The Effect of an Educational and Interactive Informed Consent Process on Patients With Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy Caused by Ossification of the Posterior Longitudinal Ligament.

Study Design: Prospective observational cohort study.

Objective: In this study, an educational and interactive informed consent (EIC) program was proposed for patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy caused by ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL-CSM) to improve their comprehension level during the informed consent process.

Summary Of Background Data: OPLL-CSM is a slow progressive disease, and it is difficult for patients to understand the disease.

Risk factors for cage migration and cage retropulsion following transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion.

Background Context: Transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) is a widely accepted surgical procedure, but cage migration (CM) and cage retropulsion (CR) are associated with poor outcomes.

Purpose: This study seeks to identify risk factors associated with these serious events.

Study Design: A prospective observational longitudinal study.

Safe Margin beyond Dens Tips to Ventral Dura in Anterior Odontoid Screw Fixation : Analysis of Three-Dimensional Computed Tomography Scan of Odontoid Process.

Objective: Anterior odontoid screw fixation is a safe and effective method for the treatment of odontoid fractures. The surgical technique is recommended for perforation of the apical cortex of the dens by the lag screw. However, overpenetration of the apical cortex may lead to potentially serious complications such as damages of adjacent vascular and neural structures.

Analysis of Computed Tomography Scan After Anterior Odontoid Screw Fixation with the Herbert Screw: Is It Effective to Reduce Fracture Gap?

Objective: To assess computed tomography scans to evaluate the extent of reduction of fracture displacement and fracture gap after anterior odontoid screw fixation using the Herbert screw.

Methods: Thirty-seven odontoid fractures were reduced and treated by anterior odontoid screw fixation with the Herbert screw. There were 37 patients whose age ranged from 20 to 79 years.

Effect of a bisphosphonate and selective estrogen receptor modulator on bone remodeling in streptozotocin-induced diabetes and ovariectomized rat model.

Background Context: Diabetes and menopause can cause severe osteoporosis. In general, menopause and diabetes can lead to an imbalance in bone turnover, which results in secondary osteoporosis. However, the efficacy of antiresorptive drugs against this form of osteoporosis has not been extensively evaluated.

Cold Allodynia after C2 Root Resection in Sprague-Dawley Rats.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate pain-related behaviors after bilateral C2 root resection and change in pain patterns in the suboccipital region in rats.

Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to three groups (n=25/group); näive, sham, and C2 resection. Three, 7, 10, and 14 days after surgery, cold allodynia was assessed using 20 μL of 99.

Recurrent esophageal perforation after anterior cervical spine surgery: case report.

Purpose: Delayed esophageal perforation after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) is an extremely rare cause of infection such as spondylodiscitis. We present a rare case in which a patient had two delayed esophageal perforations occurring 20 and 25 years after ACDF. By sharing our experience of this rare case, we hope to provide new information related to delayed esophageal perforation.

Relationships between vitamin D and paraspinal muscle: human data and experimental rat model analysis.

Background Context: Vitamin D deficiency (VDD) has been closely linked with skeletal muscle atrophy in many studies, but to date no study has focused on the paraspinal muscle.

Purpose: To verify paraspinal muscle changes according to serum vitamin D level.

Study Design: A cross-sectional study of patients who visited our hospital and an in vivo animal study.

Curcumin Increase the Expression of Neural Stem/Progenitor Cells and Improves Functional Recovery after Spinal Cord Injury.

Objective: To investigates the effect of curcumin on proliferation of spinal cord neural stem/progenitor cells (SC-NSPCs) and functional outcome in a rat spinal cord injury (SCI) model.

Methods: Sixty adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly and blindly allocated into three groups (sham control group; curcumin treated group after SCI; vehicle treated group after SCI). Functional recovery was evaluated by the Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan (BBB) scale during 6 weeks after SCI.

Biomechanical Comparison of Inter-fragmentary Compression Pressures: Lag Screw versus Herbert Screw for Anterior Odontoid Screw Fixation.

Objective: The purpose of the present study was to compare inter-fragmentary compression pressures after fixation of a simulated type II odontoid fracture with the headless compression Herbert screw and a half threaded cannulated lag screw.

Methods: We compared inter-fragmentary compression pressures between 40- and 45-mm long 4.5-mm Herbert screws (n=8 and n=9, respectively) and 40- and 45-mm long 4.

Myelopathy associated with instability consequent to resection of ossification of anterior longitudinal ligament in DISH.

Purpose: The presence of prominent OALL (ossification of anterior longitudinal ligament) in the anterior cervical spine has been implicated as a cause of dysphagia. Surgical resection of the OALL is considered effective for the management of diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH)-related dysphagia. Although many reports have been published on DISH-related dysphagia, no cases of postoperative cervical instability have been reported thus far.

The Therapeutic Effects of Combination Therapy with Curcumin and Alendronate on Spine Fusion Surgery in the Ovariectomized Rats.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic effects of combination therapy with curcumin and alendronate on spine fusion surgery in ovariectomized rats.

Methods: Thirty-two female Sprague-Dawley rats (12 weeks old) underwent bilateral ovariectomy (OVX). Eight weeks after surgery, animals underwent intertransverse spine fusion at L4-5.

Comparative Analysis between Total Disc Replacement and Posterior Foraminotomy for Posterolateral Soft Disc Herniation with Unilateral Radiculopathy : Clinical and Biomechanical Results of a Minimum 5 Years Follow-up.

Objective: To compare the clinical outcomes and biomechanical effects of total disc replacement (TDR) and posterior cervical foraminotomy (PCF) and to propose relative inclusion criteria.

Methods: Thirty-five patients who underwent surgery between 2006 and 2008 were included. All patients had single-level disease and only radiculopathy.

Changes in HbA levels and body mass index after successful decompression surgery in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and lumbar spinal stenosis: results of a 2-year follow-up study.

Background Context: Lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) can hinder a patient's physical activity, which in turn can impair glucose tolerance and body weight regulation in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM-2). Therefore, successful lumbar surgery could facilitate glycemic control and body weight regulation.

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of postoperative improvement in physical activity on body mass index (BMI) and hemoglobin A (HbA) level in patients with LSS and DM-2 over a 2-year follow-up period.

Repair of Inaccessible Ventral Dural Defect in Thoracic Spine: Double Layered Duraplasty.

We propose a double layered (intradural and epidural patch) duraplasty that utilizes Lyoplant and Duraseal. We examined a 47-year-old woman after decompression for thoracic ossification of posterior longitudinal ligament was performed in another hospital. On postoperative day 7, she complained of weakness in both legs.

Long-term recurrence rates after the removal of spinal meningiomas in relation to Simpson grades.

Purpose: Simpson grade II removal (coagulation of the dural attachment after gross total removal) of spinal meningioma is considered an acceptable alternative, but increased recurrence after more than 10 years has been reported. More attention must be paid to the long-term surgical outcomes after Simpson grade II removal.

Methods: A retrospective review was performed for 20 patients (M:F = 5:15; age, 59 ± 9 years) with Simpson grade II removal (mean follow-up period, 12.

Minimally invasive cervical foraminotomy and diskectomy for laterally located soft disk herniation.

Purpose: The posterior cervical foraminotomy and diskectomy (PCD) is a traditional surgical technique for patients with laterally located soft-disk herniation. Recently, tubular retractor-assisted posterior foraminotomy and diskectomy (MTPF) and posterior percutaneous endoscopic cervical foraminotomy and diskectomy (P-PECD) have been introduced, but a comparative study has not yet been performed.

Methods: Patients with foraminal soft-disk herniation and a follow-up period of >2 years were retrospectively reviewed; 22 patients underwent a MTPF and 22 patients underwent a P-PECD.

Misunderstanding of foot drop in a patient with charcot-marie-tooth disease and lumbar disk herniation.

We report the case of 57-year-old woman diagnosed with Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease and lumbar disk herniation (LDH). She had left leg weakness and foot numbness, foot deformity (muscle atrophy, high arch, and clawed toes). The lumbar spine MRI showed LDH at L4-5.

Risk factors and incidence for peripheral arterial disease in patients with typical lumbar spinal stenosis.

Objective: Intermittent claudication (IC) is a typical symptom of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS). In order to prevent misdiagnosis of vascular disease, it is important to know the incidence of and risk factors for PAD in patients with LSS. Therefore, the aim of our study was to evaluate the incidence of and risk factors for PAD in patients with typical and severe LSS who underwent spinal surgical treatment.

Curcumin Stimulates Proliferation of Spinal Cord Neural Progenitor Cells via a Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Signaling Pathway.

Objective: The aims of our study are to evaluate the effect of curcumin on spinal cord neural progenitor cell (SC-NPC) proliferation and to clarify the mechanisms of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase signaling pathways in SC-NPCs.

Methods: We established cultures of SC-NPCs, extracted from the spinal cord of Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 250 g to 350 g. We measured proliferation rates of SC-NPCs after curcumin treatment at different dosage.

Preoperative Risk Factors for Recurrent Lumbar Disk Herniation in L5-S1.

Background Context: Although numerous studies have reported on recurrent lumbar disk herniation (rLDH), few have reported on recurrence of L5-S1 level.

Purpose: We investigated whether the preoperative risk factors, such as disk degeneration, disk height, sagittal range of motion (sROM), width of L5 vertebral transverse process, and iliac crest height, have any effect on rLDH in L5-S1.

Study Design: A retrospective case control study.

Therapeutic advantages of treatment of high-dose curcumin in the ovariectomized rat.

Objective: Although curcumin has a protective effect on bone remodeling, appropriate therapeutic concentrations of curcumin are not well known as therapeutic drugs for osteoporosis. The purpose of this study was to compare the bone sparing effect of treatment of low-dose and high-dose curcumin after ovariectomy in rats.

Methods: Forty female Sprague-Dawley rats underwent either a sham operation (the sham group) or bilateral ovariectomy (OVX).

The neuroprotective effect of treatment with curcumin in acute spinal cord injury: laboratory investigation.

The purpose of this study was investigating the effects of curcumin on the histological changes and functional recovery following spinal cord injury (SCI) in a rat model. Following either sham operation or SCI, 36 male Sprague-Dawley rats were distributed into three groups: sham group, curcumin-treated group, and vehicle-injected group. Locomotor function was assessed according to the Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan (BBB) scale in rats who had received daily intraperitoneal injections of 200 mg/kg curcumin or an equivalent volume of vehicle for 7 days following SCI.

Surgical Tips to Preserve the Facet Joint during Microdiscectomy.

Lumbar microdiscectomy (MD) is the gold standard for treatment of lumbar disc herniation. Generally, the surgeon attempts to protect the facet joint in hopes of avoiding postoperative pain/instability and secondary degenerative arthropathy. We believe that preserving the facet joint is especially important in young patients, owing to their life expectancy and activity.