Ultrasound-guided spinal fracture repositioning

The management of narrowing spinal fragments in the operative treatment of spinal fractures remains an open question, in particular when the procedure is performed by a posterior approach. This article describes the use of intraoperative ultrasonography during spinal surgery. From 1990 to 1997, 116 spinal fractures were treated operatively at our clinic. Stabilization of the spine was achieved with the AO fixateur interne and the AO USS, respectively (Synthes, D-79224, Umkirch, Germany). For 60 cases who had a fractured posterior vertebral surface dislocated into the spinal canal, we used intraoperative ultrasonography to monitor the repositioning of the narrowing fragments. The patients underwent pre- and postoperative computed tomography scans (CT). In six cases, color-coded duplex sonography was performed intraoperatively to view the A. spinalis anterior. In 58 cases, the spinal canal and the fractured posterior surface of the vertebrae were visualized successfully. The sonographic image was inconclusive in two cases with severely damaged fragments. Identical findings were observed on the intraoperative ultrasound image after completion of repositioning and on the postoperative CT scan. In six cases, the A. spinalis anterior was viewed by color-coded duplex sonography with a different flow before and after fracture repositioning. Intraoperative ultrasound is a valuable means of monitoring the restoration of the spinal canal by a posterior approach. The method is easy to perform and can be repeated as often as required. Color-coded duplex sonography allows further visualization of the A. spinalis anterior. Received: 24 March 1997/Accepted: 23 May 1997     

A novel MRI classification system for congenital functional lumbar spinal stenosis predicts the risk for tandem cervical spinal stenosis

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to develop a simple and clinically useful morphological classification system for congenital lumbar spinal stenosis using sagittal MRI, allowing clinicians to recognize patterns of lumbar congenital stenosis quickly and be able to screen these patients for tandem cervical stenosis.

Methods

Forty-four subjects with an MRI of both the cervical and lumbar spine were included. On the lumbar spine MRI, the sagittal canal morphology was classified as one of three types: Type I normal, Type II partially narrow, Type III globally narrow. For the cervical spine, the Torg-Pavlov ratio on X-ray and the cervical spinal canal width on MRI were measured. Kruskal–Wallis analysis was done to determine if there was a relationship between the sagittal morphology of the lumbar spinal canal and the presence of cervical spinal stenosis.

Results

Subjects with a type III globally narrow lumbar spinal canal had a significantly lower cervical Torg-Pavlov ratio and smaller cervical spinal canal width than those with a type I normal lumbar spinal canal.

Conclusion

A type III lumbar spinal canal is a globally narrow canal characterized by a lack of spinal fluid around the conus. This was defined as “functional lumbar spinal stenosis” and is associated with an increased incidence of tandem cervical spinal stenosis.

     

Physical characteristics of patients with developmental cervical spinal canal stenosis

There has been only one report on the physical characteristics of patients with developmental cervical spinal canal stenosis. The objective of this consecutive clinical study was to identify the physical characteristics of patients with developmental cervical spinal canal stenosis. The subjects were 243 patients with cervical spine disease who received treatment in our department between April 2001 and March 2002. These patients were divided into two groups (the groups of patients with and without spinal canal stenosis) on the basis of their lateral cervical spine radiographs. The six items examined were height, weight, sitting height, inter inner canthal distance, upper arm length, and head circumference in each patient, and then their values were compared between the two groups. The mean inter inner canthal distance was 2.7 cm in the group of patients with spinal canal stenosis and 3.5 cm in the group of patients without spinal canal stenosis; a significant difference (P < 0.01) was observed. Regarding height, weight, sitting height, upper arm length, and head circumference, no significant difference was found while comparing the two groups. In conclusion, developmental cervical spinal canal stenosis seems to be highly likely in patients with smaller inter inner canthal distance.     

腰椎管潜行扩大桥式椎管成形术

传统的全椎板切除减压术治疗腰椎管狭窄症，不仅影响脊柱的稳定性，还可能并发腰椎管继发狭窄．作者采用腰椎管潜行扩大桥式椎管成形术治疗１５例，优良率为９３．４％。本术式特点：１．充分扩大椎管，包括神经根管。２．不破坏脊柱稳定性。３．保持原腰椎活动范围、４．不再形成新的压迫．     

颈椎侧位X线片测量评估退行性颈椎管狭窄

目的应用新的X线片测量方法测量颈椎管率及有效颈椎管率,确定诊断退行性颈椎管狭窄的敏感指标。方法取100名不同年龄段的无症状的成年人颈椎侧位X线片,测量颈椎管矢状径(a)、椎体中矢径(b)、退变椎体矢状径(c),计算颈椎管率(a/b)、有效颈椎管率犤(a b-c)/c犦,分性别、年龄段进行统计分析。结果(1)不同年龄组的颈椎管率差异无统计学意义。(2)不同年龄组的有效颈椎管率其差异在C3、C7节段无统计学意义,而在C4～C6节段有非常显著性(P<0.01)。(3)男女之间的颈椎管矢状径差异无显著性,而椎体中矢径及退变椎体矢状径差异有显著性,颈椎管率和有效颈椎管率男性小于女性(P<0.01)。结论(1)颈椎管率是诊断发育性颈椎管狭窄的指标,有效颈椎管率是诊断退行性颈椎管狭窄的指标。(2)有效颈椎管率低于0.6时,应考虑退行性颈椎管狭窄。(3)40岁以上患者在X线侧位片上除外发育性颈椎管狭窄后,还应考虑是否存在退行性颈椎管狭窄。     

Evaluation of circulatory compromise in the leg in lumbar spinal canal stenosis

To evaluate whether hemoglobin oxygen saturation and hemoglobin concentration of the leg are useful indicators for circulatory compromise in patients with lumbar spinal canal stenosis, we investigated the changes in the indices during level gait using reflectance spectrophotometry. Thirty-three patients with lumbar spinal stenosis were studied. Preoperatively, the hemoglobin oxygen saturation was greater in the 33 patients than in the control subjects. The indices increased in the control subjects more than those in the patients. Postoperatively, the increases in hemoglobin oxygen saturation were greater in the patients with lumbar spinal canal stenosis than before decompression and the hemoglobin concentration tended to approximate that in the control subjects. The results suggest these indices might be useful for monitoring disease severity in patients with lumber spinal canal stenosis. In addition to stenotic ischemia in the spinal canal, it is thought that the neurogenic intermittent claudication is secondarily caused by circulatory failure in the lower extremities attributable to the autonomic nervous dysfunction.     

Thoracic spinal canal stenosis

Hypertrophy of the posterior spinal elements leading to compromise of the spinal canal and its neural elements is a well-recognized pathological entity affecting the lumbar or cervical spine. Such stenosis of the thoracic spine in the absence of a generalized rheumatological, metabolic, or orthopedic disorder, or a history of trauma is generally considered to be rare. Over a 2-year period the authors have treated six cases of thoracic myelopathy associated with thoracic canal stenosis. In four patients the deficits developed gradually and painlessly. The three older patients had a clinical profile characterized by complaints of pseudoclaudication, spastic lower limbs, and evidence of posterior column dysfunction. Two patients were younger adults with low thoracic myelopathy associated with local back pain after minor trauma. Both patients also had congenital narrowing of the thoracic spinal canal. Oil and metrizamide contrast myelography in the prone position were of limited value in diagnosing this condition; in fact, myelography may be misleading and result in erroneous diagnosis of thoracic disc protrusion, when the principal problem is dorsal and lateral compression from hypertrophied facets. Magnetic resonance imaging and computerized tomography sector scanning were more useful in the diagnosis of this disorder than was myelography. Thoracic canal stenosis may be more common than is currently recognized and account for a portion of the failures in anterior and lateral decompression of thoracic disc herniations.     

Cervical spinal stenosis and sports-related cervical cord neurapraxia in children.

STUDY DESIGN: Congenital spinal stenosis has been demonstrated to contribute to cervical cord neurapraxia after cervical spinal cord injury in adult athletes. A sagittal canal diameter <14 mm and/or a Torg ratio (sagittal diameter of the spinal canal: midcervical sagittal vertebral body diameter) of <0.8 are indicative of significant cervical spinal stenosis. Although sports-related cervical spine injuries are common in children, the role of congenital cervical stenosis in the etiology of these injuries remains unclear. OBJECTIVES: The authors measured the sagittal canal diameter and the Torg ratio in children presenting with cervical cord neurapraxia resulting from sports-related cervical spinal cord injuries to determine the presence of congenital spinal stenosis. METHODS: A total of 13 children (9 male, 4 female) presented with cervical cord neurapraxia after a sports-related cervical spinal cord injury. Age ranged from 7 to 15 years (mean +/- SD, 11.5 +/- 2.7 years). The sports involved were football (n = 4), wrestling (n = 2), hockey (n = 2), and soccer, gymnastics, baseball, kickball, and pogosticking (n = 1 each). Lateral cervical spine radiographs were used to determine the sagittal canal diameter and the Torg ratio at C4. RESULTS: The sagittal canal diameter (mean +/- SD, 17.58 +/- 1.63 mm) and the Torg ratio (mean +/- SD, 1.20 +/- 0.24) were normal in all of these children. CONCLUSION: Using the sagittal canal diameter and the Torg ratio as a measurement of congenital spinal stenosis, the authors did not find evidence of congenital cervical spinal stenosis in a group of children with sports-related cervical spinal cord neurapraxia. The occurrence of cervical cord neurapraxia in pediatric patients can be attributed to the mobility of the pediatric spine rather than to congenital cervical spinal stenosis.     

Thoracic spinal stenosis above severe thoracolumbar kyphosis a report of three cases

The neurological deficit can be seen in severe thoracolumbar kyphosis caused by spinal tuberculosis (early or late onset), fracture and congenital deformities. It is commonly believed that spinal cord compression at the severe kyphotic segment is mainly responsible for the neurological deficit. The purpose of this paper was to describe here a new entity of neurological deficit mechanism due to the thoracic spinal stenosis produced above the severe thoracolumbar kyphosis (transition zone from severe kyphosis to compensatory or structural lordosis). Three patients who were presented with this problem are described. The appropriate surgical treatment revealed the disappearance of the symptoms. We believe in that facet orientation change and direction of them towards spinal canal cause spinal canal stenosis and foraminal stenosis in the compensatory lordotic segment, which eventually becomes structural lordosis above the severe kyphotic segment. These changes result in shearing stresses in long period and cause facet hypertrophy and spinal canal narrowing.     

Posterolateral approach and anterior spinal canal recalibration in severe spinal injury affecting T-12, L-1: a study of seven cases

The authors present seven cases of spinal trauma at the T-12--L-1 level with severe spinal canal stenosis secondary to compressive, anterior discocorporeal lesions. Associated neurological disorders were of varying severity. Six cases were investigated by computed tomography, which enabled the degree of thoracolumbar spinal canal stenosis to be determined. In all cases, the surgical procedure involved rectification of spinal deformity, with an initial unilateral posterolateral approach permitting anterior spinal canal recalibration, either by impaction of protrusive fragments or ablation of ejected disc fragments. The stabilization was in all cases achieved by complimentary bilateral plates using Roy-Camille material, associated with posterolateral arthrodesis by grafting with reconstruction of the articulopedicular structure. The functional spinal result was excellent in all cases, and recalibration was verified by tomography. In those cases showing neurological deficiency, good and early recovery was attributable to the suppression of spinal canal stenosis. The application of this posterolateral approach for severe lesions of the thoracolumbar junction seems to represent, in all cases of recent lesions, an alternative to the anterior or combined methods, which present widely recognized difficulties at the thoracoabdominal junction.     

临床论著多节段经椎板间隙椎管扩大术治疗腰椎管狭窄症

目的:探讨多节段经椎板间隙椎管扩大术治疗腰椎管狭窄症的疗效。方法:采用潜式扩大中央椎管和神经根管或摘除椎间盘术式治疗腰椎管狭窄症共86例。其中2节段减压57例,3节段减压19例,4节段减压10例。术后进行Oswestry疗效评分与影像学观察。结果:术后CT显示椎管直径明显增加,椎管造影显示神经根管明显扩大。术后1年随访79例,疗效优良率90.1%;术后3年随访76例,优良率86.3%。结论:多节段经椎板间隙椎管扩大术操作简单,手术并发症少,中央椎管和神经根管减压充分,对腰椎后柱张力带结构破坏小,治疗腰椎管狭窄症疗效满意。     

Spinal cord injury in cervical spinal stenosis by minor trauma

BackgroundThe size of the spinal canal is a factor that contributes to the neurologic deficits associated with cervical OPLL and CSM. We investigate the development of neurologic deterioration after minor trauma and the clinical results of decompressive surgery in cervical spinal stenosis retrospectively.MethodWe treated 200 cases (98 cervical OPLLs and 102 CSMs) of cervical spinal stenosis for 8 years. There were 63 (33.5%) minor trauma cases to the cervical spine in 200 patients. Of these 63 patients, 18 developed myelopathy, 13 showed deterioration of preexisting myelopathy, and no neurologic change was observed in 32 patients. The neurologic status was assessed by the JOA score. The patients were divided into 2 groups according to the residual cervical spinal canal diameter: group I (<10 mm cervical spinal canal) and group II (≥10 mm cervical spinal canal).ResultsNeurologic outcome depended on the diameter of the residual spinal canal; 22 of the 25 patients in group I developed neurologic deterioration, whereas that occurred in 8 of the 38 patients in group II (P < .05). After surgical decompression, 8 patients in group I and 30 patients in group II came out with an improved JOA score of more than 50% (P < .05).ConclusionEven indirect minor trauma to the neck can cause irreversible changes in the spinal cord if there is marked stenosis of the cervical spinal canal. It may be beneficial to check lateral radiograph of the cervical spine as a screening tool for early detection of cervical spinal stenosis especially in Asian people older than 40 years.     

全椎板减压椎弓根钉棒内固定治疗多节段颈椎管狭窄

目的评价对多节段颈椎椎管狭窄症患者行后路全椎板切除、椎管减压、植骨融合并椎弓根内固定术的治疗效果。方法 2002年2月~2008年12月采用后路全椎板切除、椎管减压、植骨融合并椎弓根内固定术治疗多节段颈椎椎管狭窄患者35例,其中男20例,女15例;平均年龄为62.5岁。退变性椎管狭窄10例,发育性椎管狭窄12例,后纵韧带骨化伴椎管狭窄13例。患者颈椎椎管狭窄的节段均≥3个。术前日本骨科学会（Japanese Orthopaedics Association,JOA）评分为6.7±1.2分。结果手术时间平均为135 min。所有患者均获随访,随访时间为3~36个月,平均12.5个月,随访期间未发现严重的手术并发症发生。术后1周JOA评分为8.2±1.5分,与术前相比差异有统计学意义（P〈0.05）,术后6个月JOA评分为12.8±1.8分,与术后1周相比差异有统计学意义（P〈0.05）。结论椎管减压、植骨融合并椎弓根内固定术是治疗多节段颈椎椎管狭窄行之有效的方法,既解决了减压不彻底的问题,又保证了颈椎的稳定性;但颈椎椎弓根螺钉技术需要术者扎实的局部解剖知识以及丰富的置钉经验。     

Myelography in the elderly and the diagnosis of spinal stenosis

To evaluate the width of the spinal canal when diagnosing spinal stenosis, 91 patients older than 59 years of age when undergoing myelography were studied. Using a sagittal diameter of 11 mm as border for the diagnosis of spinal stenosis, it was found that 31 of the 66 patients with spinal claudication, suspicion of spinal claudication and sciatic pain fulfilled this criterion and that 3/25 of the control group and those with atypic symptoms had a sagittal diameter of 11 mm or less. Five patients showed a complete block on the myelogram, and all of them had a typical spinal claudication. The spinal canal will narrow with age in asymptomatic patients as well, and the myelographic stenosis in elderly patients is not always equivalent to a clinical diagnosis of spinal stenosis.     

Subdural spinal haematoma after epidural anaesthesia in a patient with spinal canal stenosis

A 60-year-old male with a past history of T12 fracture had epidural analgesia for a radical prostatectomy. It was unknown prior to epidural insertion that the patient had a canal stenosis at T12 from the previous injury. The patient developed severe bilateral buttock pain after epidural catheter removal. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a spinal subdural haematoma from T10 to L2 with mild cord compression. The patient made a successful recovery with conservative management. Neuraxial blockade should be approached with caution in patients with previous back injury, and only after a thorough assessment has been obtained to exclude spinal canal stenosis.     

The efficiency of ultrasound guided spinal fracture reposition

Summary To calculate canal compromise and decrease of midsagittal diameter caused by retropulsion of fragments into the spinal canal we analyzed the pre- and postoperative computed tomographies of 32 patients with unstable thoracolumbar burst fractures treated by USS (universal spine system). Our intention was to examine the efficiency of ultrasound guided repositioning of the dispaced fragments which was performed in all 32 cases. We found a clear postoperative enlargement of canal area (ASP preoperatively 55 %, postop. 80 %) and midsagittal diameter (MSD preop. 58 %, postop. 78 %). 10 of 13 patients presented a postoperative improvement of neurological deficit, no neurological deterioration occured. Fractures with neurological deficit showed more canal compromise (52 %) and less midsagittal diameter (MSD compromise 51 %) than those without (40 % or 39 %). There was no correlation between the percentage of spinal canal stenosis and the severity of neurological deficit. Below L 1 the spinal canal is greater than between Th 11 and L 1, so a more important spinal stenosis is tolerated. In case of unstable burst fractures with neurological deficit the ultrasound guided spinal fracture reposition is an effective procedure concerning the necessary improvement of spinal stenosis: an additional ventral approach for the revision of the spinal canal is unneeded. In fractures without neurologic deficit the repositioning of the displaced fragments promises an avoidance of long-term damages such as myelopathia and claudicatio spinalis.      

CT analysis of developmental spinal canal stenosis

The cervical and the lumbar vertebrae were analyzed by computed tomography in two groups. One group consisted of the patients with developmental stenosis of the cervical spine (the smallest AP diameter of the cervical spinal canal in the lateral view of X-ray was less than 12 mm) and the other was the control group (the smallest diameter was more than 14 mm). The canal to body ratio of the cross-sectional area (CBR), the modified Jones' "canal to body ratio" (JNS) and the flat index of the vertebral canal (FI) were measured at C4,C5, C6, L4 and L5. The shape of the vertebral canal of L4 and L5 was classified according to Baddeley. In the stenosis group, CBR and JNS were smaller at every measured level and FI was smaller at C4, C5 and C6 compared with the control group, Trefoil canals were found more frequently in the stenosis group. There was a clear relationship between the developmental stenosis of the cervical and the lumbar spinal canal. On treating patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy, one should consider the possibility of pan-spinal canal stenosis.     

胸椎管狭窄症的诊断和治疗

目的: 总结胸椎管狭窄症的临床特点, 加强对胸椎管狭窄症临床特点的认识。方法: 回顾总结获随访 120例经过手术治疗的胸椎管狭窄症患者的临床资料。98例行椎管后壁切除术, 侧前方入路行胸椎间盘或胸椎后纵韧带骨化病灶切除 17例 (其中经胸腔入路 7例, 经胸膜外或胸腹膜外 10例), 后路环椎管减压术 5例。随访时间最长 64个月, 最短 3个月, 平均 28个月。结果: 功能评定采用改良的Epstein评分标准, 优 51例, 良 42例, 改善 17例, 差 10例。优良率为 77. 5%。结论: 退变性胸椎管狭窄症症状复杂多样, 手术治疗是唯一选择。根据胸椎管狭窄症的不同病理改变选择手术方式, 可获得满意的效果。     

Simultaneous cervical and lumbar surgery for combined symptomatic cervical and lumbar spinal stenoses

Spinal stenosis may rarely involve both cervical and lumbar spines. An alternative surgical strategy used for the treatment of combined cervical and lumbar spinal stenosis is presented. Two cases with symptomatic combined stenosis of the cervical and lumbar spinal canal are described. Simultaneous surgery was performed in both cases. The combined stenosis of the cervical and lumbar spinal canal dictates careful neurologic and neuroradiologic examinations. Simultaneous surgery is an alternative approach for patients with symptomatic multilevel spinal stenoses, whose general conditions necessitate a one-session and short-lasting surgery.     

"Spinolith": case report of a loose body in the spinal canal

STUDY DESIGN: Case report. A hitherto unreported finding of a bony loose body found lying in the spinal canal causing spinal canal stenosis is presented. SUMMARY OF CLINICAL DETAILS: A 68-year-old, fit man presented with a history of progressive neurologic claudication and neurologic deficit in both his lower limbs. Clinical examination revealed excellent range of movements in his lumbar spine and bilaterally normal straight leg raising. He had no significant pain in his back. Neurologic examination showed affection of L5 and S1 dermatomes and myotomes bilaterally. Magnetic resonance imaging scan showed severe localized lumbar spinal stenosis at L4-L5. In the absence of any obvious pathology on the scan, it was presumed that the stenosis was the result of infolding of the redundant ligamentum flavum. His walking distance and neurologic deficit continued to deteriorate, although sphincters were not involved. He underwent a posterior spinal decompression of L4-L5. On performing the laminectomy an ovoid and well-defined pearly white loose body was discovered lying loose in the spinal canal causing stenosis. Histologically, the loose body consisted of trabecular bone with areas of cartilage. The patient made a speedy recovery after surgery and was back to his previous level of activity within a month. DISCUSSION: Several different types of foreign body have been identified in the spinal canal. However, this case of an autologous loose body in the spinal canal causing symptomatic canal stenosis is unique. Because the authors could not identify the source of this loose body, they have termed it "spinolith."