Value of Surgery and Nonsurgical Approaches for Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy: WFNS Spine Committee Recommendations

Jutty Parthiban1,Oscar L. Alves,Komal Prasad Chandrachari,Premanand Ramani,Mehmet Zileli 대한척추신경외과학회 2019 Neurospine Vol.16 No.3

Cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) is a common cause of adult spinal cord dysfunction. Although the therapeutic options for moderate to severe CSM patients have been established well, the existing guidelines for therapeutic decisions in mild cases of CSM are unclear. We present a review of literature on conservative treatment and surgery for CSM and suggest general recommendations applicable in various clinical presentations and in different geographic locations across the globe, with due considerations to available resources and locally prevalent practices.

Outcomes of Spinal Cord Injury: WFNS Spine Committee Recommendations

Jutty Parthiban,Mehmet Zileli,Salman Yousuf Sharif 대한척추신경외과학회 2020 Neurospine Vol.17 No.4

This comprehensive review article aims to provide some definitive statements on the factors like clinical syndromes, radiological findings, and decompressive surgery, that may influence the outcomes in cervical spinal cord injury management. Literature search on these factors published in the last decade were analyzed and definite statements prepared and voted for consensus opinion by the WFNS Spine Committee members and experts in this field at a meeting in Moscow in June 2019 using Delphi method. This was re-evaluated in a meeting in Pakistan in November 2019. Finally, the consensus statements were brought out as recommendations by the committee to the world literature. Traumatic Spinal Cord Syndromes have good prognosis except in elderly and when the presenting neurological deficit was very poor. Though conservative management provides satisfactory results, results can be improved with surgery when instability and progressive compression was present. Locked facet with spinal cord injury denotes poor prognosis. Magnetic resonance imaging T2 imaging is the essential prognostic indicator that apart from sagittal grade, length of injury, maximum canal compromise, maximum spinal cord compression, axial grading (BASIC) score. Diffusion tensor imaging is the next promising predictor in the pipeline. Decompressive surgery when done earlier especially within 24 hours of injury provides better result and there is no clear evidence to show medical management is better or equivalent to delayed surgical management. Clinical syndromes, radiological syndromes, and surgical decompression have strong impact on the out comes in the management of cervical spinal cord injury. Our comprehensive review and final recommendations on this subject will be of great importance in understanding the complex treatment methods in use.

Pharmacologic and Regenerative Cell Therapy for Spinal Cord Injury: WFNS Spine Committee Recommendations

Toshihiro Takami,Nobuyuki Shimokawa,Jutty Parthiban,Mehmet Zileli,Sheena Ali 대한척추신경외과학회 2020 Neurospine Vol.17 No.4

This is a review article examining the pharmacologic and regenerative cell therapy for spinal cord injury. A literature search during last 10 years were conducted using key words. Case reports, experimental (nonhuman) studies, papers other than English language were excluded. Up-to-date information on the pharmacologic and regenerative cell therapy for spinal cord injury was reviewed and statements were produced to reach a consensus in 2 separate consensus meeting of WFNS Spine Committee. The statements were voted and reached a consensus using Delphi method. Pharmacologic and regenerative cell therapy for spinal cord injury have long been an interest of many experimental and clinical researches. Clinical studies with methylpredinisolone have not shown clear cut benefit. Other drugs such as Rho inhibitor, minocycline, riluzole, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor have also been tried without significant benefits. Regenerative cell therapy using different types of stem cells, different inoculation techniques, and scaffolds have undergone many trials highlighting the efficacies of cells and their limitations. This review article summarizes the current knowledge on pharmacologic and regenerative cell therapy for spinal cord injury. Unfortunately, there is a need for further experimental and human trials to recommend effective pharmacologic and regenerative cell therapy.

Subaxial Cervical Spine Injuries: WFNS Spine Committee Recommendations

Salman Sharif,Muhammad Yassar Jazaib Ali,Ibet Marie Y. Sih,Jutty Parthiban,Óscar L. Alves 대한척추신경외과학회 2020 Neurospine Vol.17 No.4

To formulate specific guidelines for the recommendation of subaxial cervical spine injuries concerning classification, management, posttraumatic locked facets and vertebral artery injury. Computerized literature was searched on PubMed and google scholar database from 2009 to 2020. For classification, keywords “Sub Axial Cervical Spine Classification,” resulting in 22 articles related to subaxial cervical spine injury classification system (SLICS) system and 11 articles related to AO (Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Osteosynthesefragen, German for “Association for the Study of Internal Fixation”) Spine system. The literature search yielded 210 and 78 articles on “management of subaxial cervical spine injuries” and the role of “SLICS” and “AO Spine” respectively. Keywords “management of traumatic facet locks” were searched and closed reduction, traction, approaches and techniques were studied. “Vertebral artery injury and cervical fracture” exhibited 2,328 references from the last 15 years. The objective was to identify the appropriate diagnostic tests and optimal treatment. Up-to-date information was reviewed, and statements were produced to reach a consensus in 2 separate consensus meetings of World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies (WFNS) Spine Committee. The statements were voted and reached a positive or negative consensus using Delphi method. Based on the most relevant literature, panelists in Moscow consensus meeting conducted in May 2019 drafted the statements, and after a preliminary voting session, the consensus was identified on various statements. Another meeting was conducted at Peshawar in November 2019, where in addition to previous statements, few other statements were discussed and voted. Specific recommendations were then formulated guiding classification, management, locked facets and vertebral artery injuries. This review summarizes the WFNS Spine Committee recommendations on subaxial cervical spine injuries.

Outcome Measures and Variables Affecting Prognosis of Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy: WFNS Spine Committee Recommendations

Mehmet Zileli,Shradha Maheshwari,Shashank Sharad Kale,Kanwaljeet Garg,Sajesh K. Menon,Jutty Parthiban 대한척추신경외과학회 2019 Neurospine Vol.16 No.3

This study is conducted to review the literature systematically to determine most reliable outcome measures, important clinical and radiological variables affecting the prognosis in cervical spondylotic myelopathy patients. A literature search was performed for articles published during the last 10 years. As functional outcome measures we recommend to use modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association scale, Nurick’s grade, and Myelopathy Disability Index. Three clinical variables that affect the outcomes are age, duration of symptoms, and severity of the myelopathy. Examination findings require more detailed study to validate their effect on the outcomes. The predictive variables affecting the outcomes are hand atrophy, leg spasticity, clonus, and Babinski’s sign. Among the radiological variables, the curvature of the cervical spine is the most important predictor of prognosis. Patients with instability are expected to have a poor surgical outcome. Spinal cord compression ratio is a critical factor for prognosis. High signal intensity on T2-weighted magnetic resonance images is a negative predictor for prognosis. The most important predictors of outcome are preoperative severity and duration of symptoms. T2 hyperintensity and cord compression ratio can also predict outcomes. New radiological tests may give promising results in the future.

Anterior Surgical Techniques for Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy: WFNS Spine Committee Recommendations

Harsh Deora,김세훈,Sanjay Behari,Satish Rudrappa,Vedantam Rajshekhar,Mehmet Zileli,Jutty K.B.C. Parthiban,World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies (WFNS) Spine Committee 대한척추신경외과학회 2019 Neurospine Vol.16 No.3

Objective: This study was performed to review the literature and to present the most up-to-date information and recommendations on the indications, complications, and success rate of anterior surgical techniques for cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM). The commonly performed anterior surgical procedures are multiple-level anterior cervical discectomy and fusion, anterior cervical corpectomy and fusion and its variants (skip corpectomy and hybrid surgery), and oblique corpectomy without fusion. Methods: A comprehensive literature search and analysis were performed using MEDLINE (PubMed), the Cochrane Register of Controlled Trials, and the Web of Science for peer-reviewed articles published in English during the last 10 years. Results: Corpectomy is mandated for ventral compression of fewer than 3 vertebral segments where single-level disc and osteophyte excision is inadequate to decompress the cord. Endoscopic or oblique partial corpectomy improves the sagittal canal diameter by 67% and obviates the need for an additional bone graft procedure. Conclusion: The indications of anterior surgery in patients with CSM include a straightened or kyphotic spine with a compression level lower than 3. With an appropriate choice of implants and meticulous surgical technique, surgical complications can be seen only rarely. Improvements after anterior surgery for CSM have been reported in 70% to 80% of patients.

Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy: Natural Course and the Value of Diagnostic Techniques –WFNS Spine Committee Recommendations

Mehmet Zileli,Sachin A. Borkar,Sumit Sinha,Rui Reinas,Óscar L. Alves,김세훈,Sumeet Pawar,Bala Murali,Jutty Parthiban 대한척추신경외과학회 2019 Neurospine Vol.16 No.3

Objective: This study presents the results of a systematic literature review conducted to determine most up-to-date information on the natural outcome of cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) and the most reliable diagnostic techniques. Methods: A literature search was performed for articles published during the last 10 years. Results: The natural course of patients with cervical stenosis and signs of myelopathy is quite variable. In patients with no symptoms, but significant stenosis, the risk of developing myelopathy with cervical stenosis is approximately 3% per year. Myelopathic signs are useful for the clinical diagnosis of CSM. However, they are not highly sensitive and may be absent in approximately one-fifth of patients with myelopathy. The electrophysiological tests to be used in CSM patients are motor evoked potential (MEP), spinal cord evoked potential, somatosensory evoked potential, and electromyography (EMG). The differential diagnosis of CSM from other neurological conditions can be accomplished by those tests. MEP and EMG monitoring are useful to reduce C5 root palsy during CSM surgery. Notable spinal cord T2 hyperintensity on cervical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is correlated with a worse outcome, whereas lighter signal changes may predict better outcomes. T1 hypointensity should be considered a sign of more advanced disease. Conclusion: The natural course of CSM is quite variable. Signal changes on MRI and some electrophysiological tests are valuable adjuncts to diagnosis.

Posterior Surgical Techniques for Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy: WFNS Spine Committee Recommendations

Abdul Hafid Bajamal,김세훈,Mohammad Reza Arifianto,Muhammad Faris,Eko Agus Subagio,Ben Roitberg,Inyang Udo-Inyang,Jonathan Belding,Mehmet Zileli,Jutty K.B.C. Parthiban,World Federation of Neurosurgical S 대한척추신경외과학회 2019 Neurospine Vol.16 No.3

Objective: This study was conducted to determine and recommend the most up-to-date information on the indications, complications, and outcomes of posterior surgical treatments for cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) on the basis of a literature review. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was performed, using the MEDLINE (PubMed), the Cochrane Register of Controlled Trials, and Web of Science databases, for peer-reviewed articles published in English during the last 10 years. Results: Posterior techniques, which include laminectomy alone, laminectomy with fusion, and laminoplasty, are often used in patients with involvement of 3 or more levels. Posterior decompression for CSM is effective for improving patients’ neurological function. Complications resulting from posterior cervical spine surgery include injury to the spinal cord and nerve roots, complications related to posterior screw fixation or instrumentation, C5 palsy, spring-back closure of lamina, and postlaminectomy kyphosis. Conclusion: It is necessary to consider multiple factors when deciding on the appropriate operation for a particular patient. Surgeons need to tailor preoperative discussions to ensure that patients are aware of these facts. Further research is needed on the cost-to-benefit analysis of various surgical approaches, the comparative efficacy of surgical approaches using various techniques, and long-term outcomes, as current knowledge is deficient in this regard.