Published papers

Although minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MIS-TLIF) has widely been developed in patients with lumbar diseases, surgeons risk exposure to fluoroscopic radiation. However, to date, there is no studies quantifying the effective dose during MIS-TLIF procedure, and the radiation dose distribution is still unclear. In this study, the surgeons' radiation doses at 5 places on the bodies were measured and the effective doses were assessed during 31 consecutive 1- to 3-level MIS-TLIF surgeries. The operating surgeon, assisting surgeon, and radiological technologist wore thermoluminescent dosimeter on the unshielded thyroid, chest, genitals, right middle finger, and on the chest beneath a lead apron. The doses at the lens and the effective doses were also calculated. Mean fluoroscopy times were 38.7, 53.1, and 58.5 seconds for 1, 2, or 3 fusion levels, respectively. The operating surgeon's mean exposures at the lens, thyroid, chest, genitals, finger, and the chest beneath the shield, respectively, were 0.07, 0.07, 0.09, 0.14, 0.32, and 0.05 mSv in 1-level MIS-TLIF; 0.07, 0.08, 0.09, 0.18, 0.34, and 0.05 mSv in 2-level; 0.08, 0.09, 0.14, 0.15, 0.36, and 0.06 mSv in 3-level; and 0.07, 0.08, 0.10, 0.15, 0.33, and 0.05 mSv in all cases. Mean dose at the operating surgeon's right finger was significantly higher than other measurements parts (P<0.001). The operating surgeon's effective doses (0.06, 0.06, and 0.07 mSv for 1, 2, and 3 fusion levels) were low, and didn't differ significantly from those of the assisting surgeon or radiological technologist. Revision MIS-TLIF was not associated with higher surgeons' radiation doses compared to primary MIS-TLIF. There were significantly higher surgeons' radiation doses in over-weight than in normal-weight patients. The surgeons' radiation exposure during MIS-TLIF was within the safe level by the International Commission on Radiological Protection's guidelines. The accumulated radiation exposure, especially to surgeon's hands, should be carefully monitored.

Transplantation of neural stem/progenitor cells (NS/PCs) promotes functional recovery after spinal cord injury (SCI); however, few studies have examined the optimal site of NS/PC transplantation in the spinal cord. The purpose of this study was to determine the optimal transplantation site of NS/PCs for the treatment of SCI. Wild-type mice were generated with contusive SCI at the T10 level, and NS/PCs were derived from fetal transgenic mice. These NS/PCs ubiquitously expressed ffLuc-cp156 protein (Venus and luciferase fusion protein) and so could be detected by in vivo bioluminescence imaging 9 days postinjury. NS/PCs (low: 250,000 cells per mouse; high: 1 million cells per mouse) were grafted into the spinal cord at the lesion epicenter (E) or at rostral and caudal (RC) sites. Phosphate-buffered saline was injected into E as a control. Motor functional recovery was better in each of the transplantation groups (E-Low, E-High, RC-Low, and RC-High) than in the control group. The photon counts of the grafted NS/PCs were similar in each of the four transplantation groups, suggesting that the survival of NS/PCs was fairly uniform when more than a certain threshold number of cells were transplanted. Quantitative RT-PCR analyses demonstrated that brain-derived neurotropic factor expression was higher in the RC segment than in the E segment, and this may underlie why NS/PCs more readily differentiated into neurons than into astrocytes in the RC group. The location of the transplantation site did not affect the area of spared fibers, angiogenesis, or the expression of any other mediators. These findings indicated that the microenvironments of the E and RC sites are able to support NS/PCs transplanted during the subacute phase of SCI similarly. Optimally, a certain threshold number of NS/PCs should be grafted into the E segment to avoid damaging sites adjacent to the lesion during the injection procedure.

Introduction: Although pedicle or lateral mass screws are usually chosen to fix atlantoaxial (C1-C2) instability, there is an increased risk for vertebral artery (VA) injury when used in patients with bone or arterial anomalies or osteoporotic bone. Here we report the C1 posterior arch screw as a new technique for upper cervical fixation.Case description: A 90-year-old man complained of upper cervical pain after falling in his house. The initial computed tomography (CT) scan showed C1-C2 posterior dislocation with a type II odontoid fracture. The patient underwent C2 fracture reduction and posterior C1-C2 fixation. On the right side of C1, because lateral mass screw placement could cause injury to the dominant VA considering a risk in oldest-old osteoporotic patients, a posterior arch screw was chosen instead as an auxiliary anchor. An intralaminar screw was placed on the right side of C2 because a high-riding VA was observed. A lateral mass screw and a pars interarticularis screw were placed on the left side of C1 and C2, respectively. Ten months later, the odontoid fracture had healed, with normal anatomical alignment. Although the patient experienced slight weakness when spreading his bilateral fingers, his overall condition was good.Discussion and evaluation: We have presented a novel technique using C1 posterior arch screws for the fixation of a C1-C2 dislocation. Such a screw is an alternative to the C1 lateral mass screw in patients who are at risk for a VA injury because of anomalous bone and arterial structures or poor bone quality.Conclusions: Although there have been few comparable studies, and the long-term outcome is unknown, fixation with a posterior arch screw could be a beneficial choice for surgeries involving the upper cervical region.

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is reported to be a risk factor for surgical site infection (SSI), which is a serious complication after spinal surgery. The effect of DM on SSI after instrumented spinal surgery remains to be clarified. The aim was to elucidate perioperative risk factors for infection at the surgical site after posterior thoracic and lumbar spinal arthrodesis with instrumentation in patients with DM. Methods: Consecutive patients who underwent posterior instrumented thoracic and lumbar spinal arthrodesis during the years 2005-2011, who could be followed for at least 1 year after surgery, were included. These included 36 patients with DM (19 males and 17 females; mean age 64.3 years). The patients' medical records were retrospectively reviewed to determine the SSI rate. The characteristics of the DM patients were examined in detail, including the levels of serum glucose and HbA1c, which indicate the level of diabetes control. Results: Patients with DM had a higher rate of SSI (6 of 36 patients, 16.7 %) than patients without DM (10 of 309 patients, 3.2 %). Although the perioperative serum glucose level did not differ between DM patients that did or did not develop SSI, the preoperative HbA1c value was significantly higher in the patients who developed SSI (7.6 %) than in those who did not (6.9 %). SSI developed in 0.0 % of the patients with controlled diabetes (HbA1c <7.0 %) and in 35.3 % of the patients with uncontrolled diabetes (HbA1c ≥7.0 %). Conclusions: DM patients whose blood glucose levels were poorly controlled before surgery were at high risk for SSI. To prevent SSI in DM patients, we recommend lowering the HbA1c to <7.0 % before performing surgery. © 2013 The Japanese Orthopaedic Association.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a devastating condition with no established treatment. To better understand the pathology and develop a treatment modality for SCI, an understanding of the physiological changes following SCI at the molecular level is essential. However, studies on SCI have primarily used rodent models, and few studies have examined SCI in non-human primates. In this study, we analyzed the temporal changes in gene expression patterns following SCI in common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) using microarray analysis and mRNA deep sequencing. This analysis revealed that, although the sequence of events is comparable between primates and rodents, the inflammatory response following SCI is significantly prolonged and the onset of glial scar formation is temporally delayed in primates compared with rodents. These observations indicate that the optimal time window to treat SCI significantly differs among different species. This study provides the first extensive analysis of gene expression following SCI in non-human primates and will serve as a valuable resource in understanding the pathology of SCI. © 2014 Elsevier Inc.

Background: The previous epidemiological surveys conducted in Japan revealed that once the vicious cycle of chronic musculoskeletal pain begins, it is difficult to disrupt the cycle. This finding suggests the existence of problems with the conventional approaches to treatment of chronic musculoskeletal pain. The purpose of this study was to investigate the characteristics of patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain focusing on neuropathic and psychogenic pain. Methods: The questionnaire was sent again to the 660 subjects found to have persistent chronic pain in the epidemiological surveys conducted in 2011. Responses were collected from 588 subjects (response rate 90 %). Results: Of the 588 responders, 365 (62 %) complained of persistent chronic pain. Among them, 128 (35 %) were still receiving treatment and 193 (53 %) had discontinued treatment. The degree of satisfaction with the treatment was low, and 66 % of the patients had switched the medical facility that they visited to receive treatment. The cited reasons for the change in the medical facility visited and discontinuation of treatment were "treatment was ineffective," "I did not have sufficient time," "I thought I could take care of it myself," and "Treatment seemed to be unnecessary". Involvement of neuropathic pain was suggested in 20 % of all the patients with chronic pain. As the PainDETECT Score rose, the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) score became higher and the change of medical facility for treatment also increased. The Pain Catastrophizing Scale score was correlated positively with the VAS score. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale score was significantly correlated with the VAS score and the duration of pain. Discussion: The results of this survey indicated that the chronic course of musculoskeletal pain may be attributable to the following factors: (1) lack of appropriate treatment of neuropathic pain and psychogenic pain, and (2) insufficient awareness/knowledge among patients about chronic musculoskeletal pain. © 2014 The Author(s).

Background: Although various surgical approaches have been proposed for treating syringomyelia associated with Chiari type I malformation, a standard method has yet to be established. we prospectively investigated the results of our surgical method: foramen magnum decompression combined with C1 laminectomy and excision of the outer layer of the dura mater. Methods: Twenty patients underwent surgery between 2000 and 2010 at our hospital. After surgery, the size of the syrinx decreased in 11 patients (decreased group) but remained unchanged in nine patients (unchanged group). The following parameters were compared: age at the time of surgery, duration of morbidity, improvement of preoperative symptoms, morphological type and length of the syrinx, presence or absence of scoliosis, cervical alignment, basal and clivo-axial angles, and postoperative subarachnoid space at the foramen magnum level. Results: Preoperative symptoms improved in all patients in the decreased group but in only one patient in the unchanged group. The average duration of morbidity was significantly shorter in the decreased group. Morphological examination revealed that the size of all central-type syrinxes decreased after surgery, whereas in all cases of deviated-type syrinx, size was unchanged. The average length of preoperative syrinx was significantly shorter in the decreased group. The postoperative subarachnoid space at the foramen magnum was enlarged in the entire decreased group, whereas residual narrowing of the space was observed in 44 % of patients in the unchanged group. No significant intergroup differences were observed in the other factors. Conclusions: In patients with syringomyelia, a longer and deviated type of syrinx, a longer duration of morbidity, and postoperative residual narrowing of the subarachnoid space are associated with a poor prognosis after the surgical procedure. The pathogenesis of syringomyelia is inconsistent, and the choice of surgical technique for each pathological condition is important. © 2014 The Japanese Orthopaedic Association.

Background: An epidemiological survey conducted in Japan in fiscal year 2010 revealed a high prevalence of chronic musculoskeletal pain, low patient satisfaction with treatment, a high incidence of protracted treatment lasting a year or more, and reduced quality of life. To improve the current system for treating chronic musculoskeletal pain, it is important to identify risk factors, including patient characteristics, for developing chronic pain. Thus, we sought to determine the incidence of new chronic pain in the Japanese population, as well as the persistence rate, associated factors, and current state of treatment of chronic pain, by repeating a postal survey in a nationwide representative sample group first surveyed in 2010. Methods: Among 11,507 participants in the 2010 epidemiological survey, 1,717 reported chronic pain and 6,283 reported no chronic pain. A repeat questionnaire, mailed to subjects in these 2 groups in fiscal year 2011, received replies from 85 % of those who reported pain and 76 % of those without pain in 2010. Results: The incidence of new chronic pain was 11.1 %. Risk factors for developing chronic pain included working in a professional, managerial, or clerical/specialist occupation, being female, having a BMI ≥25; currently using alcohol or cigarettes; and having completed an education level of vocational school or higher. Persistent chronic pain was reported by 45.2 % of respondents. Those with severe (VAS score ≥7) and constant lower-back pain lasting more than 5 years had the highest risk of the pain persisting. More than 80 % respondents with persistent chronic pain had a history of treatment, and while about 30 % were still receiving treatment at the time of the survey, the other 50 % had discontinued treatment despite the persistence of pain because of a low degree of satisfaction with treatment. Discussion: We identified risk factors related to the development of new chronic pain and the persistence of chronic pain. Countermeasures to prevent chronic pain could be especially important for the high-risk populations for understanding the pathology of chronic pain. © 2014 The Author(s).

Study design:Case report and review of the literature.Objectives: Myxopapillary ependymoma (MPE) is a relatively rare glioma that develops from the spinal part of the filum terminale, usually in adulthood. While it is generally benign, MPE can disseminate intraspinally, and this malignant behavior requires a multidisciplinary response with surgery and radiotherapy. We report here a case of MPE occurring in the lumbosacral spine area of an 8-year-old boy.Setting:Japan, Tokyo.Methods:We report here a case of MPE, treated with subtotal surgical resection followed by craniospinal irradiation (CSI), in an 8-year-old boy. The patient was referred to our hospital with a 6-month history of severe pain in the lower back and legs, paralysis of the legs and dysuria. Magnetic resonance imaging images showed a large tumor that filled the entire spinal canal below L1. After subtotal resection of the tumor, the pathological findings established a diagnosis of MPE. Since the tumor had perforated its capsule, increasing the risk of intraspinal dissemination, the patient underwent radiotherapy and CSI after surgery.Results:Magnetic resonance images obtained 3 years after the surgery did not show any recurrence of MPE.Conclusion:Although tumor resection followed by CSI can be considered an effective strategy for treating a child with MPE, long-term follow-up is necessary to ensure early detection of any local recurrence or dissemination of the tumor, or of post-radiotherapy scoliosis. © 2014 International Spinal Cord Society All rights reserved.

Neural stem cell (NSC) transplantation provides a new approach for the repair of damage to the central nervous system (CNS), including that resulting from cerebral infarction and spinal cord injury (SCI). In the past, there were no reputable means of converting non-neural somatic cells into neural cells. This status was overturned by the establishment of induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells, which have pluripotency akin to that of embryonic stem (ES) cells and can differentiate into most cells of the three germ layers. If differentiated somatic cells could be reprogrammed into iPS cells, and if these iPS cells could be induced to differentiate once again, it would be theoretically possible to obtain a large number of neural cells. However, this is not yet feasible due to the limitations of existing stem cell technology. Induction of neural cells from iPS cells is currently hindered by two distinct problems: 1) the preparation of specific types of targeted neural cells requires extensive cell culture, and 2) tumors are likely to form due to the presence of residual undifferentiated cells following transplantation of the induced cells. By contrast, direct induction methods permit the generation of target cells from somatic cells without the transitional iPS cell stage. This review outlines the present-day status of research surrounding the direct induction of NSCs from somatic cells, as well as the perspectives for the future clinical application of this technique for cell replacement therapy following CNS injury.

Transplantation of glial-rich neural progenitors has been demonstrated to attenuate motor neuron degeneration and disease progression in rodent models of mutant superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1)-mediated amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). However, translation of these results into a clinical setting requires a renewable human cell source. Here, we derived glial-rich neural progenitors from human iPSCs and transplanted them into the lumbar spinal cord of ALS mouse models. The transplanted cells differentiated into astrocytes, and the treated mouse group showed prolonged lifespan. Our data suggest a potential therapeutic mechanism via activation of AKT signal. The results demonstrated the efficacy of cell therapy for ALS by the use of human iPSCs as cell source. © 2014 The Authors.

This retrospective study looked at 33 consecutive patients with malignant, aggressive tumors in the thoracic and lumbar spine who underwent TES (24 men and 9 women; mean age 49.9 years; mean follow-up 3.6 years; 14 primary tumors and 19 metastatic tumors). TES was performed by a posterior-only approach in 15 patients and by a combined anterior and posterior approach in 18 patients. We classified complications as intraoperative, early (within 1 month after surgery), or late (>1 month after surgery), and examined the relationships between major complications and potentially related factors. Ten died of disease at 22.3 months after TES. Local recurrence was observed in 8 patients (24%) at an average of 15.4 months. Thirty-one major complications occurred in 24 patients (72.7%). There were 3 intraoperative, 17 early, and 11 late complications. Intraoperative complications included injury to the segmental artery, to the aorta, and to the spinal cord in 1 patient each. Early complications included prolonged chest tube drainage, cerebrospinal fluid leakage, and monoplegia due to the severing of nerve roots in 3 patients each, and pulmonary embolism, recurrent nerve palsy, pneumonia, endplate fracture, implant dislodgement, gastric ulcer, and ileus in 1 patient each. Late complications included implant failures in 8 patients and infection in 3 patients. Major complications were significantly associated with major blood loss (P=0.047). TES was frequently associated with major intraoperative, early, and late postoperative complications; most complications were managed successfully.