Recurrent lumbar-origin osteoblastoma treated with multiple surgery and carbon ion radiotherapy: a case report.

Background: Although osteoblastoma is an uncommon benign bone tumor, it sometimes behaves in a locally aggressive fashion. We herein report a case of recurrent lumbar spine osteoblastoma that was treated by repeated surgery and carbon ion radiotherapy.

Case Presentation: A 13-year-old Japanese girl presented with left side lumbar pain.

A Retrospective Analysis of Subaxial Subluxation After Atlanto-axial Arthrodesis in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis Based on Annual Radiographs Obtained for 5 Years.

Study Design: Retrospective study.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the incidence of subaxial subluxation (SAS) after atlanto-axial arthrodesis in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients using annual radiographs obtained for 5 years and clarify the characteristics of SAS after surgery.

Summary Of Background Data: Rheumatoid SAS has been reported to occur after atlanto-axial arthrodesis.

Retrospective review of 22 surgically treated adults with congenital anomalies of the upper cervical spine: a clinical and radiological review.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to clarify the characteristics of adult cases with instability due to upper cervical spine anomalies who needed fusion surgery regarding the clinical and radiological findings.

Methods: Twenty-two consecutive patients with instability due to upper cervical spine anomaly in adult cases were reviewed. The congenital anomalies included idiopathic atlanto-axial subluxation in nine cases, os odontoideum in seven cases, occipitalization of the atlas in four cases, atlanto-occipital subluxation in one case and AAS with another anomaly in one case.

A cadaveric study of the cervical nerve roots and spinal segments.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to anatomically measure the width of the cervical nerve root and spinal cord segment in addition to clarifying the anatomical characteristics of the cervical nerve root.

Methods: We assessed 132 cervical nerve roots obtained from 11 cadavers. A total of 11 cervical spines from C3 to C8 were directly evaluated using digital calipers.

Prognostic factors for cervical spondylotic amyotrophy: are signs of spinal cord involvement associated with the neurological prognosis?

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to clarify the prognostic factors for cervical spondylotic amyotrophy (CSA).

Methods: The authors retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 47 consecutive patients with CSA in whom the presence/absence of the pyramidal tract sign was noted. We analyzed whether the age, sex, presence of diabetes mellitus, medication (vitamin B12), type of the most atrophic and impaired muscle, the muscle strength at the presentation, the presence of the pyramidal tract sign, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings, including the presence and number of T2 high signal intensity areas (T2 HIA) in the spinal cord and the conversion to surgery were associated with the recovery of muscle strength in the patients.

The relationship between an intramedullary high signal intensity and the clinical outcome in atlanto-axial subluxation owing to rheumatoid arthritis.

Background Context: In patients affected by cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM), numerous authors have reported the existence of a relationship among the intramedullary high signal intensity in T2-weighted MRIs, preoperative neurologic severity, and neurologic recovery after surgery; however, to our knowledge, there have been no previous reports that have described its relationship in patients with atlanto-axial subluxation (AAS) owing to rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to clarify the characteristics of patients with AAS owing to RA showing intramedullary high signal intensity in T2-weighted MRIs, and to assess the relationship with the neurologic severity and neurologic recovery after surgery.

Study Design: This was a retrospective cohort study.

Wrist drop and muscle weakness of the fingers induced by an upper cervical spine anomaly.

Purpose: This report presents a case of wrist drop and muscle weakness of the fingers as a false localizing sign induced by stenosis of the upper cervical spine caused by a bony anomaly.

Methods: A 77-year-old male complained of severe muscle weakness of the right hand. Cervical spine MRI showed a severe and sharp compression of the spinal cord from the dorsal side between C2 and C3 with intramedullary intensity changes and mild stenosis at C3/4 and C4/5.

An analysis of the anatomic features of the cervical spine using computed tomography to select safer screw insertion techniques.

Purpose: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the anatomic features of the cervical spine using computed tomography (CT) to select safer screw insertion techniques, particularly emphasizing the location of the transverse foramen.

Methods: Fifty patients who underwent multiplanar CT reconstruction were evaluated. There were 34 males and 16 females with an average age of 67 years.

Effect of a reduction of the atlanto-axial angle on the cranio-cervical and subaxial angles following atlanto-axial arthrodesis in rheumatoid arthritis.

Purpose: We retrospectively investigated the radiographic findings in patients with atlanto-axial subluxation (AAS) due to rheumatoid arthritis, and clarified the effect of reduction of the atlanto-axial angle (AAA) on the cranio-cervical and subaxial angles.

Methods: Forty-one patients, consisting of 29 females and 12 males, with AAS treated by surgery were reviewed. The average patient age at surgery was 61.

Associations between neck and shoulder pain (called katakori in Japanese) and sagittal spinal alignment parameters among the general population.

Background: Neck and shoulder pain (NSP), called katakori in Japanese, is one of the most common medical symptoms in the Japanese population; however, the pathogenesis of NSP has not yet been adequately elucidated. The purpose of this study was to investigate the associations between NSP and sagittal spinal alignment among the general population in Japan.

Materials And Methods: Medical examinations were conducted in the northeast village of Gunma, Japan.

Characteristics of idiopathic atlanto-axial subluxation: a comparative radiographic study in patients with an idiopathic etiology and those with rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective: Atlanto-axial subluxation (AAS) is caused by multiple conditions; however, idiopathic AAS patients without RA, upper-cervical spine anomalies or any other disorder are rarely encountered. This study retrospectively investigated the radiographic findings in idiopathic AAS patients, and clarified the differences between those AAS patients and those due to RA.

Methods: Fifty-three patients with AAS treated by transarticular screw fixation were reviewed.

Anatomy of subaxial cervical foramens: the safety zone for lateral mass screwing.

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to measure the structures of the ventral of lateral masses using cadaver specimens and to quantitatively compare the safety zone for the two major techniques used on each vertebral level from C3 to C6.

Methods: This study is based on 52 cervical vertebrae of 13 cadavers. The anatomical measurements focused on the anterior surface of the lateral mass.

Atlanto-axial subluxation after pyogenic spondylitis of the atlanto-occipital joint.

This report presents a case of atlanto-axial subluxation after treatment of pyogenic spondylitis of the atlanto-occipital joint. A 60-year-old male had 1-month history of neck pain with fever. Magnetic resonance imaging showed inflammation around the odontoid process.

Atlanto-axial joint of atlanto-axial subluxation patients due to rheumatoid arthritis before and after surgery: morphological evaluation using CT reconstruction.

This study investigated the preoperative morphology and postoperative fusion of the atlanto-axial joint (AAJ) in patients with atlanto-axial subluxation (AAS) due to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) using computed tomography (CT). Furthermore, we examined the relationship between the preoperative morphology of AAJ and other radiographic results. Thirty patients with AAS due to RA treated by C1-2 transarticular screw fixation (TSF) were reviewed.

Non-traumatic posterior atlanto-occipital joint dislocation.

This report presents a case of non-traumatic posterior atlanto-occipital dislocation. A 36-year-old female was referred with a history of numbness of the extremities, vertigo and neck pain for 1 year. The patient had no history of trauma.

Evaluation of neck pain by using a visual analog scale before and after laminoplasty in patients with cervical myelopathy: relationship with clinical results.

Object: In this study the authors investigated the neck pain of patients with cervical myelopathy by using a visual analog scale (VAS) before and after laminoplasty, and they analyzed the association of amount of neck pain with the clinical results.

Methods: A retrospective review was conducted in 41 patients with cervical myelopathy who underwent cervical laminoplasty. The patients were assessed using questionnaires to evaluate the neck pain intensity before surgery, and 2 years after surgery, the outcome was assessed using a VAS.

Diagnosis of a previously unidentified primary site in patients with spinal metastasis: diagnostic usefulness of laboratory analysis, CT scanning and CT-guided biopsy.

When the primary site is unknown in patients with spinal metastases, there can be problems in locating the site of tumor origin. Most previous reports on metastases of unknown origin have not been limited to the spine. The purpose of this study is to assess the usefulness of laboratory analysis, chest, abdominal and pelvic CT and CT-guided biopsy in patients with spinal metastases of unknown origin (SMUO).

The characteristics of bony ankylosis of the facet joint of the upper cervical spine in rheumatoid arthritis patients.

This study investigated the bony ankylosis of the upper cervical spine facet joints in patients with a cervical spine involvement due to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) using computed tomography (CT) and then examined the characteristics of the patients showing such ankylosis. Forty-six consecutive patients who underwent surgical treatment for RA involving the cervical spine were reviewed. The radiographic diagnoses included atlanto-axial subluxation in 30 cases, vertical subluxation (VS) in 10 cases, VS + subaxial subluxation in 3 cases and cervical spondylotic myelopathy in 3 cases.

Foot drop due to lumbar degenerative conditions: mechanism and prognostic factors in herniated nucleus pulposus and lumbar spinal stenosis.

Object: The aim of this study was to analyze the mechanism and prognostic factors of foot drop caused by lumbar degenerative conditions.

Methods: The authors retrospectively reviewed the charts of 28 patients with foot drop due to a herniated nucleus pulposus (HNP) or lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS), scoring between 0 and 3 on manual muscle testing for the tibialis anterior muscles. They analyzed the mechanism of foot drop and whether the duration before the operation, preoperative tibialis anterior and extensor hallucis longus strength, age, gender, and diabetes mellitus were all found to be prognostic factors for postoperative tibialis anterior recovery.

Relationship between the morphology of the atlanto-occipital joint and the radiographic results in patients with atlanto-axial subluxation due to rheumatoid arthritis.

The upper cervical spine is a common focus of destruction from rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Atlanto-axial subluxation (AAS) presents with marked frequency among patients with instability. However, there are occasional patients who show no motion between the occipital bone and atlas on a dynamic cervical radiograph in AAS patients.

Cervical malalignment after laminoplasty: relationship to deep extensor musculature of the cervical spine and neurological outcome.

Object: The goal of this study was to investigate the relationship between preservation of the insertion of the deep extensor musculature of the cervical spine at C-2 and postoperative cervical alignment, especially differences between cases involving male and female patients, as well as the relationship between the loss of cervical lordosis and neurological outcome after laminoplasty.

Methods: The authors reviewed the records of 50 patients who underwent laminoplasty to elevate the C-3 lamina with repair of the deep extensor musculature (Group A) and 31 patients who underwent laminoplasty by C-3 dome laminotomy or laminectomy (Group B). They compared the degree of cervical lordosis after laminoplasty with preoperative measurements.