“Black disc” tandem spinal stenosis in ochronotic arthropathy

Background and Aim: Tandem Spinal Stenosis (TSS) can be defined as simultaneous stenosis of two distinct spinal (cervical, thoracic and lumbar) areas. Characterized by an association of the spinal, radicular and medullary signs of the limbs, the planning of his surgery remains controversial. We reported the one that was set up on the cases observed at the Brazzaville Academic Hospital. Methods and Materials/Patients: A retrospective study of 16 patients operated for TSS, from June 2009 to May 2019, was conducted. We analyzed the demographic, clinical, paraclinical, therapeutic and evolutionary data of these patients. Results: For ten years, a total of 16 patients (9 men and 7 women) with SST have been received. The average age was 57 years (ranged 41-72 years). The signs evolved for 17.6 months (13 and 30 months). These were lombo-sciatalgias in 15 cases, signs of medullary compression: cervical in 14 cases and thoracic in 2 cases. Medical imaging had objective 13 cervico-lumbar associations, two thoraco-lumbar associations and one cervico-thoracic. The surgery was performed in one stage in two cases and two stages in 14 cases. These were laminectomies for lumbar and thoracic disorders, discectomy or somatotomy in the cervical segment. The order of surgical management was cervico-thoraco-lumbar (cranio- caudal order). Signs improved in 13 patients and stabilized in 3 patients. Conclusion: TSS is not uncommon. It should be researched in a patient with bifocal spinal and radiculo-medullary signs. Their early surgical treatment, in one or two stages, yields satisfactory results.

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Degenerative cervical myelopathy presenting as subjective lower limb weakness could be a trap towards misdiagnosis

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-020-78139-y ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Chi-An Luo ◽

Meng-Ling Lu ◽

Arun-Kumar Kaliya-Perumal ◽

Lih-Huei Chen ◽

Wen-Jer Chen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Spinal Stenosis ◽

Functional Recovery ◽

Lower Limb ◽

Cervical Myelopathy ◽

Cord Compression ◽

Surgical Decompression ◽

Limb Weakness ◽

Lower Limb Weakness ◽

Tandem Spinal Stenosis ◽

Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy

AbstractWhen patients presenting with subjective lower limb weakness (SLLW) are encountered, it is natural to suspect a lumbar pathology and proceed with related clinical examination, investigations and management. However, SLLW could be a sign of degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) due to an evolving cord compression. In such circumstances, if symptoms are not correlated to myelopathy at the earliest, there could be potential complications over time. In this study, we intend to analyse the outcomes after surgical management of the cervical or thoracic cord compression in patients with SLLW. Retrospectively, patients who presented to our center during the years 2010–2016 with sole complaint of bilateral SLLW but radiologically diagnosed to have a solitary cervical or thoracic stenosis, or tandem spinal stenosis and underwent surgical decompression procedures were selected. Their clinical presentation was categorised into three types, myelopathy was graded using Nurick’s grading and JOA scoring; in addition, their lower limb functional status was assessed using the lower extremity functional scale (LEFS). Functional recovery following surgery was assessed at 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, one year, and two years. Selected patients (n = 24; Age, 56.4 ± 10.1 years; range 32–78 years) had SLLW for a period of 6.4 ± 3.2 months (range 2–13 months). Their preoperative JOA score was 11.3 ± 1.8 (range 7–15), and LEFS was 34.4 ± 7.7 (range 20–46). Radiological evidence of a solitary cervical lesion and tandem spinal stenosis was found in 6 and 18 patients respectively. Patients gradually recovered after surgical decompression with LEFS 59.8 ± 2.7 (range 56–65) at 1 year and JOA score 13.6 ± 2.7 (range − 17 to 100) at 2 years. The recovery rate at final follow up was 47.5%. Our results indicate the importance of clinically suspecting SLLW as an early non-specific sign of DCM to avoid misdiagnosis, especially in patients without conventional upper motor neuron signs. In such cases, surgical management of the cord compression resulted in significant functional recovery and halted the progression towards permanent disability.

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