Objective: This study aimed to determine whether absolute bed rest (ABR) is essential for the conservative treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCFs). Methods: This study included 115 patients diagnosed with OVCFs. The patients in group A were allowed to ambulate as soon as possible, while those in group B underwent ABR for at least 1 week. X-ray images at baseline and 1 week, 2 weeks, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months after trauma were obtained from both groups for assessment. In each group, ABR-related complications including constipation, indigestion, Foley catheter insertion, urinary tract infection, cough/sputum, dizziness, and neurasthenia were investigated. Results: In both groups, the compression rates, Cobb angles, and visual analog scale scores did not differ significantly at baseline and the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth follow-ups. In terms of constipation, indigestion, dizziness, and neurasthenia, group A reported a significantly higher complication rate than group B (p<0.05). Conclusion The prognosis did not differ significantly between patients who underwent ABR for at least 1 week and those who started walking as soon as possible. The incidence of complications due to ABRs was lower in the early ambulatory group. Therefore, it may be helpful to start walking as early as possible during the conservative treatment of OVCFs.

A 65-year-old woman who underwent transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion at L4-5 for very severe spinal stenosis combined with a hard disc and instability presented with a headache on postoperative day (POD) 3 and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage on POD 5. Follow-up lumbar spine computed tomography (CT) was performed on POD 7, and fluid collection at the operation site was observed on CT images. Under the diagnosis of iatrogenic dural injury, absolute bed rest and lumbar drain catheter insertion at the L2-3 level were performed for three days, but the patient continued to complain of severe headache until POD 10. We reoperated on POD 10 and observed a dural defect with CSF leakage. The surgery was completed after ensuring that the CSF leakage was resolved by dural repair. However, 10 days after the reoperation, the amount of hemovac drainage still did not decrease and was measured to be more than 250 mL. There was no improvement in the patient’s symptoms. Twenty days after the first surgery, an epidural blood patch was applied to the epidural space at the site of dural injury, and the patient’s symptoms improved.

OBJECTIVE: Bone flap resorption (BFR) is a complication of cranioplasty (CP) that increases the risk of brain damage and can cause cosmetic defects. In this study, the risk factors for BFR were examined to improve the prognosis of patients after CP for traumatic brain injury (TBI). METHODS: This study was conducted in 80 patients with TBI who underwent decompressive craniectomy and CP with an autologous bone graft between August 2006 and August 2017. BFR was defined as a >0.1 ratio of the difference between the initial bone flap area and the last bone flap area to the craniectomy size and a < 0.5 ratio of the last bone flap thickness to the bone thickness of the contralateral region on computed tomography scans and plain skull radiographs. The patients were divided into the BFR and non-BFR groups, and medical data were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Among the 80 patients, 22 (27.5%) were diagnosed as having BFR after CP. The earliest cases of BFR occurred at 57 days after CP, and the latest BFR cases occurred at 3,677 days after CP. Using multivariate logistic regression analyses, the initial dead space size (odds ratio [OR], 1.002; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.001–1.004; p=0.006) and multiplicity of the bone flap (OR, 3.058; 95% CI, 1.021–9.164; p=0.046) were found to be risk factors for BFR. CONCLUSION: The risk factors for BFR in this study were the initial dead space size and multiplicity of the bone flap.
Bone Resorption ; Brain ; Brain Injuries* ; Craniotomy ; Decompressive Craniectomy ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Prognosis ; Risk Factors* ; Skull ; Transplantation ; Transplants

Aortic injury during transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) is a rare but severe complication. We experienced aortic injury during TLIF at L3–4 with a 59-year-old woman diagnosed with an adjacent segment disease at L3–4. Severe bleeding occurred during disc space expansion, and the blood pressure dropped to 60/40 mmHg. The patient’s vital sign stabilized after compression with gauze and Gelfoam in addition to blood transfusion. The patient was treated with endovascular repair using a percutaneous technique after intertransverse fusion at L3–4 was completed. She recovered and is being followed-up in the outpatient department.
Aneurysm, False ; Aortic Rupture ; Blood Pressure ; Blood Transfusion ; Endovascular Procedures ; Female ; Gelatin Sponge, Absorbable ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc ; Intraoperative Complications ; Middle Aged ; Outpatients ; Vital Signs

OBJECTIVE: Cranioplasty using a cryopreserved skull flap is a wide spread practice. The most well-known complications of cranioplasty are postoperative surgical infections and bone flap resorption. In order to find biological evidence of cryopreserved cranioplasty, we investigated microorganism contamination of cryopreserved skulls and cultured osteoblasts from cryopreserved skulls. METHODS: Cryopreserved skull flaps of expired patients stored in a bone bank were used. Cryopreserved skulls were packaged in a plastic bag and wrapped with cotton cloth twice. After being crushed by a hammer, cancellous bone between the inner and outer table was obtained. The cancellous bone chips were thawed in a water bath of 30°C rapidly. After this, osteoblast culture and general microorganism culture were executed. Osteoblast cultures were done for 3 weeks. Microorganism cultures were done for 72 hours. RESULTS: A total of 47 cryopreserved skull flaps obtained from craniectomy was enrolled. Of the sample, 11 people were women, and the average age of patients was 55.8 years. Twenty four people had traumatic brain injuries, and 23 people had vascular diseases. Among the patients with traumatic brain injuries, two had fracture compound comminuted depressed. The duration of cryopreservation was, on average, 83.2 months (9 to 161 months). No cultured osteoblast was observed. No microorganisms were cultured. CONCLUSION: In this study, neither microorganisms nor osteoblasts were cultured. The biological validity of cryopreserved skulls cranioplasty was considered low. However, the usage of cryopreserved skulls for cranioplasty is worthy of further investigation in the aspect of cost-effectiveness and risk-benefit of post-cranioplasty infection.
Bacterial Infections ; Baths ; Bone Banks ; Brain Injuries ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Cryopreservation ; Decompressive Craniectomy ; Female ; Humans ; Osteoblasts* ; Plastics ; Skull* ; Vascular Diseases ; Water

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to establish an animal model of chronic paraspinal muscle injury in rat. METHODS: Fifty four Sprague-Dawley male rats were divided into experimental group (n=30), sham (n=15), and normal group (n=9). Incision was done from T7 to L2 and paraspinal muscles were detached from spine and tied at each level. The paraspinal muscles were exposed and untied at 2 weeks after surgery. Sham operation was done by paraspinal muscles dissection at the same levels and wound closure was done without tying. Kyphotic index and thoracolumbar Cobb's angle were measured at preoperative, 2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks after the first surgery for all groups. The rats were sacrificed at 4, 8, and 12 weeks after the first surgery, and performed histological examinations. RESULTS: At 4 weeks after surgery, the kyphotic index decreased, but, Cobb's angle increased significantly in the experimental group (p<0.05), and then that were maintained until the end of the experiment. However, there were no significant differences of the kyphotic index and Cobb's angle between sham and normal groups. In histological examinations, necrosis and fibrosis were observed definitely and persisted until 12 weeks after surgery. There were also presences of regenerated muscle cells which nucleus is at the center of cytoplasm, centronucleated myofibers. CONCLUSION: Our chronic injury model of paraspinal muscles in rats shows necrosis and fibrosis in the muscles for 12 weeks after surgery, which might be useful to study the pathophysiology of the degenerative thoracolumbar kyphosis or degeneration of paraspinal muscles.
Animals ; Cytoplasm ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Kyphosis ; Male ; Models, Animal ; Muscle Cells ; Muscles ; Necrosis ; Paraspinal Muscles* ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spine ; Wounds and Injuries

OBJECTIVE: To determine the advantages of parietal approach compared to Kocher's point approach for spontaneous, oval-shaped intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) with expansion to the parietal region. METHODS: We divided patients into two groups : group A had burr holes in the parietal bone and group B had burr holes at Kocher's point. The hematoma volume, Glasgow coma scale (GCS) score, and modified Barthel Index (mBI) score were calculated. At discharge, we evaluated the patients' Glasgow outcome scale (GOS) score, modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score, motor grade, and hospitalization duration. We evaluated the patients' mBI scores and motor grades at 6 months after surgery. RESULTS: The hematoma volume in group A was significantly less than that in group B on postoperative days 1, 3, 5, 7, 14, and 21. Group A had significantly higher GCS scores than did group B on postoperative days 1 and 3. Group A had higher mBI scores postoperatively than did group B, but the scores were not significantly different. No differences were observed for the GOS score, mRS score, motor grade at discharge, or duration of hospitalization. The mBI score of group A at 6 months after surgery was significantly higher, and more patients in group A showed muscle strength improvement. CONCLUSION: In oval-shaped ICH with expansion to the parietal region, the parietal approach is considered to improve the clinical symptoms at the acute phase by removing the hematoma more effectively in the early stages. The parietal approach might help promote the long-term recovery of motor power.
Cerebral Hemorrhage* ; Glasgow Coma Scale ; Glasgow Outcome Scale ; Hematoma* ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Muscle Strength ; Parietal Bone ; Rabeprazole*

We present a rare case of intramuscular schwannoma originating from the dorsal ramus nerve in a 62-year-old woman. The mass grew slowly, with pain developing upon touch five years prior. No neurological deficit was detected. The mass was observed in the erector spinae muscles in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and surgical excision was performed. The mass was well encapsulated with clear margin. The lesion appeared to originate from the cranial side. We completely removed the mass including the origin. Histopathology confirmed a schwannoma diagnosis. This is the first report, to our knowledge, of a dorsal ramus-nerve schwannoma within the erector spinae muscles.
Back Pain ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Middle Aged ; Muscles ; Neurilemmoma*

OBJECTIVE: Spontaneous cerebellar hemorrhage (SCH) is less common than supratentorial intracerebral hemorrhage. This study investigated the treatment of SCH and the relation between its clinical and radiological manifestation and outcome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We presented a SCH management protocol in our institute and analyzed the clinical and radiological findings in 41 SCH patients. The outcomes of each method (surgery and conservative treatment) were compared among patients with initial Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score of 9-13 and hematoma volume greater than 10 mL. RESULTS: Two (4.9%), 16 (39%), and 23 (56.1%) patients had an initial GCS score of 3-8, with 3-8, 9-13, and 14-15, respectively. Initial GCS score showed significant correlation with Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) score (p = 0.005). The mean largest hematoma diameter was 3.2 +/- 1.5 cm, and the mean volume was 11.0 +/- 11.5 mL. Both of them showed significant inverse correlation with GOS score (p < 0.001). Among patients with an initial GCS score of 9-13 and hematoma volumes greater than 10 mL, 3 (50%) had good outcome and 3 (50%) had poor outcome in the surgical, and all of those in the conservative treatment group had poor outcomes. The outcome distribution differed significantly in the surgical and conservative groups (p = 0.030). CONCLUSION: Initial GCS score and largest hematoma diameter and volume on brain computed tomography are important determinants of outcome in SCH patients. The surgery group showed better outcome than the conservative treatment group among those with an intermediate neurological status and large hematomas.
Brain ; Cerebellum ; Cerebral Hemorrhage ; Glasgow Coma Scale ; Glasgow Outcome Scale ; Hematoma ; Hemorrhage* ; Humans

OBJECTIVE: Spontaneous cerebellar hemorrhage (SCH) is less common than supratentorial intracerebral hemorrhage. This study investigated the treatment of SCH and the relation between its clinical and radiological manifestation and outcome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We presented a SCH management protocol in our institute and analyzed the clinical and radiological findings in 41 SCH patients. The outcomes of each method (surgery and conservative treatment) were compared among patients with initial Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score of 9-13 and hematoma volume greater than 10 mL. RESULTS: Two (4.9%), 16 (39%), and 23 (56.1%) patients had an initial GCS score of 3-8, with 3-8, 9-13, and 14-15, respectively. Initial GCS score showed significant correlation with Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) score (p = 0.005). The mean largest hematoma diameter was 3.2 +/- 1.5 cm, and the mean volume was 11.0 +/- 11.5 mL. Both of them showed significant inverse correlation with GOS score (p < 0.001). Among patients with an initial GCS score of 9-13 and hematoma volumes greater than 10 mL, 3 (50%) had good outcome and 3 (50%) had poor outcome in the surgical, and all of those in the conservative treatment group had poor outcomes. The outcome distribution differed significantly in the surgical and conservative groups (p = 0.030). CONCLUSION: Initial GCS score and largest hematoma diameter and volume on brain computed tomography are important determinants of outcome in SCH patients. The surgery group showed better outcome than the conservative treatment group among those with an intermediate neurological status and large hematomas.
Brain ; Cerebellum ; Cerebral Hemorrhage ; Glasgow Coma Scale ; Glasgow Outcome Scale ; Hematoma ; Hemorrhage* ; Humans