Traumatic Disc Research Articles

A Young Patient with Acute Cauda Equina Syndrome Due to Traumatic Disc Herniation

Giris: Akut kauda ekuina sendromu klinikte nadir gorulen bir durumdur. Etyolojisinde; spinal hematom, lomber anestezi, spinal girisimler, intraspinal yerlesimli tumorler, enfeksiyonlar veya lomber disk herniasyonlari yer almaktadir. Lomber disk herniasyonuna bagli gelisen akut kauda ekuina sendromu vakalarin %1-2’sinde olmak uzere nadiren gorulmektedir. Olgu Sunumu: Bu vakada, genc bir hastada travma sonrasi gelisen ve hizli belirti veren bir akut kauda ekuina sendromu sunuldu. Sonuc: Bununla birlikte, klinikte nadir gorulen bu duruma dikkat cekmek amaclandi.

Nerve Transfers for The Lower Limb

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a vital tool for detection of soft tissue injury (STI) after cervical spine injury (CSI). However, high cost, prolonged imaging time, and limited use in hemodynamically unstable patients necessitates that the utility of MRI in all patients with CSI be scrutinized.A retrospective review was performed of all patients treated for a CSI at a Level I trauma center between 2005 and 2010. Patient demographics, fracture characteristics, and associated STIs were collected. STIs were classified further into same level ligamentous injury, adjacent level ligamentous injury (ALLI), cord contusion, and traumatic herniated disc. ALLI was defined as anterior or posterior longitudinal ligament, ligamentum flavum, or supraspinous or interspinous ligamentous injury.MRI was performed in 240 of 787 patients. Evidence of STI was identified in 54.6%. ALLI was the most common STI (80 of 240 patients); these injuries were subdivided into above, below, or both above and below the concurrent fracture level. Patients with ALLI were significantly more likely to have injured C3 (P < 0.01) and C5 (P < 0.03) levels, association with widened disc space (P = 0.03), and multiple CSIs (P = 0.008). The whole ALLI was included in the fixation strategy in 100% of patients with ALLI only above the concurrent fracture level and 87% of patients with ALLI only below the concurrent fracture level.MRI detected an associated STI in about 55% of patients who underwent imaging. Injuries involving multiple fractured cervical levels, fractures at C3 and C5, and widened disc space should raise the treating physician's level of suspicion for ALLI. Our data show that treatment directed by MRI findings in select cases has substantial value.

A single-stage posterior approach with open reduction and pedicle screw fixation in subaxial cervical facet dislocations.

The optimal treatment for cervical facet dislocations is controversial, but the generally accepted process recommends an initial closed reduction with the next step determined according to the success of the closed reduction and the presence of traumatic disc herniation. This study aimed to show the efficacy of a posterior approach performed with an open reduction and pedicle screw fixation with removal of disc particles, if required, in the management of subaxial cervical dislocations. Between March 2012 and September 2013, 21 consecutive patients with cervical facet dislocations were enrolled. The affected levels were as follows: 4 at C3-4; 2 at C4-5; 5 at C5-6; and 10 at the C6-7 level. Seven patients had traumatic disc herniations. Closed reduction was not attempted; a prompt posterior cervical surgery was performed instead. After open reduction, pedicle screw fixation was performed. In cases with traumatic disc herniation, herniated disc fragments were excised via a posterolateral approach and successful decompressions were determined by postoperative MRI studies. Clinical outcomes were assessed using the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) grading system. Radiological outcomes were assessed by comparing the degree of subluxation and the angle of segmental lordosis between pre- and postoperative CT scans. All patients improved neurologically. The mean segmental angles improved from 7.3° ± 8.68° to -5.9° ± 4.85°. The mean subluxation improved from 23.4% ± 16.52% to 2.6% ± 7.19%. Disc fragments were successfully removed from the 7 patients with herniated discs, as shown on MRI. Open reduction followed by pedicle screw fixation or posterolateral removal of herniated disc fragments is a good treatment option for cervical facet dislocations.

Percutaneous Needle Puncture Technique to Create a Rabbit Model with Traumatic Degenerative Disk Disease

Several studies have been conducted to identify the pathogenesis of and manage disk degeneration. To further this research, reliable animal models of disk degeneration are required. In the present study, a percutaneous technique is used to create a rabbit model of degenerative disk disease, and the reproducibility and efficacy of this technique is reported. Ten mature male New Zealand white rabbits were included in the present study. The intervertebral disk was injured by a percutaneous technique at the L2-L3, L3-L4, and L4-L5 levels. The center of the disk was identified by C-arm guidance. A 19-gauge spinal needle with a 10-mL syringe was inserted into the center of the disk, and negative pressure was applied. Radiographs including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with T2 and lateral x-rays were collected at 1, 4, 9, 15, and 20 weeks. Degeneration was examined using histology at 24 weeks. Narrowed disk height was not observed until 4 weeks after injury, and a significant change was observed at 9 weeks compared with the control L1-L2 level (P < 0.05). MRI revealed disk degeneration beginning at 9 weeks and full degeneration at 15 weeks. Injured intervertebral disks had higher degeneration, seen using MRI, than uninjured control disks. Disk degeneration was confirmed in all injured levels by histologic examination. Cortical osteophyte formation was not found. Our percutaneous technique provides a suitable rabbit model of degenerative disk disease to test the safety and efficacy of treatments for disk degeneration, such as stem cell transplantation.

Adjacent Level Ligamentous Injury Associated with Traumatic Cervical Spine Fractures: Indications for Imaging and Implications for Treatment

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a vital tool for detection of soft tissue injury (STI) after cervical spine injury (CSI). However, high cost, prolonged imaging time, and limited use in hemodynamically unstable patients necessitates that the utility of MRI in all patients with CSI be scrutinized. A retrospective review was performed of all patients treated for a CSI at a Level I trauma center between 2005 and 2010. Patient demographics, fracture characteristics, and associated STIs were collected. STIs were classified further into same level ligamentous injury, adjacent level ligamentous injury (ALLI), cord contusion, and traumatic herniated disc. ALLI was defined as anterior or posterior longitudinal ligament, ligamentum flavum, or supraspinous or interspinous ligamentous injury. MRI was performed in 240 of 787 patients. Evidence of STI was identified in 54.6%. ALLI was the most common STI (80 of 240 patients); these injuries were subdivided into above, below, or both above and below the concurrent fracture level. Patients with ALLI were significantly more likely to have injured C3 (P < 0.01) and C5 (P < 0.03) levels, association with widened disc space (P = 0.03), and multiple CSIs (P = 0.008). The whole ALLI was included in the fixation strategy in 100% of patients with ALLI only above the concurrent fracture level and 87% of patients with ALLI only below the concurrent fracture level. MRI detected an associated STI in about 55% of patients who underwent imaging. Injuries involving multiple fractured cervical levels, fractures at C3 and C5, and widened disc space should raise the treating physician's level of suspicion for ALLI. Our data show that treatment directed by MRI findings in select cases has substantial value.

Alzheimer's Disease: Exploring the Role of Inflammation and Implications for Treatment.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by both structural abnormalities and inflammation in the brain. While recent research has chiefly focused on the structural changes involved in AD, understanding the pathophysiology and associated inflammation of the AD brain helps to elucidate potential therapeutic and preventative options. By exploring the data supporting an inflammatory etiology of AD, we present a case for the use of existing evidence-based treatments addressing inflammation as promising options for treating and preventing AD. We present data demonstrating tumor necrosis factor alpha association with the inflammation of AD. We also discuss data supporting TNF alpha associated inflammation in traumatic brain injury, stroke, and spinal disc associated radiculopathy. We augment this previously unarticulated concept of a unifying pathophysiology of central nervous system disease, with reports of benefits of TNF alpha inhibition in many hundreds of patients with those diseases, including AD. We also assess the pathophysiologic and clinical trial evidence supporting the role of other inflammation resolving treatments in AD. In aggregate, the data from the several potentially effective therapeutic and preventative options contained within this report presents a clearer picture of next steps needed in research of treatment alternatives.

Cases of C5–6 traumatic disk herniation

Cases of C5–6 traumatic disk herniation

Surgical approaches for cervical spine facet dislocations in adults.

The choice of surgical approach for the management of subaxial cervical spine facet dislocations is a controversial subject amongst spine surgeons. Reasons for this include differences in the technical familiarity and experience of surgeons with the different surgical approaches, and variable interpretation of image studies regarding the existence of a traumatic intervertebral disc herniation and of the neurological status of the patient. Moreover, since the approaches are dissimilar, important variations are likely in neurological, radiographical and clinical outcomes. To compare the effects (benefits and harms) of the different surgical approaches used for treating adults with acute cervical spine facet dislocation. We searched the Cochrane Bone, Joint and Muscle Trauma Group Specialised Register (9 May 2014), The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (The Cochrane Library, 2014 Issue 4), MEDLINE (1946 to April Week 5 2014), MEDLINE In-Process & Other Non-Indexed Citations (8 May 2013), EMBASE (1980 to 2014 Week 18), Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences (9 May 2014), trial registries, conference proceedings and reference lists of articles to May 2014. We included randomised and quasi-randomised controlled trials that compared surgical approaches for the management of adults with acute cervical spine facet dislocations with and without spinal cord injury. Two review authors independently selected studies, assessed risk of bias and extracted data. We included one randomised and one quasi-randomised controlled trial involving a total of 94 participants and reporting results for a maximum of 84 participants. One trial included patients with spinal cord injuries and the other included patients without spinal cord injuries. Both trials compared anterior versus posterior surgical approaches. Both trials were at high risk of bias, including selection bias (one trial), performance bias (both trials) and attrition bias (one trial). Data were pooled for one outcome only: non-union. Reflecting also the imprecision of the results, the evidence was deemed to be of very low quality for all outcomes; which means that our level of uncertainty about the estimates is high.Neither trial found differences between the two approaches in neurological recovery or status, as shown in one study by small clinically insignificant differences in NASS (Northern American Spine Society) neurological scores (0 to 100: optimal score) at one year of follow-up: anterior mean score: 85.23 versus posterior mean score: 83.86; mean difference (MD) 1.37 favouring anterior approach, 95% confidence interval (CI) -9.76 to 12.50; 33 participants; 1 study). The same trial found no relevant between-approach differences at one year in patient-reported quality of life measured using the 36-item Short Form Survey physical (MD -0.08, 95% CI -7.26 to 7.10) and mental component scores (MD 2.88, 95% CI -3.32 to 9.08). Neither trial found evidence of significant differences in long-term pain, or non-union (2/38 versus 2/46; risk ratio (RR) 1.18, 95% CI 0.04 to 34.91). One trial found better sagittal and more 'normal' alignment after the anterior approach (MD -10.31 degrees favouring anterior approach, 95% CI -14.95 degrees to -5.67 degrees), while the other trial reported no significant differences in cervical alignment. There was insufficient evidence to indicate between-group differences in medical adverse events, rates of instrumentation failure and infection. One trial found that the several participants had voice and swallowing disorders after anterior approach surgery (11/20) versus none (0/22) in the posterior approach group: RR 25.19, 95% CI 1.58 to 401.58); all had recovered by three months. Very low quality evidence from two trials indicated little difference in long-term neurological status, pain or patient-reported quality of life between anterior and posterior surgical approaches to the management of individuals with subaxial cervical spine facet dislocations. Sagittal alignment may be better achieved with the anterior approach. There was insufficient evidence available to indicate between-group differences in medical adverse events, rates of instrumentation failure and infection. The disorders of the voice and swallowing that occurred exclusively in the anterior approach group all resolved by three months. We are very uncertain about this evidence and thus we cannot say whether one approach is better than the other. There was no evidence available for other approaches. Further higher quality multicentre randomised trials are warranted.

Outcome of traumatic intervertebral disk lesions after stabilization by internal fixator.

The optimal treatment of intervertebral disk lesions accompanying thoracolumbar fractures remains controversial. To evaluate short- and medium-term progression of intervertebral disk lesions accompanying vertebral fractures, MRI scans obtained after trauma were compared with scans obtained at an average follow-up of 1 year, by means of our clinically useful classification of traumatic intervertebral disk lesions. MRI scans of 54 disks in patients with trauma-induced single-level thoracolumbar fractures were analyzed retrospectively. All patients underwent posterior stabilization using a titanium internal fixator. Exclusion criteria were malignant vertebral collapse, spondylodiskitis, osteoporotic fractures, and degenerative disk disease in the uninjured disks. Morphologic changes and signal alterations of the adjacent disks were compared using routine MRI scans obtained after trauma and at an average follow-up of 1 year. Disks were divided according to their signals into four categories, from grade 0 to grade 3. Of the disks studied after trauma (n = 54), 27.8% were determined to be grade 0, 31.5% were grade 2, and 40.7% were grade 3. In the follow-up examination, MRI detected grade 0 in 13% of disks. Hence, more than 50% of the disks with grade 0 after trauma changed into grade 2 lesions, resulting in 46.3% grade 2 lesions. Grade 3 disk lesions (40.7%) remained the same without any sign of recovery. In the current study, we found progressive disk degradation and creeping in instrumented and nonfused segments in thoracolumbar fractures. For further validation, randomized controlled long-term outcome investigations seem mandatory as the next step in future clinical research.

Acute Mechanical Injury to the Human Intervertebral Disc Initiates Events Implicated in Disc Degeneration

Introduction Low back pain is a prevalent chronic disorder among individuals worldwide. Intervertebral disc degeneration is a major cause of low back pain in adults. Mechanical overload has been proposed as a potential initiating mechanism of degeneration, and previous studies have demonstrated that complex mechanical loading of lumbar motion segments can disrupt disc cell metabolism.1 Furthermore, mechanical wedge loading of bovine caudal discs induced cell death and causes induction of catabolic genes such as IL-1β and members of the metalloproteinase and ADAMTS family of proteases which leads to loss of aggrecan.2 The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of acute mechanical injury on cellular responses and changes in matrix composition in human intervertebral discs. Materials and Methods Lumbar spine segments were harvested from consenting donors via the Transplant Quebec organ donation program in Montreal, Quebec. This was performed in accordance with the Institutional Review Board guidelines of the Montreal General Hospital. Discs with intact cartilaginous endplates were isolated from the lumbar spine. A single ramp compression of either 5 or 30% resulted in approximately 0.2 MPa (low noninjurious load or LNL) or approximately 1.5 MPa (acute traumatic injury or ATI) peak stress. The rate of compression was 30% strain per second. This compression protocol for acute traumatic injury consistently yields endplate fracture. Discs were, after loading, immediately put in low-serum containing media. The media was changed and collected at days 3 and 7. Proteoglycan release was evaluated in media from all culture days and in guanidium hydrochloride extracts of tissue from the loaded discs. Proteoglycan size distribution was visualized by fractionating conditioned media from low noninjurious load and acute traumatic injury samples by agarose gel electrophoresis. At day 14, disc cultures were terminated and Live/Dead analysis was performed on biopsies from seven different regions of the discs and confocal microscopy was used to quantify live and dead cells. PC12 cells, a neuronal-like cell line, were exposed to conditioned media from the cultured discs to study the potential for neurite sprouting. Nerve growth factor (NGF) levels were measured using a commercially available ELISA assay. Commercially, available cytokine arrays were used to investigate protein levels of cytokines. Disc tissue was fixed in 80% methanol and prepared for cryosectioning and histological analysis with Safranin O, hematoxylin, and Fast Green. Results Considerable cell death was observed in discs subjected to acute traumatic injury 14 days after the load event (NP 40% viable and AF 50% viable). Discs subjected to the low noninjurious load maintained a cell viability of 85% in the NP and the AF (Fig. 1A). Investigation of GAG levels revealed that acute traumatic injury induced a considerable release of GAG from the tissue as compared with low noninjurious load samples (Fig. 1B). This was confirmed by histological analysis where a loss of Safranin O staining was apparent in the tissue of discs subjected to acute traumatic injury. Fractionation of the conditioned media by agarose gel electrophoresis revealed a wider size distribution of the proteoglycans released from the discs after acute traumatic injury as compared with the discs subjected to low noninjurious load. Elevated levels of inflammatory cytokines and pain mediators were detected in the culture media from discs subjected to acute traumatic injury group compared with discs subjected to low noninjurious load. Furthermore, conditioned media from the acute traumatic injury disc cultures caused significantly more neurite outgrowth in PC12 cells compared with disc cultures from discs subjected to low noninjurious load. Conclusion Cell death and cytokine production combined with loss of GAG indicate that acute mechanical injury initiated degradative processes that could lead to disc degeneration. A wider size distribution of proteoglycans in conditioned media from discs subjected to acute traumatic injury further confirmed that this type of load induced expression and/or activation of proteases in the disc. Acute injury also stimulated the remaining viable cells to produce elevated levels of inflammatory cytokines. Once the proteoglycan content in the matrix has been degraded, elevated levels of NGF could lead to neuronal in-growth and directly cause pain. Further investigation may yield insights to novel diagnostics and therapies for degenerative disc disease. Disclosure of Interest None declared References Adams MA, Freeman BJ, Morrison HP, Nelson IW, Dolan P. Mechanical initiation of intervertebral disc degeneration. Spine 2PO.004;25(13):1625–1636 Walter BA, Korecki CL, Purmessur D, Roughley PJ, Michalek AJ, Iatridis JC. Complex loading affects intervertebral disc mechanics and biology. Osteoarthritis Cartilage 2011;19(8):1011–1018

Traumatic Expulsion of T4 Vertebral Body Into the Spinal Canal Treated by Vertebrectomy and Spine Shortening

A case report. To describe an exceptional case of traumatic 2-level adjacent disk disruption with expulsion of the vertebral body into the spinal canal treated by vertebrectomy and spine shortening. Traumatic spondyloptosis is a very rare injury caused by high-energy trauma. Vertebral body expulsion is mostly the result of tremendous flexion-extension shearing forces causing a double contiguous disk disruption. A 49-year-old male was admitted to the emergency department of another hospital because of a high-speed car crash. He was conscious and collaborating and showed a complete paraplegia. Spinal computed tomographic scan showed a posterior expulsion of the T4 vertebral body and dislocation into the spinal canal. Magnetic resonance imaging of the spine confirmed the presence of a 2-level adjacent T3-T4 and T4-T5 disk disruption and severe compression of the spinal cord by the T4 vertebral body. We performed a posterior stabilization from T1 to T8 with T4 vertebrectomy and spine shortening. A postoperative computed tomographic scan showed a tolerable sagittal and frontal alignment and apposition of the endplates of T3 and T5. At present, 12 months after surgery, the patient is neurologically unchanged, but he can keep the sitting position without support. Total vertebrectomy and spinal shortening are safe and replicable procedures applicable in few patients with paraplegia. A surgical procedure after 3 weeks makes a complete reduction and a perfect sagittal alignment of the spine difficult to be obtained.

Revisiting scoliosis in the KNM-WT 15000 Homo erectus skeleton

Owing to its completeness, the 1.5 million year old Nariokotome boy skeleton KNM-WT 15000 is central for understanding the skeletal biology of Homo erectus. Nevertheless, since the reported asymmetries and distortions of Nariokotome boy's axial skeleton suggest adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, possibly associated with congenital skeletal dysplasia, it is questionable whether it still can be used as a reference for H. erectus. Recently, however, the presence of skeletal dysplasia has been refuted. Here, we present a morphological and morphometric reanalysis of the assertion of idiopathic scoliosis. We demonstrate that unarticulated vertebral columns of non-scoliotic and scoliotic individuals can be distinguished based on the lateral deviation of the spinous process, lateral and sagittal wedging, vertebral body torsion, pedicle thickness asymmetry, and asymmetry of superior and inferior articular facet areas. A principal component analysis of the overall asymmetry of all seven vertebral shape variables groups KNM-WT 15000 within non-scoliotic modern humans. There is, however, an anomaly of vertebrae T1–T2 that is compatible with a short left convex curve at the uppermost thoracic region, possibly due to injury or local growth dysbalance. Asymmetries of the facet joints L3–L5 suggest a local right convex curve in the lower lumbar region that probably resulted from juvenile traumatic disc herniation. This pattern is incompatible with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis or other types of scoliosis, including congenital, neuromuscular or syndromic scoliosis. It is, however, consistent with a recent reanalysis of the rib cage that did not reveal any asymmetry. Except for these possibly trauma-related anomalies, the Nariokotome boy fossil therefore seems to belong to a normal H. erectus youth without evidence for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis or other severe pathologies of the axial skeleton.

Cervical injuries scored according to the Subaxial Injury Classification system: An analysis of the literature

Introduction:The Subaxial Injury Classification (SLIC) system and severity score has been developed to help surgeons in the decision-making process of treatment of subaxial cervical spine injuries. A detailed description of all potential scored injures of the SLIC is lacking.Materials and Methods:We performed a systematic review in the PubMed database from 2007 to 2014 to describe the relationship between the scored injuries in the SLIC and their eventual treatment according to the system score.Results:Patients with an SLIC of 1-3 points (conservative treatment) are neurologically intact with the spinous process, laminar or small facet fractures. Patients with compression and burst fractures who are neurologically intact are also treated nonsurgically. Patients with an SLIC of 4 points may have an incomplete spinal cord injury such as a central cord syndrome, compression injuries with incomplete neurologic deficits and burst fractures with complete neurologic deficits. SLIC of 5-10 points includes distraction and rotational injuries, traumatic disc herniation in the setting of a neurological deficit and burst fractures with an incomplete neurologic deficit.Conclusion:The SLIC injury severity score can help surgeons guide fracture treatment. Knowledge of the potential scored injures and their relationships with the SLIC are of paramount importance for spine surgeons who treated subaxial cervical spine injuries.

Application of the Cervical Subaxial Anterior Approach at C2 in Select Patients

The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility and radiographic indications of using the subaxial anterior approach for decompression and fusion at C2. Anterior exposure at C2 was difficult and associated with increased morbidity. The subaxial anterior approach is easy and familiar to spine surgeons but did not provide satisfying exposure in all patients. This article describes a series of patients undergoing anterior surgery involving C2 through the subaxial anterior approach. Patients were selected based on lateral extension radiographs showing a mandibular angle higher than the C3 upper endplate. Forty-two patients (29 men and 13 women) with average age of 45 years and an average follow-up of 9.7 months were reviewed. Etiologies included Hangman's fracture (n=35), traumatic disk herniation at C2-C3 (n=1), C3 fracture (n=2), ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (n=2), and tumor (n=2). Single-level diskectomy (n=36) and corpectomy (n=6) were performed. Exposure was satisfactory, and operations went smoothly in all patients except in 1 man with a muscular neck. One (2.4%) postoperative complication of choking and trouble swallowing liquids was observed and diminished in 3 months with no treatment. Pre- and postoperative Japanese Orthopaedic Association scores were 13.86 ± 2.25 and 16.50 ± 0.76, respectively, with an improvement rate of 85% ± 24% in 14 patients who had preoperative neurological dysfunction. A fusion rate of 100% was achieved. The subaxial anterior approach may be simple and safe for exposure at C2 in select patients. Complicated exposure, such as the transoral or retropharyngeal approach, should be avoided in these patients.

A Clinically Useful Classification of Traumatic Intervertebral Disk Lesions

Lesions of the intervertebral disk accompanying vertebral fractures are the subject of controversy regarding the extent of surgical intervention, in part due to the lack of a comprehensive classification. The purpose of this study is to present a novel and clinically useful classification system for traumatic disk lesions after vertebral fractures. MRI of 204 disks in 102 patients with trauma-induced single-level thoracolumbar fractures referred to our trauma center between 2007 and 2011 were analyzed retrospectively. Exclusion criteria were malignant vertebral collapse, spondylodiskitis, osteoporotic fractures, and degenerative disk disease in the uninjured disks. Morphologic changes and signal alterations of the adjacent disks were determined using routine MRI of these patients and a grading system was developed. Disks were divided according to their signals into four categories from grade 0 to grade 3. Intra- and interobserver reliabilities were measured by calculating the Cohen kappa coefficient. Of the 204 disks studied, 28.9% (59/204) were determined to be grade 0 (uninjured), 4.9% (10/204) grade 1 (disk edema), 25.5% (52/204) grade 2 (bleeding/rupture), and 40.7% (83/204) grade 3 (displacement). The kappa value for the intra- and interobserver agreement was 0.96. This novel classification may improve communication between spine surgeons and radiologists as well as facilitate clinical decision making in spine surgery. Further studies need to be conducted to verify clinical relevance.

Evidence for Juvenile Disc Herniation in a Homo Erectus Boy Skeleton

An analysis and differential diagnosis of bony alterations in the lower lumbar vertebrae of a Homo erectus boy skeleton. To analyze low back problems during early human evolution. Back problems in modern humans are often attributed to our upright, bipedal locomotion that is thought to place huge mechanical stresses on the vertebral column. However, little is known of this situation during the course of human evolution. We analyzed the lower lumbar spine of the most complete early hominid skeleton, the 1.5-million-year-old Homo erectus boy KNM-WT 15000 from Nariokotome, Kenya, who died at an age of approximately 8 years. We use bony alterations as indirect evidence for disc disease in the absence of soft tissue. We describe an extensive osteophytic anterior curved remodeling of the left superior articular process of L5 and formation of a new joint at the underside of the left pedicle of L4. This indicates collisional facet joint subluxation, most likely as the result of juvenile traumatic disc herniation. This indirect evidence of possible juvenile disc herniation in a Homo erectus boy skeleton represents the earliest known case of this typical human ailment that is intricately linked to upright bipedalism. The extensive bony remodeling of the articular processes of L4 and L5 suggests that the disc herniation occurred several months before his death. Disabling backache and recurrent sciatica might have, at least, temporarily restricted his daily activities, which indicates advanced social care and nursing in early Homo. We hypothesize that the early Homo intervertebral discs were more vulnerable to injury compared with modern humans because of a relatively small vertebral cross-sectional area.

Magnetic resonance imaging findings in dogs with traumatic intervertebral disk extrusion with or without spinal cord compression: 31 cases (2006–2010)

To determine the prevalence of spinal cord compression subsequent to traumatic intervertebral disk (IVD) extrusion in dogs, characterize factors associated with spinal cord compression in dogs with traumatic IVD extrusion, and evaluate the outcomes of dogs with traumatic IVD extrusion with or without spinal cord compression. Retrospective case series. 31 dogs with traumatic IVD extrusion. Medical records and MRI findings were reviewed for dogs with a history of trauma to the spinal region. Dogs were included in the study if a neurologic examination and MRI were performed and there was a description of clinical signs and MRI findings including identification of the spinal cord segment affected by IVD extrusion, presence or absence of spinal cord compression, treatment, and outcome available for review. 31 of 50 (62%) dogs had traumatic IVD extrusions without any other detectable vertebral lesions; 9 (29%) and 22 (71%) of those 31 dogs did and did not have spinal cord compression, respectively. Dogs with spinal cord compression were significantly older and more likely to be chondrodystrophic and have evidence of generalized IVD degeneration, compared with dogs without spinal cord compression. The outcome for dogs with spinal cord compression was similar to that for dogs without spinal cord compression. Results indicated traumatic IVD extrusion was common and should be considered as a differential diagnosis for dogs with trauma to the spinal region, and spinal cord compression should be evaluated, especially in older or chondrodystrophic dogs.

No skeletal dysplasia in the nariokotome boy KNM‐WT 15000 (homo erectus)—A reassessment of congenital pathologies of the vertebral column

The Nariokotome boy skeleton KNM-WT 15000 is the most complete Homo erectus fossil and therefore is key for understanding human evolution. Nevertheless, since Latimer and Ohman (2001) reported on severe congenital pathology in KNM-WT 15000, it is questionable whether this skeleton can still be used as reference for Homo erectus skeletal biology. The asserted pathologies include platyspondylic and diminutive vertebrae implying a disproportionately short stature; spina bifida; condylus tertius; spinal stenosis; and scoliosis. Based on this symptom complex, the differential diagnosis of spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia tarda, an extremely rare form of skeletal dysplasia, has been proposed. Yet, our reanalysis of these pathologies shows that the shape of the KNM-WT 15000 vertebrae matches that of normal modern human adolescents. The vertebrae are not abnormally flat, show no endplate irregularities, and thus are not platyspondylic. As this is the hallmark of spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia tarda and related forms of skeletal dysplasia, the absence of platyspondyly refutes axial dysplasia and disproportionate dwarfism. Furthermore, we neither found evidence for spina bifida occulta nor manifesta, whereas the condylus tertius, a developmental anomaly of the cranial base, is not related to skeletal dysplasias. Other fossils indicate that the relatively small size of the vertebrae and the narrow spinal canal are characteristics of early hominins rather than congenital pathologies. Except for the recently described signs of traumatic lumbar disc herniation, the Nariokotome boy fossil therefore seems to belong to a normal Homo erectus youth without pathologies of the axial skeleton.

Traumatic Intradural Lumbar Disc Herniation without Bone Injury.

Intradural lumbar disc herniation is a rare disease. According to the reports of intradural lumbar disc herniations, most cases have developed as a chronic degenerative disc diseases. Traumatic intradural lumbar disc herniations are even rarer. A 52-year-old man visited our emergency center with numbness in his left calf and ankle after falling accident. Initial impression by radiologic findings was a spinal subdural hematoma at the L1 level. A follow up image two weeks later, however, did not demonstrate any interval change. The patient was decided to have an operation. In operative findings, a ruptured disc particle penetrating the ventral and dorsal dura was indentified after laminectomy. It was assumed to be a traumatic outcome not a degenerative change.

Thoracic Infectious Spondylitis After Surgical Treatments of Herniated Lumbar Intervertebral Disc

The postoperative infectious spondylitis has been reported to occur among every 1% to 12%. It is difficult to early diagnose in some cases. If the diagnosis is delayed, it can be a life-threatening condition. We report a 32-year-old male patient with postoperative infectious spondylitis. He had surgical treatments for traumatic intervertebral disc herniations in L3-4 and L4-5. Three weeks after surgery, he complained for fever and paraplegia. Cervicothoracic magnetic resonance imaging showed the collapsed T2 and T3 vertebral body with changes of bone marrow signal intensity. Moreover, it showed anterior and posterior epidural masses causing spinal cord compressions which suggested infectious spondylitis. After the use of antibiotics and surgical decompressions T2-T3, his general conditions were improved and muscle power of lower extremities began to be gradually restored. However, we could not identify the exact organisms that may be the cause of infectious spondylitis. It could be important that the infectious spondylitis, which is presented away from the primary operative level, should be observed in patients with fevers of unknown origin and paraplegia.