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To clarify the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and spinal pathologies including spinal sagittal balance, back extensor strength (BES), paraspinal muscle mass, prevalent vertebral fracture, disc degeneration, Modic changes, low back pain, and quality of life (QOL) in community-dwelling older adults.This study included 380 participants (age: ≥ 65 years, male/female: 152/228) from the Shiraniwa Study. Multivariate nonlinear regression analysis was used to investigate the relationship between BMI and sagittal vertical axis (SVA), BES, paraspinal muscle mass, visual analog scale (VAS) for low back pain, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and EuroQoL-5 Dimension (EQ5D) score after adjusting for sex, age, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale score, and Charlson Comorbidity Index. In addition, multiple logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the association between BMI and prevalent vertebral fracture, disc degeneration, and Modic changes.BMI was significantly correlated with SVA, BES, paraspinal muscle mass, VAS, ODI, and EQ5D score. The increase in BMI was associated with the deterioration of all outcomes, which accelerated when the BMI increased from approximately 22-23 kg/mIncreased BMI is significantly associated with spinal pathologies such as SVA, BES, paraspinal muscle mass, VAS, QOL, disc degeneration, and Modic changes. The findings suggest that measures for controlling overweight and obesity among older adults can play an important role in the prevention and treatment of spinal pathologies.

Background context Recently, the number of patients with lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) who present with a coexisting spinal deformity such as degenerative spondylolisthesis (DS) and scoliosis (DLS) has been increasing. Lumbar decompression without fusion can lead to a reactive improvement in the lumbar and sagittal spinopelvic alignment, even if a sagittal imbalance exists preoperatively. However, the mid- to long-term impact of the coexistence of DS and DLS on the change in sagittal spinopelvic alignment and clinical outcomes after decompression surgery remains unknown. Purpose This study aimed to investigate whether the coexistence of DS or DLS in patients with LSS is associated with differences in radiological and clinical outcomes after minimally invasive lumbar decompression surgery. Study design/setting A retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data. Patient sample A total of 169 patients who underwent minimally invasive lumbar decompression surgery and follow-up >5 years postoperatively. Outcome measures Self-report measures: Low back pain (LBP)/leg pain/leg numbness visual analog scale (VAS) scores and the Japanese Orthopedic Association scores Physiologic measures: Standing sagittal spinopelvic alignment METHODS: In total, 81 patients with LSS, 50 patients with LSS and DS (≥3 mm anterior slippage), and 38 patients with LSS and DLS (≥15° coronal Cobb angle) were included in the current study. Clinical and radiological outcome results before surgery and at 2 and 5 years after surgery were compared among the groups. Results In patients with LSS with coexisting DS, the clinical outcomes at 2 and 5 years after surgery were similar to those of patients with only LSS. In patients with LSS with coexisting DLS, the VAS LBP and leg pain at 2 years after surgery was significantly higher (34.7 vs 27.8, P=0.014; 27.8 vs 14.7, P=0.028) and the achievement rate of the minimal clinically important difference in VAS LBP and leg pain was significantly lower than that of the LSS group (36.1% vs 54.2%, P=0.036; 58.3% vs 69.9%, P=0.10). The clinical outcomes except VAS leg numbness at 5 years after surgery were similar to those of patients with only LSS. The reoperation rate of the DS group was significantly lower than that of the LSS group (4.0% vs 14.8%; P=0.01); however, the reoperation rate of the DLS group was comparable to that of the LSS group (15.8% vs 14.8%; P=0.493). Lumbar lordosis (LL), sacral slope, pelvic tilt, and pelvic incidence-LL had significantly improved and been maintained for 5 years after the surgery in both the DS and the DLS groups. The sagittal vertical axis had improved at 2-year follow-up; however, no significant difference was observed at the 5-year follow-up in both the DS and the DLS groups. Conclusion Mid-term clinical outcomes in patients with LSS with and without deformity were comparable. Lumbar decompression without fusion can result in a reactive improvement in the lumbar and sagittal spinopelvic alignment, even with coexisting DS or DLS. Minimally invasive surgery could be considered for most patients with LSS.

Introduction: Mental well-being is essential for patient satisfaction. Therefore, a better understanding of the changes in the mental well-being of patients following spinal surgery can be useful to surgeons. We compared the 2-year postoperative change in the mental well-being of patients who underwent cervical and lumbar decompression surgery. Additionally, the predictive factors for improvement in mental well-being associated with both methods were evaluated. Methods: The patients who underwent spinal decompression surgery and were followed >2 years postoperatively were enrolled (lumbar cohort: n=111, cervical cohort: n=121). The 36-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) mental component summary (MCS) was set as the mental well-being parameter, and the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) was defined as 4.0. After adjusting the cervical and lumbar cohorts using propensity scores, the improvements in the MCS were compared between the groups using a mixed-effect model. To identify predictors for improvements, the correlation between the MCS changes and preoperative clinical scores was evaluated. Subsequently, multivariate linear regression was applied, which included variables with pMCIDs. However, predictors for the improvement were different between the two cohorts: SF-36 Social functioning in cervical surgery and lower back pain and SF-36 Role physical in lumbar surgery. Conclusions: Although there was no significant difference in the improvement in the mental well-being between patients who underwent either cervical or lumbar decompression surgery, less than half of the patients in both groups achieved a meaningful improvement. Preoperative back pain and personal activity were independent predictors in the lumbar cohort, while social functioning was the only predictor in the cervical cohort. Level of evidence: III

Introduction: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has greatly changed the lifestyles of individuals due to the need to prevent disease spread. Globally, governments have enforced various policies, including travel bans, quarantine, home confinement, and lockdowns, as safety measures. Consequently, the frequency of individuals going out has decreased. This survey aimed to assess how decreasing the frequency of going out due to the COVID-19 pandemic impacts patients with spinal disorders. Methods: This multicenter cross-sectional questionnaire survey included patients who visited four private spine clinics for any symptoms. Participants completed questionnaires pre- and post-pandemic that assessed the following topics: frequency of leaving home, exercise habits, locomotive syndrome, and health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Patients were divided into decreased and non-decreased frequency of going out groups, according to observed changes in their frequencies of leaving home. Both groups were statistically compared using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses to identify factors associated with the frequency of going out. Results: Among 855 patients, 160 (18.7%; the decreased group) reported that they went out less frequently, and 695 (81.3%; the non-decreased group) reported that they left home equally frequently post- versus pre-pandemic. Multivariate analyses showed that exercise habits significantly decreased (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 2.67, p = 0.004), the incidence of locomotive syndrome significantly increased (aOR = 2.86, p = 0.012), and HRQOL significantly deteriorated (aOR = 4.14, p < 0.001) in the decreased group compared to the non-decreased group. Conclusions: Restrictions regarding leaving home due to the COVID-19 pandemic significantly decreased exercise frequency, increased the occurrence of locomotive syndrome, and were associated with deterioration of HRQOL in patients with spine disorders. It may be beneficial for spine surgeons to encourage patients with spinal disorders to leave home at a frequency similar to what they did pre-pandemic while avoiding crowded areas, despite the presence of the COVID-19 pandemic.

To verify changes in the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of patients with musculoskeletal disorders after the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and to assess the relationship between the patients’ change in several activities of daily living and in the HRQOL to discover factors related to the deterioration in HRQOL. A multi-centre cross-sectional questionnaire survey was administered between November 1, 2020, and December 31, 2020, in Japan. The participants included those who visited the orthopaedics clinic within the survey period and had experienced the first and second waves of COVID-19 in Japan and the first stay-at-home order issued by the government. Patients’ HRQOL at the two different time points (pre-outbreak and post-second wave of COVID-19) was assessed with the EuroQoL-5 dimensions 5-level (EQ-5D). The survey was completed by 1254 patients (average age: 52.5 ± 21.9 years; 644 women). Among them, 431 patients (34.3%) reported a decrease in the EQ-5D index after the pandemic. The largest decrease was in the pain domain followed by the mobility domain. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the patients with decreased regular exercise habits were significantly related to deterioration in HRQOL compared with those with stable regular exercise (adjusted odds ratio = 1.76, p

Background Context Accurate diagnosis of osteoporotic vertebral fracture (OVF) is important for improving treatment outcomes; however, the gold standard has not been established yet. A deep-learning approach based on convolutional neural network (CNN) has attracted attention in the medical imaging field. Purpose To construct a CNN to detect fresh OVF on magnetic resonance (MR) images. Study Design/Setting Retrospective analysis of MR images Patient Sample This retrospective study included 814 patients with fresh OVF. For CNN training and validation, 1624 slices of T1-weighted MR image were obtained and used. Outcome Measure We plotted the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and calculated the area under the curve (AUC) in order to evaluate the performance of the CNN. Consequently, the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of the diagnosis by CNN and that of the two spine surgeons were compared. Methods We constructed an optimal model using ensemble method by combining nine types of CNNs to detect fresh OVFs. Furthermore, two spine surgeons independently evaluated 100 vertebrae, which were randomly extracted from test data. Results The ensemble method using VGG16, VGG19, DenseNet201, and ResNet50 was the combination with the highest AUC of ROC curves. The AUC was 0.949. The evaluation metrics of the diagnosis (CNN/surgeon 1/surgeon 2) for 100 vertebrae were as follows: sensitivity: 88.1%/88.1%/100%; specificity: 87.9%/86.2%/65.5%; accuracy: 88.0%/87.0%/80.0%. Conclusions In detecting fresh OVF using MR images, the performance of the CNN was comparable to that of two spine surgeons.

Ligamentum flavum (LF) hypertrophy is a major cause of lumbar spinal canal stenosis. Although mechanical stress is thought to be a major factor involved in LF hypertrophy, the exact mechanism by which it causes hypertrophy has not yet been fully elucidated. Here, changes in gene expression due to long-term mechanical stress were analyzed using RNA-seq in a rabbit LF hypertrophy model. In combination with previously reported analysis results, periostin was identified as a molecule whose expression fluctuates due to mechanical stress. The expression and function of periostin were further investigated using human LF tissues and primary LF cell cultures. Periostin was abundantly expressed in human hypertrophied LF tissues, and periostin gene expression was significantly correlated with LF thickness. In vitro, mechanical stress increased gene expressions of periostin, transforming growth factor-β1, α-smooth muscle actin, collagen type 1 alpha 1, and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in LF cells. Periostin blockade suppressed the mechanical stress-induced gene expression of IL-6 while periostin treatment increased IL-6 gene expression. Our results suggest that periostin is upregulated by mechanical stress and promotes inflammation by upregulating IL-6 expression, which leads to LF degeneration and hypertrophy. Periostin may be a pivotal molecule for LF hypertrophy and a promising therapeutic target for lumbar spinal stenosis.

The mid-term surgical outcomes of cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM), evaluated using the cervical Japanese Orthopedic Association (cJOA) score, are reported to be satisfactory. However, there remains room for improvement in quality-of-life (QOL), especially after short-term follow-up. We aimed to demonstrate changes in mental and physical QOL between short- and mid-term follow-ups and determine the predictive factors for deterioration of QOL. In this retrospective cohort study, 80 consecutive patients underwent laminoplasty for CSM. The outcome measures were Short Form-36 Physical Component Summary (PCS), Mental Component Summary (MCS), and cJOA scores. PCS and MCS scores were compared at the 2- and 5-year postoperative time points. Additionally, a multivariate logistic regression model was used to identify the predictive factors for deterioration. Significant factors in the logistic regression analysis were analyzed using receiver-operating characteristic curves. The results showed that MCS scores did not deteriorate after 2 years postoperatively (p = 0.912). Meanwhile, PCS significantly declined between 2 and 5 years postoperatively (p = 0.008). cJOA scores at 2 years postoperatively were significantly associated with PCS deterioration at 2-year follow-up. In conclusion, only physical QOL might show deterioration after short-term follow-up. Such deterioration is likely in patients with a cJOA score

BACKGROUND CONTEXT Ligamentum flavum (LF) hypertrophy plays a dominant role in lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS). A previous study found that fibroblast growth factor 9 (FGF9) was upregulated with mechanical stress in rabbit LF. However, the expression and function of FGF9 are not well understood in human LF. PURPOSE To evaluate FGF9 expression and function in human LF with and without hypertrophy. STUDY DESIGN This study employed a basic research study design utilizing human LF tissue for histological analyses. PATIENT SAMPLES Hypertrophied LF tissue sample from patients with LSS, and nonhypertrophied (control) LFs from patients with lumbar disc herniation or other diseases were obtained during surgery. METHODS LF specimens were histologically analyzed for FGF9 and vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) by immunohistochemistry. The number of total and FGF9 immuno-positive cells and blood vessels were counted and compared between LF with and without hypertrophy. For functional analysis, the effect of FGF9 on cell proliferation and migration was examined using a primary cell culture of human LF. RESULTS Histological studies revealed that the total cell number was significantly higher in the LF of patients with LSS than in the LF of control patients. Immunohistochemistry showed that the percentage of FGF9-positive cells was significantly higher in the LF of patients with LSS than in the controls, and it positively correlated with patients’ age, regardless of disease. Double immune-positive cells for FGF9 and VEGF-A were often observed in vascular endothelial cells and fibroblasts in the fibrotic area of hypertrophied LF, and the number of double positive vessels was significantly higher in LF of LSS patients than in the LF of controls. Primary cell culture of human LF revealed that FGF9 promoted the proliferation and migration of LF cells. CONCLUSION The present study demonstrated that FGF9 expression is highly upregulated in hypertrophied human LF. FGF9 potentially plays a pivotal role in the process of hypertrophy of LF, which is associated with mechanical stress, through cell proliferation and migration. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE The results from this study partially reveal the molecular mechanisms of LF hypertrophy and suggest that FGF9 may be involved in the process of LF degeneration in elderly patients.

An osteoporotic vertebral fracture (OVF) is a common disease that causes disabilities in elderly patients. In particular, patients with nonunion following an OVF often experience severe back pain and require surgical intervention. However, nonunion diagnosis generally takes more than six months. Although several studies have advocated the use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) observations as predictive factors, they exhibit insufficient accuracy. The purpose of this study was to create a predictive model for OVF nonunion using machine learning (ML).We used datasets from two prospective cohort studies for OVF nonunion prediction based on conservative treatment. Among 573 patients with acute OVFs exceeding 65 years in age enrolled in this study, 505 were analyzed. The demographic data, fracture type, and MRI observations of both studies were analyzed using ML. The ML architecture utilized in this study included a logistic regression model, decision tree, extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost), and random forest (RF). The datasets were processed using Python.The two ML algorithms, XGBoost and RF, exhibited higher area under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUCs) than the logistic regression and decision tree models (AUC = 0.860 and 0.845 for RF and XGBoost, respectively). The present study found that MRI findings, anterior height ratio, kyphotic angle, BMI, VAS, age, posterior wall injury, fracture level, and smoking habit ranked as important features in the ML algorithms.ML-based algorithms might be more effective than conventional methods for nonunion prediction following OVFs.

Introduction Because of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS), most surgeons use rod rotation on the concave side for Lenke types 1 and 2 curves. Nevertheless, the accurate placement of pedicle screws within dysplastic pedicles, especially on the concave side, is sometimes challenging. Conversely, there is a concern that apical rotation might be exacerbated after convex rod rotation maneuver (RRM) because the rod is rotated in the same direction as vertebral rotation. This study aims to demonstrate the surgical technique and outcomes of a convex RRM with direct vertebral rotation (DVR) for the correction of AIS. Technical note Multilevel pedicle screws were inserted into the vertebrae. The pre-bent pure titanium rod was set on the convex side and then derotated to nearly 90°. DVR was conducted for the desired vertebrae. Another pre-bent titanium alloy rod, for placement on the concave side, was contoured the same as the rod on the convex side. Using a reduction tube that allowed easier capture of the rod, the rod was connected to the concave side screws. DVR was again conducted for the desired vertebrae. Among the 59 patients, the correction rate of the main thoracic curve in Lenke types 1 and 2 AIS was 75.1% and 65.0%, respectively. The absolute value of the change in apical vertebral rotation between pre- and post-operative computed tomography (CT) scans in Lenke types 1 and 2 curves was 4.8° and 4.2°, respectively. Conclusions The convex RRM improved vertebral rotation in Lenke types 1 and 2 AIS. This procedure should be regarded as one of the surgical options for AIS, especially in patients with a narrow pedicle width on the concave side.

Residual symptoms indicating incomplete remission of lower leg numbness or low back pain may occur after spine surgery. The purpose was to elucidate the pattern of residual symptoms 5 years after minimally invasive lumbar decompression surgery using a cluster analysis. The study comprised 193 patients with lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) (108 men, 85 women) ranging in age from 40 to 86 years (mean, 67.9 years). Each patient underwent 5-year follow-up. The Japanese Orthopedic Association score and visual analog scale scores for low back pain, leg pain, and leg numbness at 5 years were entered into the cluster analysis to characterize postoperative residual symptoms. Other clinical data were analyzed to detect the factors significantly related to each cluster. The analysis yielded four clusters representing different patterns of residual symptoms. Patients in cluster 1 (57.0%) were substantially improved and had few residual symptoms of LSS. Patients in cluster 2 (11.4%) were poorly improved and had major residual symptoms. Patients in cluster 3 (17.6%) were greatly improved but had mild residual low back pain. Patients in cluster 4 (14.0%) were improved but had severe residual leg numbness. Prognostic factors of cluster 2 were a short maximum walking distance, motor weakness, resting lower leg numbness, cofounding scoliosis, and high sagittal vertical axis. This is the first study to identify specific patterns of residual symptoms of LSS after decompression surgery. Our results will contribute to acquisition of preoperative informed consent and identification of patients with the best chance of postoperative improvement.

Study design Experimental animal study. Objective The aim of this study was to clarify chronological effects of mechanical stress on ligamentum flavum (LF) using a long-term fusion rabbit model. Summary of background data LF hypertrophy is a major pathology of lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS), but its mechanism remains unclear. We previously demonstrated mechanical-stress-induced LF hypertrophy with a rabbit model. However, we only investigated LFs at a single time point in the short-term; the effects of long-term mechanical stress have not been elucidated. Methods Eighteen-week-old male New Zealand White rabbits were randomly divided into two groups: the mechanical stress group underwent L2-3 and L4-5 posterolateral fusion and resection of the L3-4 supraspinal muscle, whereas the control group underwent only surgical exposure. Rabbits were sacrificed 16 and 52 weeks after the procedure. Axial specimens of LFs at L3-4 were evaluated histologically. Immunohistochemistry for alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) was performed to assess the numbers of vessels and myofibroblasts. Results In the mechanical stress group, LFs at the L3-4 level exhibited hypertrophy with elastic fiber disruption and cartilage matrix production at 16 and 52 weeks. A trend test indicated that mechanical stress induced LF hypertrophy, elastic fiber disruption, and cartilage matrix production in a time-dependent manner, with the lowest levels before treatment and the highest at 52 weeks. Immunostaining for α-SMA showed similar numbers of vessels in both groups, whereas the percentage of myofibroblasts was significantly larger at 16 and 52 weeks in the mechanical stress group than in the control group. Conclusion We demonstrated that long-term mechanical stress caused LF hypertrophy with progressive elastic fiber disruption and cartilage matrix production accompanied by enhanced myofibroblasts. In addition, the reported rabbit model could be extended to elucidate the mechanism of LF hypertrophy and to develop new therapeutic strategies for LSS by preventing LF hypertrophy.Level of Evidence: SSSSS.

STUDY DESIGN Retrospective cohort study. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to investigate changes in mental well-being after surgery for cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) and identify factors associated with improvement. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA Posterior cervical surgery with laminoplasty significantly improves myelopathy and physical function in patients with CSM. However, its impact on mental well-being is unclear. METHODS Patients who underwent laminoplasty for CSM and had >2 years of follow-up were reviewed (n = 111). The mental component summary (MCS) score was used as a measure of mental well-being. The trend in MCS score change was evaluated using the Jonckheere-Terpstra trend test. Preoperative clinical scores were compared between patients with improvements greater and less than the minimal clinically important difference (MCID). Significant variables were included in a multinomial logistic regression analysis and further validated in a receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Additionally, the results were confirmed in a long-term observation cohort of patients followed up for >5 years (n = 46). RESULTS The improvement in the average MCS score (5.6) was greater than the MCID (4.0). The trend of improvement was sustained for 2 years (P = 0.002), but not for 5 years (P = 0.130). In terms of individual cases, 56 patients (50.5%) achieved MCS score improvement greater than the MCID. These patients showed significantly lower preoperative MCS scores than those without meaningful improvement (P

As the number of patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) has been increasing, the number of cervical spine surgeries for the patients with ESRD has also been increasing. The purpose is to identify the differences in cervical disease-specific patient-reported outcomes (PROs) between a healthy population and patients with ESRD, adjusting for subjects' age and physical activity.The ESRD group included patients with ESRD who were treated with hemodialysis in our outpatient clinic and healthy volunteers were individuals who attended public health lectures. Volunteers with a history of cervical disease were excluded. All participants answered the Japanese Orthopaedic Association Cervical Myelopathy Evaluation Questionnaire (JOACMEQ) and questionnaires that evaluate the disability in performing physical activities.A total of 111 participants were enrolled and divided into the ESRD group (n = 40) and the control group (n = 71). After adjusting for age and sex using propensity score, cervical function (p = 0.008), lower-extremity function (p = 0.007), and QOL (p 0.001) in patients in the adjusted ESRD group were significantly lower than those in the control group. In multivariate linear regression, the use of hemodialysis was a significant variable that was negatively related to lower-extremity function (p = 0.004) and QOL (p = 0.011) independent of age and disability in performing physical activity.The ESRD was a significant negative factor of lower-extremity function and QOL, independent of age, sex, and disability in performing physical activity. These results can help understand the cervical status of patients with ESRD and adjust the goal for such patients after cervical surgery.

Background Although the clinical efficacy of laminoplasty in adult cervical spondylotic myelopathy or ossification of posterior longitudinal ligament has been frequently reported, there are only few reports of laminoplasty for patients with lysosome storage diseases (LSDs). Therefore, this study aimed to report the midterm clinical and radiological outcomes of patients with LSDs after cervical laminoplasty. Methods Six patients with LSD who underwent laminoplasty with/without C1 laminectomy for cervical myelopathy were enrolled. Clinical evaluations, including the cervical Japanese Orthopedic Association (cJOA) score and visual analog scale (VAS) scores for upper extremity numbness, and radiographic parameters, including C2–C7 lordotic angle, atlanto-dens interval (ADI), and ⊿ADI, were evaluated preoperatively, at 2 years postoperatively, and at the final follow-up. Results Five patients had mucopolysaccharidoses (type I: n = 1, II: n = 3, VII: n = 1) and one patient had mucolipidoses type III. The mean age of patients at surgery was 27.5 years, and the mean postoperative follow-up period was 61 months. All mucopolysaccharidoses cases required C1 posterior arch resection with C2–C7 laminoplasty. No critical complications were observed postoperatively. There were no significant differences in C2–C7 angle (p = 0.724) and ⊿ADI (p = 0.592) between the preoperative and final follow-ups. The cJOA score and VAS for numbness significantly improved at the final follow-up (p = 0.004 and p = 0.007, respectively). Conclusions The cervical myelopathy in patients with LSD could be safely and effectively treated with laminoplasty with/without C1 posterior arch resection after excluding patients with atlantoaxial instability. Atlantoaxial stability and symptom improvement could be maintained at an average of 5 years postoperatively.

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a neurological disorder that causes uncomfortable sensations in the legs. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the symptoms of RLS in patients with spinal disorders and the impact of RLS on the clinical outcomes of lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS). The records of 278 patients (age range 65–92 years) with spinal disorders who visited our outpatient clinic were reviewed. We used a survey to identify subjects with RLS based on the International RLS Study Group diagnostic criteria. We further recorded patient characteristics, surgical outcomes, sleeping time, mental health condition, and the occurrence of leg cramps. Thirty-two patients (11.5%) met the criteria for RLS. The prevalence of anxiety (46.9% vs. 26.6%, p = 0.023) and leg cramps (90.6% vs. 73.2%, p = 0.030) was higher in patients with RLS than in those without. RLS was present in 12.3% of LSS patients. The visual analog scale score for lower back pain before surgery and at the final follow-up was significantly higher in LSS patients with RLS than in those without. However, the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score, JOA score improvement ratio, and VAS score for leg numbness were not significantly different between the groups.

OBJECTIVE There are several reported studies on the incidence of adjacent segment disease (ASD) after lumbar fusion surgery; however, the incidence of ASD after decompression surgery has not been well studied. In this study the authors aimed to investigate the incidence of progressive segment degeneration (PSD) at the decompression and adjacent segments 5 years after minimally invasive lumbar decompression surgery. METHODS We investigated data from 168 patients (mean age, 69.5 ± 9.2 years) who underwent bilateral microscopic or microendoscopic decompression surgery via a unilateral approach and were followed up for more than 5 years. Outcomes were self-reported visual analog scale (VAS) scores for low-back pain, leg pain, and leg numbness and physician-assessed Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) scores for back pain. Changes in the disc height and movement of the adjacent lumbar segments were compared using preoperative and 5-year postoperative lateral full-length standing whole-spine radiographic images. PSD was defined as loss of disc height > 3 mm and progression of anterior or posterior slippage > 3 mm. The incidence and clinical impact of PSD were investigated. RESULTS The mean JOA score improved significantly in all patients from 13.4 points before surgery to 24.1 points at the latest follow-up (mean recovery rate 67.8%). PSD at the decompression site was observed in 43.5% (73/168) of the patients. The proportions of patients with loss of disc height > 3 mm and slippage progression were 16.1% (27/168) and 36.9%, respectively (62/168: 41 anterior and 21 posterior). The proportion of patients with PSD at the adjacent segment was 20.5% (35/168), with 5.4% (9/168) of the patients with loss of disc height > 3 mm and 16.0% (27/168: 13 anterior and 14 posterior) with slippage progression. There was no significant difference in the clinical outcomes between patients with and those without PSD. CONCLUSIONS Radiological ASD was observed even in the case of decompression surgery alone. However, there was no correlation with symptom deterioration, measured by the VAS and JOA scores.

Although lumbar lesions such as spondylolisthesis, scoliosis, and vertebral fracture are not specific to rheumatoid arthritis (RA), the prevalence is high in RA patients. However, no longitudinal study has evaluated lumbar lesions in RA. This study aimed to investigate the incidence of and risk factors for lumbar lesions in RA by a prospective longitudinal cohort study. The study cohort comprised 110 patients with RA from the ‘analysis of factors for RA spinal disorders (AFFORD)’ study who completed the secondary survey at a single orthopaedic outpatient RA clinic. Radiological examination included standing radiographs and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the lumbar spine. New development of spondylolisthesis, scoliosis, and vertebral fracture were assessed between baseline and secondary survey. The incidences of spondylolisthesis, scoliosis, and vertebral fracture were 42%, 16%, and 12%, respectively, during a mean follow-up of 7 years. The independent risk factor for de novo scoliosis was poor control of RA (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 4.81, p = 0.011), while the independent risk factors for new vertebral fracture was use of glucocorticoid at secondary survey (aOR 14.87, p = 0.012). Patients with de novo scoliosis exhibited more severe low back pain and lower quality of life than those without. The incidence of scoliosis was related in patients with poor control of RA, while new vertebral fracture was more common in patients with use of glucocorticoid. Control of disease activity might be important in preventing radiological lumbar disorders in RA.

Objective Several studies have demonstrated that low back pain (LBP) is related to disease activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, there is no longitudinal research. This study aimed to determine the impacts and risk factors for LBP increase in RA in a longitudinal cohort study. Methods The study evaluated 113 patients with RA who completed the secondary survey. LBP increase was defined as ≥1 standard deviation of mean change in visual analogue scale (VAS) between the baseline and secondary surveys. The impacts of LBP increase on quality of life (QOL) and psychological status were evaluated. Risk factors were assessed among patient demographic characteristics and radiological changes. Results Mean change in VAS for LBP was −0.8 ± 30.4 mm during a mean 7-year follow-up. LBP increase was defined as ≥30-mm increase in VAS for LBP. Patients with LBP increase had significantly lower QOL and worse mental status than patients without it. Poor control of RA was identified as an independent risk factor for LBP increase (odds ratio, 9.82, p = .001). Conclusion Patients with poor control of RA were likely to experience LBP increase in the long term. Control of RA disease activity is important for control of LBP, QOL, and mental status.

The impact of preoperative facet degeneration (FD) on surgical outcomes following laminoplasty has not been established.To elucidate the influence of preoperative FD on pre and postoperative clinical symptoms and radiographic parameters.Retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data.A total of 135 consecutive patients who underwent laminoplasty for cervical spondylotic myelopathy with greater than 2 years follow-up.The cervical Japanese Orthopedic Association score, visual analog scale, Short Form-36, Japanese Orthopedic Association Cervical Myelopathy Evaluation Questionnaire, and radiographic parameters (C7 slope, C2-C7 sagittal vertical axis, C2-C7 lordotic angle, and scoring of FD).FD severity of the bilateral facets of C2-3 to C7-T1 was graded using preoperative computer tomography images. Patients were divided into two quantiles according to the mean score of their FD grading: mild (n=69) and severe FD groups (n=66). The preoperative clinical score and radiographic parameters of the two groups were compared. Variables with p.05 were included in the multinomial logistic regression model. The changes in clinical scores and radiographic parameters between both groups (from the preoperative to 2-year postoperative period) were compared using a mixed-effect model, after adjusting for age and sex.Mean age and neck pain visual analog scale were independently associated with FD severity (age: p=.004, neck pain: p=.004). However, the other preoperative clinical scores and radiographic parameters were not significantly different. In terms of the change in clinical scores 2 years postlaminoplasty, no significant differences between the severe and mild FD groups were noted. While the mild FD group had a reduced C2-C7 lordotic angle, the severe FD group demonstrated an increased C2-C7 lordotic angle 2 years postlaminoplasty (p=.044). The change in C7 slope and C2-C7 sagittal vertical axis showed no significant differences.Preoperative FD severity did not influence the 2-year surgical outcomes of laminoplasty, in terms of improvement in myelopathy, patient-oriented score of quality of life, physical and mental status, as well as neck pain. Furthermore, preoperative FD severity correlated with neither preoperative cervical imbalance nor balance deterioration after laminoplasty. These results may encourage physicians to consider laminoplasty for patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy, regardless of the severity of FD.

Hypertrophy of the ligamentum flavum (LF) is a major cause of lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS), and the pathology involves disruption of elastic fibers, fibrosis with increased cellularity and collagens, and/or calcification. Previous studies have implicated the increased expression of the proteoglycan family in hypertrophied LF. Furthermore, the gene expression profile in a rabbit experimental model of LF hypertrophy revealed that biglycan (BGN) is upregulated in hypertrophied LF by mechanical stress. However, the expression and function of BGN in human LF has not been well elucidated. To investigate the involvement of BGN in the pathomechanism of human ligamentum hypertrophy, first we confirmed increased expression of BGN by immunohistochemistry in the extracellular matrix of hypertrophied LF of LSS patients compared to LF without hypertrophy. Experiments using primary cell cultures revealed that BGN promoted cell proliferation. Furthermore, BGN induces changes in cell morphology and promotes myofibroblastic differentiation and cell migration. These effects are observed for both cells from hypertrophied and non-hypertrophied LF. The present study revealed hyper-expression of BGN in hypertrophied LF and function of increased proteoglycan in LF cells. BGN may play a crucial role in the pathophysiology of LF hypertrophy through cell proliferation, myofibroblastic differentiation, and cell migration.

Introduction: The presence of existing osteoporotic vertebral fracture (OVF) increases the mortality risk. However, the influence of the characteristics of OVF is unclear. This study aimed to investigate the influence of new OVF on patients’ long-term prognosis using our past cohort study. Method: This is an extension study of our cohort study carried out between 2005 and 2007. In the present extension study, of 420 patients, 197 whose contact information was available at the 6-month follow-up were included in the telephone survey in 2018. Five patients refused to participate in the survey, and 82 could not be contacted. Eventually, 110 patients were enrolled. Of the Demographic data, radiological findings, medical history, and clinical outcome were investigated at injury onset and at the 6-month follow-up. A proportional hazard model was used to investigate the risk factors for mortality. Results: Among 110 patients, 33 died. Male sex and low body mass index (BMI 2) were significant risk factors for mortality [hazard ratio (HR) = 6.40, 1.01–40.50; 5.24, 1.44–19.04, respectively]. The history of stroke and liver disease increased the risk of mortality (HR = 13.37, 1.93–92.7; 6.62, 1.15–38.14, respectively). As regards radiological findings, local kyphosis progression per 1° or ≥7° were significant risk factors of mortality (HR = 1.20, 1.06–1.36; 5.38, 1.81–16.03, respectively). Conclusions: A telephone survey at 12 years after the occurrence of OVF analyzed risk factors for mortality and showed that a progression of local kyphosis in fractures between injury onset and 6 months after injury was a risk factor of poor prognosis.

Study design Retrospective cohort study. Objective To elucidate the postoperative time course of improvements in physical and mental well-being in patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM). Summary of background data Spinal surgeons should understand the postoperative course in detail. However, data are still needed regarding the time course of improvements in well-being, a fundamental aspect of human life, after cervical surgery for CSM. Methods One hundred consecutive patients who underwent laminoplasty for CSM, with complete clinical data preoperatively and 3 months and 2 years postoperatively, were enrolled. The Short Form-36 physical component summary (PCS) and mental component summary (MCS) scores were used as parameters of physical and mental well-being, respectively, and 4.0 was defined as the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) for both parameters. Results On average, PCS and MCS scores were significantly improved after surgery (P MCID) in PCS and MCS scores at 3 months postoperatively, with maintained improvement (to 2 yr) in 46/64 (71.9%) and 34/48 patients (70.8%), respectively (PCS vs. MCS: P = 0.912). Additionally, 15 of 36 patients (41.7%) and 8 of 52 patients (15.4%) achieved late improvement (meaningful improvement at 2 yr but not at 3 months) in PCS and MCS scores, respectively (PCS vs. MCS: P = 0.007). In multivariate regression analysis, improvement in cJOA score was significantly associated with PCS improvement, but not MCS improvement, at both 3 months and 2 years (P = 0.001, P > 0.001, respectively). Conclusion The overall outcome of physical well-being improvement is decided within 3 months postoperatively, in proportion to the recovery in myelopathy, with a relatively high chance of meaningful improvement over the next 21 months. The outcome of improvement in mental well-being is decided within 3 months postoperatively, independently from the recovery in myelopathy, with a low chance of meaningful improvement over the next 21 months.Level of Evidence: 3.

OBJECTIVE Several studies have examined the relationship between sagittal spinopelvic alignment and clinical outcomes after spinal surgery. However, the long-term reciprocal changes in sagittal spinopelvic alignment in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis after decompression surgery remain unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate radiographic changes in sagittal spinopelvic alignment and clinical outcomes at the 2-year and 5-year follow-ups after minimally invasive lumbar decompression surgery. METHODS The authors retrospectively studied the medical records of 110 patients who underwent bilateral decompression via a unilateral approach for lumbar spinal stenosis. Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) and visual analog scale (VAS) scores for low-back pain (LBP), leg pain, leg numbness, and spinopelvic parameters were evaluated before surgery and at the 2-year and 5-year follow-ups. Sagittal malalignment was defined as a sagittal vertical axis (SVA) ≥ 50 mm. RESULTS Compared with baseline, lumbar lordosis significantly increased after decompression surgery at the 2-year (30.2° vs 38.5°, respectively; p < 0.001) and 5-year (30.2° vs 35.7°, respectively; p < 0.001) follow-ups. SVA significantly decreased at the 2-year follow-up compared with baseline (36.1 mm vs 51.5 mm, respectively; p < 0.001). However, there was no difference in SVA at the 5-year follow-up compared with baseline (50.6 mm vs 51.5 mm, respectively; p = 0.812). At the 5-year follow-up, 82.5% of patients with preoperative normal alignment maintained normal alignment, whereas 42.6% of patients with preoperative malalignment developed normal alignment. Preoperative sagittal malalignment was associated with the VAS score for LBP at baseline and 2-year and 5-year follow-ups and the JOA score at the 5-year follow-up. Postoperative sagittal malalignment was associated with the VAS score for LBP at the 2-year and 5-year follow-ups and the VAS score for leg pain at the 5-year follow-up. There was a trend toward deterioration in clinical outcomes in patients with persistent postural malalignment compared with other patients. CONCLUSIONS After minimally invasive surgery, spinal sagittal malalignment can convert to normal alignment at both short-term and long-term follow-ups. Sagittal malalignment has a negative impact on the VAS score for LBP and a weakly negative impact on the JOA score after decompression surgery.

The human population is ageing globally, and the number of old people is increasing yearly. Diabetes is common in the elderly, and the number of diabetic patients is also increasing. Elderly and diabetic patients often have musculoskeletal disorder, which are associated with advanced glycation end products (AGEs). AGEs are heterogeneous molecules derived from non-enzymatic products of the reaction of glucose or other sugar derivatives with proteins or lipids, and many different types of AGEs have been identified. AGEs are a biomarker for ageing and for evaluating disease conditions. Fluorescence, spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, chromatography, and immunological methods are commonly used to measure AGEs, but there is no standardized evaluation method because of the heterogeneity of AGEs. The formation of AGEs is irreversible, and they accumulate in tissue, eventually causing damage. AGE accumulation has been confirmed in neuromusculoskeletal tissues, including bones, cartilage, muscles, tendons, ligaments, and nerves, where they adversely affect biomechanical properties by causing charge changes and forming cross-linkages. AGEs also bind to receptors, such as the receptor for AGEs (RAGE), and induce inflammation by intracellular signal transduction. These mechanisms cause many varied aging and diabetes-related pathological conditions, such as osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, sarcopenia, tendinopathy, and neuropathy. Understanding of AGEs related pathomechanism may lead to develop novel methods for the prevention and therapy of such disorders which affect patients' quality of life. Herein, we critically review the current methodology used for detecting AGEs, and present potential mechanisms by which AGEs cause or exacerbate musculoskeletal disorders.

Compensatory mechanisms, such as a decrease in thoracic spine kyphosis and posterior tilting or rotation of the pelvis, aim to achieve optimal alignment of the spine. However, the effect of muscle strength on these compensatory mechanisms has not been elucidated. This study aimed to investigate the impact of back muscle and lower extremity strength on compensatory mechanisms in elderly people. Overall, 409 community-dwelling elderly participants (164 men, 245 women) were included. Age, disc degeneration, and 2 or more vertebral fractures showed a significant increase of risk for sagittal vertical axis (SVA) deterioration. Conversely, stronger back, hip flexor, and knee extensor muscles reduced the risk for SVA deterioration. To investigate the association of each muscle’s strength with compensatory mechanisms, 162 subjects with pelvic incidence-lumbar lordosis > 10° were selected. The linear regression model for thoracic kyphosis demonstrated a negative correlation with back muscle strength and positive correlation with vertebral fracture. The regression analysis for pelvic tilt demonstrated a positive correlation with knee extensor strength. Back, hip flexor, and knee extensor muscle strength were associated with sagittal spinal alignment. Back muscle strength was important for the decrease in thoracic kyphosis, and knee extensor strength was associated with pelvic tilt.

STUDY DESIGN Retrospective cohort study. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of cervical disc degeneration (CDD) severity on 2-year postoperative outcomes following laminoplasty. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA The impact of CDD on postoperative outcomes of cervical laminoplasty has not been well established. METHODS A total of 144 patients who underwent open-door laminoplasty for cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) were enrolled. Six cervical discs were independently analyzed for degeneration severity using a previously reported grading system (grade 0: none, grade 3: severest). The relationship between the segmental range of motion (ROM) and the severity of CDD was evaluated. Subsequently, after dividing overall patients into mild and severe CDD groups by the average of CDD scores, the mixed-effect model was applied to assess 2-year postoperative outcomes, including physician-assessed myelopathy scores, patient-reported outcomes, and preoperative radiographic parameters. Finally, as additional analysis, the severe CDD group was further divided into two groups: group 1 included patients with a grade 3 CDD change in their most stenotic level and group 2 included the others. The 2-year postoperative myelopathy score was compared between groups 1 and 2. RESULTS The cervical segments with grade 3 CDD showed significantly smaller ROM compared with those with grade 0, 1, or 2 CDD (P

During the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, home-quarantine has been necessary, resulting in lifestyle changes that might negatively affect patients with spinal disorders, including a reduction in their quality of life (QoL) and activities of daily living (ADLs). However, studies on this impact are lacking. This study aimed to investigate the age-related changes in QoL and ADLs in patients with spinal disorders, and also identify factors associated with decline in ADLs. This multicenter cross-sectional study included patients who visited four private spine clinics for any symptoms. The study participants either had a clinic reservation, were first-time clinic visitors, or had a return visit to the clinic. The participants completed several questionnaires at two points: pre-pandemic and post-second wave. Changes in patient symptoms, exercise habits, ADLs, and health-related QoL were assessed. A logistic regression model was used to calculate the odds ratio (OR) of each variable for decline in ADLs. We included 606 patients; among them, 281 and 325 patients were aged 65 years were 1.7 (1.1–2.9), 2.4 (1.4–3.9), and 2.7 (1.6–4.4), respectively. In conclusion, there was a decline in the ADLs and QoL after the COVID-19 outbreak in patients with spinal disorders. Aging, reduction of exercise habits, and female sex were independent factors related to decline in ADLs.

Posterior lumbar interbody fusion with cortical bone trajectory (CBT-PLIF) is a form of minimally invasive decompression and fusion, whereas microendoscopic laminotomy (MEL) is a form of minimally invasive decompression surgery. No study has compared the clinical outcomes of the two methods for patients who have degenerative spondylolisthesis (DS) with instability. In this study, CBT-PLIF and MEL were both offered to 64 patients who met the inclusion criteria. Each patient then selected his or her preferred treatment. Twenty patients received CBT-PLIF. They were matched to 30 of the 44 patients receiving MEL based on age, sex, disease duration, and surgical levels. The 20 patients with CBT-PLIF formed the CBT group and the 30 matched patients with MEL formed the MEL group. At 2 years of follow-up, Japanese Orthopaedic Association scores improved to 72.6% and 70.5% in the CBT and MEL groups, respectively. The difference in scores was not statistically significant. Further, improvements in visual analogue scale scores for back and leg symptom did not differ significantly between the two groups. Regarding complications, 1 CBT-group patient (5%) had adjacent-segment degeneration and 7 MEL-group patients (23%) had same-segment degeneration. Three CBT-group patients (15%) and 5 MEL-group patients (16%) required reoperation within the follow-up period. In summary, among patients who had DS with instability, MEL and CBT-PLIF offered comparable clinical outcomes at 2 years of follow-up. Although the rate of segmental degeneration was relatively high in the MEL group, both groups had similar reoperation rates.

OBJECTIVEAlthough numbness is one of the chief complaints of patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM), preoperative factors relating to residual numbness of the upper extremity (UE) and impact of the outcomes on cervical surgery are not well established. The authors hypothesized that severe preoperative UE numbness could be a risk factor for residual UE numbness after surgery and that the residual UE numbness could have a negative impact on postoperative outcomes. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the preoperative factors that are predictive of residual UE numbness after cervical surgery and demonstrate the effects of residual UE numbness on clinical scores and radiographic parameters.METHODSThe study design was a retrospective cohort study. The authors analyzed data of 103 patients who underwent cervical laminoplasty from January 2012 to December 2014 and were followed up for more than 2 years postoperatively. The patients were divided into two groups: the severe residual-numbness group (postoperative visual analog scale [VAS] score for UE numbness > 40 mm) and the no/mild residual-numbness group (VAS score ≤ 40 mm). The outcome measures were VAS score, Japanese Orthopaedic Association scores for cervical myelopathy, physical and mental component summaries of the 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36), radiographic film parameters (C2–7 sagittal vertical axis, range of motion, C2–7 lordotic angle, and C7 slope), and MRI findings (severity of cervical canal stenosis, snake-eye appearance, severity of foraminal stenosis). Following univariate analysis, which compared the preoperative factors between groups, the variables with p values < 0.1 were included in the multivariate linear regression analysis. Additionally, the changes in clinical scores and radiographic parameters after 2 years of surgery were compared using a mixed-effects model.RESULTSAmong 103 patients, 42 (40.8%) had residual UE numbness. In the multivariate analysis, sex and preoperative UE pain were found to be independent variables correlating with residual UE numbness (p = 0.017 and 0.046, respectively). The severity of preoperative UE numbness did not relate to the residual UE numbness (p = 0.153). The improvement in neck pain VAS score and physical component summary of the SF-36 was significantly low in the severe residual-numbness group (p < 0.001 and 0.040, respectively).CONCLUSIONSForty-one percent of the CSM patients experienced residual UE numbness for at least 2 years after cervical posterior decompression surgery. Female sex and preoperative severe UE pain were the predictive factors for residual UE numbness. The patients with residual UE numbness showed less improvement of neck pain and lower physical status compared to the patients without numbness.