Biomechanical investigation of long spinal fusion models using three-dimensional finite element analysis.

Background: This study represents the first finite element (FE) analysis of long-instrumented spinal fusion from the thoracic vertebrae to the pelvis in the context of adult spinal deformity (ASD) with osteoporosis. We aimed to evaluate the von Mises stress in long spinal instrumentation for models that differ in terms of spinal balance, fusion length, and implant type.

Methods: In this three-dimensional FE analysis, FE models were developed based on computed tomography images from a patient with osteoporosis.

Tumor-Specific Immunoenhancing Effects after Local Cryoablation for Metastatic Bone Tumor in a Mouse Model.

We investigated the abscopal effect after cryoablation (CA) on bone metastasis using a mouse model. Breast cancer cells were implanted in the bilateral tibiae of mice. The left tumor was treated locally with CA, and the right abscopal tumor (AT) was left untreated.

Simultaneous-onset infectious spondylitis with vertebral fracture mimicking an acute osteoporotic vertebral fracture erroneously treated with balloon kyphoplasty: illustrative case.

Background: Early balloon kyphoplasty (BKP) intervention for acute osteoporotic vertebral fracture (OVF) has been reported to be more effective than the conservative treatment. However, complications of early BKP intervention are still unknown.

Observations: A 71-year-old patient with OVF of L2 underwent BKP 2 weeks after symptom onset.

Prevalence and Risk Factors for the Development of Venous Thromboembolism After Spinal Tumor Surgery.

Objective: Venous thromboembolism (VTE), including deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE), is a deleterious complication that can be fatal. However, the prevalence and underlying risk factors for VTE after spinal tumor surgery remain poorly defined.

Methods: Ninety-six patients undergoing spinal tumor surgery with postoperative screening for DVT and PTE were reviewed.

Revision balloon kyphoplasty and vertebra-pediculoplasty using cannulated screws for osteoporotic vertebral fractures with cement dislodgement following conventional balloon kyphoplasty.

We report the usefulness of revision balloon kyphoplasty (re-BKP) and vertebra-pediculoplasty using cannulated screws (VPCS) for osteoporotic vertebral fractures (OVF) following cement dislodgement of conventional BKP. Between 2015 and 2020, three patients with OVF developed symptomatic cement dislodgement following BKP and underwent re-BKP. All three patients showed a loose cemented mass and spinal instability.

Effects of Radiation on the Bone Strength of Spinal Vertebrae in Rats.

Study Design: A controlled laboratory study.

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine bone damage caused by irradiation to spinal vertebrae in rats.

Summary Of Background Data: Radiotherapy is widely used in the treatment of malignant spine tumors.

Validation and comparison of trunk muscle activities in male participants during exercise using an innovative device and abdominal bracing maneuvers.

Background: Abdominal bracing is effective in strengthening the trunk muscles; however, assessing performance can be challenging. We created a device for performing abdominal trunk muscle exercises. The effectiveness of this device has not yet been evaluated or comparedOBJECTIVE: We aimed to quantify muscle activity levels during exercise using our innovative device and to compare them with muscle activation during abdominal bracing maneuvers.

Vertebra-Pediculoplasty: A New Approach to Treatment of Split-Type and Delayed-Union Osteoporotic Vertebral Fracture with a Risk of Cement Dislodgement.

Background: The clinical outcomes of balloon kyphoplasty (BKP) for split-type osteoporotic vertebral fractures (OVF) are poor. These may be owing to the vertebral body bifurcating anteriorly and posteriorly when a load is applied and the filled cement being unstable. We report the usefulness of BKP combined with pediculoplasty using cannulated screws (vertebra-pediculoplasty) for OVF with a risk of cement dislodgement.

Abscopal Effect of Frozen Autograft Reconstruction Combined with an Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Analyzed Using a Metastatic Bone Tumor Model.

We evaluated the abscopal effect of re-implantation of liquid nitrogen-treated tumor-bearing bone grafts and the synergistic effect of anti-PD-1 (programmed death-1) therapy using a bone metastasis model, created by injecting MMT-060562 cells into the bilateral tibiae of 6-8-week-old female C3H mice. After 2 weeks, the lateral tumors were treated by excision, cryotreatment using liquid nitrogen, excision with anti-PD-1 treatment, and cryotreatment with anti-PD-1 treatment. Anti-mouse PD-1 4H2 was injected on days 1, 6, 12, and 18 post-treatment.

Efficacy of abdominal trunk muscles-strengthening exercise using an innovative device in treating chronic low back pain: a controlled clinical trial.

Exercise is the most common conservative intervention for chronic low back pain (CLBP). We have developed an innovative exercise device for the abdominal trunk muscles that also measures muscle strength in a sitting position. The device, which is easy for patients with CLBP to use, allows for lumbar stabilization exercise under pressure.

Revision surgery for instrumentation failure after total en bloc spondylectomy: a retrospective case series.

Background: There have been several reports of instrumentation failure after three-column resections such as total en bloc spondylectomy (TES) for spinal tumors; however, clinical outcomes of revision surgery for instrumentation failure after TES are seldom reported. Therefore, this study assessed the clinical outcomes of revision surgery for instrumentation failure after TES.

Methods: This study employed a retrospective case series in a single center and included 61 patients with spinal tumors who underwent TES between 2010 and 2015 and were followed up for > 2 years.

Radiation Disrupts the Protective Function of the Spinal Meninges in a Mouse Model of Tumor-induced Spinal Cord Compression.

Background: Recent advances in multidisciplinary treatments for various cancers have extended the survival period of patients with spinal metastases. Radiotherapy has been widely used to treat spinal metastases; nevertheless, long-term survivors sometimes undergo more surgical intervention after radiotherapy because of local tumor relapse. Generally, intradural invasion of a spinal tumor seldom occurs because the dura mater serves as a tissue barrier against tumor infiltration.

Improvement of locomotive syndrome with surgical treatment in patients with degenerative diseases in the lumbar spine and lower extremities: a prospective cohort study.

Background: The epidemiology, risk factors, and prevention of locomotive syndrome (LS) have been reported. However, the number of clinical studies about the efficacy of LS treatment, including surgery, has been limited. This study aimed to evaluate LS and its improvement in patients undergoing surgeries for degenerative disease of the lumbar spine and lower extremities, and to discuss the effects of surgery on LS and the issues of LS assessment in these patients.

Long-Term Outcomes of Excision Surgery for Aggressive Vertebral Hemangiomas.

Objective: We describe the clinical outcomes in patients with aggressive vertebral hemangiomas (AVHs) after total tumor excision and discuss the treatment options for AVHs.

Methods: A retrospective data review of 15 patients (6 men, 9 women) with AVHs who underwent total excision between 1996 and 2018 was performed.

Results: In total, 13 thoracic and 2 lumbar lesions were involved with 8 type A-D tumors and 7 type B-D tumors based on the Weinstein-Boriani-Biagini classification.

Efficacy and Safety of Abdominal Trunk Muscle Strengthening Using an Innovative Device in Elderly Patients With Chronic Low Back Pain: A Pilot Study.

Objective: To examine the efficacy and safety of an innovative, device-driven abdominal trunk muscle strengthening program, with the ability to measure muscle strength, to treat chronic low back pain (LBP) in elderly participants.

Methods: Seven women with non-specific chronic LBP, lasting at least 3 months, were enrolled and treated with the prescribed exercise regimen. Patients participated in a 12-week device-driven exercise program which included abdominal trunk muscle strengthening and 4 types of stretches for the trunk and lower extremities.

Clinical outcomes and survivals after total en bloc spondylectomy for metastatic leiomyosarcoma in the spine.

Purpose: Leiomyosarcoma (LMS) is generally resistant to radiation and chemotherapy. Our study aimed to examine the outcomes of total en bloc spondylectomy (TES) for spinal metastatic LMS and to analyze potential factors associated with survival.

Methods: This study included 10 consecutive patients who underwent TES for spinal metastatic LMS at our institute between 2005 and 2016 and were followed up at a minimum of 3 years after surgery.

The efficacy of surgical treatment on locomotive syndrome and physical function in patients with lumbar spinal canal stenosis.

Background: Locomotive syndrome is a condition of reduced mobility due to problems with locomotive organs. Although lumbar spinal canal stenosis is one of the major diseases constituting locomotive syndrome, only few studies have focused on the association between the two pathologies. We aimed to investigate the effect of surgery on lumbar spinal canal stenosis with respect to locomotive syndrome using various physical function tests, including locomotive syndrome risk tests, before and after surgery.

Perioperative Complications and Prognosis of Curative Surgical Resection for Spinal Metastases in Elderly Patients.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate perioperative complications and prognosis associated with curative surgical resection, such as total en bloc spondylectomy, for spinal metastases in elderly patients.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 103 consecutive patients who underwent curative surgery between 2010 and 2017 and divided them into group 1 (n = 27, age <50 years), group 2 (n = 47, age ≥50 and <65 years), and group 3 (n = 29, age ≥65 years). Perioperative complication rate and overall survival (OS) after surgery was evaluated.

More Than 10-year Follow-up After Laminoplasty and Pedicle Screw Fixation for Cervical Myelopathy Associated With Athetoid Cerebral Palsy.

Study Design: Retrospective case series.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical outcomes >10 years following laminoplasty and pedicle screw fixation for cervical myelopathy associated with athetoid cerebral palsy (CP).

Summary Of Background Data: Surgery for cervical myelopathy associated with CP remains a challenge because of perioperative instrumentation failure and adjacent segment problems due to patients' repetitive involuntary neck movements with deformity of the cervical spine.

Spontaneous Incidence of Vertebral Body Infection Following Osteoporotic Vertebral Fracture: A Case Series Study and Review of Literature.

Study Design: Retrospective case series.

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the spontaneous incidence rate and features of pyogenic vertebral osteomyelitis in osteoporotic vertebral fracture (OVF).

Summary Of Background Data: Pyogenic vertebral osteomyelitis is a rare complication of OVF.

Correlation between osteoporotic vertebral fracture and abdominal trunk muscle strength in middle-aged and older women.

Unlabelled: We investigated the correlation between abdominal trunk muscle strength and spinal deformities in middle-aged and older women. The results indicated that abdominal trunk muscle weakness, older age, and low lumbar bone mineral density were significant risk factors associated with the presence of OVFs in the lower thoracic and lumbar spine.

Purpose: We developed an innovative exercise device for the abdominal trunk muscles that also measures muscle strength.

Reliability of the muscle strength measurement and effects of the strengthening by an innovative exercise device for the abdominal trunk muscles.

Objective: We developed an innovative exercise device for the abdominal trunk muscles (ATMs) that has a built-in system to measure muscle strength. We aimed to examine the reliability of the strength measurement as well as the effect of strengthening using the device.

Methods: Twenty healthy adults participated in a reliability study of the muscle strength measurement.

Abdominal trunk muscle weakness and its association with chronic low back pain and risk of falling in older women.

Background: Previous studies have indicated that trunk muscle strength decreases with chronic low back pain, and is associated with poor balance, poor functional performance, and falls in older adults. Strengthening exercises for chronic low back pain are considered the most effective intervention to improve functional outcomes. We developed an innovative exercise device for abdominal trunk muscles that also measures muscle strength.