Polysegmental innervation of the medial paraspinal lumbar muscles

A retrospective analysis was performed in a nine month period of the electrophysiological data, imaging and clinical findings of patients with monoradicular disc herniation compressing either the L5 or the S1 nerve root. The primary purpose of the analysis was to determine the distribution of pathological spontaneous activity in the medial paraspinal muscles on electromyographic examination in monoradicular L5 and S1 nerve root compression syndromes. Anatomically, the medial paraspinal muscles receive their innervation from a single root while the iliocostalis muscles and the longissimus muscle are thought to be innervated by multiple nerve roots. In the analysis, in single nerve root lesion of the L5 or S1 nerve root, electromyography of the medial paraspinal muscles revealed pathological spontaneous activity one to three vertebrae cranial to the disc herniation with extension to the opposite side of the lesion. In conclusion, the medial paraspinal muscles might be thought to be innervated by one single nerve root on anatomical studies, electrophysiologically the extension of axonal lesion signs of one single lumbar nerve root is much broader. The widespread distribution of the L5 and S1 nerve root must be taken into consideration on electromyographic examination of the medial paraspinal muscles

Cervical myelopathy caused by soft-tissue mass in diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis

A rare case of cervical spinal cord compression in diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH or Forestier’s Disease) caused by a craniocervical mass of soft-tissue is reported. The objective is to describe an uncommon mechanism of spinal cord compression in DISH. Three weeks after a cardiac infarction a 69-year-old man slowly developed spastic tetraparesis. Magnetic resonance tomography showed a craniocervical tumor compressing the spinal cord and a massive DISH of the cervical spine. An extended mass of yellowish amorphous material was removed from between the dura, the posterior odontoid process and the posterior aspect of vertebral body C2 reaching to the upper part of C3.The histologic appearance indicated connective tissue and cell-degenerated cartilaginous tissue. There was no inflammatory component and no evidence of neoplasia. No ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) was found. After removal and craniocervical stabilization the patient’s neurologic function improved remarkably. The increase of mechanical stress on the atlantoaxial segment and enhanced proliferation reaction of the connective tissue in DISH are suggested as the underlying pathomechanisms in the formation of this soft-tissue mass