Shigeta Morioka

Gravitational unloading inhibits the regenerative potential of atrophied soleus muscle in mice

Aim:  The present study was performed to investigate the influence of unloading on the regeneration of atrophied and injured skeletal muscle.

Functional Overloading Facilitates the Regeneration of Injured Soleus Muscles in Mice

The effect of functional overloading on the regenerating process of injured skeletal muscle was investigated in 10-week-old male mice (C57BL/6J). Functional overloading on soleus of both hindlimbs was performed by cutting the distal tendons of plantaris and gastrocnemius muscles for 2 weeks before cardiotoxin (CTX) injection as the preconditioning and also during 10 weeks of recovery. To activate the necrosis-regeneration cycle, 0.1 ml of 10-microM CTX was injected into soleus muscle. The mean values of absolute muscle weight and the percentage of Pax7-positive nuclei in soleus were increased by the preconditioning. These values, as well as total muscle protein content, in the group with CTX injection plus overloading were larger than in the group with CTX injection alone. Fibers with central nucleus were noted in the group with CTX injection with or without overloading. The rate of disappearance of fibers having central nucleus during recovery was stimulated by overloading. Histological analyses revealed that the regeneration of injured soleus muscle with overloading proceeded more rapidly than the muscle without overloading. These results, in combination with previous lines of evidence, strongly suggest that functional overloading may facilitate the regeneration of injured skeletal muscles.

Spinal fusion on adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients with the level of L4 or lower can increase lumbar disc degeneration with sagittal imbalance 35 years after surgery

Introduction The purpose of this study was to investigate the long-term incidence of lumbar disc degeneration and Modic changes in the non-fused segments of patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) who previously underwent spinal fusion. Methods Study subjects consisted of 252 patients with AIS who underwent spinal fusion between 1968 and 1988. Of 252 patients, 35 subjects underwent lumbar spine MRI and whole spine X-ray examination. The mean patient age at the time of follow-up was 49.8 years, with an average follow-up period of 35.1 years. We classified the subjects into two groups based on the lowest fused vertebra: H group whose lowest fused vertebra was L3 or higher levels and L group whose lowest fused vertebra was L4 or lower levels. Results The L group had significantly advanced disc degeneration on MRI. There was no significant difference between two groups in Modic changes. The L group showed less lumbar lordosis than the H group (H group: 48.1 degrees; and L group: 32.1 degrees) and greater SVA (H group: 1.2 cm; and L group: 5.5 cm). Conclusions In AIS patients, 35 years after spinal fusion surgery on average, we evaluated lumbar disc degeneration and Modic changes of the non-fused segments. In patients with the lowest fusion level at L4 or lower, there were reduced lumbar lordosis, considerable SVA imbalance, and severe disc degeneration compared with those with the lowest fusion level at L3 or higher. The lowest fusion level at L3 or higher is recommended to reduce disc degeneration in midlife.

Safety and Efficacy of Percutaneous Pedicle Screw Placement Using a Power Tool

Introduction This study compared traditional manual methods and power tool use with regard to the speed and accuracy of percutaneous pedicle screw (PPS) placement and determined the advantages associated with the use of power tools. Although the indication of PPS placement in minimally invasive spine stabilization (MISt) procedures has been recently expanded, there are no reports on PPS insertion using a power tool. Methods We evaluated 35 patients who underwent PPS insertion using a power tool during MISt procedures. On one side, PPS insertion was performed using the manual (M) method, whereas on the contralateral side, insertion was performed using the power tool (P) method. We assessed the number of implanted PPSs, time taken to implant PPSs after guidewire insertion, and accuracy of PPS placement as ranked postoperatively using computed tomography images. Results A total of 294 PPSs were inserted (147 using the M method and 147 using the P method). The mean PPS insertion time was 10.5 s using the P method and 27.4 s using the M method. The time required for inserting a screw using the P method remained consistent in the range of 10-15 s, whereas the time using the M method tended to increase from the second screw onward, with a range of 25-30 s. With regard to PPS insertion accuracy, a 2 mm or more pedicle breach was noted in 2 (1.4%) case after the P method and in 2 (1.4%) case after the M method. Conclusions PPS placement using power tools has the potential to save the surgical time during MISt procedures.

Quantification of L5 radiculopathy due to foraminal stenosis using three-dimensional magnetic resonance myelography

Introduction This study aimed to evaluate morphological changes in the L5 nerve roots in control and symptomatic patients using magnetic resonance myelography [MRM]. Moreover, the utility of MRM for the diagnosis of intraforaminal or extraforaminal lesions in patients with L5 radiculopathy was evaluated using healthy subjects as controls. Methods Of 270 subjects who underwent MRM of the lumbar spine at our institution between April 2007 and December 2010, 135 patients (78 men and 57 women; average age: 61.3 years) with no history of spinal surgeries and nerve roots without infections, tumors, or malformations were selected for this study. The end-point measurements included the bifurcation angle of inclination (proximal tilting angle [PTA]) of the L5 nerve root as observed via MRM, lateral angle of inclination (lateral tilting angle [LTA]), bifurcation diameter (proximal nerve root width [PW]), and dorsal root ganglion (DRG) diameter (DRG width [DW]). DW ratio was then calculated for healthy controls and symptomatic subjects. We measured each parameter using the image information unification system ShadeQuest (Yokogawa, Tokyo, Japan). Two spinal surgeons conducted the magnetic resonance imaging evaluation. Results Swelling of the L5 DRG was detected in cases with intraforaminal or extraforaminal stenosis. With regard to the cutoff value of 6.5 mm for L5 DW, foraminal stenosis can be confirmed if DW is ≥6.5 mm or more via MRM. In cases where L5 DRG was swollen to ≥1.2 times the size in healthy subjects, L5 radiculopathy with foraminal lesions can be diagnosed. Conclusions Our findings indicated that 3D MRM is a noninvasive technique and a useful tool for the diagnosis of intraforaminal or extraforaminal lesions in the lumbar spine. Therefore, it can be combined with other diagnostic methods used for the identification of intraforaminal or extraforaminal L5 nerve root lesion.

Bone Mineral Density and Physical Performance of Female Patients 27 Years or Longer after Surgery for Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis

Study Design Retrospective cohort study. Purpose To assess bone mineral density (BMD) and bone metabolism ≥27 years after surgery in female patients who underwent spinal fusion for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) during adolescence and to determine their associations with physical performance. Overview of Literature There are no studies investigating postsurgical BMD in middle-aged AIS patients. Methods This study included 23 patients who provided informed consent among 229 female patients with AIS who underwent spinal fusion from 1968 until 1988. Average age at the time of observation was 48.8 years. BMD was measured at the left femoral neck, and the levels of two bone metabolism markers–procollagen type 1 N-terminal propeptide (P1NP) and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b (TRACP-5b)–were measured from blood samples. Physical performance was measured using grip strength, sit-ups, sit-and-reach, side step, and standing long jump. Results Mean BMD was 0.784 g/cm2. According to the World Health Organization diagnostic criteria, one subject (4.3%) had osteoporosis, whereas nine subjects (39.1%) had osteopenia. In patients with osteoporosis or osteopenia, P1NP and TRACP-5b levels were high, and BMD loss was because of high metabolic turnover. All calculated standard scores for physical performance were lower in the study cohort than in healthy individuals. There was a positive correlation between BMD and the standard score for grip strength, whereas there were weak positive correlations between BMD and the standard scores for side step and standing long jump. Conclusions In female AIS patients who underwent spinal fusion in adolescence, 4.3% and 39.1% had osteoporosis and osteopenia, respectively, ≥27 years after surgery. Exercise performance of these patients was poor compared with the national standards. In these patients, increased physical activity should be encouraged to prevent BMD loss in middle age.

Sagittal Alignment of Spine and Spinal Cord for Upper Cervical Irreducible Atlantoaxial Kyphosis in Elderly Patients.

Study Design:Retrospective study. Objective:To evaluate clinical and radiographic outcome of posterior decompression and occipito-cervical/thoracic (OCT) fusion in patients with irreducible atlantoaxial kyphosis (IAK). Summary of Background Data:Posterior OCT fusion is an effective surgical procedure for treating IAK in the elderly. However, it is unclear whether correction can be obtained by the strong corrective force provided by implants, even in patients in whom reduction cannot be obtained preoperatively. There are no reports of improvement in patients in whom correction could not be achieved by a rigid system. Methods:Twenty-five patients with IAK with mild vertical subluxation due to rheumatoid arthritis and 3 patients with IAK due to os odontoideum were treated with fossa magnum decompression, C1 laminectomy and OCT fusion. Results:Mean follow-up period was 4.2 years. Preoperative and postoperative neurological findings revealed improvement by 1 or more grades in 18 of 28 (64.2%) patients. The parameters of spinal alignment, sagittal spinal cord alignment, and basilar invagination were evaluated on radiographs. No significant difference between preoperative and postoperative status was seen for the clivo-axial angle, occipito-upper cervical angle, atlantodental interval, or occipito-cervical 2 angle, whereas significant improvement was seen in the cervico-medullary and dorsal CM angles (both P<0.05). No significant postoperative change in the vertical direction was seen for any of the parameters. Width of the spinal cord at the C1 level was significantly increased postoperatively, with a significant expansion of the cerebral spinal fluid space at the same level (P<0.05). Conclusions:Posterior decompression with fusion for the treatment of IAK in the elderly did not produce significant change in spinal alignment, but did significantly improve spinal cord alignment and local spinal cord compression at the C1 level, achieving satisfactory clinical outcomes.