井上 泰一

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the recent 10-year trends in cervical laminoplasty and 30-day postoperative complications. METHODS: This retrospective multi-institutional cohort study enrolled patients who underwent laminoplasty for cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) or ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament. The primary outcome was the occurrence of all-cause 30-day complications. Trends were investigated and compared in the early (2008-2012) and late (2013-2017) periods. RESULTS: Among 1095 patients (mean age, 66 years; 762 [70%] male), 542 and 553 patients were treated in the early and late periods, respectively. In the late period, patients were older at surgery (65 years vs. 68 years), there were more males (66% vs. 73%), and open-door laminoplasty (50% vs. 69%) was the preferred procedure, while %CSM (77% vs. 78%) and the perioperative JOA scores were similar to the early period. During the study period, the rate of preservation of the posterior muscle-ligament complex attached to the C2/C7-spinous process (C2, 89% vs. 93%; C7, 62% vs. 85%) increased and the number of laminoplasty levels (3.7 vs. 3.1) decreased. While the 30-day complication rate remained stable (3.9% vs. 3.4%), C5 palsy tended to decrease (2.4% vs. 0.9%, P = 0.059); superficial SSI increased significantly (0% vs. 1.3%, P = 0.015), while the decreased incidence of deep SSI did not reach statistical significance (0.6% vs. 0.2%). CONCLUSIONS: From 2008 to 2017, there were trends toward increasing age at surgery and surgeons' preference for refined open-door laminoplasty. The 30-day complication rate remained stable, but the C5 palsy rate halved.

INTRODUCTION: We often treat patients with peripheral neuropathic pain due to spine diseases with mirogabalin as an alternative to pregabalin because of adverse events or insufficient efficacy associated with pregabalin treatment. However, there have been few reports on the safety and efficacy of mirogabalin in such cases. This study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of switching from pregabalin to mirogabalin in patients with peripheral neuropathic pain due to spine diseases. METHODS: Between January 2019 and July 2021, we treated 106 patients (47 men and 59 women) with peripheral neuropathic pain due to spine diseases. All patients had switched from pregabalin to mirogabalin due to adverse events or lack of efficacy. We evaluated the retention rate, incidence of adverse events, and response rate of mirogabalin during the treatment course. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 67.5 years (range, 33-93 years), and the average dose of mirogabalin was 13.8 mg (range, 2.5-30 mg) at the final follow-up. The average duration of mirogabalin treatment was 148.7 days (range, 3-463 days). The retention rate of mirogabalin was 78.3%, the incidence of adverse events after mirogabalin administration was 28.3%, and the response rate of mirogabalin was 66%. Somnolence with pregabalin or mirogabalin administration in the mirogabalin discontinuation group was increased compared with that in the mirogabalin continuation group (pregabalin: 52.2% vs. 19.3%, mirogabalin: 26.1% vs. 7.2%). The patients who responded to mirogabalin had a lower average age, higher retention rate, and longer drug administration period than those who did not respond to it. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicated that mirogabalin treatment might be continued in patients with peripheral neuropathic pain due to spinal diseases who could not continue pregabalin treatment.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of spinal cord injury without radiological abnormality (SCIWORA) is increasing among older adults in developed countries. SCIWORA is commonly associated with ossification of the spinal ligament, specifically the ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) and ossification of the anterior longitudinal ligament (OALL). OALL induces segmental spinal fusion and alters the biomechanical properties of the cervical spine; however, whether OALL modulates the severity of SCIWORA remains unknown. This study aimed to investigate the influence of OALL on the severity and distribution of neurological deficits following SCIWORA. METHODS: This retrospective study included 122 patients with SCIWORA who were admitted to our hospital from April 2008 to March 2022. The neurological function of all the included patients was assessed via the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) Impairment Scale (AIS) at admission. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography were performed within 48 h of trauma. Central cord syndrome (CCS) was defined as the upper-extremity ASIA motor score being at least 10 points lesser than the lower-extremity motor score. RESULTS: The study included 122 patients with a mean age of 65.1 years. Comparing mild (AIS grades C or D) and severe (AIS grades A or B) neurological deficits revealed that the former was independently associated with ground-level falls, OALL, and absence of prevertebral T2 high-intensity area on MRI. Although 39% of patients with SCIWORA exhibited OPLL as an etiology of cervical stenosis, OPLL demonstrated no significant effect on the severity of neurological deficits. CCS occurrence was independently associated with OALL and a larger cross-sectional cord area on MRI. Patients with OALL had significantly higher lower-extremity ASIA motor scores than those without OALL. CONCLUSIONS: OALL was significantly associated with mild neurological deficits in the lower extremities and with the occurrence of CCS after SCIWORA.

This study assessed the relationship between handgrip strength (HGS) and activities of daily living, balance, walking speed, calf circumference, body muscle, and body composition in elderly patients with thoracolumbar vertebral compression fracture (VCF). A cross-sectional study in a single hospital was performed with elderly patients diagnosed with VCF. After admission, we evaluated HGS, 10-meter walk test (speed), Barthel Index, Berg Balance Scale (BBS), numerical rating scale of body pain, and calf circumference. We examined skeletal muscle mass, skeletal muscle mass index, total body water (TBW), intracellular water, extracellular water (ECW), and phase angle (PhA) in patients with VCF using multi-frequency direct segmental bioelectrical impedance analysis after admission. A total of 112 patients admitted for VCF were enrolled (26 males, 86 females; mean age 83.3 years). The prevalence of sarcopenia according to the 2019 Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia guideline was 61.6%. HGS was significantly correlated with walking speed (P < .001, R = 0.485), Barthel Index (P < .001, R = 0.430), BBS (P < .001, R = 0.511), calf circumference (P < .001, R = 0.491), skeletal muscle mass index (P < .001, R = 0.629), ECW/TBW (P < .001, r = -0.498), and PhA (P < .001, R = 0.550). HGS was more strongly correlated with walking speed, Barthel Index, BBS, ECW/TBW ratio, and PhA in men than women. In patients with thoracolumbar VCF, HGS is associated with walking speed, muscle mass, activities of daily living measured using the Barthel Index, and balance measured using BBS. The findings suggest that HGS is an important indicator of activities of daily living, balance, and whole-body muscle strength. Furthermore, HGS is related to PhA and ECW/TBW.