Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “SPINAL CANAL”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 235 records · Page 13Linked to original sources

[Traumatological reflection on the narrow spinal canal. Review and our own concept].

Even today, injuries of the spinal column still pose a large challenge for the treating trauma surgeons. In the last century due to more differentiated diagnostics, the concept of predominantly conservative treatment changed to interventional procedures especially in the so-called unstable injuries. Discrepancies still exist in the evaluation of stability. In the last few years, dorsal, ventral, or combined interventional procedures have become established. The narrow spinal canal and neurological deficits represent important factors. Based on the literature, the different procedures and evaluations are discussed and finally we introduce our own concept.

Decompression, Surgical↗

[Acromegaly and spinal canal stenosis].

A rare case of acromegaly with radiculomyelopathy due to spinal canal stenosis is reported. A long history of acromegalic deformity was seen on this 55 years old acupuncture therapist for the last 18 years, while he had developed unusually increased appetite, profuse perspiration and gained weight. Fifteen years ago, acromegalic tendency became prominent and was accompanied by low back and knee pain. In 1974 CB-154 was administered in several occasions beside 4000 rads irradiation to the sella. After radiation therapy was completed his outlook was somewhat improved, although low back pain was aggravated and associated with atrophy of the left lower extremity. The neurological examination at admission in 1980 revealed acromegalic feature, increased DTRs on both upper and lower extremities, dysesthesia of feet and atrophy of the leg muscles in general, mainly due to diffuse atrophy. Patient bended knees due to pain and unable to walk. He had radiating pain in the postero-lateral aspect of the left lower extremity and some dysesthesia of feet, although no specific root lesion was identifiable. Spinal roentgenograms disclosed diffuse ossification of anterior and posterior longitudinal ligaments, and marked spondylotic changes. Although the low back pain was impending complaint of the patient, the hypophyseal tumor was advised to remove and transsphenoidal hypophyseal adenomectomy was performed. A good amount of softend tumor tissue was removed however, adenoma found markedly fibrotic. Low back pain and knee were decreased gradually, but intermittent claudication was evident. Acromegaly in association with spinal canal stenosis were reviewed in literature, and the relationship of growth hormone and therapeutic problems were discussed.

Acromegaly↗

Electrophysiologic evaluation of intermittent sacral nerve dysfunction in lumbar spinal canal stenosis.

Intermittent sacral nerve dysfunction, induced by walking in lumbar spinal canal stenosis, may cause symptoms including hyperesthesia and pain in perineum, urinary bladder incontinence, and penile erection. However, it is difficult to objectively document these symptoms. Evoked external urethral sphincter potentials by conus medullaris stimulation were measured both before walking and after walking in five patients who complained of sexual organ or urinary dysfunction during walking, and were compared with simultaneously induced sacral nerve symptoms. These potentials were also measured during surgery. Sacral nerve symptoms were reproduced by walking 80-350 meters (average 177.5 m). These potentials disappeared in one patient and were decreased in four patients at the time when the claudicant symptoms disabled the patient during walking. The amplitude subsequently recovered in keeping with relief of those symptoms during rest. Monitoring of these potentials during surgery showed an increase of amplitude shortly after the decompression procedure of the cauda equina. In conclusion, this measuring method was valuable as an objective evaluation of intermittent sacral nerve dysfunction in lumbar spinal canal stenosis.

Aged↗

Lumbar spinal canal stenosis associated with progressive degenerative changes of the spine. A case report.

STUDY DESIGN: Case report. OBJECTIVES: To report a case of spinal canal stenosis associated with progressive degenerative changes of the lumbar spine. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: As far as the authors are aware, there has been no similar case reported. METHODS: The clinical features of the case are reported, and the pathology is discussed. RESULTS: In a 40-year-old man, spinal canal stenosis developed, associated with progressive degenerative changes of the lumbar spine. The man underwent posterior decompression and fusion using pedicle screws. The surgical results were satisfactory at the time of writing this report. CONCLUSIONS: This case presented a peculiar clinical course, which could not be categorized under previously reported disorders. It may be a new disease entity of spinal canal stenosis. The surgical outcome was satisfactory 2 years, 6 months after surgery.

Adult↗

Localization of foreign bodies in the spinal canal by computer-assisted biplanar digitizer.

This study is a report of the use of a computer-assisted biplane digitizer to locate shotgun pellets within the spinal canal in an incompletely paralyzed patient. It was necessary to determine if one or more shotgun pellets were located within the spinal cord of the patient. Because of the profusion of pellets it was not possible to determine which, if any, of the pellets were in the spinal canal by routine roentgenograms. The problem of determining the location of each pellet with respect to the spinal cord was resolved by the use of biplane radiography in conjunction with an x-ray digitizer and a computer program. This report presents the method for localizing foreign bodies and discusses the results of the procedure. It was concluded that the described method successfully located the position of pellets with respect to the spinal column and cord. This method may be useful for locating metallic fragments that have to be surgically removed in other patients sustaining spinal cord injury secondary to single missile wounds.

Adult↗

[The narrow spinal canal - medicolegal aspects (author's transl)].

The constitutional anomayl of a narrow spinal canal was found in a neuroradiological department in 31 cases. The cervical stenosis can be defined in the following way: Inside diameter of cervical canal (anterior-posterior) in relation to diameter of vertebral body. In normal cases the quotient is over 1 - in pathological narrowing under 1. Clinical symptoms mainly appear from 45th year onwards, when reactive-degenerative changes increase the space problem. In wiplash injuries or other adequate cervical trauma 7 cases were seen and described with acute incomplete tetraplegia or/and multilocular lesions of cervical roots, resulting from cervical stenosis combined with degenerative changes in 6 patients. Myelography revealed multilocular deformities of the spinal subarachnoidal space in the abnormal narrow cervical canal. The referred cases were not complicated with forensic aspects. The prognosis quod sanationem was poor. A chronic cervical myelopathy results. Pretraumatic clinical alterations of cervical roots and/or the myelon in the referred cases were absent, existing in other patients. Predominantly men and hard working people with narrow cervical canal became ill. Early symptoms were pain in extremities. Dysesthesia and loss of sensation combined with signs of pyramidal lesion occured later. Defects in nerve roots sometimes overlayed the myelon symptoms. Unspecific CSF-Alterations were common. The EMG showed abnormalities in cases of root involvement. Operative treatment was tried to remove the reactive processes, but could not alter the constitutional anomaly. The resulting immobilisation of myelon and nerve roots involves in the case of trauma a direct mechanical lesion and secondary vascular complications via Arteria vertebralis, spinalis anterior and radicularis, namely in patients with degenerative alterations of the cervical spine, these including a further narrowing behind the constitutional anomaly. Our experience seems to recommend that more attention should be paid a cervical narrow spinal canal in medicolegal implications.

Adult↗

Upper cervical spinal cord compression due to bony stenosis of the spinal canal.

Compression of the upper cervical spinal cord due to stenosis of the bony spinal canal is infrequent. In the first case reported here, stenosis was due to acquired extensive, unilateral osteophytes centered on the left apophyseal joints of C1-C2 in an elderly professional violinist. In the second case, stenosis was secondary to isolated congenital hypertrophy of the laminae of C1 and C2.

Adult↗

Stenosis of the spinal canal in achondroplasia.

Stenosis of the spinal canal is a very frequent finding in achondroplastic patients. It is secondary to abnormalities of endochondrial ossification, which is responsible for formation of the vertebral bone structures, and, subsequently, to bone degeneration. Cervical stenosis (most frequently involving the first metameres and the craniospinal junction) is more common in children while thoraco-lumbar stenosis favors adults. The surgical indications for cervical stenosis depend mainly on the clinical evolution but also on neurophysiological data. In thoraco lumbar stenosis too, clinical data determine the surgical indications and the route of attack depends on the type of anatomical alteration affecting the spine.

Achondroplasia↗

Dynamic measurement of intraosseous pressures in lumbar spinal vertebrae with reference to spinal canal stenosis.

Dynamic measurements of intraosseous pressures in lumbar vertebrae were performed to determine the effects of positional change on lumbar vertebral circulation. The data collected are applicable to the question of spinal canal stenosis. The measurements were made in 23 patients, 12 of whom had spinal canal stenosis and 11 of whom had spondylosis deformans. The pressures within the spinous processes of L3 and L5 were measured continuously while the patients were prone, lying in the lateral position, and standing. The pressures ranged from approximately 10 to 30 mm Hg in the prone position and showed substantial changes with changes in position. In each subject, they were lowest in the prone, intermediate in the lateral, and highest in the standing position.

Adult↗

+Gz associated stenosis of the cervical spinal canal in fighter pilots.

Previous magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies have shown that repeated exposure to +Gz forces can cause premature degenerative changes of the cervical spine (i.e. a work-related disease). This paper reports on two clinical cases of +Gz-associated degenerative cervical spinal stenosis caused by dorsal osteophytes in fighter pilots. Conventional x-rays and MRI were used to demonstrate narrowing of the cervical spinal canal. The first case was complicated by a C6-7 intervertebral disk prolapse and a congenitally narrow spinal canal. The second case involved progressive degenerative spinal stenosis in the C5-6 disk space which required surgery. The findings in this case were confirmed by surgery which showed posterior osteophytes and thickened ligaments compressing the cervical medulla. These two cases suggest that +Gz forces can cause degenerative spinal stenosis of the cervical spine. Flight safety may be jeopardized if symptoms and signs of medullar compression occur during high +Gz stress. It is recommended that student fighter pilots undergo conventional x-rays and MRI studies in order to screen out and reject candidates with a congenitally narrow spinal canal. These examination methods might be useful in fighter pilots' periodic medical check-ups in order to reveal acquired degenerative spinal stenosis.

Adult↗

[One-stage operative treatment of atlanto-axial instability with stenosis of lower cervical level of spinal canal].

To cure patients suffering from atlanto-axial instability following old fracture of odontoid process concomitant with stenosis of lower end of cervical spinal canal, a new operative method was designed. It included atlanto-axial fusion by Gallie technique and resection of right half of the laminae of C3-C7 spine at one stage. A female of 63 years old was treated. She was admitted with neck pain and numbness of the upper and lower limbs. A history of neck injury was noted in enquiry. In physical examination showed the sensation of pain of the upper limbs was decreased and the muscle power of the upper and lower limbs ranged from III degree to IV degree. The X-ray film and MRI suggested that there was instability of the atlanto-axial joint with stenosis of 4th-6th cervical spinal canal. The operation was satisfactory. After operation, the patient was followed up for 11 months. The physical examination indicated that sensation of the upper limbs had recovered to normal and the muscle power of the upper limbs reached IV degree and that the lower limbs reached V degree and X-ray showed bony fusion of the atlanto-axial joint. The conclusions were: 1. The stability of atlanto-axial joint was reconstructed with expanding of the spinal canal at the same time. 2. The duration, risk and cost of the therapy were reduced, and maintenance of the stability of the cervical spine throughout whole period of treatment was recommended.

Atlanto-Axial Joint↗

Gd-DTPA enhanced MR of the lumbar spinal canal in patients with claudication.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this work was to study the findings on intravenous gadolinium-enhanced MRI of the lumbar spinal canal in patients with clinically suspected neurogenic claudication. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective gadolinium-enhanced MR evaluation of seven adult patients presenting with clinical claudication thought to be related to the lumbosacral spine was undertaken. RESULTS: Of seven consecutive enhanced conventional SE MRI examinations of the lumbosacral spine in patients presenting with lower extremity claudication, five patients (71.4%) revealed abnormal intrathecal enhancement on MR at and extending craniad from the level(s) of severe spinal stenosis. Each of the seven patients (100%) showed relatively severe central stenosis of the lumbar spinal canal. The enhancement pattern was linear, curvilinear, punctate, and/or diffuse in configuration. Two of the five patients with intrathecal enhancement also showed similar abnormal intrathecal enhancement extending caudal to the severely stenotic levels. CONCLUSION: The clinically significant intrathecal enhancement on intravenous gadolinium-enhanced MRI identified above the level of a severely stenotic lumbar spinal canal hypothetically might represent enhancement of dilated, obstructed venous structures serving the cauda equina. More likely, however, the major factor in such enhancement at, above, and/or below the stenosis signals blood-nerve barrier breakdown associated with mechanical injury, inflammatory response, and wallerian degeneration/regeneration of axons within chronically compressed nerve roots.

Adult↗

The developmental segmental sagittal diameter of the cervical spinal canal in patients with cervical spondylosis.

The role of the narrow cervical spinal canal in the expression of clinical syndromes in the cervical spine was investigated in a retrospective review of 63 patients with symptomatic cervical spondylosis refractory to conservative therapy. The measurement of the developmental segmental sagittal diameter, determined at the level of the pedicle, and of the spondylotic segmental sagittal diameter, determined at the level of the disc, were applied. When divided into groups based on anatomic variance around an average size midcervical diameter of 17 mm, 40 patients were found to have less than the average size of midcervical canal. A spondylosis index was computed for the narrow canal group at 2.08 mm per segment and for the wide canal group at 3.29. Canal dimensions are determinants of symptom production and neurologic compromise.

Adult↗

Innervation of the anterior spinal canal: an update.

Understanding the innervation of the lumbar spine can be a daunting task. Until recently, only macroscopic visualization and crude histological techniques were available to document the presence of nerve fibers in the anterior spinal canal. Using newer immunohistochemical techniques, studies have been able to more thoroughly investigate the innervation of the anterior spinal canal. The presence of sensory nerve fibers has been definitively identified in all anterior spinal structures. These sensory fibers enable any of the spinal structures the capability of being a pain generator. These sensory nerve fibers tend to form dense interwoven plexuses on the posterior longitudinal ligament and ventral surface of the dura mater. The plexuses allow for anastamoses to take place between nerve fibers from multiple segmental levels. This polysegmental formation causes the expression of low back pain to be diffuse, rather than focal. It is these diffuse pain symptoms that create great difficulty in diagnosing and treating spinal canal structures.

Journal Article↗

Syringomyelia associated with intradural extramedullary masses of the spinal canal.

Three cases of syringomyelia associated with intradural extramedullary tumors of the spinal canal are reported to demonstrate their radiographic feature, to postulate a mechanism for their formation, and to describe the clinical deterioration occurring in two patients immediately after metrizamide myelography. It is believed that the mechanism by which these syrinx cavities formed was similar to the mechanism of syrinx formation within chronically injured spinal cords. The cystic cavities may extend for considerable distances away from the extramedullary mass and may be present above and/or below the mass. The development of a syringomyelia in the face of an intradural extramedullary tumor may not be rare, and it is suspected that with the more frequent use of delayed metrizamide CT and now magnetic resonance imaging, syringomyelia will be found as an occasional consequence of this type of mass.

Adult↗

Spinal stenosis. The narrow lumbar spinal canal syndrome.

This is a report of 7 cases of narrow lumbar spinal canal syndrome encountered in 7 patients in a community hospital in one year. Nerve compression occurred from pressure from enlarged posterior elements. Although the clinical manifestations were unspecific, the lumbar spine radiographs and myelographic features are quite characteristic. Supported by myelography and/or operative findings, surgical management consisted of decompression laminectomy at multiple levels, together with diskectomy at the appropriate levels. The interim results observed at one year follow-up examination were excellent.

Adult↗

[Iohexol in studies of the spinal canal. Multicenter study].

The author presents the results of a multicentric study of Iohexol in investigation of the spinal canal undertaken at the request of Winthrop Laboratories in 32 Radiological departments. The study involved 329 adults of both sexes. It confirmed the excellent quality of results obtained with this preparation in the literature and its excellent tolerance. On the basis of these results Iohexol may be considered to be definitely one of the best currently available preparations for investigation of the spinal canal.

Female↗