Degenerative changes in the ligamentum teres of the hip: cadaveric study with magnetic resonance arthrography, anatomical inspection, and histologic examination

Abstract Objective: To compare the pain expected to that effectively caused by magnetic resonance arthrography of the shoulder and, secondarily, to describe a simplified approach to the technique for articular access. Materials and Methods: We prospectively evaluated 40 participants who used a visual analog scale and a simplified categorical scale to indicate the level of pain expected and that experienced after the procedure, comparing the two with the Wilcoxon matched-pairs test. We also determined gender-related differences in pain conditions using the Mann-Whitney U test. In addition, we described a modified technique involving radiographic localization and the use of standard puncture needles for articular access. Results: Analysis of the visual analog scales showed that the pain experienced was less than had been expected, with median scores of 1.75 and 3.75, respectively (p < 0.001). The level of pain expected was higher among women than among men, with median scores of 8.0 and 3.0, respectively (p = 0.014), as was the level of pain experienced, with median scores of 3.0 and 1.5, respectively (p = 0.139). The overall categorical evaluation corroborated that difference (p = 0.03). Articular access with the modified technique was successful in all patients. Conclusion: Magnetic resonance arthrography of the shoulder is less painful than patients expect. In addition, digital radiographic guidance combined with the use of standard puncture needles appears to improve the efficiency of the method.

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Accelerated spondylotic changes adjacent to the fused segment following central cervical corpectomy: magnetic resonance imaging study evidence

Journal of Neurosurgery Spine ◽

10.3171/spi.2004.100.1.0002 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 100 (1) ◽

pp. 2-6 ◽

Cited By ~ 29

Author(s):

Vaijayantee Kulkarni ◽

Vedantam Rajshekhar ◽

Lakshminarayan Raghuram

Keyword(s):

Magnetic Resonance ◽

Mr Imaging ◽

Imaging Study ◽

Degenerative Changes ◽

Adjacent Segment ◽

Mr Images ◽

Short Term ◽

Content Type ◽

Fine Print

Object. The authors studied whether cervical spine motion segments adjacent to a fused segment exhibit accelerated degenerative changes on short-term follow-up magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. Methods. Preoperative and short-term follow-up (mean duration 17.5 months, range 10–48 months) cervical MR images obtained in 44 patients who had undergone one- or two-level corpectomy for cervical spondylotic myelopathy were evaluated qualitatively and quantitatively. The motion segment adjacent to the fused segment and a segment remote from the fused segment were evaluated for indentation of the thecal sac, disc height, and sagittal functional diameter of the spinal canal on midsagittal T2-weighted MR images. Thecal sac indentations were classifed as mild, moderate, and severe. New indentations of the thecal sac of varying severity (mild in 17 patients [38.6%], moderate in 10 [22.7%], and severe in six [13.6%]) had developed at the adjacent segments in 33 (75%) of 44 patients. The degenerative changes were seen at the superior level in 11 patients, inferior level in 10 patients, and at both levels in 12 patients and resulted from both anterior and posterior element degeneration in the majority (23 [69.6%]) of patients. The remote segments showed mild thecal sac indentations in seven patients and moderate indentations in two patients (nine [20.5%] of 44). Compared with the changes at the remote segment, the canal size was significantly decreased at the superior adjacent segment by 0.9 mm (p = 0.007). No patient sustained a new neurological deficit due to adjacent-segment changes. Conclusions. On short-term follow-up MR imaging, levels adjacent to the fused segment exhibited more pronounced degenerative changes (compared with remote levels) in 75% of patients who had undergone one- or two-level central corpectomy.

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