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Study Design: Prospective study. Objective: Investigate factors associated with preoperative motor paresis, recovery, ambulatory status, and intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring (IONM) among patients with no preoperative paresis (N group), complete preoperative motor recovery (CR group), and no complete recovery (NCR group) in patients with intramedullary spinal cavernous hemangioma to determine the optimal timing of surgery. Methods: The study evaluated 41 surgical cases in our institute. Disease duration, tumor lesion, manual muscle testing (MMT), and gait at onset, just before surgery, and final follow-up (FU), tumor and lesion volume, IONM, extent of tumor resection, and tumor recurrence were evaluated among N, CR, and NCR groups. Results: Motor paresis at onset was found in 26 patients (63%), with 42% of those in CR group. Disease duration from onset negatively affected stable gait just before surgery and FU as well as lower preoperative MMT ( P < .05). Thoracic tumors were associated with patients with unstable gait before surgery ( P < .05). Tumor volume was larger in NCR group ( P < .05). IONM significantly decreased in NCR and CR groups than in N group ( P < .05). The NCR group had residual mild motor paresis at FU ( P < .05). Stable gait at FU was similar in N group and CR group, though lower in NCR group ( P < .05). Conclusions: Early surgery is generally recommended for thoracic tumors and large tumors during stable gait without motor paresis before long disease duration. Surgery may be postponed until patients recover from preoperative motor paresis to allow optimal surgical outcome. IONM should be carefully monitored in patients with a history of preoperative paresis even with preoperative complete motor recovery.

Study Design: A retrospective analysis of a prospective database. Objective: To compare preoperative symptoms, ambulatory ability, intraoperative spinal cord monitoring, and pathologic cell proliferation activity between intramedullary only and intramedullary plus extramedullary hemangioblastomas, with the goal of determining the optimal timing for surgery. Methods: The subjects were 28 patients (intramedullary only in 23 cases [group I] and intramedullary plus extramedullary in 5 cases [group IE]) who underwent surgery for spinal hemangioblastoma. Preoperative symptoms, ambulatory ability on the McCormick scale, intraoperative spinal cord monitoring, and pathologic findings using Ki67 were compared between the groups. Results: In group IE, preoperative motor paralysis was significantly higher (100 versus 26%, p < 0.005), the mean period from initial symptoms to motor paralysis was significantly shorter (3.5 versus 11.9 months, p < 0.05), and intraoperative spinal cord monitoring aggravation was higher (65 versus 6%, p < 0.05). All 5 patients without total resection in group I underwent reoperation. Ki67 activity was higher in group IE (15% versus 1%, p < 0.05). Preoperative ambulatory ability was significantly poorer in group IE (p < 0.05), but all cases in this group improved after surgery, and postoperative ambulatory ability did not differ significantly between the two groups. Conclusions: Intramedullary plus extramedullary spinal hemangioblastoma is characterized by rapid preoperative progression of symptoms over a short period, severe spinal cord damage including preoperative motor paralysis, and poor gait ability compared with an intramedullary tumor only. Earlier surgery with intraoperative spinal cord monitoring is recommended for total resection and good surgical outcome especially for an IE tumor compared with an intramedullary tumor.

Study Design: Prospective clinical study. Objective: Many oral surgeons use platelet-rich plasma (PRP) for bone defects, but the efficacy of PRP for spinal arthrodesis remains uncertain. The objective was to compare the efficacy of autologous local bone graft and PRP with local bone graft alone for promotion of bony union in posterolateral lumbar fusion (PLF) surgery, with investigation of the safety of PRP over 10 years. Methods: A prospective study was conducted in 29 consecutive patients who underwent one-level PLF at L4/5 for degenerative lumbar disease. Local bone on the left (control) side and local bone with PRP on the right side were grafted. The fusion area and absorption of grafted bone at 58 regions were determined using computed tomography at 2 weeks and 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery. Results: Average bone fusion areas on the PRP side were significantly wider at 3 and 6 months after surgery ( P < .05). Average absorption values were significantly lower on the PRP side than on the control side at 3 and 6 months after surgery ( P < .05). The PRP/control ratio was significantly different at 3 and 6 months compared to that at 2 weeks ( P < .005). No adverse events related to PRP occurred with good clinical outcome over 10 years follow-up. Conclusions: Local application of PRP combined with autologous local bone graft has a positive impact on early fusion for lumbar arthrodesis with no adverse events over 10 years, and thus is a safe and low cost autologous option in spinal fusion.

Study Design Prospective clinical study. Objective Posterior decompression and fusion surgery for beak-type thoracic ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (T-OPLL) generally has a favorable outcome. However, some patients require additional surgery for postoperative severe paralysis, a condition that is inadequately discussed in the literature. The objective of this study was to describe the efficacy of a procedure we refer to as “resection at an anterior site of the spinal cord from a posterior approach” (RASPA) for severely paralyzed patients after posterior decompression and fusion surgery for beak-type T-OPLL. Methods Among 58 consecutive patients who underwent posterior decompression and fusion surgery for beak-type T-OPLL since 1999, 3 with postoperative paralysis (5%) underwent RASPA in our institute. Clinical records, the Japanese Orthopaedic Association score, gait status, intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring (IONM) findings, and complications were evaluated in these cases. Results All three patients experienced a postoperative decline in Manual Muscle Test (MMT) scores of 0 to 2 after the first surgery. RASPA was performed 3 weeks after the first surgery. All patients showed gradual improvements in MMT scores for the lower extremity and in ambulatory status; all could walk with a cane at an average of 4 months following RASPA surgery. There were no postoperative complications. Conclusions RASPA surgery for beak-type T-OPLL after posterior decompression and fusion surgery resulted in good functional outcomes as a salvage surgery for patients with severe paralysis. Advantages of RASPA include a wide working space, no spinal cord retraction, and additional decompression at levels without T-OPLL resection and spinal cord shortening after additional dekyphosis and compression maneuvers. When used with IONM, this procedure may help avoid permanent postoperative paralysis.

Study DesignCase report.ObjectivesTo describe a case of delayed-onset spinal hematoma following the breakage of a spinal epidural catheter.MethodsThe authors describe the clinical case review.ResultsA 64-year-old woman had undergone epidural anesthesia 18 years before she was referred to our hospital because of lower-back pain and lower neurologic deficit with leg pain. The clinical examination showed the presence of a fragment of an epidural catheter in the thoracolumbar canal, as assessed by computed tomography, and a spinal hematoma that compressed the spinal cord at the same spinal level, as assessed by magnetic resonance imaging. Surgical removal of the epidural catheter and decompression surgery were performed. The patient exhibited substantial clinical improvement 1 month after surgery; she achieved a steady gait without the need for a cane and had no leg pain.ConclusionThis is the first report of delayed onset of spinal hematoma following the breakage of an epidural catheter. Generally, when the breakage of an epidural catheter occurs without symptoms, follow-up alone is recommended. However, because spinal hematoma might exhibit a late onset, the possibility of this complication should be considered when deciding whether to remove the catheter fragment. We believe that in our patient, there could be a relationship between the catheter fragment and subdural hematoma, and catheter breakage could have been a risk factor for the spinal hematoma.