Objective: To evaluate the preoperative and perioperative predictors of persistent leg numbness following lumbar fusion in patients aged ≥ 75 years. Methods: This single-center retrospective study examined 304 patients aged ≥ 75 years who underwent lumbar fusion for lumbar degenerative disease (102 men, 202 women; mean age, 79.2 [75–90] years). The visual analogue scale (VAS) score for leg numbness was examined preoperatively and at 2 years postoperatively. The persistent leg numbness group included patients with a 2-year postoperative VAS score for leg numbness ≥ 5 points. The demographic data were also reviewed. A multivariate stepwise logistic regression analysis was performed for variables with univariate analysis values of p < 0.2 on univariate analysis. Results: In total, 71 patients (23.4%) experienced persistent postoperative leg numbness. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that a history of lumbar decompression, longer symptom duration, and a preoperative VAS score for leg numbness ≥ 5 points were associated with greater postoperative persistent leg numbness following lumbar fusion. In contrast, other factors, such as sex, body mass index, vertebral fracture, diabetes mellitus, depression, symptom duration, dural injury, operative time, and estimated blood loss, were not. Conclusion A history of preoperative lumbar decompression, longer symptom duration, and greater preoperative VAS scores for leg numbness were preoperative predictors of persistent postoperative leg numbness following lumbar fusion in older patients. Although lumbar fusion is expected to improve leg numbness, surgeons should consider the surgical history, duration, and preoperative numbness intensity and explain the potential postoperative persistent leg numbness in advance.

Objective: To evaluate the preoperative and perioperative predictors of persistent leg numbness following lumbar fusion in patients aged ≥ 75 years. Methods: This single-center retrospective study examined 304 patients aged ≥ 75 years who underwent lumbar fusion for lumbar degenerative disease (102 men, 202 women; mean age, 79.2 [75–90] years). The visual analogue scale (VAS) score for leg numbness was examined preoperatively and at 2 years postoperatively. The persistent leg numbness group included patients with a 2-year postoperative VAS score for leg numbness ≥ 5 points. The demographic data were also reviewed. A multivariate stepwise logistic regression analysis was performed for variables with univariate analysis values of p < 0.2 on univariate analysis. Results: In total, 71 patients (23.4%) experienced persistent postoperative leg numbness. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that a history of lumbar decompression, longer symptom duration, and a preoperative VAS score for leg numbness ≥ 5 points were associated with greater postoperative persistent leg numbness following lumbar fusion. In contrast, other factors, such as sex, body mass index, vertebral fracture, diabetes mellitus, depression, symptom duration, dural injury, operative time, and estimated blood loss, were not. Conclusion A history of preoperative lumbar decompression, longer symptom duration, and greater preoperative VAS scores for leg numbness were preoperative predictors of persistent postoperative leg numbness following lumbar fusion in older patients. Although lumbar fusion is expected to improve leg numbness, surgeons should consider the surgical history, duration, and preoperative numbness intensity and explain the potential postoperative persistent leg numbness in advance.

Warfarin is commonly used as an anticoagulant after mitral valvuloplasty （MVP）. The efficacy of warfarin varies widely from patient to patient, and sometimes optimal prolongation of PT-INR cannot be achieved even with high doses of warfarin. In the present case, PT-INR was not prolonged to the target value even after 9 mg of warfarin and 300 mg of Bucolome due to warfarin resistance, and a direct oral anticoagulant （DOAC） was administered as an alternative drug. The patient was a 57-year-old male who became aware of easy fatigue and visited a medical institution for a heart murmur. Transthoracic echocardiography revealed a severe mitral regurgitation （MR） due to thickening of the anterior mitral leaflet and prolapse of the posterior leaflet. Postoperative echocardiography showed no MR, good valve mobility, an effective valve opening area of 2.0 cm2, and an improved blood flow velocity of 0.9 m/s. Warfarin was started on the day after surgery, but the dose was gradually increased because PT-INR was not prolonged. The PT-INR was less than 1 even with 6 mg of warfarin, and the patient was started on Bucolome. The PT-INR was 1.27 after 9 mg of warfarin and 300 mg of Bucolome. The patient was diagnosed as warfarin-resistance and was discharged from the hospital after warfarin was discontinued and dabigatran 300 mg was administered. Dabigatran was discontinued at 3 months after surgery without any embolism or bleeding complications. In some cases, PT-INR prolongation may not be achieved due to warfarin resistance caused by genetic polymorphisms, and in such cases, DOACs can be used as anticoagulants after mitral valvuloplasty.

Objective: To evaluate the preoperative and perioperative predictors of persistent leg numbness following lumbar fusion in patients aged ≥ 75 years. Methods: This single-center retrospective study examined 304 patients aged ≥ 75 years who underwent lumbar fusion for lumbar degenerative disease (102 men, 202 women; mean age, 79.2 [75–90] years). The visual analogue scale (VAS) score for leg numbness was examined preoperatively and at 2 years postoperatively. The persistent leg numbness group included patients with a 2-year postoperative VAS score for leg numbness ≥ 5 points. The demographic data were also reviewed. A multivariate stepwise logistic regression analysis was performed for variables with univariate analysis values of p < 0.2 on univariate analysis. Results: In total, 71 patients (23.4%) experienced persistent postoperative leg numbness. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that a history of lumbar decompression, longer symptom duration, and a preoperative VAS score for leg numbness ≥ 5 points were associated with greater postoperative persistent leg numbness following lumbar fusion. In contrast, other factors, such as sex, body mass index, vertebral fracture, diabetes mellitus, depression, symptom duration, dural injury, operative time, and estimated blood loss, were not. Conclusion A history of preoperative lumbar decompression, longer symptom duration, and greater preoperative VAS scores for leg numbness were preoperative predictors of persistent postoperative leg numbness following lumbar fusion in older patients. Although lumbar fusion is expected to improve leg numbness, surgeons should consider the surgical history, duration, and preoperative numbness intensity and explain the potential postoperative persistent leg numbness in advance.

Objective: To evaluate the preoperative and perioperative predictors of persistent leg numbness following lumbar fusion in patients aged ≥ 75 years. Methods: This single-center retrospective study examined 304 patients aged ≥ 75 years who underwent lumbar fusion for lumbar degenerative disease (102 men, 202 women; mean age, 79.2 [75–90] years). The visual analogue scale (VAS) score for leg numbness was examined preoperatively and at 2 years postoperatively. The persistent leg numbness group included patients with a 2-year postoperative VAS score for leg numbness ≥ 5 points. The demographic data were also reviewed. A multivariate stepwise logistic regression analysis was performed for variables with univariate analysis values of p < 0.2 on univariate analysis. Results: In total, 71 patients (23.4%) experienced persistent postoperative leg numbness. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that a history of lumbar decompression, longer symptom duration, and a preoperative VAS score for leg numbness ≥ 5 points were associated with greater postoperative persistent leg numbness following lumbar fusion. In contrast, other factors, such as sex, body mass index, vertebral fracture, diabetes mellitus, depression, symptom duration, dural injury, operative time, and estimated blood loss, were not. Conclusion A history of preoperative lumbar decompression, longer symptom duration, and greater preoperative VAS scores for leg numbness were preoperative predictors of persistent postoperative leg numbness following lumbar fusion in older patients. Although lumbar fusion is expected to improve leg numbness, surgeons should consider the surgical history, duration, and preoperative numbness intensity and explain the potential postoperative persistent leg numbness in advance.

Objective: To evaluate the preoperative and perioperative predictors of persistent leg numbness following lumbar fusion in patients aged ≥ 75 years. Methods: This single-center retrospective study examined 304 patients aged ≥ 75 years who underwent lumbar fusion for lumbar degenerative disease (102 men, 202 women; mean age, 79.2 [75–90] years). The visual analogue scale (VAS) score for leg numbness was examined preoperatively and at 2 years postoperatively. The persistent leg numbness group included patients with a 2-year postoperative VAS score for leg numbness ≥ 5 points. The demographic data were also reviewed. A multivariate stepwise logistic regression analysis was performed for variables with univariate analysis values of p < 0.2 on univariate analysis. Results: In total, 71 patients (23.4%) experienced persistent postoperative leg numbness. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that a history of lumbar decompression, longer symptom duration, and a preoperative VAS score for leg numbness ≥ 5 points were associated with greater postoperative persistent leg numbness following lumbar fusion. In contrast, other factors, such as sex, body mass index, vertebral fracture, diabetes mellitus, depression, symptom duration, dural injury, operative time, and estimated blood loss, were not. Conclusion A history of preoperative lumbar decompression, longer symptom duration, and greater preoperative VAS scores for leg numbness were preoperative predictors of persistent postoperative leg numbness following lumbar fusion in older patients. Although lumbar fusion is expected to improve leg numbness, surgeons should consider the surgical history, duration, and preoperative numbness intensity and explain the potential postoperative persistent leg numbness in advance.

Background: Anti-p200 pemphigoid (anti-laminin γ1 pemphigoid) is a rare subepidermal autoimmune blistering disease. Autoantibodies against a 200 kDa protein should be identified by immunoblot assay using dermal extracts for the diagnosis of anti-p200 pemphigoid. So far, approximately 100 cases have been reported worldwide; however, in Korea, only a few case reports have been described in the literature. Objective: This study aimed to analyze the clinicopathological findings of patients with anti-p200 pemphigoid in Korea. Methods: This was a single-center retrospective study. Medical records of patients with anti-p200 pemphigoid who were diagnosed between 2004 and 2021 were reviewed. Results: Twelve patients were included in this study. There were eight male and four female. Mean age of disease onset was 61.4 years. Only one patient had a history of psoriasis. Although the distribution of lesions varied, most patients presented with multiple erythematous rashes and blisters on their hands and feet. There were four cases of mucosal involvement. Histopathological examination revealed subepidermal blistering with neutrophilic and/or eosinophilic infiltration. All the patients were treated with systemic corticosteroids. The adjuvant therapies applied were colchicine (66.7%), dapsone (58.3%), doxycycline (41.7%), mycophenolate mofetil (16.7%), intravenous immunoglobulin, and rituximab (8.3%). The remission rate was 75% with an average time of 10 months to reach remission, and two patients experienced relapse during treatment. Conclusion This is the first retrospective study to analyze anti-p200 pemphigoid therapy in Korea. Clinically, vesicles on the extremities are characteristic of anti-p200 pemphigoid. Most patients showed a good response to the conventional treatment.