• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• 제46권4호
• /
• pp.322-327
• /
• 2009

Objective : Posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) is considered to have the best theoretical potential in promoting bony fusion of unstable vertebral segments by way of a load sharing effect of the anterior column. This study was undertaken to investigate the efficacy of PLIF with cages in chronic degenerative disc disease with Modic degeneration (changes of vertebral end plate). Methods : A total of 597 patients underwent a PLIF with threaded fusion cages (TFC) from 1993 to 2000. Three-hundred-fifty-one patients, who could be followed for more than 3 years, were enrolled in this study. Patients were grouped into 4 categories according to Modic classification (no degeneration : 259, type 1 : 26, type 2 : 55, type 3 : 11). Clinical and radiographic data were evaluated retrospectively. Results : The clinical success rate according to the Prolo's functional and economic outcome scale was 86% in patients without degeneration and 83% in patients with Modic degeneration. The clinical outcomes in each group were 88% in type 1, 84% in type 2, and 73% in type 3. The bony fusion rate was 97% in patients without degeneration and 83% in patients with Modic degeneration. The bony fusion rate in each group was 81% in type 1, 84% in type 2, and 55% in type 3. The clinical success and fusion rates were significantly lower in patients with type 3 degeneration. Conclusion : The PLIF with TFC has been found to be an effective procedure for lumbar spine fusion. But, the clinical outcome and bony fusion rates were significantly low in the patients with Modic type 3. The authors suggest that PLIF combined with pedicle screw fixation would be the better for them.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• 제59권6호
• /
• pp.655-658
• /
• 2016

Parkinson's disease (PD) patients frequently have several spinal deformities leading to postural instabilities including camptocormia, myopathy-induced postural deformity, Pisa syndrome, and progressive degeneration, all of which adversely affect daily life activities. To improve these postural deformities and relieve the related neurologic symptoms, patients often undergo spinal instrumentation surgery. Due to progressive degenerative changes related to PD itself and other complicating factors, patients and surgeons are faced with instrument failure-related complications, which can ultimately result in multiple revision surgeries yielding various postoperative complications and morbidities. Here, we report a representative case of a 70-year-old PD patient with flat back syndrome who had undergone several revision surgeries, including anterior and posterior decompression and fusion for a lumbosacral spinal deformity. The patient ultimately benefitted from a relatively short segment fixation and corrective fusion surgery.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• 제47권2호
• /
• pp.134-136
• /
• 2010

Bow hunter's stroke is a rare symptomatic vertebrobasilar insufficiency in which vertebral artery (VA) is mechanically occluded during head rotation. Various pathologic conditions have been reported as causes of bow hunter's stroke. However, bow hunter's stroke caused by facet hypertrophy of C1-2 has not been reported. A 71-year-old woman presented with symptoms of vertebrobasilar insufficiency. Spine computed tomography showed massive facet hypertrophy on the left side of C1-2 level. A VA angiogram with her head rotated to the right revealed significant stenosis of left VA. C1-2 posterior fixation and fusion was performed to prevent serious neurologic deficit from vertebrobasilar stroke.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• 제42권4호
• /
• pp.311-316
• /
• 2007

Objective : The objective of this study is to investigate the safety, surgical efficacy, and advantages of a polyaxial screw-rod system for posterior occipitocervicothoracic arthrodesis. Methods : Charts and radiographs of 32 patients who underwent posterior cervical fixation between October 2004 and February 2006 were retrospectively reviewed. Posterior cervical polyaxial screw-rod fixation was applied on the cervical spine and/or upper thoracic spine. The surgical indication was fracture or dislocation in 18, C1-2 ligamentous injury with trauma in 5, atlantoaxial instability by rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) in 4, cervical spondylosis with myelopathy in 4, and spinal metastatic tumor in 1. The patients were followed up and evaluated based on their clinical status and radiographs at 1, 3, 6 months and 1 year after surgery. Results : A total of 189 screws were implanted in 32 patients. Fixation was carried out over an average of 3.3 spinal segment (range, 2 to 7). The mean follow-up interval was 20.2 months. This system allowed for screw placement in the occiput, C1 lateral mass, C2 pars, C3-7 lateral masses, as well as the lower cervical and upper thoracic pedicles. Satisfactory bony fusion and reduction were achieved and confirmed in postoperative flexion-extension lateral radiographs and computed tomography (CT) scans in all cases. Revision surgery was required in two cases due to deep wound infection. One case needed a skin graft due to necrotic change. There was one case of kyphotic change due to adjacent segmental degeneration. There were no other complications, such as cord or vertebral artery injury, cerebrospinal fluid leak, screw malposition or back-out, or implant failure, and there were no cases of postoperative radiculopathy due to foraminal stenosis. Conclusion : Posterior cervical stabilization with a polyaxial screw-rod system is a safe and reliable technique that appears to offer several advantages over existing methods. Further biomechanical testings and clinical experiences are needed in order to determine the true benefits of this procedure.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• 제29권4호
• /
• pp.507-513
• /
• 2000

Objective : Posterior lumbar interbody fusion(PLIF) with transpedicular screw fixation(TPSF) have many merits in the treatment of spondylolisthesis. The aim of this study was to compare cage PLIF group(PLIF using cage and TPSF) with chip PLIF group(PLIF using autologous bone chips and TPSF) as surgical treatment of spondyloisthesis. Methods : PLIF and TPSF were performed in 44 patients with spondylolisthesis from January 1994 to December 1998. The surgical methods were divided into two groups. One group was cage PLIF(20 patients), and the other group was chip PLIF(24 patients). We analyzed the change of anterior translation, change of intervertebral space height, fusion rate, clinical outcomes, and postoperative complications in two groups. Result : There was no significant difference in reduction and maintenance of anterior translation between two groups. Intervertebral space height was increased in the two groups at immediate postoperative state. At last followup, it was decreased compared to preoperative height in chip PLIF group. In cage PLIF group, last follow-up height was decreased compared to immedate postoperative height, but it was significantly increased compared to preoperative height. Fusion rates were 70.9% and 90% in chip PLIF group and cage PLIF group, respectively. Excellent and good clinical outcomes were 79.2% in chip PLIF group and 85% in cage PLIF group, but there was no statistical significance. Complications were screw fracture(1 case), CSF leakage(1 case) in chip PLIF group and screw loosening and retropulsion of cage(1 case), CSF leakage(2 cases) in cage PLIF group. Conclusion : PLIF using cage is better than PLIF using autologous bone chips in the maintenance of intervertebral space height and fusion rate. But there is no statistical difference of the clinical outcomes between the two groups. Further studies, especially on long term follow-up, should be considered.

• 대한정형외과학회지
• /
• 제55권5호
• /
• pp.405-410
• /
• 2020

목적: 퇴행성 요추부 척추 질환에 대한 수술적 치료로 척추 경 나사못(pedicle screw) 삽입술이 전통적으로 사용되어왔다. 이에 대한 대안으로 제시된 피질골 궤도 나사못(cortical-bone trajectory screw)은 덜 침습적인 후방 요추부 고정이 가능한 점과 몇몇의 생체 역학 연구에서 보고한 우수한 기계적 안정성을 장점으로 가지고 있다. 본 연구의 목적은 후방 감압술 후 후방 고정술 및 유합을 시행한 환자에 있어 피질골 궤도 나사못 고정술의 초기 실패에 관한 사례의 임상적 및 방사선적 결과를 알아보고자 함에 있다. 대상 및 방법: 요추의 퇴행성 척추 협착 및 척추 전방 전위에 대한 전통적인 척추 경 나사못 고정을 대안하여 피질골 궤도 나사못을 사용하여 2013년부터 2018년까지 수술적 치료를 시행한 311명의 환자를 대상으로 하였다. 수술 후 조기 고정 실패는 수술 후 6개월째, 외래 추시에서 시행한 컴퓨터 단층촬영(computed tomography) 및 방사선 사진상 나사못의 이완, 이탈 및 파손과 같은 고정 실패가 일어날 시로 정의하였다. 결과: 조기 고정 실패는 311예 중 46예(14.8%), 나사못 이완이 46예(14.8%), 이탈이 12예(3.9%), 파손이 4예(1.3%)에서 발생하였다. 해당 고정 실패가 일어난 부위 분석 시, L1이 7예(15.2%), L2가 3예(6.5%), L3가 4예(8.7%), L4가 4예(8.7%), L5가 4예(8.7%), 그리고 S1이 24예(52.2%)였다. 주로 말단 피질골 궤도 나사못 중에서도 S1 나사못에서 이완, 이탈 및 파손과 같은 고정 실패가 주로 발생하였다. 결론: 피질골 궤도 나사못 고정은 기존의 척추 경 나사못 고정과 비교했을 때 동등한 임상 결과 또는 적은 합병증을 나타낼 수 있는 하나의 대안이 될 수 있으나 골다공증이 있거나 특히 L5-S1 유합부위에서 전방지지구조가 되지 않는 조건일 때, 이완, 이탈, 파손 등의 조기 고정 실패가 나타나는 결과가 있었다.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• 제41권3호
• /
• pp.166-170
• /
• 2007

Objective : The purpose of this study is to evaluate the clinical outcome of the two-stage operation for thoracic tuberculous spondylitis. Methods : Eleven patients [4 male, 7 female] with thoracic tuberculous spondylitis were treated with two-stage operation. First stage consisted of anterior debridement and interbody fusion using rib graft and second with posterior instrumentation with fusion. Mean age was 46 years, and mean follow-up period was 18 months. All patients were treated with 12 months of antituberculotic medication postoperatively, and evaluated before and after surgery with respect to pain level, neurological status, associated lesions, hematological parameters and change of kyphotic angle. Results : The associated lesions were pulmonary tuberculosis in 4 cases. There were no recurrences of infection and bone union was obtained within 6 months of the operation in all cases. Changes in the pain severity, neurological status, and hematological parameters demonstrated significant clinical improvement in all patients. The mean kyphotic angle was corrected from $17.8^{\circ}$ to $9.8^{\circ}$ after surgery. The most recent follow-up of the mean kyphotic angle was $12.3^{\circ}$, with a loss of correction of $2.5^{\circ}$. The preoperative VAS averaged to be 7.18 [range, 4-10]. It decreased significantly an average of 1.45 [p <0001]. Conclusion : These results indicate that two-stage surgical treatment for thoracic tuberculous spondylitis provid safe and satisfactory results. Spine instability and kyphosis can be also prevented by two-stage operation.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
• /
• 제35권1호
• /
• pp.12-18
• /
• 2022

Purpose: Pedicle screw fixation provides 3-column stabilization, multidimensional control, and a higher rate of interbody fusion. Although computed tomography (CT) is recommended for the postoperative assessment of pedicle screw fixation, its use is limited due to the radiation exposure dose. The purpose of this preliminary retrospective study was to assess the clinical usefulness of low-dose mobile cone-beam CT (CBCT) for the postoperative evaluation of pedicle screw fixation. Methods: The author retrospectively reviewed postoperative mobile CBCT images of 15 patients who underwent posterior pedicle screw fixation for spinal disease from November 2019 to April 2020. Pedicle screw placement was assessed for breaches of the bony structures. The breaches were graded based on the Heary classification. Results: The patients included 11 men and four women, and their mean age was 66±12 years. Of the 122 pedicle screws, 34 (27.9%) were inserted in the thoracic segment (from T7 to T12), 82 (67.2%) in the lumbar segment (from L1 to L5), and six (4.9%) in the first sacral segment. Although there were metal-related artifacts, the image of the screw position (according to Heary classification) after surgery could be assessed using mobile CBCT at all levels (T7-S1). Conclusions: Mobile CBCT was accurate in determining the location and integrity of the pedicle screw and identifying the surrounding bony structures. In the postoperative setting, mobile CBCT can be used as a primary modality for assessing the accuracy of pedicle screw fixation and detecting postoperative complications.

• Asian Spine Journal
• /
• 제12권6호
• /
• pp.1060-1068
• /
• 2018

Study Design: Retrospective study. Purpose: Lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration is an important cause of low back pain. Overview of Literature: Spinal fusion is often reported to have a good course for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). However, many studies have reported that adjacent segment degeneration is accelerated after lumbar spinal fusion. Radiography is a simple method used to evaluate the orientation of the vertebral column. magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the method most often used to specifically evaluate intervertebral disc degeneration. The Pfirrmann classification is a well-known method used to evaluate degenerative lumbar disease. After spinal fusion, an increase in stress, excess mobility, increased intra-disc pressure, and posterior displacement of the axis of motion have been observed in the adjacent segments. Methods: we retrospectively secured and analyzed the data of 15 patients (four boys and 11 girls) with AIS who underwent a spinal fusion surgery. We studied the full-length view of the spine (anterior-posterior and lateral) from the X-ray and MRI obtained from all patients before surgery. Postoperatively, another full-length spine X-ray and lumbosacral MRI were obtained from all participants. Then, pelvic tilt, sacral slope, curve correction, and fused and free segments before and after surgery were calculated based on X-ray studies. MRI images were used to estimate the degree to which intervertebral discs were degenerated using Pfirrmann grading system. Pfirrmann grade before and after surgery were compared with Wilcoxon signed rank test. While analyzing the contribution of potential risk factors for the post-spinal fusion Pfirrmann grade of disc degeneration, we used generalized linear models with robust standard error estimates to account for intraclass correlation that may have been present between discs of the same patient. Results: The mean age of the participant was 14 years, and the mean curvature before and after surgery were 67.8 and 23.8, respectively (p<0.05). During the median follow-up of 5 years, the mean degree of the disc degeneration significantly increased in all patients after surgery (p<0.05) with a Pfirrmann grade of 1 and 2.8 in the L2-L3 before and after surgery, respectively. The corresponding figures at L3-L4, L4-L5, and L5-S1 levels were 1.28 and 2.43, 1.07 and 2.35, and 1 and 2.33, respectively. The lower was the number of free discs below the fusion level, the higher was the Pfirrmann grade of degeneration (p<0.001). Conversely, the higher was the number of the discs fused together, the higher was the Pfirrmann grade. Conclusions: we observed that the disc degeneration aggravated after spinal fusion for scoliosis. While the degree of degeneration as measured by Pfirrmann grade was directly correlated by the number of fused segments, it was negatively correlated with the number of discs that remained free below the lowermost level of the fusion.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• 제46권5호
• /
• pp.425-430
• /
• 2009

Objective : The present study analyzed the risk factors, prevalence and clinical results following revision surgery for adjacent segment degeneration (ASD) in patients who had undergone lumbar fusion. Methods : Over an 8-year period, we performed posterior lumbar fusion in 81 patients. Patients were followed a minimum of 2 years (mean 5.5 years). During that time, 9 patients required revision surgery due to ASD development. Four patients underwent autogenous posterolateral arthrodesis and extended transpedicle screw fixation, 4 patients underwent decompressive laminectomy and interspinous device implantation, and 1 patient underwent simple decompression. Results : Of the 9 of patients with clinical ASD, 33.3% (3 of 9) of patients did not have radiographic ASD on plain radiographs. Following revision surgery, the clinical results were excellent or good in 8 patients (88.9%). Age > 50 years at primary surgery was a significant risk factor for ASD development, while number of fusion levels, initial diagnosis and type of fusion were not. Conclusion : The incidence of ASD development after lumbar surgery was 11.1% (9 of 81) in this study. Age greater than 50 was the statistically significant risk factor for ASD development. Similar successful clinical outcomes were observed after extended fusion with wide decompression or after interspinous device implantation. Given the latter procedure is less invasive, the findings suggest it may be considered a treatment alternative in selected cases but it needs further study.