False-Positive and False-Negative Results of Motor Evoked Potential Monitoring During Surgery for Intramedullary Spinal Cord Tumors.

Background: Motor evoked potential (MEP) recording is used as a method to monitor integrity of the motor system during surgery for intramedullary tumors (IMTs). Reliable sensitivity of the monitoring in predicting functional deterioration has been reported. However, we observed false positives and false negatives in our experience of 250 surgeries of IMTs.

Intramedullary and retroperitoneal melanocytic tumor associated with congenital blue nevus and nevus flammeus: an uncommon combination of neurocutaneous melanosis and phacomatosis pigmentovascularis--case report.

Neurocutaneous melanosis (NCM) is a rare condition characterized by central nervous system melanocytic tumors associated with congenital melanocytic nevi. Phacomatosis pigmentovascularis (PPV) is an association of vascular nevus with pigmentary nevus. Aberrant maturation of neural crest-derived cells is considered to be related to pathogenesis in both conditions.

Bone temperature elevation by drilling friction and neurological outcome in the cervical spino-laminoplasty.

Background: Drill-induced heat has been suspected as a cause of tissue injury, and there are ample experimental data to substantiate the implication. However, no clinical results have been presented with measurement of temperature in the vicinity of neural structures during the actual spinal procedures.

Methods: Using a thermocouple, temperature in the gutters drilled in the midline and the lateral margins of the lamina was monitored closely in 61 patients, who underwent the French-door style of cervical spino-laminoplasty.

Myoarchitectonic spinolaminoplasty: efficacy in reconstituting the cervical musculature and preserving biomechanical function.

Object: Laminoplasty has been used to expand the cervical spinal canal, based on the belief that reconstruction of the laminae preserves musculoskeletal function. The true efficacy of laminoplasty for maintaining spinal alignment, stability, and flexibility, however, remains to be proven. The authors have developed a new method, myoarchitectonic spinolaminoplasty (MSLP), which preserves all of the nuchal muscles and reconstitutes all of the musculoskeletal couplings to the posterior elements of the vertebrae.

Delayed myelopathy induced by chronic compression in the rat spinal cord.

Cervical myelopathy is a common cause of neurological disability among the elderly; however, the exact mechanism for the insidious and progressive deterioration remains to be elucidated. To study the pathophysiology, we developed a simple experimental model reproducing the course. In rats, a thin sheet of expanding polymer was implanted microsurgically underneath the C5-C6 laminae.

Dural arteriovenous fistula and progressive conus medullaris syndrome as complications of lumbar discectomy. Case report.

A case of a dural arteriovenous fistula (DAVF) that developed at the site of nerve root sleeve damage as a result of lumbar disc extrusion is reported. A 60-year-old man who had undergone lumbar discectomy 3 years previously for severe left-sided sciatica and L5-S1 disc herniation presented with progressive gait disturbance. After the initial surgery, the symptoms resolved.