State-of-the-art transforaminal percutaneous endoscopic lumbar surgery under local anesthesia : Discectomy, foraminoplasty, and ventral facetectomy

Transforaminal (TF) percutaneous endoscopic surgery for the lumbar spine under the local anesthesia was initiated in 2003 in Japan. Since it requires only an 8-mm skin incision and damage of the paravertebral muscles would be minimum, it would be the least invasive spinal surgery at present. At the beginning, the technique was used for discectomy; thus, the procedure was called PELD (percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy). TF approach can be done under the local anesthesia, there are great benefits. During the surgery patients would be in awake and aware condition; thus, severe nerve root damage can be avoided. Furthermore, the procedure is possible for the elderly patients with poor general condition, which does not allow the general anesthesia. Historically, the technique was first applied for the herniated nucleus pulposus. Then, foraminoplasty, which is the enlargement surgery of the narrow foramen, became possible thanks to the development of the high speed drill. It was called the percutaneous endoscopic lumbar foraminoplasty (PELF). More recently, this technique was applied to decompress the lateral recess stenosis, and the technique was named percutaneous endoscopic ventral facetectomy (PEVF). In this review article, we explain in detail the development of the surgical technique of with time with showing our typical cases

Spectral analysis of erector spinae muscle surface electro-myography as an index of exercise performance in maximal treadmill running

Thirteen male athletes (mean 20.7 years) participated in the present study which investigated the relationship between mean power frequency (MPF) and exercise intensity determined from gas analysis during maximal treadmill running. All subjects performed two consecutive ramp exercise tests on the treadmill. Myoelectric signals from surface electrodes on the erector spinae muscles were digitized and MPF was calculated every ten seconds. Gas exchange data was collected using an automated breath-by-breath system, from which the anaerobic threshold (AT), respiratory gas exchange ratio (R=VCO2/VO2) and %VO2=VO2/VO2max were obtained. During loading, MPF showed a steady decrease, followed by a sudden fall to a base level in both tests. After loading, MPF recovered within 30 seconds in all subjects. The test-retest reliability coefficient of MPF and R at the point of sudden fall in MPF were0.757 (p=0.0018), and 0.808 (p=0.0004). These findings suggest that a sudden fall and a base level of MPF indicate local muscle fatigue, and the spectral analysis of trunk muscle surface EMG provides a reliable index of exercise performance in maximal treadmill running

Vacuum phenomenon of sacroiliac joint

Study Design: A radiologic study of sacropelvic morphology and vacuum phenomenon of sacroiliac joint in subjects unrelated to low back pain. Purpose: The aim of this study is to describe the relationship between sacropelvic morphology and vacuum phenomenon of the sacroiliac joint. Overview of Literature: Lumbopelvic alignment and sacropelvic morphology are associated with the pathomechanisms of various spinal disorders. The vacuum phenomena of the sacroiliac joint (SJVP) are often observed in clinical practice, but the relationships between these phenomena and sacropelvic morphology have not been investigated. This study examined the prevalence of SJVP in computed tomography (CT) images and the relationship between sacropelvic morphology and SJVP. Methods: We analyzed multiplanar CT images of 93 subjects (59 men, 34 women). Pelvic incidence (PI), pelvic tilt (PT), sacral slope (SS), and lumbar lordosis (LL) were measured using the three-dimensional reconstruction method. The prevalence of SJVP in multiplanar CT images were reviewed. Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RDQ) scores and the modified Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) score, which focuses on subjective symptoms and restriction of activities of daily living, were also obtained from all the subjects. Results: Thirty-six of the 93 subjects had SJVP (39%), with marked female predominance (91% women, 8.5% men). Men with SJVP had significantly lower PI than men without SJVP (35.1° vs. 46.3°, p<0.05). There was no correlation between SJVP and the modified JOA or RDQ scores. Conclusions: These data suggest that differences in sacropelvic morphology can influence the biomechanical environment and contribute to SJVP in men. Presence of SJVP did not affect JOA or RDQ scores

Radiation exposure to the hand

Study Design: Prospective study. Purpose: During fluoroscopically guided spinal procedure, the hands of spinal surgeons are placed close to the field of radiation and may be exposed to ionizing radiation. This study directly measured the radiation exposure to the hand of a spinal interventionalist during fluoroscopically guided procedures. Overview of Literature: Fluoroscopically guided spinal procedures have been reported to be a cause for concern due to the radiation exposure to which their operators are exposed. Methods: This prospective study evaluated the radiation exposure of the hand of one spinal interventionalist during 52 consecutive fluoroscopic spinal procedures over a 3-month period. The interventionalist wore three real-time dosimeters secured to the right forearm, under the lead apron over the chest, and outside the lead apron over the chest. Additionally, one radiophotoluminescence glass dosimeter was placed under the lead apron over the left chest and one ring radiophotoluminescence glass dosimeter was worn on the right thumb. The duration of exposure and radiation dose were measured for each procedure. Results: The average radiation exposure dose per procedure was 14.9 µSv, 125.6 µSv, and 200.1 µSv, inside the lead apron over the chest, outside the lead apron over the chest, and on the right forearm, respectively. Over the 3-month period, the protected radiophotoluminescence glass dosimeter over the left chest recorded less than the minimum reportable dose, whereas the radiophotoluminescence glass ring dosimeter recorded 368 mSv for the thumb. Conclusions: Our findings indicated that the cumulative radiation dose measured at the dominant hand may exceed the annual dose limit specified by the International Commission on Radiological Protection. Spinal interventionalists should take special care to limit the duration of fluoroscopy and radiation exposure

Complete spontaneous regression of a subpubic cartilaginous cyst : a case report

Subpubic cartilaginous cyst was recently reported as a rare degenerative mass on the pubic symphysis. We report here a 59-year-old woman who presented with a vulvar mass that showed complete spontaneous regression 48 months after the initial visit. Treatment was only wearing brace. This is the first report of complete spontaneous regression of a subpubic cartilaginous cyst. In the case of small subpubic cyst, observation and follow-up alone may be sufficient

Optimal Entry Point for Lateral Mass Screwing

Study Design: Retrospective study of 37 consecutive female patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy who underwent reconstructed computed tomography (CT) scanning of the cervical spine. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the vertebral lateral notch of the cervical spine is an effective landmark to determine the entry point for lateral mass screwing. A modified Roy-Camille technique was used to determine the entry point associated with the lateral notch of the cervical spine. Overview of Literature: The Roy-Camille technique has been a popular technique for the posterior fixation of the cervical spine. A problem with this technique is determining the entry point on the lateral mass via visual inspection, such as in cases with degenerative or destructive cervical facet joints. Methods: Thirty-three female patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy underwent reconstructed CT scanning of the cervical spine. Overall, 132 vertebrae from C3 to C6 were reviewed using reconstructed CT. The probable trajectory using a modified Roy-Camille technique was determined using reconstructed CT scans, and the optimal entry point was identified. Horizontal and vertical distances from the vertebral lateral notch were measured. Results: The entry point determined using the modified Roy-Camille technique was significantly superior and medial compared with that determined using the conventional Roy-Camille technique. At C3 and C4 levels, the entry point using the modified technique was 1.4 mm below and 4.4 mm medial to the lateral notch, and at C5 and C6 levels, it was 2.3 mm below and 4.9 mm medial to the lateral notch. Conclusions: The vertebral lateral notch of the cervical spine was an effective landmark to determine the entry point for lateral mass screwing. The modified Roy-Camille technique proposed here may prevent surgical complications and poor outcomes

Sacral fatigue fractures in children with sacral spina bifida occulta

In this report, we present two cases of 9-year-old children with spina bifida occulta (SBO) of the sacrum, who were diagnosed with sacral fatigue fractures. In both patients, MRI showed a linear signal void and high signal in sacral ala on the short tau inversion recovery sequence. Sacral SBO at the same level of the sacral fracture was observed in each patient on computed tomography images. These lesions healed with rest. This is the first literature reporting cases with sacral stress fractures who had SBO at the same level of fracture

Fibroma of tendon sheath on the medial side of the knee : a case report

Fibroma of tendon sheath, which is a benign soft tissue tumor, primarily affects the finger, hand, or wrist. It rarely involves the knee and only a few cases appear in the literature. Here, we report a case of fibroma of tendon sheath on the medial side of the knee, in a previously hardly reported location, and provide detailed imaging and histological findings. A 54-year-old man presented with his right knee pain and a palpable mass that had developed 3 months earlier. Magnetic resonance imaging showed isointensity in the soft tissue tumor on T1-weighted images, variable intensity on T2-weighted images, and contrast enhancement. The specimen obtained by needle biopsy showed no histological findings of malignancy. Marginal resection was performed and the microscopic diagnosis was fibroma of tendon sheath. Since fibroma of tendon sheath is relatively rare, the radiological feature is not specific, and a rate of local recurrence following excision is high, careful diagnosis, surgical treatment and long-term follow-up are necessary

横断像と矢状断像における椎間関節角度の加齢性変化 : 変性すべり症症例との比較

Background: Despite facet joints being three-dimensional structures, previous computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging studies have evaluated facet joint orientation in only the axial plane. Facet joint orientation in the sagittal plane has rarely been studied using these imaging techniques. The aim of this study was to elucidate facet joint orientation in both the axial and sagittal planes on computed tomography. Methods: A total of 568 patients (343 men, 225 women) (excluding orthopedic outpatients) for whom abdominal and pelvic computed tomography scans were obtained at our hospital between September 2010 and October 2012 were included. Mean age was 63 (range 21-90) years. Patients were divided into a degenerative spondylolisthesis group (67 patients; 30 men, 37 women) and a control group (313 patients; 313 men, 188 women). Facet joint orientation was evaluated in the control group according to patient age (≤50, 51-60, 61-70, or ≥71 years). The findings in the control group were then compared with those in the degenerative spondylolisthesis group. The orientation of the lumbar facet joints at each level was measured in the axial and sagittal planes on computed tomography images. Results: Facet joint angles decreased with age at L4/5 and L5/S1 in women in the axial plane and at L4/5 in men and L3/4 and L4/5 in women in the sagittal plane. The variation in facet joint angle was greatest at L4/5 in women. Patients with degenerative spondylolisthesis showed more sagittally and horizontally oriented facet joints in the axial and sagittal planes; facet tropism showed an association with degenerative spondylolisthesis in the axial plane. Conclusions: The axial and sagittal orientation of facet joints in the lower lumbar vertebra, especially L4/5, was negatively correlated with age. This finding could help to explain why older people are more prone to degenerative spondylolisthesis

Stress fracture of the thoracic spine in an elite rhythmic gymnast : A case report

Spondylolysis, a defect or stress fracture of the vertebral pars interarticularis, occurs most frequently in the lower lumbar spine and occasionally in the cervical spine,but is extremely rare in the thoracic spine.We report the case of a 17 year-old girl,an elite rhythmic gymnast,who reported with early-stage thoracic spondylolysis at T10 and T11 levels. Physicians should be aware that performance of unusual athletic movements, such as those by gymnasts, may lead to spondylolysis in rare locations