Korean Journal of Spine最新文献

Intradural disc herniation is a very rare condition, and multiple intradural disc herniations have not been reported to date. The latter may be confused with intradural extramedullary (IDEM) spinal tumors. Here, we report a case of multiple intradural disc herniations masquerading as multiple IDEM tumors and review the relevant literature. We retrospectively reviewed the patient's medical chart, reviewed the intraoperative microscopic findings, and reviewed of PubMed articles on intradural disc herniation. The masses considered to be IDEM tumors were confirmed to be multiple intradural disc herniations. A nonenhancing mass was found to have migrated along the intra-arachnoid space. Two enhancing masses could not migrate because of adhesion and showed peripheral neovascularization. We report an extremely rare case of multiple intradural lumbar disc herniations showing diverse enhancing patterns and masquerading as multiple IDEM tumors. In case of multiple enhancing IDEM masses suspected preoperatively, surgeons should consider the possibility of intradural disc herniation.

Objective: Pfirrmann disc degeneration grade is one of morphologic disc degeneration grading system and it was reliable on routine T2-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) images. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the agreement of Pfirrmann disc degeneration grade, and check the alternative technique of disc degeneration grading system.

Methods: Fifteen volunteers (4 medical doctors related to spinal disease, 2 medical doctors not related to spinal disease, 6 nurses in spinal hospital, and 3 para-medicines) were included in this study. Three different digitalized MR images were provided all volunteers, and they checked Pfirrmann disc degeneration grade of each disc levels after careful listening to explanation. Indeed, all volunteers checked the signal intensity of disc degeneration at the points of nucleus pulposus (NP), disc membrane, ligaments, fat, and air to modify the quantitative Pfirrmann disc degeneration grade.

Results: Total 225 grade results of Pfirrmann disc degeneration grade and 405 signal intensity results of quantitative Pfirrmann disc degeneration grade were analyzed. Average interobserver agreement was "moderate (mean±standard deviation, 0.575±0.251)" from poor to excellent. Completely agreed levels of Pfirrmann disc degeneration grade were only 4 levels (26.67%), and the disagreement levels were observed in 11 levels; two different grades in 8 levels (53.33%) and three different grades in 3 levels (20%). Quantitative Pfirrmann disc degeneration showed relatively cluster distribution with the interobserver deviations of 0.41-1.56 at the ratio of NP and disc membrane, and it showed relatively good cluster and distribution indicating that the proposed grading system has good discrimination ability.

Conclusion: Pfirrmann disc degeneration grade showed the limitation of different interobserver results, but this limitation could be overcome by using quantitative techniques of MR signal intensity. Further evaluation is needed to access its advantage and reliabilities.

Objective: The purpose of our study is to evaluate the success rate and feasibility of intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) focusing on transcranial motor evoked potential (TcMEP) monitoring for patients with preoperative motor weakness in spine surgery.

Methods: Between November 2011 and December 2013, TcMEP and somatosensory evoked potential (SSEP) monitoring were attempted in 130 consecutive patients undergoing spine surgeries for cervical or thoracic cord lesions. Patients ranged in age from 14 to 81 years (mean±standard deviation, 56.7±14.8 years), and 84 patients were male. The success rates of both SSEP and MEPs monitoring were assessed according to the preoperative Medical Research Council (MRC) and Nurick grades.

Results: TcMEP was recorded successfully in 0%, 28.6%, 72.3%, and 100% of patients with MRC grades 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, respectively. SSEP was obtained from 0%, 37.5%, 21.5%, 61.4%, and 85.4% of patients with MRC grades 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, respectively. TcMEP was recorded successfully in 84% of patients with Nurick grades 1-3 and 26% of patients with Nurick grades 4-5. SSEPs were recorded successfully in 76.3% of patients with Nurick grades 1-3 and 24% of patients with grades 4-5.

Conclusion: IONM during spine surgery may be useless in patients with MRC grades 1-2, applicable MRC grade 3, and useful MRC grades 4-5. MRC grade 3 is a critical point of indication for application of MEPs. In unmonitorable cases with MRC grade 3, increasing stimulus intensity or facilitation techniques may be considered to improve the usefulness of TcMEP.

Objective: There are complications in stand-alone cage assisted anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF), such as cage subsidence and kyphosis. Here we report our clinical result on ACDF, comparing with stand-alone cages and with cervical plate system for degenerative cervical spine diseases.

Methods: Patients with degenerative cervical disease who were diagnosed and treated in Konyang University Hospital between January 2004 and December 2014 were included in this study. Patients who had operation in single level ACDF were selected. Patients scored the degree of pain using visual analog scale before and after the surgery. Subsidence was defined as ≥3-mm decrease of the segmental height, and cervical kyphosis was defined as progression of ≥5° at 12 months after postoperative follow-up compared to that measured at the immediate postoperative period.

Results: A total of 81 patients were enrolled for this study. Forty-five patients were included in a cervical plate group and the others were in stand-alone cage group. There was no statistical difference in pain score between the 2 groups. Segmental subsidence was observed in 7 patients (15.6%) in plate-assisted cervical fusion group, and 13 patients (36.1%) in stand-alone cage group. Segmental kyphosis was observed in 4 patients (8.9%) in plate-assisted cervical fusion group, and 10 patients (27.8%) in stand-alone cage group. There was statistical difference between the 2 groups.

Conclusion: There was no difference in pain between 2 groups. But stand-alone case group showed higher incidence rate than plate-assisted cervical fusion group in segmental subsidence and cervical kyphosis. When designing cervical fusion, more attention should be given selecting the surgical technique.

Plasmacytoma is a malignant plasma cell tumor growing within soft tissue or the axial skeleton. Here, we present the case of a patient with plasmacytoma of the axis vertebra who underwent decompressive surgery with reconstruction via a posterior approach. The patient was referred because of quadriparesis with severe neck pain. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a relatively demarcated, highly enhanced mass lesion in a destructed axis, with spinal cord compression. Computed tomography revealed a 5.6×4.3 cm adrenal mass at the left retroperitoneal space. We suspected the axis lesion to be a metastatic paraganglioma from the adrenal mass. The patient underwent total excision of the tumor under an operative microscope with occipitocervical fixation. Histopathologically, the tumor was shown to be a plasmacytoma. Following the operation, the patient recovered without significant complications. This was a rare case of plasmacytoma in the axis, mimicking metastatic paraganglioma.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical outcomes of minimally invasive extraforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (ELIF) for revision surgery.

Methods: From January 2011 to December 2012, 12 patients who underwent minimally invasive ELIF through the Kambin's triangle for revision surgery were included in this study. All patients underwent the surgical procedure in the following sequence: (1) epidural anesthesia, (2) exposing the Kambin's triangle toward the lateral part of the dura (partial resection of the superior articular process), (3) bilateral cage insertion for reinforcement of stabilization and fusion, and (4) percutaneous transpedicular screwing. Clinical outcomes were assessed using the visual analogue scale (VAS), and Oswestry disability index (ODI). Imaging and clinical findings including surgical techniques, clinical outcomes, and related complications were depicted and analyzed.

Results: The mean age of the patients (5 men, 7 women) was 60.7±13.4 years, and the mean follow-up period was 27.1±4.9 months. The mean VAS (back and leg) score improved significantly at final follow-up. The mean ODI score decreased as follows: preoperative, 76.78±6.08; 3 months after the surgery, 37.74±6.67; and at final follow-up, 29.91±2.98. Two patients presented with transient nerve root irritation, but there were no cases of incidental dural tear or serious infection. No significant neurological deterioration or major complication was noted in any of the patients.

Conclusion: Minimally invasive ELIF for revision surgery is an effective surgical option with a low complication rate.