Preoperative factors affecting the two-year postoperative patient-reported outcome in single-level lumbar grade I degenerative spondylolisthesis.

Background: The choice of operative method for lumbar spinal stenosis with Meyerding grade I degenerative spondylolisthesis remains controversial. The purpose of this study was to identify the preoperative factors affecting the 2-year postoperative patient-reported outcome in Meyerding grade I degenerative spondylolisthesis. Methods: Seventy-two consecutive patients who had minimally invasive decompression alone (D group; 28) or with fusion (DF group; 44) were enrolled. The parameters investigated were the Japanese Orthopaedic Association back pain evaluation questionnaire as patient-reported assessment, and L4 slippage (L4S), lumbar lordosis (LL), and lumbar axis sacral distance (LASD) as an index of sagittal alignment for radiological evaluation. Data collected prospectively at 2 years postoperatively were examined by statistical analysis. Results: Sixty-two cases (D group; 25, DF group; 37) were finally evaluated. In multiple logistic regression analysis, preoperative L4S and LASD were extracted as significant preoperative factors affecting the 2-year postoperative outcome. Patients with preoperative L4S of 6 mm or more have a lower rate of improvement in lumbar spine dysfunction due to low back pain (risk ratio=0.188, p=.043). Patients with a preoperative LASD of 30 mm or more have a higher rate of improvement in lumbar dysfunction due to low back pain (risk ratio=11.48, p=.021). The results of multiple logistic analysis by operative method showed that there was a higher rate of improvement in lumbar spine dysfunction due to low back pain in patients with preoperative LASD of 30 mm or more in DF group (risk ratio=172.028, p=.01). Conclusions: Preoperative L4S and LASD were extracted as significant preoperative factors affecting patient-reported outcomes at 2 years postoperatively. Multiple logistic analyses by the operative method suggested that DF may be advantageous in improving lumbar dysfunction due to low back pain in patients with preoperative LASD of 30 mm or more.

Occipitosacral Fusion for Multiple Vertebral Fractures with Kyphotic Deformity in a Patient with Mutilating Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Case Report.

Osteoporotic vertebral fractures are well-known complications of rheumatoid arthritis. The management of multiple vertebral fractures with kyphotic deformity is controversial. We present a case of a patient with mutilating rheumatoid arthritis who had multiple vertebral fractures with kyphotic deformity after occipitothoracic fusion for rheumatoid cervical disorder. Occipitosacral fusion was effective to create stable spine with better sagittal alignment in this case, but careful clinical assessment for early detection and management of postoperative insufficient pelvic fracture were required.

Clinical and Anatomical Features as well as Pathological Conditions of Surgically Treated Adult Patients with Occipitalization of the Atlas.

BACKGROUND: This paper intends to clarify clinical and anatomical features as well as pathological conditions of surgically treated adult patients with occipitalization of the atlas. METHODS: The authors reviewed 12 consecutive adult patients with occipitalization of the atlas who underwent surgery for myleopathy in our hospital. Mainly using preoperative computed tomography and three-dimensional computed tomography angiography, we investigated their anomalies of the osseous structures and vertebral artery at the cervical spine including the craniovertebral junction (CVJ). We also developed a new classification system for occipitalization of the atlas. RESULTS: Atlantoaxial subluxation (AAS) was detected in 9 patients (75%). The condition of AAS was irreducible in 7 patients. Among these 7 patients, deformity at the lateral atlantoaxial joints was detected in 2 patients. C2-3 fusion was detected in 6 patients (67%) among 9 patients with AAS. Anomalies of the VA were detected in 11 patients (92%). Occipitalization of the atlas was classified into three types according to their pathological conditions. In type 1 (2 patients) the medial atlantoaxial joint is semi-dislocated and the lateral atlantoaxial joints are severely deformed. Type 2 (7 patients) exhibits AAS but the lateral atlantoaxial joints are not deformed. Type 3 (3 patients) is not associated with AAS and therefore does not exhibit osseous stenosis at the CVJ. In type 3 the myelopathy was caused by another coexisting condition. CONCLUSIONS: Occipitalization of the atlas is classified into three types. The main pathological condition in both types 1 and 2 is AAS. Reduction of AAS is essential in both; however, reduction of AAS in type 1 is more technically demanding than in type 2. The pathological conditions of type 3 are completely different from those of the others, so an accurate diagnosis must be made. The new classification system is a useful guide for surgeons when planning surgical strategies.

Distal Junctional Disease after Occipitothoracic Fusion for Rheumatoid Cervical Disorders: Correlation with Cervical Spine Sagittal Alignment.

Study Design Retrospective radiographic study. Objective We have performed occipitothoracic (OT) fusion for severe rheumatoid cervical disorders since 1991. In our previous study, we reported that the distal junctional disease occurred in patients with fusion of O-T4 or longer due to increased mechanical stress. The present study further evaluated the association between the distal junctional disease and the cervical spine sagittal alignment. Methods Among 60 consecutive OT fusion cases between 1991 and 2010, 24 patients who underwent O-T5 fusion were enrolled in this study. The patients were grouped based on whether they developed postoperative distal junctional disease (group F) or not (group N). We measured pre- and postoperative O-C2, C2-C7, and O-C7 angles and evaluated the association between these values and the occurrence of distal junctional disease. Results Seven (29%) of 24 patients developed adjacent-level vertebral fractures as distal junctional disease. In group F, the mean pre- and postoperative O-C2, C2-C7, and O-C7 angles were 12.1 and 16.8, 7.2 and 11.2, and 19.4 and 27.9 degrees, respectively. In group N, the mean pre- and postoperative O-C2, C2-C7, and O-C7 angles were 15.9 and 15.0, 4.9 and 5.8, and 21.0 and 20.9 degrees, respectively. There were no significant differences between the two groups. The difference in the O-C7 angle (postoperative angle - preoperative angle) in group F was significantly larger than that in group N (p = 0.04). Conclusion Excessive correction of the O-C7 angle (hyperlordotic alignment) is likely to cause postoperative distal junctional disease following the OT fusion.

A novel skull clamp positioning system and technique for posterior cervical surgery: clinical impact on cervical sagittal alignment.

A prospective radiographic study.The purpose of this study was to analyze whether a novel skull clamp positioning system and technique is useful for obtaining good, quantitative cervical sagittal alignment during posterior cervical surgery.Different surgical procedures depend on cervical spine positioning. However, maneuver of the device and cervical position depends on the skill of the operator.This study included 21 male and 10 female patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy and ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament of the cervical spine, undergoing posterior cervical surgery using the novel skull clamp positioning system. The average patient age was 68.6 years (range: 56-87 years). The novel system has a scale to adjust the neck position and to enable intended cervical sagittal alignment. First, the patient was placed on the operating table in the prone position with preplanned head-neck sagittal alignment (neutral position in general). The head was rotated sagittally, and the head was positioned in the military tuck position with the novel device that was used to widen the interlaminar space. After completing the decompression procedure, the head was rotated again back to the initial preplanned position. During this position change, the scale equipped with the device was useful in determining accurate positions. The C0-C1, C0-C2, C1-C2, C2-C7, and C0-C7 angles were measured on lateral radiographs taken pre-, intra-, and postoperatively.This novel system allowed us to obtain adequate, quantitative cervical sagittal alignment during posterior cervical surgery. There were no clinically significant differences observed between the pre- and postoperative angles for C1-C2 and C2-C7.Sagittal neck position was quantitatively changed during posterior cervical surgery using a novel skull clamp positioning system, enabling adequate final cervical sagittal alignment identical to the preplanned neck position.

Neurological improvement and prognosis after occipito-thoracic fusion in patients with mutilating-type rheumatoid arthritis.

INTRODUCTION: Mutilating-type rheumatoid arthritis, the most aggressive type of rheumatoid arthritis, is frequently associated with destructive cervical involvement, both at the high-cervical and subaxial levels, causing significant neurological deficit, and their natural course of the disease and the survival are discouraging. For such cases, we have been actively performing occipito-thoracic fusion since 1991. Although medical treatment for rheumatoid patients has represented a marked improvement, it could not treat all of these patients because of several reasons. Therefore, it is still important to evaluate the past treatment results. METHODS: We investigated the neurological improvement and prognosis in 51 mutilating-type rheumatoid arthritis patients who underwent occipito-thoracic fusion between 1991 and 2010. The neurological status was evaluated using modified Ranawat classification; class IIIB was subdivided into IIIBa (able to sit upright) and IIIBb (bedridden). RESULTS: The preoperative neurologic status was IIIBa in 19 patients and IIIBb in 17 patients. 15 of the 19 patients with class IIIBa improved to being able to walk (79 %), whereas only 3 of the 17 patients with class IIIBb improved to being able to walk (18 %) after surgery. Of the 51 patients, 28 died during follow-up; the mean age at death was 67.2 years. The postoperative 5- and 10-year survival rates were 60.3 and 26.4 %, respectively. CONCLUSION: The neurological improvement and prognosis after surgery was poorer in class IIIBb patients than in the other patient groups. Occipito-thoracic fusion can improve the neurological symptoms and prognosis. However, early surgical intervention is recommended, before a patient becomes bedridden (class IIIBb).

Interlaminar bony fusion after cervical laminoplasty: its characteristics and relationship with clinical results.

STUDY DESIGN: A radiographic study in 32 patients with cervical myelopathy. OBJECTIVE: To investigate postoperative interlaminar bony fusion, and its characteristics and relationship to clinical results in patients undergoing laminoplasty. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Laminoplasty is being increasingly performed for multi-segmental cervical myelopathy, and its superior long-term results have been reported in some articles. We often see cases that develop postoperative interlaminar bony fusion after laminoplasty. METHODS: In 32 patients, lateral cervical radiographs were obtained every year after surgery, and postoperative interlaminar bony fusion was evaluated. Range of motion (ROM) of the cervical spine at last follow-up was compared with the respective preoperative values. Furthermore, the neurologic recovery rates at last follow-up were compared to preoperative values. RESULTS: Postoperative interlaminar bony fusion was shown in 17 patients (53%, group 1), and in most, fusion appeared within 3 years after surgery. Average age at surgery in group 1 and the remaining 15 patients (group 2) was 64.6 years and 57.0 years, respectively (P < 0.04). Preoperative and postoperative ranges of motion in group 1 were 45.6 degrees and 28.1 degrees on average, respectively. However, those of group 2 were 50.3 degrees and 39.8 degrees on average, respectively. Postoperative ROM in group 2 was significantly better maintained than that in group 1(P < 0.04). In group 1, the average preoperative Japanese Orthopedic Association score was 9.56 points, which improved to 13.6 points at the final follow-up, providing a 55.6% average recovery. In group 2, it was 10.9 points, which improved to 14.1 points at the final follow-up, providing a 56.5% average recovery. There was no significant difference in the average percentage of recovery between the 2 groups (P > 0.93). CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative interlaminar bony fusion occurred in 53% of patients, with marked frequency at C2/3 after laminoplasty. It did not influence neurologic recovery, but it did reduce the postoperative sagittal ROM of the cervical spine.