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Uniportal Full Endoscopic Posterolateral Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion

Uniportal full endoscopic posterolateral lumbar interbody fusion (FE-TLIF) has recently shown promising results. However, beginners may face challenges in ...

New Taipei Municipal Tucheng Hospital

When patients presenting with subjective lower limb weakness (SLLW) are encountered, it is natural to suspect a lumbar pathology and proceed with related clinical examination, investigations and management. However, SLLW could be a sign of degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) due to an evolving cord compression. In such circumstances, if symptoms are not correlated to myelopathy at the earliest, there could be potential complications over time. In this study, we intend to analyse the outcomes after surgical management of the cervical or thoracic cord compression in patients with SLLW. Retrospectively, patients who presented to our center during the years 2010-2016 with sole complaint of bilateral SLLW but radiologically diagnosed to have a solitary cervical or thoracic stenosis, or tandem spinal stenosis and underwent surgical decompression procedures were selected. Their clinical presentation was categorised into three types, myelopathy was graded using Nurick's grading and JOA scoring; in addition, their lower limb functional status was assessed using the lower extremity functional scale (LEFS). Functional recovery following surgery was assessed at 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, one year, and two years. Selected patients (n = 24; Age, 56.4 ± 10.1 years; range 32-78 years) had SLLW for a period of 6.4 ± 3.2 months (range 2-13 months). Their preoperative JOA score was 11.3 ± 1.8 (range 7-15), and LEFS was 34.4 ± 7.7 (range 20-46). Radiological evidence of a solitary cervical lesion and tandem spinal stenosis was found in 6 and 18 patients respectively. Patients gradually recovered after surgical decompression with LEFS 59.8 ± 2.7 (range 56-65) at 1 year and JOA score 13.6 ± 2.7 (range - 17 to 100) at 2 years. The recovery rate at final follow up was 47.5%. Our results indicate the importance of clinically suspecting SLLW as an early non-specific sign of DCM to avoid misdiagnosis, especially in patients without conventional upper motor neuron signs. In such cases, surgical management of the cord compression resulted in significant functional recovery and halted the progression towards permanent disability.

Degenerative cervical myelopathy presenting as subjective lower limb weakness could be a trap towards misdiagnosis.

The elderly population has an increased risk of degenerative cervical myelopathy due to multilevel disease, causing motor and sensory dysfunctions and a poor quality of life. Multilevel anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) is an alternative surgical treatment option, but has a perceived higher risk of complications. The goal of this study is to report the outcome. We retrospectively reviewed patients from 2006 to 2019 undergoing multilevel ACDF for degenerative cervical myelopathy and compared outcomes and complications between elder patients (aged 70 and above) and younger patients (below 70). The patients' comorbidities, and postoperative complications, radiographic parameters such as C2-C7 Cobb angle, C2-C7 sagittal vertical axis, inter-body height of surgical levels and fusion rate were recorded. Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score and modified Odom's score were collected. Included were 18 elderly (mean age 74, range 70-87) and 45 young patients (mean age 56, range 43-65) with a follow-up of 43.8 and 55.5 months respectively. Three-level ACDF was the most common. The ratios of ASA class III patients were 94.4% and 48.9% (p < 0.001). The Charlson comorbidity indexes were 4.3 ± 1.03 and 2.1 ± 1.11 (p < 0.001). The average lengths of hospital stays were 4.9 and 4.6 days. Eleven patients (61.1%) in the elderly group experienced at least one short-term complication, compared with 16 patients (35.6%) in the younger group (p < 0.05). The middle-term complications were comparable (22.2% and 20.0%). The JOA score, recovery rate and modified Odom score showed comparable result between groups. Despite its extensiveness, multilevel ACDF is feasible for the elder patients with good clinical outcome and fusion rate. When compared to younger cohort, there is a trend of lower preoperative JOA score and recovery rate. The short-term complication rate is higher in the elderly group.

The surgical outcome of multilevel anterior cervical discectomy and fusion in myelopathic elderly and younger patients.

Bone graft extenders have been developed to prevent donor site morbidity associated with iliac crest bone graft, but few studies compared the efficacy of various substitutes. Our purpose was to determine fusion rate and clinical outcome in patients undergoing lumbar arthrodesis using demineralized bone matrix (DBM) and biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP).

Use of biphasic calcium phosphate versus demineralized bone matrix: retrospective clinical and CT analysis of posterolateral fusion results.

As the population ages, the number of patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA) continues to increase. Infections after primary arthroplasty are rare but have high rates of morbidity and mortality, as well as enormous financial implications for healthcare systems. Numerous methods including the use of superhydrophobic coatings, the incorporation of antibacterial agents, and the application of topographical treatments have been developed to reduce bacterial attachment to medical devices. However, most of these methods require complex manufacturing processes. Thus, the main purpose of this study was to apply biocoatings to titanium (Ti) surfaces to increase their infection resistance and osteoconductivity via simple processes, without organic reagents. We modified titanium surfaces with a combination of aminomalononitrile (AMN) and an antibiotic-loaded mesoporous bioactive glass (MBG) and evaluated both the antibacterial effects of the coating layer and its effect on osteoblast proliferation and differentiation. The properties of the modified surface, such as the hydrophilicity, roughness, and surface morphology, were characterized via contact angle measurements, atomic force microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. The cell proliferation reagent WST-1 assay and the alkaline phosphatase (ALP) assay were used to determine the degrees of adhesion and differentiation, respectively, of the MG-63 osteoblast-like cells on the surface. Antimicrobial activity was evaluated by examining the survival rate and inhibition zone of Escherichia coli (). The AMN coating layer reduced the water contact angle (WCA) of the titanium surface from 87° ± 2.5° to 53° ± 2.3° and this change was retained even after immersion in deionized water for five weeks, demonstrating the stability of the AMN coating. Compared with nontreated titanium and polydopamine (PDA) coating layers, the AMN surface coating increased MG-63 cell attachment, spreading, and early ALP expression; reduced  adhesion; and increased the percentage of dead bacteria. In addition, the AMN coating served as an adhesion layer for the subsequent deposition of MBG-containing antibiotic nanoparticles. The synergistic effects of the AMN layer and antibiotics released from the MBG resulted in an obvious  inhibition zone that was not observed in the nontreated titanium group.

A Water-Based Biocoating to Increase the Infection Resistance and Osteoconductivity of Titanium Surfaces.

A mismatch in footprints of cervical total disc arthroplasty (CTDA) implants occasionally occurred in Asian population and it had been attributed solely to ethnic factor. Yet, cervical degeneration process may play a role. Our purpose was to compare the cervical vertebra morphometric data with and without degeneration. The study included patients with CT scans of cervical spine from our hospital between January, 2019, and September, 2021. The total cervical degenerative index (TCDI) of each patient were collected by adding CDI score for 5 disc-levels. Patients were categorized into normal (TCDI 0-5) and degeneration groups (TCDI 6-60). Various measurements of the C3-C7 vertebral body and endplate were taken. Forty-nine patients in the normal group and 55 in the degeneration group were included. No significant difference was noted in gender, BH, BW, or BMI except age and TCDI (p < .001). During degeneration, disproportional endplate size changes were observed, with an increment ratio of 12-20% in the anteroposterior and 5-17% in the mediolateral plane throughout C3-C7, while vertebral body height remained constant. In conclusion, degeneration process, besides ethnic factor, causes the endplate size and shape mismatch. This information can help spine surgeon choose appropriate implants in CTDA surgery.

Article	Year
Degenerative cervical myelopathy presenting as subjective lower limb weakness could be a trap towards misdiagnosis. Scientific reports\| PubMed ID: 33273536	2020
The surgical outcome of multilevel anterior cervical discectomy and fusion in myelopathic elderly and younger patients. Scientific reports\| PubMed ID: 35296700	2022
Use of biphasic calcium phosphate versus demineralized bone matrix: retrospective clinical and CT analysis of posterolateral fusion results. European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society\| PubMed ID: 36534209	2023
A Water-Based Biocoating to Increase the Infection Resistance and Osteoconductivity of Titanium Surfaces. International journal of molecular sciences\| PubMed ID: 38542241	2024
The footprint mismatch of cervical disc arthroplasty comes from degenerative factor besides ethnic factor. Scientific reports\| PubMed ID: 39237767	2024

Chi-An Luo

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