Objective The treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCFs) is based on their severity; however, an efficient prediction tool is lacking. We aimed to evaluate the validity of the osteoporotic fracture classification (OF classification) and scoring system (OF score) in predicting the treatment strategy for patients with OVCF, defined according to the Japanese criteria.
Methods We retrospectively investigated 487 consecutive patients diagnosed with vertebral body fractures between January 2018 and December 2022. Only patients with their fresh vertebral fracture episode during the study period were included. Patients were classified into 3 groups: conservative treatment, balloon kyphoplasty (BKP), and open surgery. OF classification and OF scores were assessed for each patient.
Results A total of 237 patients with OVCF were included. There were 127, 81, and 29 patients in the conservative, BKP, and open surgery groups, respectively. The OF score was significantly higher in the BKP and open surgery groups than in the conservative group (p < 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that antiosteoporotic drug use, OF classification, progressive deformity, neurological symptoms and mobilization were independent risk factors for operative treatment (all p < 0.001). Receiver operating characteristic analysis showed that the cutoff OF score for operative indication was 5.5, with a sensitivity of 91.9%, specificity of 56.5%, and area under the curve of 0.820 (95% confidence interval, 0.769–0.871).
Conclusion The OF score identified patients who required operative treatment with a high degree of accuracy. This is especially important for ruling out patients who definitely require operative treatment.
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Objective The impact of adjuvant radiotherapy on overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) of patients with grade II spinal cord astrocytomas remains controversial. Additionally, the relationship between progression and clinical deterioration after radiotherapy has not been well investigated.
Methods This study included 53 patients with grade II intramedullary spinal cord astrocytomas treated by either subtotal, partial resection or open biopsy. Their clinical performance status was assessed immediately before operation and 1, 6, 12, 24, and 60 months after surgery by Karnofsky Performance Scale (KPS). Patients with and without adjuvant radiotherapy were compared.
Results The groups with and without radiation comprised 23 and 30 patients with a mean age of 50.3 ± 22.6 years (range, 2–88 years). The mean overall disease progression rate was 47.1% during a mean follow-up period of 48.4 ± 39.8 months (range, 2.5–144.5 months). In the radiation group, 11 patients (47.8%) presented with progressive disease, whereas 14 patients (46.7%) presented with progressive disease in the group without radiation. There were no significant differences in OS or PFS among patients with or without adjuvant radiotherapy. KPS in both groups, especially radiation group, gradually decreased after operation and deteriorated before the confirmation of disease progression.
Conclusion Adjuvant radiotherapy did not show effectiveness regarding PFS or OS in patients with grade II spinal cord astrocytoma according to classical classification based on pathohistological findings.
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Objective The mechanisms of neurogenic bowel dysfunction (NBD) and neurogenic bladder (NB), which are major consequences of spinal cord injury and occasionally degenerative lumbar disease. The following in patients with cauda equina syndrome who underwent posterior decompression surgery was investigated: (1) the preoperative prevalence of NBD and NB, measured using the Constipation Scoring System (CSS) and International Prostate Symptoms Score (IPSS); (2) the degree and timing of postoperative improvement of NBD and NB.
Methods We administered the CSS and IPSS in 93 patients before surgery and at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. We prospectively examined patient characteristics, Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score, and postoperative improvements in each score.
Results The prevalence of symptomatic defecation and urinary symptoms at admission were 37 patients (38.1%) and 31 patients (33.3%), respectively. Among the symptomatic patients with defecation problems, 12 patients had improved at 1 month, 13 at 3 months, 14 at 6 months, and 13 at 12 months postoperatively. Among the symptomatic patients with urinary problems, 5 patients improved at 1 month, 11 at 3 months, 6 at 6 months, and 10 at 1 year postoperatively. Comparing patients with improved versus unimproved in CSS, the degree of JOA score improvement was a significant prognosis factor (p < 0.05; odds ratio, 1.05).
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Objective Cervical spondylotic amyotrophy (CSA) is a relatively rare entity caused by cervical degenerative spinal diseases and characterized by motor weakness accompanied by remarkable muscle atrophy in the upper extremities without significant sensory deficits or spastic paraparesis in the lower extremities. Postoperative outcomes and predictive prognostic factors vary among previous reports. In the present report, we describe the surgical results in patients who were surgically treated for CSA and present a literature review.
Methods In total, 33 patients with CSA were retrospectively analyzed. Correlations between the surgical outcome and the following factors were statistically analyzed: age, sex, type of impaired muscle, preoperative severity of motor weakness, number of levels of cord or root compression, presence of a T2 high-intensity area in the spinal cord, cervical kyphosis, and methods of surgical procedure.
Results On postoperative neurological evaluation, 25 patients (75.8%) had favorable outcomes and 8 had unfavorable outcomes (proximal type, 72.2%; distal type, 78.6%). Patients with favorable outcomes were significantly younger than those with unfavorable outcomes (p=0.013). Patient’s characteristics except for age and radiological factors were not correlated to surgical outcome.
Conclusion The present study focused on the surgical results in patients who were surgically treated for CSA along with updated information from a literature review. Improvement of motor weakness is expected with acceptable prevalence although higher age can be a negative factor. Surgical outcomes and predictive factors related to a poor prognosis were determined and compared with those of previous articles.
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Objective Computed tomography following myelography (CTM) revealed an unusual flow of contrast dye into the anterior median fissure (AMF) in a patient with cervical spondylotic myelopathy. Since then, several AMF configurations have been observed on CTM. Therefore, we evaluated morphological patterns of the AMF on CTM and investigated the significance and mechanisms of contrast dye flow into the AMF.
Methods Morphological patterns of the AMF on CTM were examined in 79 patients. Group A (24 patients) underwent surgery because of symptomatic cervical myelopathy. Group B (43 patients) had no clinical symptoms but showed spinal cord compression on CTM. Group C (12 patients), who showed neither clinical symptoms nor cord changes, underwent CTM for lumbar lesion evaluation. AMF patterns were classified into 4 types according to their configurations on CTM (reversed T, Y, V, and O types).
Results In group B, the reversed T type and Y type appeared significantly more often near the compressed portion (p<0.001). A similar tendency was seen in group A. The V and O types were most frequently observed in group C (p<0.001).
Conclusion On CTM, contrast dye tends to flow into the AMF of the cervical cord when the spinal cord is compressed. We speculate that there may be 3 possible mechanisms for this phenomenon: deformation of the epipial layer of the AMF due to cervical cord compression, AMF dilatation due to atrophy of the anterior funiculus or anterior horn, and temporary AMF dilatation when it becomes an alternative route for cerebrospinal fluid circulation.
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