Efficacy of Anal Needle Electrodes for Intraoperative Spinal Cord Monitoring with Transcranial Muscle Action Potentials

Study Design Retrospective study. Purpose To examine the relationship between postoperative bowel bladder disorder (BBD) and the efficacy of needle electrodes for the external anal sphincter (EAS) in intraoperative spinal cord monitoring with transcranial muscle action potentials (Tc-MsEP). Overview of Literature Spinal surgery for spina bifida, spinal cord tumor, and spinal tethered cord syndrome has a high rate of postoperative BBD. Monitoring of the EAS with Tc-MsEP is frequently performed during spinal surgery. We initially used plug-surface electrodes for this purpose, but have more recently switched to needle electrodes for the monitoring of the EAS. To date, there has been no comparison between the utility of these electrodes. Methods Waveform derivation, exacerbation of postoperative BBD, and sensitivity and specificity for prediction of BBD by 70% amplitude reduction of EAS activity using needle and plug-surface electrodes were investigated in 239 spine surgeries. The cut-off for the % drop in amplitude for BBD prediction was determined for EAS monitoring using a needle electrode. Results The overall rate of postoperative BBD aggravation was 7.1% (17/239 cases), with the individual rates using needle and plug-surface electrodes being 6.9% (8/116) and 7.3% (9/123), respectively. The waveform derivation rate was significantly higher using needle electrodes (91.3% [106/116] vs. 76.4% [94/123], p <0.01). In patients with baseline waveform detection, the sensitivity and specificity for postoperative BBD were similar in the two groups. With needle electrodes, a cutoff amplitude of Tc-MsEP for the EAS at the end of surgery of 25% of the baseline amplitude had a sensitivity of 89% and specificity of 82% for the prediction of postoperative BBD aggravation. Conclusions The significantly higher waveform derivation rate using needle electrodes suggests that these electrodes are effective for monitoring the EAS in spinal surgery in cases with preoperative BBD

Variety of the Wave Change in Compound Muscle Action Potential in an Animal Model

Study DesignAnimal study.PurposeTo review the present warning point criteria of the compound muscle action potential (CMAP) and investigate new criteria for spinal surgery safety using an animal model.Overview of LiteratureLittle is known about correlation palesis and amplitude of spinal cord monitoring.MethodsAfter laminectomy of the tenth thoracic spinal lamina, 2-140 g force was delivered to the spinal cord with a tension gage to create a bilateral contusion injury. The study morphology change of the CMAP wave and locomotor scale were evaluated for one month.ResultsFour different types of wave morphology changes were observed: no change, amplitude decrease only, morphology change only, and amplitude and morphology change. Amplitude and morphology changed simultaneously and significantly as the injury force increased (p<0.05) Locomotor scale in the amplitude and morphology group worsened more than the other groups.ConclusionsAmplitude and morphology change of the CMAP wave exists and could be the key of the alarm point in CMAP

Fusion surgery with instrumentation following carbon ion radiotherapy for primary lumbar tumors: A case series.

Carbon-ion radiotherapy (CIRT) is a useful modality for treatment of primary spinal sarcoma, but osteonecrosis after CIRT may cause pseudoarthrosis that can make subsequent reconstruction surgery difficult. The patients were a 68-year-old man (case 1), a 30-year-old woman (case 2), and a 49-year-old man (case 3) with lumbar lesions. After CIRT, cases 1 and 3 were treated with instrumented spondylectomy and case 2 underwent posterior decompression and instrumentation surgery. Cases 1 and 2 required several salvage procedures because of failure of instrumentation (rod breakage) before bone union was achieved. After multiple revision surgeries, these cases did achieve bone union without tumor recurrence. In contrast, in case 3, only spondylectomy using a pedicle screw system at 20 months after CIRT was required for fusion. At follow-up 11 years postoperatively, CT showed bone union with invasion of autograft bone from the iliac crest into adjacent vertebra. Collapse or a finding of viable tumor cells after CIRT requires surgery such as spondylectomy with reconstruction. Instrumented fixation following CIRT for a lumbar primary tumor should be performed with multilevel anterior support using a sufficient amount of bone graft in posterior fusion levels

A case of delayed hydrocephalus from cerebrospinal fluid leak after resection of a cervical spinal schwannoma

A 39-year old man underwent surgery for recurrence of a cervical schwannoma. At 6 months postoperatively, severe headache appeared and head CT showed marked ventricular dilation that was diagnosed as delayed hydrocephalus. Dural repair surgery using a fascia patch of the tensor fasciae latae muscle was performed after VP shunt. This case shows the importance of awareness of the possibility of delayed hydrocephalus in a patient with severe headache

Posterior fusion of the occipital axis in children with upper cervical disorder using both C2 pedicle and laminar screws (C2 hybrid screws)

Introduction: An occipital-cervical surgery for children is challenging for surgeons because of the immature bone quality, extensive anatomical variability, and small osseous structures. Furthermore, occipital-C2 fusion in children results in great stress on the C2 screws. We report a technique that uses both C2 pedicle and bilateral lateral mass screws (C2 hybrid screws) in children with an upper cervical disorder to preserve motion segment and secure strength in those who require occipital-cervical fusion. Case Report: Case 1 was that of a 5-year-old girl with Down syndrome who had atlantoaxial dislocation and os odontoideum. Owing to the C1 hypoplasia, the posterior arch was fractured by the C1 lateral mass screw. Therefore, O-C2 fusion was performed. C2 bilateral lamina screws were added along with the C2 bilateral pedicle screws for reinforcement. Case 2 was that of an 8-year-old boy who presented with torticollis and neck pain. The patient was diagnosed as having atlantoaxial rotatory fixation. The right vertebral artery was obstructed, and the left vertebral artery was dominant. The C1 posterior arch was bifid and assimilated with the occipital bone. C2 bilateral lamina screws were added with the right C2 pedicle screw for reinforcement. Both cases attained bone union after O-C2 fusion surgery using hybrid screws. Conclusions: The use of C2 hybrid screws with both C2 pedicle and bilateral lateral mass screws can preserve mobile segments in the fusion area in young children who require occipital-cervical fixation