Intercostal neuralgia as a symptom of an osteoblastoma in thoracic spine

OBJECTIVEThe objective of this study was to present the results of a consecutive series of 120 cases treated with spinal laser interstitial thermal therapy (sLITT) to manage epidural spinal cord compression (ESCC) from metastatic tumors.METHODSThe electronic records of patients treated from 2013 to 2019 were analyzed retrospectively. Data collected included demographic, pathology, clinical, operative, and imaging findings; degree of epidural compression before and after sLITT; length of hospital stay; complications; and duration before subsequent oncological treatment. Independent-sample t-tests were used to compare means between pre- and post-sLITT treatments. Survival was estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method. Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze predictive factors for local recurrence and neurological complications.RESULTSThere were 110 patients who underwent 120 sLITT procedures. Spinal levels treated included 5 cervical, 8 lumbar, and 107 thoracic. The pre-sLITT Frankel grades were E (91.7%), D (6.7%), and C (1.7%). The preoperative ESCC grade was 1c or higher in 92% of cases. Metastases were most common from renal cell carcinoma (39%), followed by non–small cell lung carcinoma (10.8%) and other tumors (35%). The most common location of ESCC was in the vertebral body (88.3%), followed by paraspinal/foraminal (7.5%) and posterior elements (4.2%). Adjuvant radiotherapy (spinal stereotactic radiosurgery or conventional external beam radiation therapy) was performed in 87 cases (72.5%), whereas 33 procedures (27.5%) were performed as salvage after radiotherapy options were exhausted. sLITT was performed without need for spinal stabilization in 87 cases (72.5%). Post-sLITT Frankel grades were E (85%), D (10%), C (4.2%), and B (0.8%); treatment was associated with a median decrease of 2 ESCC grades. The local control rate at 1 year was 81.7%. Local control failure occurred in 25 cases (20.8%). The median progression-free survival was not reached, and overall survival was 14 months. Tumor location in the paraspinal region and salvage treatment were independent predictors of local recurrence, with hazard ratios of 6.3 and 3.3, respectively (p = 0.01). Complications were observed in 22 cases (18.3%). sLITT procedures performed in the lumbar and cervical spine had hazard ratios for neurological complications of 15.4 and 17.1 (p < 0.01), respectively, relative to the thoracic spine.CONCLUSIONSsLITT is safe and provides effective local control for high-grade ESCC from vertebral metastases in the thoracic spine, particularly when combined with adjuvant radiotherapy. The authors propose considering sLITT as an alternative to open surgery in selected patients with spinal metastases.

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Chance Fracture of the Upper Thoracic Spine

American Journal of Roentgenology ◽

10.2214/ajr.185.2.01850555 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 185 (2) ◽

pp. 555-555 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Richard H. Daffner

Keyword(s):

Thoracic Spine ◽

Upper Thoracic Spine ◽

Chance Fracture ◽

Upper Thoracic

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Analysis of sagittal profile and radiographic parameters in symptomatic thoracolumbar disc herniation patients

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders ◽

10.1186/s12891-021-04033-x ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Ang Gao ◽

Yongqiang Wang ◽

Miao Yu ◽

Xiaoguang Liu

Keyword(s):

Disc Herniation ◽

Thoracic Spine ◽

Normal Population ◽

Sagittal Profile ◽

Sacral Slope ◽

Type I ◽

Type Ii ◽

Radiographic Parameters ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Thoracolumbar Region

Abstract Background Few studies describe thoracolumbar disc herniation (TLDH) as an isolated category, it is frequently classified as the lower thoracic spine or upper lumbar spine. Thus, less is known about the morphology and aetiology of TLDH compared to lumbar disc herniation (LDH). The aim of study is to investigate sagittal alignment in TLDH and analyze sagittal profile with radiographic parameters. Methods Data from 70 patients diagnosed with TLDH were retrospectively reviewed. The thoracic-lumbar alignment was depicted by description of curvatures (the apex of lumbar curvature, the apex of thoracic curvature, and inflexion point of the two curvatures) and radiographic parameters from complete standing long-cassette spine radiographs. The rank sum test was utilised to compare radiographic parameter values in each subtype. Results We found two subtypes differentiated by the apex of thoracic kyphotic curves. The sagittal profile was similar to that of the normal population in type I, presenting the apex of the thoracic kyphotic curve located in the middle thoracic spine. The well aligned thoracic-lumbar curve was disrupted in type II, presenting the apex of the thoracic kyphotic curve located in the thoracolumbar region in type II patients. Thirty-six patients were classified as type I, and 34 patients were classified as type II. The mean sagittal vertical axis, T1 pelvic angle and L1 pelvic angle were 27.9 ± 24.8°, 8.2 ± 7.3° and 6.2 ± 4.9°, respectively. There was significant difference (p < 0.001) of thoracolumbar angle between type I (14.9 ± 7.9°) and type II patients (29.1 ± 13.7°). Conclusions We presented two distinctive sagittal profiles in TLDH patients, and a regional kyphotic deformity with a balanced spine was validated in both subtypes. In type I patients, disc degeneration was accelerated by regional kyphosis in the thoracolumbar junction and eventually caused disc herniation. In type II patients, excessive mechanical stress was directly loaded at the top of the curve (thoracolumbar apex region) rather than being diverted by an arc as in a normal population or type I patients. Mismatch between shape and sacral slope value was observed, and better agreement was found in Type II patients.

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Mechanisms of mid-thoracic spine fracture/dislocation due to falls during horse racing: A report of two cases

Chinese Journal of Traumatology ◽

10.1016/j.cjtee.2021.07.003 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Paul C. Ivancic

Keyword(s):

Thoracic Spine ◽

Spine Fracture ◽

Fracture Dislocation ◽

Horse Racing ◽

Thoracic Spine Fracture

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Design, Fabrication, and Accuracy of a Novel Noncovering Lock-Mechanism Bilateral Patient-Specific Drill Guide Template for Nondeformed and Deformed Thoracic Spines

HSS Journal ® ◽

10.1177/1556331621996331 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 155633162199633

Author(s):

Mehran Ashouri-Sanjani ◽

Shima Mohammadi-Moghadam ◽

Parisa Azimi ◽

Navid Arjmand

Keyword(s):

Thoracic Spine ◽

Sagittal Plane ◽

Ct Scanning ◽

Entry Point ◽

In Vivo Studies ◽

Patient Specific ◽

Plane Angle ◽

Severe Scoliosis ◽

3D Printed

Background: Pedicle screw (PS) placement has been widely used in fusion surgeries on the thoracic spine. Achieving cost-effective yet accurate placements through nonradiation techniques remains challenging. Questions/Purposes: Novel noncovering lock-mechanism bilateral vertebra-specific drill guides for PS placement were designed/fabricated, and their accuracy for both nondeformed and deformed thoracic spines was tested. Methods: One nondeformed and 1 severe scoliosis human thoracic spine underwent computed tomographic (CT) scanning, and 2 identical proportions of each were 3-dimensional (3D) printed. Pedicle-specific optimal (no perforation) drilling trajectories were determined on the CT images based on the entry point/orientation/diameter/length of each PS. Vertebra-specific templates were designed and 3D printed, assuring minimal yet firm contacts with the vertebrae through a noncovering lock mechanism. One model of each patient was drilled using the freehand and one using the template guides (96 pedicle drillings). Postoperative CT scans from the models with the inserted PSs were obtained and superimposed on the preoperative planned models to evaluate deviations of the PSs. Results: All templates fitted their corresponding vertebra during the simulated operations. As compared with the freehand approach, PS placement deviations from their preplanned positions were significantly reduced: for the nonscoliosis model, from 2.4 to 0.9 mm for the entry point, 5.0° to 3.3° for the transverse plane angle, 7.1° to 2.2° for the sagittal plane angle, and 8.5° to 4.1° for the 3D angle, improving the success rate from 71.7% to 93.5%. Conclusions: These guides are valuable, as the accurate PS trajectory could be customized preoperatively to match the patients’ unique anatomy. In vivo studies will be required to validate this approach.

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