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Muneharu Ando

Publications and source records attributed to Muneharu Ando.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

Does reconstruction of posterior ligamentous complex with extensor musculature decrease axial symptoms after cervical laminoplasty?

STUDY DESIGN: The authors retrospectively determined the prevalence of neck and shoulder symptoms (axial symptoms) after expansive laminoplasty with reattachment of spinous process and extensor musculature in patients with cervical myelopathy. OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of both preoperative and postoperative axial symptoms of expansive laminoplasty when they occur after expansive laminoplasty. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Several clinical reports have noted that laminoplasty for cervical myelopathy produces positive clinical outcomes. However, recent reports have pointed out that complications from laminoplasty, such as axial symptoms, may be severe enough to interfere with daily activities. METHODS: The authors used a modified spinous process-splitting laminoplasty, which involved reattaching the spinous process with extensor musculature after enlarging the spinal canal by use of the French window method. Postoperative axial symptoms were investigated in 173 of 214 patients (80.1%) who underwent expansive laminoplasty between January 1989 and December 1998. The patients included 121 men and 52 women, and their average age was 61.5 years. The presence or absence and grade of axial symptoms before and after laminoplasty were investigated. The severity and duration of complications were also recorded, along with differences between age, sex, spinal alignment, and cervical diseases. RESULTS: Neck and/or shoulder stiffness worsened in 15% of the patients and declined in 21%. Neck pain worsened in 10% of the patients and improved in 11%. Neck and/or shoulder stiffness worse than moderate was recognized in 14.4% of the patients. Neck pain worse than moderate was recognized in 5% of the patients. In the 137 patients who had no axial pain before surgery, only 13 patients experienced such symptoms after surgery, and in most cases these symptoms were minimal. In only 1 case, significant postoperative neck pain arose de novo as a result of this surgery. In 88 patients who had no neck and/or shoulder stiffness before surgery, only 16 patients experienced such symptoms after surgery, and in most cases these were minimal. A similar pattern held true for each of the other grades of preoperative axial symptoms. The recovery rate score (Japanese Orthopedic Association) was 47.5 +/- 32.3 in the patients whose axial symptoms were worse than moderate and 60 +/- 28.9 in patients whose axial symptoms were less than mild. This difference was significant (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Laminoplasty is an appropriate operation for cervical spondylotic myelopathy and did not, in this study, seem to have any significant influence on the development or resolution of axial symptoms.

Adult↗

Lumbar sagittal balance influences the clinical outcome after decompression and posterolateral spinal fusion for degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis.

STUDY DESIGN: This study was designed to assess both lumbar sagittal balance and clinical outcomes of decompression and posterolateral fusion for degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis. As an index for the radiologic evaluation of sagittal alignment, the L1 axis S1 distance was used (i.e., the horizontal distance from the plumbline of the center in the L1 to the back corner of the S1). OBJECTIVE: To determine whether lumbar sagittal balance affected the clinical outcome after posterolateral fusion. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Little is known about whether the sagittal vertical axis influences clinical outcomes in cases of degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis. METHODS: A retrospective review of 47 patients (15 men and 32 women), ranging in age from 41 to 79 years, was conducted. The mean follow-up period was 3.6 years. Relations among outcomes including the visual analog pain scale, recovery rate, L1 axis S1 distance, slippage, and lumbar lordosis were evaluated. RESULTS: Recovery rates were 44% and 62% in patients whose preoperative L1 axis S1 distance, respectively, was more than 35 mm (Group A, n = 16) and less than 35 mm (Group B, n = 31) (P < 0.05). Follow-up assessment found a positive correlation between only lordosis and recovery rate. Severe low back pain and lower recovery rate were observed in patients with in situ fusion in Group A (n = 9), as compared with patients with reduced slippage in Group A (n = 7) and patients in Group B. CONCLUSIONS: Both preoperative L1 axis S1 distance and lordosis at follow-up assessment affected surgical outcome. Reduction of slippage may improve clinical outcomes of posterolateral fusion for degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis with an L1 axis S1 distance more than 35 mm.

Adult↗

Preoperative instability does not influence the clinical outcome in patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy treated with expansive laminoplasty.

Sixty-seven patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy treated with expansive laminoplasty were retrospectively reviewed at a minimum 2-year follow-up. This study was designed to evaluate whether preoperative instability influences the clinical outcome in patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy treated with laminoplasty without spinal fusion. Patients with preoperative instability were older and had shorter durations of symptoms prior to surgery than those without the instability. There were no significant differences in prevalence of axial symptoms, neurologic recovery, or radiologic findings between patients with and without preoperative cervical instability. At follow-up, the cervical range of motion was limited to 43.5% of the preoperative range, and no cervical instability was observed in any patients. Preoperative instability does not influence the clinical outcome and can be ignored if expansive laminoplasty is indicated for patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy.

Adult↗

Relationships between sagittal alignment of the cervical spine and morphology of the spinal cord and clinical outcomes in patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy treated with expansive laminoplasty.

A total of 103 patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy undergoing laminoplasty were retrospectively reviewed to evaluate whether sagittal alignment of the cervical spine and morphology of the spinal cord influence surgical outcomes. Sagittal alignment of the cervical spine did not influence surgical outcomes. Neurologic recovery in patients with anterior convexity of the spinal cord was better than in those without this type of spinal cord. In patients with supplementation of decompression at C2, sagittal morphology of the spinal cord did not influence neurologic recovery. It is important to acquire anterior convexity of the spinal cord after surgery if laminoplasty is performed below C3. In patients with kyphosis, where anterior convexity of the spinal cord is not thought to be obtained postoperatively, it is possible that additional decompression of C2 improves outcome.

Adult↗