Adjuvant multimodal treatment for spinal intradural extramedullary capillary hemangioma with subpial growth: illustrative case.

BACKGROUND: Spinal intradural extramedullary capillary hemangiomas are rare vascular lesions. Although total resection is the first treatment, the efficacy of adjuvant therapies, such as steroid or radiation therapy, has not been investigated. OBSERVATIONS: A 74-year-old man presented with progressive back pain, gait disturbance, and left chest pain. Spinal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed an intradural extramedullary lesion at the middle thoracic level. Preoperatively, systemic steroid administration improved his chest pain and reduced the tumor size. The authors performed tumor extirpation. Because the tumor strongly adhered to the pia matter, in short, the tumor accompanied with partial subpial growth, subtotal resection was performed, leaving a thin layer of the tumor. A pathological examination revealed capillary hemangioma. His gait disturbance showed rapid improvement. Stereotactic cyber knife treatment was performed for the residual tumor at 1 month after the operation. Serial MRI showed a gradual decrease in the tumor size and no recurrence at 2 years after the operation. LESSONS: When a tumor adheres to the spinal cord or nerve root, immoderate total resection should not be performed to avoid exacerbating the clinical symptoms. Adjuvant therapies, such as a systemic steroid administration or radiation therapy, may provide satisfactory control of spinal capillary hemangiomas.

Safety and Validity of Anterior Cervical Disc Replacement for Single-level Cervical Disc Disease: Initial Two-year Follow-up of the Prospective Observational Post-marketing Surveillance Study for Japanese Patients.

Anterior cervical disc replacement (ACDR) using cervical artificial disc (CAD) has the advantage of maintaining the range of motion (ROM) at the surgical level, subsequently reducing the postoperative risk of adjacent disc disease. Following the approval for the clinical use in Japan, a post-marketing surveillance (PMS) study was conducted for two different types of CAD, namely, Mobi-C (metal-on-plastic design) and Prestige LP (metal-on-metal design). The objective of this prospective observational multicenter study was to analyze the first 2-year surgical results of the PMS study of 1-level ACDR in Japan. A total of 54 patients were registered (Mobi-C, n = 24, MC group; Prestige LP, n = 30, PLP group). Preoperative neurological assessment revealed radiculopathy in 31 patients (57.4%) and myelopathy in 15 patients (27.8%). Preoperative radiological assessment classified the disease category as disc herniation in 15 patients (27.8%), osteophyte in 6 patients (11.1%), and both in 33 patients (61.1%). The postoperative follow-up rates at 6 weeks, 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years after ACDR were 92.6%, 87.0%, 83.3%, and 79.6%, respectively. In both groups, patients' neurological condition improved significantly after surgery. Radiographic assessment revealed loss of mobility at the surgical level in 9.5% of patients in the MC group and in 9.1% of patients in the PLP group. No secondary surgeries at the initial surgical level and no serious adverse events were observed in either group. The present results suggest that 1-level ACDR is safe, although medium- to long-term follow-up is mandatory to further verify the validity of ACDR for Japanese patients.

Osteoporotic vertebral fractures: radiologic diagnosis, clinical and radiologic factors affecting surgical decision making: WFNS spine committee recommendations.

INTRODUCTION: With the varied literature on osteoporotic vertebral fracture that may predispose to diagnostic and management dilemma, it is timely to evaluate and streamline the evidence. The aim of this review is to create recommendations on osteoporotic vertebral fractures regarding radiologic diagnosis, and clinical and radiological factors affecting surgical decision making. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: A computerized literature search was done using PubMed, Google scholar and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews from 2010 to 2020. For radiologic diagnosis, the keywords "osteoporotic vertebral fractures" and "radiologic diagnosis" were used yielding 394 articles (19 relevant articles). For clinical and radiological factors affecting surgical decision making, the keywords "osteoporotic vertebral fractures," "radiologic diagnosis," and "surgery" were used yielding 568 articles (25 relevant articles). EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: All pertinent data were reviewed, and consensus statements were obtained in two virtual separate consensus meetings of the World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies (WFNS) Spine committee. The statements were voted and yielded positive or negative consensus using the Delphi method. CONCLUSIONS: This review summarizes the WFNS Spine Committee recommendations on the radiologic diagnosis, and clinical and radiological factors affecting surgical decision making of osteoporotic vertebral fractures.

Simple Technique to Place the Lateral Mass Screws in the Revision Surgery after Cervical Laminoplasty for Ossification of the Posterior Longitudinal Ligament.

A lateral mass screw (LMS) is one of the standard anchor screws in posterior cervical fixation. Although the advantage of cervical LMS is that it is easier and safer to place than pedicle screw, it is sometimes difficult for surgeons to confirm the exact point for screw entry and accurate angle in cases of revision surgery. When LMS fixation is performed as revision surgery after cervical laminoplasty or laminectomy, it might be complicated to secure safe placement of the LMSs. We present a simple but practical technique involving a caliper and angle device for revision surgery after cervical laminoplasty for ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament. In this technique, the distance between the bilateral entry points is ascertained using preoperative CT. Insertion of the screw is guided using the angle device set to 25 degrees. The technique presented here is easy and allows accurate placement of the LMSs in the posterior cervical spine, and is practical even for revision surgery.

Intramedullary spinal cord metastasis of gastric cancer.

The incidence of intramedullary spinal cord metastasis (ISCM) has been increasing because the overall survival of patients with cancer has improved thanks to recent advanced therapies, such as molecular targeted drugs, anticancer agents, and various irradiation techniques. ISCM from lung and breast cancer is the most common form among cases of ISCM. We report an extremely rare form of ISCM from gastric cancer. This 83-year-old man who had a past medical history of gastric adenocarcinoma presented with acute onset of paraparesis. Spinal magnetic resonance imaging revealed an intramedullary lesion at the upper thoracic level. Due to rapid worsening of his paresis, we decided to perform tumor extirpation. Gross total resection of the tumor was successfully performed. Pathological examination revealed poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma, suggesting the diagnosis of ISCM from gastric cancer. He demonstrated gradual improvement of paraparesis soon after surgery, although his overall survival was limited to about 6 months after surgery. When examining the etiology of acute paraparesis in elderly patients with a past medical history of cancer, ISCM should be considered in the differential diagnosis. The prognosis of ISCM from gastric cancer is still extremely limited. Unfortunately, there is currently no treatment with proven efficacy. Surgery for ISCM from gastric cancer, although a challenging procedure for spine surgeons, should be considered as a therapeutic option in these patients.

Complex Revision Surgery for Cervical Deformity or Implant Failure.

Postoperative cervical deformity sometimes occurs in the short or long term after primary surgery for cervical disorders related to the degenerative aging spine, neoplastic etiologies, hemodialysis, infection, inflammation, trauma, etc. Cervical kyphosis after posterior decompression surgery, such as laminectomy or laminoplasty, is a common problem for spine surgeons. However, revision surgery for cervical deformity is definitely one of the most challenging areas for spine surgeons. There is no doubt that surgery for cervical deformity carries a high risk of surgery-related complications that might result in aggravation of healthrelated quality of life. Revision surgery is even more challenging. Hence, spine surgeons need to assess carefully the overall severity of the underlying condition before revision surgery, and try to refine the surgical strategy to secure safe surgery. Needless to say, spine surgeons are now facing great challenges in making spine surgery a much more reliable and convincing entity.

Safety of anterior cervical discectomy and fusion using titanium-coated polyetheretherketone stand-alone cages: Multicenter prospective study of incidence of cage subsidence.

This multicenter prospective study investigated cage subsidence in anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) using titanium-coated polyetheretherketone (PEEK) stand-alone cages. This study recruited patients who underwent 1- or 2-level ACDF using titanium-coated PEEK stand-alone cages for cervical disc disease. Patients with acute trauma or past cervical spine operations were excluded. Sixty-two cages in 42 patients were eligible for analysis. Minimum follow-up was 6 months after ACDF. Significant cage subsidence was recognized in 11 of 62 cages (17.7%). Cage subsidence was predominantly moderate (14.5%), with severe subsidence found in only 2 cages (3.2%). The slowest occurrence of cage subsidence was 6 months after surgery, in 4 of 11 cages. Frequency of cage subsidence did not differ significantly between patients <65 and ≥65 years old. Patients with and without cage subsidence both demonstrated significant improvement of neurological function. Cage subsidence resulted in aggravation of local angle, but finally did not affect C2-7 angle or cervical tilt angle. Severe cage subsidence was found in only 3.2% of patients within 6 months after ACDF. Cage subsidence aggravated local angle, but finally did not affect C2-7 angle or cervical tilt angle. One- or 2-level ACDF using titanium-coated PEEK stand-alone cages appears safe and justified, even in elderly patients.

Upper Cervical Spine Trauma: WFNS Spine Committee Recommendations.

Craniovertebral junction (CVJ) trauma is a challenging clinical condition. Being a highly mobile functional unit at the junction of the skull and the vertebral column, traumatic events in this area may produce devastating neurological complications and death. Additionally, many of the CVJ traumatic injuries can be left undiagnosed or even raise difficult treatment dilemmas. We present a literature review in the format of recommendations on the diagnosis and management of different scenarios for upper cervical trauma and produce recommendations, which can be applicable to various areas of the globe.

Pharmacologic and Regenerative Cell Therapy for Spinal Cord Injury: WFNS Spine Committee Recommendations.

This is a review article examining the pharmacologic and regenerative cell therapy for spinal cord injury. A literature search during last 10 years were conducted using key words. Case reports, experimental (nonhuman) studies, papers other than English language were excluded. Up-to-date information on the pharmacologic and regenerative cell therapy for spinal cord injury was reviewed and statements were produced to reach a consensus in 2 separate consensus meeting of WFNS Spine Committee. The statements were voted and reached a consensus using Delphi method. Pharmacologic and regenerative cell therapy for spinal cord injury have long been an interest of many experimental and clinical researches. Clinical studies with methylpredinisolone have not shown clear cut benefit. Other drugs such as Rho inhibitor, minocycline, riluzole, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor have also been tried without significant benefits. Regenerative cell therapy using different types of stem cells, different inoculation techniques, and scaffolds have undergone many trials highlighting the efficacies of cells and their limitations. This review article summarizes the current knowledge on pharmacologic and regenerative cell therapy for spinal cord injury. Unfortunately, there is a need for further experimental and human trials to recommend effective pharmacologic and regenerative cell therapy.

Review of Radiological Parameters, Imaging Characteristics, and Their Effect on Optimal Treatment Approaches and Surgical Outcomes for Cervical Ossification of the Posterior Longitudinal Ligament.

Determining the optimal surgical method for cervical ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) is challenging. The surgical indication should be made based on not only radiological findings, but also the patient's age, preoperative neurological findings, social background, activities of daily life, and the presence or absence of comorbid diseases. Anterior resection for OPLL with or without wide corpectomy and fusion, posterior decompression with or without relatively long fusion, or anterior and posterior combined surgery may be considered. When evaluating the clinical condition of patients with cervical OPLL before surgery, various radiological parameters should be carefully considered, including the number of spinal segments involved, the cervical alignment or tilt angle, the relationship between OPLL and the C2-7 line (termed the "K-line"), the occupying ratio of OPLL, and the involvement of dural ossification. The objective of this article is to review the radiological parameters in current use for deciding upon the optimal surgical strategy and for predicting surgical outcomes, focusing on cervical OPLL.

Familial Os Odontoideum: Proatlas Segmentation Abnormality.

BACKGROUND: Os odontoideum is a smooth, independent ossicle separated from a hypoplastic odontoid process located cranially in the expected position of the odontoid tip. The pathogenesis of os odontoideum remains controversial, and several etiological theories have been suggested for congenital, developmental, and traumatic origins. CASE DESCRIPTION: We have reported symptomatic familial cases of dystopic os odontoideum in 2 elderly sisters who denied any traumatic history of the head and neck. Both patients were treated surgically, with successful outcomes achieved. CONCLUSIONS: When examining the etiology of os odontoideum, checking for the existence of a traumatic history is important. However, a more important matter is to consider morphological segmentation abnormalities of the proatlas. Segmentation abnormalities of the proatlas could be closely connected to the development of familial os odontoideum.

Benefits and Limitations of Indocyanine Green Fluorescent Image-Guided Surgery for Spinal Intramedullary Tumors.

BACKGROUND: Intraoperative image guidance using near-infrared indocyanine green videoangiography (ICG-VA) has been used to provide real-time angiographic images during vascular or brain tumor surgery, and it is also being used for spine surgery. OBJECTIVE: To further investigate the benefits and limitations of ICG-VA image-guided surgery for spinal intramedullary tumors through retrospective study. METHODS: ICG-VA was used in 48 cases that were treated surgically over the past 5 yr. The pathological diagnoses of the tumors included astrocytic tumor, ependymal tumor, cavernous malformation, and hemangioblastoma. RESULTS: Localization of normal spinal arteries and veins on the dorsal surface of the spinal cord helped the surgeons determine the length or point of myelotomy. Well-demarcated tumor stain was recognized in limited cases of anaplastic or highly vascularized tumors, whereas the location of cavernous malformation was recognized as an avascular area on the dorsal surface of the spinal cord. Feeding arteries and tumor stain were well differentiated from draining veins in dorsal hemangioblastomas, but not in intramedullary deep-seated or ventral tumors. The preservation of small perforating branches of the anterior spinal artery after successful resection of the tumor could be well visualized. CONCLUSION: ICG-VA can provide real-time information about vascular flow dynamics during the surgery of spinal intramedullary tumors, and it may help surgeons localize the normal circulation of the spinal cord, as well as the feeding arteries and draining veins, especially in highly vascular tumors. However, the benefits of intraoperative ICG-VA might be limited for intramedullary deep-seated or ventral tumors.

Surgical safety of cervical pedicle screw placement with computer navigation system.

Cervical pedicle screw (CPS) may be the biomechanically best system for posterior cervical segmental fixation, but may carry a surgery-related risk. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety of CPS placement using computer navigation system for posterior cervical instrumented fixation and discuss its complication avoidance and management. Posterior cervical instrumented fixation using CPS was performed in a total of 128 patients during the period between 2007 and 2015. Intraoperative image guidance was achieved using a preoperative 3D CT-based or an intraoperative 3D CT-based navigation system. A total of 762 CPSs were placed in the spine level of C2 to Th3. The radiological accuracy of CPS placement was evaluated using postoperative CT. Accuracy of CPS placement using a preoperative 3D CT-based navigation system was 93.6 % (423 of 452 screws) in grade 0; the screw was completely contained in the pedicle, and accuracy of CPS placement using an intraoperative 3D CT-based navigation system was a little bit improved to 97.1 % (301 of 310 screws) in grade 0. CPS misplacement (more than half of screw) was 3.3 % (15 of 452 screws) using a preoperative 3D CT-based navigation system, and CPS misplacement (more than half of screw) was 0.6 % (2 of 310 screws) using an intraoperative 3D CT-based navigation system. In total, 38 screws (5.0 %) were found to perforate the cortex of pedicle, although any neural or vascular complications closely associated with CPS placement were not encountered. Twenty nine of 38 screws (76.3 %) were found to perforate laterally, and seven screws (18.4 %) were found to perforate medially. Image-guided CPS placement has been an important advancement to secure the safe surgery, although the use of CPS placement needs to be carefully determined based on the individual pathology.

Image-guided Spine Stabilization for Traumatic Or Osteoporotic Spine Injury: Radiological Accuracy and Neurological Outcome.

Significant progress has been made in image-guided surgery (IGS) over the last few decades. IGS can be effectively applied to spinal instrumentation surgery. In the present study, we focused our attention on the feasibility and safety of image-guided spine stabilization for traumatic or osteoporotic spine injury. The IGS spine fixation with or without minimally invasive surgery (MIS) techniques such as percutaneous screw placement, balloon kyphoplasty (BKP), or vertebroplasty (VP) were accomplished in 80 patients with traumatic or osteoprotic spine injury between 2007 and 2015. The injured vertebral levels included the following: cervical spine, 41; thoracic spine, 22; and lumbar spine, 17. Neurological condition before and after surgery was assessed using the American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale (AIS). A total of 419 pedicle, lateral mass, or laminar screws were placed, and 399 screws (95.2%) were found to be placed correctly based on postoperative computed tomography scan. Although 20 screws (4.8%) were found to be unexpectedly placed incorrectly, no neural or vascular complications closely associated with screw placement were encountered. Neurological outcomes appeared to be acceptable or successful based on AIS. The IGS is a promising technique that can improve the accuracy of screw placement and reduce potential injury to critical neurovascular structures. The integration of MIS and IGS has proved feasible and safe in the treatment of traumatic or osteoporotic spine injury, although a thorough knowledge of surgical anatomy, spine biomechanics, and basic technique remain the most essential aspects for a successful surgery.

Late complication of surgically treated atlantoaxial instability: occipital bone erosion induced by protruded fixed titanium rod: a case report.

OBJECTIVE: Polyaxial screw-rod fixation of C1-C2 is a relatively new technique to treat atlantoaxial instability, and there have been few reports in the literature outlining all possible complications. The purpose of this case report is to present the occurrence and management of occipital bone erosion induced by the protruded rostral part of a posterior atlantoaxial screw-rod construct causing headache. CLINICAL FEATURES: A 70-year-old Asian man with rheumatoid arthritis initially presented to our institution with atlantoaxial instability causing progressive quadraparesis and neck pain. INTERVENTION AND OUTCOME: Posterior atlantoaxial instrumented fixation using C1 lateral mass screws in conjunction with C2 pedicle screws was performed to stabilize these segments. Postoperatively, the patient regained the ability to independently walk and had no radiographic evidence of instrumentation hardware failure and excellent sagittal alignment. However, despite a well-stabilized fusion, the patient began to complain of headache during neck extension. Follow-up imaging studies revealed left occipital bone erosion induced by a protruded titanium rod fixed with setscrews. During revision surgery, the rod protrusion was modified and the headaches diminished. CONCLUSION: This case demonstrates that occipital bone erosion after posterior atlantoaxial fixation causing headache may occur. The principal cause of bone erosion in this case was rod protrusion. Although posterior atlantoaxial fixation using the screw-rod system was selected to manage atlantoaxial instability because it has less complications than other procedures, surgeons should pay attention that the length of the rod protrusion should not exceed 2 mm.

Radical excision combined with instrumented fixation in the management of thoracic epidural angiolipoma: a case report.

INTRODUCTION: Spinal angiolipoma is a benign uncommon neoplasm composed of mature lipocytes admixed with abnormal blood vessels. They account for only 0.04% to 1.2% of all spinal tumors. We present a case of thoracic epidural angiolipoma treated by combining radical resection with instrumented spinal fixation, without any surgical complication. CASE PRESENTATION: A 32-year-old Asian woman presented with dorsal epidural angiolipoma at the upper-thoracic level. She had a seven-month history of gradually worsening weakness and numbness in her lower extremities. Imaging studies of her thoracic spine demonstrated a heterogeneously well-enhancing mass, located in her posterior epidural space without surrounding bone erosion at the upper thoracic level. We also observed compression of her thoracic cord. During surgery, a reddish-gray, highly vascularized mass was excised. Her facet joints had to be resected to expose the part migrating into the intervertebral foramen. Because there was concern regarding the stability of her thoracic spine, we performed spinal fixation using pedicle screws. Histopathological study of the surgical specimen showed a typical angiolipoma. CONCLUSION: Angiolipomas can be radically excised with good prognosis. Surgical removal is the preferred treatment for spinal angiolipoma, and the prognosis after surgical management is very good. Although outcomes remained favorable despite incomplete resections in a number of spinal angiolipoma, complete removal is preferred. We successfully achieved total resection without any surgical complication by combining radical resection with instrumented spinal fixation.

Surgical management of spinal meningiomas: A retrospective case analysis based on preoperative surgical grade.

BACKGROUND: Although spinal meningiomas respond favorably to surgical excision, their surgical management is impacted by several factors. This study utilized a surgery-based grading system to discuss the optimal surgical strategy. METHODS: Twenty-three consecutive patients who underwent surgery for spinal meningiomas were included in this retrospective study. The patients' neurological condition was assessed using the modified McCormick functional schema (mMFS) and sensory pain scale (SPS), and tumor removal was assessed using Simpson grade. Major factors contributing to surgical difficulty included; tumor size, extent/severity of cord compression, location of tumor attachment, spinal level, and anatomical relationships plus tumor extending in a dumbbell shape and local postoperative recurrence. RESULTS: Fifteen cases were classified as ventral attachment (65.2%). There were two dumbbell-shaped tumors and three local recurrences at the primary site. Simpson grade 1 or 2 resections were performed in 18 of 20 cases (90%) with preoperative surgical grades 0 to 3. Simpson grade 4 resections were achieved in all three cases with preoperative surgical grades 4 to 5. Overall neurological assessment after surgery revealed the satisfactory or acceptable recovery on mMFS and SPS analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Lower preoperative grade yielded better results, while the higher the preoperative grade, the more likely tumor was insufficiently removed. A preoperative surgical grading system appeared to be helpful when considering the surgical strategy. Ventral meningiomas could be safely resected via the posterolateral or lateral approach using technical modifications. Recurrent tumors, especially with ventral attachment, were hard to resolve, and primary surgery appears to be important.

[Detection of unknown primary tumor in a patient with cerebellar metastasis using FDG PET-CT: case report].

Identification of unknown primary tumors in patients with brain metastasis is a continued diagnostic challenge. Several clinical reports have suggested that 18F-flouorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG PET) is useful for detecting them. PET has incomparable abilities to determine the metabolic activity of tissues. But it needs the assistance of higher-resolution, anatomic information. CT is the easiest and highest-resolution tomographic modality to be integrated into PET imaging. Because of this, the market for PET devices has shifted so dramatically toward PET-CT. We report a case to show that FDG PET-CT was able to detect an unknown primary tumor. A 75-year-old female underwent resection of a left cerebellar tumor. The histological diagnosis was adenocarcinoma metastasis. Conventional systemic evaluation (chest radiography, chest and abdomen CT, abdominal sonography, and so on) did not show any pathologic image. FDG PET-CT was then carried out. A hypermetabolic focus was revealed in the left hilum. In conclusion, from now on, FDG PET-CT will be considered as the first diagnostic process for patients presenting brain metastasis with an unknown primary tumor.