A 58-year-old male patient presented with acute alcohol-induced severe necrotizing pancreatitis. He reported a symptomatic acute necrotic collection in the pancreatic head. No improvements were observed despite one week of antimicrobial therapy. Endoscopic ultrasound-guided drainage via the superior duodenal angle was conducted and a lumen-apposing metal stent (LAMS) was placed. He had an obstructive jaundice progression 3 days postintervention. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiography showed that the cystic side flange of the LAMS caused the distal bile duct smooth stricture. The jaundice improved immediately after the placement of plastic stent in the bile duct, and the LAMS could be removed on the 15th day after placement. The plastic stent was removed after 4 months, and the biliary stricture improved, with no recurrence of jaundice. Here, we report a case of successful conservative treatment of a benign biliary stricture caused by the distal flange of the LAMS.

A 58-year-old male patient presented with acute alcohol-induced severe necrotizing pancreatitis. He reported a symptomatic acute necrotic collection in the pancreatic head. No improvements were observed despite one week of antimicrobial therapy. Endoscopic ultrasound-guided drainage via the superior duodenal angle was conducted and a lumen-apposing metal stent (LAMS) was placed. He had an obstructive jaundice progression 3 days postintervention. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiography showed that the cystic side flange of the LAMS caused the distal bile duct smooth stricture. The jaundice improved immediately after the placement of plastic stent in the bile duct, and the LAMS could be removed on the 15th day after placement. The plastic stent was removed after 4 months, and the biliary stricture improved, with no recurrence of jaundice. Here, we report a case of successful conservative treatment of a benign biliary stricture caused by the distal flange of the LAMS.

A 58-year-old male patient presented with acute alcohol-induced severe necrotizing pancreatitis. He reported a symptomatic acute necrotic collection in the pancreatic head. No improvements were observed despite one week of antimicrobial therapy. Endoscopic ultrasound-guided drainage via the superior duodenal angle was conducted and a lumen-apposing metal stent (LAMS) was placed. He had an obstructive jaundice progression 3 days postintervention. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiography showed that the cystic side flange of the LAMS caused the distal bile duct smooth stricture. The jaundice improved immediately after the placement of plastic stent in the bile duct, and the LAMS could be removed on the 15th day after placement. The plastic stent was removed after 4 months, and the biliary stricture improved, with no recurrence of jaundice. Here, we report a case of successful conservative treatment of a benign biliary stricture caused by the distal flange of the LAMS.

STUDY DESIGN: Controlled laboratory study. PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) stored at room temperature (RT), frozen, or after freeze-drying. OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: PRP enriches tissue repair and regeneration, and is a novel treatment option for musculoskeletal pathologies. However, whether biological activity is preserved during PRP storage remains uncertain. METHODS: PRP was prepared from blood of 12 healthy human volunteers (200 mL/person) and stored using three methods: PRP was stored at RT with shaking, PRP was frozen and stored at −80℃, or PRP was freeze-dried and stored at RT. Platelet counts and growth factor content were examined immediately after preparation, as well as 2, 4, and 8 weeks after storage. Platelet activation rate was quantified by flow cytometry. RESULTS: Platelet counts were impossible to determine in many RT samples after 2 weeks, but they remained at constant levels in frozen and freeze-dried samples, even after 8 weeks of storage. Flow cytometry showed approximately 80% activation of the platelets regardless of storage conditions. Almost no growth factors were detected in the RT samples after 8 weeks, while low but significant expression was detected in the frozen and freeze-dried PRP. Over time, the mean relative concentrations of various growth factors decreased significantly or disappeared in the RT group. In the frozen group, levels were maintained for 4 weeks, but decreased significantly by 8 weeks (p <0.05). The freeze-dried group maintained baseline levels of growth factors for the entire 8-week duration. CONCLUSIONS: Freeze-drying enables PRP storage while maintaining bioactivity and efficacy for extended periods.
Blood Preservation ; Flow Cytometry ; Freeze Drying ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans* ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; Pathology ; Platelet Activation ; Platelet Count ; Platelet-Rich Plasma* ; Regeneration

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case series. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine changes in the ligamentum flavum thickness and remodeling of the spinal canal after anterior fusion during a 10-year follow-up. OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: Extreme lateral interbody fusion provides minimally invasive treatment of the lumbar spine; this anterior fusion without direct posterior decompression, so-called indirect decompression, can achieve pain relief. Anterior fusion may restore disc height, stretch the flexure of the ligamentum flavum, and increase the spinal canal diameter. However, changes in the ligamentum flavum thickness and remodeling of the spinal canal after anterior fusion during a long follow-up have not yet been reported. METHODS: We evaluated 10 patients with L4 spondylolisthesis who underwent stand-alone anterior interbody fusion using the iliac crest bone. Magnetic resonance imaging was performed 10 years after surgery. The cross-sectional area (CSA) of the dural sac and the ligamentum flavum at L1–2 to L5–S1 was calculated using a Picture Archiving and Communication System. RESULTS: Spinal fusion with correction loss (average, 4.75 mm anterior slip) was achieved in all patients 10 years postsurgery. The average CSAs of the dural sac and the ligamentum flavum at L1–2 to L5–S1 were 150 mm² and 78 mm², respectively. The average CSA of the ligamentum flavum at L4–5 (30 mm²) (fusion level) was significantly less than that at L1–2 to L3–4 or L5–S1. Although patients had an average anterior slip of 4.75 mm, the average CSA of the dural sac at L4–5 was significantly larger than at the other levels. CONCLUSIONS: Spinal stability induced a lumbar ligamentum flavum change and a sustained remodeling of the spinal canal, which may explain the long-term pain relief after indirect decompression fusion surgery.
Decompression* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Ligamentum Flavum* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Canal ; Spinal Fusion ; Spine ; Spondylolisthesis

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case series. PURPOSE: To classify back muscle degeneration using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and investigate its relationship with back pain after surgery. OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: Back muscle injury and degeneration often occurs after posterior lumbar surgery, and the degeneration may be a cause of back pain. However, the relationship between back muscle degeneration and back pain remains controversial. METHODS: A total of 84 patients (average age, 65.1 years; 38 men, 46 women) with lumbar spinal stenosis underwent posterior decompression surgery alone. MRI (1.5 tesla) was evaluated before and more than a year after surgery in all patients. Muscle on MRI was classified into three categories: low intensity in T1-weighted imaging, high intensity in T2-weighted imaging (type 1), high intensity in both T1- and T2-weighted images (type 2), and low intensity in both T1- and T2-weighted imaging (type 3). The prevalence of the types and their relationship with back pain (determined on a visual analog scale) were evaluated. RESULTS: MRI revealed muscle degeneration in all patients after surgery (type 1, 6%; type 2, 82%; and type 3, 12%). Type 2 was significantly more frequent compared with types 1 and 3 (p<0.01). Low back pain was significantly improved after surgery (p<0.01). Low back pain was not associated with any MRI type of muscle degeneration after surgery (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Various pathologies of back muscle degeneration after posterior lumbar surgery were revealed. Type 2 (fatty) change was most frequent, and other patients had type 3 (scar) or type 1 (inflammation or water-like) changes. According to the Modic classification of bone marrow changes, Modic type 1 change is associated with inflammation and back pain. However, no particular type of back muscle degeneration was correlated with back pain after surgery.
Back Muscles* ; Back Pain ; Bone Marrow ; Classification* ; Decompression ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Low Back Pain* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Pathology ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Stenosis

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case series. PURPOSE: To determine whether symptoms predict surgical outcomes for patients with discogenic low back pain (DLBP). OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: Specific diagnosis of DLBP remains difficult. Worsening of pain on flexion is a reported symptom of DLBP. This study sought to determine whether symptoms predict surgical outcomes for patients with DLBP. METHODS: We investigated 127 patients with low back pain (LBP) and no dominant radicular pain. Magnetic resonance imaging was used to select patients with disc degeneration at only one level. If pain was provoked during discography, we performed fusion surgery (87 patients). Visual analogue scale score and responses to a questionnaire regarding symptoms including worsening of pain on flexion or extension were assessed. Symptom sites before surgery were categorized into LBP alone, or LBP plus referred inguinal or leg pain. We followed 77 patients (average 3.0 years) and compared symptoms before surgery with surgical outcome. RESULTS: Sixty-three patients with a good outcome showed postsurgical pain relief (≥60% pain relief) and 14 patients with a poor outcome did not (<60% pain relief). In patients with good outcomes, worsening of LBP was evident in 65% of cases on flexion and in 35% on extension. However, these findings were not significantly different from those in patients with poor outcomes. The percentage of patients with LBP alone was significantly lower and the percentage of patients with LBP plus referred inguinal or leg pain was significantly higher in the group with good surgical outcome compared with patients in the group with poor surgical outcome (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Worsening of pain on extension may be a symptom of DLBP. Surgical outcomes were superior in patients with both LBP and either referred inguinal or leg pain compared with those having LBP alone.
Diagnosis ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc ; Intervertebral Disc Degeneration ; Leg ; Low Back Pain* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Retrospective Studies

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case series. PURPOSE: To classify back muscle degeneration using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and investigate its relationship with back pain after surgery. OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: Back muscle injury and degeneration often occurs after posterior lumbar surgery, and the degeneration may be a cause of back pain. However, the relationship between back muscle degeneration and back pain remains controversial. METHODS: A total of 84 patients (average age, 65.1 years; 38 men, 46 women) with lumbar spinal stenosis underwent posterior decompression surgery alone. MRI (1.5 tesla) was evaluated before and more than a year after surgery in all patients. Muscle on MRI was classified into three categories: low intensity in T1-weighted imaging, high intensity in T2-weighted imaging (type 1), high intensity in both T1- and T2-weighted images (type 2), and low intensity in both T1- and T2-weighted imaging (type 3). The prevalence of the types and their relationship with back pain (determined on a visual analog scale) were evaluated. RESULTS: MRI revealed muscle degeneration in all patients after surgery (type 1, 6%; type 2, 82%; and type 3, 12%). Type 2 was significantly more frequent compared with types 1 and 3 (p<0.01). Low back pain was significantly improved after surgery (p<0.01). Low back pain was not associated with any MRI type of muscle degeneration after surgery (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Various pathologies of back muscle degeneration after posterior lumbar surgery were revealed. Type 2 (fatty) change was most frequent, and other patients had type 3 (scar) or type 1 (inflammation or water-like) changes. According to the Modic classification of bone marrow changes, Modic type 1 change is associated with inflammation and back pain. However, no particular type of back muscle degeneration was correlated with back pain after surgery.
Back Muscles* ; Back Pain ; Bone Marrow ; Classification* ; Decompression ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Low Back Pain* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Pathology ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Stenosis

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case series. PURPOSE: To determine whether symptoms predict surgical outcomes for patients with discogenic low back pain (DLBP). OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: Specific diagnosis of DLBP remains difficult. Worsening of pain on flexion is a reported symptom of DLBP. This study sought to determine whether symptoms predict surgical outcomes for patients with DLBP. METHODS: We investigated 127 patients with low back pain (LBP) and no dominant radicular pain. Magnetic resonance imaging was used to select patients with disc degeneration at only one level. If pain was provoked during discography, we performed fusion surgery (87 patients). Visual analogue scale score and responses to a questionnaire regarding symptoms including worsening of pain on flexion or extension were assessed. Symptom sites before surgery were categorized into LBP alone, or LBP plus referred inguinal or leg pain. We followed 77 patients (average 3.0 years) and compared symptoms before surgery with surgical outcome. RESULTS: Sixty-three patients with a good outcome showed postsurgical pain relief (≥60% pain relief) and 14 patients with a poor outcome did not (<60% pain relief). In patients with good outcomes, worsening of LBP was evident in 65% of cases on flexion and in 35% on extension. However, these findings were not significantly different from those in patients with poor outcomes. The percentage of patients with LBP alone was significantly lower and the percentage of patients with LBP plus referred inguinal or leg pain was significantly higher in the group with good surgical outcome compared with patients in the group with poor surgical outcome (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Worsening of pain on extension may be a symptom of DLBP. Surgical outcomes were superior in patients with both LBP and either referred inguinal or leg pain compared with those having LBP alone.
Diagnosis ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc ; Intervertebral Disc Degeneration ; Leg ; Low Back Pain* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Retrospective Studies

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case series. PURPOSE: To examine the most effective duration of teriparatide use for spinal fusion in women with postmenopausal osteoporosis. OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: We reported that daily subcutaneous injection of teriparatide (parathyroid hormone) significantly improved bone union after instrumented lumbar posterolateral fusion (PLF) in women with postmenopausal osteoporosis when compared with oral administration of bisphosphonate. However, the most effective duration of teriparatide use for spinal fusion has not been explored. METHODS: Forty-five women with osteoporosis diagnosed with degenerative spondylolisthesis from one of the three treatment groups were evaluated based on: short-duration treatment (average, 5.5 months; n=15; daily subcutaneous injection of 20 microg teriparatide), long-duration treatment (average, 13.0 months; n=15; daily subcutaneous injection of 20 microg teriparatide), and bisphosphonate treatment (average, 13.0 months; n=15; weekly oral administration of 17.5 mg risedronate). All patients underwent PLF with a local bone graft. Fusion rate and duration of bone union were evaluated 1.5 years after surgery. RESULTS: Bone union rate and average duration for bone union were 92% and 7.5 months in the long-duration treatment group, 80% and 8.5 months in the short-duration treatment group, and 70% and 10.0 months in the bisphosphonate treatment group, respectively. Results of bone union rate and average duration for bone union in the teriparatide treatment groups were significantly superior to those in the bisphosphonate treatment group (p<0.05); whereas, significantly superior results were observed in long-duration treatment group when compared with short-duration treatment group (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Daily injection of teriparatide for bone union was more effective than oral administration of bisphosphonate. Furthermore, a longer period of teriparatide treatment for bone union was more effective than a shorter period of same treatment.
Administration, Oral ; Female ; Humans ; Injections, Subcutaneous ; Osteoporosis ; Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Fusion ; Spondylolisthesis ; Teriparatide* ; Transplants