Three-dimensional analysis of the movement of lumbar spinal nerve roots in nonsimulated and simulated adhesive conditions

Six Revision Surgeries for Massive Epidural Fibrosis with Recurrent Pain and Weakness in the Left Lower Extremity

Epidural fibrosis is a common cause of pain after lumbar surgeries. There are no previous reports documenting profound limb weakness associated with epidural fibrosis. A 43-year-old woman uneventfully underwent microscopic discectomy. However, six additional surgeries were needed due to recurrent pain and weakness episodes, several days after the surgery. Operative findings were severe epidural fibrosis around the thecal sac and nerve roots. Epidural fibrosis excision did not prevent recurrent fibrosis; therefore, we performed a lordotic fusion with posterior column shortening to reduce neural tension and nerve-root stretching. Eventually, she became free from recurrent episodes of deteriorations and repetitive surgeries.

A review of the role of epidural percutaneous neuroplasty

Degeneration, whether from age or postsurgical, in the ventral and lateral epidural space can lead to irritation of both the nerve roots and of the nerves present in the epidural space, the peridural membrane and the posterior longitudinal ligament. This irritation is often accompanied by mild scarring. Neuroplasty is a specific procedure designed to relieve this irritation. The effectiveness of neuroplasty is not affected by the extent of spinal stenosis. Neuroplasty can be performed in the lumbar, thoracic and cervical spine, and using caudal, transforaminal and interlaminar approaches. Postprocedural home exercises are an integral part of the procedure. There are multiple high-grade studies positive for the effectiveness and safety of neuroplasty. Neuroplasty should be offered prior to surgery in patients with persistent back and/or extremity pain.

Epiduroscopy for patients with lumbosacral radicular pain

Lumbosacral radicular pain is a pain in the distribution area of one of the nerves of the lumbosacral plexus, with or without sensory and/or motor impairment. A major source of lumbosacral radicular pain is failed back surgery, which is defined as persistent or recurrent pain, mainly in the region of the lower back and legs even after technically, anatomically successful spine surgeries. If lumbosacral radicular neuropathic pain fails to respond to conservative or interventional treatments, epiduroscopy can be performed as part of a multidisciplinary approach. Epiduroscopy aids in identifying painful structures in the epidural space, establishing a diagnosis and administering therapy. The novelty consists in the use of an epiduroscope to deliver therapies such as adhesiolysis and targeted administration of epidural medications. Clinical trials report favorable treatment outcomes in 30% to 50% of patients. Complications are rare and related to the rate or volume of epidural fluid infusion or inadvertent dural puncture. In patients with lumbosacral radicular pain, especially after back surgery, epiduroscopy with adhesiolysis may be considered (evidence rating 2 B+).

Kyphectomy in patients with myelomeningocele treated with pedicle screw-only constructs: case reports and review

OBJECT

Significant lumbar kyphosis is frequently observed in patients with myelomeningocele and has been associated with increasing functional impairment, decreased abdominal volume, respiratory impairment, discomfort, and skin ulcerations overlying the prominent gibbus. Treatment of severe kyphotic deformities can include kyphectomy, with or without ligation of the thecal sac, with posterior spinal fixation. However, most series have reported a high rate of morbidity and complications associated with surgical intervention for correction of kyphosis in patients with myelomeningocele. The authors describe a technique in which pedicle screw (PS)-only constructs are used without transection of the thecal sac to treat severe kyphosis successfully, with minimal morbidity.

METHODS

The authors retrospectively reviewed medical records and radiographic images in 2 patients with myelomeningoceles in whom kyphectomies had been performed at the authors' institution between January 2007 and July 2010. They also reviewed the existing literature for case reports or published series of patients with myelomeningocele treated with kyphectomies, to evaluate the outcomes.

RESULTS

Both patients were male and had thoracic-level myelomeningoceles that had been repaired at birth, with associated paraplegia. Neither patient had any significant scoliotic deformity associated with the kyphosis, and both had fixation from T-9 to the ilium, which was performed using PS constructs, along with L1-2 kyphectomies. The patient in Case 1 was 20 years old and was treated for progressive kyphosis and an ulcerated nonhealing wound over the gibbus. The patient in Case 2 was 10 years old and was treated for progressive pain and functional impairment. The 2 patients had a mean correction of 63%, with a mean correction of kyphotic deformity from 136° to 51°. Neither patient developed any complication in the short term postoperatively, whereas published series have reported high complication rates, including wound infection, poor wound healing, CSF leakage, pseudarthrosis, and shunt malfunction.

CONCLUSIONS

Severe kyphotic deformities in patients with myelomeningocele can be safely treated using PS-only constructs without ligation of the thecal sac. Further evaluation with a larger sample and longer follow-up are needed to detect any associated complications, such as proximal junctional kyphosis. Further evaluation may also validate whether PS-only constructs permit successful outcomes with a shorter construct and fewer instrumented levels.

Fluoroscopically guided transforaminal epidural dry needling for lumbar spinal stenosis using a specially designed needle

BACKGROUND

This report describes the methodological approach and clinical application of a minimally invasive intervention to treat lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS).

METHODS

Thirty-four patients with LSS underwent fluoroscopically guided transforaminal epidural dry needling using a specially designed flexed Round Needle. The needle was inserted 8-12 cm lateral to the midline at the level of the stenosis and advanced to a position between the anterior side of the facet joint and pedicle up to the outer-third of the pedicle. The needle was advanced medially and backed laterally within a few millimetres along the canal side of the inferior articular process between the facet joint and pedicle. The procedure was completed when a marked reduction in resistance was felt at the tip of the needle. The procedure was performed bilaterally at the level of the stenosis.

RESULTS

The average follow-up period was 12.9 +/- 1.1 months. The visual analogue scale (VAS) pain score was reduced from 7.3 +/- 2.0 to 4.6 +/- 2.5 points, the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) score decreased from 41.4 +/- 17.2 to 25.5 +/- 12.6% and the average self-rated improvement was 52.6 +/- 33.1%. The VAS scores indicated that 14 (41.2%) patients reported a "good" to "excellent" treatment response, while 11 (32.4%) had a "good" to "excellent" treatment response on the ODI and 22 (64.7%) had a "good" to "excellent" treatment response on the self-rated improvement scale.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that fluoroscopically guided transforaminal epidural dry needling is effective for managing LSS.

Novel biomechanical quantification methodology for lumbar intraforaminal spinal nerve adhesion in a laminectomy and disc injury rat model

Spinal nerve fibrosis following injury or surgical intervention may play an important role in the pathophysiology of chronic back pain. In this current study, we demonstrate the role of biomechanical quantification of lumbar intraforaminal spinal nerve adhesion and tethering in the analysis of the post-laminectomy condition and describe a direct methodology to make this measurement. Twenty age-matched Sprague-Dawley male rats were divided into operative and non-operative (control) groups. Operative animals underwent a bilateral L5-L6 laminectomy with right-side L5-6 disc injury, a post-laminectomy pain model previously published by this lab. At eight weeks, animals were sacrificed and the strength of adhesion of the L5 intraforaminal spinal nerve to surrounding structures was quantified using a novel biomechanical methodology. Operative animals were found to have a significantly greater load to displace the intact right L5 spinal nerve through the intervertebral foramen when compared to control animals. The findings show that the post-laminectomy condition creates quantifiable fibrosis of the spinal nerve to surrounding structures and supports the conclusion that this fibrosis may play a role in the post-laminectomy pain syndrome.

Accuracy and precision of radiostereometric analysis in the measurement of three-dimensional micromotion in a fracture model of the distal radius

The purpose of the current study was to verify the feasibility of radiostereometric analysis (RSA) in monitoring three-dimensional fracture micromotion in fractures of the distal radius. The experimental set-up consisted of a simulated model of an extra-articular Colles' fracture, including metallic beads inserted into the bone on either side of the fracture site. The model was rigidly fixed to high precision micrometer stages allowing controlled translation in three axes and rotation about the longitudinal and transverse axes. The whole construct was placed inside a RSA calibration cage with two perpendicular radiographic film cassettes. Accuracy was calculated as the 95% prediction intervals from the regression analyses between the micromotion measured by RSA and actual displacements measured by micrometers. Precision was determined as the standard deviation of five repeated measurements of a 200 microm displacement or a 0.5 degrees rotation along a specific axis. Translations from 25 microm to 5mm were measured with an accuracy of +/-6 microm and translations of 200 microm were measured with a precision of 2-6 microm. Rotations ranging from 1/6 degrees to 2 degrees were measured with an accuracy of +/-0.073 degrees and rotations of 1/2 degrees were measured with a precision of 0.025 degrees -0.096 degrees . The number of markers and their configuration had greater impact on the accuracy and precision of rotation than on those of translation. Aside from the unknown rate of clinical marker loosening, the current results favor the use of at least four markers in each bone fragment in distal radius fractures. These results suggest a strong rationale for the use of RSA as an objective tool for comparing different treatment modalities and novel bone graft substitutes aimed at stabilization of fractures of the distal radius.

Physiotherapy and spinal nerve root adhesion: a caution

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The term 'spinal neuropathic pain' has been coined to describe the chronic neuropathic pain that results when spinal nerve roots are aggravated by scar tissue. (It is different from the pain of spinal cord injury.) Such patients have longstanding back and radicular pain (nerve root pain, predominantly in the limbs) caused by scar or inflammatory tissue around the nerve roots. The pathology of such patients' pain means that special consideration needs to be given to the fact that such adhesions compromise nerve biomechanics and that movement generates additional pain. Patients with such spinal neuropathic pain often do not do well from conventional physiotherapy. Exacerbation (flare-up) frequently follows the exercise routines in common practice.

METHOD

Individual patient experience was collected from an internet support group, and the results were tabulated.

RESULTS

All patients considered stretching, flexing and strenuous exercise to be harmful. A few reported that gentle exercise with instruction not to cause pain was beneficial. Some patients received advice not to do physiotherapy once they had been diagnosed with arachnoiditis.

CONCLUSIONS

The treatment of patients with spinal neuropathic pain warrants special consideration as far as physiotherapy is concerned: patients should only be prescribed gentle, individually tailored exercise. It is hoped the present small study will promote understanding and the development of better therapy.