Challenges in Occipitocervical Fusion in a 9-Month-Old Infant: A Case Report and Review of Literature.

ABSTRACT: Traumatic cranio-cervical junction injuries in infants are rare and require early surgical stabilization. In view of the unique anatomy of the occipitocervical junction in infants, the creation of a fusion construct that is both safe and biomechanically sound is challenging. A 9-month-old male infant involved in an accident presented with weakness in both upper limbs. Imaging revealed a displaced odontoid synchondrosis fracture with combined occipitocervical and atlantoaxial dissociation. Due to the unstable nature of the injury, occiput to C2 arthrodesis using dual distal radius locking plates and autologous full-thickness parietal region calvarial bone graft was performed. Minerva jacket was applied. Computed tomography (CT) scan obtained at 12 weeks demonstrated evidence of bony fusion. Combined injuries to the occipitocervical and atlantoaxial joint in an infant can be fatal. A thorough assessment of multiple imaging modalities helps to make an early and accurate diagnosis.

Epidural steroid injection in herniated disc and lumbar canal stenosis: is it just a placebo? / Injeção epidural de esteroides em hérnia de disco e estenose do canal lombar: é apenas um placebo? / Inyección epidural de esteroides en hernia de disco y estenosis del canal lumbar: ¿es solo un placebo?

ABSTRACT Objective To study the role of epidural steroid injection (ESI) in patients with lumbar disc herniation (LDH) and lumbar canal stenosis (LCS). ESIs are regularly used to support non-operative treatment for LBP, and our anecdotal impression is that a considerable proportion of patients report substantial pain relief after ESI. Methods One thousand consecutive patients (645 patients with LDH and 355 patients with LCS) who required ESI from January-August 2018 were included. All were given the same ESI, prepared with triamcinolone (80 mg), bupivacaine (0.25%, 4 ml) and normal saline (4 ml). Patients were evaluated using the numerical rating scale (NRS) immediately after the injection, after 7 days, and after 3 months. Results The mean NRS back-pain score of the LDH-group was reduced from 5 (range: 4-8) to 4 (range: 2-7) immediately after injection, 2 (range: 1-7) after 7 days and 2 (range: 1-7) after 3 months (p-value<0.001). The mean NRS back-pain score of the LCS-group was reduced from 5 (range: 4-8) to 4 (range: 2-7) immediately after injection, 2 (range: 1-7) after 7 days and 3 (range: 1-7) after 3 months (p-value <0.001). The mean NRS leg-pain score of the LDH group was reduced from 5 (range: 4-9) to 3 (range: 3-7) immediately after injection, 1 (range: 1-6) after 7 days and 2 (range: 1-7) after 3 months (p-value <0.001). The mean NRS leg-pain score of the LCS group was reduced from 5 (range: 4-9) to 4 (range: 3-7) immediately after injection, 3 (range: 1-7) after 7 days and 2 (range 1-6) after 3 months (p-value <0.001). Conclusion ESI causes statistically significant improvement in back and leg pain in patients with LDH and LCS. However, the short and medium-term efficacy of ESI in the LCS group was lower than in the LDH group. Level of evidence IV; Prospective hospital-based study.

RESUMO Objetivo Estudar o papel da injeção epidural de esteroides (IEE) em pacientes com hérnia de disco lombar (HDL) e estenose do canal lombar (ECL). As IEEs são usadas regularmente para dar suporte ao tratamento não cirúrgico da dor lombar e nossa impressão empírica é que uma proporção considerável de pacientes relata alívio substancial da dor depois da IEE. Métodos Foram incluídos mil pacientes consecutivos (645 pacientes com HDL e 355 pacientes com ECL) que precisaram de IEE de janeiro a agosto de 2018. Todos receberam a mesmo IEE preparada com triamcinolona (80 mg), bupivacaína (0,25% 4 ml) e solução salina normal (4 ml). Os pacientes foram avaliados pela Escala de Estimativa Numérica (NRS, Numeric Rating Scale) imediatamente, 7 dias e 3 meses depois. Resultados O escore médio de dor nas costas da NRS no grupo HDL foi reduzida de 5 (intervalo: 4-8) para 4 (intervalo: 2-7) imediatamente após a injeção, para 2 (intervalo: 1-7) após 7 dias e para 2 (intervalo: 1-7) após 3 meses (valor de p < 0,001). O escore médio de dor nas costas do NRS do grupo ECL foi reduzida de 5 (intervalo: 4-8) para 4 (intervalo: 2-7) imediatamente após a injeção, para 2 (intervalo: 1-7) após 7 dias e para 3 (intervalo: 1- 7) após 3 meses (valor de p <0,001). O escore médio de dor na perna da NRS do grupo HDL foi reduzida de 5 (intervalo: 4-9) para 3 (intervalo: 3-7) imediatamente após a injeção, para 1 (intervalo: 1-6) após 7 dias e para 2 (intervalo: 1-7) após 3 meses (valor de p < 0,001). O escore médio de dor na perna da NRS do grupo ECL foi reduzida de 5 (intervalo: 4-9) para 4 (intervalo: 3-7) imediatamente após a injeção, para 3 (intervalo: 1-7) após 7 dias e para 2 (intervalo 1-6) após 3 meses (valor de p < 0,001). Conclusão A IEE causa melhora estatisticamente significativa das dores nas costas e nas pernas em pacientes com HDL e ECL. No entanto, a eficácia a curto e médio prazo da IEE na ECL foi menor do que a da HDL. Nível de evidência IV; Estudo prospectivo baseado em hospital.

RESUMEN Objetivo Estudiar el papel de la inyección epidural de esteroides (IEE) en pacientes con hernia de disco lumbar (HDL) y estenosis del canal lumbar (ECL). Las IEE se utilizan regularmente para respaldar el tratamiento no quirúrgico del dolor lumbar y nuestra impresión empírica es que una proporción considerable de pacientes informa alivio sustancial del dolor después de la IEE. Métodos Se incluyeron mil pacientes consecutivos (645 pacientes con HDL y 355 pacientes con ECL) que necesitaron IEE de enero a agosto de 2018. A todos se les administró la misma IEE preparada con triamcinolona (80 mg), bupivacaina (0,25% 4 ml) y solución salina normal (4 ml). Los pacientes fueron evaluados usando una Escala de Valoración Numérica (NRS, Numeric Rating Scale) inmediatamente, 7 días y de 3 meses después. Resultados La puntuación media de dolor de espalda de la NRS del grupo HDL se redujo de 5 (rango: 4-8) a 4 (rango: 2-7) inmediatamente después de la inyección, a 2 (rango: 1-7) después de 7 días y a 2 (rango: 1-7) después de 3 meses (valor de p < 0,001). La puntuación media de dolor de espalda de la NRS del grupo ECL se redujo de 5 (rango: 4-8) a 4 (rango: 2-7) inmediatamente después de la inyección, a 2 (rango: 1-7) después de 7 días y a 3 (rango: 1- 7) después de 3 meses (valor de p < 0,001). La puntuación media de dolor de pierna de la NRS del grupo HDL se redujo de 5 (rango: 4-9) a 3 (rango: 3-7) inmediatamente después de la inyección, a 1 (rango: 1-6) después de 7 días y a 2 (rango: 1-7) después de 3 meses (valor p < 0,001). La puntuación media de dolor de pierna de la NRS del grupo ECL se redujo de 5 (rango: 4-9) a 4 (rango: 3-7) inmediatamente después de la inyección, a 3 (rango: 1-7) después de 7 días y a 2 (rango 1-6) después de 3 meses (valor p < 0,001). Conclusión IEE causa una mejoría estadísticamente significativa en el dolor de espalda y piernas en pacientes con HDL y ECL. Sin embargo, la eficacia a corto y medio plazo de la IEE en la ECL fue menor que la de HDL. Nivel de evidencia IV;Estudio prospectivo basado en hospitales.

Report of isolated epidural extra-nodal Rosai-Dorfman disease of cervicothoracic spine.

INTRODUCTION: Rosai-Dorfman disease (RDD) or sinus histiocytosis with massive lymphadenopathy is a nonneoplastic lymphoproliferative disorder which commonly presents with painless massive cervical lymphadenopathy along with fever and weight loss. Isolated extra-nodal disease involvement, especially isolated central nervous system disease without lymph node involvement is rare. CASE PRESENTATION: A 35-year-old man presented with upper back pain and paraparesis of 2 months duration. Contrast-MRI revealed an enhancing epidural mass lesion from C6-T7 suggestive of a primary epidural spinal-cord tumor. The lesion was resected and posterolateral fusion C6-T8 was performed. Histopathological examination revealed an isolated extra-nodal case of RDD. He was started on chemotherapy after the healing of surgical site in 2 weeks post operatively. Complete resolution of neurological deficits with significant improvement in gait was seen at the last follow-up 2 years after surgery. Repeat MRI revealed complete resolution of the disease. DISCUSSION: RDD with spinal involvement is rare and it is often a challenge to arrive at the correct diagnosis. Histopathological characteristics and immunohistochemical findings are necessary for diagnosis. Resection of the lesion takes compression off the cord and therefore, is the primary line of management of this disease. Our case presentation serves as a reference when diagnosing and managing a patient of RDD.