Approaches to paraspinal tumours - a technical note.

Neurogenic tumours of the paraspinal space can occur in all age groups. It is common in adult population and relatively rare in elderly group. Usually they are benign, but in children, arising from the autonomic system, tends to be malignant in nature. Usually in adults, they arise from peripheral nerve sheath and are labelled as schwannomas. For a given tumour, determination of a correct surgical approach is mandatory to achieve a successful surgical outcome. Several factors like tumour size, histology, involvement of the bony spinal canal, etc. are some of the deciding factors for a correct surgical approach. Since many such tumours are benign, total excision is possible with a correct surgical approach. If the tumour involves the integrity of the spine then additionally a stabilization procedure may have to be carried out. Unfortunately, there are still no guidelines regarding the choice of surgical approach for the excision of such tumors. Presented here is a series of five patients managed by us over a period of 10 years. Four patients were adults and one female child was three years old. Four patients were operated upon successfully and the fifth one is waiting for surgery.

Internal decompression for spinal stenosis (IDSS) for decompression and use of interlaminar dynamic device (CoflexTM) for stabilization in the surgical management of degenerative lumbar canal stenosis with or without mild segmental instability: our initial results.

INTRODUCTION: Internal decompression of spinal stenosis (IDSS) and Posterior dynamic stabilization (PDS) form a bridge between decompression laminectomy alone and rigid fusion, by attempting to sustain beneficial effects of decompression and stabilization in an attempt to prevent bad effects of relentless degeneration. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical outcome in operated patient of posterior dynamic stabilization. DESIGN: Data were collected over 1 year in prospective, nonrandomized follow-up study using outcome scales. SETTING: Single surgeon, tertiary care centre in Mumbai, India. Described here is the operative technique of posterior dynamic stabilization using CoFlexTM and clinical outcome of 67 consecutive patients using Visual Analogue Scale and Oswestry Disability Score.

Software version of Roland Morris Disability questionnaire for outcome assessment in low back pain.

BACKGROUND: Developing and using the software version of existing validated paper version of patient-related outcome can go a long way in saving cost, time and effort. However, the equivalence of paper version and software versions cannot be assumed. The aim of the study is to test the equivalence between paper version and software version of Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire and its acceptability among patients. METHODS: This is a within-subject cross over equivalence study. Fifty-five patients with back pain were asked to complete the paper and software version of RMDQ in random order. Patients were included from the Neuro Spinal surgery outpatient department of Lilavati Hospital and Research Center. RESULTS: Statistical analysis of 52 patients who completed the study showed high agreement between the paper and software version of the questionnaire (intraclass correlation coefficient 0.994, 95% confidence interval (0.989-0.996)). High sensitivity and specificity of 84 and 88% of the software version was noted. About 69.2% patients preferred software version over paper version. CONCLUSION: Our study shows that software version is comparable to the paper version. It may prove to be a useful tool for epidemiological studies and patient follow-up over longer period.

Nodular fasciitis causing unilateral proptosis.

A case report of an unusual case of nodular fasciitis in the orbit presenting with unilateral proptosis is described, and the radiological features are outlined. The histological features are discussed and the benign nature of the lesion stressed. Nodular fasciitis arising in the orbit and presenting as unilateral proptosis has not previously been reported in the literature.

Microlumbar discectomy state of art treatment for prolapsed lumbar intervertebral disc.

Microlumbar discectomy is latest state of art treatment for prolapsed lumbar intervertebral disc. A series of 250 consecutive cases operated over a period of 4 and 1/2 years have been reviewed. There were no significant complications. L4/5 was the most common level followed by L5/SI. All the six cases operated bilaterally were at L4/5 level. Relief of sciatic pain was seen in 98 percent of the patients and six patients (2.4 percent) required to be re-operated over a period of three and half years. The indication for microlumbar discectomy drops sharply after the age of fifty years. Patients also have other pathologies with advancing age such as lateral recess stenosis and hypertrophy of facets requiring alternative treatment. The overall results of microlumbar discectomy are superior in comparison to standard laminectomy.

Combined anterior and posterior decompression and short segment fixation for unstable burst fractures in the dorso lumbar region.

The dorso lumbar segment of spine (D10 to L2) is an unstable zone between fixed dorsal and mobile lumbar spine. A combined anterior and posterior approach with short segment stabilization was found most appropriate. Thirty cases were treated over a period of 4 years and 6 months. There were 26 male and 4 female patients with mean age of 32.6 years. L1 vertebra was fractured in 17 cases, D1 in 8 cases, D11 in 4 cases and D10 in one case. 14 cases had total neurological deficit, 9 cases had partial and 7 had no neurological deficit. We have used three column classification of Denis to assess the cases. Seven patients returned to regular physical work, 5 had restricted physical work, 5 remained in full time light job and 9 patients were unable to return to original job but did some work. Most had flaccid paraplegia but 4 patients were completely disabled due to spastic paraplegia. Neurological recovery occurred in all the patients with partial paralysis, and appeared to be dependent on initial kyphosis. The overall recovery rate varied from 50% to 90%. There is no correlation between canal compromise and severity of injury. Neurological injury occured at the time of trauma, rather than as a result of pressure of fragment in the canal. No strong conclusion could be drawn to say that the results of surgery were superior to non-operative treatment.

Meralgia paraesthetica following lumbar spine surgery: a study in 110 consecutive surgically treated cases.

BACKGROUND: Lateral cutaneous femoral nerve (LCFN) injury or Meralgia paraesthetica (MP) results in restriction of activity. Compression of the nerve by disc hernia, retroperitoneal tumors, and external pressure around the anterior superior iliac spine is common. However, it is not commonly observed after lumbar spinal surgery in prone position. STUDY DESIGN: In this prospective study of 110 patients who underwent elective lumbar spinal surgery, managed from January 2002 to June 2002, the incidence, possible risk factors, etiopathogenesis and management of MP were analyzed. RESULTS: There were 66 males and 44 females. The age of the patients ranged from 15 to 81 years (mean 46.9 yrs.). Thirteen patients (12%) suffered from MP. It is more common in thinner individuals due to pressure injury to the nerve at its exit point. Ninety-two per cent of the patients were asymptomatic at follow-up after 6 months. In 7 out of 13 patients, patchy sensory loss on clinical examination was seen at 6 months. CONCLUSION: MP after posterior lumbar spinal surgery is uncommon. Smaller bolsters may avoid some of the vulnerable pressure points, as the surface area available is relatively smaller. The posts of the Hall-Relton frame over the anterior superior iliac crest should be adequately padded. The condition is usually self-limiting. Surgical division or decompression of the LCFN is reserved for persistent or severe MP.

A radiological evaluation of allografts (ethylene oxide sterilized cadaver bone) and autografts in anterior cervical fusion.

Serial roentgenograms of 40 patients who had 70 cervical intervertebral spaces grafted with ethylene oxide sterilized cadaver bone and 28 patients who received 44 iliac crest auto grafts for anterior cervical spine fusion, were studied. The radiological evaluation was made on the basis of settlement of intervertebral spaces, fusion rate, delayed union, non-union, graft collapse and extrusion of the graft. Indigenous methodologies were designed for the assessment of settlement of grafted intervertebral spaces in percentage. Disc space settlement was more common in autografts (93% cases) than in allografts (80% cases). The average percentage of settlement of intervertebral disc space (S%) was 22 in autografts and 28 in allografts during the first four months. By the end of eight months, allograft disc spaces settle more. No significant difference was noted in fusion rate at the end of one year viz. allografts (90% cases) and autografts (93% cases). Autograft and allograft (ethylene oxide sterilized cadaver bone) are equally useful in anterior cervical spine fusions.

Aspergilloma : an unusual differential diagnosis for an intradural extramedullary cervical cord tumour in a healthy man.

This is a case of Aspergillus infection in a twenty year old male presenting as an insidiously growing intradural spinal cord tumour with signs of cord compression. There was no definite portal of entry and the patient had no signs of immunsuppression. It is believed that such a case has not been previously reported. The lesion resembled a benign tumour on preoperative imaging and intraoperative consistency and vascularity. The lesion was successfully and completely resected. MR images of this unusual lesion are presented.

Variations in size of the bony lumbar canal in patients with prolapse of lumbar intervertebral discs.

Prolapse of the lumbar intervertebral disc is one of the commonly accepted causes of low back pain. Most patients respond well to conservative treatment, but some may not respond at all. Though the reason for this variation is not clearly understood, it is felt that a developmentally narrow spinal canal might have some relation to the persistence of backache and sciatica. The canal was therefore measured at each of the lumbar vertebral level by a method described by Jones and Thomson (1969) in 100 consecutive patients operated upon for prolapsed lumbar intervertebral discs, in 100 normal patients for comparison. This method does not give direct measurements of the bony spinal canal but provides a ratio of the size of the canal to the adjacent vertebral body. We found a trend towards the presence of a narrower than normal lumbar canal in patients with prolapsed lumbar intervertebral discs. It is concluded that in patients with prolapsed lumbar intervertebral discs necessitating operation, the canal tends to be narrower than normal, and such narrowing enhances the effect of any disc protrusion leading to severe symptoms of backache and sciatica.

Cauda equina compression due to tabetic arthropathy of the spine.

A case of tabetic neuroarthropathy of the lumbar spine causing cauda equina compression with paraplegia and retention of urine is described. The literature is reviewed and the role of surgery in such cases is discussed.

Role of ligamentum flavum in the symptomatology of prolapsed lumbar intervertebral discs.

Hypertrophy of the ligamentum flavum has been reported to occur in the prolapsed intervertebral disc syndrome. The ligaments from 28 patients were compared with a necropsy control group (18). Only minor histological anomalies were noted in two patients and the ligament was not thickened in cases of disc prolapse. In addition, there was no evidence to suggest previous trauma to the ligaments associated with disc protrusion or that the elastic fibres in the ligament degenerate with age, although some degeneration of the collagen fibres had apparently occurred in the two oldest control cases.

Cervical spinal interbody fusion with Kiel bone.

Experience with the use of the Kiel bone graft in anterior cervical interbody fusion in cervical spondylosis is reported. The survey reviews the results of operations on 73 disc spaces in 65 consecutive patients, from 2 to 5 years after the operation. We have failed to confirm that any bony fusion in the true sense occurs with Kiel bone in anterior cervical interbody fusion. However, the aims of the operations are achieved, namely removal of the disc and osteophyte, fixation of the spine to prevent compression of the neural tissues, distraction of the adjacent vertebral bodies providing increased room in the intervertebral foramina and stability of the spine.