• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• 제45권6호
• /
• pp.381-385
• /
• 2009

The first case of intracranial metastases of a cervical intramedullary low-grade astrocytoma without malignant transformation in adult is presented in this report. Seven years ago, a 45 year-old male patient underwent biopsy to confirm pathologic characteristics and received craniocervical radiation and chemotherapy for a grade II astrocytoma in the cervical spinal cord. Two years later, posterior fusion was necessary for progressive kyphosis in the cervical spine. He was well for approximately 7 years after the primary surgery. Two months ago, he presented with partial weakness and incoordination with gait difficulty. MRI Scan demonstrated multiple small lesions in the cerebellar vermis and left hemisphere. After suboccipital craniectomy and posterior cervical exposure, the small masses in the cerebellar vermis and hemispheres were excised to a large extent by guidance of an intraoperative navigation system. The tumor at the cervical and brain lesions was classified as an astrocytoma (WHO grade II). When a patient with low-grade astrocytoma in the spinal cord has new cranial symptoms after surgery, radiaton, and chemotherapy, the possibility of its metastasis should be suspected because it can spread to the intracranial cavity even without malignant transformation as shown in this case.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• 제29권7호
• /
• pp.904-909
• /
• 2000

Objectives : Most cases of cervical ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament(OPLL) present with myelopathy or myeloradiculopathy, which sometimes is further complicated by minor trauma to the spinal cord. The main purpose of surgery in these patients is the alleviation symptoms but also as protection against further deterioration. The purpose of this study is to analyze the influence of trauma on the surgical outcome in patients with cervical OPLL. Methods : Over the past 13 years, we have operated on 123 patients with myelopathy associated with cevical OPLL. Among these, thirty patients had cervical cord injury associated with major or minor trauma and their clinical and radiographic data were reviewed retrosepctively. Results : As to cause of trauma, seventeen were related with traffic accident and 13 were related with minor slipping injury. The pre- and post-operative motor power were significantly weaker in the patients with trauma, but the degree of motor improvement was significantly higher(trauma group : $0.90{\pm}1.49$, non-trauma group : $0.41{\pm}0.80$). Conclusion : These results indicate that even indirect minor trauma to the cervical spine can cause irreversible changes to the spinal cord if this is associated with underlying cervical stenosis with OPLL. Although less favorable results may be anticipated in patients with trauma, operative decompression could improve motor power and protect further deterioration.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• 제39권4호
• /
• pp.251-255
• /
• 2006

Objective : To determine the clinical and radiological safety of 15 consecutive patients managed with plate and screw fixation systems applied to the cervical lateral mass. Methods : 15 patients who underwent posterior cervical and T1 arthrodesis were reviewed from Jan 2002 to Dec 2004. Posterior cervical screw and plate fixation was applied on the lateral mass of the cervical spine. The authors have tried lateral mass screw fixation using a modified Magerl's technique [$20^{\circ}$ lateral and $20{\sim}30^{\circ}$ rostral screw trajectory] under preliminary radiological study. The average patient age was $39.73^{\circ}{\pm}11.00\;years$, and the average follow-up period was $9.73^{\circ}{\pm}6.77\;months$. Computed tomography scans taken after surgery were reviewed to confirm the attempted screw trajectory correct and safety. Results : Three of 93 lateral mass screws were malpositioned but clinical damage was not noted. Two of 8 pedicle screws on the T1 vertebrae were not placed on the correct pedicle area. Screw and plate loosening was observed in one case but was not subjected to an additional procedure because of maintained screw position observed during follow-up periods. Conclusion : The results of this study indicate that lateral mass screw fixation using the Modified Magerl's technique on the cervical lateral mass may provide safe and effective application on the patients. In addition, the chance of incorrectly placed screws was higher in T1 pedicle screw fixation than in lateral mass screw fixation of the cervical area.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• 제44권1호
• /
• pp.47-51
• /
• 2008

Ligamentum flavum hematoma is a rare condition. Twenty cases including present case have been reported in English-language literature. Among them, only one case reported in pure thoracic spine. A 72-year-old man presented with thoracic myelopathy without precedent cause. Magnetic resonance images revealed a posterior semicircular mass which was located in T7 and T8 level compressing the spinal cord dorsally. T7-8 total laminectomy and extirpation of the mass was performed. One month later following surgery, the patient fully recovered to normal state. Pathologic result was confirmed as ligamentum flavum hematoma. Ligamentum flavum hematoma of rigid thoracic spine is a very rare disease entity. Most reported cases were confined to mobile cervical and lumbar spine. Surgeons should be aware that there seems to be another different pathogenesis other than previously reported cases of mobile cervical and lumbar spine.

• 대한골관절종양학회지
• /
• 제12권1호
• /
• pp.57-62
• /
• 2006

척추의 거대 세포종은 진단이 어려운 경우가 많고, 고도의 악성도로 인해서 수술이 불가능한 경우가 많다. 척추의 거대 세포종은 높은 재발율과 함께 척수의 기계적 압박 가능성으로 인해 방사선 치료가 근간이었으나, 최근에는 근치적 절제술과 함께 기구를 이용한 전후방 고정술을 시행 하여 좋은 결과를 보고 하고있다. 본 정형외과학교실에서는 경부 동통을 유발하며 제3경추를 침범한 거대세포종에 대해서 근치적 절제술과 함께 후방 기기술을 통한 융합을 시행 하였으며, 추시 관찰상 우수한 치료 결과를 보였기에 문헌 고찰과 함께 보고하는 바이다.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• 제56권1호
• /
• pp.55-57
• /
• 2014

Synovial cysts of the cervical spine, although they occur infrequently, may cause acute radiculopathy or myelopathy. Here, we report a case of a cervical synovial cyst presenting as acute myelopathy after manual stretching. A 68-year-old man presented with gait disturbance, decreased touch senses, and increased sensitivity to pain below T12 level. These symptoms developed after manual stretching 3 days prior. Computed tomography scanning and magnetic resonance imaging revealed a 1-cm, small multilocular cystic lesion in the spinal canal with cord compression at the C7-T1 level. We performed a left partial laminectomy of C7 and T1 using a posterior approach and completely removed the cystic mass. Histological examination of the resected mass revealed fibrous tissue fragments with amorphous materials and granulation tissue compatible with a synovial cyst. The patient's symptoms resolved after surgery. We describe a case of acute myelopathy caused by a cervical synovial cyst that was treated by surgical excision. Although cervical synovial cysts are often associated with degenerative facet joints, clinicians should be aware of the possibility that these cysts can cause acute neurologic symptoms.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• 제53권1호
• /
• pp.49-51
• /
• 2013

A case of traumatic spondyloptosis of the cervical spine at the C6-C7 level is reported. The patient was treated succesfully with a anterior-posterior combined approach and decompression. The patient had good neurological outcome after surgery. A-51-year-old female patient was transported to our hospital's emergency department after a vehicle accident. The patient was quadriparetic (Asia D, MRC power 4/5) with severe neck pain. Plain radiographs, computerize tomography and spinal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed C6-7 spondyloptosis and C5, C6 posterior element fractures. Gardner-Wells skeleton traction was applied. Spinal alignment was reachived by traction and dislocation was decreased to a grade 1 spondylolisthesis. Then the patient was firstly operated by anterior approach. Anterior stabilization and fusion was firstly achieved. Seven days after first operation the patient was operated by a posterior approach. The posterior stabilization and fusion was achieved. Postoperative lateral X-rays and three-dimensional computed tomography showed the physiological realignment and the correct screw placements. The patient's quadriparesis was improved significantly. Subaxial cervical spondyloptosis is a relatively rare clinical entity. In this report we present a summary of the clinical presentation, the surgical technique and outcome of this rarely seen spinal disorder.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• 제60권5호
• /
• pp.577-583
• /
• 2017

Objective : Laminoplasty is an effective surgical method for treating cervical degenerative disease. However, postoperative complications such as kyphosis, restriction of neck motion, and instability are often reported. Despite sufficient preoperative lordosis, this procedure often aggravates the lordotic curve of the cervical spine and straightens cervical alignment. Hence, it is important to examine preoperative risk factors associated with postoperative kyphotic alignment changes. Our study aimed to investigate preoperative radiologic parameters associated with kyphotic deformity post laminoplasty. Methods : We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 49 patients who underwent open door laminoplasty for cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) or ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) at Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital between January 2011 and December 2015. Inclusion criteria were as follows : 1) preoperative diagnosis of OPLL or CSM, 2) no previous history of cervical spinal surgery, cervical trauma, tumor, or infection, 3) minimum of one-year follow-up post laminoplasty with proper radiologic examinations performed in outpatient clinics, and 4) cases showing C7 and T1 vertebral body in the preoperative cervical sagittal plane. The radiologic parameters examined included C2-C7 Cobb angles, T1 slope, C2-C7 sagittal vertical axis (SVA), range of motion (ROM) from C2-C7, segmental instability, and T2 signal change observed on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Clinical factors examined included preoperative modified Japanese Orthopedic Association scores, disease classification, duration of symptoms, and the range of operation levels. Results : Mean preoperative sagittal alignment was $13.01^{\circ}$ lordotic; $6.94^{\circ}$ lordotic postoperatively. Percentage of postoperative kyphosis was 80%. Patients were subdivided into two groups according to postoperative Cobb angle change; a control group (n=22) and kyphotic group (n=27). The kyphotic group consisted of patients with more than $5^{\circ}$ kyphotic angle change postoperatively. There were no differences in age, sex, C2-C7 Cobb angle, T1 slope, C2-C7 SVA, ROM from C2-C7, segmental instability, or T2 signal change. Multiple regression analysis revealed T1 slope had a strong relationship with postoperative cervical kyphosis. Likewise, correlation analysis revealed there was a statistical significance between T1 slope and postoperative Cobb angle change (p=0.035), and that there was a statistically significant relationship between T1 slope and C2-C7 SVA (p=0.001). Patients with higher preoperative T1 slope demonstrated loss of lordotic curvature postoperatively. Conclusion : Laminoplasty has a high probability of aggravating sagittal balance of the cervical spine. T1 slope is a good predictor of postoperative kyphotic changes of the cervical spine. Similarly, T1 slope is strongly correlated with C2-C7 SVA.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• 제48권3호
• /
• pp.276-280
• /
• 2010

Liposarcomas are malignant tumors of the soft tissue, with myxoid liposarcoma being the second most common subtype, tending to occur in the limbs, particularly in the thighs. Myxoid liposarcomas have an intermediate prognosis between well-differentiated and pleomorphic tumors. Spinal metastasis is usual but intradural involvement is extremely rare. We present an unusual case of a multicentric myxoid liposarcoma with intradural involvement. A 41-year-old woman complained of tingling sensation on her left arm. Radiological evaluation revealed multiple masses in her cervical spine, abdominal wall, liver, heart and right thigh, all of which were resected. She was histologically diagnosed with small round cell myxoid sarcoma and underwent adjuvant chemotherapy. However, magnetic resonance imaging analysis after 1 year revealed a large metastatic mass with bony invasion at the C6-T1 level. This mass consisted of extradural and intradural components causing severe compression of the spinal cord. She underwent resection via a posterior facetectomy of C6-7 and an anterior C7 corpectomy. However, the patient died of multiple metastases 18 months after the first diagnosis.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• 제64권4호
• /
• pp.552-561
• /
• 2021

Objective : To compare the anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) and posterior cervical fusion (PCF) with wide facetectomy in the treatment of parallel-shaped bony foraminal stenosis (FS). Methods : Thirty-six patients underwent surgery due to one-or-two levels of parallel-shaped cervical FS. ACDF was performed in 16 patients, and PCF using CPS was performed in 20 patients. All patients were followed up at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. Standardized outcome measures such as Numeric rating scale (NRS) score for arm/neck pain and Neck disability index (NDI) were evaluated. Cervical radiographs were used to compare the C2-7 Cobb's angle, segmental angle, and fusion rates. Results : There was an improvement in NRS scores after both approaches for radicular arm pain (mean change -6.78 vs. -8.14, p=0.012), neck pain (mean change -1.67 vs. -4.36, p=0.038), and NDI score (-19.69 vs. -18.15, p=0.794). The segmental angle improvement was greater in the ACDF group than in the posterior group (9.4°±2.7° vs. 3.3°±5.1°, p=0.004). However, there was no significant difference in C2-7 Cobb angle between groups (16.2°±7.9° vs. 14.8°±8.5°, p=0.142). As a complication, dysphagia was observed in one case of the ACDF group. Conclusion : In the treatment of parallel-shaped bony FS up to two surgical levels, segmental angle improvement was more favorable in patients who underwent ACDF. However, PCF with wide facetectomy using CPS should be considered as an alternative treatment option in cases where the anterior approach is burdensome.