In a study involving 43 patients with osteoporotic vertebral fracture aged ≥ 65 years, three different therapeutic methods were designed based on a quantitative evaluation of vertebralbody instability that used dynamic radiographs taken at the initial visit. Vertebral body instability was defined as the difference between the percentage ratio of vertebral collapse (%) in the standing position and that in the supine position. When the difference was ≤ 5%, no bed rest was prescribed and ambulation was permitted as soon as a Jewett-type hard corset was ready (approximately 1 week). When the difference was between ＞5% and ＜20%, 2 weeks of bed rest was prescribed, after which ambulation while wearing the corset was permitted. When the difference was ≥ 20%, 2 weeks of bed rest was prescribed followed by ambulation, but when pain persisted or rehabilitation showed no progress, treatment was changed to surgery. At 3 months after starting treatment, bone union, degree of improvement of pain, activities of daily living, and quality of life were evaluated. Findings showed that almost satisfactory treatment outcomes were achieved with all three treatment approaches. These findings suggest that while priority should be given to conservative treatment based on a quantitative evaluation of vertebral body instability, the possibility of surgery should also be considered. Particularly in cases with ≥ 20% difference in the percentage ratio of vertebral collapse, surgical interventionat a relatively early stage may help reduce to zero the potential for delayed union, pseudarthrosis, and delayed paralysis.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective, radiological study. PURPOSE: To determine the relationship between clinical symptoms and the extent of tumor occupation of the spinal canal by cauda equina schwannoma. OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: Little is known about the relationship between the size of tumors of the cauda equina and the manifestation of clinical symptoms. We analyzed this relationship by estimating the percentage of tumor occupation (PTO) in the spinal canal in cauda equina schwannomas and by correlating this parameter with the presence and severity of clinical symptoms. METHODS: Twenty-two patients (9 men and 13 women; age, 19–79 years; mean age, 55.3 years) who were radiologically diagnosed with schwannomas of the cauda equina between April 2004 and July 2014 were retrospectively analyzed. PTO was measured in axial and sagittal magnetic resonance imaging slices in which the cross-sectional area of the tumor was the largest. Data regarding clinical symptoms and results of physical examinations were collected from patient medical records. PTO differences between symptom-positive and -negative groups were analyzed for each variable. RESULTS: In the 4 cases in which tumor presence was not related to clinical symptoms, PTO was 5%–10% (mean, 9%) in axial slices and 23%–31% (mean, 30%) in sagittal slices. In the 18 cases in which symptoms were associated with the tumor, PTO was 11%–86% (mean, 50%) in axial slices and 43%–88% (mean, 71%) in sagittal slices. PTO in axial slices was significantly higher in the presence of Déjèrine symptoms and/or muscle weakness, a positive straight leg raise test, and a positive Kemp sign. CONCLUSIONS: PTO >20% in axial slices and >40% in sagittal slices can be an indication of symptomatic cauda equina schwannoma.
Cauda Equina* ; Female ; Humans ; Leg ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Medical Records ; Muscle Weakness ; Neurilemmoma* ; Occupations* ; Physical Examination ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Canal*

Methods: The study included 85 players. Participants were divided into two groups: pitchers and fielders. The association between the laterality of spondylolysis and the throwing/batting side in the overall cohort and between the two groups was evaluated. Results: Among pitchers, 16 lesions appeared on the throwing side and 32 on the nonthrowing side (p =0.029). For fielders, no notable difference was observed between the two sides (p =0.363). Furthermore, batting preference did not influence the laterality of spondylolysis in either group. Conclusions Adolescent baseball players, particularly pitchers, exhibited a higher incidence of lumbar spondylolysis on the side opposite their throwing arm. The findings of this study highlight the significant effect of asymmetrical sporting activities on the development of spondylolysis, to which pitchers are particularly susceptible.

Methods: Nineteen volunteers (16 men, three women) lifted a 60-kg doll from a seated position to a standing position. The first transfer was performed without the HAL for Care Support, and the second was performed with the HAL for Care Support assistive robot. We evaluated transfer performance, the visual analog scale (VAS) score for lumbar fatigue, and electromyogram analyses of the trunk and hip. Results: Four participants (two men, two women) succeeded with the HAL for Care Support even though they were unable to perform the task without it. The mean lumbar fatigue VAS score for all participants without the HAL for Care Support was 62 mm, while that with it was 43 mm. With lumbar assistance from the HAL for Care Support, subjective lumbar fatigue during the transfer decreased significantly. A power analysis indicated adequate statistical power to detect a difference in the VAS score for lumbar fatigue (0.99). The activity of the left gluteus maximus alone increased significantly during transfers with the HAL for Care Support. No adverse events occurred during use of the HAL for Care Support for transfers. Conclusions The HAL for Care Support was able to reduce lumbar load in a simulated patient transfer.

Calcification of the ligamentum flavum (CLF), which is a rare disorder that can potentially cause myelopathy, occurs uncommonly in the thoracic spine. Here, we report a rare case of thoracic myelopathy caused by CLF in a 78-year-old man. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed posterior spinal cord compression by a hypo-signal intense mass, and computed tomography (CT) revealed CLF and vacuum disc phenomenon at T10/11. After undergoing posterior decompression and instrumented fusion (T9–T12), the patient’s gait difficulties improved. The pathogenesis of CLF is largely unknown; however, it involves accumulation of calcium pyrophosphate dehydrate crystals (CPPD), and CLF from CPPD deposition tends to occur within a thickened and hypertrophic ligament. CLF occurs predominantly in the cervical spine and less frequently in the lumbar spine, with few cases involving the thoraco-lumbar spine. The thoracic spine is characterized by hypomobility; however, the thoraco-lumbar spine has a mobile segment which may potentiate CLF formation. Decompression with fusion surgery can be useful for treating patients with thoraco-lumbar CLF.

Objective: Whether or not emergent decompression/fusion surgery for paralysis caused by metastatic spinal tumors of unknown origin improves patient neurological outcome and survival remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical outcomes of emergent decompression/fusion surgery for paralysis caused by spinal tumors of unknown or not previously diagnosed origin.Patients and Methods: Data from the medical records of 11 patients with spinal tumors of unknown origin (study group) were compared with those of 15 patients with metastatic spinal tumors of known origin (control group). The outcome measures were postoperative performance status, motor function evaluated with the Frankel grade, and actual survival after surgery as compared with the estimated survival calculated using the Tokuhashi score. χ2 analyses were performed to evaluate differences between the groups.Results: The mean performance status was 3.6 preoperatively, which improved to 2.9 postoperatively (P<0.05), in the unknown origin group and 3.6 preoperatively, which improved to 2.7 postoperatively (P<0.05), in the control group. Seven patients (64%) in the unknown origin group showed improvement in paralysis by ≥1 Frankel grade. By contrast, only 4 patients (27%) in the control group showed improvement in paralysis. The unknown origin group tended to show better improvement (P=0.05). All the patients in the unknown origin group underwent adjuvant therapy after definitive diagnosis following surgery. The unknown origin group showed a slight tendency toward better survival than toward the estimated survival.Conclusion: Emergent decompression/fusion surgery for patients with paralysis caused by metastatic tumors of unknown origin is potentially useful for diagnosing tumor origin and improving neurological outcomes and performance status, and thus for extending survival.

Objective: To report a case of anterior longitudinal ligament (ALL) injury that was not noticeable during lateral lumbar interbody fusion and was disclosed after posterior corrective fusion surgery.Case presentation: After performing lateral lumbar interbody fusion followed by posterior corrective fusion surgery, we observed an anterior longitudinal ligament rupture that required additional surgery. Postoperative pain in the left lower limb and muscle weakness due to nerve traction appeared, but this was improved by stabilization between the vertebral bodies.Conclusion: Unidentified anterior longitudinal ligament rupture can result in unexpected local lordosis during posterior surgery, possibly related to lower extremity palsy. Therefore, checking for possible rupture during and after anterior surgery is important. If the ALL damage is disclosed before posterior surgery, the proper surgical strategy for the posterior surgery must be considered.

Objective: Osteoporotic vertebral fracture (OVF) is conventionally treated with conservative management such as bed rest, but a relatively prolonged bed rest has the potential risk of muscle disuse atrophy. This study aimed to examine whether the 2-week of rigorous bed rest affects muscle disuse atrophy in OVF patients.Patients and Methods: A total of 54 OVF patients (16 males; 38 females; mean age, 80.2 ± 9.2 years) were treated with an initial 2-week rigorous bed rest by hospitalization with persistent rehabilitation. Cognitive function, swallowing function, grip strength, and lower extremity circumference were evaluated at three-time points (admission, end of bed rest, and discharge).Results: Of the 51 patients who were able to walk independently before the injury, one patient (2.0%) had to use a wheelchair after the injury. During hospitalization, cognitive function decline was observed in 33.3% of patients, but not in patients with Revised Hasegawa’s Dementia Scale score ≥25 at admission. Swallowing function decline was observed in one patient, and none of the patients developed aspiration pneumonia during hospitalization. The grip strength significantly improved both at the end of bed rest (P=0.04) and discharge (P=0.02). Although the lower extremity circumference significantly decreased at the end of bed rest (P<0.01), it was recovered afterward. The lower extremity circumference did not significantly differ between the admission and discharge (P=0.17).Conclusion: Our results suggested that conservative treatment of OVF through an initial 2-week rigorous bed rest with persistent hospital rehabilitation poses a low risk of muscle disuse atrophy. If cognitive dysfunction is observed on admission, close monitoring for exacerbation should be performed during the hospital stay.

Objective: To treat vertebral fractures with posterior wall injury in the elderly, vertebral bone grafting is generally performed through a posterior transpedicular approach, combined with pedicle screw fixation. An autologous bone is ideal to treat this disorder. However, harvesting autologous bones from the elderly with osteoporosis is limited by the amount and quality of available autologous bone. Thus, we developed a bone-grafting substitute. The newly developed unidirectional porous β-tricalcium phosphate, with a porosity of 57% (UDPTCP; Affinos®, Kuraray Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan), is used in the bone-grafting procedure. This is the first report of UDPTCP used as an artificial bone graft in patients with an acute vertebral burst fracture.Materials and Methods: UDPTCP (mean: 4.2 g) was implanted through the pedicle, and posterior instrumentation was achieved with pedicle screws in five elderly patients. Resorption of UDPTCP and substitution with the autologous bone were evaluated on computed tomography (CT) and plain X-ray performed immediately and at 3, 6, and 12 months after the operation.Results: In case 1, the pedicle screws did not loosen, and UDPTCP was completely resorbed and replaced with the autologous bone at 3 postoperative months. In the other four cases, although the pedicle screws or the caudal part loosened because of osteoporosis, resorption of UDPTCP was observed at 3 postoperative months. At 6 postoperative months, progressive substitution with the autologous bone was confirmed, and at 12 postoperative months, formation of the good autologous bone was confirmed.Conclusion: This preliminary case series demonstrated that the newly developed UDPTCP shows good clinical potential as a bone-graft substitute for acute vertebral burst fractures in the elderly, including patients with osteoporosis.