Spinal Intradural Intramedullary Mature Cystic Teratoma in a Young Adult: A Rare Tumor.

Intradural mature teratomas are spinal tumors containing all the germinal layers and rarely present in adulthood. This study describes an unusual case of intradural mature teratoma in a 19-year-old male who presented with persistent lower limb pain and difficulty in micturition. The magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan showed heterogeneously enhancing intramedullary mass in the L3-L4 vertebral region and was associated with tethering of the spinal cord.

[The analysis of prognostic factors in patients with thoracic ossification of the ligamentum flavum and thoracic ossification of posterior longitudinal ligament by posterior decompression].

Objective: To investigate the prognostic factors for patients with thoracic ossification of the ligamentum flavum (OLF) and thoracic ossification of posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL).

Methods: Clinical information of 83 patients suffering from thoracic OLF and OPLL was reviewed retrospectively from January 2006 to June 2010. The related factors such as gender, age, preoperative and postoperative Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) score, pathological segment, type of thoracic OPLL, degree of thoracic kyphosis, anteroposterior diameter of OPLL, range of circumferential decompression, cerebrospinal fluid leakage or not and dysfunction or not and carotid lumbar disorders or not were analyzed by Chi-square and Logistic regression.

[Research progress of bone morphogenetic protein and liability of ossification of posterior longitudinal ligament].

Objective: To review the research progress of bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) and the liability of ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL).

Methods: Recent literature concerning BMP and the liability of OPLL was reviewed, analysed, and summarized.

Results: The single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of BMP gene may produce a minor cumulative effect and increase individual susceptibility to OPLL.

[Comparison of effectiveness between laminoplasty and laminectomy decompression and fusion with internal fixation for cervical spondylotic myelopathy].

Objective: To compare the clinical and radiographic outcomes between laminoplasty and laminectomy compression and fusion with internal fixation to treat cervical spondylotic myelopathy.

Methods: Between September 2006 and September 2009, 143 cases of multilevel cervical myelopathy (the affected segments were more than 3) were treated by laminoplasty in 87 cases (group A) and by laminectomy decompression and fusion with lateral mass screw fixation in 56 cases (group B). There was no significant difference in gender, age, disease duration, pathological type, and affected segments between 2 groups (P > 0.