Perioperative factors associated with favorable outcomes of posterior decompression and instrumented fusion for cervical ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament: A retrospective multicenter study.

Purpose: Posterior decompression with instrumented fusion (PDF) is a suitable surgical treatment for K-line (-)-type cervical ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL). However, the adequate indications of PDF have not been clarified yet. The purpose of this study was to investigate the surgical results of PDF and perioperative factors that influence the surgical outcome, and to clarify the adequate indications of PDF.

Clinical significance of cerebrospinal fluid nitric oxide concentrations in degenerative cervical and lumbar diseases.

In animal models of degenerative lumbar disease, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) is expressed in macrophages and Schwann cells following compression of the cauda equina. We previously reported that NO metabolites (nitrite plus nitrate: [NOx]) in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) correlate with postoperative pain relief in patients with degenerative lumbar disease and with neurologic recovery rate postoperatively or after conservative treatment in patients with spinal cord injury. The objective of the present study was to examine the relationship between [NOx] and neurologic severity, and recovery in degenerative cervical and lumbar diseases.

Cerebrospinal fluid concentrations of nitric oxide metabolites in spinal cord injury.

Study Design: Multiple center study to evaluate cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) concentrations of nitric oxide metabolites [NOx] in relation to neurologic severity and prognosis in spinal cord injury (SCI).

Objective: To examine whether CSF [NOx] correlates with neurologic severity and recovery in SCI.

Summary Of Background Data: Inducible nitric oxide synthase is expressed in rat spinal cord immediately after SCI.

Significant correlation between cerebrospinal fluid nitric oxide concentrations and neurologic prognosis in incomplete cervical cord injury.

In animal models of spinal cord injury (SCI), inducible NO (nitric oxide) synthase is expressed in the spinal cord immediately after sustaining SCI. Excessive NO production has cytotoxic effects and induces neuronal apoptosis, causing neural degeneration and neurodysfunction in the spinal cord. Little is known, however, about the relationship between NO(x) (NO metabolites: nitrite and nitrate) levels in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and neurologic severity or recovery in clinical cases.

Nitric oxide in cerebrospinal fluid and local inducible nitric oxide synthase after cauda equina compression in rats.

We investigated the time course of changes in nitric oxide metabolite (NO2- plus NO3-: NOx) levels in the cerebrospinal fluid and the expression of local inducible nitric oxide synthase following cauda equina compression in rats. Cerebrospinal fluid NOx levels were significantly increased from 12 h to 3 days after compression, and decreased thereafter. Histologically, inducible nitric oxide synthase immunoreactivity was observed in macrophages that infiltrated the dura mater on days 1 and 3 after compression, but not in foamy macrophages in the parenchyma of the cauda equina observed afterwards.

Two cases of odontoid fracture in preschool children.

Halo application is a standard method for cervical immobilization. However, complications may occur in children because of their thin skull and immature bone. The authors report two cases of odontoid fracture in preschool children treated with a Minerva cast.