No abstract available.
Abscess*

No abstract available.
Abscess*

Degeneration of the intervertebral disc results in initial relative instability, hypermobility, and hypertrophy of the facet joints, particularly at the superior articular process. This finally leads to a reduction of the spinal canal dimensions and compression of the neural elements, which can result in neurogenic intermittent claudication caused by venous congestion and arterial hypertension around nerve roots. Most patients with symptomatic lumbar stenosis had neurogenic intermittent claudication with the risk of a fall. However, although the physical findings and clinical symptoms in lumbar stenosis are not acute, the radiographic findings are comparatively severe. Magnetic resonance imaging is a noninvasive and good method for evaluation of lumbar stenosis. Though there are very few studies pertaining to the natural progression of lumbar spinal stenosis, symptoms of spinal stenosis usually respond favorably to non-operative management. In patients who fail to respond to non-operative management, surgical treatments such as decompression or decompression with spinal fusion are required. Restoration of a normal pelvic tilt after lumbar fusion correlates to a good clinical outcome.
Constriction, Pathologic* ; Decompression ; Humans ; Hyperemia ; Hypertension ; Hypertrophy ; Intermittent Claudication ; Intervertebral Disc ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Spinal Canal ; Spinal Fusion ; Spinal Stenosis ; Zygapophyseal Joint

One of the major clinical issues encountered after lumbar spinal fusion is the development of adjacent segment pathology (ASP) caused by increased mechanical stress at adjacent segments, and resulting in various radiographic changes and clinical symptoms. This condition may require surgical intervention. The incidence of ASP varies with both the definition and methodology adopted in individual studies; various risk factors for this condition have been identified, although a significant controversy still exists regarding their significance. Motion-preserving devices have been developed, and some studies have shown their efficacy of preventing ASP. Surgeons should be aware of the risk factors of ASP when planning a surgery, and accordingly counsel their patients preoperatively.
Humans ; Incidence ; Pathology* ; Risk Factors ; Spinal Fusion* ; Stress, Mechanical ; Viperidae

Vertebral fractures occur with only slight trauma in patients with diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH). However, a lumbar vertebra fracture, due to an intraoperative body position has not been previously reported. An 87-year-old woman with kyphosis sustained a left trochanteric fracture of her femur. The patient was placed in a supine position during the operation. Postoperatively, the patient experienced severe right thigh pain. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed an L4 vertebral fracture. Computed tomography revealed ankylosis from the upper thoracic spine to the sacrum. While in a supine position under general anesthesia, the contact of the patient's lower back with operating table likely created a fulcrum at her lumbosacral spine acting as a long lever arm, bearing the mass of her upper body. We performed L1-S2 posterior stabilization. DISH patients with kyphosis placed in a supine position have an increased risk for lumbar vertebral fracture.
Aged, 80 and over ; Anesthesia, General ; Ankylosis ; Arm ; Female ; Femur* ; Humans ; Hyperostosis, Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal* ; Kyphosis ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Operating Tables ; Sacrum ; Spine ; Supine Position ; Thigh

Cryptococcus is an encapsulated, yeast-like fungus that rarely causes infection in immunocompetent patients. We present the case report of a 66-year-old female patient with a history of rectal cancer with an isolated lumbar vertebral cryptococcosis proven by biopsy performed during operation. The patient was not an immunocompromised host and did not have any other risk factors except the history of cured rectal cancer. The presumptive diagnosis based on imaging studies was metastatic spine cancer, so operation was performed. However, cryptococcal osteomyelitis was diagnosed in the pathologic examination. This case report emphasizes that we should be aware that lumbar cryptococcosis can be a rare cause of mimicking lesions with metastatic cancer.
Aged ; Biopsy ; Cryptococcosis ; Cryptococcus ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Fungi ; Humans ; Immunocompromised Host ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Osteomyelitis* ; Rectal Neoplasms ; Risk Factors ; Spine

Hirayama disease is a rare neurological disorder characterized by an insidious progressive subacute unilateral or bilateral weakness of the hands and forearm muscles leading to a painless amyotrophy. The disease primarily affects young men in the second to third decades of life. It has always been described as a second motor neuron disease, thus sparing the pyramidal and sensitive pathways. It usually has a slow progression course of 3 to 5 years followed by stabilization. Since its initial description by Keyzo Hirayama in 1959, most cases have been reported in Asia, particularly Japan and India, although the disease reportedly has worldwide distribution.
Asia ; Forearm ; Hand ; Humans ; India ; Japan ; Male ; Motor Neuron Disease ; Muscles ; Nervous System Diseases ; Spinal Injuries*

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective diagnostic study. PURPOSE: To define a new radiological sign, “Baltalimani sign,” in severe angular kyphosis (SAK) and to report its relationship with the risk of neurological deficits and deformity severity. OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: Baltalimani sign was previously undefined in the literature. METHODS: We propose Baltalimani sign as the axial orientation of the vertebrae that are located above or below the apex of angular kyphosis on anteroposterior radiographs. Patients with SAK of various etiologies with kyphotic angles ≥90° were selected and evaluated for the presence of Baltalimani sign. Demographic data of the patients including age, gender, etiology, neurological status, local kyphosis angles, and the location of the kyphosis apex were recorded. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive values (NPV) of Baltalimani sign for the risk of the neurological deficits were evaluated by the IBM SPSS ver. 20.0. A p-values of <0.05 were considered statistically significant. Cohen's kappa was used for analysis of interrater agreement. RESULTS: The mean local kyphosis angle in all patients was 124.2° (range, 90°–169°), and 15 of 40 (37.5%) patients had neurological deficits. Baltalimani sign was seen in 13 of 15 patients with neurological deficits (p=0.001). Baltalimani sign showed a sensitivity and specificity PPV and NPV of 61.9%, 86.7%, 89.5%, and 68.8% for the risk of the neurological deficits in SAK patients, respectively. Cohen's kappa value was moderate (κ=0.506). CONCLUSIONS: The detection of Baltalimani sign in SAK may indicate severity of deformity and the risk of neurological deficits.
Congenital Abnormalities ; Humans ; Kyphosis* ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Spine

STUDY DESIGN: A prospective clinical series with prospectively collected data. PURPOSE: The efficacy of using closed suction drains (CSD) after single-level lumbar disc surgery was evaluated. Postoperative CSD are regularly fitted to prevent postoperative epidural hematomas (EH) after multilevel lumbar decompression, although it remains unclear whether CSD also reduces postoperative EH following single-level lumbar disc surgery. OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: Few articles have addressed the clinical outcome in patients with single-level lumbar disc disease who were treated by two different operative methods (with and without drainage). METHODS: Between 2012 and 2014, 115 patients with a single level discectomy underwent two surgical procedures: with CSD (group A, 60 cases) and without CSD (group B, 55 cases). There were no significant differences in age, sex, segment level, herniation type, or disease duration between the groups. Wound infection, EH, and epidural fibrosis (EF) were evaluated by magnetic resonance imaging. Pain intensity was evaluated using the visual analog scale (VAS) and Oswestry disability index (ODI). Reduction in analgesic treatment and patient satisfaction were also recorded. RESULTS: The overall rate of postoperative EH was 5% and 16.3% in group A and B, respectively, whereas the rate of postoperative EF was 11.6% in group A and 21.8% in group B. The postoperative VAS score was 0.32 (standard deviation [SD], 0.45) for group A and 2.62 (SD, 06.9) for group B, whereas ODI was 9.11 (SD, 0.68) and 8.23 (SD, 0.78) for group A and and group B, respectively, with no significant differences observed. CONCLUSIONS: In patients operated on by unilateral, single-level lumbar disc surgery, the use of suction CSD into the operation site results in lower levels of EH and EF radiologically, thereby providing a better clinical outcome.
Back Pain ; Decompression ; Diskectomy ; Drainage* ; Fibrosis* ; Hematoma* ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Patient Satisfaction ; Prospective Studies ; Spine ; Suction ; Visual Analog Scale ; Wound Infection

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective clinical analysis. PURPOSE: To delineate the clinical presentation of melioidosis in the spine and to create awareness among healthcare professionals, particularly spine surgeons, regarding the diagnosis and treatment of melioidotic spondylitis. OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: Melioidosis is an emerging disease, particularly in developing countries, associated with a high mortality rate. Its causative pathogen, Burkholderia pseudomallei, has been labeled as a bio-terrorism agent. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of patients who were culture positive for B. pseudomallei. Assessment of patients was performed using clinical, radiological, and blood parameters. Clinical measures included pain, neurological deficit, and return to work. Radiological measures included plain radiography of the spine and magnetic resonance imaging. Blood tests included erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein levels. RESULTS: Four patients having melioidosis with spondylitis were evaluated. All of them had diabetes mellitus; three had multiple abscesses which required incision and drainage. Their clinical spectrum was similar to that of tuberculous spondylitis; all had back pain and radiology revealed infective spondylodiscitis with prevertebral and paravertebral collections with psoas abscess. Three patients underwent ultrasound-guided drainage of the psoas abscess and one had aspiration of the subcutaneous abscess. Bacteriological cultures showed presence of B. pseudomallei, and histopathology showed non-caseating granulomatous inflammation. All patients were treated with intravenous Ceftazidime for 2 weeks, followed by oral bactrim double strength and Doxycycline for 20 weeks. All patients improved with treatment and were healed at follow up. CONCLUSIONS: Melioidosis presents with a clinical spectrum similar to that of tuberculosis. A diagnosis of melioidotic spondylitis should be considered, particularly in patients with diabetes with neutrophilic leukocytosis and clinical-radiological features suggestive of infective spondylodiscitis. Bacteriological culture and histopathology helps in differentiating the two conditions. Health education for healthcare professionals is important for correctly diagnosing this disease.
Abscess ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Back Pain ; Blood Sedimentation ; Burkholderia pseudomallei ; C-Reactive Protein ; Ceftazidime ; Delivery of Health Care ; Developing Countries ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Diagnosis ; Discitis ; Doxycycline ; Drainage ; Follow-Up Studies ; Health Education ; Hematologic Tests ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Leukocytosis ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Melioidosis ; Mortality ; Neutrophils ; Psoas Abscess ; Radiography ; Retrospective Studies ; Return to Work ; Spine ; Spondylitis* ; Surgeons ; Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination ; Tuberculosis