Comparative Radiographic Outcomes of Lateral and Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion in the Treatment of Degenerative Lumbar Kyphosis

Hiroaki Nakashima,Tokumi Kanemura,Kotaro Satake,Yoshimoto Ishikawa,Jun Ouchida,Naoki Segi,Hidetoshi Yamaguchi,Shiro Imagama 대한척추외과학회 2019 Asian Spine Journal Vol.13 No.3

Study Design: Retrospective case–control study. Purpose: To compare surgical invasiveness and radiological outcomes between posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) and lateral lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF) for degenerative lumbar kyphosis. Overview of Literature: LLIF is a minimally invasive interbody fusion technique; however, few reports compared the clinical outcomes of conventional PLIF and LLIF for degenerative lumbar kyphosis. Methods: Radiographic data for patients who have undergone lumbar interbody fusion (≥3 levels) using PLIF or LLIF for degenerative lumbar kyphosis (lumbar lordosis [LL] <20°) were retrospectively examined. The following radiographic parameters were retrospectively evaluated preoperatively and 2 years postoperatively: segmental lordotic angle, LL, pelvic tilt (PT), pelvic incidence (PI), C7 sagittal vertical axis, and T1 pelvic angle. Results: Nineteen consecutive cases with PLIF and 27 cases with LLIF were included. There were no significant differences in patients’ backgrounds or preoperative radiographic parameters between the PLIF and the LLIF groups. The mean fusion level was 5.5±2.5 levels and 5.8±2.5 levels in the PLIF and LLIF groups, respectively (p=0.69). Although there was no significant difference in surgical times (p=0.58), the estimated blood loss was significantly greater in the PLIF group (p<0.001). Two years postoperatively, comparing the PLIF and LLIF groups, the segmental lordotic angle achieved (7.4°±7.6° and 10.6°±9.4°, respectively; p=0.03), LL (27.8°±13.9° and 39.2°±12.7°, respectively; p=0.006), PI–LL (19.8°±14.8° and 3.1°±17.5°, respectively; p=0.002), and PT (22.6°±7.1° and 14.2°±13.9°, respectively; p=0.02) were significantly better in the LLIF group. Conclusions: LLIF provided significantly better sagittal alignment restoration in the context of degenerative lumbar kyphosis, with less blood loss.

Factors Affecting Postoperative Sagittal Alignment after Lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusion in Adult Spinal Deformity: Posterior Osteotomy, Anterior Longitudinal Ligament Rupture, and Endplate Injury

Hiroaki Nakashima,Tokumi Kanemura,Kotaro Satake,Yoshimoto Ishikawa,Jun Ouchida,Naoki Segi,Hidetoshi Yamaguchi,Shiro Imagama 대한척추외과학회 2019 Asian Spine Journal Vol.13 No.5

Study Design: Prospective cohort study. Purpose: To identify factors that affect sagittal alignment correction in lateral lumbar interbody fusion (LIF) surgery for adult spinal deformity (ASD) and to investigate the degree of correction in each condition. Overview of Literature: LIF is a useful procedure for ASD, but the degree of correction can be affected by posterior osteotomy, intraoperative endplate injury, or anterior longitudinal ligament (ALL) rupture. Methods: Radiographical data for 30 patients who underwent LIF for ASD were examined prospectively. All underwent two-stage surgery (LIF followed by posterior fixation). Radiographical parameters were measured preoperatively, after LIF, and after posterior fixation; these included the segmental lordotic angle, lumbar lordosis (LL), and other sagittal alignment factors. Results: LL was corrected from 16.5°±16.7° preoperatively to 33.4°±13.8° after LIF (p<0.001) and then to 52.1°±7.9° following posterior fixation (p<0.001). At levels where Schwab grade 2 osteotomy was performed, the acquired segmental lordotic angles from the preoperative value to after posterior fixation and from after LIF to after posterior fixation were 19.5°±9.2° and 9.9°±3.9°, respectively. On average, 12.4° more was added than in cases without osteotomy. Endplate injury was identified at 21 levels (19.4%) after LIF, with a mean loss of 3.4° in the acquired segmental lordotic angle (5.3°±8.4° and 1.9°±5.9° without and with endplate injury, respectively). ALL rupture was identified at seven levels (6.5%), and on average 19.3° more was added in these cases between the preoperative and postoperative values than in cases without ALL rupture. Conclusions: LIF provides adequate sagittal alignment restoration for ASD, but the degree of correction is affected by grade 2 osteotomy, intraoperative endplate injury, and ALL rupture.

Unplanned Second-Stage Decompression for Neurological Deterioration Caused by Central Canal Stenosis after Indirect Lumbar Decompression Surgery

Hiroaki Nakashima,Tokumi Kanemura,Kotaro Satake,Yoshimoto Ishikawa,Jun Ouchida,Naoki Segi,Hidetoshi Yamaguchi,Shiro Imagama 대한척추외과학회 2019 Asian Spine Journal Vol.13 No.4

Study Design: Prospective cohort study. Purpose: This study aimed to identify risk factors for unplanned second-stage decompression for postoperative neurological deficit after indirect decompression using lateral lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF) with posterior fixation. Overview of Literature: Indirect lumbar decompression with LLIF has been used as a minimally invasive alternative to direct decompression to treat degenerative lumbar diseases requiring neural decompression. However, evidence on the prevalence of neurological deficits caused by spinal canal stenosis after indirect decompression is limited. Methods: This study included 158 patients (mean age, 71.13±7.98 years; male/female ratio, 67/91) who underwent indirect decompression with LLIF and posterior fixation. Indirect decompression was performed at 271 levels (mean level, 1.71±0.97). Logistic regression analysis was used to identify the risk factors for postoperative neurological deficits. The variables included were age, sex, body mass index, presence of primary diseases, diabetes mellitus, preoperative motor deficit, levels operated on, preoperative severity of lumbar stenosis, and preoperative Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) score. Results: Postoperative neurological deficit due to spinal canal stenosis occurred in three patients (1.9%). Spinal stenosis due to hemodialysis (p<0.001), ligament ossification (p<0.001), presence of preoperative motor paralysis (p<0.001), low JOA score (p=0.004), and severe canal stenosis (p=0.02) were significantly more frequent in the paralysis group. Conclusions: Severe preoperative canal stenosis and neurological deficit were identified as risk factors for postoperative neurological deterioration caused by spinal canal stenosis. Additionally, uncommon diseases, such as spinal stenosis due to hemodialysis and ligament ossification, increased the risk of postoperative neurological deficit; therefore, in such cases, indirect decompression is contraindicated.

Predisposing Factors for Intraoperative Endplate Injury of Extreme Lateral Interbody Fusion

Kotaro Satake,Tokumi Kanemura,Hidetoshi Yamaguchi,Naoki Segi,Jun Ouchida 대한척추외과학회 2016 Asian Spine Journal Vol.10 No.5

Study Design: Retrospective study. Purpose: To compare intraoperative endplate injury cases and no injury cases in consecutive series and to identify predisposing factors for intraoperative endplate injury. Overview of Literature: Unintended endplate violation and subsequent cage subsidence is an intraoperative complication of extreme lateral interbody fusion (XLIF). It is still unknown whether it is derived from inexperienced surgical technique or patients’ inherent problems. Methods: Consecutive patients (n=102; mean age, 69.0±0.8 years) underwent XLIF at 201 levels at a single institute. Preoperative and immediately postoperative radiographs were compared and cases with intraoperative endplate injury were identified. Various parameters were reviewed in each patient and compared between the injury and no injury groups. Results: Twenty one levels (10.4%) had signs of intraoperative endplate injury. The injury group had a significantly higher rate of females (p =0.002), lower bone mineral density (BMD) (p =0.02), higher rate of polyetheretherketone as cage material (p =0.04), and taller cage height (p =0.03) compared with the no injury group. Multivariate analysis indicated that a T-score of BMD as a negative (odds ratio, 0.52; 95% confidence interval, 0.27–0.93; p =0.03) and cage height as a positive (odds ratio, 1.84; 95% confidence interval, 1.01–3.17; p =0.03) were predisposing factors for intraoperative endplate injury. Conclusions: Intraoperative endplate injury is correlated significantly with reduced BMD and taller cage height. Precise evaluation of bone quality and treatment for osteoporosis might be important and care should be taken not to choose excessively taller cage.

Changes in Sagittal Alignment Following Short-Level Lumbar Interbody Fusion: Comparison between Posterior and Lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusions

Hiroaki Nakashima,Tokumi Kanemura,Kotaro Satake,Yoshimoto Ishikawa,Jun Ouchida,Naoki Segi,Hidetoshi Yamaguchi,Shiro Imagama 대한척추외과학회 2019 Asian Spine Journal Vol.13 No.6

Study Design: Retrospective case-control study. Purpose: We aimed to compare radiologic outcomes between posterior (PLIF) and lateral lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF) in short-level spinal fusion surgeries. Overview of Literature: Although LLIF enables surgeons to insert large lordotic cages, it is unknown whether LLIF more effectively corrects local and global sagittal alignments compared with PLIF in short-level spinal fusion surgeries. Methods: Radiographic data acquired from patients with lumbar interbody fusion (≤3 levels) using PLIF or LLIF for degenerative lumbar diseases were analyzed. The following radiographic parameters were evaluated preoperatively and at 2 years postoperatively: segmental lordotic angle, disk height, lumbar lordosis (LL), pelvic tilt (PT), C7 sagittal vertical axis, and thoracic kyphosis (TK). Results: In total, 144 patients with PLIF (193 fused levels) and 101 with LLIF (159 fused levels) were included. Patients’ backgrounds and preoperative radiographic parameters for any level of fusion did not differ significantly between PLIF and LLIF procedures. The LLIF group exhibited significantly greater changes at 1-level fusion compared to the PLIF group in the parameters of segmental lordotic angle (5.1°±5.8° vs. 2.1°±5.0°, p<0.001), disk height (4.2±2.3 mm vs. 2.2±2.0 mm, p<0.001), LL (7.8°±7.6° vs. 3.9°±8.6°, p=0.004), and PI–LL (−6.9°±6.8° vs. −3.6°±10.1°, p=0.03). While, a similar trend was observed regarding 2-level fusion, significantly greater changes were only observed in LL (12.1°±11.1° vs. 4.2°±9.1°, p=0.047) and PI–LL (−11.2°±11.3° vs. −3.0°±9.3°, p=0.043), PT (−6.4°±4.9° vs. −2.5°±5.3°, p=0.049) and TK (7.8°±11.8° vs. −0.3°±9.7°, p=0.047) in the LLIF group at 3-level fusion. Conclusions: LLIF provides significantly better local sagittal alignment than PLIF in 1- or 2-level fusion cases and improves spinopelvic alignment and local alignment for 3-level fusion cases. Thus, LLIF was demonstrated to be a useful lumbar interbody fusion technique, constituting a powerful tool for achieving sagittal realignment with minimal surgical invasiveness.

The Prevalence and Risk Factors for S2 Alar-Iliac Screw Loosening with a Minimum 2-Year Follow-up

Hiroaki Nakashima,Tokumi Kanemura,Kotaro Satake,Kenyu Ito,Yoshimoto Ishikawa,Jun Ouchida,Naoki Segi,Hidetoshi Yamaguchi,Shiro Imagama 대한척추외과학회 2020 Asian Spine Journal Vol.14 No.2

Study Design: A retrospective cohort study. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence and risk factors for S2 alar-iliac (SAI) screw loosening following lumbosacral fixation, with a minimum 2-year follow-up. Overview of Literature: Although SAI screws allow surgeons to perform lumbosacral fixation with a low profile and enhanced biomechanical strength, screw loosening following surgery can occur in some cases. However, few studies have investigated the prevalence and risk factors for SAI screw loosening. Methods: This retrospective study included 35 patients (mean age, 72.8±8.0 years; male, 10; female, 25) who underwent lumbosacral fixation using SAI screws with at least 2 years of follow-up. SAI screw loosening and L5–S bony fusion were assessed using computed tomography. The period for which the screws appeared loose and the risk factors for SAI screw loosening were investigated 2 years after surgery. Results: A total of 70 SAI screws and 70 S1 pedicle screws were inserted. Loosening was observed 0.5, 1, and 2 years after surgery in 17 (24.3%), 35 (50.0%), and 35 (50.0%) SAI screws, respectively. Bony fusion rate at L5–S was significantly lower in patients with SAI screw loosening than in those without screw loosening (65.0% vs. 93.3%, p=0.048). The score for SAI screw contact with the iliac cortical bone and the bony fusion rate at L5–S were significantly lower in the loosening group than in the non-loosening group (1.8±0.5 vs. 2.2±0.3, p<0.001, respectively). Postoperative pelvic incidence–lumbar lordosis was significantly higher in the loosening group than in the non-loosening group (7.9°±15.4° vs. 0.5°±8.7°, p=0.02, respectively). Conclusions: SAI screw loosening is closely correlated with pseudoarthrosis at L5–S. Appropriate screw insertion and optimal lumbar lordosis restoration are important to prevent postoperative complications related to SAI screws.

A Proposal of a Quasi-solution State Evolution Algorithm for Channel Assignment Problems

Nobuo Funabiki,Toru Nakanishi,Tokumi Yokohira,Shigeto Tajima,Teruo Higashino 한국정보과학회 2002 한국정보과학회 학술발표논문집 Vol.2002 No.1

Accuracy of Percutaneous Lumbosacral Pedicle Screw Placement Using the Oblique Fluoroscopic View Based on Computed Tomography Evaluations

Go Yoshida,Koji Sato,Tokumi Kanemura,Toshiki Iwase,Daisuke Togawa,Yukihiro Matsuyama 대한척추외과학회 2016 Asian Spine Journal Vol.10 No.4

Study Design: Retrospective. Purpose: This study aims to investigate the accuracy of the oblique fluoroscopic view, based on preoperative computed tomography (CT) images for accurate placement of lumbosacral percutaneous pedicle screws (PPS). Overview of Literature: Although PPS misplacement has been reported as one of the main complications in minimally invasive spine surgery, there is no comparative data on the misplacement rate among different fluoroscopic techniques, or comparing such techniques with open procedures. Methods: We retrospectively selected 230 consecutive patients who underwent posterior spinal fusion with a pedicle screw construct for degenerative lumbar disease, and divided them into 3 groups, those who had undergone: minimally invasive percutaneous procedure using biplane (lateral and anterior-posterior views using a single C-arm) fluoroscope views (group M-1), minimally invasive percutaneous procedure using the oblique fluoroscopic view based on preoperative CT (group M-2), and conventional open procedure using a lateral fluoroscopic view (group O: controls). The relative position of the screw to the pedicle was graded for the pedicle breach as no breach, <2 mm, 2–4 mm, or >4 mm. Inaccuracy was calculated and assessed according to the spinal level, direction and neurological deficit. Inter-group radiation exposure was estimated using fluoroscopy time. Results: Inaccuracy involved an incline toward L5, causing medial or lateral perforation of pedicles in group M-1, but it was distributed relatively equally throughout multiple levels in groups M-2 and controls. The mean fluoroscopy time/case ranged from 1.6 to 3.9 minutes. Conclusions: Minimally invasive lumbosacral PPS placement using the conventional fluoroscopic technique carries an increased risk of inaccurate screw placement and resultant neurological deficits, compared with that of the open procedure. Inaccuracy tended to be distributed between medial and lateral perforations of the L5 pedicle, as a result of pedicle morphology and the PPS pathway. Oblique fluoroscopic views, based on CT measurement, may allow accurate PPS insertion with a shorter fluoroscopy time.

Indirect Decompression Using Lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusion for Restenosis after an Initial Decompression Surgery

Nakashima Hiroaki,Kanemura Tokumi,Satake Kotaro,Ito Kenyu,Ishikawa Yoshimoto,Ouchida Jun,Segi Naoki,Yamaguchi Hidetoshi,Imagama Shiro 대한척추외과학회 2020 Asian Spine Journal Vol.14 No.3

Study Design: Retrospective comparative study.Purpose: We compared clinical and radiographical outcomes after lumbar decompression revision surgery for restenosis by lateral lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF) and posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF).Overview of Literature: Indirect lumbar decompression with LLIF was used to treat degenerative lumbar diseases requiring neural decompression. However, only a few studies have focused on the effectiveness of this technique for restenosis after lumbar decompression.Methods: We retrospectively investigated 52 cases involving lumbar interbody fusions for restenosis with spondylolisthesis after lumbar decompressions; these cases consisted of 15 patients who underwent indirect decompression with LLIF and posterior fixation and 37 patients who underwent the same procedure with PLIF. We compared Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) scores and perioperative complications between groups. The cross-sectional areas of the thecal sac on magnetic resonance imaging were measured before, immediately after, and 2 years after surgery. We conducted statistical analyses using unpaired t -test and Fisher’s exact tests, and a <i>p</i> -value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results: The operative time was significantly shorter in the LLIF group than in the PLIF group (115.3±33.6 min vs. 186.2±34.2 min, respectively; <i>p</i> <0.001). In addition, the intraoperative blood loss was significantly lower in the LLIF group than in the PLIF group (58.2±32.7 mL vs. 303.2±140.1 mL, respectively; <i>p</i> <0.001). We found two cases of transient lateral thigh weakness (13.3%) in the LLIF group and five cases of incidental durotomy, one case of deep infection, and one case of neurological deterioration in the PLIF group—resulting in a higher complication incidence (18.9%), although it did not reach (<i>p</i> =0.63). The JOA scores improved significantly in both groups.Conclusions: Indirect decompression using LLIF provided acceptable clinical and radiographical outcomes in patients with restenosis with spondylolisthesis after lumbar decompression; no revision-surgery-specific complications were found. Our results suggest that LLIF is a safe and minimally invasive procedure for revision surgery.

Dynamic splitting of light trails for increasing throughput in light trail networks

Yukinobu Fukushima,Kota Tanaka,Wenjie Chen,Tokumi Yokohira 대한전자공학회 2009 ITC-CSCC :International Technical Conference on Ci Vol.2009 No.7

As a promising medium access control method in light trail networks, ART MAC based on token passing has been proposed. In order to increase throughput of ART MAC, we propose a dynamic light trail splitting method. Our method increases throughput of a light trail by splitting a light trail into two trails at the token holding node and enabling simultaneous data transmission on both trails. Simulation results show that our method achieves 23-32 % higher throughput than a light trail without splitting.