Unilateral high-riding vertebral artery is associated with asymmetric morphological changes of the atlantoaxial joint: a novel risk factor for atlantoaxial osteoarthritis.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the association between unilateral high-riding vertebral artery (HRVA) and morphological changes in the atlantoaxial joint (AAJ) and to determine whether unilateral HRVA is a risk factor for atlantoaxial osteoarthritis (AAOA).

Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 2496 patients admitted to our medical center between January 2020 and December 2022 who underwent CT imaging of the cervical spine. Two hundred and seventy-two patients with unilateral HRVA (HRVA group) were identified and a respective 2:1 age- and sex-matched control group without HRVA was built.

The association between unilateral high-riding vertebral artery and atlantoaxial joint morphology: a multi-slice spiral computed tomography study of 396 patients and a finite element analysis.

Background Context: A high-riding vertebral artery (HRVA) can deviate too medially, too posteriorly, or too superiorly to allow the safe insertion of screws. However, it is unknown whether the presence of a HRVA is associated with morphological changes of the atlantoaxial joint.

Purpose: To investigate the association between HRVA and atlantoaxial joint morphology in patients with and without HRVA.

Low-Intensity Focused Ultrasound Alleviates Chronic Neuropathic Pain-Induced Allodynia by Inhibiting Neuroplasticity in the Anterior Cingulate Cortex.

Low-intensity focused ultrasound (LIFU) is a potential noninvasive method to alleviate allodynia by modulating the central nervous system. However, the underlying analgesic mechanisms remain unexplored. Here, we assessed how LIFU at the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) affects behavior response and central plasticity resulting from chronic constrictive injury (CCI).

Low-Intensity Focused Ultrasound Alleviates Spasticity and Increases Expression of the Neuronal K-Cl Cotransporter in the L4-L5 Sections of Rats Following Spinal Cord Injury.

Low-intensity focused ultrasound (LIFU) has been shown to provide effective activation of the spinal cord neurocircuits. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of LIFU in order to alleviate spasticity following spinal cord injury (SCI) by activating the spinal neurocircuits and increasing the expression of the neuronal K-Cl cotransporter KCC. Adult male Sprague Dawley (SD) rats (220-300 g) were randomly divided into a sham control group, a LIFU group, and a LIFU group.

Effects of Noninvasive Low-Intensity Focus Ultrasound Neuromodulation on Spinal Cord Neurocircuits In Vivo.

Although neurocircuits can be activated by focused ultrasound stimulation, it is unclear whether this is also true for spinal cord neurocircuits. In this study, we used low-intensity focused ultrasound (LIFU) to stimulate lumbar 4-lumbar 5 (L4-L5) segments of the spinal cord of normal Sprague Dawley rats with a clapper. The activation of the spinal cord neurocircuits enhanced soleus muscle contraction as measured by electromyography (EMG).

Classification of unilateral cervical locked facet with or without lateral mass-facet fractures and a retrospective observational study of 55 cases.

This study describes a morphology-based unilateral cervical facet interlocking classification in an attempt to clarify the injury mechanism, instability, neurological deficits, radiological features, and determine optimum management strategies for these injuries. A total of 55 patients with unilateral cervical locked facet (UCLF) involving C3 to C7 were identified between January 1, 2012 and December 1, 2019. The injuries were classified into three types, and they were further divided into six subtypes using three-dimensional computed tomography.

LIFU Alleviates Neuropathic Pain by Improving the KCC Expression and Inhibiting the CaMKIV-KCC Pathway in the L4-L5 Section of the Spinal Cord.

Effective treatment remains lacking for neuropathic pain (NP), a type of intractable pain. Low-intensity focused ultrasound (LIFU), a noninvasive, cutting-edge neuromodulation technique, can effectively enhance inhibition of the central nervous system (CNS) and reduce neuronal excitability. We investigated the effect of LIFU on NP and on the expression of potassium chloride cotransporter 2 (KCC) in the spinal cords of rats with peripheral nerve injury (PNI) in the lumbar 4-lumbar 5 (L4-L5) section.

A novel method for measurement of the occipital-cervical distance via the occiput-C4 distance.

Background: The aim of the present study was to describe and measure the occipital-cervical distance by a novel method utilizing the occiput-C4 distance (OC4D) in normal subjects, as a proposed tool to guide restoration of vertical dislocations of the occipitocervical region in patients with basilar invaginations and for performing standardized testing of occipitocervical constructs.

Methods: We analyzed neutral, flexion, and extension lateral cervical spine radiographs of 150 asymptomatic subjects (73 males and 77 females) that were judged to be normal. The mean age of the included asymptomatic subjects was 48.

Is it Suitable to Fix the Occipito-C2 Angle and the Posterior Occipitocervical Angle in a Normal Range During Occipitocervical Fusion?

Study Design: This is a retrospective study.

Objectives: The objective of this study was (1) to measure the occipito-C2 angle (OC2A) and the posterior occipitocervical angle (POCA) in a normal population, and (2) to observe the effects of OC2A and POCA selection on postoperative clinical efficacy and lower cervical curvature after occipitocervical fusion (OCF) in patients with basilar invagination (BI) and atlantoaxial fracture and dislocation (AAFD).

Summary Of Background Data: OC2A has received special attention with respect to the clinical efficacy during OCF.

Importance of the Occipitoaxial Angle and Posterior Occipitocervical Angle in Occipitocervical Fusion.

Objective: To observe the effects of occipitoaxial angle (O-C2 angle, OC2A) and posterior occipitocervical angle (POCA) selection on postoperative clinical efficacy and lower cervical curvature in patients with acute acquired atlantoaxial dislocation after occipitocervical fusion (OCF).

Methods: A total of 150 healthy subjects without cervical disease (healthy group) were randomly selected based on gender and age. Three spine surgeons measured the OC2A and POCA of the healthy group and averaged the values.

Nocardial spinal epidural abscess with lumbar disc herniation: A case report and review of literature.

Rationale: Nocardial spinal epidural abscess is rare. The diagnosis is often difficult to make and, if delayed, poses a high risk of long-term disability. Nocardial spinal epidural abscess with severe lumbar disc herniation has not previously been reported.

The use of intraoperative traction for achieving reduction of irreducible atlantoaxial dislocation caused by different craniovertebral junction pathologies.

Objective: To investigate the usefulness of intraoperative traction in the selection of the surgical procedure for irreducible atlantoaxial dislocation (IAAD) caused by different craniovertebral junction (CVJ) pathologies.

Patients And Methods: Forty-three patients who were diagnosed with IAAD and who underwent surgery between January 2008 and May 2017 in our hospital were included in the study. All of the patients received skull traction under general anesthesia.

Revision surgery after rod breakage in a patient with occipitocervical fusion: A case report.

Rationale: Rod breakage after occipitocervical fusion (OCF) has never been described in a patient who has undergone surgery for basilar invagination (BI) and atlantoaxial dislocation (AAD). Here, we present an unusual but significant case of revision surgery to correct this complication.

Patient Concerns: A 32-year-old female presented with neck pain, unstable leg motion in walking, and also BI with AAD.