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Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) May 2024Despite advancement in surgical innovation, C1-C2 fixation remains challenging due to risks of screw malposition and vertebral artery (VA) injuries. Traditional...
Despite advancement in surgical innovation, C1-C2 fixation remains challenging due to risks of screw malposition and vertebral artery (VA) injuries. Traditional image-based navigation, while useful, often demands that surgeons frequently shift their attention to external monitors, potentially causing distractions. In this article, we introduce a microscope-based augmented reality (AR) navigation system that projects both anatomical information and real-time navigation images directly onto the surgical field. In the present case report, we discuss a 37-year-old female who suffered from os odontoideum with C1-C2 subluxation. Employing AR-assisted navigation, the patient underwent the successful posterior instrumentation of C1-C2. The integrated AR system offers direct visualization, potentially minimizing surgical distractions. In our opinion, as AR technology advances, its adoption in surgical practices and education is anticipated to expand.
Topics: Humans; Female; Adult; Augmented Reality; Atlanto-Axial Joint; Spinal Fusion; Odontoid Process; Surgery, Computer-Assisted
PubMed: 38929491
DOI: 10.3390/medicina60060874 -
International Journal of Spine Surgery Jun 2024We sought to determine which aspect of the upper instrumented vertebrae (UIV)-tilt angle or screw angle-was more strongly associated with: (1) proximal junctional...
Comparing the Upper Instrumented Vertebrae Tilt Angle vs Screw Angle in the Development of Proximal Junction Kyphosis After Adult Spinal Deformity Surgery: Which Matters More?
BACKGROUND
We sought to determine which aspect of the upper instrumented vertebrae (UIV)-tilt angle or screw angle-was more strongly associated with: (1) proximal junctional kyphosis/failure (PJK/F), (2) other mechanical complications and reoperations, and (3) patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs).
METHODS
A single-institution, retrospective cohort study was undertaken for patients undergoing adult spinal deformity (ASD) surgery from 2011 to 2017. Only patients with UIV at T7 or below were included. The primary exposure variables were UIV tilt angle (the angle of the UIV inferior endplate and the horizontal) and UIV screw angle (the angle of the UIV screws and superior endplate). Multivariable logistic regression included age, body mass index, osteopenia/osteoporosis, postoperative sagittal vertical axis, postoperative pelvic-incidence lumbar lordosis mismatch, UIV tilt angle and UIV screw angle.
RESULTS
One hundred and seventeen patients underwent adult spinal deformity surgery with a minimum of 2-year follow-up. A total of 41 patients (35.0%) had PJK and 26 (22.2%) had PJF. (1) UIV tilt angle: 96 (82.1%) had lordotic UIV tilt angles, 6 (5.1%) were neutral, and 15 (12.8%) were kyphotic. (2) UIV screw angle: 38 (32.5%) had cranially directed screws, 4 (3.4%) were neutral, and 75 (64.1%) were caudally directed. Both lordotic-angled UIV endplate (OR = 1.06, 95% CI = 1.01-1.12, and = 0.020) and cranially directed screws (OR = 1.19, 95% CI = 1.07-1.33, and < 0.001) were associated with higher odds of PJK, with a more pronounced effect of UIV screw angle compared with UIV tilt angle (Wald test, 9.40 vs 4.42). Similar results were found for PJF. Neither parameter was associated with other mechanical complications, reoperations, or patient-reported outcome measures.
CONCLUSIONS
UIV screw angle was more strongly associated with development of PJK/F compared with tilt angle. Overall, these modifiable parameters are directly under the surgeon's control and can mitigate the development of PJK/F.
CLINICAL RELEVANCE
Surgeons may consider selecting a UIV with a neutral or kyphotically directed UIV tilt angle when performing ASD surgery with a UIV in the lower thoracic or lumbar region, as well as use UIV screw angles that are caudally directed, for the purprose of decreasing the risk of developing PJK/F.
PubMed: 38886012
DOI: 10.14444/8607 -
Is it meaningful and necessary to avoid the seventh cervical vertebra in long level cervical fusion?Turkish Neurosurgery Nov 2023Posterior cervical fusion (PCF) and decompression procedures, which are increasingly performed, can cause multilevel degenerative cervical pathologies or deformities...
AIM
Posterior cervical fusion (PCF) and decompression procedures, which are increasingly performed, can cause multilevel degenerative cervical pathologies or deformities secondary to advanced age. Therefore, while considering the surgical site for multilevel PCF, the inclusion of the C7 vertebra can cause a dilemma. In this study, the clinical and radiological results of patients who underwent multilevel PCF with different end levels (C6 or C7) were compared.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
We collected radiographs and clinical results of all subjects who underwent level 3 or more PCF for degenerative disease from May 2012 to December 2020. Based on the location of the end of fusion during surgery, patients were divided into C6 (group 1) and C7 patients (group 2). The clinical and radiological results of both groups were compared over two years.
RESULTS
A total of 52 patients met the criteria of this study (21 in group 1 and 31 in group 2). The clinical results demonstrated a statistically significant difference with respect to a lower neck visual analog scale score in group 1 than in group 2 at the last follow-up (p=0.03). With regard to the radiological results, the C2-C7 sagittal vertical axis showed significantly greater values in group 2 than in group 1 at the final follow-up (p=0.02). For thoracic kyphosis (TK), group 2 had lower TK values than group 1 (p=0.03), and the T9 spinopelvic inclination was significantly greater in group 2 than in group 1 (p=0.01).
CONCLUSION
In this study, aggravation of cervical kyphosis and neck pain was observed when C7 was included in multilevel PCF surgery. The inclusion of C7 also affected the thoracolumbar parameters and global spine alignment.
PubMed: 38874250
DOI: 10.5137/1019-5149.JTN.44294-23.3 -
Scientific Reports Jun 2024In forensic commingled contexts, when the disarticulation occurs uniquely at the atlantoaxial joint, the correct match of atlas and axis may lead to the desirable...
In forensic commingled contexts, when the disarticulation occurs uniquely at the atlantoaxial joint, the correct match of atlas and axis may lead to the desirable assembly of the entire body. Notwithstanding the importance of this joint in such scenarios, no study has so far explored three-dimensional (3D) methodologies to match these two adjoining bones. In the present study, we investigated the potential of re-associating atlas and axis through 3D-3D superimposition by testing their articular surfaces congruency in terms of point-to-point distance (Root Mean Square, RMS). We analysed vertebrae either from the same individual (match) and from different individuals (mismatch). The RMS distance values were assessed for both groups (matches and mismatches) and a threshold value was determined to discriminate matches with a sensitivity of 100%. The atlas and the corresponding axis from 41 documented skeletons (18 males and 23 females), in addition to unpaired elements (the atlas or the axis) from 5 individuals, were superimposed, resulting in 41 matches and 1851 mismatches (joining and non-joining elements). No sex-related significant differences were found in matches and mismatches (p = 0.270 and p = 0.210, respectively), allowing to pool together the two sexes in each group. RMS values ranged between 0.41 to 0.77 mm for matches and between 0.37 and 2.18 mm for mismatches. Significant differences were found comparing the two groups (p < 0.001) and the highest RMS of matches (0.77 mm) was used as the discriminative value that provided a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 41%. In conclusion, the 3D-3D superimposition of the atlanto-axial articular facets cannot be considered as a re-association method per se, but rather as a screening one. However, further research on the validation of the 3D approach and on its application to other joints might provide clues to the complex topic of the reassociation of crucial adjoining bones.
Topics: Humans; Male; Female; Imaging, Three-Dimensional; Cervical Atlas; Adult; Middle Aged; Axis, Cervical Vertebra; Atlanto-Axial Joint; Forensic Anthropology; Aged
PubMed: 38849396
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-63029-4 -
Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences 2023Craniocervical junction (CCJ) can be involved in inflammatory arthritis. We aimed to define types of CCJ involvement in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), spondyloarthritis...
BACKGROUND/AIM
Craniocervical junction (CCJ) can be involved in inflammatory arthritis. We aimed to define types of CCJ involvement in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), spondyloarthritis (SpA), and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and compare them with patients without inflammatory arthritides.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
In this retrospective analysis, cervical CT or MRIs of patients with RA, SpA, or PsA, taken for any reason between 2010 and 2020, according to ICD-10 codes, were scanned. Demographic data of the patients were recorded. CCJ involvements (atlantoaxial, vertical, or subaxial subluxation, odontoid process involvement) were reevaluated by an experienced radiologist. The control group consisted of consecutive patients without inflammatory arthritis.
RESULTS
Exactly 459 patients (204 RA, 200 SpA, and 55 PsA) and 78 patients in the control group were included in the study. CCJ involvement was detected in 101 (49.5%) RA, 53 (26.5%) SpA, 10 (18.2%) PsA, and 4 patients (5.1%) in the control group (p < 0.001). The odontoid process was one of the main targets, especially in RA patients (69 (33.8%)), which was significantly higher than in the SpA, PsA, and control groups. Although vertical subluxation (VS) was numerically higher in the RA and SpA groups compared to the control group, VS-related brainstem compression was relatively uncommon: 6 (2.9%) in RA, 1 (0.5%) in AS, and none in the PsA and control groups.
CONCLUSION
CCJ involvement can often be detected in patients with inflammatory arthritis, especially in RA and SpA patients. The odontoid process is the main target of inflammation.
Topics: Humans; Female; Male; Middle Aged; Retrospective Studies; Arthritis, Rheumatoid; Adult; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Spondylarthritis; Aged; Arthritis, Psoriatic; Atlanto-Axial Joint; Cervical Vertebrae; Odontoid Process
PubMed: 38813511
DOI: 10.55730/1300-0144.5740 -
Zhongguo Xiu Fu Chong Jian Wai Ke Za... May 2024To investigate the imaging characteristics of cervical kyphosis and spinal cord compression in cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) with cervical kyphosis and the...
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the imaging characteristics of cervical kyphosis and spinal cord compression in cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) with cervical kyphosis and the influence on effectiveness.
METHODS
The clinical data of 36 patients with single-segment CSM with cervical kyphosis who were admitted between January 2020 and December 2022 and met the selection criteria were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into 3 groups according to the positional relationship between the kyphosis focal on cervical spine X-ray film and the spinal cord compression point on MRI: the same group (group A, 20 cases, both points were in the same position), the adjacent group (group B, 10 cases, both points were located adjacent to each other), and the separated group (group C, 6 cases, both points were located >1 vertebra away from each other). There was no significant difference between groups ( >0.05) in baseline data such as gender, age, body mass index, lesion segment, disease duration, and preoperative C angle, C sagittal vertical axis (C SVA), C slope (C S), kyphotic Cobb angle, fusion segment height, and Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) score. The patients underwent single-segment anterior cervical discectomy with fusion (ACDF). The occurrence of postoperative complications was recorded; preoperatively and at last follow-up, the patients' neurological function was evaluated using the JOA score, and the sagittal parameters (C angle, C SVA, C S, kyphotic Cobb angle, and height of the fused segments) were measured on cervical spine X-ray films and MRI and the correction rate of the cervical kyphosis was calculated; the correlation between changes in cervical sagittal parameters before and after operation and the JOA score improvement rate was analyzed using Pearson correlation analysis.
RESULTS
In 36 patients, only 1 case of dysphagia occurred in group A, and the dysphagia symptoms disappeared at 3 days after operation, and the remaining patients had no surgery-related complications during the hospitalization. All patients were followed up 12-42 months, with a mean of 20.1 months; the difference in follow-up time between the groups was not significant ( >0.05). At last follow-up, all the imaging indicators and JOA scores of patients in the 3 groups were significantly improved when compared with preoperative ones ( <0.05). The correction rate of cervical kyphosis in group A was significantly better than that in group C, and the improvement rate of JOA score was significantly better than that in groups B and C, all showing significant differences ( <0.05), and there was no significant difference between the other groups ( >0.05). The correlation analysis showed that the improvement rate of JOA score was negatively correlated with C angle and kyphotic Cobb angle at last follow-up ( =-0.424, =0.010; =-0.573, <0.001), and positively correlated with the C S and correction rate of cervical kyphosis at last follow-up ( =0.336, =0.045; =0.587, <0.001), and no correlation with the remaining indicators ( >0.05).
CONCLUSION
There are three main positional relationships between the cervical kyphosis focal and the spinal cord compression point on imaging, and they have different impacts on the effectiveness and sagittal parameters after ACDF, and those with the same position cervical kyphosis focal and spinal cord compression point have the best improvement in effectiveness and sagittal parameters.
Topics: Humans; Cervical Vertebrae; Kyphosis; Spondylosis; Spinal Cord Compression; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Spinal Fusion; Treatment Outcome; Spinal Cord Diseases; Decompression, Surgical; Retrospective Studies; Male; Female; Middle Aged
PubMed: 38752239
DOI: 10.7507/1002-1892.202402018 -
Journal of Clinical Medicine May 2024Lumbar lordotic curvature (LLC), closely associated with low back pain (LBP) when decreased, is infrequently assessed in clinical settings due to the spatiotemporal...
Lumbar lordotic curvature (LLC), closely associated with low back pain (LBP) when decreased, is infrequently assessed in clinical settings due to the spatiotemporal limitations of radiographic methods. To overcome these constraints, this study used an inertial measurement system to compare the magnitude and maintenance of LLC across various sitting conditions, categorized into three aspects: verbal instructions, chair type, and desk task types. Twenty-nine healthy participants were instructed to sit for 3 min with two wireless sensors placed on the 12th thoracic vertebra and the 2nd sacral vertebra. The lumbar lordotic angle (LLA) was measured using relative angles for the mediolateral axis and comparisons were made within each sitting category. The maintenance of LLA () was significantly smaller when participants were instructed to sit upright (-3.7 ± 3.9°) compared to that of their habitual sitting posture (-1.2 ± 2.4°) ( = 0.001), while the magnitude of LLA () was significantly larger with an upright sitting posture ( = 0.001). was significantly larger when using an office chair (-0.4 ± 1.1°) than when using a stool (-3.2 ± 7.1°) ( = 0.033), and was also significantly larger with the office chair ( < 0.001). Among the desk tasks, was largest during keyboard tasks ( < 0.001), followed by mouse and writing tasks; showed a similar trend without statistical significance (keyboard, -1.2 ± 3.0°; mouse, -1.8 ± 2.2°; writing, -2.9 ± 3.1°) ( = 0.067). Our findings suggest that strategies including the use of an office chair and preference for computer work may help preserve LLC, whereas in the case of cueing, repetition may be necessary.
PubMed: 38731257
DOI: 10.3390/jcm13092728 -
Scientific Reports Apr 2024The transpedicular procedure has been widely used in spinal surgery. The determination of the best entry point is the key to perform a successful transpedicular...
The transpedicular procedure has been widely used in spinal surgery. The determination of the best entry point is the key to perform a successful transpedicular procedure. Various techniques have been used to determine this point, but the results are variable. This study was carried out to determine the posterior endpoint of the lumbar pedicle central axis on the standard anterior-posterior (AP) fluoroscopic images. Computer-aided design technology was used to determine the pedicle central axis and the posterior endpoint of the pedicle central axis on the posterior aspect of the vertebra. The standard AP fluoroscopic image of the lumbar vertebral models by three-dimensional printing was achieved. The endpoint projection on the AP fluoroscopic image was determined in reference to the pedicle cortex projection by the measurements of the angle and distance on the established X-Y coordinate system of the radiologic image. The projection of posterior endpoint of the lumbar pedicle central axis were found to be superior to the X-axis of the established X-Y coordinate system and was located on the pedicle cortex projection on the standard AP fluoroscopic image of the vertebra. The projection point was distributed in different sectors in the coordinate system. It was located superior to the X-axis by 18° to 26° at L1, while they were located superior to the X-axis by 12° to 14° at L2 to L5. The projections of posterior endpoints of the lumbar pedicle central axis were located in different positions on the standard AP fluoroscopic image of the vertebra. The determination method of the projection point was helpful for selecting an entry point for a transpedicular procedure with a fluoroscopic technique.
Topics: Lumbar Vertebrae; Fluoroscopy; Pedicle Screws; Humans; Male; Female; Spinal Fusion; Printing, Three-Dimensional; Computer-Aided Design
PubMed: 38653756
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-57349-8 -
Journal of Craniovertebral Junction &... 2024This technical report illustrates the technique to perform computed tomography (CT)-guided bone biopsies in the body and dens of the axis (C2 vertebra) through a...
This technical report illustrates the technique to perform computed tomography (CT)-guided bone biopsies in the body and dens of the axis (C2 vertebra) through a posterior transpedicular approach with the use of preoperative contrast-enhanced scans to highlight the course of the vertebral artery. The technique is presented through two exemplification cases: a pediatric patient with osteoblastoma and secondary aneurysmal bone cyst and one adult patient with melanoma metastasis. This case highlights the potential of the CT-guided posterolateral/transpedicular approach for performing safe and effective biopsies in the body and dens of C2, even in pediatric patients.
PubMed: 38644913
DOI: 10.4103/jcvjs.jcvjs_183_23