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Impingement of the common peroneal nerve, a branch of the L5 nerve root, causes common peroneal nerve entrapment neuropathy (CPNE). Although there are cases of CPNE associated with L5 radiculopathy, surgical intervention's effectiveness remains to be elucidated. This retrospective case-control study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of surgery in patients with CPNE associated with L5 radiculopathy. Twenty-two patients (25 limbs) with surgically treated CPNE between 2015 and 2022 were retrospectively reviewed. The limbs were classified into two groups: group R (limbs of CPNE associated with L5 radiculopathy) and group O (limbs of CPNE without L5 radiculopathy). The durations from onset to surgery, the nerve conduction studies (NCSs), and postoperative improvement rates for motor weakness, pain, and dysesthesia were compared between the groups. Group R included 15 limbs (13 patients), and group O included 10 limbs (9 patients). There were no significant differences in the duration from onset to surgery or abnormal findings of NCS between the two groups. The postoperative improvement rates were 88% and 100% (p = 0.62) for muscle weakness, 87% and 80% (p = 0.53) for pain, and 71% and 56% (p = 0.37) for dysesthesia in group R and group O, respectively, without significant differences between groups. CPNE associated with L5 radiculopathy is common, and the results of the present study showed that the surgical outcomes in such cases were satisfactory and comparable to those in CPNE without L5 radiculopathy.

The goal of this study is to perform correlation analysis of Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) results in posterior ligament complex (PLC) injury and define the morphological traits of thoracolumbar (TL) burst fractures connected to PLC injury. Forty patients with surgically repaired TL burst fractures between January 2013 and December 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were split into two groups for comparison based on MRI (Group P: patients with a confirmed or suspected PLC injury; Group N: patients with PLC injury denied). The radiographic morphological examination based on CT scans and clinical evaluation was performed and compared between two groups. The thoracolumbar injury classification and severity score (TLICS), the load sharing classification (LSC) scores, and the number of patients with neurological impairments were considerably greater in Group P. Loss of height of the fracture (loss height), local kyphosis of the fracture (local kyphosis), and supraspinous distance were significantly higher in Group P and significantly associated with PLC injuries indicating severe vertebral body destruction and traumatic kyphosis in multivariate logistic analysis [odds ratio: 1.90, 1.06, and 1.13, respectively]. Cutoff value for local kyphosis obtained from the receiver operating characteristic curve was 18.8. If local kyphosis is greater than 18.8 degrees on CT scans, we should take into account the probability of the highly damaged burst fracture associated with PLC injury. In this situation, we should carefully assess MRI to identify the spinal cord injury or spinal cord compression in addition to PLC injury because these instances likely present with neurological abnormalities.

Anterior cervical disc replacement (ACDR) using cervical artificial disc (CAD) has the advantage of maintaining the range of motion (ROM) at the surgical level, subsequently reducing the postoperative risk of adjacent disc disease. Following the approval for the clinical use in Japan, a post-marketing surveillance (PMS) study was conducted for two different types of CAD, namely, Mobi-C (metal-on-plastic design) and Prestige LP (metal-on-metal design). The objective of this prospective observational multicenter study was to analyze the first 2-year surgical results of the PMS study of 1-level ACDR in Japan. A total of 54 patients were registered (Mobi-C, n = 24, MC group; Prestige LP, n = 30, PLP group). Preoperative neurological assessment revealed radiculopathy in 31 patients (57.4%) and myelopathy in 15 patients (27.8%). Preoperative radiological assessment classified the disease category as disc herniation in 15 patients (27.8%), osteophyte in 6 patients (11.1%), and both in 33 patients (61.1%). The postoperative follow-up rates at 6 weeks, 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years after ACDR were 92.6%, 87.0%, 83.3%, and 79.6%, respectively. In both groups, patients' neurological condition improved significantly after surgery. Radiographic assessment revealed loss of mobility at the surgical level in 9.5% of patients in the MC group and in 9.1% of patients in the PLP group. No secondary surgeries at the initial surgical level and no serious adverse events were observed in either group. The present results suggest that 1-level ACDR is safe, although medium- to long-term follow-up is mandatory to further verify the validity of ACDR for Japanese patients.

Objectives To examine the national, 6-year trends in in-hospital clinical outcomes of patients with subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) who underwent clipping or coiling and the prognostic influence of temporal trends in the Comprehensive Stroke Center (CSC) capabilities on patient outcomes in Japan.Design Retrospective study.Setting Six hundred and thirty-one primary care institutions in Japan.Participants Forty-five thousand and eleven patients with SAH who were urgently hospitalised, identified using the J-ASPECT Diagnosis Procedure Combination database.Primary and secondary outcome measures Annual number of patients with SAH who remained untreated, or who received clipping or coiling, in-hospital mortality and poor functional outcomes (modified Rankin Scale: 3–6) at discharge. Each CSC was assessed using a validated scoring system (CSC score: 1–25 points).Results In the overall cohort, in-hospital mortality decreased (year for trend, OR (95% CI): 0.97 (0.96 to 0.99)), while the proportion of poor functional outcomes remained unchanged (1.00 (0.98 to 1.02)). The proportion of patients who underwent clipping gradually decreased from 46.6% to 38.5%, while that of those who received coiling and those left untreated gradually increased from 16.9% to 22.6% and 35.4% to 38%, respectively. In-hospital mortality of coiled (0.94 (0.89 to 0.98)) and untreated (0.93 (0.90 to 0.96)) patients decreased, whereas that of clipped patients remained stable. CSC score improvement was associated with increased use of coiling (per 1-point increase, 1.14 (1.08 to 1.20)) but not with short-term patient outcomes regardless of treatment modality.Conclusions The 6-year trends indicated lower in-hospital mortality for patients with SAH (attributable to better outcomes), increased use of coiling and multidisciplinary care for untreated patients. Further increasing CSC capabilities may improve overall outcomes, mainly by increasing the use of coiling. Additional studies are necessary to determine the effect of confounders such as aneurysm complexity on outcomes of clipped patients in the modern endovascular era.

Objective The purpose of this study is to find the clinical and radiographic characteristics of traumatic craniocervical junction (CCJ) injuries requiring occipitocervical fusion (OC fusion) for early diagnosis and surgical intervention. Methods We retrospectively reviewed 12 patients with CCJ injuries presenting to St. Michaels Hospital in Toronto who underwent OC fusion and looked into the following variables; (1) initial trauma data on emergency room arrival, (2) associated injuries, (3) imaging characteristics of computed tomography (CT) scan and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), (4) surgical procedures, surgical complications, and neurological outcome. Results All patients were treated as acute spinal injuries and underwent OC fusion on an emergency basis. Patients consisted of 10 males and 2 females with an average age of 47 years (range, 18–82 years). All patients sustained high-energy injuries. Three patients out of 6 patients with normal BAI (basion-axial interval) and BDI (basion-dens interval) values showed visible CCJ injuries on CT scans. However, the remaining 3 patients had no clear evidence of occipitoatlantal instability on CT scans. MRI clearly described several findings indicating occipitoatlantal instability. The 8 patients with normal values of ADI (atlantodens interval interval) demonstrated atlantoaxial instability on CT scan, however, all MRI more clearly and reliably demonstrated C1/2 facet injury and/or cruciate ligament injury. Conclusion We advocate measures to help recognize CCJ injury at an early stage in the present study. Occipitoatlantal instability needs to be carefully investigated on MRI in addition to CT scan with special attention to facet joint and ligament integrity.

Genetic analysis in glioma has been developed recently. Spinal cord glioma is less common than intracranial glioma. Thus, the clinical significance of genetic mutations in spinal cord gliomas remains unclear. Furthermore, because the spinal cord is an important communication channel between the brain and the rest of the body, increased attention should be paid to its functional prognosis. In this study, we investigated the functional prognosis and driver genetic mutations in eight patients with spinal cord gliomas (World Health Organization grade I, three cases; grade II, two cases; grade III/IV, three cases). IDH mutations were detected in all grade II cases and H3F3A mutations were detected in all grade III/IV cases. The functional status of grade I and II gliomas remained unchanged or improved 1 year after surgery, whereas grade III/IV gliomas remained unchanged or deteriorated. Spinal glioma progenitor cells with H3F3A mutations were associated with accelerated tumor-associated spinal cord injury, which led to functional impairment. Conversely, the presence of IDH mutations, which are rarely reported in spinal gliomas, indicated a relatively favorable functional prognosis.

Study DesignThe strength effects of a pedicle screw-rod system supplemented with a novel cross-link configuration were biomechanically evaluated in porcine spines.PurposeTo assess the biomechanical differences between a conventional cross-link pedicle screw-rod system versus a novel cross-link instrumentation, and to determine the effect of the cross-links.Overview of LiteratureTransverse cross-link systems affect torsional rigidity, but are thought to have little impact on the sagittal motion of spinal constructs. We tested the strength effects in pullout and flexion-compression tests of novel cross-link pedicle screw constructs using porcine thoracic and lumbar vertebrae.MethodsFive matched thoracic and lumbar vertebral segments from 15 porcine spines were instrumented with 5.0-mm pedicle screws, which were then connected with 6.0-mm rods after partial corpectomy in the middle vertebral body. The forces required for construct failure in pullout and flexion-compression tests were examined in a randomized manner for three different cross-link configurations: un-cross-link control, conventional cross-link, and cross-link passing through the base of the spinous process. Statistical comparisons of strength data were analyzed using Student's t-tests.ResultsThe spinous process group required a significantly greater pullout force for construct failure than the control group (p=0.036). No difference was found between the control and cross-link groups, or the cross-link and spinous process groups in pullout testing. In flexion-compression testing, the spinous processes group required significantly greater forces for construct failure than the control and cross-link groups (p

World Health Organization grade II and III gliomas most frequently occur in the central nervous system (CNS) in adults. Gliomas are not circumscribed; tumor edges are irregular and consist of tumor cells, normal brain tissue, and hyperplastic reactive glial cells. Therefore, the tumors are not fully resectable, resulting in recurrence, malignant progression, and eventual death. Approximately 69–80% of grade II and III gliomas harbor mutations in the isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 gene (IDH1), of which 83–90% are found to be the IDH1-R132H mutation. Detection of the IDH1-R132H mutation should help in the differential diagnosis of grade II and III gliomas from other types of CNS tumors and help determine the boundary between the tumor and normal brain tissue. In this study, we established a highly sensitive antibody-based device, referred to as the immuno-wall, to detect the IDH1-R132H mutation in gliomas. The immuno-wall causes an immunoreaction in microchannels fabricated using a photo-polymerizing polymer. This microdevice enables the analysis of the IDH1 status with a small sample within 15 min with substantially high sensitivity. Our results suggested that 10% content of the IDH1-R132H mutation in a sample of 0.33 μl volume, with 500 ng protein, or from 500 cells is theoretically sufficient for the analysis. The immuno-wall device will enable the rapid and highly sensitive detection of the IDH1-R132H mutation in routine clinical practice.

Glial scar formation is the major impedance to axonal regrowth after spinal cord injury (SCI), and scar-modulating treatments have become a leading therapeutic goal for SCI treatment. In this study, human neural stem cells (NSCs) encoding interferon-β (INF-β) gene were administered intravenously to mice 1 week after SCI. Animals receiving NSCs encoding IFN-β exhibited significant neurobehavioral improvement, electrophysiological recovery, suppressed glial scar formation, and preservation of nerve fibers in lesioned spinal cord. Systemic evaluation of SCI gliosis lesion site with lesion-specific microdissection, genome-wide microarray, and MetaCore pathway analysis identified upregulation of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) in SCI gliosis lesion site, and this led us to focus on TLR4 signaling in reactive astrocytes. Examination of primary astrocytes from TLR4 knockout mice, and in vivo inhibition of TLR4, revealed that the effect of IFN-β on the suppression of glial scar formation in SCI requires TLR4 stimulation. These results suggest that IFN-β delivery via intravenous injection of NSCs following SCI inhibits glial scar formation in spinal cord through stimulation of TLR4 signaling.

Background: Schwannomatosis (SWN) is genetically similar to neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) and represents a NF2 gene mutation. Previous studies have shown that these mutations in both neurons and Schwann cells can lead to the development of schwannomas after nerve crush injuries. Here, we reviewed the potential pathoanatomical mechanisms for the development of a trauma-induced spinal schwannomas in a 55-year-old male with SWN. Case Description: A 49-year-old male had originally undergone a L3-L5 lumbar laminectomy for stenosis; the schwannomas seen on the preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were not resected. Now at age 55, he newly presented with low back pain and numbness in the left L5 dermatome, and he was diagnosed with an L4 vertebral level cauda equina tumor on MRI. Following gross-total resection, the histopathological assessment revealed a Ki-67 labeling index 5-10% in hotspots (i.e., slightly higher than the normal range of schwannomas) and a 20% mosaic loss of SMARCB1. Based on these criteria, he was diagnosed as having SWN. Conclusion: In this patient with SWN, compression/physical trauma to nerves of the cauda equina during the L3-L5 laminectomy 6 years ago likely caused the progression of schwannoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vertebral hemangiomas are the most common benign vertebral tumors and are usually asymptomatic. Aggressive subtypes of the tumor, called aggressive VHs (AVHs), can become symptomatic with extraosseous extensions and require surgical removal. We present a case of AVH in a 36-year-old man presenting with low back pain and right leg pain that persisted for three months. Imaging studies showed a Th12 vertebral tumor that extended into the spinal canal and was squeezing the spinal cord. Computed tomography (CT)-guided biopsy indicated vertebral hemangimoa. Following preoperative arterial embolization, piecemeal gross total resection was attained under navigation guidance. He was left with no neurological deficit and remained well at the 12-month postoperative folow-up. Since AVHs are benign tumor, piecemeal removal of the tumor can be selected. However, disadvantage of the approach include difficulty of making decision how much to remove the front part of the vertebral body close to thoracic descending aorta. Furthermore, when the tumor tissue is too hard to curett, manipulation in tight spaces near the spinal cord carries the risk of damaging it. Navigation-guided drill is highly helpful for real-time monitoring of ongoing tumor resection. It enables safely resection of the tumor especially in the anterior cortical surface of the vertebral body and easily resection even hard tumors. This method results in reducing residual tumor and maintaining safety resection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dermal sinus tracts (DSTs) of the cervical and thoracic spine are extremely rare, particularly in adult patients because diagnosis is typically made in the early stage after birth by pediatricians. These cases should be treated surgically as soon as possible to prevent neurological sequelae. This report describes two rare adult cases with cervical and thoracic spine DSTs. The first patient presented with back pain and headache, whose skin lesion had been long known, but disregarded since birth. The second patient had long suffered from residual cervical myelopathy from the prior incomplete surgical treatment. Both cases had these sinus tracts excised completely and had spinal cord untethered successfully without any neurological deterioration. There has been a trend toward earlier diagnosis of these entities, but still some cases that were diagnosed in a delayed fashion or underwent incomplete treatment are reported. Improper management during childhood could lead to irreversible neurological deficit caused by spinal cord tethering and/or direct compression due to DSTs-associated tumors. The early detection and prompt surgical intervention improve the chance of a good surgical outcome. Furthermore, complete excision of the sinus tracts and associated tumors could help prevent future bacterial contamination and recurrence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Growing skull fractures (GSFs) are well-known but rare causes of pediatric head trauma. They generally occur several months after a head injury, and the main lesion is located under the periosteum. We herein report a case involving a 3-month-old boy with GSF that developed by a different mechanism than previously considered. It developed 18 days after the head injury. A large mass containing cerebrospinal fluid and brain tissue was present within the periosteum. A good outcome was obtained with early strategic surgery. Injury to the inner layer of the periosteum and sudden increase in intracranial pressure might be related to GSF in this case. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A downward penetrating endplate screw (PES) technique combined with caudal anchor screws inserted in the upward direction under O-arm navigation (i.e., crossing screw technique) avoided screw backout and proximal junctional kyphosis (PJK) in three patients with osteoporotic vertebral body fractures and diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH). Methods: The PES techniques were utilized for patients with T12 (one patient) and L1 (two patients) spontaneous fusion across the targeted vertebrae, with minimal damage to the involved endplates/intervertebral discs. The average number of instrumented vertebrae was 5.3. Results: There were no perioperative complications over the mean follow-up period of 28.7 months; no screw loosening, and no PJK. Conclusion: The PES technique prevented screw backout, and PJK in three patients with lumbar osteoporotic vertebral fractures and DISH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A rare case of atlantoaxial rotatory subluxation occurred after pediatric cervical spine surgery performed to remove a dumbbell-shaped meningioma at the level of the C1/C2 vertebrae. This case is classified as a post-surgical atlantoaxial rotatory subluxation, but has a very rare morphology that has not previously been reported. Although there are several reports about post-surgical atlantoaxial rotatory subluxation, an important point of this case is that it might be directly related to the spinal cord surgery in C1/C2 level. On day 6 after surgery, the patient presented with the Cock Robin position, and a computed tomography scan revealed a normal type of atlantoaxial rotatory subluxation. Manual reduction was performed followed by external fixation with a neck collar. About 7 months after the first surgery, the subluxation became severe, irreducible, and assumed an atypical form where the anterior tubercle of C1 migrated to a cranial position, and the posterior tubercle of C1 and the occipital bone leaned in a caudal direction. The pathogenic process suggested deformity of the occipital condyle and bilateral C2 superior facets with atlantooccipital subluxation. A second operation for reduction and fixation was performed, and the subluxation was stabilized by posterior fixation. We encountered an unusual case of a refractory subluxation that was associated with an atypical deformity of the upper spine. The case was successfully managed by posterior fixation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]