Adipose tissue in the filum terminale: a computed tomographic finding that may indicate tethering of the spinal cord

Adipose tissue in the filum terminale is frequently associated with tethering of the spinal cord in patients with spina bifida occulta. We recently saw a patient with low back pain and no spina bifida occulta, in whom adipose tissue was noted in the area of the filum on an unenhanced computed tomographic (CT) scan. The patient had a tethered cord. This case suggested that, when CT scanning is done as the first imaging study in the evaluation of low back pain, fatty tissue in the area of the filum may be an indicator for tethering of the spinal cord. The present study was undertaken to determine the validity of using CT scan-detectable filal fat in the identification of possible tethered spinal cords among a group of patients experiencing low back pain. The presence of fat in the fila of 12 patients with the radiologically and histologically tethered cord syndrome was evaluated and the fila of 47 autopsied patients whose clinical history showed no back pain were examined histologically. There were accumulations of adipose tissue in the fila of 11 of the 12 (91%) patients with the tethered cord syndrome and in the fila of 9 of the 47 patients (17%) in the autopsy series. Of the 9 autopsy patients with fat in their fila, however only 3 patients (6%) exhibited collections of adipose tissue in the CT detection range (2 mm).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

The prevalence of neuropathic pain after non-traumatic spinal cord lesion

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective register study. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the predictive value of the following parameters for the development of neuropathic pain after non-traumatic spinal cord lesion: that is age at onset of spinal cord disease, gender, completeness of lesion, level of lesion, and aetiology. SETTING: A unit for patients with post-acute traumatic and non-traumatic spinal cord lesions in the greater area of Stockholm, Sweden. METHOD: All patients with non-traumatic spinal cord lesions visiting the unit between 1995 and 2000 were classified according to the following: that is neuropathic pain at or below lesion level according to IASP criteria, age at time of the onset of the spinal cord symptoms, injury level, complete/incomplete injury, and aetiology. Results were analysed with chi(2) - analysis and logistic regression. RESULTS: In total, 38% had neuropathic pain, 15% had pain predominantly at the level of lesion, and 23% predominantly below the level of lesion. Of those with pain, 67% reported that the pain affected daily life. Women reported neuropathic pain below the level of lesion more often (40%) than men (13%). The prevalence was particularly high (64%) for patients with malignant spinal cord diseases. Neither age at onset of the spinal cord symptoms, nor complete/incomplete injury nor injury level had significant influence on the prevalence. CONCLUSION: Neuropathic pain is common among patients with acquired non-traumatic spinal cord lesions regardless of aetiology, often causing severe problems in daily life.     

脊柱骨折再手术原因及疗效

[目的]分析脊柱骨折再次手术翻修的原因及疗效相关因素。随着脊柱创伤手术在基层医院的开展和普及,部分没有得到完善治疗的病例因为各种原因不得不再次进行翻修手术。本科自2000年1月~2003年12月收治外院手术治疗后失败的脊柱损伤患者19例,进行了再次手术翻修并平均随访3.5年,对再手术原因及疗效分析作初步探讨。[方法]19例脊柱骨折再手术患者,平均随访3.5年,通过问卷调查的方式,随访观察患者感觉、运动功能恢复、疼痛、生活质量及对再次手术的个人评价。[结果]减压不充分以及内固定物的不当使用是再次手术翻修的主要原因。不完全截瘫患者再手术后肌力均得到一级以上恢复,然而再手术前神经功能为FrankelA级患者术后肢体运动功能无明显改善。17(89%)例患者术后生活质量得到提高,对疗效表示满意。[结论]良好的脊柱外科技术和正确应用内固定是治疗脊柱骨折的重要因素,对于正确选择适应证的病例,再次手术翻修能有效提高患者生活质量。     

10 kHz spinal cord stimulation for the treatment of non-surgical refractory back pain: subanalysis of pooled data from two prospective studies

Spinal cord stimulation at 10 kHz is a promising therapy for non-surgical refractory back pain; however, published data are currently limited. We present a subanalysis of prospectively collected clinical outcome data for non-surgical refractory back pain patients treated with 10 kHz spinal cord stimulation, from the independent cohorts of two previous studies (SENZA-RCT and SENZA-EU). Clinical outcomes were evaluated at pre-implantation (baseline), 3 months, 6 months and 12 months following 10 kHz spinal cord stimulator implantation. These included: pain relief; responder rate (≥ 50% pain relief from baseline); remission rate (VAS ≤ 3.0 cm); disability (Oswestry Disability Index(ODI)); and opioid use. At 3 months, average back pain decreased by 70% in the combined cohort (60% in the SENZA-RCT and 78% in the SENZA-EU cohorts). This was sustained at 12 months, with a 73% back pain responder rate and 68% remission rate in the combined cohort. Leg pain relief results were generally comparable to those for back pain relief. At 12 months, the combined cohort had an average decrease in ODI scores of 15.7% points from baseline and opioid use more than halved. In conclusion, 10 kHz spinal cord stimulation reduced pain, disability and opioid consumption in non-surgical refractory back pain subjects. Application of this therapy may improve the care of non-surgical refractory back pain patients and reduce their opioid consumption.     

The sequelae of reflex sympathetic dystrophy

This paper presents the results of a retrospective analysis of 94 patients who were assessed at a mean of 11 months after successful treatment of reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD) of the hand. Fifty-four percent still complained of pain related to the weather, and many complained of cold intolerance (44%), slight pain after use (34%), nail and hair growth changes (34%), sensory disturbances (34%) and stiffness of fingers in the morning (28%). There were also complaints of reduced finger extension, pain and loss of movement in the shoulder joint and hand swelling after use, and 78% of patients had significantly reduced grip strength. These results suggest that, in spite of resolution of the acute RSD problem, significant long term sequelae of RSD continue to impair function of the hand in a proportion of patients.     

Late complications of the weight-bearing upper extremity in the paraplegic patient

Paraplegic patients rely almost exclusively on their upper extremities for weight-bearing activities such as transfers and wheelchair propulsion. Eighty-four paraplegic patients whose injury level was T2 or below and who were at least one year from spinal cord injury were screened for upper extremity complaints. Fifty-seven (67.8%) had complaints of pain in one or more areas of their upper extremities. The most common complaints were shoulder pain and/or pain relating to carpal tunnel syndrome. Twenty-five (30%) complained of shoulder pain during transfer activities. Symptoms were found to increase with time from injury. As the long-term survival of spinal cord injured patients continues to improve, an increased awareness of the complications of the weight-bearing upper extremity is necessary to keep these patients functioning in society.     

Shoulder pain and functional disability in spinal cord injury patients

Sixty spinal cord injured patients were examined to determine the incidence of nontraumatic shoulder pain and associated functional disability during the first 18 months after spinal cord injury (SCI). Seventy-eight percent of quadriplegics and 35% of paraplegics had pain in the first six months. When reexamined six to 18 months after SCI, 33% of the quadriplegics and 35% of the paraplegics continued to have pain. The functional disability resulting from shoulder pain was not a significant problem for the paraplegics; however, 84% of the quadriplegics having pain had either moderate or severe functional disability during the first six months after SCI, and this impairment persisted in patients with shoulder spasticity at follow-up evaluation between six and 18 months postinjury.     

Effect of spinal cord abnormalities on the function of the lower urinary tract in patients with anorectal abnormalities

PURPOSE: We evaluated the effect of spinal cord abnormalities on lower urinary tract function in patients with anorectal abnormalities. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We examined 30 patients with anorectal anomalies mainly because of fecal or urinary incontinence. All patients underwent spinal magnetic resonance imaging and urodynamic investigation. RESULTS: Major lumbosacral abnormalities were detected in 57% of patients, including 13, 4 and 3 with a tethered cord, syringomyelia and caudal regression, respectively. Significant dysfunction of the lower urinary tract in 57% of the cases involved an overactive detrusor in 11, detrusor-sphincter dyssynergia in 4, distended bladder in 4 and lazy bladder in 1. When the spinal cord was normal, 54% of the patients had abnormal urodynamic findings but when the spinal cord was abnormal, 59% had abnormal urodynamics. When the bony spine was normal, 33% of the patients had an abnormal spinal cord but when the bony spine was abnormal, 69% had an abnormal spinal cord. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with anorectal abnormalities and fecal or urinary incontinence problems often have an abnormal spinal cord and abnormal urodynamic findings. However, the state of the spinal cord is not the only factor explaining lower urinary tract function. Thus, the possibility of lower urinary tract dysfunction should be considered in each patient with anorectal abnormalities. If the patient has symptoms or findings suggesting abnormal lower urinary tract function urodynamic evaluation should be performed.     

Injuries of the brachial plexus and neighboring peripheral nerves in vertebral fractures and other trauma of the cervical spine

On the one hand, out of 115 patients admitted to hospital with 162 various fractures of the cervical spine without injury to the spinal cord, only 3 (2.6%) had an associated lesion to the brachial plexus or nerves in the vicinity. On the other hand, among 500 consecutive patients with injuries to the brachial plexus, 55 (11%) presented fractures of the cervical spine (including T1 and the 1st rib), whiplash injuries, severe distortions and dislocations, and contusions of that vertebral segment. Five (1% resp. 9%) had spinal cord injuries, including four patients with partial Brown-Sequard's syndrome, which was caused by multilevel root avulsions of the brachial plexus. In rather severe trauma to the lower cervical spine and concomitant brachial plexus lesion, root avulsions must be expected in 83% of cases, and in almost half of these patients three or more roots are avulsed from the spinal cord. Fractures around the shoulder-girdle as well as arterial ruptures are also significant for this severe nerve injury. Of these patients 39 (71%), were victims of motorcycle accidents.     

The use of spinal cord stimulation for severe limb-threatening ischemia: a preliminary report

Spinal cord stimulation has been shown to control ischemic pain. We have applied spinal cord stimulation to nine patients with rest pain, non-healing ulceration, or digital gangrene to evaluate its effect on limb salvage. The patients had a mean age of 69 years. Six were diabetic, and all had previous major complications of their atherosclerotic disease. Stimulation was obtained by placing an electrode on the spinal cord under local anesthesia. Seven patients experienced marked reduction in their ischemic pain immediately after stimulation. These patients also had improved healing of ulcers documented by direct measurement. No significant change in ankle/brachial Doppler indices could be measured in any patient. One patient became suddenly worse and required amputation after one year of good pain relief and ulcer improvement. Two patients were not helped and went on to amputation within one month of stimulation. We conclude from these preliminary data that spinal cord stimulation effectively relieves ischemic pain and is associated with improved ulcer healing.     

Paget disease of the spine.

Seventy patients who had the radiographic features of Paget disease of the spine were evaluated clinically and with computed tomography, with the objective of correlation of the symptoms with the lesions. Of forty-five symptomatic patients, twenty-one had only pain in the back or neck and twenty-four patients had spinal stenosis with or without pain in the back or neck. Seven patients had a neurological deficit without pain, nineteen had so-called mechanical or arthritic pain, nine had pain that was attributable to the Paget lesion, and ten had a combination of the two types of pain. The most common cause of the spinal stenosis was expansion of bone that led to compression of the thecal sac and its neural elements. In one patient, the cord was compromised further by a pathological fracture of the eighth thoracic vertebra. There was a strong correlation between the presence of symptoms and the findings of spinal stenosis and arthropathy of the facets (zygapophyseal joints) on computed tomography. The spinal stenosis and the arthropathy of the facets were caused by the abnormal, hyperactive bone-remodeling, which resulted in the expansion of the osseous elements of the involved vertebra or vertebrae.     

Adjuvant spinal cord stimulation improves wound healing of peripheral tissue loss due to steal syndrome of the hand: clinical challenge treating a difficult case

Hand ischaemia due to arterial steal syndrome is an infrequent, but potentially serious complication of arteriovenous fistula (AVF) for haemodialysis. We present a case of hand ischaemia caused by steal syndrome in a 69‐year‐old haemodialysis patient, 10 months after a brachiobasilic fistula creation. The patient underwent multiple operations without resolution of hand pain and tissue loss. The implantation of an adjuvant cervical spinal cord stimulator allowed the patient to obtain complete hand pain relief and wound healing. Probably, the diffuse microangiopathy typical of haemodialysis patients could be responsible for the persistence of ischaemic signs and symptoms after a surgical revascularisation. The effect of sympathetic blockade and the subsequent improvement of the arterial blood flow and tissue oxygenation because of spinal cord stimulation (SCS) can be useful to achieve complete ischaemic pain relief in order to enhance wound healing and to limit the tissue loss. In conclusion, the association of cervical spinal cord stimulation and surgical revascularisation could represent a valid option to treat a critical upper limb ischaemia following steal syndrome due to AVF.     

Chronic pain after SCI. A patient survey

STUDY DESIGN: A survey of chronic pain experience after spinal cord injury. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence, severity and impact of chronic pain amongst spinal cord injury (SCI) patients in our region, and assess the need for additional resources to address the problem. METHODS: A postal questionnaire was sent to 216 spinal cord injury patients (10% of the Yorkshire regional spinal injury database). Setting: Yorkshire region, UK. RESULTS: A response was received from 67% of the patients. Seventy-nine per cent of patients said they presently suffered with pain, with 39% describing it as severe. Comparison of pain and non-pain groups using chi-squared analysis showed that complete injury was significantly more likely than incomplete injury to result in chronic pain (P<0.05), and increased severity of pain (P<0.05). 43% of patients with pain said they required further treatment for it. Chronic pain had a significant impact on daily activities and was a major factor in causing unemployment (18%) and depression (39%). CONCLUSION: The study confirms that pain is a major problem in SCI patients which is not currently being adequately addressed. A multidisciplinary approach to management and prospective studies of treatments are required in order to reduce the prevalence and severity of pain in these patients. Spinal Cord (2000) 38, 611 - 614.     

Spinal epidural stimulation for central pain caused by spinal cord lesion]

Epidural spinal cord stimulation was carried out in 4 patients with denervation caused by spinal cord lesion, and we reviewed previously reported cases. Initial result showed at 1 week in 100% of our cases, but about 1/3 of the cases, even those with the same denervation caused by spinal cord lesion, had no pain relief at this stage in previously reported cases. In our cases, excellent pain relief was gained temporarily, even though the painful area and the spinal cord lesion were separated somatotopically in 2 cases (case 3, 4). Temporary success bore no relationship to quality and duration of pain. In all cases except case 1, a rapidly decreasing effectiveness was noted, and finally no pain relief was gained at all after 4, 3 and 5 months, respectively. In case 1 there was persistent pain relief estimated at 70-80% after 19 months, only when the spinal cord was stimulated. Epidural stimulation also produced sensations in the painful area. Spinal cord stimulation would suppress at least the dorsal horn neurons which were destroyed by various kinds of diseases. A decline in effectiveness with time would occur due to essential causes of the deafferentation pain, such as anatomical and regeneration factors.     

The analgesic effects of epidural diamorphine and levobupivacaine on established lower limb post-amputation stump pain--a comparative study

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Pain is necessary for survival but chronic pain is disabling and causes significant health and economic problems. Chronic stump pain (pain localized in the stump for >3 months) after amputation is a significant problem among amputees (5-10%). The mechanism of this phenomenon is not very clear yet. In this study we attempted to better understand the role of peripheral and central mechanisms in this condition. METHODS: 12 patients with established lower limb post-amputation stump pain were given lumbar epidural diamorhpine 5 mg in 20 ml normal saline (NS) and levobupivacaine 0.5% (20 ml) 1 week apart. Baseline pain was recorded and then analgesic and side effects as well as their onset and duration were also assessed. RESULTS: Epidural diamorphine was found to relieve the pain of all patients. Its onset was relatively rapid being started within 5-9 min (median = 5.5) by a smooth sensation of warmth involving the lower trunk and legs. Analgesia was complete in 30 min and had a median duration of 20.5 h. Pruritis in 6 patients was the only side effect due to epidural diamorphine. Epidural levobupivacaine, on the other hand, usually relieved the discomfort but failed to do so in 3 patients only despite adequate neural blockade. Its onset of action was slower (10-20 min, median = 11) and duration of effect (median = 12 h) was also shorter than diamorphine. The effects of levobupivacaine were inferior to diamorphine due to the associated motor and sensory paralyses as well as absence of euphoria. Epidural diamorphine provided profound analgesia with normalization of stump sensations and euphoria, probably due to absorption into the spinal cord causing segmental action. CONCLUSION: While peripheral mechanisms played a role, central mechanisms involving the spinal cord were more important in the modulation of established stump pain in the evaluated patients.     

Intravenous Lidocaine Relieves Spinal Cord Injury Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: Neuropathic pain in spinal cord injury is a common challenging therapeutic condition. The current study examines the analgesic effect of the sodium channel blocker lidocaine on neuropathic pain in patients with spinal cord injury and the predictive role of concomitant evoked pain on pain relief with lidocaine.

Methods: Twenty-four spinal cord injury patients with neuropathic pain at or below the level of injury were randomized and completed a double-blind crossover trial of 5 mg/kg lidocaine and placebo infused over 30 min. Twelve patients reported evoked pain, and 12 patients had no evoked pain. Spontaneous and evoked pains were assessed using a visual analog scale and quantitative sensory testing.

Results: Lidocaine significantly reduced spontaneous pain in all patients (P < 0.01) and in each of the two groups with (P < 0.01) and without (P = 0.048) evoked pain, with no difference in number of responders (pain reduction >= 33%) between the patients with (n = 6) and without (n = 5) evoked pain. Lidocaine significantly relieved both at-level and below-level neuropathic pain and decreased brush-evoked dysesthesia but not cold allodynia, pinprick hyperalgesia, or pain evoked by repetitive pinprick.     

Pain and dysesthesia in patients with spinal cord injury: A postal survey.

STUDY DESIGN: A postal survey. OBJECTIVES: To assess the prevalence and characteristics of pain and dysesthesia in a community based sample of patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) with special focus on neuropathic pain. SETTING: Community. Western half of Denmark. METHODS: We mailed a questionnaire to all outpatients (n = 436) of the Viborg rehabilitation centre for spinal cord injury. The questionnaire contained questions regarding cause and level of spinal injury and amount of sensory and motor function below this level. The words pain and unpleasant sensations were used to describe pain (P) and dysesthesia (D) respectively. Questions included location and intensity of chronic pain or dysesthesia, degree of interference with daily activity and sleep, presence of paroxysms and evoked pain or dysesthesia, temporal aspects, alleviating and aggravating factors, McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ) and treatment. RESULTS: Seventy-six per cent of the patients returned the questionnaire, (230 males and 100 females). The ages ranged from 19 to 80 years (median 42.6 years) and time since spinal injury ranged from 0.5 to 39 years (median 9.3 years). The majority (> 75%) of patients had traumatic spinal cord injury. Of the respondents, 77% reported having pain or unpleasant sensations, and 67% had chronic pain or unpleasant sensations at or below lesion. Forty-eight per cent reported that P/D could be evoked by non-noxious stimulation of the skin indicating that allodynia is present in almost half of the patients. Forty-three per cent of respondents took analgesics, 7% received antidepressants or anticonvulsants. CONCLUSION: This survey suggests that pain and dysesthesia are common and serious complaints in SCI patients. Unexpectedly, only 7% of the patients were treated with drugs considered to be most effective in neuropathic pain. This emphasizes the need for a continued research and education on P/D in SCI.     

The effect of DREZ (dorsal root entry zone) lesions on intractable pain in patients with spinal cord injury

Some patients with spinal cord injury complain of a severe intractable pain. This intractable pain places new hurdles on the road to return to the ordinary daily life in these patients. The effective therapy for the intractable pain has not been established. Dorsal root entry zone (DREZ) lesion was originally reported by Nashold et al to alleviate deafferented pain syndrome. Three male and one female patients with intractable pain following spinal cord injury were treated with DREZ-lesions. One month after operation, all 4 patients obtained good pain relief. However, at a follow-up period till February 1989 (ranging 11 months from 2 years and 6 months), 2 patients had subjective pain relief. When other therapies on intractable pain following spinal cord trauma are not effective, the DREZ-lesion might be considered.