In situ photocoagulation of spinal dural arteriovenous malformations using the Nd:YAG laser.

Spinal dural arteriovenous malformations (AVM's) are the most common type of AVM involving the spinal cord in adults. Direct obliteration of the fistula nidus located in the dura is the preferred method of treatment. Five cases of spinal dural AVM were treated by open surgical exposure, microsurgical disconnection of the dural nidus from the coronal venous plexus, and in situ obliteration of the nidus using the Nd:YAG laser. Use of the Nd:YAG laser reduced nidus obliteration to a simple 10-minute technical exercise. All patients improved neurologically following surgery, and complete obliteration of all lesions was verified by delayed angiography. There were no permanent complications related to either the surgical exposure or the use of the Nd:YAG laser. Open surgical treatment of spinal dural AVM's using the Nd:YAG laser appears to be a safe, effective, and durable method of treating these lesions. Photocoagulation is discussed in the context of the other treatment modalities available.     

人类免疫缺陷病毒感染/获得性免疫缺陷综合征合并脊柱疾患外科治疗与职业暴露防护策略

目的探讨人类免疫缺陷病毒感染/获得性免疫缺陷综合征(HIV/AIDS)合并脊柱外科疾患围手术期手术治疗与医务人员职业暴露及防护应对措施。 方法回顾性分析2010年1月至2016年2月首都医科大学附属北京地坛医院收治的需脊柱外科手术治疗的HIV/AIDS患者共56例,其中行颈椎手术者14例,腰椎手术者24例,胸椎手术者10例,椎间盘镜手术者8例。其中有36例脊柱手术围手术期应用数字骨科导航技术。监测入组HIV/AIDS患者行脊柱外科手术过程中医务人员发生职业暴露次数、方式、部位和暴露级别;总结暴露后应对措施及暴露后感染情况。 结果医务人员发生一级暴露者20例,二级暴露者2例,三级暴露者3例。暴露方式和部位主要以术中针刺伤、黏膜溅染为主,双手是职业暴露发生的主要部位15例(60%),其次是黏膜喷溅6例次(24%);左手发生直接暴露者11例(44%)、右手暴露者4例(16%),但差异无统计学意义(χ²= 0.68、P= 0.56);各手指部位暴露统计：食指(20%)>拇指(16%)>手掌(12%)>手背(8%)>中指(4%)。经严格按照职业暴露后预防处理原则,无1例医务人员发生HIV感染。 结论HIV/AIDS患者脊柱外科手术中职业暴露风险不容忽视,围手术期应在遵循骨科手术基本原则的前提下,利用数字骨科导航技术,实施精准定位微创小切口手术,严格执行预防职业暴露相关防护规范化流程,可有效避免医务人员发生职业暴露及暴露后感染。     

侧前方减压治疗腰椎间盘突出症

目的 讨论腰椎间盘突出症的治疗方法。方法 用侧前方减压术对11例胸椎间盘突出进行手术治疗。结果 该手术方法直接、充分显露硬膜囊和神经结构,切除突出的椎间盘和刮除骨赘,减压安全有效,同时对脊柱的稳定性和脊髓的血供影响较小,通过对11例患者观察结构为优7例,良4例。结论 侧前减压术进行胸椎间盘切除减压是治疗胸椎间盘突出症的一种安全有效的方法。     

Minimally invasive surgical closure of a spinal dural arteriovenous fistula

OBJECTIVE AND IMPORTANCE: The treatment of a spinal dural arteriovenous fistula (DAVF) via a minimally invasive approach utilizing a tubular retraction system is described. CLINICAL PROBLEM: Spinal dural arteriovenous fistulas are treated by either direct surgical obliteration or endovascular embolization to close the fistula. Surgical treatment traditionally requires a full or hemi-laminectomy with intradural exposure and obliteration of the draining vein of the fistula. TECHNIQUE: Surgical treatment is performed via a targeted, minimally invasive approach to close the draining vein of the DAVF intradurally utilizing a tubular retraction system. CONCLUSION: Surgical treatment of spinal DAVFs can be performed in a targeted, minimally invasive manner with a short operative time and minimal tissue disruption.     

经胸骨前路减压治疗颈胸段脊髓压迫症

观察经胸骨前路椎体扩大开窗减压,椎间植骨融合术治疗颈胸段脊髓压迫症的疗效。方法３例颈胸段脊髓压迫症中,２例为后纵韧带骨化,１例为胸椎骨折。手术取颈胸部联合切口,纵行劈开胸骨,显露颈胸段椎体,用切骨刀及气动球磨钻扩大开窗减压,去除椎体骨质,突出椎间盘或骨化的后纵韧带,取髂骨块行椎间植骨融合。     

Modern surgical treatment of primary aneurysmal bone cyst of the spine in children and adolescents

Aneurysmal bone cyst (ABC) is a benign but locally aggressive tumor-like condition. Treating children with spinal involvement poses special hazards due to the proximity of the lesion to the spinal cord and the need to preserve spinal stability and balance after surgery. Twelve children with ABC treated between 1990 and 2002 at a tertiary pediatric musculoskeletal tumor center using modern surgical techniques and technology were retrospectively reviewed. A surgical technique using a four-step approach of intralesional curettage, high-speed bur, electrocautery, and bone grafting was found to have a significantly reduced rate of recurrence (0/8 cases) compared with traditional intralesional curettage and bone grafting (4/4 cases) (P < 0.002). Short-segment spinal fusion with instrumentation was also done in five cases immediately after excision of the ABC under the same anesthesia and was a nonsignificant marker for reduced rate of recurrence (P < 0.08), likely secondary to wide exposure. Overall, at last follow-up, all 12 patients were alive and well with no evidence of disease and no significant spinal deformity. The four-step approach to treatment of ABC of the spine with appropriate spinal instrumentation and fusion is recommended for successful treatment of this aggressive lesion.     

Spinal cord and nerve root monitoring during surgical treatment of lumbar stenosis

The author describes application of intraoperative neurophysiologic monitoring to surgical treatment of lumbar stenosis. Benefits of somatosensory and motor evoked potential studies during surgical correction of spinal deformity are well known and documented. Free-running and evoked electromyographic studies during pedicle screw implantation is an accepted practice at many institutions. However, the functional integrity of spinal cord, cauda equina, and nerve roots should be monitored throughout every stage of surgery including exposure and decompression. Somatosensory evoked potentials monitor overall spinal cord function. Intraoperative electromyography provides continuous assessment of motor root function in response to direct and indirect surgical manipulation. Electromyographic activities observed during exposure and decompression of the lumbosacral spine included complex patterns of bursting and neurotonic discharge. In addition, electromyographic activities at distal musculature were elicited by impacting a surgical instrument or graft plug against bony elements of the spine. All electromyographic events provided direct feedback to the surgical team and were regarded as a cause for concern. Simultaneously monitored evoked potential and electromyographic studies protect spinal cord and nerve roots during seemingly low-risk phases of a surgical procedure when neurologic injury may occur and the patient is placed at risk for postoperative myelopathy or radiculopathy.     

A surgical approach for concomitant spinal cord and brachial plexus surgery: an anatomical study

Spinal cord surgery is not the current treatment for brachial plexus avulsion injuries. However, several experimental and a few clinical cases have been reported with promising results. This surgical strategy in the near future, might prove to be useful. Different simultaneous anatomical approaches to the brachial plexus and spinal cord were studied in attempt to discover the best route to be used in the surgical reconstruction of avulsion lesions of the brachial plexus by spinal cord surgery. Eleven fresh subjects were used to compare: a) simultaneous dorsal approaches to the brachial plexus and spinal cord, b) the dorsal approach to the spinal cord and the anterior approach to the brachial plexus, c) a dorsal approach to the spinal cord combined with a dorsal approach through the triceps muscle to the terminal branches of the brachial plexus and d) a purely anterior approach to the spinal cord and brachial plexus. During the study, special attention was paid to the length of the grafts needed for repair, the possibility of entire exposure of the brachial plexus and the possibility of performing concomitant nerve transfers. As a result of the anatomical findings, we would suggest a dorsal approach to the spinal cord, suprascapular nerve and sometimes to the axillary nerve, combined with an anterior exposure to the brachial plexus in order to have the whole plexus explored and routine simultaneous nerve transfers performed. In selected cases, with limited root injuries, the dorsal approach to the brachial plexus and spinal cord and the anterior approach to the brachial plexus and spinal cord might be of interest.     

退变性腰椎椎管狭窄症的病理变化及诊断治疗

本文报告１４６例退变性腰椎椎管狭窄症，其目的在于：探讨腰椎退变与椎管狭窄的关系，退变性椎管狭窄的临床特点及其治疗方法问题。本组全部经手术治疗，椎管扩大减压包括侧隐窝扩大，充分暴露受压神经根和硬膜囊是提高治疗效果重要措施，维持腰椎稳定是外科治疗重要内容。１３２例随访，平均３８个月，优良者１１２例（８４．８％）。研究表明，退变性腰椎管狭窄症，除中央椎管狭窄外，神经根管（包括侧隐窝）狭窄更多见。在外科治疗时必须注意这种病理变化特点，避免遗漏，影响手术效果。     

Complications in the management of metastatic spinal disease

Metastatic spine disease accounts for 10% to 30% of new cancer diagnoses annually. The most frequent presentation is axial spinal pain. No treatment has been proven to increase the life expectancy of patients with spinal metastasis. The goals of therapy are pain control and functional preservation. The most important prognostic indicator for spinal metastases is the initial functional score. Treatment is multidisciplinary, and virtually all treatment is palliative. Management is guided by three key issues; neurologic compromise, spinal instability, and individual patient factors. Site-directed radiation, with or without chemotherapy is the most commonly used treatment modality for those patients presenting with spinal pain, causative by tumours which are not impinging on neural elements. Operative intervention has, until recently been advocated for establishing a tissue diagnosis, mechanical stabilization and for reduction of tumor burden but not for a curative approach. It is treatment of choice patients with diseaseadvancement despite radiotherapy and in those with known radiotherapy-resistant tumors. Vertebral resection and anterior stabilization with methacrylate or hardware (e.g., cages) has been advocated.Surgical decompression and stabilization, however, along with radiotherapy, may provide the most promising treatment. It stabilizes the metastatic deposited areaand allows ambulation with pain relief. In general, patients who are nonambulatory at diagnosis do poorly, as do patients in whom more than one vertebra is involved. Surgical intervention is indicated in patients with radiation-resistant tumors, spinal instability, spinal compression with bone or disk fragments, progressive neurologic deterioration, previous radiation exposure, and uncertain diagnosis that requires tissue diagnosis. The main goal in the management of spinal metastatic deposits is always palliative rather than curative, with the primary aim being pain relief and improved mobility. This however, does not come without complications, regardless of the surgical intervention technique used. These complication range from the general surgical complications of bleeding, infection, damage to surrounding structures and post operative DT/PE to spinal specific complications of persistent neurologic deficit and paralysis.     

Minimally Invasive Anterior Spinal Exposure and Release in Children with Scoliosis

Background:

The early experience with thoracoscopy in children has involved the diagnosis and treatment of pleural and pulmonary diseases. Recent advances have allowed surgeons to perform more complex procedures through video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS), potentially decreasing the pain and pulmonary impairment associated with an open thoracotomy. The authors report their initial experience with thoracoscopic assisted anterior spinal exposure and release as part of the treatment for children with spinal deformities.

Methods:

A retrospective chart review of five children who underwent VATS for anterior spinal surgery between June 1995 and January 1997 was performed.

Results:

The ages of the patients ranged from 11 to 16 years with a mean of 13.4 years. All patients had an anterior spinal release with or without fusion and same-day posterior spinal fusion with instrumentation. VATS was successfully completed in all patients without major morbidity and no mortality. The average operative time for the anterior portion of the procedure was 305 minutes, and a mean of 7 disc levels were released. Mean length of chest tube drainage and hospitalization were 6.8 and 8.6 days, respectively.

Conclusions:

The objectives of anterior exposure for spinal surgery in children can safely and effectively be accomplished using minimally invasive surgery.     

TrkC overexpression enhances survival and migration of neural stem cell transplants in the rat spinal cord

Although CNS axons have the capacity to regenerate after spinal cord injury when provided with a permissive substrate, the lack of appropriate synaptic target sites for regenerating fibers may limit restoration of spinal circuitry. Studies in our laboratory are focused on utilizing neural stem cells to provide new synaptic target sites for regenerating spinal axons following injury. As an initial step, rat neural precursor cells genetically engineered to overexpress the tyrosine kinase C (trkC) neurotrophin receptor were transplanted into the intact rat spinal cord to evaluate their survival and differentiation. Cells were either pretreated in vitro prior to transplantation with trkC ligand neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) to initiate differentiation or exposed to NT-3 in vivo following transplantation via gelfoam or Oxycel. Both treatments enhanced survival of trkC-overexpressing stem cells to nearly 100%, in comparison with approximately 30-50% when either NT-3 or trkC was omitted. In addition, increased migration of trkC-overexpressing cells throughout the spinal gray matter was noted, particularly following in vivo NT-3 exposure. The combined trkC expression and NT-3 treatment appeared to reduce astrocytic differentiation of transplanted neural precursors. Decreased cavitation and increased beta-tubulin fibers were noted in the vicinity of transplanted cells, although the majority of transplanted cells appeared to remain in an undifferentiated state. These findings suggest that genetically engineered neural stem cells in combination with neurotrophin treatment may be a useful addition to strategies for repair of spinal neurocircuitry following injury.     

The paralysis associated with myelomeningocele: clinical and experimental data implicating a preventable spinal cord injury

Paralysis seen in children with myelomeningocele has been attributed to congenital myelodysplasia. We suspected that paralysis may be due in part to a spinal cord injury caused by exposure of the neural tube to the amniotic fluid. This hypothesis was tested using a fetal rat model of surgically created dysraphism. Each pup from the experimental group of rats in which the spinal cord was intentionally exposed to the amniotic fluid was born with severe deformity and weakness of the hind limbs and tail. Control fetal rats, subjected to the same procedure without directly exposing the spinal cord to the intrauterine environment, were normal at birth. Histological studies of the exposed spinal cord revealed extensive erosion and necrosis, findings similar to those described in children with myelomeningocele. We therefore propose a "two-hit" hypothesis to explain the paralysis seen in children with myelomeningocele: congenital myelodysplasia complicated by an intrauterine spinal cord injury. Intrauterine protection of the exposed spinal cord might prevent some or all of the paralysis. The possible implications of these findings for the future treatment of myelomeningocele are discussed.     

Thoracoscopic debridement and stabilization of pyogenic vertebral osteomyelitis

The role of surgical debridement and internal fixation in treatment of vertebral osteomyelitis has been evolving. The standard surgical approach to thoracolumbar vertebral osteomyelitis requiring extensive thoracotomy or retroperitoneal exposure carries significant associated morbidity and postoperative pain. Minimally invasive thoracoscopic spine surgery is designed to improve postoperative morbidity associated with the traditional open surgery. We report a case of a 70-year-old man who developed T11-T12 pyogenic vertebral osteomyelitis 3 months after undergoing posterior laminectomy and microsurgical excision of a herniated thoracic disc. The patient underwent minimally invasive thoracoscopic radical debridement and anterior spinal reconstruction and fusion. Patients with vertebral osteomyelitis may benefit from the decreased postoperative morbidity that is associated with minimally invasive thoracoscopic spinal surgery.     

Management of complex giant spinal arachnoid cysts presenting with myelopathy

A giant spinal arachnoid cyst is an unusual cause of progressive epidural compressive syndrome. The authors describe 4 cases of a "complex" subtype of this lesion and discuss aspects of surgical management. The patients presented with progressive spastic paraparesis and were found to harbor extensive spinal extradural arachnoid cysts with multiple septations and significant paraspinal extensions. Extensive laminotomy and excision of the cyst along with its extensions were performed in all cases. Compared with previously indexed cases of surgically managed extensive spinal extradural arachnoid cysts, the cases reported here are unique because of their complex nature. Curative treatment consists of radical excision inclusive of the paraspinal extensions as well as closure of a dural defect, if found. A laminotomy or laminoplasty should be performed to avoid postoperative instability related to the extensive exposure. Extended follow-up and instrumentation may be required in select cases.     

Minimally invasive spine surgery for thoracolumbar fractures: Damage-control spine stabilization

In North America, spinal injuries from blunt trauma occur with an incidence rate of approximately 6%. The vast majority of spinal column injuries occur at the thoracolumbar spine, predominantly at the thoracolumbar junction (T10–L2). The conventional surgical treatment for thoracolumbar fractures involves open exposure with placement of instrumentation with fusion. These conventional surgeries in trauma patients, however, have significantly higher infections rates and higher blood loss when compared to open spinal surgeries in non-trauma patients. Because of these complications, minimally invasive spinal surgery (MISS) techniques have been advanced as a viable alternative to the conventional open spinal surgeries. The goals of both approaches (open and MISS) are to stabilize the spine in order to prevent posttraumatic deformity and to prevent development of neurologic deficits. MISS techniques can achieve these goals while avoiding the increased complications associated with traditional open surgeries. Furthermore, MISS techniques may be an excellent solution in the polytrauma patients, providing “damage-control spinal stabilization.”     

Tuberculosis of the spine: a review of 236 operated cases in an underdeveloped region from 1954 to 1964.

Antituberculous medication for treatment of tuberculosis has been used for nearly a half century. However, tuberculosis of the spine still shows up from time to time in the developed countries and it is still a common scourge in half of the world today. The author reviews his treatment of tuberculosis of the spine over 30 years' full-time work in developing countries. He gives an analytical breakdown of his first 10 years of operating on 236 cases, both paralytic and nonparalytic. Changes in treatment developed with experience. Posterior spinal fusion gave good results. Radical evacuation of the abscess alone gave poor results. Best results were obtained in the combination of the two. This surgery provided a stable, pain-free spine and shortened period of time that antituberculous medication was required. A true lateral approach for spinal decompression was developed and is described. This procedure can be performed by ordinary orthopedic teams in developing countries. It is safer than the transthoracic approach and gives better exposure.     

First cases of using Cotrel-Dubousset instrumentation in Hungary]

In the treatment of scolioses of different origin the spondylodeses performed from a dorsal exposure have an outstanding role. For the fixation of the spine several instruments were constructed; one of them is the Cotrel-Dubousset Instrumentation used since 1983 by which it became possible, beside the spinal correction and fixation in three dimensions, the omission of the external fixation devices. Authors report on the first experiences in Hungary with the CDI system on five patients and state that from the numerous advantages of the CDI the expansion of correction possibilities, the development the physiological spinal curvatures, the correction in three dimensions and the omission of the external fixation are outstanding.     

Spectrum of operations on the cervical spine in a neurosurgical spinal centre with trauma profile

A statistical review is given about the treatment in the Neurosurgical Department of our Institute of cervical spine injuries and non-traumatic spinal diseases during 11 years, as well as about the trends of development in spine surgery. The ratio of operative and conservative methods is described, analysing the indications and yearly numbers of different surgical procedures as compared to the data of non-traumatic spinal diseases. Altogether 786 patients were treated, 319 operations were performed on the cervical vertebral column. By the follow-up of different surgical techniques a radical change of attitude has been shown: ventral desis has got the leading role instead of dorsal spondylodesis which formerly used to be the method of choice. In addition, combined dorsal and ventral desis, lateral exposure, screw-fixation of the dens axis and the Halo-method are important techniques of the up-to-date treatment in special types of injuries.     

Case Report: Curetting Osteoid Osteoma of the Spine Using Combined Video-assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery and Navigation

Background

A spinal osteoid osteoma is a rare benign tumor. The usual treatment involves complete curettage including the nidus. In the thoracic spine, conventional open surgical treatment usually carries relatively high surgical risks because of the close anatomic relationship to the spinal cord, nerve roots, and thoracic vessels, and pulmonary complications and postoperative pain.

Case Report

We report the case of a 16-year-old girl with a symptomatic osteoid osteoma at the T9 level whose lesion was currettaged using video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) guided by a navigation system (VATS-NAV). There were no complications and the patient had immediate relief of the characteristic pain after surgery and was asymptomatic at 5 months’ followup.

Literature Review

Progressive advances in the technology of spinal surgery have evolved to offer greater safety and less morbidity for patients. The advent of minimally invasive surgery has expanded the indications for VATS for anterior spinal disorders. Spinal navigation systems have become useful tools allowing localization and excision of the nidus of osteoid osteomas with minimal bone resection and without radiation exposure.

Clinical Relevance

The VATS-NAV combination in our patient allowed accurate localization and guidance for complete excision of a spinal osteoid osteoma through a minimally invasive approach without compromising spinal stability.