Current Concepts in the Treatment of Traumatic C2 Vertebral Fracture : A Literature Review.

The integrity of the high cervical spine, the transition zone from the brainstem to the spinal cord, is crucial for survival and daily life. The region protects the enclosed neurovascular structure and allows a substantial portion of the head motion. Injuries of the high cervical spine are frequent, and the fractures of the C2 vertebra account for approximately 17-25% of acute cervical fractures. We review the two major types of C2 vertebral fractures, odontoid fracture and Hangman's fracture. For both types of fractures, favorable outcomes could be obtained if the delicately selected conservative treatment is performed. In odontoid fractures, as the most common fracture on the C2 vertebrae, anterior screw fixation is considered first for type II fractures, and C1-2 fusion is suggested when nonunion is a concern or occurs. Hangman's fractures are the second most common fracture. Many stable extension type I and II fractures can be treated with external immobilization, whereas the predominant flexion type IIA and III fractures require surgical stabilization. No result proves that either anterior or posterior surgery is superior, and the surgeon should decide on the surgical method after careful consideration according to each clinical situation. This review will briefly describe the basic principles and current treatment concepts of C2 fractures.

True Continuous Segment of Ossification of Posterior Longitudinal Ligament is Protective Against Postoperative Early Kyphosis Progression After Laminoplasty.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) is a potentially catastrophic disease. Laminoplasty (LP) is a common surgical intervention, but postoperative kyphosis progression is a major complication, for which various risk factors have been identified and used in surgical decision-making. Our focus is on the ability of OPLL with specific morphological traits, designated as the true continuous segment (TCS), to stabilize alignment and prevent postoperative kyphosis after LP. METHODS: This retrospective case-control study included patients who underwent cervical LP for OPLL treatment with a minimum 1-year follow-up. Demographic, operative, and radiographic parameters were analyzed. TCS is defined as a continuous segment of OPLL that spans the disk space more than half of the adjacent vertebral body height without crack, or OPLL segment attached to both upper and lower adjacent vertebral bodies by bridging, or obvious interbody autofusion, and is identified from preoperative computed tomography. A subgroup analysis for preoperatively lordotic patients, divided into 2 groups based on cervical alignment at the final follow-up, was conducted to identify risk factors for kyphosis progression. Difference analysis, linear regression analysis for loss of lordosis (LoL), and logistic regression analysis for kyphosis progression were used. RESULTS: A total of 84 patients were identified. Among them, 78 patients with preoperatively lordotic alignment were divided into 2 groups: those who maintained lordotic alignment (n = 60) and those who progressed to kyphosis (n = 18). Regression analyses revealed a significant protective effect of TCS count against LoL and postoperative kyphosis, with a TCS count of 3 or more conclusively preventing kyphosis (sensitivity 1.000, specificity 0.283, area under the curve 0.629). CONCLUSION: For patients with OPLL, TCS was shown to protect against the LoL after LP. Therefore, TCS should be identified and considered when planning surgical treatment for OPLL.

Total En Bloc Spondylectomy of C7 Vertebrae for Primary Bone Tumors: The Efficacy of Autologous Sternal Structural Grafts.

AIM: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of total en bloc spondylectomy with autologous sternal structural graft, subaxial pedicle screws, and 5.5 mm titanium rods in primary bone tumor surgery. MATERIAL AND METHODS: From January 2019 to February 2020, two patients with lower cervical spine (C7) primary bone tumor underwent total en bloc spondylectomy, interbody fusion with sternal structural autograft, and posterior instrumentation using subaxial pedicle screws. The medical records and radiographic findings of the patients were reviewed. RESULTS: C7 total en bloc spondylectomy was successfully performed; the anterior column was reconstructed with an autologous sternal structural graft with posterior instrumentation using subaxial pedicle screws and 5.5 mm titanium rods. After surgery, the VAS scores of neck and radiating arm pain in both patients were relieved considerably. Bony fusion was achieved in all patient by 6 months after surgery. There were no postoperative complications associated with the donor site. CONCLUSION: Structural bone obtained from the sternum is safe and provides a viable alternative to cervical fusion for patients with primary bone tumor. It confers the advantages of autograft fusion without the complications associated with donor site morbidities.

The Results of Interfacetal Fusion Using Local Bone Combined With an Atlantoaxial Instrumentation.

BACKGROUND: Many studies have described different C1-2 fusion techniques that have evolved over time. We introduced an easy and effective C1-2 fusion technique using local bone chips combined with atlantoaxial instrumentation. OBJECTIVE: To identify the efficacy of interfacetal fusion using local bone combined with atlantoaxial instrumentation by assessment of clinical outcomes and fusion rate. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the data from 25 patients who underwent atlantoaxial stabilization surgery using C1-2 pedicle screws and interfacetal bone fusion by a single surgeon between March 2012 and December 2019. RESULTS: The demographics were 15 men and 10 women with a mean age of 57.6 years (range, 27-85 years) at the time of surgery. Three patients underwent surgery for myelopathy due to os odontoideum, 9 for C1-2 instability, 9 for trauma, 3 for rheumatoid arthritis, and 1 for bony spur, C1-2. At 3 months postsurgery, 3 and 21 patients showed 2-point and 1-point improvements in the Nurick grade, respectively. There was no difference in the Nurick score in 1 patient. Seven patients had a computed tomography scan at 1 year after surgery, which revealed a bridging trabecular bone. No movement was observed in the x-ray flexion/extension view at 1 year after surgery in all patients. In addition, no patients complained of postoperative occipital neuralgia. CONCLUSION: This study showed that interfacetal fusion with C1-2 pedicle screws using the free-hand technique was efficient and simple.

Microsurgery Versus Endovascular Treatment - Which Is Adequate for Initial Treatment of Spinal Dural Arteriovenous Fistula: A Case Series.

OBJECTIVE: Considering the adverse natural history of spinal dural arteriovenous fistula (sDAVF), clinical outcomes may be worsened if the initial occlusive trial does not achieve complete fistula occlusion. We aimed to analyze the initial success rate of microsurgery and embolization and confirm the effects of initial treatment success on the clinical outcomes of sDAVF patients. In addition, we investigated the factors associated with initial treatment failure. METHODS: A total of 38 patients treated for sDAVF at a single institution over a 14-year period were retrospectively reviewed. Clinical outcomes according to the initial treatment modality were quantitatively analyzed. Demographic characteristics and angioarchitecture data were evaluated to identify factors associated with initial treatment failure. RESULTS: In the study population, 34 patients underwent embolization as the initial treatment, and complete occlusion of the fistula was achieved in 13 patients (38%). However, all patients who underwent microsurgery showed complete fistula occlusion. Among patients with initial treatment success, gait and micturition were improved with statistical significance (p < 0.001 each). However, in cases of initial treatment failure, only mild improvements in gait and micturition were observed, which were not statistically significant (p = 0.097 and p = 0.375, respectively). A narrow feeding artery diameter (p = 0.007) and embolization of the artery only (p = 0.002) were identified as factors associated with initial treatment failure. CONCLUSION: To achieve symptomatic improvement and prevent neurological deterioration due to recurrence, the initial definite occlusion of the fistula is important. Despite advances in endovascular techniques, microsurgical occlusion is still superior in terms of initial complete obliteration.

Percutaneous Vertebroplasty versus Conservative Treatment Using a Transdermal Fentanyl Patch for Osteoporotic Vertebral Compression Fractures.

OBJECTIVE: Although surgical intervention, such as percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP), is the standard treatment for osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCFs), its effectiveness and safety are unclear. Therefore, this study compared the safety and efficacy of conservative treatment with that of PVP for acute OVCFs. METHODS: Patients with single-level OVCFs who were treated conservatively with a transdermal fentanyl patch (TFP) or with PVP between March 2013 and December 2017 and followed-up for more than 1 year were retrospectively evaluated. Patients with pathologic fractures, fractures of more than two columns, or a history of PVP were excluded. Clinical outcomes (visual analog scale [VAS] scores) and radiographic factors were evaluated, including changes in the compression rate of the corresponding vertebral body at onset and after 12 months, sagittal Cobb angle at onset and after 6 and 12 months, and the incidence of adjacent compression fractures. RESULTS: Of the 131 patients evaluated, 75 were treated conservatively using TFPs and 56 underwent PVP. We divided the patients into TFP and PVP groups. Their baseline characteristics (including sex, level of fracture, and bone mineral density T-scores) were similar, but the TFP group was significantly younger. The overall VAS score for pain showed a greater decrease during the first month (1 week after PVP) in the PVP group but remained similar in the two groups thereafter. The compression rate after 12 months increased in the TFP group but decreased in the PVP group. Five patients in the PVP group, but none in the TFP group, experienced adjacent compression fractures within 12 months. CONCLUSION: We compared clinical and radiological outcomes between the TFP and PVP groups. The immediate pain reduction effect was superior in the PVP group, but the final clinical outcome was similar. Although the PVP group had a better-preserved compression rate than the TFP group for 1 year, the development of adjacent fractures was significantly higher. Although TFPs seemed to be beneficial in reducing the failure rate of conservative treatment, the possibility of side effects (22.6%, 17 out of 75 patients, in this study) should be carefully monitored.

Anterior Odontoid Screw Fixation for the Treatment of Type 2 Odontoid Fracture with a Kyphotic Angulation or an Anterior Down-slope: A Technical Note.

Anterior odontoid screw fixation (AOSF) is difficult and challenging to perform in patients with type 2 odontoid fracture with a kyphotic angulation or an anterior down-slope. To demonstrate two surgical techniques to resolve kyphotic angulation or difficult fracture direction issues. Anterior odontoid screw fixation was performed in two patients with type 2 odontoid fracture with a kyphotic angulation or an anterior down-slope. This technique can avoid sternal blocking using a percutaneous vertebroplasty puncture needle, and can reduce the kyphotic angle using a Cobb elevator in patients with type 2 odontoid fractures with a kyphotic angulation or an anterior down-sloped fracture. In both the patients, AOSF was successfully performed and a successful clinical outcome was achieved. The screws were well-maintained with reduced fracture segment and well-preserved, corrected kyphotic angles were achieved, as observed on cervical X-ray 6 months postoperatively. Our technique is a safe and effective method for the treatment of type 2 odontoid fracture with a kyphotic angulation or an anterior down-slope.