Giant-cell tumour of the sacrum in a child

Giant-cell tumours rarely are seen in children before epiphyseal fusion occurs and such tumours in the spine are uncommon. The authors report the case of a giant-cell tumour of the sacrum that developed in a 12-year-old girl before epiphyseal fusion. Embolization with activated microfibrillar collagen relieved her symptoms and was carried out twice before progression of the tumour necessitated radiotherapy. Giant-cell tumours of the spine are particularly difficult to manage since the accepted treatment for such tumours at other sites is wide resection, excisional curettage or surgical curettage with chemical cautery. However, embolization alone or combined with other methods of treatment is valuable, particularly in non-resectable giant-cell tumours of the spine.     

Giant-cell tumour in the cervical spine: a case report

A forty-six-year-old man presented with a two-month history of increasing neck pain of insidious onset. He received treatment from his familty doctor and chiropractor consisting of analgesics and manipulation respectively, both of which did not offer relief. The patient presented to University Hospital where plain radiographs and CT showed a pathological fracture of the C4 vertebral body. A neoplasm was suspected and surgical excision revealed a giant-cell tumour of bone. This type of neoplasm is rare in the spine and difficult to manage in this site. This case highlights some of the problems encountered in the treatment of giant-cell tumour of the spine.     

Giant-cell tumor of the tendon sheath involving the thoracic spine

Giant-cell tumor of the tendon sheath is a common benign lesion of the synovial membrane that frequently occurs in the hand. It is related to pigmented villonodular synovitis and the occurrence of pigmented villonodular synovitis or giant-cell tumor of the tendon sheath in the axial skeleton is very rare. To data, only three cases of giant-cell tumor of the tendon sheath involving cervical spine have been reported, compared with 26 cases of pigmented villonodular synovitis. Pigmented villonodular synovitis involving the thoracic spine is also extremely rare and our case represents the first reported case of a giant-cell tumor of the tendon sheath involving the thoracic spine. A 26-year-old man presented with left back pain without neurological deficit. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed an osteolytic and expansive lesion in the left facet joint between the seventh and eighth thoracic vertebrae. A complete facetectomy and excision of the lesion followed by a posterior arthrodesis between Th5 and Th9 was performed. Postoperatively, the patient recovered with complete relief of symptoms, there was no evidence of recurrent disease or regrowth of the residual lesion, as investigated by plain radiographs and MRI within a follow-up period of two years. Although giant-cell tumor of the tendon sheath in the thoracic spine may be extremely uncommon, it should be considered in the differential diagnosis, especially when a benign lesion appears to originate in the face joint. Considering the high rate of recurrence, every effort should be made to achieve total excision.     

The facet joint and its role in spine pain. Management with facet joint injections

Mechanical derangements of the lumbar spine, causing predominantly back pain with the absence of nerve root irritation or compromise, present a difficult treatment challenge to the average physician. The author suggests that facet joint injections offer a simple, safe, and often dramatically effective means for managing these problems. The historic background and technique are described in detail. The author presents his personal experience with 99 patients receiving a total of 117 facet joint injections in this retrospective, uncontrolled review. Results were classified as excellent in 17%, good in 25%, fair in 9%, mediocre in 4%, and no change in symptoms occurred in 44%. The procedure is recommended for diagnostic and conservative therapy.     

The biomechanical influence of the facet joint orientation and the facet tropism in the lumbar spine

Background contextFacet joint orientation and facet tropism (FT) are presented as the potential anatomical predisposing factors for lumbar degenerative changes that may lead in turn to early degeneration and herniation of the corresponding disc or degenerative spondylolisthesis. However, no biomechanical study of this concept has been reported.PurposeTo investigate the biomechanical influence of the facet orientation and FT on stress on the corresponding segment.Study designFinite element analysis.MethodsThree models, F50, F55, and F60 were simulated with different facet joint orientations (50°, 55°, and 60° relative to coronal plane) at both L2–L3 facet joints. A FT model was also simulated to represent a 50° facet joint angle at the right side and a 60° facet joint angle at the left side in the L2–L3 segment. In each model, the intradiscal pressures were investigated under four pure moments and anterior shear force. Facet contact forces at the L2–L3 segment were also analyzed under extension and torsion moments and anterior shear force. This study was supported by 5000 CHF grant of 2011 AO Spine Research Korea fund. The authors of this study have no topic-specific potential conflicts of interest related to this study.ResultsThe F50, F55, and F60 models did not differ in the intradiscal pressures generated under four pure moments: but under anterior shear force, the F60 and FT models showed increases of intradiscal pressure. The F50 model under extension and the F60 model under torsion each generated an increase in facet contact force. In all conditions tested, the FT model yielded the greatest increase of intradiscal pressure and facet contact force of all the models.ConclusionsThe facet orientation per se did not increase disc stress or facet joint stress prominently at the corresponding level under four pure moments, but FT could make the corresponding segment more vulnerable to external moments or anterior shear force.     

Giant-cell tumour of bone

Summary Thirty-nine patients with giant-cell tumours of bone were reviewed. Twelve of these were unusually large. Fungation of the tumours did not occur spontaneously but only after incision or trauma. Fungation of the tumour or local infiltration of soft tissues was not always associated with histological signs or a clinical course of malignancy. Radical resection in the lower limbs lead to frequent complications with fracture through the bone graft and thorough but more conservative local curretage is recommended particularly in the weight bearing bones.

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Résumé Révision de 39 cas de tumeurs osseuses à cellules géantes, dont 12 de volume inhabituel. Ces tumeurs ne s'ulcèrent pas de façon spontanée, mais à la suite d'une incision chirurgicale ou d'un traumatisme. L'ulcération de la tumeur ou l'infiltration locale des parties molles ne s'accompagne pas toujours de signes histologiques de malignité ni d'une évolution clinique défavorable.Au niveau des membres inférieurs la résection complète entraîne souvent des complications avec fracture de la zone greffée. Un traitement plus conservateur par curettage local minutieux est donc plus particulièrement recommandé au niveau des os qui supportent le poids du corps.

     

In vivo facet joint loading of the canine lumbar spine.

This study describes a technique to measure in vivo loads and the resultant load-contact locations in the facet joint of the canine lumbar spine. The technique is a modification of a previously described in vitro method that used calibrated surface strains of the lateral aspect of the right L3 cranial articular process. In the present study, strains were measured during various in vivo static and dynamic activities 3 days after strain gage implantation. The in vivo recording technique and its errors, which depend on the location of the applied facet loads, is described. The results of applying the technique to five dogs gave the following results. Relative resultant contact load locations on the facet tended to be in the central and caudal portion of the facet in extension activities, central and cranial in standing, and cranial and ventral in flexion or right-turning activities. Right-turning contact locations were ventral and cranial to left-turning locations. Resultant load locations at peak loading during walking were in the central region of the facet, whereas resultant load locations at minimum loading during walking were relatively craniad. This resultant load-contact location during a walk gait cycle typically migrated in an arc with a displacement of 4 mm from minimum to maximum loading. Static tests resulted in a range of facet loads of 0 N in flexion and lying to 185 N for two-legged standing erect, and stand resulted in facet loads of 26 +/- 15 N (mean +/- standard deviation [SD]). Dynamic tests resulted in peak facet loads ranging from 55 N while walking erect to 170 N for climbing up stairs. Maximum walk facet loads were 107 +/- 27 N. The technique is applicable to in vivo studies of a canine facet joint osteoarthritis model and may be useful for establishing an understanding of the biomechanics of low-back pain.     

Translaminar facet joint screws to enhance segmental fusion of the lumbar spine

Summary From 1984 to 1988, 70 consecutive lumbar and lumbosacral spine fusions enhanced with translaminar facet joint screws were performed for segmental degenerative disease. Twenty patients had partial decompression of central stenosis, 15 concomitant discectomy, and 19 lateral nerve root decompression. The mean time to fusion was 4.5 months (range 2–7 months). At follow-up (average 45 months; range 24–74 months) 98.5% were judged to have solid fusion. Satisfactory results were observed in 84% of cases, 91% without previous surgery and 75% after previous discectomy. Supplementation of posterolateral fusion by translaminar facet screws significantly improved time to fusion, fusion rate, and clinical outcomes with no significant increased complications.     

Ultrasound guidance for facet joint injections in the lumbar spine: a computed tomography-controlled feasibility study

We conducted this study to develop an ultrasound-guided approach for facet joint injections of the lumbar spine. Five zygapophyseal joints (L1-S1) on each side of 5 embalmed cadavers were examined by ultrasound for a total of 50 examinations. The joint space was demonstrated under ultrasound guidance. The midpoint of the joint space, defined as the middle of its cranio-caudal extension on its dorsal surface, was taken as a reference point, and its position was computed from its depth and lateral distance from the spinous process. Forty-two of 50 approaches could be clearly visualized. Subsequently, these distances were compared to those obtained by computed tomography (CT). To assess the efficacy of ultrasound in the needle placement, all lumbar facet joints were approached in one embalmed cadaver. The exact placement of the needle tips was again evaluated by CT. Ultrasound and CT measurements showed the same mean depth and lateral distance to the reference point, 3.15 +/- 0.5 cm and 1.9 +/- 0.6 cm, respectively. Pearson's coefficient of correlation was 0.86 (P < 0.0001) between ultrasound and CT. All 10 needle tips were within the joint space during simulated facet joint injections. We conclude that ultrasound guidance might be a useful adjunct for facet joint injections in the lumbar spine. IMPLICATIONS: This study was designed to develop an ultrasound-guided approach to the facet joints of the lumbar spine and to assess its feasibility and accuracy by means of a comparison to computed tomography images. The imaging study demonstrated a significant correlation between ultrasound and computed tomography measurements. During simulated facet injection, ultrasound guidance consistently resulted in accurate needle placement.     

Enhancement of lumbar spine fusion by use of translaminar facet joint screws

From January 1983 to March 1986 the authors have performed 88 consecutive lumbosacral spine fusion, enhanced with translaminar facet screws, as described by F. Magerl of St. Gallen, Switzerland. Forty-three patients have a follow-up of 12 months or greater, for a mean follow-up time of 16 months. The median time to fusion in this group was 6 months, with a range of 6 weeks to 10 months. Ninety-three percent of the patients were found to be clinically improved, and 91% of patients were judged solidly fused on evaluation of motion radiographs. Compared with our previously reported results for lumbar fusion without internal fixation, supplementation of lumbar fusion by translaminar facet screw fixation significantly improved the clinical results, as well as the time required for fusion, with no significant increased risk.     

Surgical management of facet cysts in the thoracic spine: Radiological manifestations and results of fenestration

BackgroundFacet cysts in the thoracic spine are a rare cause of thoracic myelopathy. We aimed to investigate the clinical/radiological features and surgical results of these lesions.MethodsNine thoracic facet cysts in eight patients (seven men, one woman) were diagnosed based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) with facet arthrography findings and surgically treated. The mean patient age was 71 (59–83) years. The cysts were distributed as follows: one each at T8–9 and T9–10, two each at T1–2 and T11–12, and three at T10–11. The mean follow-up period was 1.8 (1–5) years. Clinical and radiological features were retrospectively investigated, and surgical outcomes were evaluated according to modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) scores for thoracic myelopathy (full score: 11).ResultsNeurological examination revealed progressive thoracic transverse myelopathy in all patients with a mean disease duration of 1.2 months (2 weeks–2 months). MRI revealed a total of nine cysts across the eight patients: four in the median region and five in the paramedian portion of the spinal canal. CT revealed degeneration in all involved facet joints. All the cysts were in communication with the neighboring facet joint confirmed by CT facet arthrography. All patients underwent bilateral fenestration, and the cysts were resected with the ligamentum flavum. The mean preoperative and postoperative modified JOA scores were 4.5 and 8.8, respectively. The mean recovery rate was 67.5%. Differences in the degree of local kyphosis were 2° or less between before and after surgery. On histopathology, synovial lining cells were not noted in any case.ConclusionsDecompression surgery is recommended for treating progressive myelopathy in patients with cystic lesions. Our study suggests that thoracic facet cyst resection with satisfactory surgical outcomes would be possible through fenestration.