Limaprost or Pregabalin: Preoperative and Postoperative Medication for Pain due to Lumbar Spinal Stenosis.

PURPOSE: We aimed to evaluate the incidence of (and risk factors for) postoperative pregabalin and/or limaprost to treat persistent numbness and/or pain of the lower extremities after lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) surgery. METHODS: Medical records of 329 patients (168 men, 161 women; average age 70 years) were retrospectively reviewed for data on the duration of LSS diagnosis; LSS disease; preoperative medication (limaprost, pregabalin, or combined limaprost/pregabalin; duration); symptoms; preoperative/postoperative intermittent claudication (IC); operation type; and postoperative medication and period. RESULTS: Limaprost, pregabalin, and combined limaprost/pregabalin were prescribed preoperatively for 43%, 7%, and 5% of patients, respectively. At an average of 21 months postoperatively, limaprost, pregabalin, and combined therapy were prescribed in 11%, 8%, 4% of patients, respectively. Medication requirement was significantly lower postoperatively than preoperatively (P < 0.0001). Significant risk factors for required postoperative medication were required preoperative medication (odds ratio [OR] 3.088, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.679 to 5.681]; postoperative period (OR 1.063, 95% CI 1.031 to 1.096); and postoperative IC (OR 3.868, 95% CI 1.481 to 10.103). A negative impact from postoperative medication was seen in patients who had undergone decompression surgery (OR 0.589, 95% CI 0.377 to 0.918). CONCLUSIONS: Overall, 23% of LSS patients required medication for pain and/or numbness at 21 months postoperatively. Significant factors portending required postoperative medication were preoperative medication, longer postoperative period, and postoperative IC. A negative influence from postoperative medication was seen in patients who had undergone decompression surgery without fusion.

Association between global sagittal malalignment and increasing hip joint contact force, analyzed by a novel musculoskeletal modeling system.

Patients with adult spinal deformity have various standing postures. Although several studies have reported a relationship between sagittal alignment and exacerbation of hip osteoarthritis, information is limited regarding how spinopelvic sagittal alignment changes affect hip joint loading. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between sagittal spinopelvic-lower limb alignment and the hip joint contact force (HCF) using a novel musculoskeletal model. We enrolled 20 women (78.3±6.7 years) from a single institution. Standing lateral radiographs were acquired to measure thoracic kyphosis, lumbar lordosis, the pelvic tilt, sacral slope, sagittal vertical axis (SVA), femur obliquity angle, and knee flexion angle. In the model simulation, the Anybody Modeling System was used, which alters muscle pathways using magnetic resonance imaging data. Each patient's alignment was entered into the model; the HCF and hip moment in the standing posture were calculated using inverse dynamics analysis. The relationship between the HCF and each parameter was examined using Spearman's correlation coefficient (r). The patients were divided into low SVA and high SVA groups, with a cutoff value of 50 mm for the SVA. The HCF was 168.2±60.1 N (%BW) and positively correlated with the SVA (r = 0.6343, p<0.01) and femur obliquity angle (r = 0.4670, p = 0.03). The HCF were 122.2 and 214.1 N (75.2% difference) in the low SVA and high SVA groups, respectively (p<0.01). The flexion moment was also increased in the high SVA group compared with that in the low SVA group (p = 0.03). The SVA and femur obliquity angle are factors related to the HCF, suggesting an association between adult spinal deformity and the exacerbation of hip osteoarthritis. Future studies will need to assess the relationship between the hip joint load and sagittal spinopelvic parameters in dynamic conditions.

Herniation of the cauda equina into the facet joint through a pseudomeningocele: A case report and literature review.

BACKGROUND: Incidental durotomy is a well-known complication of spinal surgery. It can lead to persistent cerebrospinal fluid leakage resulting in significant secondary complications. Here, we present a case in which the cauda equina herniated into a pseudomeningocele that penetrated a facet joint, leading to lower extremity radiculopathy warranting surgical correction. CASE DESCRIPTION: One year ago, a 67-year-old male underwent a partial left L4-L5 laminectomy. At surgery, a durotomy was repaired with a nylon suture and reinforced with a fat patch. He subsequently presented with severe left lower extremity radiculopathy and a partial cauda equina syndrome. On MR, the cauda equina had herniated into a pseudomeningocele that penetrated the left facet joint. Once the defect was repaired at surgery, the patient's symptoms improved. CONCLUSION: It is critical to correctly repair an intraoperative durotomy to avoid further neurological deficits that may include cauda equina herniation into pseudomeningoceles penetrating facet joints.

Surgical Results of Patients with Myelopathy due to Ossification of the Ligamentum Flavum with Ossification of the Posterior Longitudinal Ligament or a Vertebral Fracture at the Same Level of the Thoracic Spine: A Retrospective Comparative Study.

Study Design: Retrospective and comparative study. Purpose: We assessed surgical treatment outcomes in patients with thoracic myelopathy due to ossification of the ligamentum flavum (OLF), and OLF combined with ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) or vertebral fracture (VF) at the same level. Overview of Literature: OLF and OPLL cause severe thoracic myelopathy. Osteoporotic VF commonly occurs at the thoracolumbar junction. There have been no investigations of thoracic myelopathy due to OLF and VF. Methods: Forty patients were divided among three groups: the OLF group (n=23): myelopathy due to OLF, the OLF+OPLL group (n=12): myelopathy due to OLF and OPLL, and the OLF+VF group (n=5): myelopathy due to OLF and VF. We recorded OLF, OPLL, and VF sites and operative procedures. Each patient's neurological status, according to the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score, and walking ability were evaluated pre- and postoperatively. Results: Patients in the OLF+OPLL group were significantly younger than those in the other two groups. The preoperative JOA score was significantly lower in the OLF+VF than OLF group. The final JOA score was significantly lower in the OLF+VF than OLF and OLF+OPLL groups. The JOA score recovery rate was significantly lower in the OLF+VF than OLF group. Final walking ability was significantly worse in the OLF+OPLL and OLF+VF groups than in the OLF group and significantly worse in the OLF+VF than OLF+OPLL group. Conclusions: Thoracic myelopathy due to OLF+VF occurs primarily in older females, who also exhibit worse preoperative and postoperative neurological status, and worse walking ability, than patients with thoracic myelopathy due to OLF or OLF+OPLL.

Posterior spinal fusion using a unilateral C1 posterior arch screw and a C2 laminar screw for atlantoaxial fracture dislocation.

INTRODUCTION: C1 lateral mass screws and C2 pedicle screws are usually chosen to fix atlantoaxial (C1-C2) instability. However, there are a few situations in which these screws are difficult to use, such as in a case with a fracture line at the screw insertion point and bleeding from the fracture site. A new technique using a unilateral C1 posterior arch screw and a C2 laminar screw combined with a contralateral C1 lateral mass screws-C2 pedicle screws procedure for upper cervical fixation is reported. CASE REPORT: A 24-year-old woman had an irreducible C1-C2 anterior dislocation with a type III odontoid fracture on the right side due to a traffic accident. The patient underwent open reduction and posterior C1-C2 fixation. On the left side, a C1 lateral mass screws and a C2 pedicle screws were placed. Because there was bleeding from the fracture site and a high-riding vertebral artery was seen on the right side, a C1 posterior arch screw and a C2 laminar screw were chosen. Eight months after the surgery, computed tomography scans showed healing of the odontoid fracture with anatomically correct alignment. CONCLUSIONS: Although there have been few comparable studies, fixation with unilateral C1 posterior arch screw-C2 laminar screw could be a beneficial choice for surgeries involving the upper cervical region in patients with fracture dislocation or arterial abnormalities.