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The mechanisms underlying neuropathic pain remain unclear. Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is a bioactive phospholipid derived mainly from lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) by extracellular autotaxin (ATX), and has attracted attention as a candidate biomarker of neuropathic pain. We aimed to investigate the levels of LPA, LPC, and ATX in patients with lumbar spinal canal stenosis (LSCS) or other neuropathic pain diseases, and to distinguish the underlying mechanism of LSCS from other neuropathic pain conditions. Furthermore, the levels of phosphorylated neurofilament heavy chain (pNF-H), an objective surrogate marker of axonal damage, were also measured. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples were obtained from 56 patients with LSCS (n = 31) and various etiologies other than LSCS (n = 25). Patients with LSCS complained of pain intensity comparable to that of patients without LSCS. The LPA levels were significantly higher in patients with LSCS than in non-LSCS patients, while the ATX levels were significantly lower. However, the differences in LPC and pNF-H levels between the two patient groups were not significant. The LPA/LPC ratio was significantly higher in the LSCS group. Notably, the difference in LPA between the two groups diminished in the analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) with ATX as a covariate. Thus, it helped to reveal that LPA synthesis in patients with LSCS depends more efficiently on ATX than in non-LSCS neuropathic pain patients with other etiologies. Our findings further suggest that the triad of LPA, LPC, and ATX in LSCS may contribute to the development and maintenance of neuropathic pain in a manner different from non-LSCS neuropathic conditions.

Background: The aims of this study were 2-fold: (1) to assess the morphological change of the median nerve in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) preoperatively and at 6 and 12 months postoperatively; and (2) to analyze correlation between the changes in ultrasonographic findings and the changes in clinical findings after surgical decompression. Methods: Of the 28 patients with CTS, 34 wrists were treated with open carpal tunnel release. We evaluated them using the Boston questionnaire, Japanese Society for Surgery of the Hand Version of the Quick Disability of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand questionnaire, nerve conduction study (NCS), and ultrasound preoperatively and at 6 and 12 months postoperatively. We measured the cross-sectional area (CSA) of the median nerve at the level of the proximal inlet of the carpal tunnel (CSAc) and more proximally at the level of the distal radioulnar joint (CSAd). Paired t tests and repeated measures analysis of variance of ranks were used to identify changes over time. The Spearman correlation coefficient by rank test was used for the analysis of the relation between the amount of change of CSA and the patient-rated questionnaire score and NCS findings. Results: Findings for CSAc, CSAd, and NCS and patient-rated outcomes at 6 and 12 months postoperatively were significantly lower than their preoperative values. However, no significant correlation was found between the postoperative changes in CSAc, CSAd, and clinical variables obtained preoperatively and postoperatively. Conclusions: Evaluation of sonographic imaging might not be helpful for assessing clinical conditions in patients with CTS after surgical decompression.

OBJECTIVE Proximal junctional kyphosis (PJK), which can worsen a patient’s quality of life, is a common complication following the surgical treatment of adult spinal deformity (ASD). Although various radiographic parameters have been proposed to predict the occurrence of PJK, the optimal method has not been established. The present study aimed to investigate the usefulness of the T1–L1 pelvic angle in the standing position (standing TLPA) for predicting the occurrence of PJK. METHODS The authors retrospectively extracted data for patients with ASD who underwent minimum 5-level fusion to the pelvis with upper instrumented vertebra between T8 and L1. In the present study, PJK was defined as ≥ 10° progression of the proximal junctional angle or reoperation due to progressive kyphosis during 1 year of follow-up. The following parameters were analyzed on whole-spine standing radiographs: the T1–pelvic angle, conventional thoracic kyphosis (TK; T4–12), whole-thoracic TK (T1–12), and the standing TLPA (defined as the angle formed by lines extending from the center of T1 and L1 to the femoral head axis). A logistic regression analysis and a receiver operating characteristic curve analysis were performed. RESULTS A total of 50 patients with ASD were enrolled (84% female; mean age 74.4 years). PJK occurred in 19 (38%) patients. Preoperatively, the PJK group showed significantly greater T1–pelvic angle (49.2° vs 34.4°), conventional TK (26.6° vs 17.6°), and standing-TLPA (30.0° vs 14.9°) values in comparison to the non-PJK group. There was no significant difference in the whole-thoracic TK between the two groups. A multivariate analysis showed that the standing TLPA and whole-thoracic TK were independent predictors of PJK. The standing TLPA had better accuracy than whole-thoracic TK (AUC 0.86 vs 0.64, p = 0.03). The optimal cutoff value of the standing TLPA was 23.0° (sensitivity 0.79, specificity 0.74). Using this cutoff value, the standing TLPA was the best predictor of PJK (OR 8.4, 95% CI 1.8–39, p = 0.007). CONCLUSIONS The preoperative standing TLPA was more closely associated with the occurrence of PJK than other radiographic parameters. These results suggest that this easily measured parameter is useful for the prediction of PJK.

Introduction: Cervical kyphosis is sometimes observed in neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF-1). If NF-1-associated cervical deformity is progressive, surgical intervention is needed to prevent further deterioration of the deformity. The rate of nonunion after spinal fusion is high in NF-1, especially dystrophic NF-1. Case Report: We experienced a 33-year-old woman with cervical kyphosis induced by NF-1. She was treated by two-stage circumferential bone fusion with a vascularized free fibula followed by teriparatide administration and achieved complete spinal fusion with this approach. Conclusion: We administered the teriparatide after spinal fusion surgery for NF-1 associated cervical deformity and obtained complete bony fusion. The administration of teriparatide may be useful to achieve complete bone fusion in patients with NF-1-associated cervical deformity.

Hypothesis and Background The relationship between baseball pitchers' satisfaction with their performance and the incidence of shoulder and elbow injuries is unclear. We hypothesized that self-evaluated satisfaction with pitching performance before an injury and incidence of shoulder and elbow injuries are related. Methods Baseline data on baseball experience, height, weight, elbow and shoulder range of motion, and shoulder muscle strength of high-school baseball pitchers were collected. During the season, all participants completed a self-recorded questionnaire regarding satisfaction scores, presence of shoulder and/or elbow pain, and pitching limitations due to shoulder and/or elbow pain experienced daily to determine when injuries occurred and record the satisfaction scores. The optimal satisfaction score cutoff value was determined through receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis; participants were categorized into satisfied and unsatisfied groups. Statistical tests were performed to evaluate the differences between the groups, obtain the time-to-event curves, and calculate the hazard ratios for the incidence of injury. Results Overall, 108 participants aged 15–17 years were enrolled and divided into satisfied (88) and unsatisfied (20) groups. The injury incidence rate was 10.2% and 50.0% in the satisfied and unsatisfied groups, respectively. High-school baseball pitchers with low satisfaction had a significantly increased risk of shoulder and elbow injuries; these players had a 7.3-times greater risk of injuries and 1.9-times earlier occurrence of injuries than pitchers who were satisfied with their performance. Conclusion Daily evaluation of players' self-satisfaction could predict shoulder and elbow injuries in high-school baseball pitchers.

Glenohumeral internal rotation deficit (GIRD) and weakness in prone external rotation are risk factors for shoulder and elbow injuries in high school baseball pitchers. While a shoulder-stretching prevention program to improve GIRD decreases the injury rate, the effects of external rotation strength remain unclear. This non-inferiority (NI) study investigates the hypothesis that external rotation strength training is not inferior to sleeper stretching for shoulder and elbow injury prevention in high school baseball pitchers. Participants were randomly allocated to the stretching (n = 62; active control group) and muscle-training (n = 51) groups. Specific exercises were performed each night. Elbow and shoulder injuries were monitored for 150 days. Kaplan–Meier survival curves were generated, and the hazard ratios (HRs) for injury occurrence were calculated using multivariate Cox regression. The log-rank test was used to compare the injury-free time. A one-sided NI test using a fixed NI margin was performed (significance level, P = 0.025). The injury rates were 22.6% (n = 14) in the stretching group and 9.8% (n = 5) in the muscle-training group. The muscle-training group had a lower injury rate (P

Aim Carbon ion radiotherapy is well-recognized as an excellent radiation modality that is suitable for treating unresectable bone and soft-tissue sarcoma of the trunk, spine, and pelvis; however, further study is needed to improve the local control rate. The current study examined the risk factors of the local recurrence of sarcomas after carbon ion radiotherapy. Methods Patients with inoperable bone and soft-tissue sarcomas treated with carbon ion radiotherapy in our institute from 2010 to 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. Among them, 87 patients were eligible for this study. We divided the instances of local recurrence into two types, in-field and out-field recurrence, and evaluated the predictors for the risk of local recurrence such as the age at the treatment, sex, histopathological diagnosis, standard uptake value on fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography, and the clinical target volume for each recurrence using a Cox proportional hazards model. Results A multivariate analysis revealed that the tumors with a post-treatment standard uptake value of more than 3.84 on positron emission tomography had a significantly high risk of in-field recurrence (hazard ratio, 3.42; p = .03). Furthermore, postoperative lesions were a risk factor for out-field recurrence (hazard ratio, 3.82; p Conclusion The current study revealed that sarcomas maintaining a high glucose metabolic activity after carbon ion radiotherapy carried a risk of in-field recurrence, and the most significant risk factor of out-field recurrence was identified to be surgery before CIRT.

Background We investigated the differences in the prevalence of ulnar nerve instability (UNI) by hand dominance and evaluated the relationship between UNI and morphologic changes in the ulnar nerve and the clinical findings and upper limb function. Methods This study examined 153 healthy participants (n = 306 elbows; 44 men, 112 women; mean age 65.4 years) who underwent ultrasonography to assess the ulnar nerve cross-sectional area (UNCSA) at three points of the bilateral cubital tunnel at 30° of elbow flexion. Participants were divided into three groups based on the ultrasonography findings of UNI: no instability (type N), subluxation (type S), and dislocation (type D). For the dominant and nondominant sides, we assessed the relationship between the UNCSA and clinical factors, including the age, gender, height, weight, body mass index, fat mass, grip strength, key pinch strength, UNCSA, and Patient-Rated Elbow Evaluation score. Results We identified 75 cases without instability in both elbows and 78 cases with some instability. The prevalence of UNI was 51%. No significant difference was found between hand dominance and the prevalence of UNI. The UNCSA at 1 cm proximal to the medial epicondyle on the bilateral sides in type S was the most increased among three types. Conclusion UNI was identified in almost half of the participants, with no marked difference found in the hand dominance. The UNCSA at 1 cm proximal to the medial epicondyle was significantly increased the most in type S. UNI does not appear to be associated with elbow symptoms in the general population.

We experienced a case of humeral head impression fracture accounting for approximately 20% of the anterior articular surface. Open reduction and internal fixation of the proximal humeral fracture combined with arthroscope-assisted reduction and internal fixation of the humeral head impression fracture were performed, and good clinical and radiographic outcomes were obtained. Untreated impression fracture may be a potential risk for subluxation or osteoarthritis. However, our arthroscopic approach is minimally invasive and allows for the prevention of these risks.

To investigate the effects of walking with a cane on frontal plain bilateral hip joint loading in patients with late-stage unilateral hip osteoarthritis (OA).Nonrandomized experimental design.Urban inpatient hospital.Adults (men, n=10; women, n=17) with osteoarthritis who were scheduled for total hip arthroplasty (N=27).Gait with and without a T-cane was assessed using a 3-dimensional motion analysis system.Peak hip adduction moment and hip adduction moment impulse, vertical ground reaction force, and ground reaction force impulse were assessed under 4 different conditions: OA side vs non-OA side with non-cane gait, OA side vs non-OA side with cane gait, non-cane vs cane gait on OA side, and non-cane vs cane gait on non-OA side. The lateral trunk lean angle in the stance phase on both sides was compared between with and without a cane. Pain during walking with and without a cane was also determined using a visual analog scale (0=no pain; 100=most painful).Walking with a cane reduced the peak hip adduction moment from an average of 0.76 to 0.57 Nm/kg (reduction approximately 25%) and the mean hip adduction moment impulse from 50.58 to 42.78 Nm/kg (reduction approximately 15%) on the affected side. Walking with a cane reduced the peak ground reaction force from an average of 10.15 to 9.20 N/kg but did not markedly affect the mean ground reaction force impulse on the affected side. The mean impulse of vertical ground force and hip adduction moment on the nonaffected side with a T-cane was larger than that without a cane (940.4 vs 899.2, 73.7 vs 68.8, respectively), albeit without statistical significance. The mean lateral trunk lean angle on the affected side was 5.85±3.95 degrees with a non-cane gait and 4.46±2.66 degrees with a T-cane gait, showing a significant difference. Furthermore, walking with a cane was associated with a significant decrease in the visual analog scale of pain from 42.1 to 26.4.These findings indicate that walking with a cane reduces the load and pain on the affected hip joint. The effect of the cane on the trunk lean was small, but it is worth noting that walking with a cane may increase the load on the healthy side.

Shoulder and elbow injuries seriously affect baseball players. We investigated the non-inferiority (NI) hypothesis that external rotation strength training presents no inferior effect when compared with sleeper stretching for shoulder and elbow injury prevention among high school baseball pitchers. In this randomized, active-controlled, open-label, NI study, 79 pitchers were randomly allocated to the stretching and muscle-training groups and performed a specific exercise every night. We applied sleeper stretching as an active control. Elbow and shoulder injury tracking was performed for 150 days. Kaplan–Meier survival curves were generated and the hazard ratios (HR) for injury occurrence using multivariate Cox regression were calculated. The log-rank test was used for between-group comparisons of survival distributions. A one-sided NI test using a fixed 10% NI margin was performed (significance level, P = 0.025). Sixty-two and 51 pitchers were included in the analysis of the stretching and training groups, respectively, with 22.6% (n = 14) and 9.8% (n = 5) injury rates, respectively. The NI test revealed lower incidence in the muscle-training group with pre-specified NI margin (P

Background Risk factors for the progression of spontaneous osteonecrosis of the knee (SONK) remain unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of the meniscus and the prognosis of SONK. Methods A total of 78 consecutive patients (female 85%; mean age 75.6 ± 7.2 years old) diagnosed with SONK were included. Of these, 30 patients did not receive surgery within 1 year from the onset of SONK (conservative group), while the remaining 48 patients underwent unicompartmental knee arthroplasty due to worsening of symptoms (UKA group). Using MRI findings obtained within 3 months of the onset, we compared the types of meniscus tear and medial meniscus extrusion between the conservative group and UKA group. We performed a receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis to estimate the cut-off value. Results Patients in the UKA group showed greater medial meniscus extrusion (absolute value, 4.2 mm ± 1.9 vs. 2.8 mm ± 1.2, P = 0.001; relative percentage of extrusion (RPE), 45.7% ± 21.5 vs. 30.7% ± 12.9, P = 0.001) and a higher prevalence of radial tear (P = 0.021) than those in the conservative group. In the multivariate analysis, RPE remained a relevant independent factor (P = 0.035) for future UKA. An ROC analysis found that the cut-off point of RPE was 33% (sensitivity, 81.2%; specificity, 63.3%). Conclusion RPE was a predictor of the prognosis of patients who underwent UKA within 1 year after the onset of SONK. Our results suggest that patients with RPE ≥ 33% are at high risk for progression.

Background: Dynamic balance is essential for pitching motion because pitching kinematics requires whole body coordination. The Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT) and the Y balance test (YBT) evaluate dynamic balance quantitatively. There are some reports that investigated the relationship between SEBT/YBT and pain in upper and lower extremities, but there is no study among high school baseball pitchers. Hypothesis: Dynamic balance deficiency is associated with shoulder pain among high school baseball pitchers. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Level of Evidence: Level 4. Methods: A total of 259 male high school pitchers who participated in the preseason medical checkups were included in the study. YBT was used to measure their dynamic balance. The participants completed a questionnaire which asked if they were currently experiencing shoulder pain. Results: Twenty-two pitchers had shoulder pain during the preseason medical checkups. In the YBT, the posterolateral balance while standing with the axis leg as well as the posteromedial and posterolateral balance while standing with the step leg were significantly lower in the pain group than in the nonpain group ( P = 0.05, 0.04, and 0.001, respectively). A logistic regression analysis showed that posterolateral balance when standing with the step leg was an independent risk factor for current shoulder pain ( P = 0.04, odds ratio 0.942, 95% CI 0.892-0.996). Conclusion: The dynamic balance of high school baseball pitchers with shoulder pain was lower than that of participants without shoulder pain. In particular, posterolateral direction with the step leg standing was significantly related to shoulder pain. Clinical Relevance: Among high school baseball pitchers, decreased dynamic balance was related to current shoulder pain. YBT maybe recommended in preseason medical checkups for high school baseball pitchers.

Study Design Retrospective cohort study. Objectives This study aimed to examine whether the use of intravenous TXA in elective spine surgery is associated with reduced perioperative massive hemorrhage requiring transfusion. Methods We extracted all patients who underwent decompression with or without fusion surgery for the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine between April 2012 and March 2019. The primary outcome was the occurrence of massive hemorrhage requiring transfusion, defined as at least 560 mL of blood transfusion within 2 days of spine surgery or the requirement of additional blood transfusion from 3-7 days postoperatively. Secondary outcomes were the occurrence of thrombotic complications (pulmonary embolism, acute coronary syndrome, and stroke) and postoperative hematoma requiring additional surgery. Results We identified 83,821 eligible patients, with 9747 (12%) patients in the TXA group. Overall, massive hemorrhage requiring transfusion occurred in 781 (.9%) patients. Propensity score matching yielded 8394 pairs. In the matched cohort, the TXA group had a lower proportion of massive hemorrhage requiring transfusion than the control group (.7% vs 1.1%; P = .002). There was no significant difference in the occurrence of thrombotic complications and postoperative hematoma requiring additional surgery between both groups. The multivariable regression analysis also showed that the use of TXA was associated with significantly lower proportions of massive hemorrhage requiring transfusion (odds ratio, .62; 95% confidence interval, .43-.90; P = .012). Conclusions In this analysis using real-world data, TXA use in elective spinal surgery was associated with reduced perioperative massive hemorrhage requiring transfusion without increasing thrombotic complications. Level of evidence Prognostic Level Ⅲ

Background This study evaluated the existence of anti-drug antibodies (ADAs) before and 52 weeks after switching from intravenous infliximab (IFX) to intravenous CT-P13 in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods We performed a prospective observational study. Twenty-eight patients (7 males and 21 females) received intravenous CT-P13 after intravenous IFX, and the clinical data were collected from medical records. Rheumatoid factor (RF) and anti-CCP antibody were examined at baseline. At baseline and 52 weeks after the start of CT-P13 treatment, the Disease Activity Score based on the 28-joint count and the levels of C-reactive protein, matrix metalloproteinase-3, and ADA, as well as the erythrocyte sedimentation rate were evaluated. ADAs were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. Results Seven (25%) and 6 (21.4%) cases were positive for ADAs at baseline and 52 weeks after, respectively. One case became newly positive for ADAs at week 52. Two of the ADA-positive cases became ADA-negative 52 weeks after. The ADA-positive group showed significantly higher RF values at baseline than the ADA-negative group (p = 0.03). No difference was observed between the ADA-positive group and the ADA-negative group regarding other clinical parameters. Conclusions The positive rate of ADAs did not increase after switching from intravenous IFX to intravenous CT-P13. Among the patients with ADAs, a high level of RF was observed at baseline.

This study aimed to determine the association of preoperative malnutrition with an increased risk of cervical kyphosis after laminoplasty in geriatric patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM).Geriatric patients who underwent cervical laminoplasty were included. Malnutrition was defined as a geriatric nutritional risk index 98 before surgery. The C2-7 angle and the global alignment parameters were analyzed on standing radiographs. The postoperative kyphosis was defined as a C2-7 angle 0° during a 2-year follow-up.Ninety patients without preoperative kyphotic alignment were enrolled (mean age, 73.5 years old; 41.1% female). Twenty-one patients (23.3%) had malnutrition status (74.2 years old). Preoperatively, the global alignment parameters were comparable between the malnutrition and normal nutrition groups (SVA, 43.3 mm vs. 42.4 mm; T1S, 29.7° vs. 28.4°; TPA, 21.4° vs. 17.8°), with no significant difference in the C2-7 angle (15.1° vs. 15.2°). At 2 years postoperatively, the malnutrition group showed a significantly lower C2-7 angle than the normal nutrition group (9.3° vs. 15.8°, P = 0.03). Postoperative kyphosis was more prevalent in the malnutrition group (33.3% vs. 7.2%, P = 0.005). The preoperative nutritional status and C2-7 angle were independent predictors of postoperative kyphosis. The predictive C2-7 angles differed by preoperative nutritional status (malnutrition group, 11°; normal nutrition group, 7°).Among geriatric CSM patients, preoperative malnutrition was closely associated with the increased occurrence of cervical kyphosis after laminoplasty. Our results underscore the importance of preoperative nutritional assessment and management in geriatric populations undergoing cervical spine surgery, as malnutrition is a perioperative modifiable risk factor.

Surgical site infection (SSI) is one of the most devastating complications following spinal instrumented fusion surgeries because it may lead to a significant increase in morbidity, mortality, and poor clinical outcomes. Identifying the risk factors for SSI can help in developing strategies to reduce its occurrence. However, data on the risk factors for SSI in degenerative diseases are limited. This study aimed to identify risk factors for deep SSI following posterior instrumented fusion for degenerative diseases in the thoracic and/or lumbar spine in adult patients. This was a multicenter, observational cohort study conducted at 10 study hospitals between July 2010 and June 2015. The subjects were consecutive adult patients who underwent posterior instrumented fusion surgery for degenerative diseases in the thoracic and/or lumbar spine and developed SSI. Detailed patient-specific and procedure-specific potential risk variables were prospectively recorded using a standardized data collection chart and retrospectively reviewed. Of the 2913 enrolled patients, 35 developed postoperative deep SSI (1.2%). Multivariable regression analysis identified three independent risk factors: male sex (P = 0.002) and American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score of ≥ 3 (P = 0.003) as patient-specific risk factors, and operation including the thoracic spine (P = 0.018) as a procedure-specific risk factor. Thoracic spinal surgery, an ASA score of ≥ 3, and male sex were risk factors for deep SSI after routine thoracolumbar instrumented fusion surgeries for degenerative diseases. Awareness of these risk factors can enable surgeons to develop a more appropriate management plan and provide better patient counseling.

Background The optimal surgical procedure for the treatment of cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) remains controversial because there are few comprehensive studies that have investigated the surgical methods. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate evidence in the literature and to compare the surgical outcomes between anterior decompression with fusion (ADF) and laminoplasty, which are representative procedures for CSM. Methods An extensive literature search was performed using PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library to identify comparative studies of ADF and laminoplasty for CSM. The language was restricted to English, and the publication period was from January 2001 to July 2019. We only included studies of CSM and excluded studies that involved patients with ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament and treatments with posterior instrumented fusion. We extracted outcomes from the studies, such as preoperative and postoperative Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) scores, cervical alignment, surgical complications and reoperation rates. Then, a meta-analysis was performed on these surgical outcomes. Results Nine studies were obtained, and the quality of the studies was acceptable. In the meta-analysis, the preoperative JOA score was similar between the ADF and laminoplasty groups. The postoperative JOA scores and neurological recovery rates were not different between the ADF and laminoplasty groups. ADF exhibited more favorable results than laminoplasty in terms of postoperative cervical alignment. In contrast, overall complications were more frequently observed in the ADF group than in the laminoplasty group, leading to higher rates of reoperation. However, postoperative neck pain was more frequently observed in the laminoplasty group than in the ADF group. Conclusions This systematic review and meta-analysis showed both the merits and shortcomings of ADF and laminoplasty. ADF and laminoplasty showed similar results in terms of neurological recovery. Postoperative cervical lordosis was better preserved with ADF than with laminoplasty. However, ADF was associated with a higher incidence of surgical complications than laminoplasty.

A solitary fibrous tumor (SFT) is a rare neoplasm with recurrent NAB2-STAT6 gene fusion. An SFT may develop almost anywhere throughout the body, including the head and neck region, and is characterized by a broad spectrum of malignancy. Here we present a case involving a 57-year-old male with a dumbbell-shaped SFT in the cervical spine that mimicked schwannoma. Repeated fine-needle aspiration cytology failed to establish a definitive diagnosis. Given that the tumor size increased significantly over a 10-month period, open biopsy was then performed. Though the biopsy result was inconclusive, a nonepithelial tumor, including sclerosing epithelioid fibrosarcoma or ossifying fibromyxoid tumor, was suspected. The tumor was then completely removed together with adjacent parts of C2 and C3 vertebrae and left vertebral artery via combined anterior and posterior approaches. Histologically, the tumor consisted of round cells with prominent stromal hyalinization and was immunohistochemically positive for STAT6, CD34, and cytokeratin. Finally, Todai OncoPanel, a next-generation sequencing-based molecular profiling system using formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded samples, demonstrated fusion transcript in which NAB2 exon 6 was fused to STAT6 exon 16 supporting the diagnosis of SFT, while whole-exome sequencing analysis detected no somatic mutations which were known to be oncogenic.

Background Curative treatment of inoperable post-irradiation sarcoma is often challenging, especially using radiotherapy, wherein curative dose administration is difficult because the organs around the tumor have already been irradiated during the first cancer treatment. Carbon-ion radiotherapy (C-ion RT) might be useful in the treatment of post-irradiation sarcomas because it allows re-irradiation with high-dose localization properties and also demonstrates higher cytotoxic effects on radioresistant tumors compared with X-rays. This study presents the long-term survival of two patients with inoperable post-irradiation pelvic osteosarcoma treated with C-ion RT after uterine cervical cancer treatment. Case presentation The durations from prior radiotherapy to the diagnosis of post-irradiation osteosarcoma were 112.8 and 172.2 months, respectively. Both patients received 70.4 Gy (relative biological effectiveness) in 16 fractions of C-ion RT, and chemotherapy was performed before and after C-ion RT. Both patients achieved a complete response 1 year after the initiation of C-ion RT. However, one patient developed single lung metastasis 12.6 months after the initiation of C-ion RT and underwent thoracoscopic lobectomy. After 63.7 and 89.0 months from the initiation of C-ion RT, respectively, the patients were alive with no evidence of local recurrence, other distant metastasis, or fatal toxicities. Conclusions The study findings suggest that C-ion RT is a suitable treatment option for inoperable post-irradiation osteosarcoma.

Earlier reports have described forearm flexor muscles as active stabilizers of the elbow to valgus stress during throwing motion. The pronator quadratus (PQ) muscle acts in coordination with the pronator teres muscle for forearm pronation. This study of high school pitchers was conducted to assess the association between sonographic appearance and a history of elbow symptoms.We examined 123 high school baseball pitchers, all of whom had completed a self-administered questionnaire, including items related to throwing-related elbow joint pain sustained during the prior year. Ultrasound examination was made of the pitchers with and without valgus stress of the medial aspect of the bilateral elbows. The sonographic appearance of the PQ was assessed on sagittal and axial images on the bilateral side. For participants with and without a history of elbow symptoms, we compared the maximum thickness of the PQ on sagittal and axial images of the throwing side.Regarding maximum thickness of the PQ on the sagittal and axial images, a significant difference was found between the throwing and non-throwing sides (throwing side vs non-throwing side mean: sagittal 6.3 mm vs 5.7 mm, axial 8.2 mm vs 7.5 mm, 95% confidence interval: sagittal 0.41-0.70, p 0.001, axial 0.53-0.82, p 0.001). The maximum thickness of the PQ on axial images with elbow symptoms was significantly greater than the PQ thickness of those without elbow symptoms. Nevertheless, no association was found between elbow valgus instability and the maximum thickness of the PQ on sagittal and axial images of the throwing side.Sonographic appearance of the PQ might be associated with elbow joint conditions in high school baseball players.

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.

Pisiform and hamate coalition, a rare congenital anomaly, is most often identified as an asymptomatic incidental finding on radiographs. Some patients have symptomatic coalition with ulnar-sided wrist pain or ulnar nerve neuropathy from ulnar nerve compression. Sports activities such as cycling and weight lifting can cause compression of the ulnar nerve in the hand. This report describes a case of a pisiform and hamate coalition in a 36-year-old man who reported decreased right-hand dexterity and right ulnar-sided wrist pain. The patient, an amateur weight lifter, developed right claw hand through repeated bench press training. Intraoperative findings revealed compression of the deep palmar branch of the ulnar nerve between the tendinous arch of the hypothenar muscles and pisiform and hamate coalition. Surgical resection of the tendinous arch and the enlarged hook of hamate relieved the claw hand deformity.

Congenital scoliosis is defined by the presence of structural anatomical malformations that arise from failures of vertebral formation or segmentation before and after birth. The understanding of genetic background and key genes for congenital scoliosis is still poor. We herein report that the excess expression of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (Pai-1) induced by the upregulation of miR-224-5p is involved in the pathogenesis of congenital kyphoscoliosis through impaired osteoblast differentiation. We first investigated the variety and progression of abnormalities of the lumbar spines in Ishibashi (IS) rats, a rat model of congenital kyphoscoliosis. The rats had already shown fusion and division of the primary ossification center at postnatal day 4. Over time, the rats showed various abnormalities of the lumbar spine, including the fusion of the annular epiphyseal nucleus. At postnatal day 42, spinal curvature was clearly observed due to the fusion of the vertebral bodies. Using a microRNA array, we found that the expression of miR-224-5p was increased in the lumbar spine of the rats at postnatal day 4. The expression of Pai-1, which is involved in osteoblast differentiation regulated by miR-224-5p, was also increased, while the levels of type I collagen, a marker of osteoblast differentiation, were decreased in the lumbar spine. These results indicate that the aberrant expression of miRNA-224-5p and its target genes is involved in the impaired osteoblast differentiation and may provide a partial molecular explanation for the pathogenesis of congenital scoliosis.

The present study evaluated the rate of returning to the preinjury level of competitive sports after ACLR and influential factors. After excluding composite ligament injury cases, 96 patients with a Tegner activity score of ≥ 6 who were managed between April 2015 and March 2016 and had been followed for ≥ 2 years were included in the present study. The patients were evaluated for instability, and the following data were collected: second-look arthroscopy findings, muscle strength, and International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) subjective score (follow-up rate: 88.1%). The rate of returning to the preinjury level of competitive sports was 62/96 (64.6%). Only the total IKDC subjective score (odds ratio, 1.052; 95% confidence interval 1.004–1.102; p = 0.035) and the subjectively evaluated item about giving way (odds ratio, 1.762; 95% confidence interval 1.066–2.911; p = 0.027) were independently associated with the returning to the preinjury level of competitive sports after ACLR in the logistic regression analysis. The rate of returning to the preinjury level of competitive sports after ACLR was 64.6%, even if a good knee stability and healing status of the sutured meniscus were acquired after ACLR. The IKDC subjective score, especially the item about giving way, was significantly associated with the returning to the preinjury level of competitive sports. The factors assessed by patient-reported evaluations concerning giving way that may be related to functional performance, including brain activity, are important to consider to improve the rate of returning to the preinjury level of competitive sports. III.

Objectives: Molecular imaging constitutes a promising technique for the early detection of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Macrophages and hypoxia play significant roles in inflamed synovium. In the pre...

Background The optimal surgical procedure for the treatment of cervical ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) remains controversial because there are few comprehensive studies investigating the surgical methods. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate evidence in the literature and compare the surgical outcomes of anterior decompression with fusion (ADF) and laminoplasty (LAMP), which are representative procedures for cervical OPLL. Methods An extensive literature search was performed using PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library to identify comparative studies of ADF and LAMP for cervical OPLL. The language was restricted to English, and the year of publication was from January 1980 to December 2018. We extracted outcomes from the studies, such as preoperative and postoperative Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score, cervical alignment, surgical complications and reoperation rate. Then, meta-analysis was performed for these surgical outcomes. Results Twelve studies were obtained, including 1 prospective cohort study and 11 retrospective cohort studies. In the meta-analysis, neurological recovery rate in JOA score was greater in ADF than in LAMP, especially in patients with a large canal occupying ratio (≥60%) and preoperative kyphotic alignment. ADF also exhibited more favorable results in postoperative cervical alignment. In contrast, operating time and intraoperative blood loss were greater in ADF. Surgical complications were more frequently seen in ADF, leading to higher rates of reoperation. Conclusions This systematic review and meta-analysis showed both the merits and shortcomings of ADF and LAMP. ADF resulted in more favorable neurological recovery compared to LAMP, especially for patients with massive OPLL and kyphotic alignment. Postoperative cervical lordosis was also better preserved in ADF. However, ADF was associated with greater surgical invasion and higher incidences of surgical complications.

The relationship between shoulder osteoarthritis (OA) and rotator cuff tear (RCT) is unclear. We hypothesized that there is a difference between the pathogenesis of OA complicating RCT and that of RCT complicating OA. In this study, our primary objective was to determine the prevalence of shoulder OA without RCT, RCT without OA, and OA with RCT in the general older population. Our secondary objective was to identify risk factors for the association with OA+RCT in shoulder OA alone or RCT alone, respectively.We enrolled patients from the public health checkup conducted in Gunma prefecture (Japan) in 2014. Subjects' shoulder pain at rest, during motion, and at night was evaluated using a questionnaire. Moreover, active and passive range of motions (ROMs) in flexion, abduction, and external rotation were measured. For RCT parameters, we evaluated as no tear, partial-thickness supraspinatus (SSP) tear, full-thickness SSP tear, and SSP-infraspinatus tears. For further analysis, the shoulders were divided into three groups according to the presence of RCT and/or OA: OA, RCT, and OA + RCT groups. Risk factors for OA + RCT were identified in a logistic regression analysis.Overall, 944 of 1148 shoulders were eligible for inclusion. The prevalence rates of shoulder OA, RCT, and OA + RCT were 5.8%, 21.1%, and 4.2%, respectively. Furthermore, 650 shoulders were excluded, and 55, 199, and 40 shoulders had OA, RCT, and OA + RCT, respectively. There were significant differences for age, ROM of active external rotation, strength of abduction, external rotation, and morphology of the rotator tears. However, there were no significant differences for pain visual analog scale score, passive ROM, Simple Shoulder Test, and grades of OA. Older age decreased active ROM in external rotation, and the presence of both subscapularis and SSP-infraspinatus tears was a risk factor for the association of OA with an RCT shoulder. Older age, weaker power in external rotation, and affected dominant side were risk factors for the association of RCT with an OA shoulder.This study is the first to report risk factors by considering both shoulder OA and RCT in the general population. Our findings will be useful for the treatment and management of OA and RCT as well as for the prevention of these conditions in the older adults.

ObjectivesDespite the possible large number of missing values on the 25-question Geriatric Locomotive Function Scale (GLFS-25), how we should treat them is unknown. In a simulation study, we investigated how to handle missing values in the GLFS-25.Design, setting and participantsWe used three datasets with different participant characteristics: community dwellers who could walk by themselves, outpatients of orthopaedics owing to pain, and patients who required surgery for total knee replacement or lumbar spinal canal stenosis.Outcome measuresThe missing items of the datasets were artificially created, and four statistical methods, complete case analysis, multiple imputation, single imputation using individual mean, and single imputation using individual domain average, were compared in terms of bias and mean squared error. Simulation studies were conducted to compare them under varying numbers of participants with missing values (5%–40%) and under varying numbers of missing items of GLFS-25 (4–16).ResultsMultiple imputation had the lowest root mean squared error. Complete case analysis showed the largest bias, and the performances of the single imputation were between those methods. The relative performances were similar across the three datasets. The absolute bias of the single imputation wasConclusionsMultiple imputation is preferable, although single imputation using subject average/subject domain average can be used with practically negligible bias as long as the number of missing items is up to 8 out of 25 items in each individual of the population.

Background: To investigate the prevalence and risk factors for vertebral fractures in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) during an era of tight management.Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 426 RA patients who had visited our outpatient RA clinic between July 2017 and June 2020. Among them, we included 107 patients (19 males and 88 females) who had undergone lateral X-ray of the thoracolumbar spine and dual-energy X-ray absorption spectroscopy for the assessment of osteoporosis. We assessed the disease activity score for 28 joints (DAS28), the history of medication for RA and osteoporosis, the number and location of vertebral fractures, and the bone mineral density (BMD). Two board-certified specialists determined osteoporotic vertebral fractures on a lateral X-ray of the thoracolumbar spine.Results: The mean age, average disease duration, and average DAS28 of the analyzed patients were 67.9 years, 14.9 years, and 2.8, respectively. Vertebral fractures were found in 33 patients (30.8%). In this population, 84.8% of patients with vertebral fractures and 59.5% of those without vertebral fractures were treated for osteoporosis with active vitamin D3, bisphosphonate, and/or denosumab. RA patients with vertebral fractures had significantly higher DAS28 values, a higher rate of patients with a history of glucocorticoid use, and lower BMD in comparison to those than without vertebral fractures (p = 0.009, p = 0.004, and p = 0.01, respectively). Logistic regression analysis showed DAS28 (p = 0.038) and BMD (p = 0.004) were independent factors associated with the presence of vertebral fractures. The ordered logistic regression analysis also showed DAS28 (p = 0.043) and BMD (p = 0.024) were independent factors that explained the number of vertebral fractures.Conclusions: Vertebral fractures were frequently observed in RA patients, even when patients were treated the recommended anti-osteoporotic agents. A high disease activity score and low BMD were associated with the presence and number of vertebral fractures in patients with RA.

Background: Deep infrapatellar bursitis (DIB) has been detected in cases of Osgood-Schlatter disease (OSD). However, the clinical implications of DIB in the apophyseal stage, during the period when OSD has not yet developed, remain unclear. Purpose: To investigate the factors related to DIB in the apophyseal stage in preadolescent baseball players. Study Design: Cross-sectional study, Level of evidence, 3. Methods: The study participants were junior baseball players who participated in a medical checkup in 2020. We included knees in the apophyseal stage evaluated using ultrasonography, and classified them into the bursitis and no-bursitis groups using color-enhanced Doppler ultrasonography. We also investigated bone lesions of the tibial tuberosity, determined by fragmentation of the bone and irregularity of the ossification center. Demographic data, practice duration, pressure pain on tuberosity, pain while playing baseball (visual analog scale), heel-buttock distance (HBD), straight-leg raise angle, and range of hip internal and external rotation were evaluated. Group comparisons were performed using the Mann-Whitney U test and Fisher exact test, and a logistic regression analysis was performed. Results: A total of 261 knees (139 male players; age 10.5 ± 1.1 years) were included, 30 in the bursitis group and 231 in the no-bursitis group. Bone lesions were present in 4 knees in the bursitis group and in 32 knees in the no-bursitis group; there was no significant relationship between the presence of bone lesions and bursitis. Compared with the no-bursitis group, the bursitis group had a significantly longer practice duration (12.9 ± 3.3 vs 15.2 ± 3.8 hours/week, respectively; P = .003) and larger HBD (0.5 ± 1.3 vs 1.4 ± 2.4 cm, respectively; P = .003). The logistic regression analysis showed that practice duration ( P = .001) and HBD ( P = .004) were significantly related to the presence of bursitis. Conclusion: DIB in the apophyseal stage was related to practice duration and thigh muscle tightness. These findings may help predict overload and thigh muscle tightness at a very early stage.

Supplemental digital content is available in the text., Purpose Proprioceptive feedback is crucial for motor control and stabilization of the shoulder joint in everyday life and sports. Shoulder dislocation causes anatomical and proprioceptive feedback damage that contributes to subsequent dislocations. Previous recurrent anterior shoulder instability (RSI) studies did not investigate functional neuroplasticity related to proprioception of the injured shoulder. Thus, we aimed to study the differences in neuroplasticity related to motor control between patients with RSI and healthy individuals, using functional magnetic resonance imaging, and assess the effects of peripheral proprioceptive deficits due to RSI on CNS activity. Methods Using passive shoulder motion and voluntary shoulder muscles contraction tasks, we compared the CNS correlates of proprioceptive activity between patients having RSI (n = 13) and healthy controls (n = 12) to clarify RSI pathophysiology and the effects of RSI-related peripheral proprioceptive deficits on CNS activity. Results Decreased proprioception-related brain activity indicated a deficient passive proprioception in patients with RSI (P < 0.05 family-wise error, cluster level). Proprioceptive afferent-related right cerebellar activity significantly negatively correlated with the extent of shoulder damage (P = 0.001, r = −0.79). Functional magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated abnormal motor control in the CNS during voluntary shoulder muscles contraction. Conclusion Our integrated analysis of peripheral anatomical information and brain activity during motion tasks can be used to investigate other orthopedic diseases.

Purpose To compare in-hospital mortality of three procedures in the treatment of elderly patients with isolated C2 odontoid fracture: halo-vest immobilization, anterior spinal fixation (ASF), and posterior spinal fixation (PSF). Methods 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. Results 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

Objectives TNF-induced activation of fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) is a critical determinant for synovial inflammation and joint destruction in RA. The detrimental role of TNF-receptor 1 (TNFR1) has thoroughly been characterized. The contributions of TNFR2, however, are largely unknown. This study was performed to delineate the role of TNFR2 in human FLS activation. Methods TNFR2 expression in synovial tissue samples was determined by immunohistochemistry. Expression of TNFR2 was silenced using RNAi or CRISPR/Cas9 technologies. Global transcriptional changes were determined by RNA-seq. QPCR, ELISA and immunoblotting were used to validate RNA-seq results and to uncover pathways operating downstream of TNFR2 in FLS. Results TNFR2 expression was increased in RA when compared with OA synovial tissues. In particular, RA-FLS demonstrated higher levels of TNFR2 when compared with OA-FLS. TNFR2 expression in RA-FLS correlated with RA disease activity, synovial T- and B-cell infiltration. TNF and IL1β were identified as inflammatory mediators that upregulate TNFR2 in RA-FLS. Silencing of TNFR2 in RA-FLS markedly diminished the TNF-induced expression of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, including CXCR3-binding chemokines and the B-cell activating factor TNFSF13B. Immunobiochemical analyses revealed that TNFR2-mediated expression of inflammatory mediators critically depends on STAT1. Conclusion Our results define a critical role for TNFR2 in FLS-driven inflammation and unfold its participation in the unresolved course of synovial inflammation in RA.

The aim of this study was to test whether or not the threshold to the detection of passive motion (TTDPM) and passive joint position sense on the affected shoulder of patients with rotator cuff tear (RCT) was impaired compared to those on the unaffected side and to investigate the relationship between the tear size and changes in the TTDPM and passive joint position sense induced by RCT. This study included 21 patients with unilateral RCT before arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. To investigate proprioception in this study, we measured the TTDPM and passive joint position sense in abduction and external rotation using an isokinetic dynamometer. The tear size was evaluated intraoperatively under direct arthroscopic visualization. The TTDPM in abduction and external rotation was significantly longer on the affected side than on the unaffected side. However, the angular absolute error in passive joint position sense in abduction and external rotation was not significantly different between the limbs. A comparison according to the tear size impaired proprioception of the TTDPM in the larger tear group showed significantly longer values than in the smaller group. There was impaired proprioception of TTDPM in patients with RCT, and the impaired proprioception was related to tear severity. Impaired proprioception of TTDPM may inhibit consistent muscle recruitment to achieve precise control. Our results suggest that clinicians should consider proprioceptive exercises for impaired proprioception in their treatment for conservative or postoperative patients.

Asymptomatic elbow abnormalities are relatively common in young baseball players, but the factors responsible are unclear. To prospectively identify risk factors related to symptom manifestation in asymptomatic elbow abnormalities, we recruited 573 baseball players (age: 7–14 years) at a pre-participation medical/physical examination in the preseason who were right-handed and had asymptomatic medial elbow abnormalities on ultrasound (US). Baseline preseason and postseason participant characteristics were assessed. A “symptomatic” elbow was defined as an elbow with medial elbow joint problems that prevented ball throwing for ≥ 8 days. After exclusions, 82 players were enrolled, of whom 22 (26.8%) developed a symptomatic elbow. In univariate analyses, the external and internal rotation strengths of the dominant shoulder were significantly greater in the symptomatic group than in the asymptomatic group (P = 0.021). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the internal rotation strength of the dominant shoulder was a significant independent risk factor (odds ratio = 1.091, P = 0.027) for developing a symptomatic elbow. In young asymptomatic baseball players with abnormalities in the medial elbow region of the dominant arm on US, stronger preseason internal rotation strength of the dominant shoulder was a significant independent risk factor for the development of a “symptomatic” elbow.

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.

Bilateral total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is being performed more frequently. However, a consensus on whether simultaneous or staged procedures should be performed is not available. This study reviewed the clinical course of contralateral knees in patients who underwent unilateral TKA (UTKA) to determine which patients are candidates for simultaneous bilateral TKA (BTKA). One hundred eighty-six patients with osteoarthritis who underwent UTKA at a single hospital between 2006 and 2009 (follow-up mean, 10.1 years) were retrospectively investigated. Age, sex, obesity, contralateral knee pain, Hospital for Special Surgery score, femorotibial angle (FTA), and Kellgren–Lawrence grades at the time of initial surgery were used to evaluate the risk for requiring contralateral TKA. Survival analysis and receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) analysis were performed. Ninety-one patients (48.9%) underwent contralateral TKA. The FTA of the contralateral knee (CFTA) was an independent related factor (hazard ratio, 1.15; p

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.