What is the best treatment option for cervical spinal cord injury by os odontoideum in a patient with athetoid dystonic cerebral palsy?

Context: Atlantoaxial instability in an athetoid dystonic cerebral palsy patient due to os odentoideum represents a rare cause of high-level cervical spinal cord injury. There is no evidence-based treatment protocol for this injury and a number of reports have debated whether nonsurgical or surgical treatment is the best option.Findings: Here, we report the case of a 32-year-old athetoid dystonic cerebral palsy patient with os odontoideum (OO) causing compressive myelopathy on the C1–2 levels. About two weeks after atlantoaxial fusion, the patient started an intensive rehabilitation program and maintained it for four weeks. He showed neurological and functional improvement at discharge after four weeks of training. There were further improvements in function and symptoms four weeks after discharge.Conclusion: Intensive rehabilitation programs are important for the recovery and good prognosis in spinal cord injury patients. However, rehabilitation of CP patients with spinal cord injury is often neglected. We provided intensive rehabilitation therapy to a patient for a cervical spinal cord injury by OO with athetoid dystonic cerebral palsy and achieved neurological and functional recovery.     

Syringomyelia caused by cervical spondylosis

Summary Syringomyelia is generally associated with Chiari type malformations, spinal tumors, or spinal trauma. Cervical spondylosis is only rarely involved.We here present a case of a 64-year-old woman with severe radicular pain in the right arm and the syringomyelic syndrome. Lateral radiographs of the cervical spine demonstrated spondylotic change at the C4/5 and C6/7 levels, and instability at C4/5. Dynamic magnetic resonance (MR) imaging revealed the spinal cord to be compressed at C5 and C6 with the body in extension, and the syrinx extended from C2 to the Th3 level on sagittal images. It was reduced remarkably after anterior decompression and stabilization at C4/5 and C6/7, and her symptoms also improved after surgery.We concluded that the syrinx in this case might have developed due to craniospinal pressure dissociation caused by intermittent spinal cord compression.     

颈椎病伴椎管狭窄患者再手术问题探讨

目的：探讨颈椎病伴椎管狭窄患者再手术的原因、手术方式及其相关问题。方法：我院2002年7月～2003年12月对40例颈椎病伴椎管狭窄术后疗效不佳或症状复发的患者进行了后路多节段（5个或以上）减压手术。根据其手术治疗方式及影像学资料分析再手术原因，并进行术后疗效评价。结果：经前路手术者再手术的主要原因为：（1）伴有多节段颈椎管狭窄因素时，只选择部分压迫重的节段行减压融合15例；（2）经前路多节段（≥3个节段）减压融合后，相邻节段继续退变，出现新的脊髓压迫表现及椎间不稳定9例；（3）伴有OPLL时，行部分节段前路减压融合后，病变呈进展表现，产生或加重对脊髓的压迫8例。经后路手术者再手术的原因为：（1）后路减压节段不够5例（包括1例前后路联合手术者）；（2）后路减压不充分3例。再手术后随访1．3～2．7年，平均2．1年，所有患者脊髓功能获得一定的提高，JOA评分改善率为51．3％。结论：颈椎病伴椎管狭窄病例再手术的主要原因为椎管狭窄因素仍然存在，经后路多节段（5个或以上）减压手术治疗可彻底去除颈椎管狭窄因素，有效解除脊髓前、后方所受的压迫，可获得较满意的临床疗效。     

Cervical myelopathy in athetoid and dystonic cerebral palsy: retrospective study and literature review

The early onset of degenerative cervical lesions has been well described in patients suffering from athetoid or dystonic cerebral palsy. Myelopathy can occur and aggravate of their unstable neurological status. Diagnosis and treatment are delayed and disrupted by the abnormal movements. This retrospective study was implemented to evaluate the symptoms, the anatomical findings, and the surgical management of seven patients from 20 to 56 years old suffering from cervical myelopathy and athetoid or dystonic cerebral palsy. The mean delay in diagnosis was 15 months and the mean follow-up was 33 months. The initial symptoms were spasticity, limbs weakness, paresthesias and vesico-sphinteric dysfunction. In addition to abnormal movements, imaging demonstrated disc herniation, spinal stenosis and instability. All patients were managed surgically by performing simultaneous spinal cord decompression and fusion. Two patients benefited from preoperative botulinum toxin injections, which facilitated postoperative care and immobilization. Strict postoperative immobilization was achieved for 3 months by a Philadelphia collar or a cervico-thoracic orthosis. All patients improved functionally with a mean Japanese Orthopaedic Association score gain of 1.5 points, in spite of the permanent disabilities of the myelopathy. Complications occurred with wound infection, metal failure and relapse of cervical myelopathy at an adjacent level in one case each. All the previous authors advised against isolated laminectomy but no consensus emerged from the literature analysis. Spinal fusion is usually recommended but can be complicated by degenerative adjacent deterioration. Surgical management provides good outcomes but requires a long-term follow-up.     

Surgical outcomes of cervical myelopathy in patients with athetoid cerebral palsy

Purpose

Surgical treatment for cervical myelopathy with athetoid cerebral palsy remains unestablished. Instrumented fusion is reported to have good clinical results; however, there are no data of decompression surgery for this pathology in recent years. This study aimed to assess the surgical outcomes of laminoplasty with or without posterior instrumented fusion for cervical myelopathy in patients with athetoid cerebral palsy.

Methods

A multi-centre surgical series of patients with cervical myelopathy and athetoid cerebral palsy were enrolled in this study. All patients showed symptoms and signs suggestive of cervical myelopathy and underwent laminoplasty with or without instrumented fusion. The Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score, Barthel index (BI), and changes in the C2–C7 sagittal Cobb angle in the lateral plain radiograph were analysed.

Results

There were 25 patients (16 men and 9 women; mean age, 54.4 ± 10.8 years) with cervical myelopathy and athetoid cerebral palsy who underwent surgical treatment. The mean follow-up period was 41.9 ± 35.6 months. Overall, the BI significantly improved after surgery, whereas the JOA score and C2–C7 angle did not improve postoperatively. The recovery rate of the JOA score in the laminoplasty group was significantly higher than that of the fusion group (P = 0.02).

Conclusions

Cervical laminoplasty with or without instrumented fusion for treating cervical myelopathy due to athetoid cerebral palsy is effective in improving activities of daily living. Cervical laminoplasty may be an effective and less invasive surgical method for selective patients, especially for those with small involuntary movements and no remarkable cervical kyphosis nor instability.

     

Dropped head syndrome associated with cervical spondylotic myelopathy

We report a case of an 80-year-old woman with dropped head syndrome associated with cervical spondylotic myelopathy. She could not keep her cervical spine in a neutral position for >1 minute. She had a disturbed gait and severe kyphotic deformity in her thoracic spine. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed severe compression of the spinal cord due to cervical spondylotic change. Laminoplasty from C2 through C6 levels was performed. One year after operation, she could keep her cervical spine in a neutral position easily. Her gait was also improved. The symptoms did not recur during 4 years of follow-up. We surmise that to maintain daily activities, she had to extend her cervical spine owing to the thoracic kyphotic deformity, resulting in compression of the spinal cord. The compression led to weakening of the cervical extensor muscles. Cervical laminoplasty was effective.     

Cervical spondylotic myelopathy: treatment with posterior decompression and Luque rectangle bone fusion

Cervical spondylotic myelopathy appears to result from a combination of factors. The two major components are 1) compressive forces resulting from narrowing of the spinal canal, and 2) dynamic forces owing to mobility of the cervical spine. There is substantial evidence to suggest that the repetitive trauma to the spinal cord that is sustained with movement in a spondylotic canal may be a major cause of progressive myelopathy. Utilization of extensive anterior procedures that remove the diseased ventral features as well as eliminate the dynamic forces owing to the accompanying fusion have grown in popularity. Cervical laminectomy enlarges the spinal canal, but does not reduce the dynamic forces affecting the spinal cord, and may actually increase cervical mobility, leading to a perpetuation of the myelopathy. The authors propose the combination of posterior decompression and Luque rectangle bone fusion to deal with both the compressive and the dynamic factors that lead to cervical spondylotic myelopathy. Ten patients who had advanced myelopathy underwent the combined procedures. Nine of the 10 experienced significant neurological improvement, and the 10th has had no progression. The combination of posterior decompression and Luque rectangle bone fusion may offer a simple, safe, and effective alternative treatment for cervical spondylotic myelopathy.     

颈椎后方韧带复合体也许是多节段颈椎病后路手术的新思路

颈椎病是影响国人乃至全人类最常见的脊柱退行性疾患之一,颈椎病会给病人带来极大的不适和生活困扰。后路减压手术是治疗颈椎病,尤其是多节段颈椎病变最常用的手术方式。然而,后路手术需将颈椎棘突和附着在其上的棘上、棘间韧带部分或完全切除,从而破坏了颈椎后方韧带复合体的功能,术后病人易出现颈椎反曲、鹅颈畸形、颈椎失稳,甚至出现迟发性脊髓神经受压。所以,近年来越来越多的研究开始集中于避免破坏颈椎后方韧带复合体,国内外学者从集中术式改良和手术入路改良两方面进行了一些研究,均直接或间接的证明了保留颈椎后方韧带复合体的手术方式具有更好的治疗效果。故本文就近年来保留颈椎后方韧带复合体的术式研究作一综述,希望能为未来多节段退变性颈椎病后路的治疗提供一个新的思路。     

颈椎病致脊髓前动脉综合征

目的 报告一组因颈椎病引起的脊髓前动脉综合征,分析其临床表现,并探讨其机制和影像学表现特点和治疗.方法 共25例,男16例,女9例;平均年龄53.2岁.在典型的脊髓型颈椎病基础上无外伤等明显诱因,短期内症状急剧加重19例,逐渐加重6例.除脊髓型颈椎病的体征外,均出现浅感觉丧失或减退,而深感觉存在的"感觉分离"现象.下肢痉挛性瘫痪.其中12例伴有不同程度的肛门、膀胱功能失控.X线片和CT显示颈椎不同程度的退变.其中伴有颈椎管狭窄10例、颈椎不稳12例、颈椎后纵韧带骨化6例.MR检查发现均为椎间盘中央型突出,脊髓前中央受压迫.脊髓多有不同程度地萎缩.大部分病例在脊髓前2/3 T1WI信号稍低或无明显变化,T2WI高信号或稍高信号,但有6例T1WI和T2WI信号均无改变.在缓慢起病的患者中,有3例脊髓前2/3囊性变.前路减雎24例,后路减压1例,采用JOA评分评估疗效.结果 平均随访16个月,术后疗效优(脊髓功能恢复率≥75%)11例,良(50%～74%)7例,一般(25%～49%)6例,差(≤24%)1例.结论 在无明显诱因下颈椎病椎间盘中央型突出可引起脊髓前动脉综合征."感觉分离"是诊断此疾病的基础,同时结合病史、临床症状和其他体征以及影像学检查给予确诊.及时减压可取得较佳的疗效.     

Long-term results of double-door laminoplasty for cervical stenotic myelopathy

STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective study of the long-term results from double-door laminoplasty (Kurokawa's method) for patients with myelopathy caused by ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament and cervical spondylosis was performed. OBJECTIVE: To know whether the short-term results from double-door laminoplasty were maintained over a 10-year period and, if not, the cause of late deterioration. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: There are few long-term follow-up studies on the outcome of laminoplasty for cervical stenotic myelopathy. METHODS: In this study, 35 patients with cervical myelopathy caused by ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament in the cervical spine and 25 patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy, including 5 patients with athetoid cerebral palsy, underwent double-door laminoplasty from 1980 through 1988 and were followed over the next 10 years. The average follow-up period was 153 months (range, 120-200 months) in patients with ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament and 156 months (range, 121-218 months) in patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy. Neurologic deficits before and after surgery were assessed using a scoring system proposed by the Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA score). Patients who showed late deterioration received further examination including computed tomography scan and magnetic resonance imaging of the cervical spine. RESULTS: In 32 of the patients with ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament and 23 of the patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy, myelopathy improved after surgery. The improvement of Japanese Orthopedic Association scores was maintained up to the final follow-up assessment in 26 of the patients with ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament and 21 of the patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy. Late neurologic deterioration occurred in 10 of the patients with ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament an average of 8 years after surgery, and in 4 of the patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy, including the 3 patients with athetoid cerebral palsy, an average of 11 years after surgery. The main causes of deterioration in patients with ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament were a minor trauma in patients with residual cervical cord compression caused by ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament and thoracic myelopathy resulting from ossification of the yellow ligament in the thoracic spine. CONCLUSIONS: The short-term results of laminoplasty for cervical stenotic myelopathy were maintained over 10years in 78% of the patients with ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament, and in most of the patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy, except those with athetoid cerebral palsy. Double-door laminoplasty is a reliable procedure for individuals with cervical stenotic myelopathy.     

Combined laminoplasty with posterior lateral mass plate for unstable spondylotic cervical canal stenosis--technical note

A technique of combined expanding laminoplasty using longitudinal interspinous iliac bone graft with posterior lateral mass plate is described for the treatment of cervical canal stenosis associated with spinal instability. A 52-year-old male and a 76-year-old female presented with cervical myelopathy. Imaging studies demonstrated spondylotic cervical canal stenosis associated with spinal instability. Posterior stabilization with lateral mass plate by the Axis Fixation System was performed after expanding laminoplasty using interspinous iliac bone graft. The symptoms improved and instability and malalignment (in the female patient) also improved after surgery. This combined surgical technique allows decompression of the spinal cord, immediate internal fixation by plate fixation, and subsequent long-term stabilization by interspinous bony fusion. This technique is indicated in selected patients with multiple segment spondylotic cervical canal stenosis associated with instability and/or malalignment of the spinal column for which simultaneous decompression and stabilization are required.     

Symptomatic retro-odontoid pseudotumor causing calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate deposition combined with multilevel cervical spondylotic myelopathy

IntroductionSymptomatic retro-odontoid pseudotumor (ROP) caused by cervical compression and myelopathy is rare. Pathological diagnosis is recommended for differential diagnosis including the following: inflammatory disease, primary bone tumor, metastatic disease and calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate deposition (CPPD) also known as “crowned dens syndrome”. The authors report a rare case of ROP caused by CPPD deposition combined with multilevel cervical spondylotic myelopathy (MCSM) which was treated by tumor resectioning using a transoral approach combined with posterior decompression and fusion.Case presentationA 66-year-old male presented with progressive neck pain and spastic gait with no history of trauma. Radiographic imaging revealed degenerative change involving the atlanto-axial and atlanto-occipital joints with calcified enhancing soft tissue around the odontoid process causing cord compression and cervical instability at the C1-C2 level combined with MCSM and spinal cord compression at C3 to C7. Microscopic assisted transoral tumor resection combined with posterior decompression and fusion was performed at the occiput to T2. The pathology report describes a rhomboid-shaped crystal caused by calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate deposition (CPPD) disease. At the 6-month follow-up following the operation, the patient's neck pain and spastic gait were improved compared to the preoperative examination.DiscussionCervical compression and myelopathy from ROP causing CPPD combined with MCSM is rare. Pathology diagnosis and surgical management are highly recommended.ConclusionIn this case, a combined surgical approach: tumor resection using a transoral approach and a posterior approach for decompression and fusion at occiput to T2 was an effective option for this condition.     

Cervical spondylotic amyotrophy treated by anterior decompression. Three case reports

Cervical spondylotic amyotrophy (CSA) is a rare type of cervical spondylotic disorder. The surgical treatment of CSA is controversial. We treated three patients with the proximal type of CSA by anterior decompression. Three men (65, 61, and 58 years old) presented with CSA manifesting as unilateral muscle weakness and atrophy in the deltoid and biceps muscles without significant sensory deficit. Preoperative neuroradiological examinations revealed anterolateral spinal cord compression in one patient and ventral root compression in two patients at the C4-5 and C5-6 spaces. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging showed no abnormal intramedullary signal intensity in any patient. Vertebrotomy deviated to the lesion side was performed to provide a better view of the laterally situated osteophytes. Anterior decompression was focused on the paramedial to lateral area, and further foraminotomy was performed according to the radiological findings. After decompression, intervertebral instrumentation was performed using titanium cervical cages. Two of the patients had good recovery of motor strength and one had moderate recovery despite persistent motor atrophy. Surgical intervention is effective in patients with CSA despite severe muscle atrophy unless MR imaging shows the presence of severe degenerative intramedullary lesion.     

Cervical spondylotic myelopathy. Approaches to surgical treatment

Cervical spondylotic myelopathy is the leading cause of spinal cord dysfunction in older patients. This review article looks at the natural history of the condition and examines the role of different surgical treatments for it. Anterior and posterior surgical approaches have a role in the treatment of cervical spondylotic myelopathy dependent on the number of levels involved and the alignment of the spine. Anterior decompression and fusion is useful in patients who have disease at three or fewer levels or in patients with kyphotic alignment. In more extensive disease, a posterior decompression and fusion is usually best. Canal expansive laminoplasty is useful in the treatment of myelopathy without radiculopathy in a patient with lordotic alignment. With the exception of laminoplasty, nonfusion procedures have little role in the treatment of cervical spondylotic myelopathy.     

颈椎后路单开门联合前路选择性减压融合治疗多节段钳夹型脊髓型颈椎病的临床疗效

目的探讨颈椎后路译开门联合前路选择性减压融合治疗多节段钳夹型脊髓型颈椎病的临床疗效。方法回顾分析2009—03—2012-06我科收治的24例钳夹型脊髓型颈椎病患者的资料,对比分析术前,末次随访．10A评分并观察颈部症状和活动情况。结果术前JOA评分平均8．7分,末次随访JOA评分平均14．9分．改善率74．4％,术后CT片示：植骨愈合良好,柞管矢状径明显扩大,MRI示脊髓受压解除。结论对于多节段钳夹型脊髓型颈椎病施行一期前后联合减压融合手术治疗疗效满意。     

后路选择性扩大减压、侧块螺钉内固定治疗伴有曲度后凸的多节段颈椎病

 目的 探讨后路选择性扩大减压、侧块螺钉内固定治疗伴有曲度后凸的多节段颈椎病的疗效及并发症预防。方法 2008年1月至2011年1月,采用颈椎后路手术治疗的患者43例,年龄42～74岁,平均59.6岁。手术前后采用日本骨科协会评分(Japanese Orthopaedic Association Scores,JOA)判定神经功能,颈椎功能残障指数量表(neck disability index,NDI)评价颈肩轴性痛程度,Ishihara法测定颈椎曲率指数(cervical curvature index, CI),在MRI上测量脊髓扩大和后移程度。结果 43例患者手术平均减压(3.91±0.86)个节段(3～5个节段)。全部病例平均随访38个月(20～60个月)。术后3～6个月复查时颈椎植骨完全融合。术后JOA评分为(14.31±1.33)分,较术前(8.16±1.11)分有明显改善,临床效果优良率为95.34%。术后CI为15.30%±3.18%,较术前7.36%±9.69%有明显改善。术后颈椎中立位MRI显示最狭窄处硬膜囊前后径为(6.10±0.89) mm较术前(2.92±1.49) mm明显增加,较术前增加了108.9%。颈脊髓平均向后漂移(4.59±1.20) mm(2.97～6.68 mm)。术后NDI评分为(4.90±2.46)分,较术前(19.36±8.61)分有明显改善。随访期间均未出现C5神经根麻痹,无内固定松动、脱出、断裂等并发症发生。结论 后路选择性扩大减压、侧块螺钉内固定术治疗伴有曲度后凸的多节段颈椎病,能有效地改善神经功能,恢复和维持颈椎正常曲度,降低轴性症状和C5神经根麻痹发生率。     

Myelopathy caused by hypertrophy of the posterior longitudinal ligament (HPLL): case report

A case of myelopathy caused by hypertrophy of the posterior longitudinal ligament at the cervical spine is reported. A 71-year-old man was hospitalized with myelopathy with progressed during the last two months. Plain X-ray of the cervical spine revealed only mild spondylotic change. Myelography demonstrated completely blocked contrast medium at C4 to C5 vertebral height due to epidural mass. This epidural mass was localized ventral to the spinal cord from C3 to C5. CT scan revealed slightly high density area behind the vertebral body. On surgery, no evidence of disc fragment but only hypertrophied posterior longitudinal ligament which was removed was found to be a cause of cord compression. Excellent recovery of neurological symptoms after operation was obtained. On histological study, remarkable hypertrophy, edema, hyalinoid degeneration and a little calcification of the ligament was found, which did not show any evidence of new bone formation. HPLL was characterized by thickened and broad epidural mass in the ventral side of cervical cord with Hounsfield number of 90-156 on CT scan, which is not very easy to differentiate from metastatic epidural tumor. The cause of HPLL is not well elucidated, though, this may be a new category of compression myelopathy.     

Expansive laminoplasty for myelopathy in ossification of the longitudinal ligament

Laminectomy, which had long been used for treatment of cervical spondylotic myelopathy, including ossification of the longitudinal ligament in the cervical spine, had numerous complications such as postoperative malalignment of the cervical spine and vulnerability of the spinal cord caused by total removal of the posterior structures. In 1977 Hirabayashi devised an open door expansive laminoplasty, which is a relatively easier and safer procedure than laminectomy, that eliminated such problems by preserving the posterior elements. The decompression effect of the expansive laminoplasty against a compressed spinal cord is comparable with that of laminectomy and anterior decompression followed by fusion, whereas the expansive laminoplasty has no structural problems and adverse effects on adjacent disc levels that often are associated with anterior decompression followed by fusion. Average recovery rate of expansive laminoplasty for cervical spondylotic myelopathy has been reported to be approximately 60% (Japanese Orthopaedic Association score) and with long term stability. At present, authors consider all patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy candidates for expansive laminoplasty except for those having preoperative kyphosis and single level lesion without canal stenosis. Two remaining problems of expansive laminoplasty to be solved are prevention of C5,C6 radicular pain and/or paresis, the most frequent complication that occurs in approximately 5% to 10% of the patients, although most complications resolve spontaneously within 2 years, and correction of nonlordotic alignment to lordosis which are essential for posterior decompression effect of expansive laminoplasty by allowing the spinal cord to shift dorsally.     

单开门颈椎管成形联合单侧侧块固定术治疗颈椎伤病

目的探讨单开门颈椎管扩大成形单侧侧块内固定联合植骨术治疗颈椎伤病的可行性和疗效。方法利用单开门颈椎管扩大成形单侧侧块内固定联合植骨术治疗颈椎伤病患者16例,手术减压节段包括C3~53个节段2例,C3~64个节段5例,C3~75个节段9例。手术方式均采用单开门颈椎管扩大成形,门轴侧行侧块螺钉钢板内固定,并大量植骨。结果术中及术后均未发生脊髓、神经根及血管副损伤。全部患者平均随访18个月,术后3个月时JOA评分从术前的7.9分提高到13.1分。随访期间未见内固定物移位断裂及椎板再关门现象,门轴侧骨折处骨质融合。结论单开门颈椎管扩大成形单侧侧块内固定联合植骨术治疗颈椎伤病疗效安全可靠,经济实用,在椎管扩大成形获得即刻稳定的同时,提高植骨融合率,减少后凸畸形及失稳的发生率,减少椎板再关门现象。     

Cervical spondylotic myelopathy in athetoid cerebral palsy patients: about five cases

We herein report five cases of cerebral palsy athetosic patients with spondyloid cervical myelopathy. Four of them underwent decompressive surgery. The level of cervicarthrosis differs from a control population with a more frequent osteoarthritis on the lower cervical spine. The diagnosis of spondylotic cervical myelopathy is frequently overlooked because of the insidious progression of neurologic disorders and of the pre-existent neurological handicap. Depressive syndrome is often evoked in such a situation, and thus responsible for a delay of diagnosis. The presence of an hypersignal in T2 MRI sequences is still controversial. For some authors it is an indication for surgery, which is the treatment with the best functional results. CONCLUSION: Cervical spondylotic myelopathy must be evoked in patients with athetoid cerebral palsy who complain about a decrease of their functional ability.