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Object: The authors investigated patients’ self assessments of lumbar surgery and evaluated the short-term results. Materials and Methods: Our center had 251 lumbar surgeries from July, 2005 to February, 2006 and we investigated all cases. Patients assessed Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Japan Orthopedic Assosiation Scale (JOA), Oswestry Disability Questionaire Index (ODI), Short Form36 (SF36)v2 at preoperation, 2 weeks, 3 months, and 6months of postoperation. Data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA, and then defferences among means were analyzed using the Scheffe method (P

OBJECT Spinal meningioma and schwannoma are the most common spinal intradural extramedullary tumors, and the differentiation of these 2 tumors by CT and MRI has been a matter of debate. The purpose of this article is to present a case series of spinal meningiomas showing unique imaging features: a combination of a fan-shaped spinal cord and a streak in the tumor. The authors termed the former imaging feature “ginkgo leaf sign” and evaluated its diagnostic value. METHODS The authors present 7 cases of spinal meningioma having the ginkgo leaf sign. Thirty spinal extramedullary tumors arising lateral or ventrolateral to the spinal cord were studied to evaluate the diagnostic value of the ginkgo leaf sign for spinal meningiomas. Among 30 cases, 12 tumors were spinal meningiomas and 18 tumors from the control group were all schwannomas. RESULTS Seven of the 12 spinal meningiomas were positive for the ginkgo leaf sign. The sign was not present in the control group tumors. The overall ability to use the ginkgo leaf sign to detect meningioma indicated a sensitivity of 58%, specificity of 100%, positive predictive value of 100%, and negative predictive value of 78%. CONCLUSIONS The ginkgo leaf sign is highly specific to spinal meningiomas arising lateral or ventrolateral to the spinal cord. In the present series, the ginkgo leaf sign was perfectly predictive for spinal meningioma.

A case of delayed onset of secondary syringomyelia associated with spinal surgery is presented and the mechanism of syrinx formation and surgical treatment are discussed. This 59 year old woman had an intradural thoracic Schwannoma and developed a thoracic syrinx 25 years after surgery on the thoracic Schwannoma. She complained of paresthesiae below the lower thoracic level. There was mild weakness in both legs. Hypalgesia was presented below T9. MRI showed a syrinx with adhesive arachnoiditis in the thoracic levels at the operated site. We performed a syrinx-subarachnoid shunt after microsugical lysis between the dura and the adhesive arachnoid membrane. An expanded polytetrafluoroethylene sheet (Gore-Tex® sheet) was inserted to maintain CSF flow. Postoperative neurological deterioration did not occur for 1 year postoperatively, but postoperative MRI showed a recurrence of the syrinx. These results suggest that postoperative adhesive spinal cord arachnoiditis can cause syrinx formation, and this procedure may be inappropriate surgical treatment for patient with longitudinally extensive arachnoiditis.

A 57-year-old man presented with an extremely rare osteoma originating from the left L-5 inferior articular process and causing lumbo-crural sciatica. Postmyelography computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging showed an osteoma compressing the spinal nerve root at the lateral recess. Decompression facetectomy and excision of the lesion followed by transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion between L-5 and S-1 provided complete relief from the symptoms. Histological examination confirmed the diagnosis of benign osteoma. The previous seven cases of spinal osteoma involved the vertebral body, pedicle and posterior elements. Spinal osteomas should be considered in the differential diagnosis of benign lesion originating from the articular process.

Drop foot occurs commonly by peroneal nerve palsy, however it is generated to any portion from a brain to a peripheral nerve. We investigated 8 patients (Male 7, female 1) with drop foot from April, 2003 to December, 2003. The cause was brain tumor in 2 patients (superior frontal gyrus astrocytoma: 1, parasagittal meningioma: 1), ossification of yellow ligament (OYL) of thoracic level in 2 patients (Th11/12: 2), lumbar disc herniation in 3 patients (L4/5: 3) and lumbar canal stenosis in 1 patient (L4/5). The period from initial symptoms to a definite diagnosis were 2.5 and 3 years in brain tumor, 4 and 5 years in thoracic OYL, several days or during follow-up in lumbar disorders. In brain and spinal epiconus disorders, there was a tendency for delayed diagnosis. Although the cause of drop foot are dominantly peroneal nerve palsy and lumbar disorders, it was considered that rare causes such as brain and spinal epiconus disorders should be included in the differential diagnosis of drop foot.

Dysfunction of the C5 nerve root, called C5 palsy, has been known as one of the complications after cervical spinal surgeries. Adding foraminotomy or not, to prevent this mechanical hidden complication remains controversial.In our institute, from 1996 to 2001, spinous process-splitting laminoplasty without foraminotomy was performed in the treatment of a total of 126 patients with cervical spinal cord compression. 94 cases were diagnosed as cervical spondylosis, 33 cases as narrow canal and 41 cases as ossification of the longitudinal ligament. Most of the stenotic lesions were shown from C4 to C6. In 97 patients, numbness of the upper extremities was recognized preoperatively. In 20 patients, pain was recognized and in 51 paresis. After the cervical surgery without foraminotomy, only 7 cases developed complications of the upper extremities and particularly paresis in one(0.8%). These complications disappeared within at least one month.These results seem to suggest that foraminotomy is not necessary to prevent dysfunction of the cervical nerve root.

A 39-year-old man presented with an extremely rare discal cyst at the L3-4 level manifesting as a left L4 radiculopathy. Two months after onset, he suffered right L4 radiculopathy with new lumbar disc protrusion. Five months after medical treatment, the patient's symptoms improved, and the discal cyst showed complete regression on magnetic resonance imaging. Most cases of discal cyst are surgically treated, with only two previous cases of spontaneous regression. The present case suggests clinical and radiological recovery of symptomatic lumbar discal cyst can be obtained by only conservative therapy.

Transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) is widely accepted for the treatment of lumbar arthrodesis. However, the exact characteristics of TLIF depend on the number, location, shape, or materials of the interbody implants, and the type of posterior instrument. Clinical and biomechanical characteristics of each TLIF procedure are still unclear. The present study investigated the clinical and radiological improvements after single level asymmetrical TLIF, in which a single box-shaped spacer was obliquely inserted into the intervertebral space, for lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis in patients with or without local coronal imbalance (LCI) at the operated level. The clinical records of 60 patients who underwent single level asymmetrical TLIF augmented with the pedicle screw fixation system from January 2005 to January 2011, were retrospectively reviewed. The patients were divided into the LCI group (n = 19) and non-LCI group (n = 41), based on segmental lateral translation or disc wedging at the operated site. Clinical recovery was significantly good in both groups at 2 years after surgery, but improvement of low back pain was significantly worse in the LCI group. Radiological examination revealed that the mean lumbar scoliotic angle was significantly worse in the LCI group postoperatively. Preoperative greater scoliotic angle and coronal off balance of the lumbar spine were related to unfavorable radiological outcomes. The present study showed that single level asymmetrical TLIF is an acceptable method for achieving good clinical and radiological outcomes for patients with symptomatic degenerative spondylolisthesis, however, the clinical benefits and realignment are limited if the patient has LCI at the operated site with greater scoliotic angle or coronal off balance of the lumbar spine.

A systematic review of the English- and Japanese-language literature related to complications and reoperation rates of spinal surgery for degenerative lumbar disease was undertaken for articles published between 1993 and 2012. From these references, key articles were selected to determine the incidence of clinical perioperative and postoperative adverse events for different types of degenerative lumbar diseases. The mortality rate after lumbar degenerative spinal surgery was 0.20% in the large-scale clinical studies evaluated. In this review series, the complication rates for lumbar canal stenosis(LCS), degenerative spondylolisthesis(DS), and lumbar disc herniation(LDH)were 7.6%, 8.5%, and 3.5%, respectively. The reoperation rates for LCS, DS, and LDH were 8.1%, 8.0%, and 6.2%, respectively. These data are helpful for spinal surgeons to apprise patients who have spinal surgery for degenerative lumbar disease of the possible risks of surgical procedures and reoperation rates.

Patients with spinal degenerative diseases suffer not only neuropathy in the extremities but also lower urinary tract dysfunction(LUTD). Patients with cauda equina syndrome generally need emergency decompression to pelvic visceral function, especially that of the urinary bladder. However, less prominent voiding symptoms can be missed in clinical settings. There is a discrepancy between lower urinary tract symptoms and LUTD. Therefore, urodynamic studies are needed to screen of patients with spinal diseases. Cystometry and urethral sphincter electromyography are useful for increasing our understanding of LUTD but are too invasive for screening. Our protocol for the evaluation of LUTD consists of residual urine measurement and uroflowmetry(UFM). UFM is the simplest and noninvasive urodynamic technique;however, it has the disadvantage of being nonreproducible, which depends on bladder volume, diurnal variation, presence of obstructive disease, and mental stress. UFM was reportedly reproducible in normal individuals in 1979, but was not evaluated in patients with spinal disease. This study examined the reproducibility of UFM in patients with spinal disease. UFM was performed twice in 26 male patients with cervical or lumbar degenerative disease. Maximum urinary flow rate corrected with Siroky's nomogram was reproducible in 23(88.5%)of the 26 patients. A urinary flow curve was reproducible in 25(96.2%)of the 26 patients, and only 1 patient had excessive urination at the 1st UFM and normal urination at the 2nd UFM. The reproducibility of UFM was high in patients with spinal degenerative disease.

An 84-year-old man presented with a rare case of spinal epidural granuloma with intratumoral hematoma resulting in acute paraplegia. He was admitted to our hospital because of lumbago and hematemesis following a fall 10 days before. Progressive paraparesis occurred 2 days after admission. Neurological examination showed paraplegia and hypesthesia below the T10 level. Thoracic radiography revealed some spondylotic changes of the thoracic vertebrae without osteolytic changes. Sagittal T(1)- and T(2)-weighted magnetic resonance imaging of the thoracic spine demonstrated a hyperintense epidural mass lesion compressing the dorsal portion of the thoracic spinal cord at T10-11 space. Emergency laminectomy was performed, and the epidural encapsulated hematoma and elastic yellowish mass adhered to the dura mater were totally removed. Histological examination of the excised specimens showed a granuloma. Motor weakness improved after surgery, and he could walk with a cane about 3 months after surgery. The minor spinal injury probably caused intratumoral hemorrhage within a previous epidural granuloma, suddenly resulting in the paraplegic symptoms.

The effectiveness of spinal surgery for lumbar canal stenosis was investigated in the elderly. 164 patients with lumbar canal stenosis were surgically treated over 8 years. 125 patients were followed up by letter questionnaire. The outcome and patient satisfaction with the surgical procedures were compared between the 73 younger patients (or = 64 years of age) and the 52 elderly patients (or = 65 years of age). Intermittent claudication was satisfactorily improved in both the younger and the elderly groups. Both simple laminectomy and laminectomy with fusion could equally improve the symptoms of intermittent claudication. Although statistically not significant, there was tendency that laminectomy plus fusion effectively improved the symptoms of back pain and leg pain in both groups. 75% of the younger patients and 67% of the elderly were pleased with the outcome. The present study shows that elderly patients with lumbar canal stenosis should be actively considered for surgical treatment.

A 53-year-old male presented with a rare dorsally sequestrated thoracic disc herniation manifesting as acute low back pain and weakness. He had no history of trauma. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging demonstrated a mass at T10-11 intervertebral level connected with the T-10 disc. Axial MR imaging showed the mass had surrounded and compressed the dural sac from the lateral and dorsal sites. MR imaging with gadolinium-diethylenetriaminepenta-acetic acid showed slight rim enhancement of the lesion. Computed tomography detected no abnormal calcification. The diagnosis was thoracic disc herniation. Laminectomy resulted in rapid and satisfactory recovery. The histological diagnosis was thoracic disc herniation. MR imaging was very effective for the diagnosis based on the connection between the mass and the disc space. The differential diagnosis includes metastatic epidural tumor, epidural hematoma, and epidural abscess.

The sternal splitting approach for upper thoracic lesions located anterior to the spinal cord is described. The sternal splitting approach can be effectively applied to lesions from the T-1 to T-3 levels. The aortic arch prevents procedures below this level. The approach is straight toward the T1-3 vertebral bodies and provides good surgical orientation. The sternal splitting approach was applied to five patients with metastatic spinal tumors at the C7-T3 levels and three patients with ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament at the T1-3 levels. No postoperative neurological deterioration occurred. Two patients had postoperative hoarseness. The sternal splitting approach to the upper thoracic spine is recommended for hard lesions, extensive lesions requiring radical resection, and lesions requiring postoperative stabilization with spinal instrumentation.

BACKGROUND Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) with a spinal origin is a rare clinical entity. The most common source of SAH is an arteriovenous malformation. Only six cases of spinal hemangioblastomas causing SAH have been reported. CASE DESCRIPTION This 48-year-old man had experienced severe headache 12 years earlier, which was diagnosed as SAH by computed tomography (CT) scan and lumbar puncture. However, cerebral angiography could not detect either aneurysm or arteriovenous malformation. Thereafter, he spent an uneventful life until he was incidentally diagnosed with a cervical tumor on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study for Meniere's disease. The tumor was situated at the cervicomedullary junction, and fed by the left vertebral artery. Histologic findings of the tumor showed features typical of hemangioblastoma. CONCLUSIONS We describe a case of cervical spinal extramedullary hemangioblastoma with a past history of SAH. In our case, the SAH of 12 years ago perhaps occurred from the cervicomedullary junction hemangioblastoma. Since the etiology of SAH could not be detected at the first angiography, not only follow-up reangiography, but also MRI of the spinal cord and spinal angiography could have played an important role.

We describe 5 cases of osteochondroma (OC) originating from lumbosacral spine which caused radiculopathy. Four cases originated from the lumbar spine; all from L4 inferior articular process and presented L5 radiculopathy, the other one case originated from the sacrum; the case from S1 superior articular process presented L5 radiculopathy. In all cases, definitive diagnosis was made with histopathological findings; typical cartilaginous capping was confirmed. The functional recovery was completed in all 5 cases. As for imaging study, post myelography computed tomography revealed the most diagnostic tool for understanding the relationship between nerve tissue and the tumor. In all 5 patients, the tumors contained a high signal intensity on T2-weighted images in the central medullary area. OCs are sometimes difficult to diagnose because they mimic other conditions like bony spur formation due to osteoarthritis, so we should never fail to confirm the histopathological diagnosis of such lesions when suspected.