Adverse Events Related to Transcranial Electric Stimulation for Motor-evoked Potential Monitoring in High-risk Spinal Surgery.

Study Design: Prospective multicenter study.

Objective: The aim of this study was to study the incidence of nonneurologic adverse events related to transcranial electric stimulation (TES) for intraoperative spinal cord monitoring (IOM) with motor-evoked potentials (MEPs) (Tc(E)- MEPs) and determine the need for safety precautions.

Summary Of Background Data: Tc(E)-MEPs monitoring requires high-voltage multipulse TES that causes widespread muscle contraction and movement.

Complications after spinal fixation surgery for osteoporotic vertebral collapse with neurological deficits: Japan Association of Spine Surgeons with ambition multicenter study.

Background: There have been few reports on the incidence and risk factors of the complications after spinal fixation surgery for osteoporotic vertebral collapse (OVC) with neurological deficits. This study aimed to identify the incidence and risk factors of the complications after OVC surgery.

Methods: In this retrospective multicenter study, a total of 403 patients (314 women and 89 men; mean age 73.

Increase in lumbar kyphosis and spinal inclination, declining back muscle strength, and sarcopenia are risk factors for onset of GERD: a 5-year prospective longitudinal cohort study.

Purpose: The objective was to identify risk factors for new development of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) 5 years later in a prospective longitudinal cohort study.

Methods: A total of 178 subjects (male 72, female 106, mean age 68 years) without GERD in 2013 were examined for GERD in 2018. A Frequency Scale for Symptoms of GERD score ≥ 8 was used for diagnosis of GERD.

Differences of locomotive syndrome and frailty in community-dwelling middle-aged and elderly people: Pain, osteoarthritis, spinal alignment, body balance, and quality of life.

To identify differences between locomotive syndrome (LS) and frailty. A total of 1016 subjects (males 427, females 589, mean age 64 years) were prospectively examined in the Yakumo study. LS was defined as ≥16 on the GLFS-25 questionnaire.

Surgical outcomes of spinal fusion for osteoporotic vertebral fracture in the thoracolumbar spine: Comprehensive evaluations of 5 typical surgical fusion techniques.

Background: A consensus on the optimal surgical procedure for thoracolumbar OVF has yet to be reached due to the previous relatively small number of case series. The study was conducted to investigate surgical outcomes for osteoporotic vertebral fracture (OVF) in the thoracolumbar spine.

Methods: In total, 315 OVF patients (mean age, 74 years; 68 men and 247 women) with neurological symptoms who underwent spinal fusion with a minimum 2-year follow-up were included.

Risk Factors for Proximal Junctional Fracture Following Fusion Surgery for Osteoporotic Vertebral Collapse with Delayed Neurological Deficits: A Retrospective Cohort Study of 403 Patients.

Introduction: Approximately 3% of osteoporotic vertebral fractures develop osteoporotic vertebral collapse (OVC) with neurological deficits, and such patients are recommended to be treated surgically. However, a proximal junctional fracture (PJFr) following surgery for OVC can be a serious concern. Therefore, the aim of this study is to identify the incidence and risk factors of PJFr following fusion surgery for OVC.

Predictors of Prolonged Length of Stay After Lumbar Interbody Fusion: A Multicenter Study.

Study Design: Retrospective analysis of a prospectively database.

Objectives: To identify factors associated with prolonged length of stay (LOS) in posterior /transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF/TLIF).

Methods: The subjects were patients who underwent PLIF/TLIF at 10 facilities from 2012 to 2014.

Differences in clinical outcomes between traumatic cervical myelopathy and degenerative cervical myelopathy: A comparative study of cervical spinal cord injury without major bone injury and cervical spondylotic myelopathy.

A comparative study to examine the surgical outcomes of traumatic cervical myelopathy (TCM) patients was designed. The study aim was to compare the surgical outcomes between TCM and degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) and to characterize the preoperative symptoms and postoperative residual symptoms in TCM patients. One hundred consecutive patients with TCM (81 men, 19 women; mean age, 57.

Outcomes of Surgery for Thoracic Myelopathy Owing to Thoracic Ossification of The Ligamentum Flavum in a Nationwide Multicenter Prospectively Collected Study in 223 Patients: Is Instrumented Fusion Necessary?

Study Design: Prospectively collected, multicenter, nationwide study.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate recent surgical methods and trends, outcomes, and perioperative complications in surgery for thoracic ossification of the ligamentum flavum (T-OLF).

Summary Of Background Data: A prospective multicenter study of surgical complications and risk factors for T-OLF has not been performed, and previous multicenter retrospective studies have lacked details for these items.

The factors related to the poor ADL in the patients with osteoporotic vertebral fracture after instrumentation surgery.

Purpose: Osteoporotic vertebral fracture (OVF) with nonunion or neurological deficit may be a candidate for surgical treatment. However, some patients do not show improvement as expected. Therefore, we conducted a nationwide multicenter study to determine the predictors for postoperative poor activity of daily living (ADL) in patients with OVF.

Indirect Decompression on MRI Chronologically Progresses After Immediate Postlateral Lumbar Interbody Fusion: The Results From a Minimum of 2 Years Follow-Up.

Unlabelled: MINI: On magnetic resonance imaging, indirect decompression using lateral lumbar interbody fusion and posterior fixation was confirmed immediately after surgery and also continuously progressed after surgery, particularly during the first 6 months. Thecal sac enlargement was also confirmed, and is suspected to be caused by the atrophy of the ligamentum flavum and the disc.

Study Design: A prospective cohort study.

Cut off value in each gender and decade of 10-s grip and release and 10-s step test: A comparative study between 454 patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy and 818 healthy subjects.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to establish the clinical cut-off values of the 10-s grip and release (G&R) and 10-s step quantitative tests for the diagnosis of cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) and to elucidate the aging variation and gender difference of those values in a large cohort of healthy subjects.

Patients And Methods: Patients with CSM (n = 454) and asymptomatic subjects (n = 818) were included. Subjects were aged 40-70 years; according to their age, they were categorized by decades.

Low Bioelectrical Impedance Phase Angle Is a Significant Risk Factor for Frailty.

The phase angle, which is measured via bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), is a clinically important bioimpedance parameter used for nutritional assessment and evaluating the risk of various diseases, such as locomotive syndrome (LS). It remains unclear if the phase angle is associated with frailty (fragile state of physical and mental health). We therefore examined this association in a large prospective sample.

Changes in Sagittal Alignment Following Short-Level Lumbar Interbody Fusion: Comparison between Posterior and Lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusions.

Study Design: Retrospective case-control study.

Purpose: We aimed to compare radiologic outcomes between posterior (PLIF) and lateral lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF) in short-level spinal fusion surgeries.

Overview Of Literature: Although LLIF enables surgeons to insert large lordotic cages, it is unknown whether LLIF more effectively corrects local and global sagittal alignments compared with PLIF in short-level spinal fusion surgeries.

The Relationship Between Neuropathic Pain and Spinal Alignment: Independent Risk Factors for Low Quality of Life in Middle-Aged and Elderly People.

Study Design: Prospective research in middle-aged and elderly people.

Objective: To investigate low back pain (LBP) and neuropathic pain (NeP); spinal alignment and range of motion (ROM); spinal degenerative changes in plain radiography; osteoporosis; muscle strength; and physical ability as possible risk factors for poor quality of life (QOL).

Summary Of Background Data: The aging of society has led to an increase in elderly people with chronic pain, including LBP and NeP.

Detection of Spinal Dural Defect in Superficial Siderosis by Intraoperative Ultrasonography.

Superficial siderosis of the central nervous system is a rare disease caused by repeated hemorrhages in the subarachnoid space. We describe surgical treatment of a case in which a tiny dural defect with fluid collection in the spinal canal was detected by intraoperative ultrasonography (US). After laminectomy, intraoperative US imaging confirmed epidural fluid collection around the ventral dural defect before incision of the posterior dura mater.

Postoperative Resolution of MR T2 Increased Signal Intensity in Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy: The Impact of Signal Change Resolution on the Outcomes.

Study Design: A prospective comparative imaging study.

Objective: This study investigated whether postoperative resolution of spinal cord increased signal intensity (ISI) reflected symptom improvement and surgical outcomes in cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) patients.

Summary Of Background Data: Although some CSM patients exhibit magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) ISI, its alteration and resolution have not been investigated.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of the pharmacological management of chronic low back pain with four leading drugs.

Background: Chronic low back pain is a major health problem that has a substantial effect on people's quality of life and places a significant economic burden on healthcare systems. However, there has been little cost-effectiveness analysis of the treatments for it. Therefore, the purpose of this prospective observational study was to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of the pharmacological management of chronic low back pain.

What Are the Important Predictors of Postoperative Functional Recovery in Patients With Cervical OPLL? Results of a Multivariate Analysis.

Study Design: A retrospective cohort study.

Objective: The objective of this study was to identify important predictors of poor functional recovery in patients undergoing surgery for cervical ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL).

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of 142 OPLL patients with laminoplasty; 135 had complete radiographical data and were followed up for ≥2 years.

Declining neck circumference is an anthropometric marker related to frailty in middle-aged and elderly women.

Neck circumference (NC) has been associated with cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome. However, the association between NC and frailty remains unknown. We aimed to determine the relationship between frailty and NC in middle-aged and elderly women.

Factors Affecting Postoperative Sagittal Alignment after Lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusion in Adult Spinal Deformity: Posterior Osteotomy, Anterior Longitudinal Ligament Rupture, and Endplate Injury.

Study Design: Prospective cohort study.

Purpose: To identify factors that affect sagittal alignment correction in lateral lumbar interbody fusion (LIF) surgery for adult spinal deformity (ASD) and to investigate the degree of correction in each condition.

Overview Of Literature: LIF is a useful procedure for ASD, but the degree of correction can be affected by posterior osteotomy, intraoperative endplate injury, or anterior longitudinal ligament (ALL) rupture.

Weakness of grip strength reflects future locomotive syndrome and progression of locomotive risk stage: A 10-year longitudinal cohort study.

Grip strength is a simple indicator of physical function. The goal of this retrospective study was to examine whether grip strength reflects locomotive syndrome and locomotive risk stage 10 years later. The participants were 88 Japanese adults aged >40 years who attended a health check-up in 2006.

Epidemiology and effect on physical function of osteosarcopenia in community-dwelling elderly people in Japan.

To determine the prevalence of osteosarcopenia and its relationship with physical function in elderly people in Japan. The subjects were 427 healthy volunteers over 65 years old (205 males, 222 females, average age 71.4 years) who attended health checkups in 2016 and 2017.

Shoulder pain has most impact on poor quality of life among various types of musculoskeletal pain in middle-aged and elderly people: Yakumo study.

To investigate the severity and effect on quality of life (QOL) of various types of pain in healthy volunteers.: A total of 384 subjects (male: 158, female: 226, average age: 63 years) were included in a prospective cohort study (Yakumo study). Shoulder pain, low back pain (LBP), sciatica, knee pain, and the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) shoulder score were evaluated with SF-36.