Acidic Fibroblast Growth Factor in Spinal Cord Injury

Chin-Chu Ko,Tsung-Hsi Tu,Jau-Ching Wu,Wen-Cheng Huang,Henrich Cheng 대한척추신경외과학회 2019 Neurospine Vol.16 No.4

Spinal cord injury (SCI), with an incidence rate of 246 per million person-years among adults in Taiwan, remains a devastating disease in the modern day. Elderly men with lower socioeconomic status have an even higher risk for SCI. Despite advances made in medicine and technology to date, there are few effective treatments for SCI due to limitations in the regenerative capacity of the adult central nervous system. Experiments and clinical trials have explored neuro-regeneration in human SCI, encompassing cell- and molecule-based therapies. Furthermore, strategies have aimed at restoring connections, including autologous peripheral nerve grafts and biomaterial scaffolds that theoretically promote axonal growth. Most molecule-based therapies target the modulation of inhibitory molecules to promote axonal growth, degrade glial scarring obstacles, and stimulate intrinsic regenerative capacity. Among them, acidic fibroblast growth factor (aFGF) has been investigated for nerve repair; it is mitogenic and pluripotent in nature and could enhance axonal growth and mitigate glial scarring. For more than 2 decades, the authors have conducted multiple trials, including human and animal experiments, using aFGF to repair nerve injuries, including central and peripheral nerves. In these trials, aFGF has shown promise for neural regeneration, and in the future, more trials and applications should investigate aFGF as a neurotrophic factor. Focusing on aFGF, the current review aimed to summarize the historical evolution of the utilization of aFGF in SCI and nerve injuries, to present applications and trials, to summarize briefly its possible mechanisms, and to provide future perspectives.

Commentary on “Simultaneous Single-Position Oblique Lateral Interbody Fusion Combined With Unilateral Percutaneous Pedicle Screw Fixation for Single-Level Lumbar Tuberculosis: A 3-Year Retrospective Comparative Study”

Chao-Hung Kuo,Tsung-Hsi Tu 대한척추신경외과학회 2023 Neurospine Vol.20 No.4

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A Hybrid Dynamic Stabilization and Fusion System in Multilevel Lumbar Spondylosis

Li-Yu Fay,Chih-Chang Chang,Hsuan-Kan Chang,Tsung-Hsi Tu,Tzu-Yun Tsai,Ching-Lan Wu,Wen-Cheng Huang,Jau-Ching Wu,Henrich Cheng 대한척추신경외과학회 2018 Neurospine Vol.15 No.3

Objective: The Dynesys-Transition-Optima (DTO) hybrid system was designed to achieve arthrodesis and stabilization in patients with lumbar degeneration. Satisfactory outcomes were demonstrated previously. However, no study has evaluated the effects of using the DTO system in patients with lumbar spondylolisthesis or stenosis. Methods: This retrospective study included 35 consecutive patients with multilevel lumbar degeneration with or without spondylolisthesis who underwent surgery using the DTO system. Imaging studies included pre- and postoperative radiography, magnetic resonance imaging, and computed tomography. The clinical outcomes were measured by Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) scores, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scores, and a visual analogue scale (VAS) for back and leg pain. Results: Thirty patients (85.7%) with a mean age of 61.9 years completed the follow-up, with a mean duration of 35.1 months. There were 21 patients in the spondylolisthesis group and 9 in the stenosis group. The spondylolisthesis group had worse functional scores than the stenosis group preoperatively. After DTO surgery, all patients showed significant improvements in clinical outcomes, including VAS for back and leg pain, ODI, and JOA scores (p<0.05). There were no significant differences in clinical outcomes between the 2 groups. At a 2-year follow-up, lumbar alignment was well maintained in both groups (p=0.116). There were no significant differences in lumbar alignment between the 2 groups. Conclusion: During a follow-up period of over 2 years, both patients with spondylolisthesis and those with stenosis showed improvements and similar disability and pain scores after surgery using the DTO system. Lumbar alignment was also well maintained.

Comparison of Cortical Bone Trajectory to Pedicle-Based Dynamic Stabilization: An Analysis of 291 Patients

Chih-Chang Chang,Hsuan-Kan Chang,Chin-Chu Ko,Ching-Lan Wu,Yi-Hsuan Kuo,Tsung-Hsi Tu,Wen-Cheng Huang,Jau-Ching Wu 대한척추신경외과학회 2023 Neurospine Vol.20 No.1

Objective: Pedicle-based dynamic stabilization (DS) has gained popularity outside of America. Although pedicle screw (PS) loosening has always been a concern, it is reportedly innocuous. Cortical bone trajectory (CBT) screw is an emerging option with less invasiveness and similar effectiveness to PS in short-segment lumbar fusion. This study aimed to verify the use of CBT for DS by comparing the outcomes between pedicle- and CBT-based DS. Methods: Consecutive patients with lumbar spondylosis or low-grade spondylolisthesis who underwent 1- or 2-level DS between L3–5 with a minimum follow-up of 24 months were reviewed. Screw loosening was determined by computed tomography and the incidences were compared. Results: A total of 291 patients who underwent Dynesys DS (235 pedicle- and 56 CBT-based, respectively) were compared. The demographics and preoperative conditions were similar. All the clinical outcomes improved at 24-month postoperation, while the CBT-based group had less operation time and blood loss than the pedicle-based group. The rates of screw loosening were lower in the CBT-based (5.4% per screw and 12.5% per patient) than the pedicle-based group (9% per screw and 26.4% per patient). Furthermore, there were no differences in the clinical outcomes and complication profiles. Conclusion: The CBT-based DS for 1- or 2-level lumbar degeneration demonstrated equivalent clinical improvement as the pedicle-based DS. The adaption of CBT-based screws for DS could be a less invasive approach (shorter operation time and less blood loss), with lower chances of screw loosening than the conventional PS-based DS.

Suture Repair in Endoscopic Surgery for Craniovertebral Junction

Mei-Yin Yeh,Wen-Cheng Huang,Jau-Ching Wu,Chao-Hung Kuo,Hsuan-Kan Chang,Tsung-Hsi Tu,Peng-Yuan Chang,Yu-Shu Yen,Henrich Cheng 대한척추신경외과학회 2019 Neurospine Vol.16 No.2

Objective: Endoscopic approaches to the craniovertebral junction (CVJ) have been established as viable and effective surgical treatments in the past decade. One of the major complications is leakage of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). This study aimed to investigate the efficacy and feasibility of suture closure at the nasopharyngeal mucosa upon durotomy. Methods: A series of consecutive patients who underwent different endoscopic approaches to the CVJ were retrospectively reviewed. The pathologies, surgical corridors, neurological and functional outcomes, radiological evaluations, and complications were analyzed. Different strategies of repair for the intraoperative CSF leakage were described and compared. Results: A total of 22 patients covering 13 years were analyzed. There were 12, 2, and 8 patients who underwent transnasal, transoral, and combined approaches, respectively. There were 8 patients (36.4%) who experienced intraoperative CSF leakage, and were grouped into 2: 4 in the nonsuture (NS) group and 4 in the suture-repaired (SR) group. The NS group had 3 (75%) persistent CSF leakages postoperation that caused 1 mortality, whereas patients of the SR group had only 1 minor CSF rhinorrhea that healed spontaneously within days. Conclusion: In this series of 22 patients who required anterior endoscopic resection of pathologies at the CVJ, there was 1 (4.5%) serious complication related to CSF leakage. For patients who had no durotomy, the mucosal incision at the nasopharynx usually healed rapidly and there were few procedure-related complications. For patients with intraoperative CSF leakage, suture closure was technically challenging but could significantly lower the risks of postoperative complications.

Measurement of Deformity at the Craniovertebral Junction: Correlation of Triangular Area and Myelopathy

Chih-Chang Chang,Jau-Ching Wu,Chin-Chu Ko,Hsuan-Kan Chang,Yi-Hsuan Kuo,Chao-Hung Kuo,Tsung-Hsi Tu,Wen-Cheng Huang 대한척추신경외과학회 2022 Neurospine Vol.19 No.4

Objective: Diseases of the craniovertebral junction (CVJ) are commonly associated with deformity, malalignment, and subsequent myelopathy. The misaligned CVJ might cause compression of neuronal tissues and subsequently clinical symptoms. The triangular area (TA), measured by magnetic resonance imaging/images (MRI/s), is a novel measurement for quantification of the severity of compression to the brain stem. This study aimed to assess the normal and pathological values of TA by a comparison of patients with CVJ disease to age- and sex-matched controls. Moreover, postoperative TAs were correlated with outcomes. Methods: Consecutive patients who underwent surgery for CVJ disease were included for comparison to an age- and sex-matched cohort of normal CVJ persons as controls. The demographics, perioperative information, and pre- and postoperative 2-year cervical MRIs were collected for analysis. Cervical TAs were measured and compared. Results: A total of 201 patients, all of whom had pre- or postoperative MRI, were analyzed. The TA of the CVJ deformity group was larger than the healthy control group (1.62 ± 0.57 cm2 vs. 1.01 ± 0.18 cm2 , p < 0.001). Moreover, patients who had combined anterior odontoidectomy and posterior laminectomy with fixation had the greatest reduction in the TA (1.18 ± 0.58 cm2 ). Conclusion: In CVJ deformity, the measurement of the cervical TA could indicate the severity of brain stem compression. After surgery, the TA had a varying degree of improvement, which could represent the efficacy of surgery.