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Introduction: For older adults, dysphagia is a serious problem that can occur after spinal cord injury (SCI), but its risk factors are unclear. This study aimed to identify risk factors for dysphagia in elderly patients (65 years) with cervical SCI. Methods: This multicenter study included 707 patients with cervical SCI (mean age 75.3 years). Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted for patient characteristics and geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI). Results: Dysphagia occurred in 69 patients (9.8%). The significant factors were as follows: male sex (odds ratio [OR] 3.43), GNRI

Abstract This retrospective cohort study established malnutrition’s impact on mortality and neurological recovery of older patients with cervical spinal cord injury (SCI). It included patients aged ≥ 65 years with traumatic cervical SCI treated conservatively or surgically. The Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index was calculated to assess nutritional-related risk. Overall, 789 patients (mean follow-up: 20.1 months) were examined and 47 had major nutritional-related risks on admission. One-year mortality rate, median survival time, neurological recovery, and activities of daily living (ADL) at 1 year post-injury were compared between patients with major nutrition-related risk and matched controls selected using 1:2 propensity score matching to adjust for age, pre-traumatic neurological impairment, and activity. In the Kaplan–Meier analysis, the median survival times were 44.9 and 76.5 months for patients with major nutrition-related risk and matched controls, respectively (p = 0.015). Matched controls had more individuals with a neurological improvement of American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale ≥ 1 grade (p = 0.039) and independence in ADL at 1 year post-injury than patients with major nutrition-related risk (p

Abstract The aim of this study was to compare in-hospital mortality of three procedures –halo-vest immobilization, anterior spinal fixation (ASF), and posterior spinal fixation (PSF)– in the treatment of elderly patients with isolated C2 odontoid fracture. We extracted data for elderly patients who were admitted with C2 odontoid fracture and treated with at least one of the three procedures (halo-vest immobilization, ASF, or PSF) during hospitalization. We conducted a generalized propensity score-based matching weight analysis to compare in-hospital mortality among the three procedures. We further investigated independent risk factors for in-hospital death. The study involved 891 patients (halo-vest, n = 463; ASF, n = 74; and PSF, n = 354) with a mean age of 78 years. In-hospital death occurred in 45 (5.1%) patients. Treatment type was not significantly associated with in-hospital mortality. Male sex (odds ratio 2.98; 95% confidence interval 1.32–6.73; p = 0.009) and a Charlson comorbidity index of ≥ 3 (odds ratio 9.18; 95% confidence interval 3.25–25.92; p

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.

Abstract Although the incidence of cervical spinal cord injury (CSCI) with ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) has increased in older adults, its etiology and neurological outcomes remain unknown. We identified OPLL characteristics and determined whether they influence neurological severity and improvement of CSCI in older patients. This multicenter retrospective cohort study identified 1512 patients aged ≥ 65 years diagnosed with CSCI on admission during 2010–2020. We analyzed CSCI etiology in OPLL patients. We performed propensity score-adjusted analyses to compare neurological outcomes between patients with and without OPLL. Cases were matched based on variables influencing neurological prognosis. The primary neurological outcome was rated according to the American Spine Injury Association (ASIA) impairment scale (AIS) and ASIA motor score (AMS). In 332 OPLL patients, the male-to-female ratio was approximately 4:1. Half of all patients displayed low-energy trauma-induced injury and one-third had CSCI without a bony injury. Propensity score matching created 279 pairs. There was no significant difference in the AIS grade and AMS between patients with and without OPLL during hospitalization, 6 months, and 12 months following injury. OPLL patients tended to exhibit worse neurological findings during injury; nevertheless, OPLL was not associated with poor neurological improvement in older CSCI patients.

Abstract Although traumatic cervical spine injuries in older adults are commonly caused by minor traumas, such as ground-level falls, their prognosis is often unfavorable. Studies examining the clinical characteristics of cervical spine injuries in older adults according to the external cause of injury are lacking. This study included 1512 patients of ≥ 65 years of age with traumatic cervical spine injuries registered in a Japanese nationwide multicenter database. The relationship between the external causes and clinical characteristics, as well as factors causing unfavorable outcomes at the ground-level falls, were retrospectively reviewed and examined. When fall-induced cervical spine injuries were categorized and compared based on fall height, the patients’ backgrounds and injury statuses differed significantly. Of note, patients injured from ground-level falls tended to have poorer pre-injury health conditions, such as medical comorbidities and frailty, compared with those who fell from higher heights. For ground-level falls, the mortality, walking independence, and home-discharge rates at 6 months post-injury were 9%, 67%, and 80%, respectively, with preexisting medical comorbidities and frailty associated with unfavorable outcomes, independent of age or severity of neurological impairment at the time of injury.

Abstract Background The 1-year mortality and functional prognoses of patients who received surgery for cervical trauma in the elderly remains unclear. The aim of this study is to investigate the rates of, and factors associated with mortality and the deterioration in walking capacity occurring 1 year after spinal fusion surgery for cervical fractures in patients 65 years of age or older. Methods Three hundred thirteen patients aged 65 years or more with a traumatic cervical fracture who received spinal fusion surgery were enrolled. The patients were divided into a survival group and a mortality group, or a maintained walking capacity group and a deteriorated walking capacity group. We compared patients’ backgrounds, trauma, and surgical parameters between the two groups. To identify factors associated with mortality or a deteriorated walking capacity 1 year postoperatively, a multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted. Results One year postoperatively, the rate of mortality was 8%. A higher Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) score, a more severe the American Spinal Cord Injury Association impairment scale (AIS), and longer surgical time were identified as independent factors associated with an increase in 1-year mortality. The rate of deterioration in walking capacity between pre-trauma and 1 year postoperatively was 33%. A more severe AIS, lower albumin (Alb) and hemoglobin (Hb) values, and a larger number of fused segments were identified as independent factors associated with the increased risk of deteriorated walking capacity 1 year postoperatively. Conclusions The 1-year rate of mortality after spinal fusion surgery for cervical fracture in patients 65 years of age or older was 8%, and its associated factors were a higher CCI score, a more severe AIS, and a longer surgical time. The rate of deterioration in walking capacity was 33%, and its associated factors were a more severe AIS, lower Alb, lower Hb values, and a larger number of fused segments.

Introduction: In elderly patients with cervical spinal cord injury, comorbidities such as cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases are common, with frequent administration of antiplatelet/anticoagulant (APAC) drugs. Such patients may bleed easily or unexpectedly during surgery despite prior withdrawal of APAC medication. Few reports have examined the precise relationship between intraoperative blood loss and history of APAC use regarding surgery for cervical spine injury in the elderly. The present multicenter database survey aimed to answer the question of whether the use of APAC drugs affected the amount of intraoperative blood loss in elderly patients with cervical spinal cord trauma. Methods: The case histories of 1512 patients with cervical spine injury at 33 institutes were retrospectively reviewed. After excluding cases without spinal surgery or known blood loss volume, 797 patients were enrolled. Blood volume loss was the outcome of interest. We calculated propensity scores using the inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) method. As an alternative sensitivity analysis, linear mixed model analyses were conducted as well. Results: Of the 776 patients (mean age: 75.1±6.4 years) eligible for IPTW calculation, 157 (20.2%) were taking APAC medications before the injury. After weighting, mean estimated blood loss was 204 mL for non-APAC patients and 215 mL for APAC patients. APAC use in elderly patients was not significantly associated with surgical blood loss according to the IPTW method with propensity scoring or linear mixed model analyses. Thus, it appeared possible to perform surgery expecting comparable blood loss in APAC and non-APAC cases. Conclusions: This multicenter study revealed no significant increase in surgical blood loss in elderly patients with cervical trauma taking APAC drugs. Surgeons may be able to prioritize patient background, complications, and preexisting conditions over APAC use before injury when examining the surgical indications for cervical spine trauma in the elderly.

Abstract Background Hallux valgus deformity has been reported to be associated with increased postural sway. However, the direction and magnitude of postural sway associated with hallux valgus remain inconclusive. We assessed the association between hallux valgus deformity and postural sway using a force plate. Methods The subjects were 169 healthy volunteers, > 40 years old (63 males, 106 females, average age: 66.0 ± 12.4 years old), who took part in an annual medical examination. We investigated the photographic hallux valgus angle (°), total trajectory length of the gravity center fluctuation (mm), area of the center of pressure (mm2), mediolateral and anteroposterior postural sway (mm) in a standing position with 2-legged stance and eyes open, hallux pain (Numerical Rating Scale), trunk and lower limb muscle mass (kg). We classified the subjects into a hallux valgus group (n = 44, photographic hallux valgus angle of 1 or both feet ≥ 20°) and a no hallux valgus group (n = 125, photographic hallux valgus angle of both feet

Objectives Venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation is increasingly being used as a life-saving modality in critically ill patients. Despite its necessity, severe lower extremity ischemia associated with venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation remains a potentially devastating complication. We aimed to investigate the incidence and risk factors for severe lower extremity ischemia requiring fasciotomy or amputation following venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.Methods All patients who received venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation during hospitalization were identified in a Japanese national inpatient database from July 1, 2010 to March 31, 2018. The primary outcome was occurrence of severe lower extremity ischemia that required fasciotomy or amputation. We used cause-specific proportional hazard models to examine the associations between potential risk factors and outcomes. We also performed a competing-risk analysis to estimate the cause-specific HR for severe lower extremity ischemia using a multivariable competing-risk Cox proportional hazard model with adjustment for potential risk factors.Results A total of 29 231 patients who underwent venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation during hospitalization were identified. Of these, 98 patients (0.3%) had lower extremity ischemia requiring fasciotomy or amputation. The young group (≤18 years) had a significantly higher proportion of severe lower extremity ischemia cases than the adult (19–59 years) and elderly (≥60 years) groups (1.4%, 0.5%, and 0.2%, respectively; p

Introduction: Spinal malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs) are extremely rare. Because of vital surroundings, en bloc resection can be difficult in MPNSTs of the cervical spine. Herein, we report three cases of MPNST followed by radiotherapy or carbon ion radiotherapy (CIRT) after surgery. Technical Note: In case 1, the patient underwent subtotal resection from both a posterior and anterior approach following by adjuvant X-ray radiotherapy. The patient died 13 years after surgery due to liver cancer unrelated to MPNST. In case 2, recurrence spread to the spinal canal in 10 months after primary CIRT. The patient underwent resection of the spinal canal lesion with the residual lesion treated by additional CIRT. Recurrence could be controlled for at least 1 year. In case 3, the patient underwent partial resection for the spinal canal lesion with the residual lesion treated by CIRT. Intradural and extradural recurrences from outside of the CIRT field were observed at 3 years after surgery. Conclusions: Complete resection and adjuvant X-ray radiotherapy would be an effective treatment for MPNST of the cervical spine, even if en bloc resection with a wide margin is impossible. CIRT for the residual tumor after incomplete resection may have the potential to be an additional treatment option; however, further investigation is warranted.

Abstract Background Although osteoblastoma is an uncommon benign bone tumor, it sometimes behaves in a locally aggressive fashion. We herein report a case of recurrent lumbar spine osteoblastoma that was treated by repeated surgery and carbon ion radiotherapy. Case presentation A 13-year-old Japanese girl presented with left side lumbar pain. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging of the lumbar spine demonstrated a tumorous lesion in the left side pedicle of L4. Although gross total resection of the mass, including the nidus, was performed in the initial surgery, recurrence was observed repeatedly in the short term and the pathological diagnosis of all of the resected tumors was conventional osteoblastoma. We finally performed carbon ion radiotherapy after the patient’s 3rd palliative operation, and achieved a good outcome. No further recurrence has been observed in 10 years of follow-up. Conclusion We performed carbon ion radiotherapy for a case of recurrent spinal osteoblastoma and achieved a good outcome without recurrence at 10 years after carbon ion radiotherapy treatment. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of osteoblastoma that was treated with carbon ion radiotherapy after multiple surgeries.

Precise evaluation of motor functions using simple and reproducible tests for mouse models of spinal cord injury (SCI) are required. Overground walking of SCI mice has been tested by Basso Mouse Scale for locomotion (BMS). In contrast, only a few works quantify walking performances of SCI mice on narrow beams, a different task. Here, we established a novel scoring system using a single beam walking apparatus for SCI mice. The scoring system uses binary judgments of values such as retention, moving forward and reaching the goal on a beam for rating. In addition, high score was given to SCI mouse when the mouse efficiently used hindlimbs for locomotion on the beam. A high rate of concordance of the score derived from positions of hindlimbs between two observers was obtained. Mice displayed the lowest total score on the beam immediately after the SCI, then the score gradually increased like time course of BMS score. Furthermore, the total scores reflected gradation of severity of SCI in 2 strains of mice. The beam walking score proved to be strongly correlated with that of BMS score, indicating that performances between overground walking and beam walking are partly correlated in SCI mice. Collectively, the novel scoring system offers an opportunity to easily evaluate motor performances of mice with SCI.

Background: Although incidental dural tears are relatively common during spine surgery, transdural nerve root herniation without the identification of dural tear is a rare complication during spine surgery.Case presentationAn 80-year-old woman was diagnosed with L4-5 degenerative spondylolisthesis with spinal stenosis. The patient underwent L4-5 posterior decompression surgery and without any obvious incidental dural tear during surgery. On postoperative day (POD) 2, she complained of left leg pain. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) on POD 3 did not show any clearly causative lesion. Her left leg pain remained, but she was ambulatory. MRI findings on POD 15 were suggestive of transdural nerve root herniation contained in a pseudomeningocele. Reoperation was performed on the same day. Herniated cauda equina fibers were observed through a dural tear and dural closure was performed with continuous suturing after reduction of the herniated cauda equina fibers. Her left leg pain resolved immediately after surgery. At 12 months after surgery she reported that she had been doing housework without pain or bladder problems. Conclusion: Reoperation was performed for transdural nerve root herniation after lumbar decompression surgery, and resulted in a favorable outcome. Clinicians should be aware that transdural nerve root herniation can occur, even if no dural tear is identified intraoperatively.

Introduction: Primary epidural extra-osseous Ewing sarcoma/peripheral primitive neuroectodermal tumor (ES/pPNET) is a rare entity included in the Ewing sarcoma family of tumors (ESFTs) that is associated with an unfavorable prognosis. Methods: We described the case of a patient with primary epidural extra-osseous ES/pPNET of the cervical spine, and reviewed the relevant literature for reports on this rare malignant tumor. Our research yielded 24 articles describing 40 patients. We analyzed these reports to identify factors associated with long-term survival. Results: A 30-year-old woman presented with pain and numbness in the right scapula and right upper limb. Cervical MRI showed an epidural mass extending into the right C6-7 foramina. We performed gross total resection of the mass; the histological diagnosis was ES/pPNET. We also performed adjuvant chemoradiotherapy after the operation. No recurrence has been observed for 10 years. Based on the review of the literature, we conducted a Kaplan-Meier analysis of 36 patients who underwent surgery. The analysis showed that the median survival time in patients treated with adjuvant chemotherapy was significantly longer than that in patients treated without adjuvant chemotherapy (25 months vs. 18 months, p = 0.002, log-rank test), whereas neither the mode of resection nor the performance of adjuvant radiotherapy significantly influenced survival. Conclusions: Long-term survival (>10 years) was obtained by gross total resection and adjuvant chemoradiotherapy. Adjuvant chemotherapy was associated with a long median survival time in a patient with epidural extra-osseous ES/pPNET of the cervical spine.

Introduction. Spinal angiomatous meningioma arising in the craniocervical junction has not been reported. Case Presentation. A 68-year-old man presented to our hospital with pain in the back and left leg. He showed slight motor weakness in his upper extremities. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a mass with marked enhancement in the craniocervical junction. Computed tomography angiography showed feeding vessels arising from the right vertebral artery. Preoperative embolization of the feeding vessels was performed to reduce intraoperative bleeding. Gross total resection of the tumor was achieved by debulking and piecemeal resection. The tumor attachment to the dura mater was also resected (Simpson grade 1 resection). A histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of an angiomatous meningioma. The patient’s symptoms improved shortly after surgery. Conclusions. We achieved gross total resection of spinal angiomatous meningioma arising in the craniocervical junction. A preoperative evaluation and embolization of the feeding arteries may help prevent massive intraoperative bleeding.

Introduction. Spinal mobile tumors are very rare. We herein report a case of paraplegia caused by migration and incarceration of thoracic mobile schwannoma after myelography. Case Presentation. A 25-year-old man who had weakness and numbness in both his legs also had pain radiating to the back that was induced by back flexion or extension and jumping. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed an intradural extramedullary lesion at the T10 and T11 levels. Myelography was performed but discontinued due to his back and lower limb pain. Computed tomography after myelography revealed a rostrally migrated intradural mass with a discrepancy in the exact location in comparison to the MRI findings. He underwent a second lumbar puncture and drained the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) to aid the spinal cord, because the symptoms gradually worsened and led to paraplegia. After the drainage of the CSF, his symptoms were immediately resolved. The day after myelography, he underwent complete resection of the tumor with the diagnosis of schwannoma. One year after the surgery, he had been working despite having hyperreflexia in his lower limbs with no weakness or sensory disturbance. Conclusion. Severe neurological deficits associated with spinal cord damage can occur due to migration of mobile tumors.

Study DesignA cross-sectional study.PurposeTo clarify the prevalence of chronic nonspecific low back pain (CNSLBP) and its associated factors among middle-aged and elderly Japanese individuals using data from a musculoskeletal examination conducted in general Japanese populations.Overview of LiteratureMost studies evaluating low back pain-associated factors have been conducted in Western countries, but they have not always evaluated CNSLBP.MethodsWe obtained data on 213 subjects aged >50 years who responded to a survey regarding age, gender, body mass index, lifestyle-related diseases (diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia), glucocorticoid use, smoking and alcohol-drinking habits, labor intensity, and chronic low back pain (CLBP) and underwent screening for lumbar spinal stenosis, evaluation for quality of life (QOL), and evaluation for specific spinal pathology via thoracolumbar spine X-rays. We investigated the prevalence of CNSLBP and association between CNSLBP and measured variables.ResultsThe prevalence of CNSLBP and chronic specific low back pain (CSLBP) was 15.4% and 9.3%, respectively. Among the subjects with CLBP, 62.2% had CNSLBP. In age-adjusted logistic models, smoking habits (p=0.049, odds ratio [OR]=2.594), low back pain (p

Study DesignCross-sectional study.PurposeThe purpose of this study was to evaluate the correlation between pelvic tilt (PT) and the sacro-femoral-pubic (SFP) angle, which is easier to identify than PT, in middle-aged and elderly Asian subjects from the general population.Overview of LiteratureMeasuring PT is important in the diagnosis and treatment of adult spinal deformity. However, identifying femoral heads, which are necessary to determine PT, using sagittal radiographs is often difficult.MethodsStanding coronal and sagittal pelvic radiographs of individuals aged more than 50 years were taken during a local medical examination. The subjects were divided into female, male, and total groups at the time of evaluation. Linear regression analysis was performed to investigate the relationship between PT and the SFP angle, which were obtained from the X-rays.ResultsThe present study included 291 subjects. There were no statistically significant differences between the left and right SFP angles, and there was gender difference regarding the SFP angle. However, a gender difference was observed regarding PT. The correlation between PT and the SFP angle was substantiated in each group. Pearson's correlation coefficients between PT and the SFP angle in the total, female, and male groups were 0.696, 0.853, and 0.619, respectively. In the linear regression analysis, PT was calculated as follows: PT=60.1−0.77×(SFP angle) in the total group, PT=62.8−0.80×(SFP angle) in the female group, and PT=51.5−0.64×(SFP angle) in the male group.ConclusionsA significant correlation between PT and the SFP angle was observed in middle-aged and elderly Asian subjects from the general population.

The extent of spontaneous recovery in patients with a spinal cord injury (SCI) has not been thoroughly investigated. It is essentially not known whether SCI animals exhibit full recovery from both motor and sensory deficits as well. Here, we developed an appropriate condition to produce a mild SCI in mice. Mice given a mild contusion SCI showed transient low performances in the Basso Mouse Scale for locomotion (BMS), rotarod and beam walking tests after the SCI, which was followed by complete restoration in a short time. The SCI mice also showed functional full recovery from low sensitivity to light touch using dynamic touch test. Nevertheless, the fully-recovered SCI mice still exhibited significant loss of myelin in the spinal cord. These results suggest a high potential of adaptation of motor and sensory systems in mice and might provide insight into the prognoses of SCI patients.

We herein report a case of cervical myelopathy due to destructive spondyloarthropathy (DSA) with an unusual painful muscle spasm. A 51-year-old man presented to our hospital due to numbness in the hands and progressive gait disturbance. The patient underwent laminoplasty for cervical myelopathy. One and a half years after surgery, the patient developed progressive kyphosis of the cervical spine and increasing spastisity. He also started to suffer from intractable pain associated with a muscle spasm. A blood analysis revealed marked CK elevation. The patient underwent 2-stage circumferential decompression and fusion. After the revision procedure, his symptoms improved, and his serum CK level normalized. Physicians should be alert to the possibility of pain associated with an excessive muscle spasm in cervical myelopathy patients.

Background. Spinal sarcoidosis is a rare subgroup of neurosarcoidosis. Although most sarcoid lesions develop in the intramedullary compartment, intradural extramedullary (IDEM) spinal sarcoidosis is an extremely rare entity. Case Presentation. We herein report a case of IDEM spinal sarcoidosis mimicking a meningioma. A 32-year-old man presented to the hospital with clumsy hands and was unable to walk without assistance. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the cervical spine revealed a dural tail sign that is common in meningiomas. The patient underwent gross total resection. The pathological findings consisted with a sarcoid leision of the spinal cord. The patient’s myelopathy recovered after surgery. Conclusions. Physicians should be alert for the possibility of IDEM sarcoidosis mimicking a meningioma in the differential diagnosis of IDEM spinal cord tumors.

Intradural-extramedullary solitary fibrous tumor/hemangiopericytoma (SFT/HPC) is a rare entity. SFT/HPCs can recur after surgery, even if a benign histology of the tumor is observed. We herein report a 68-year-old woman with intradural-extramedullary SFT/HPC. On magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), the intradural-extramedullary mass was isointense on T1-weighted images and hypointense on T2-weighted images with heterogeneous gadolinium enhancement. Whole-body fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG-PET/CT) was also performed, showing no accumulation. We performed surgery for the intradural-extramedullary mass, and the pathological findings of the resected specimen were a benign histology consistent with World Health Organization (WHO) grade I SFT/HPC. She had no evidence of tumor recurrence three years after the surgery for intradural-extramedullary SFT/HPC. 18F-FDG-PET/CT before surgery may be useful for predicting the postoperative behavior of spinal SFT/HPCs.

Purpose. To determine the risk factors for elbow injury and its association with glenohumeral internal rotation deficit among young baseball players. Methods. 229 baseball players aged 9 to 14 (mean, 11) years completed a self-administered questionnaire with items related to years of playing baseball, hours of training per weekday, days of training per week, and past and present experience of elbow pain. Two orthopaedic surgeons measured the range of motion of both shoulders and elbows. Another 2 orthopaedic surgeons performed ultrasonography to detect any elbow abnormality such as fragmentation of the medial epicondylar apophysis and osteochondritis dissecans of the capitellum. Using univariate and multivariable analyses, participants with or without elbow abnormality were compared to determine the risk factors for elbow abnormality. Results. Elbow abnormality was detected in 100 of the participants and comprised osteochondritis dissecans of the capitellum (n=18) and fragmentation of the medial epicondylar apophysis (n=82). Elbow abnormality was associated with being a pitcher, past and present experience of elbow pain, loss of elbow extension, and the side-to-side internal rotation difference. The 100 participants with elbow abnormality were stratified into symptomatic (n=57) or asymptomatic (n=43) of elbow pain. Those with elbow abnormality and elbow pain was associated with being a pitcher. Conclusion. Being a pitcher was a risk factor for both elbow abnormality and elbow pain. Nonetheless, 43% of baseball players with elbow abnormality were asymptomatic. The use of ultrasonography was effective in detecting elbow abnormality and enabling early treatment.