Introduction

Recently published results suggest insertion of shorter screws in L5/S1 stand-alone anterior interbody fusion, fearing S1 nerve root violation. However, insertion of shorter screws led to screw fixation failure and new onset of S1 body fractures.

Objective

The use of all pedicle screw constructs for the management of spinal deformities has gained widespread popularity. However, the placement of pedicle screws in the deformed spine poses unique challenges for the spinal surgeon. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the complications and radiological outcomes of surgery in 124 consecutive patients with spinal deformity. These patients underwent correction of coronal and sagittal imbalance with segmental pedicle screw fixation only.

Objective

To compare the radiological and clinical outcomes following three different techniques used in the correction of Scheuermann's kyphosis.

8 patients with cervical myelopathy treated by French-door laminoplasty and internal fixation. A novel technique of fixation is employed to provide immediate stability, pain relief and rapid mobilisation.

To report the clinical and radiological outcomes of this new fixation device for French–door laminoplasty with minimum follow-up of 30 months.

Hardware assisted laminoplasty has the potential advantage of instant stability and prevention of recurring stenosis. The use of titanium mini-plates has been described in open-door laminoplasty and now we describe this technique in French–door laminoplasty.

8 patients with cervical myelopathy secondary to congenital stenosis (2) and multi-level spondylotic myelopathy (6) underwent 2-4 level French–door laminoplasty and mini-plate fixation. The average follow-up was 46.5 months. Autogenous iliac crest bone graft was interposed between the sagittally split spinous processes and 16-18 holed titanium mini-plates were contoured into a trapezoidal shape and secured to the posterior elements with screws. Patients then mobilised without external support.

The mean follow-up was 46.5 months. The mean improvement in NDI at final follow-up was 35% and mean improvement in VAS was 4 points. JOA score improved from a mean of 10 to a mean of 14.8 post-operatively. All patients had achieved a significant neurological improvement and pain relief. There were no post-operative hardware related complications, pseudarthrosis or neurological deterioration.

French-door laminoplasty is an excellent alternative to laminectomy for treatment of young patients with cervical myelopathy. The use of titanium mini-plates not only provides instant stability and pain relief but also seems to minimize the risk of C5 nerve root palsy. Internal fixation appears to provide instant stability, early mobilisation and therefore reduces hospital stay and associated costs.

Objective: We evaluated retrospectively whether there is a role for selective posterior thoracic correction and fusion in double major curves with third generation instrumentation systems.

Methods: In a retrospective review the radiographs of 36 patients with Lenke 3C type curve patterns and having had a selective posterior thoracic correction and fusion with either the Cotrel-Dubousset instrumentation or the Universal Spine System, were evaluated in terms of coronal and sagittal plane balance, curve flexibility, and curve correction with a minimum follow up of two years. Postoperative coronal spinal decompensation was investigated with respect to preoperative radiographic parameters on standing AP, thoracic and lumbar supine side-bending as well as lateral standing radiographs. Coronal spinal decompensation was defined as plumbline deviation of C7 of more than 2 cm with respect to the center sacral vertical line within two years postoperatively. Two groups of patients were analyzed.

Results: 26 patients (72%) showed satisfactory frontal plane alignment by means of C7 plumb line deviation (group A, 1.2 cm to the left), whereas 10 patients (28%) showed coronal spinal decompensation (group B: 2.7 cm to the left; p=0.003). Group differences, could be revealed for lumbar apical vertebral rotation (Perdriolle) (p=0.02, A: 16°, B: 22°) and the percentage correction (derotation) of lumbar apical vertebrae in lumbar supine side-bending films in comparison to AP standing radiographs (p=0.002, A: 49%, B: 27%). Average thoracic curve correction was 51% in group A and 41% in group B (p=0.05). Average lumbar curve correction was 34% in group A and 23% in group B (p=0.09).

High correlation was revealed between postoperative decompensation and derotation of lumbar apical vertebrae (P=0.62, p< 0.001) with a critical value of 40%. A 2x2 table showed that in patients with lumbar apical vertebral derotation of less than 40% specificity was 90% with regard to postoperative decompensation.

Conclusion: Lumbar apical vertebral derotation of less than 40%, determined on lumbar supine side-bending films in comparison to AP standing radiographs, provided the radiographic prediction of postoperative coronal spinal imbalance. We advice close scrunity of the transverse plane in the lumbar supine side-bending film when planning surgical strategy.

Objective: To present the clinical features, radiological findings and differential diagnosis of this rare benign condition.

Design: Melorheostosis (Leri’s Disease) is a rare mesenchymal dysplasia commonly exhibiting hyperostosis on the internal and external aspect of tubular bones in a sclerodermal distribution. It usually occurs in the limbs, frequently crosses joints and there is often ossification in local soft tissues. Presenting features may include pain, restricted joint movement and skin thickening. It very rarely affects the spine and its cause is unknown.

Subject: A 40-year-old female presented with insidious onset of mild mid thoracic back pain. There was no history of trauma and she had no past medical or family history. She underwent a six-month course of physiotherapy but this failed to help her symptoms. She developed a small lump over the area of pain and her GP arranged an X-Ray. This showed an irregular area of high attenuation over the right side of the tenth thoracic vertebra. A CT demonstrated a “dripping candle wax” appearance of densely calcified cortical bone undulating over the right side of the body and posterior elements of T10. The ossification crossed the synovial zygoapophyseal joint but not the intervertebral disc and a diagnosis of melorheostosis was suggested. MRI supported the CT findings and confirmed the presence of a soft tissue lesion over the dorsal process of T10. A bone scan verified the solitary nature of the lesion and showed widening of the right side of the body of T10 with increased focal uptake. All blood and urine investigations were normal.

Results: The patient underwent an open biopsy to obtain sufficient tissue for histological diagnosis and confirm that the lesion was benign in nature. It was felt that the dense ossification of the lesion would make percutaneous biopsy difficult. The most important differentials to exclude were an osteosclerotic bone metastasis and osteosarcoma. Other differential diagnoses were a parosteal osteoma, a burnt out osteoblastoma and a giant bone island. The soft tissue histology showed a necrotic fibrocartilagenous mass. The bone samples required prolonged decalcification prior to cutting and were composed of compact cortical bone similar to the appearances seen in ivory osteoma and also consistent with melorheostosis. This pathological pattern and the radiological finding of cortical compact bone crossing a synovial joint confirms the diagnosis of melorheostosis.

Conclusions: Spinal melorheostosis is a rare condition. The diagnosis should be considered in the differential of atypical osteosclerotic lesions of vertebrae. Adequate histological sampling is essential in order to exclude malignancy.

Objective: To emphasize the need to provide a controlled method of intra-operative reduction to correct fixed cervical flexion deformities in ankylosing spondylitis and to describe the technique involved.

Design: The treatment of severe fixed cervical flexion deformity in ankylosing spondylitis represents a challenging problem that is traditionally managed by a corrective cervicothoracic osteotomy. The authors describe a method of controlled surgical reduction of the deformity, which eliminates saggital translation and reduces the risk of neurological injury.

Subjects: 2 male patients aged 39 and 45 years old with ankylosing spondylitis presented with severe fixed flexion deformity of the cervical spine. Both patients had previously undergone a lumbar extension osteotomy to correct a severe thoracolumbar kyphotic deformity. As a result of the fixed cervical flexion deformity, marked restriction in forward gaze with ‘chin on chest’ deformity, feeding difficulties and personal hygiene were encountered in both. Their respective chin-brow to vertical angle was 60 and 72°. Somatosensory and motor evoked potentials were used throughout surgery. A combination of cervical lateral mass screws and thoracic pedicle screws were used. Interconnecting malleable rods were then fixed at the cervical end, thereby allowing them to slide through the thoracic clamps thus achieving a safe method of controlled closure of the cericothoracic osteotomy. When reduction was achieved, definitive pre-contoured titanium rods were interchanged. Halo-jacket was not considered necessary in view of the segmental fixation used.

Results: Good anatomical reduction was achieved, with near complete correction of the deformities, restoration of saggital balances and forward gazes. There were no neurological deficits in either patient and the postoperative recoveries were uneventful. Both osteotomies united with no deterioration noted at 2 years.

Conclusions: We illustrate a controlled method of surgical reduction during corrective cervicothoracic osteotomy of fixed cervical kyphosis in ankylosing spondylitis. This has been achieved with the use of a combination of cervical lateral mass screws and thoracic pedicle screws with interconnecting malleable rods that were later replaced with titanium rods. The authors believe that the unique technique described remains a technically demanding but adequate and safe approach for correcting such challenging deformities.