSE: To investigate the psychometric properties of the Japanese version of the Core Outcome Measures Index-Back (COMI-Back), only recently published according to the established linguistic and cultural conversion guidelines, in patients undergoing spine surgery. METHODS: We recruited 145 patients who underwent thoracic or lumbar spine surgery in one of the five specific tertiary care institutions. They were asked to complete a booklet questionnaire (the COMI-Back, the Numerical Rating Scale for pain, the Short Form-12, Euro-QOL-5 dimensions, and Oswestry Disability Index) at baseline and 12 months postoperatively to investigate floor/ceiling effect, construct validity, and postoperative responsiveness. The patients were also asked to answer an anchor question (Global Treatment Outcome) to analyze the minimum clinically important difference (MCID) by receiver operating characteristics curves. Of the 145 patients, 112 completed the study. Another group of 59 volunteers with chronic symptoms completed the questionnaire twice within a 7-14-day interval for the test-retest reproducibility. RESULTS: The COMI summary score displayed no notable floor or ceiling effects. Except for symptom-specific well-being, the individual COMI domains and the COMI summary score correlated as expected with the scores of the chosen reference measures (ρ = 0.4-0.8). A similar trend was observed between the pre-/postoperative changes in the COMI score and those in the reference measures. The MCID for the COMI summary score was 2.5. The intraclass correlation coefficient and minimum detectable change (MDC95%) were 0.93 and 1.26, respectively. CONCLUSION: The Japanese COMI-Back was a reliable and responsive questionnaire in our Japanese patients undergoing thoracic/lumbar spine surgery. These slides can be retrieved under Electronic Supplementary Material.

A double blind randomized clinical trial comparing lingualized and fully bilateral balanced posterior occlusion for conventional complete dentures.

PURPOSE: A lingualized occlusion (LO) for complete dentures reduces lateral inferences and occlusal force contacts and direction; thus, LO is theorized to be more suitable for patients with compromised ridges than fully bilateral balanced articulation (FBBA). However, no studies have yet provided evidence to support LO in edentate patients with compromised alveolar ridges. The purpose of this study was to compare LO and FBBA in edentulous individuals with compromised ridges. METHODS: Sixty edentulous individuals were randomly allocated into groups and received dentures with either LO or FBBA. Following delivery, several denture-related satisfaction variables were measured using 100mm visual analogue scales; oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) was also assessed using the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP). Sub-group analyses of the effect of moderate and severe mandibular bone loss were also carried out. RESULTS: No significant differences were detected between LO and FBBA with the primary outcome. At 6 months, participants with severely atrophied mandibles and FBBA rated their satisfaction with retention of mandibular dentures significantly lower than those with LO (median LO: 86, FBBA: 58.5, p=0.03). They also had significantly lower OHRQoL for the domain of Pain (median LO: 4, FBBA: 5, p=0.02). General satisfaction and total OHIP scores significantly improved between baseline and 6 months only for the LO subjects with severely atrophied mandibles (satisfaction: p=0.003, OHIP total score: p=0.0007). CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that the LO occlusal scheme with hard resin artificial teeth is more efficient for patients with severely resorbed mandibular ridges.

Acute obstructive hydrocephalus complicating decompression surgery of the craniovertebral junction.

Obstructive hydrocephalus has been described as a rare complication following foramen magnum decompression for Chiari malformation. However, there are few reports of obstructive hydrocephalus after spinal surgery for other pathologies of the craniovertebral junction (CVJ). The authors herein report a 52-year-old female with achondroplasia presenting with an 8-month history of myelopathy due to spinal cord compression at CVJ. She underwent resection of the C1 posterior arch and part of the edge of the occipital bone. A computed tomography (CT) scan obtained 1-week after the surgery revealed bilateral infratentorial fluid collection. The patient was first managed conservatively; however, on the 17(th) day, her consciousness level showed sudden deterioration. Emergency CT demonstrated marked hydrocephalus due to obstruction of the cerebral aqueduct. Acute obstructive hydrocephalus can occur late after decompression surgery at the CVJ, and thus should be included in the differential diagnosis of a deteriorating mental status.

[A case of gastric cancer with DIC caused by multiple bone metastases treated with TS-1].

A 71-year-old woman was admitted for anorexia. Endoscopic findings revealed type 3 gastric cancer. Histological examination of the endoscopic biopsy revealed poorly-differentiated adenocarcinoma. We performed total gastrectomy. However, 18 days after surgery, DIC due to multiple bone metastases occurred. The patient was treated with TS-1 chemotherapy in addition to anti-DIC therapy. TS-1(100 mg/day) was administered on days 1 to 5, 8 to 12, and 15 to 19 . The DIC was resolved. She was discharged after 2 courses of this regimen. This chemotherapy can be applied for the management of DIC caused by multiple bone metastases.