Published papers

Study Design. This study analyzed radiographically change in the sagittal curvature of the cervical spine after atlantoaxial (C1-C2) posterior fusion in children. Objectives. This study clarified the process of spinal remodeling after postoperative cervical deformation in children. Summary of Background Data. Postoperative spinal deformations in children are observed frequently. However, there have been only a few reports on postoperative changes in the sagittal curvature of the cervical spine and spinal remodeling after those changes. Methods. Between 1979 and 1991, there was a total of 12 children who underwent C1-C2 posterior fusions. The average age at the time of surgery was 9.8 years. The alignment of the cervical spine was classified into four groups (lordosis, straight, kyphosis, and swan-neck deformity). Radiographic findings suggestive of the remodeling were as follows: 1) new bone formation on the anterior vertebral cortex, and 2) increase in body/canal ratio (BCR). The follow-up period averaged 6.2 years. Results. Postoperative cervical malalignment (kyphosis or swan-neck deformity) occurred in four patients. In all four patients, new bone formation and increase in BCR at the apex of kyphosis were observed. Therefore, there was gradual improvement of the malalignment by vertebral remodeling. This phenomenon was not observed in eight patients with normal alignment. Conclusion. Realignment of postoperative cervical kyphosis by vertebral remodeling was observed in children. The results of this study suggested that remodeling occurred even in the spine, which was similar to the remodeling in long bones.

The cervical curvature of 488 patients with acute whiplash injury was prospectively studied by comparison with 495 asymptomatic healthy volunteers. Plain radiography of the cervical spine in the neutral position was evaluated qualitatively. No significant difference was noted in frequencies of non-lordotic cervical curative and local angular kyphosis between acute whiplash injury patients and asymptomatic subjects. No significant association was apparent between clinical symptoms and cervical curvature. These results suggest that non-lordotic cervical curvature and angular kyphosis in acute whiplash injury patients constitute normal variants rather than pathological findings.