2015, Vol.22, No.4

Journal of Korean Society of Spine Surgery 2023 KCI Impact Factor : 0.03

pISSN : 2093-4378 / eISSN : 2093-4386
https://journal.kci.go.kr/krspine

Study Design: Retrospective study. Objectives: To determine the influence of trauma on the neurologic course in patients who have undergone surgery for cervical myelopathy. Summary of Literature Review: The postsurgical outcomes were worse from trauma in patients who had a cervical ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) or cervical canal stenosis, in comparison with patients who did not. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted on 70 patients who had undergone surgery due to cervical myelopathy from January 2004 to December 2013 and had at least 1 year of follow-up. Depending on trauma history, the patients were divided into two groups, and their radiological (simple radiographic, computed tomographic, and magnetic resonance imaging) and clinical (Japanese Orthopaedic Association [JOA] score, motor power of upper extremities) results were compared retrospectively. Results: Among 70 patients in total, 18 patients were in the trauma group and 52 were in the non-trauma group, and all cases in the trauma group had a history of minor trauma (11 cases of drivers traffic accidents, 4 cases of slipping and falling, 2 cases of minor pedestrian accidents, and 1 case of falling). Radiologically narrower diameter of the spinal canal showed statistically significant difference between two groups (p=0.042). The JOA scores before and after surgery and the recovery rate did not have a clinically meaningful difference with trauma. However, the degree of motor improvement was significantly higher for the trauma group within 1 week after surgery (p=0.040). Conclusions: Minor trauma itself may adversely affect the patients’ clinical courses.

Study Design: This is a retrospective study. Objectives: To analyze the clinical outcomes of simple discectomy in patients with recurrent lumbar disc herniation. Summary of Literature Review: There are two methods of studying the treatment of recurrent lumbar disc herniation. The first type of study considers fusion for the prevention of complications such as postoperative lumbar segmental instability and persistent back pain. The second type of study assumes that simple discectomy without fusion is sufficient in the surgical management of recurrent lumbar disc herniation. Materials and Methods: Sixteen patients who underwent simple discectomy due to recurrent lumbar disc herniation were followed up over 3 years. The mean age was 52.8 years (38-68 years). The mean follow-up period was 75.4 months (36-144 months). VAS scores for back pain and radiating lower leg pain were each compared pre- and post-operatively. The Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) was used to analyze the clinical outcome. A modified MacNab’s outcome was used to evaluate patient satisfaction. Subjective survey data in a Delphi checklist was reviewed to verify clinical lumbar instability. Results: The mean back pain VAS score showed 87.5% improvement (p<0.001). The mean lower leg VAS score showed 89% improvement (p<0.001). The mean preoperative ODI score was 29.9, and the mean score checked at the last follow up was 3.5. It thus showed 88.3% improvement (p<0.001). Excellent or good satisfaction was reported by fourteen patients (87.5%), and clinical lumbar instability was identified in one patient (6.3%). Conclusions: Simple discectomy without fusion is one of treatment option for recurrent disc herniation without instability.

Study Design: A retrospective study. Objectives: To investigate the potential risk factors for subsequent vertebral fractures according to the treatment of primary vertebral fractures. Summary of Literature Review: Many previous studies have been reported on bone mineral density, bone loss, and mechanical properties as risk factors for osteoporotic vertebral fractures. However, few studies have investigated subsequent osteoporotic vertebral fractures. Materials and Methods: 57 patients who had undergone follow-up magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the spine were divided into two groups depending on the development of subsequent vertebral fractures: the fracture group with 40 cases and the non-fracture group with 17 cases. The patients’ clinical and radiographic data including bone mineral density, medication for osteoporosis, body mass index, vertebroplasty of primary vertebral fractures, thoracic kyphotic angle and lumbar lordotic angle, fat infiltration of the back extensor muscle, and primary multiple fractures were examined. Results: The subsequent new vertebral fractures occurred at a mean of 24 ± 19 months after primary osteoporotic vertebral fractures. Vertebroplasty for primary fractures was associated with a higher incidence of subsequent new vertebral fractures (p=0.001). There was a significant increase in fat infiltration of the back extensor muscle after the primary vertebral fractures in the fracture group (p=0.001). A multiple logistic regression analysis showed the significance of vertebroplasty (odds’ ratio: 4.623, 95% confidence interval: 1.145–18.699, p=0.031). Conclusions: These results suggest that vertebroplasty for primary vertebral fractures and increased fat infiltration of the back extensor muscle could be risk factors related to the development of subsequent osteoporotic vertebral fractures.