17 research outputs found
Analysis of Factors Contributing to Repeat Surgery in Multi-Segments Cervical Ossification of Posterior Longitudinal Ligament
Clinical and Radiological Features Predicting Intervertebral Autofusion after Successful Antibiotic Therapy in Pyogenic Vertebral Osteomyelitis
Background: Pyogenic vertebral osteomyelitis (PVO) is a bacterial infection involving the intervertebral disc, vertebral body, and paravertebral soft tissues. Damaged intervertebral structure is a major cause of persistent back pain even after successful antibiotic therapy, which can be improved by achieving autofusion or via additional surgical fixation. In this study, we analyzed the clinical and radiological features predicting intervertebral autofusion after successful antibiotic therapy in lumbar PVO. Methods: This study was retrospectively conducted with 32 patients (20 men and 12 women) diagnosed with lumbar PVO that was completely cured with no recurrences after antibiotic therapy. They were divided into two groups with (group A, n = 18) and without (group B, n = 14) intervertebral autofusion at six-month follow-up. Differences in back pain, blood inflammatory markers, and radiological features of PVO on simultaneous 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/magnetic resonance imaging (18F-FDG-PET/MRI) of the intervertebral structure between the two groups were analyzed. Results: The mean duration of antibiotic therapy was 41.44 ± 14.21 (21–89) days. Group A showed a statistically higher erythrocyte sedimentation ratio (ESR; 59.28 ± 32.33 vs. 33.93 ± 18.76 mm/h, p = 0.014; normal range of ESR 18F-FDG uptake (SUVmax; 5.56 ± 1.86 vs. 3.98 ± 1.40, p = 0.013), and sustained extensive edematous changes on T2-weighted fat saturation (T2FS) MRI (p = 0.015) immediately after successful antibiotic therapy. However, no significant differences were observed in back pain, C-reactive protein, or the distribution of 18F-FDG uptake/contrast enhancement on 18F-FDG-PET/MRI (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Higher ESR and SUVmax of the intervertebral structure and sustained extensive edematous change on T2FS MRI immediately after successful antibiotic therapy are related with subsequent intervertebral autofusion, which should be carefully considered when assessing therapeutic response in PVO
Real-Time Water Pressure Monitoring in Unilateral Biportal Endoscopic Spine Surgery
Objective Unilateral biportal endoscopic (UBE) spine surgery is a minimally invasive technique that uses continuous irrigation to improve visualization and control bleeding. Effective water pressure management is crucial for patient safety, particularly at the cervical and thoracic levels where spinal cord injury risk is higher. However, real-time pressure monitoring remains underexplored. This study evaluates the impact of real-time water pressure monitoring on safety during UBE surgery. Methods A prospective study was conducted involving 20 patients undergoing UBE lumbar spine surgery. Patients were divided into 2 groups based on the irrigation system: gravity-based or infusion pump. Real-time water pressure was monitored using a digital sensor throughout surgery. Each procedure was categorized into 3 phases: phase I, working space preparation; phase II, laminectomy; phase III, flavectomy, dura exposure, and discectomy. Data was analyzed according to the type of irrigation system and surgical phase. Results The mean water pressure in the surgical field during UBE spine surgery was 17.98±8.07 mmHg, with no significant differences between surgical phases. However, the infusion pump system maintained significantly lower mean pressure (12.10±3.51 mmHg) compared to the gravity-based system (23.86±6.97 mmHg, p=0.001). The infusion pump system consistently maintained a significantly lower mean water pressure compared to the gravity-based system. Conclusion Real-time water pressure monitoring during UBE surgery enhances safety by enabling improved control of pressure within the surgical field. Both the gravity-based and infusion pump systems safely maintained working space pressure, with the pump system showing significantly lower pressure levels
Validity of Clinical Assessment Using Clinical Symptoms and C-Reactive Protein for Therapeutic Response in Pyogenic Vertebral Osteomyelitis: Analysis Based on <sup>18</sup>F-FDG-PET
Backgroundand objectives: The clinical assessment of therapeutic response in pyogenic vertebral osteomyelitis (PVO) has been usually performed based on the changes of clinical symptoms and blood inflammatory markers. Recently, 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (18F-FDG-PET) has emerged as an alternative independent method. We analyzed the validity of the clinical assessment for detecting residual PVO based on 18F-FDG-PET. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted with 53 patients confirmed as lumbar PVO under retrospective design. All patients underwent clinical assessment using clinical symptoms and C-reactive protein (CRP) for therapeutic response after parenteral antibiotic therapy, which led to the decision of placement in the uncontrolled (group UC) or controlled (group C) group. The validity of clinical assessment was analyzed based on the cut-off values of FDG uptake for detecting residual PVO as references, which are already established in the previous literature. Results: The mean duration of parenteral antibiotic therapy and recurrence rate were 42.19 ± 15.84 (21–89) days and 9.4% (5/53), respectively. 18F-FDG-PETs were performed at 80 rounds of clinical assessment on 37.40 ± 13.15 (21–83) days of parenteral antibiotic therapy and divided: 31 into group UC and 49 into group C, according to the decisions of clinical assessment. Based on the cut-off values of FDG uptake, clinical assessment showed 48.4–58.1% of false positive for residual PVO in group UC. However, 18F-FDG-PET showed 8.2% (4/49) of false negative for residual PVO in group C, which led to recurrences. Conclusions: Clinical assessment using clinical symptoms and CRP for evaluating therapeutic response in PVO is still a useful method in terms of similar recurrence rate compared to 18F-FDG-PET. However, the high rate of false positive for residual PVO can prolong the use of unnecessary antibiotics and overall treatment period
Intramuscular hemangioma with hemorrhagic transformation arising from paraspinal muscles of posterior neck
Analysis of Factors Contributing to Repeat Surgery in Multi-Segments Cervical Ossification of Posterior Longitudinal Ligament
Objective: Cervical ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) can be treated via anterior or posterior approach, or both. The optimal approach depends on the characteristics of OPLL and cervical curvature. Although most patients can be successfully treated by a single surgery with the proper approach, renewed or newly developed neurological deterioration often requires repeat surgery.
Methods: Twenty-seven patients with renewed or newly developed neurological deterioration requiring salvage surgery for multi-segment cervical OPLL were enrolled. Ten patients (group AP) underwent anterior approach, and 17 patients (group PA) underwent posterior approach at the initial surgery. Clinical and radiological data from initial and repeat surgeries were obtained and analyzed retrospectively.
Results: The intervals between the initial and repeat surgeries were 102.80±60.08 months (group AP) and 61.00±8.16 months (group PA) (p<0.05). In group AP, the main OPLL lesions were removed during the initial surgery. There was a tendency that the site of main OPLL lesions causing renewed or newly developed neurological deterioration were different from that of the initial surgery (8/10, p<0.05). Repeat surgery was performed for progressed OPLL lesions at another segment as the main pathology. In group PA, the main OPLL lesions at the initial surgery continued as the main pathology for repeat surgery. Progression of kyphosis in the cervical curvature (Cobb's angle on C2-7 and segmental angle on the main OPLL lesion) was noted between the initial and repeat surgeries. Group PA showed more kyphotic cervical curvature compared to group AP at the time of repeat surgery (p<0.05).
Conclusion: The reasons for repeat surgery depend on the type of initial surgery. The main factors leading to repeat surgery are progression of remnant OPLL at a different segment in group AP and kyphotic change of the cervical curvature in group PA.ope
Clinical and Radiological Analysis of Pyogenic Vertebral Osteomyelitis Immediately after Successful Antimicrobial Therapy: Considerations for Assessing Therapeutic Response
Purpose: The clinical and radiological abnormal findings continue even after successful treatment in pyogenic vertebral osteomyelitis (PVO). We analyzed the clinical and radiological features of cured PVO based on 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/magnetic resonance imaging (FDG-PET/MRI) and compared the radiological differences between FDG-PET and MRI for assessing therapeutic response in PVO. Methods: This study included 43 patients (28 men and 15 women) with lumbar PVO who had no recurrence after successful antimicrobial therapy. They were divided into two groups based on the location of maximum standardized FDG uptake value (SUVmax) of PVO lesion on FDG-PET/MRI when parenteral antibiotics were discontinued (31 in group A: Intervertebral structure; 12 in group B: Vertebral body and paravertebral muscle). The differences of clinical symptoms, hematological inflammatory indices, and radiological features were retrospectively analyzed. Results: The patients were treated with 42.28 ± 14.58 (21–89) days of parenteral antibiotics. There were significant differences in C-reactive protein (0.97 ± 1.10 vs. 0.51 ± 0.31 mg/dL, p = 0.041; normal range of CRP < 0.5), back pain (4.29 ± 1.13 vs. 3.50 ± 1.00, p = 0.040; visual analog scale), and SUVmax (4.34 ± 1.24 vs. 5.89 ± 1.57, p < 0.001) between the two groups. In the distribution pattern of PVO lesions, FDG-PET overall showed recovery pattern earlier than MRI did (p < 0.001). Conclusions: In cured PVO, the clinical features vary depending on the location of major structural damage of PVO lesion. The involvement of intervertebral structure is related with sustained back pain and elevation of CRP, and vertebral body/paravertebral muscle shows favorable clinical features despite advanced structural damages
Application of Lateral Approach for the Removal of Migrated Interbody Cage: Taphole and Fixing Technique
Intradural Extramedullary Capillary Hemangioma In the Upper Thoracic Spine with Simultaneous Extensive Arachnoiditis
Analysis of Clinical Factors Associated with Medical Burden and Functional Status in Pyogenic Spine Infection
Background and purpose: Pyogenic spinal infection (PSI) has recently been on the rise due to aging and increasing degenerative spinal disease related procedures. PSI requires long-term antibiotic treatment and is followed by sustained functional disability even after successful treatment. This study aimed to analyze the clinical factors associated with medical burden and functional status of PSI. Methods: This retrospective study involved patients with non-postoperative PSI of thoraco-lumbo-sacral area in a single tertiary hospital. The length/cost of hospitalization with an antibiotic therapy and severity of back pain using the short form 36 (SF-36) were defined as the medical burden and functional status, respectively. We analyzed the clinical factors associated with medical burden and functional status. Results: We enrolled 142 patients (91 males and 51 females). The length and cost of hospitalization were 55.56 ± 27.09 (7–172) days and $14,070.17 ± 9289.39 (1611.87–48,722.35), respectively. A recurrence rate of 7.7% (11/142) and significant improvement of SF-36 at six months after completion of antibiotic treatment were noted (p < 0.05). Procedure-related (OR 2.702), C-reactive protein (CRP; OR 1.062), bacteremia (OR 4.966), additional surgical treatment (OR 6.524), recurrence (OR 12.453), and paraspinal abscess (OR 5.965) for above-average length of hospitalization were observed; female (OR 4.438), CRP (OR 1.071), bacteremia (OR 4.647), additional surgical treatment (OR 6.737), recurrence (OR 22.543), and extent of lesion (OR 1.431) for above-average cost of hospitalization; leg weakness (OR 15.966), white blood cell (WBC; OR 1.116), Charlson’s comorbidity index (CCI, OR 1.485), and identification of causative bacteria (OR 2.913) for below-average initial SF-36 were observed; leg weakness (OR 7.975) and WBC (OR 1.094) for below-average 6-month SF-36 were the statistically significant clinical factors in the multivariable logistic regression analysis (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Recurrence and leg weakness were identified as the most important clinical factors for medical burden and functional status in PSI, respectively. We think that it is necessary to actively suppress recurrence and manage neurological deficits for decreasing medical burden and achieving favorable functional outcome in the treatment of PSI
