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The management of cervical spine injuries in the elderly is often complicated by the presence of multiple medical comorbidities, and it is not uncommon for preoperative testing to reveal other conditions that require the postponement of surgery. However, the factors that affect the waiting time from injury to surgery have not been clarified. The purpose of this multicenter database study was to analyze the clinical features and identify the factors affecting the number of days waited between injury and surgery in elderly patients with a cervical spine injury.We retrospectively reviewed the case histories of 1512 Japanese patients with a cervical spinal injury, who were seen at 33 institutions. After excluding patients who were not initially receiving a surgery for cervical spinal injury, 694 patients were ultimately analyzed. Based on a multivariate mixed model, we determined the factors related to the number of days from injury to surgery.The mean time from injury to surgery was 12.3 days. Multivariate analysis revealed delays of 10.7 days for a renal disorder, 7.3 days for anticoagulant use, and 15.2 days for non-surgical thoracolumbar fracture as factors prolonging wait time. In contrast, a C3 or lower spine injury was significantly associated with a shortening of 9.5 days to surgery.This multicenter database study identified several factors influencing the time between injury and cervical spine surgery in elderly patients. While renal impairment, anticoagulant use, and non-surgical thoracolumbar fracture may increase the number of days to surgery, trauma to C3 or lower may expedite surgical treatment.

BACKGROUND: Pain sensitization may be one of the mechanisms contributing to chronic low back pain (CLBP). OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between visceral fat, CLBP, and central sensitization (CS); describe the relationship between low back pain (LBP) intensity and CS; and identify possible correlation between visceral fat and LBP intensity. METHODS: Patients with CLBP were divided using their CS inventory (CSI) scores into low- (CSI < 40) and high-CSI (CSI ⩾ 40) subgroups. We compared computed tomography (CT) measurements and scores for association with pain according to the visual analogue scale (VAS) between the two groups. RESULTS: The low-CSI and the high-CSI groups had 47 patients (67.1%; 21 men, 26 women) and 23 patients (32.9%; 11 men and 12 women), respectively. The high-CSI group had a significantly higher mean VAS score (p< 0.01) and estimated mean visceral fat area (p< 0.05) than the low-CSI group. There was a moderate positive correlation between VAS score and visceral fat (standardised partial regression coefficient: 0.659, p< 0.01) in the high-CSI group according to multiple linear regression analysis adjusted for age and sex. CONCLUSIONS: Visceral fat is associated with CLBP, regardless of sex or age, and may be a potential therapeutic target for CLBP with CS.

The number of elderly patients with cervical trauma is increasing. Such patients are considered to be at high risk for delirium, which is an acute neuropsychological disorder that reduces the patient’s capacity to interact with their environment due to impairments in cognition. This study aimed to establish a risk score that predicts delirium in elderly patients with cervical SCI and/or cervical fracture regardless of treatment type. This retrospective cohort study included 1512 patients aged ≥65 years with cervical SCI and/or cervical fracture. The risk factors for delirium according to treatment type (surgical or conservative) were calculated using multivariate logistic regression. A delirium risk score was established as the simple arithmetic sum of points assigned to variables that were significant in the multivariate analyses. Based on the statistical results, the delirium risk score was defined using six factors: old age (≥80 years), hypoalbuminemia, cervical fracture, major organ injury, dependence on pre-injury mobility, and comorbid diabetes. The score’s area under the curve for the prediction of delirium was 0.66 (p < 0.001). Although the current scoring system must be validated with an independent dataset, the system remains beneficial because it can be used after screening examinations upon hospitalization and before deciding the treatment strategy.

Ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) can be complicated cervical spinal cord injury (CSCI) by low energy trauma, which is increasing among the elderly and potentially life-threatening. However, the etiology and neurological outcome of CSCI with OPLL in the elderly remain unknown. Therefore, we conducted this multi-center retrospective cohort study, which identified 1,512 patients aged ≥ 65 years and diagnosed with CSCI on admission from 2010 to 2020. We analyzed the etiology in patients with OPLL. Moreover, we performed propensity score-adjusted analyses to compare the neurological outcomes between patients with and without OPLL. The primary outcome comprised the American Spine Injury Association (ASIA) impairment scale (AIS) grade and ASIA motor score (AMS). In 332 patients with OPLL, the men:women ratio was approximately 4:1. Half of all patients displayed low energy trauma-induced injury, and one-third of the patients had CSCI without a bony injury. The propensity score matching created 279 pairs. There was no significant difference in the AIS grade and AMS between the patients with and without OPLL during hospitalization, 6 months, and 12 months following injury. In summary, OPLL was not associated with neurological recovery in the elderly with CSCI.

We present the case of a 15-year-old girl. Two months after becoming aware of pain, she was diagnosed with a sacral tumor and referred to our department. She was diagnosed with a sacral Ewing’s sarcoma; after chemotherapy, it was determined that the tumor could be resected, so surgical treatment was performed. The sacrum and ilium were partially resected at the lower end of S1, and the lumbar vertebrae and pelvis were fixed with a pedicle screw and two iliac screws on each side of L3, and the sacral resection was reconstructed with a tibial strut allograft. No tumor recurrence or metastasis has been observed 1 year postoperatively. She developed bladder and rectal dysfunction, but she remained independent in activities of daily living and her daily life was not limited. The bone fusion in the reconstructed area confirmed the lack of instrumentation looseness. Surgical treatment for sacral Ewing’s sarcoma was performed to cure the patient. We believe that the tibial allograft contributed to the patient’s ability to walk on her own due to its high mechanical stability. Postoperative bone healing was observed with the same material, suggesting that the tibial allograft is useful for similar procedures.

Many cases of vertebral osteomyelitis (VO) and infective endocarditis (IE) co-infection have been reported, and it has been recognized that attention should be paid to the possibility of both diseases co-existing during diagnosis and treatment. However, the incidence, clinical status, and outcomes of IE in patients with VO remain unclear. For this study, the eligibility criteria for patient recruitment included all cases of VO at the five medical university hospitals. Patients with a history of spinal surgery were excluded from this study. Echocardiography was routinely performed for all patients with VO. IE was diagnosed according to the modified Duke criteria for definite endocarditis. We analyzed demographic data, underlying conditions, clinical features, laboratory data, echocardiography, radiologic images, treatments, and outcomes. VO was diagnosed in 59 patients and IE was diagnosed in seven patients (12%). There were no significant differences in the clinical features, microorganisms, or radiographic status between the VO-IE co-infection and VO-only groups. In this study, using routine echocardiography for VO, the IE prevalence was 12%. The lack of specific clinical features and laboratory findings may hamper the diagnosis of IE. Therefore, clinicians are always required to suspect IE in patients with VO.

Study Design: Cross-sectional observational study.Purpose: This study aimed to analyze any potential associations of extramyocellular lipid (EMCL) and intramyocellular lipid (IMCL) contents with (1) the intensity of low back pain (LBP); (2) age, cross-sectional area (CSA), and fatty infiltration (FI) of the psoas major; and (3) spinopelvic parameters.Overview of Literature: The psoas major has clinically relevant function; however, the association of this muscle with chronic LBP is controversial. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy enables a detailed analysis of the composition of muscular fat tissues such as its EMCL and IMCL contents.Methods: The study population comprised 40 patients (19 males, 21 females; mean age, 61.7±2.4 years). Possible correlations of LBP Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores, age, CSA, FI, and spinopelvic parameters with EMCL and IMCL contents of the psoas major were assessed.Results: No association was identified between the EMCL and IMCL contents and LBP VAS scores (r=0.05, p=0.79 and r=0.06, p=0.75, respectively). The EMCL content correlated with age (r=0.47, pr=0.44, pr=−0.59, p< 0.01), and FI (r=0.49, pr=−0.43, pr=0.56, p

Study Design: Cross-sectional study.Purpose: The purpose of this study was to elucidate the relevance among Schmorl’s node (SN), chronic low back pain (CLBP), and intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) with the use of magnetic resonance imaging T2 mapping.Overview of Literature: SN may be combined with CLBP and/or IVDD; however, their relationship has not been determined to date.Methods: A total of 105 subjects were included (48 men and 57 women; mean age, 63.2±2.7 years; range, 22–84 years). We analyzed five functional spinal unit levels (L1–S1) and evaluated the T2 values of the anterior annulus fibrosus (AF), nucleus pulposus, and posterior AF. We compared the low back pain (LBP) Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores and the T2 values in each decade with or without SN.Results: There were no remarkable differences in SN prevalence rate regarding age decade or gender. SNs were more prevalent in the upper 2 levels (70.3%). LBP VAS scores with and without SN were 64.7±4.3 mm and 61.9±2.8 mm, respectively, with no significant differences between the groups (p =0.62). The T2 values of anterior AF with SN were significantly lower than those without SN in patients in their 50s, 60s, 70s, and 80s (p

A 50-year-old man presented to the clinic with severe neck pain, fever, and difficulty breathing and was subsequently admitted to the local orthopedics department with possible retropharyngeal abscess and pyogenic spondylitis. Antibiotic therapy was initiated; however, due to poor oxygenation, he was referred and transferred to our department and admitted. Magnetic resonance imaging showed signal changes at the left C1/2 lateral atlantoaxial joint, posterior pharynx, longus colli muscle, carotid space, and medial deep cervical region, predominantly on the left side. In addition, despite lymph node enlargement from the posterior pharynx to the deep cervical region, there was no abscess formation. There were no signs of a space-occupying lesion or signal changes in the jugular foramen. One day postadmission, the patient’s temperature had risen to 39.1°C and his SpO2 had fallen. His neck pain had also worsened, and emergency surgery was decided. Preoperatively, we suspected retropharyngeal abscess and pyogenic spondylitis. On day 13 postadmission, the patient exhibited dysphagia, deviated tongue protrusion, and the curtain sign. Glossopharyngeal and hypoglossal nerve paralysis were diagnosed. The patient’s swallowing functions recovered and he was discharged on day 36. We experienced a case of glossopharyngeal and hypoglossal nerve paralysis secondary to pyogenic cervical facet joint arthritis.

Retrospective multicenter study.To investigate the neurological outcomes of older individuals treated with surgery versus conservative treatment for cervical spinal cord injury (CSCI) without bone injury.Thirty-three medical institutions in Japan.This study included 317 consecutive persons aged ≥65 years with CSCI without bone injury in participating institutes between 2010 and 2020. The participants were followed up for at least 6 months after the injury. Individuals were divided into surgery (n = 114) and conservative treatment (n = 203) groups. To compare neurological outcomes and complications between the groups, propensity score matching of the baseline factors (characteristics, comorbidities, and neurological function) was performed.After propensity score matching, the surgery and conservative treatment groups comprised 89 individuals each. Surgery was performed at a median of 9.0 (3-17) days after CSCI. Baseline factors were comparable between groups, and the standardized difference in the covariates in the matched cohort was10%. The American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) impairment scale grade and ASIA motor score (AMS) 6 months after injury and changes in the AMS from baseline to 6 months after injury were not significantly different between groups (P = 0.63, P = 0.24, and P = 0.75, respectively). Few participants who underwent surgery demonstrated perioperative complications such as dural tear (1.1%), surgical site infection (2.2%), and C5 palsy (5.6%).Conservative treatment is suggested to be a more favorable option for older individuals with CSCI without bone injuries, but this finding requires further validation.

In the current aging society, there has been a marked increase in the incidence of cervical spinal cord injury (CSCI) without major bone injury. This multi-center study aimed to identify predictors of neurological improvement in elderly patients with CSCI without major bone injury. The participants were 591 patients aged ≥65 years with CSCI without major bone injury and a minimum follow-up period of three months. Neurologic status was defined using the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) impairment scale (AIS). Univariate and multi-variate analyses were performed to identify prognostic factors for walking recovery in AIS A-C cases and full upper extremity motor recovery in AIS D cases. In AIS A-C cases, body mass index (odds ratio (OR): 1.112), magnetic resonance imaging signal change (OR: 0.240), AIS on admission (OR: 3.497), comorbidity of dementia/delirium (OR: 0.365), and post-injury pneumonia (OR: 0.194) were identified as independent prognostic factors for walking recovery. The prevalence of ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OR: 0.494) was also found to be an independent prognostic factor in AIS B and C cases only. In AIS D cases, age (OR: 0.937), upper extremity ASIA motor score on admission (OR: 1.230 [per 5 scores]), and operation (OR: 0.519) were independent prognostic factors for full motor recovery. The severity of AIS at admission was the strongest predictor of functional outcomes. Promoting rehabilitation, however, through measures to reduce cognitive changes, post-injury pneumonia, and unhealthy body weight changes can contribute to greater neurological improvement in AIS A-C cases.

We aimed to retrospectively investigate the demographic characteristics and short-term outcomes of traumatic cervical spine injuries in patients with dementia. We enrolled 1512 patients aged ≥ 65 years with traumatic cervical injuries registered in a multicenter study database. Patients were divided into two groups according to the presence of dementia, and 95 patients (6.3%) had dementia. Univariate analysis revealed that the dementia group comprised patients who were older and predominantly female and had lower body mass index, higher modified 5-item frailty index (mFI-5), lower pre-injury activities of daily living (ADLs), and a larger number of comorbidities than patients without dementia. Furthermore, 61 patient pairs were selected through propensity score matching with adjustments for age, sex, pre-injury ADLs, American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale score at the time of injury, and the administration of surgical treatment. In the univariate analysis of the matched groups, patients with dementia had significantly lower ADLs at 6 months and a higher incidence of dysphagia up to 6 months than patients without dementia. Kaplan–Meier analysis revealed that patients with dementia had a higher mortality than those without dementia until the last follow-up. Dementia was associated with poor ADLs and higher mortality rates after traumatic cervical spine injuries in elderly patients.

For older patients with decreased reserve function, traumatic cervical spine injuries frequently lead to early mortality. However, the prognostic factors for early mortality remain unclear. This study included patients aged ≥65 years and hospitalized for treatment of traumatic cervical spine injuries in 78 hospitals between 2010 and 2020. Early mortality was defined as death within 90 days after injury. We evaluated the relationship between early mortality and the following factors: age, sex, body mass index, history of drinking and smoking, injury mechanisms, presence of a cervical spine fracture and dislocation, cervical ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament, diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis, American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale, concomitant injury, pre-existing comorbidities, steroid administration, and treatment plan. Overall, 1512 patients (mean age, 75.8 ± 6.9 years) were included in the study. The early mortality rate was 4.0%. Multivariate analysis identified older age (OR = 1.1, p < 0.001), male sex (OR = 3.7, p = 0.009), cervical spine fracture (OR = 4.2, p < 0.001), complete motor paralysis (OR = 8.4, p < 0.001), and chronic kidney disease (OR = 5.3, p < 0.001) as risk factors for early mortality. Older age, male sex, cervical spine fracture, complete motor paralysis, and chronic kidney disease are prognostic factors for early mortality in older patients with traumatic cervical spine injuries.

Study Design Retrospective multicenter study Objectives To investigate changes over a 10-years period in the profile of cervical spine and spinal cord injuries among the elderly in Japan. Methods The current multicenter study was a retrospective analysis of inpatients aged ≥65 years, suffering cervical fracture (CF) and/or cervical spinal cord injury (CSCI). We analyzed 1413 patients’ epidemiology (from 2010 to 2019). Moreover, 727 patients who underwent surgical treatment were analyzed in 2 groups: the early (2010-2014) and late period (2015-2019). Results Both the number of patients and number of surgical patients showed a significant increasing trend ( P < .001), while the mean age, the distribution of injury levels and paralysis severity, and the proportion of surgical indications remained the same. The number of surgical patients doubled from 228 to 499 from the early to late periods. Posterior surgery was the most common approach (90.4%), instrumentation surgery with screws increased significantly, and the range of fusion was significantly longer in the late period (2.1 vs 2.7 levels, P = .001). Significantly worsening neurological symptoms were recorded in the late period (1.3% vs 5.8%, P = .006), with C5 palsy being the major one. Otherwise, perioperative, major, and other complications, including mortality, did not differ significantly in incidence. Conclusions Both the number of elderly CF and/or CSCI patients and number of patients undergoing surgery increased dramatically over the decade without any change in profile. Instrumentation surgeries with screws increased, without an increase in systemic complications.

Background Low back pain (LBP) is a major symptom of symptomatic lumbar spinal stenosis (SLSS). It is important to assess LBP in patients with SLSS to develop better treatment. This study aimed to analyse the factors associated with LBP in patients with SLSS. Methods This cross-sectional study included consecutive patients with SLSS aged between 51 and 79 years who had symptoms in one or both the legs, with and without LBP. The participants were classified into two groups: the high group (LBP visual analogue scale [VAS] score ≥ 30 mm) and the low group (LBP VAS score Results A total of 80 patients with LSS were included (35 men and 45 women; mean age 64.5 years), with 47 and 30 patients in the high and low groups, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the sagittal vertical axis (SVA; + 10 mm; odds ratio, 1.331; 95% confidence interval, 1.051 − 1.660) and pelvic incidence-lumbar lordosis (PI-LL; + 1°; odds ratio, 1.065; 95% confidence interval, 1.019–1.168) were significantly associated with LBP. A receiver operating characteristic analysis revealed cut-off values of 47.0 mm of SVA and 30.5° of PI-LL, respectively. Conclusion Our results indicated that SVA and PI-LL were significant predictors for LBP in SLSS. It is suggested that these parameters should be taken into consideration when assessing LBP in patients with SLSS.

Introduction: There have been several reports on surgical techniques involving microendoscopy or percutaneous endoscopy for treating lumbar foraminal stenosis (LFS). However, no studies have assessed the mid-term clinical results of endoscopic techniques in spite of their relatively long history. In this study, we report 20 consecutive cases of LFS treated by our microendoscopic technique focusing on clinical results with a follow-up of at least two years. Methods: Twenty consecutive cases of LFS treated with microendoscopic decompression were followed up at 1, 2, 6, and 12 months postoperatively and annually thereafter. The patients were 14 males and 6 females, and the mean age at the time of surgery was 64.7 years. The Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score was used as the clinical outcome index. Results: Of the 20 patients, 16 were monitored successfully for more than 2 years. The follow-up rate was 80.0%, and the mean follow-up period was 66.3 months. The JOA score improved from 13.8 points before surgery to 24.6 points at final follow-up. Revision fusion surgeries were performed in two cases for LFS recurrence. Conclusions: The microendoscopic technique effectively treats LFS.

Study design Cross sectional study. Purpose The study aimed to analyze mechanisms underlying chronic low back pain (CLBP) using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) T2 mapping of the intervertebral disc (IVD). Overview of literature MRI T2 mapping utilizes the T2 values for quantifying moisture content and collagen sequence breakdown. We previously used MRI T2 mapping for quantifying the extent of IVD degeneration (IVDD) and showed a correlation between the degeneration of the posterior annulus fibrosus (AF) and CLBP. Methods We enrolled 40 patients with CLBP (17 males, 23 females; mean age, 50.8±1.6 years; range, 22-60 years). IVDs were categorized as the anterior AF, nucleus pulposus (NP), and posterior AF, and T2 value for each disc was measured. T2 values, assessed using the Japanese neuropathic pain (NeP) screening questionnaire, of the NeP and nociceptive pain (NocP) groups were compared. Results T2 values of the NocP and NeP groups were 64.7±5.6 ms and 58.1±2.3 ms for the anterior AF; 67.0±4.6 ms and 59.6±2.1 ms for NP; and 70.7±4.6 ms and 51.0±1.2 ms for the posterior AF, respectively. T2 values for IVDD were significantly lower in the NeP group than those in the NocP group (p Conclusions The results indicate a correlation between the degeneration of posterior AF and NeP. MRI T2 mapping may be beneficial for detecting NeP caused by IVDD and can help formulate targeted analgesic therapies.

Study Design Cross-sectional study. Purpose To determine the association between fatty degeneration of the multifidus muscle (Mm) and intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) using quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Overview of Literature Few studies have reported on quantitative MRI analysis of the relation between the Mm and IVDD. Methods The subjects with chronic low back pain comprised 45 patients (19 males, 26 females; mean age, 63.8±2.0 years; range, 41–79 years). We analyzed the intramyocellular lipids (IMCL) and extramyocellular lipids (EMCL) of the Mm using magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The T2 values of the anterior annulus fibrosus (AF), nucleus pulposus (NP), and posterior AF were evaluated using MRI T2 mapping. We compared the possible correlations of IMCL and EMCL of the Mm with the T2 values of anterior AF, NP, and posterior AF. Results There was a significant negative correlation between IMCL and T2 values of the anterior AF (r=−0.65, p

Study design A retrospective analysis of prospectively collected multicenter observational data. Objective The aim of this study was to compare the health-related quality of life (HR-QOL) of double-door laminoplasty (DDL) and selective laminoplasty (SL) in patients with degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) in two institutions, with a minimum follow-up of 5 years. Summary of background data No study has compared DDL and SL regarding postoperative HR-QOL with a follow-up of more than 5 years. Methods One-hundred ninety patients who underwent DDL (n = 77) or SL (n = 113) participated in this study. Short-form 36 (SF-36), Japanese Orthopedic Association Cervical Myelopathy Evaluation Questionnaire (JOACMEQ), Neck Disability Index (NDI), and visual analog scale (VAS) values were compared between the groups. Results Thirty-seven DDL and 52 SL patients were evaluated. The mean follow-up period was 8 years and the follow-up rate was 46.8%. No significant differences were found regarding age and JOA score at baseline. At the follow-up, there were no significant differences in SF-36, JOACMEQ, and VAS score, while the NDI score for headache and sleeping were higher in the SL group. After dividing the SL group into short and long SL subgroups, the long SL subgroup showed a significantly lower score in bodily pain in SF-36, lower and bladder function in JOACMEQ, and pain intensity, personal care, headaches, and sleeping in NDI compared with the other groups. Conclusion No significant differences were found in SF-36, JOA score, and NDI, except for the NDI subscale of headache and sleeping. The subgroup analysis showed that the long SL group showed a decreased QOL compared with the short SL and DDL groups. Level of evidence 3.

Shunsuke Jimbo,1 Yoshinori Terashima,1,2 Atsushi Teramoto,1 Tsuneo Takebayashi,3 Izaya Ogon,1 Kota Watanabe,4 Tatsuya Sato,2,5 Nobutoshi Ichise,2 Noritsugu Tohse,2 Toshihiko Yamashita1 1Department of Orthopaedic surgery, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, Sapporo 060-8556, Japan; 2Department of Cellular Physiology and Signal Transduction, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, Sapporo 060-8556, Japan; 3Sapporo Maruyama Orthopaedic Hospital, Sapporo 060-0007, Japan; 4Department of Second Division of Physical Therapy, Sapporo Medical University School of Health Sciences, Sapporo 060-8556, Japan; 5Department of Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolic Medicine, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, Sapporo 060-8556, Japan Purpose: Ankle osteoarthritis (OA) causes significant pain and debilitation; yet, its underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Clinically, hyaluronic acid (HA) is widely used to treat OA. The present study aimed to investigate the roles of HA in pain-related behavior, joint function, swelling, and pathological changes in cartilage in a rat model of monoiodoacetate (MIA)-induced ankle OA. Materials and methods: Male Sprague Dawley rats were assigned to three experimental groups as follows: 1) MIA rats injected with 1 mg MIA in the right tibiotarsal joint for two consecutive days; 2) sham rats injected with saline instead of MIA; and 3) MIA-HA rats injected with HA in the tibiotarsal joint at 7, 14, and 21 days after MIA injection. Joint swelling, range of motion (ROM), and pain-related behavior were evaluated 1 day before and on the 7th, 14th, 21st, and 28th day after MIA or saline injection. Pathological changes in the ankle joint were assessed 28 days after MIA or saline injection. Results: No significant difference in the degree of ankle swelling or ROM reduction was observed between MIA rats and MIA-HA rats. However, compared with those in MIA rats, mechanical and thermal hypersensitivity was significantly reduced and stride length significantly improved in MIA-HA rats. Histologic analysis revealed that cartilage degeneration was significantly suppressed in MIA-HA rats compared with that in MIA rats, reflecting the chondroprotective effects of HA. Conclusion: HA improved pain-related behavior and stride length and suppressed MIA-induced cartilage degeneration. HA may thus inhibit OA progression and suppress peripheral and/or central sensitization. Keywords: ankle osteoarthritis, monoiodoacetate, osteoarthritis pain, hyaluronic acid

Background: The relation between segmental mobility and degree of lumbar degenerative change is still unknown. This cross-sectional study aimed to elucidate the association between intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) and segmental mobility in chronic low back pain using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) T2 mapping. Methods: Subjects comprised 60 patients (29 men, 31 women; mean age, 61.8 ± 1.9 years; range, 41–79 years). T2 values of the anterior annulus fibrosus (AF), the nucleus pulposus (NP) and the posterior AF were evaluated with MRI T2 mapping. Facet joint degeneration was divided into 4 grades using MRI. We analyzed the correlation between segmental mobility and T2 values of anterior AF, NP and posterior AF using multiple linear regression analysis adjusted for age and facet joint degeneration. Results: The standardized partial regression coefficient of the anterior AF, NP and posterior AF T2 values were 0.125 (p=0.72), 0.499 (p

Study design Retrospective Cohort Study Objective The purpose of this study was to investigate the prognosis of respiratory function in elderly patients with cervical spinal cord injury (SCI) and to identify predictive factors. Methods We included 1353 cases of elderly cervical SCI patients collected from 78 institutions in Japan. Patients who required early tracheostomy and ventilator management and those who developed respiratory complications were defined as the respiratory disability group. Patients’ background characteristics, injury mechanism, injury form, neurological disability, complications, and treatment methods were compared between the disability and non-disability groups. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to examine the independent factors. Patients who required respiratory management for 6 months or longer after injury and those who died of respiratory complications were classified into the severe disability group and were compared with minor cases who were weaned off the respirator. Results A total of 104 patients (7.8%) had impaired respiratory function. Comparisons between the disabled and non-disabled groups and between the severe and mild injury groups yielded distinct trends. In multiple logistic regression analysis, age, blood glucose level, presence of ossification of posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL), anterior vertebral hematoma, and critical paralysis were selected as independent risk factors. Conclusion Age, OPLL, severe paralysis, anterior vertebral hematoma, hypoalbuminemia, and blood glucose level at the time of injury were independent factors for respiratory failure. Hyperglycemia may have a negative effect on respiratory function in this condition.

Study design Retrospective analysis of prospectively collected observational data. Objective This study aimed to evaluate the slippage, sagittal alignment, and range of motion (ROM) after selective laminectomy (SL) in patients who had cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) with degenerative spondylolisthesis (DS). Summary of background data Clinical outcomes have been reported for both decompression and fusion surgeries for DS of the lumbar spine. However, only a few reports have examined cervical spine spondylolisthesis. Materials and methods This study included 178 patients who underwent SL for CSM. Those with ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament were excluded. Slippage >2 mm was defined as spondylolisthesis, and spondylolisthesis progression was defined as an additional displacement >2 mm on a neutral radiograph. The slippage, translational motion, C2-C7 angle, local kyphosis, and ROM were examined before and ≥2 years after surgery. Radiologic parameters were evaluated according to the slip direction and the number of laminae removed. Results DS was observed in 29 patients (16.3%); 24 patients, comprising 9 and 15 in the anterolisthesis and retrolisthesis groups, respectively, were successfully followed up for more than 2 years. Preoperative and postoperative radiologic changes in slippage, translational motion, C2-C7 angle, local kyphosis, and ROM were not remarkable in either group regardless of the number of laminae removed. Revision surgery for the progression of DS and alignment deterioration was not required in any patient of either group. Conclusions SL does not affect DS, sagittal alignment, or ROM irrespective of the slip direction and the number of laminae removed, even after >2 years after surgery. Given the preservation of the posterior elements, SL may be an effective treatment for CSM with DS. Level of evidence Level IV.

Background A wrist‐cuff automated oscillometric device is portable and useful for self‐monitoring of blood pressure (BP) at home and outdoors when an upper arm device is not available. Although the height of the forearm in wrist BP measurement is acknowledged to be the major cause of measurement error, it remains unclear whether exercise affects subsequent wrist BP measurement. Methods and Results Ninety‐seven healthy college students (median age of 20 years with an age range of 19 to 36 years, 70.1% males) participated in this study. Care was taken to keep the position of the wrist at a level near the upper arm level in BP measurement. At rest, BP measured by a wrist‐cuff oscillometric device (Omron HEM‐6183) was generally acceptable when it was compared with BP measured by an upper arm oscillometric device (Omron HEM‐7130‐HP) and with BP measured by the auscultatory method using a mercury sphygmomanometer. However, the ratio of systolic BP measured by oscillometric devices just after a two‐step exercise test to that before exercise on the wrist (1.22 ± 0.14) was significantly lower than the ratio on the upper arm (1.27 ± 0.14), and the difference was significantly correlated with exercise‐induced increase in pulse rate (Spearman's ρ = 0.23), suggesting a possible role of autonomic nerve activity in the blunted response to exercise‐induced BP elevation in wrist BP measurement. Conclusions The results indicate that the blunted response to exercise‐induced BP elevation should be considered in wrist BP measurement when using a wrist‐cuff oscillometric device., In this study, we found that the response to exercise‐induced blood pressure elevation was blunted in wrist blood pressure measurement compared with upper arm blood pressure measurement. The difference in the response was significantly correlated with the increase in pulse rate, suggesting a possible role of changes in autonomic nerve activity in the blunted response.

Introduction: Gender differences may play a role in the pathogenesis of lumbar spinal stenosis. However, few reports that discuss the effects of gender differences in ligamentum flavum (LF) hypertrophy have been published, and no study has investigated the relationship between LF thickness and the quantitative value of intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration. This study aimed to investigate the impact of gender on the pathomechanisms underlying LF hypertrophy, focusing on the relationship among LF thickness, IVD degeneration, and age. Methods: The subjects include 100 patients with low back pain and leg numbness, tingling, or pain. We measured LF thickness and the T2 values of IVDs using MR imaging and analyzed the relationship among LF thickness, T2 values of IVDs, and age. The interclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was calculated as the inter-rater reliability between the LF thickness values measured by two investigators. Results: ICC was calculated for the two measurements of LF thickness (r = 0.923, 95% CI: 0.907-0.936). No statistically significant difference in the T2 values of IVDs was observed between females and males from L2/3 to L5/S. There were significantly negative linear correlations between LF thickness and the T2 values of IVDs at all levels, but this correlation was not observed in females at L4/5. There were significantly negative linear correlations between age and the T2 values of IVDs from L2/3 to L5/S for all patients, females, and males (r = 0.422-0.756). In addition, there were significantly positive linear correlations between age and LF thickness from L2/3 to L4/5 for all patients (r = 0.329-0.361) and females (r = 0.411-0.481). Correlations were not observed for males at all levels or for all patients at L5/S. Conclusions: The relationships identified among LF thickness, age, and IVD degeneration suggest that gender differences play a role in the pathogenesis of LF hypertrophy.

STUDY DESIGN Animal experimental study with intervention. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to elucidate whether local administration of an α-antagonist around the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) suppressed sympathetic nerve sprouting, from the acute to the chronic pain development phase, in a lumbar radiculopathy model using immunohistochemical methods. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA The abnormal sympathetic-somatosensory interaction may underlie some forms of neuropathic pain. There were several reports suggesting α-antagonists are effective to treat neuropathic pain. However, its pathophysiological mechanisms remain obscure. METHODS We used 70 male Sprague-Dawley rats. After root constriction (RC), rats received a series of three local injections of the nonselective α-antagonist phentolamine around the DRG for 3 days. There were three groups of rats: those that were injected from the day of surgery and those injected from day 4 and third group injected from day 11. The control rats were subjected to RC but equal-volume normal saline injections, and the naive rats were not subjected to any surgical procedures. At the 14th postoperative day, the left L5 DRG was removed, embedded in paraffin, and sectioned. Sections were then immunostained with antibodies to tyrosine hydroxylase (TH). To quantify the extent of the presence of sympathetic nerve fibers, we counted TH-immunoreactive fibers in the DRG using a light microscope equipped with a micrometer graticule. We counted the squares of the graticule, which contained TH-immunoreactive fibers for each of five randomly selected sections of the DRG. RESULTS In the naive group, TH-immunoreactive fibers were scarce in the DRG. α-antagonist injections from postoperative day 0 and 4 suppressed sympathetic nerve sprouting compared with the control group. α-antagonist injections from postoperative day 11 had no suppressant effect compared with the control group. CONCLUSION The α-antagonist administered around the DRG could suppress neural plastic changes in the early phase after nerve injury. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE N/A.