Evaluation of Percutaneous Pedicle Screw Fixation in Patients with Pyogenic Spondylitis of the Thoracolumbar Spine

Background: Basic principle for the treatment of pyogenic spondylitis (PS) is conservative care, but surgical intervention is often required when conservative treatment may fail. We have experienced many conservative cases of various complications due to long-term bed rest and poor pain control. Recently we have adopted percutaneous pedicle screw (PPS) fixation for the treatment of PS as a minimally invasive spine stabilization (MISt) fusion to reduce such morbidity of the conservative care. Objective: To evaluate the impact of PPS fixation in patients with PS. Study Design: A retrospective analysis of the medical records. Subjects, Methods: We reviewed 54 consecutive patients who underwent treatment in our hospital for PS during 2005-2018 and observed for more than 12 months. Of those we excluded cases showing effectiveness to initial treatment (it was defined fever relief or C-reactive protein (CRP) inversion in 3 weeks of antibiotics) so that this study is a retrospective study in cases showing initial treatment resistance. Finally, this study included 29 cases. Medical records of these 29 cases were reviewed for baseline, organism isolated and its detection rate, the clinical outcome in 12 months (Discharge, Transfer, Death), the period from the first visit to our hospital to fever relief, CRP inversion, ambulation, and Discharge or Transfer. Results: These cases were divided into two groups, the conservative group (C-group): 17 cases, and the PPS group (P-group): 12 cases. There is no statistically significant difference in fever relief (p = 0.051) and CRP inversion (p = 0.208). The period to ambulation and discharge or transfer was significantly shorter in group P (p = 0.020, p = 0.031). 1-Year survival rate was 92% in the P-group, and 71% in the C-group. There is no statistically significant difference (p = 0.354) between the two groups. The rate of Discharge to home and care facility is 58% in P-group, and 47% in C-group. And the rate of Transfer is 34% in P-group, and 35% in C-group. Conclusion: PPS fixation was effective to achieve shortening the period to ambulation and discharge or transfer. But it was not effective in infection control. This suggests that PPS fixation should be aggressively administered to patients who can expect pain relief and early ambulation by PPS fixation in the patient of PS showing resistance to initial treatment.

Adult Congenital Lumbar Kyphosis Requiring Anteroposterior Correction and Fusion: A Case Report with 32-Year Follow-Up

Congenital pure kyphosis due to failure of vertebral body segmentation is a relatively rare entity, and surgical intervention is infrequent compared to that for failure of vertebral body formation [1] [2]. There are very few reports of long-term follow-up of surgical treatment in patients with congenital pure kyphosis, and all the reported cases were diagnosed as failure of formation and had an age at the time of surgery of less than 18 years. It is important for orthopedic surgeons to follow the postoperative course of rare cases over 30 years. Here, we present a surgically treated case with ultra-long term follow-up of a 50-year-old patient with congenital pure kyphosis of the lumbar spine. Imaging of the lumbar spine showed six vertebrae and an unsegmented bar at L3-4 causing a pure kyphosis of 54°. The wedge-shaped block vertebra had 4 pedicles with the neural foramen between the pedicles without concomitant disc space, with compensatory thoracic hypokyphosis and lower lumbar hyperlordosis. One-stage correction and fusion surgery using anterior opening and posterior closing osteotomy was successfully performed. Both clinical and radiographic results were excellent and have been maintained for over 30 years postoperatively. The basic principle in the surgical treatment of adult spinal deformity is to achieve and maintain a good global sagittal balance over time. This case reaffirms the importance of spinopelvic harmony.

A Case of Rectus Sheath Hematoma Due to Anticoagulants after Total Knee Arthroplasty

Background: Hematoma in the rectus sheath is not common but if happens it will become major bleeding. Sometimes anticoaglation of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) causes the hematoma in the rectus sheath. Case Report: A 74-year-old female patient after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) due to osteoarthritis. Postoperation, residual DVT was noted in the right soleus vein on ultrasonography of the veins of the lower limbs. Anticoaglation was started 7.5 mg/day Arixtra for treatment of DVT. Anticoaglation was administered throughout rehabilitation, and abdominal pain developed on postoperative day 9. Since respiratory distress developed on day 10, then thoracoabdominal contrast CT was performed. Although no PE was observed, a hematoma was detected in the rectus sheath, and it perforated into the abdominal cavity. The hemoglobin level was reduced by about 4 g/dL, and the patient was admitted to the ICU. Surgical treatment was not performed, anticoagulant treatment was discontinued, and conservative treatment was administered. During management in the ICU, a total of 24 units of red blood cells were transfused. Conclusions: Rectus sheath hematoma should be in mind of surgeons during differential diagnosis of acute abdominal pain especially in patients receiving anticoagulants. Early recognition can be of great importance for patients’ recovery, preventing from severe complications. Management is usually supportive although surgical intervention in some patients should be considered.

A Case of Septic Arthritis of the Shoulder Joint That Developed after Suprascapular Nerve Block

Septic arthritis of the shoulder is uncommon in the immunocompetent patient with no previous risk factors for joint infection. We treated an immunocompetent patient who developed septic arthritis of the shoulder after suprascapular nerve block for pain due to rotator cuff tear. An 80-year-old man with no underlying disease visited a nearby orthopedics clinic with complaint of left shoulder joint pain. Left suprascapular nerve block was performed, but the pain gradually aggravated. On the day after the block, he had a fever of 39°C and came to our department. On examination, enlargement and tenderness were present at the injection site. Cellulitis at the site was suspected. He was admitted and administration of a cephem anti-biotic was started. Pain subsequently decreased. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) performed 4 days after hospitalization showed massive effusion close to the injection site. The effusion spread into the joint cavity through the tear site of the supraspinatus. Septic arthritis of the shoulder was strongly suspected, open irrigation and debridement were performed 11 days after hospitalization. After surgery, pain immediately improved. In our case the extra-articular infection caused by suprascapular nerve block considered to spread into the shoulder joint cavity through the site of rotator cuff tear, although there have been no reports of such cases. This case suggests the possibility that patients with rotator cuff tear may easily develop septic arthritis because extra-articular infection may spread into the joint cavity through the site of tear.

Evaluation of Conservative Treatment of Acute Fracture of the Odontoid Process of Axis with a Halo-Vest

We fitted a halo-vest on patients with a fracture of the odontoid process of the axis and evaluated the effects of conservative treatment on cervical muscular atrophy and the number and type of patient complaints after bone union. Four patients had Anderson Type II fractures and 6 patients had Type III fractures. Bone union was observed in all patients within 3 months after injury. After halo-vest fitting, cervical muscular atrophy increased with time, however, it gradually improved after removal of the halo-vest. Patients fixed with a halo-vest for more than 10 weeks complained of cervical discomfort and limited range of motion. No patients with fixation for less than 10 weeks had problems in bone union or had cervical complaints. Thus, less than a 10-week fixation period was considered to be appropriate.

Successful Treatment of Spine Fracture for Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis with Teriparatide—A Report of Two Cases

We experienced 2 cases of spinal fracture in patients aged 80 years or older with diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH). Since they decided not to undergo surgical treatment, we provided conservative treatment with teriparatide. There has been no previous study on teriparatide for spine fracture in DISH. This is the first report of the successful use of teriparatide to treat spine fracture in DISH without surgical intervention. Our patients were treated with teriparatide for 8-9 months after diagnosis of the fracture. Union was obtained in two cases and no adverse events were observed during treatment. Our report showed that teriparatide could be an alternative to conventional intervention in spinal fracture of DISH.

Cerebral Infarction after Spine Surgery: Report of Two Cases

There has been an increase in spinal surgery for the elderly, with a corresponding potential increase in perioperative complications. In our department, 1833 patients underwent spinal surgery under general anesthesia from April 2001 to October 2012, and 2 of 260 patients aged ≥75 years old had postoperative cerebral infarction. An analysis of the pathogenic mechanism and potential risk factors showed that a history of cerebral infarction was a significant risk factor. Blood pressure rapidly increased on arousal from anesthesia, and particularly on extubation. The change in blood pressure was examined as a potential risk factor for cerebral infarction, but no significant relationship was observed. This result requires further examination in more patients with cerebral infarction after spinal surgery.