Nihon Seikeigeka Gakkai zasshi
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Nippon Seikeigeka Gakkai Zasshi · Dec 1983
[Histopathological study of aging of the posterior portion of human cervical vertebral bodies and discs--with special reference to the early ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament].
Ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament ( OPLL ) of the cervical spine is a disease causing spinal canal stenosis and, henceforth , spinal cord compression. This ossification is found approximately in three percent of the adult Japanese, but it is also found to be present among Chinese, Korean and other South-East Asians, whereas the incidence among Caucasians was reported to be significantly low. The etiology of this interesting ossification is still unknown although multidisciplinary studies have been carried out in Japan in recent years. The purpose of the present study is to find an early ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament of the cervical spine and to see its relationship with other chronological changes of the surrounding structures. ⋯ There were specimens after the third decade of life showing micro-ossification along the midline of the posterior aspect of the vertebral body on cross-section as well as micro-ossification or hyperostosis adjacent to the posterior corner of the vertebral body on sagittal section. These micro-ossification or hyperostosis seemed to be a product of a physiological aging process, but could be considered as a precursor of the OPLL . The periosteum was well demonstrated on the posterior aspect of the vertebral body in the first two decades of life, but it became inconspicuous with age. In the adult spine there was no clear delineation between the deep layer of the posterior longitudinal ligament and the fibrous layer of the periosteum . The cambium layer looked absent on hematoxylin-eosin stain. However, on Giemsa stain there appeared a thin layer which would present increased cellular activity between the body and what appeared to be the fibrous layer of the periosteal. This layer was considered to be a 'sleeping cambium layer' for which it was named 'latent periostium layer (LPL)'.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
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Nippon Seikeigeka Gakkai Zasshi · Nov 1982
[Monitoring of the spinal cord function using evoked spinal cord potentials].
Monitoring of the spinal cord function by evoked spinal cord potentials (ESP) has come to be used widely with the establishment of a safe technique using an epidural electrode and the great improvement in medical electronic devices. According to other investigations ESP has been recorded through an electrode placed in the posterior epidural space, it is well known that residual ESP can be actually recorded after transection of the posterior half of the spinal cord and that ESP shows no change after a small transection of the anterior column. If ESP originating from the anterior half of the spinal cord is recorded, it is very useful for monitoring during anterior decompression surgery for myelopathy such as ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament and cervical spondylosis. ⋯ Recording electrodes were placed on both the anterior and posterior surfaces of the dura mater at C2. As the result of this study, it is apparent that there exists the ESP originating from the anterior half of the spinal cord. Such ESPs are more accurately recorded through an anterior placed electrode rather than through that placed posteriorly.
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Nippon Seikeigeka Gakkai Zasshi · Jul 1981
[Roentgenological measurement of the cervical vertebral bodies in ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) and cervical spondylosis (CS) (author's transl)].
Many studies of the pathogenesis of ossification of posterior longitudinal ligaments (OPLL) have been reported, and both general and local factors have been pointed out. In case a longitudinal ligament is affected by both the general and local OPLL factors for many years, the shape and size of the cervical vertebral bodies and the arrangement of the cervical spinal column might be affected. The relation between OPLL and disc degeneration, the morphology of the facet joint and the change of longitudinal ligament tension has been reported by many authors. ⋯ The antero-posterior diameter of cervical spinal canal of OPLL was narrower than CS group. The above data indicate the following: 1) With advance in age, cervical vertebral bodies become lower and wider. 2) The cervical vertebral body of OPLL is taller and wider than that of CS. 3) The level of OPLL and the type of OPLL have a relation to the height of cervical vertebral body. 4) The cervical vertebral bodies which have OPLL are wider than non-OPLL. But the level and the type of OPLL have no relation with the A-P diameter of the cervical vertebral body.
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Nippon Seikeigeka Gakkai Zasshi · Apr 1981
[Histopathological findings of the ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament of the cervical spine and their significance (author's transl)].
Characteristics features of the histopathological findings of the ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) of the cervical spine are as follows: 1. In the segmental type of OPLL, the ossification of fibers usually initiates near the posterior border of the vertebral body and in those fibers which attach to the edge of the vertebral body. 2. ⋯ In association with OPLL, especially in the hyperostotic type, other paraspinal soft tissues may exhibit proliferation of the cartilage cells with or without ossification, implying the presence of ossifying tendency of the whole body. Of these tissues, the periosteum, the annulus fibrosus and/or the dura mater demonstrate proliferating changes in direct contact with OPLL, and the involvement of the periosteum precedes the other changes including OPLL, suggesting some influence from the vertebral side over the ossifying process of the paraspinal soft tissues.
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Nippon Seikeigeka Gakkai Zasshi · Feb 1981
Diagnosis and operative treatment for the brachial plexus injury.
It is shown that the electrophysiological diagnosis of brachial plexus injury is becoming more precise than ever. The intraoperative use of electrodiagnosis especially aids the obtaining of better results for brachial plexus injuries. ⋯ Protective sensation was achieved in almost all cases by intercostal nerve transfer. When nerve grafting was undertaken, functional motor restoration was regained in the upper arm muscles in one case, but not in the forearm.