Spinal surgery for a late-onset axial myopathy.

Axial myopathies with paraspinal predominance usually present with dropped head, abnormal posture or rigidity of the spine. Management of axial myopathy can be difficult and there is little data in the literature about surgical treatment. We discuss a case of axial myopathy with late-onset scoliosis and dropped head, focusing on the surgical management of the case.

Two-stage anterior and posterior fusion versus one-stage posterior fusion in patients with Scheuermann's kyphosis.

Aims: Whether a combined anteroposterior fusion or a posterior-only fusion is more effective in the management of patients with Scheuermann's kyphosis remains controversial. The aim of this study was to compare the radiological and clinical outcomes of these surgical approaches, and to evaluate the postoperative complications with the hypothesis that proximal junctional kyphosis would be more common in one-stage posterior-only fusion.

Methods: A retrospective review of patients treated surgically for Scheuermann's kyphosis between 2006 and 2014 was performed.

Do Growing Rods for Idiopathic Early Onset Scoliosis Improve Activity and Participation for Children?

Objective: To investigate whether growing rod surgery for children with progressive idiopathic early onset scoliosis (EOS) effects activity and participation, and investigate factors that may affect this.

Study Design: Multicenter retrospective cohort study using prospectively collected data on 60 children with idiopathic EOS and significant scoliosis (defined as a Cobb angle >40°). Thirty underwent brace treatment, and 30, growth rod surgery.

Risk of Neurological Injuries in Spinal Deformity Surgery.

Study Design: A retrospective study.

Objective: Rate of neurological injuries is widely reported for spinal deformity surgery. However, few have included the influence of the subtypes and severity of the deformity, or anterior versus posterior corrections.

Does Spinal Fusion and Scoliosis Correction Improve Activity and Participation for Children With GMFCS level 4 and 5 Cerebral Palsy?

Spinal fusion is used to treat scoliosis in children with cerebral palsy (CP). Following intervention, the WHO considers activity and participation should be assessed to guide intervention and assess the effects. This study assesses whether spinal fusion for scoliosis improves activity and participation for children with severe CP.

A Preliminary Study to Assess Whether Spinal Fusion for Scoliosis Improves Carer-assessed Quality of Life for Children With GMFCS Level IV or V Cerebral Palsy.

Background: Scoliosis affects 50% of children with Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) level IV or V cerebral palsy (CP). In children with complex neurodisability following intervention, the WHO considers quality of life (QoL) should be assessed to aid decision-making and assess the effects. This study assesses whether scoliosis surgery improves carer-assessed QoL for children with severe CP.

A retrospective review to assess whether spinal fusion and scoliosis correction improved activity and participation for children with Angelman syndrome.

Objective: This study investigates outcome of scoliosis treatment for 11 children with Angelman syndrome (AS), with particular focus on activity, participation and the musculoskeletal factors that may affect these outcomes.

Methods: Retrospective review of medical records, radiographs and questionnaires administered to caregivers of 11 children (8M:3F) with AS and scoliosis. Six underwent observational treatment during childhood and five underwent spinal fusion.

Revertant fibres and dystrophin traces in Duchenne muscular dystrophy: implication for clinical trials.

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is characterised by the absence of dystrophin in muscle biopsies, although residual dystrophin can be present, either as dystrophin-positive (revertant) fibres or traces. As restoration of dystrophin expression is the end point of clinical trials, such residual dystrophin is a key factor in recruitment of patients and may also confound the analysis of dystrophin restoration in treated patients, if, as previously observed in the mdx mouse, revertant fibres increase with age. In 62% of the diagnostic biopsies reports of 65 DMD patients studied, traces or revertants were recorded with no correlation between traces or revertants, the patients' performance, or corticosteroids response.

Metastatic pulmonary intimal sarcoma presenting as cauda equina syndrome: first report of a case.

Study Design: Case report and clinical discussion.

Objective: To describe a rare case of metastatic pulmonary intimal sarcoma presenting as cauda equine syndrome.

Summary Of Background Data: Pulmonary artery sarcoma is a rare tumor, frequently misdiagnosed as pulmonary embolism, and although it is highly aggressive, metastasis to bone is very rare.

Scoliosis development in identical twins after intercostal thoracotomy for pulmonary artery sling correction.

We present a report on two monozygotic female twins who underwent a left-sided intercostal thoracotomy in the second month of life for pulmonary artery sling correction. Twenty-four years later, in adulthood, the identical twins had both developed right-sided thoracic scoliosis. No previous accounts of scoliosis development after intercostal thoracotomy for pulmonary artery sling correction have been reported.

Osteoblastoma crossing the sacro-iliac joint.

Osteoblastoma is a rare primary bone tumour which is well-described in the spine and sacrum. We report a case of histologically confirmed osteoblastoma in a 20-year-old male which crossed the sacroiliac joint. This has not previously been described to our knowledge.

Prevalence and clinical significance of superficial abdominal reflex abnormalities in idiopathic scoliosis.

To determine prevalence and significance of abnormal superficial abdominal reflexes (SARs) in idiopathic scoliosis. Study of 73 patients with presumed idiopathic scoliosis referred for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), either as a routine pre-operative assessment (n=42) or because of abnormal symptoms or neurological signs (n=31). All patients were examined prior to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and the presence of abnormal SARs was noted.

Radiotherapy-induced malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor of the cauda equina.

Study Design: Case report.

Objectives: To report a rare case of radiation-induced malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor of the cauda equina 10 years after treatment for testicular seminoma.

Summary Of Background Data: Development of malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor after irradiation is well recognized and often associated with a dismal prognosis.

Development of lumbar high intensity zone on axial loaded magnetic resonance imaging.

Study Design: Case report.

Objectives: To report the development of high intensity zones in the lumbar posterior anulus on axial loaded magnetic resonance imaging.

Summary Of Background Data: The high intensity zone is seen in the posterior anulus of degenerate lumbar discs on T2-weighted magnetic resonance images and represents a radial anular tear.