A cervicogenic headache (CEH) is difficult to diagnose due to its varied pathology. We evaluated the usefulness of single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT) in diagnosing CEH and its interventional treatment. Retrospectively, 23 patients diagnosed with CEH between March 2016 to August 2018 were allocated to SPECT/CT (n = 11) and control (n = 12) groups. The SPECT/CT group was further stratified into SPECT/CT(+) and SPECT/CT(-) groups according to the presence of positive findings. Patients in the SPECT/CT group underwent an intra-articular injection at a radiologically verified lesion site, whereas those in the control group underwent third occipital nerve block. Clinical outcomes were evaluated with the visual analog scale (VAS), neck disability index (NDI), and global perceived effect (GPE) scale at baseline, and at one, three, and six months postoperatively. The SPECT/CT group showed less VAS, NDI, and GPE scores at six months postoperatively (2.91 ± 2.30 vs. 4.42 ± 1.62, p = 0.08; 38.00 ± 16.54 vs. 48.7 ± 12.40, p = 0.093; 2.00 ± 1.41 vs. 3.17 ± 1.11, p = 0.039). Successful responders at six months postoperatively were higher in the SPECT/CT(+) group than in the control group (75% vs. 0%). SPECT/CT can identify arthritic changes and accurately define therapeutic targets.

Objective: This study aimed to determine whether preoperative frailty assessed using the five-item modified frailty index (mFI-5) in patients undergoing posterior lumbar interbody fusion for lumbar spinal stenosis can predict poor patient outcomes.Methods: We retrospectively included 192 patients aged 18 years or older who were diagnosed with lumbar spinal stenosis and underwent posterior lumbar interbody fusion at a single hospital between March 2009 and February 2021. We calculated mFI-5 scores for these patients based on the following five comorbidities: (1) hypertension requiring medication, (2) diabetes mellitus, (3) history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or pneumonia, (4) history of congestive heart failure in the 30 days before surgery, and (5) partially or totally dependent functional health status at the time of surgery. The patients were categorized into three groups according to their mFI-5 scores, and these groups were analyzed. A P<0.05 was considered statistically significant in all analyses.Results: Length of hospital stay (LOS) was significantly associated with mFI-5 score (β=0.196, P=0.008), age (β=0.112, P=0.159), and surgical level (β=0.238, P<0.001). In patients with fusion at one or two levels, mFI-5 score showed the greatest association with LOS (β=0.188, P=0.016), followed by sex (β=0.137, P=0.065) and the number of fused segments (β=0.137, P=0.065).Conclusion: Frailty may not be an independent predictor, but it has significant predictive power for LOS in patients undergoing posterior lumbar interbody fusion for lumbar spinal stenosis, especially in patients undergoing fusion at one or two levels.

Idiopathic hypertrophic spinal pachymeningitis (IHSP) is a rare condition characterized by chronic progressive diffuse inflammatory fibrosis in the dura mater of the spinal cord. Depending on its extent or severity, IHSP may cause symptoms by compressing the spinal cord. We present a case of IHSP across the cervical dura mater in a 78-year-old male patient. The patient visited the emergency department for right shoulder pain a month before admission, weakness in the right upper extremity a week before admission, and sudden quadriparesis on the day of admission. A neurological examination of the motor power of the extremities indicated grade IV quadriparesis and grade I hand grasp power in both hands. Hypoesthesia under the T1 dermatome was evaluated. Cervical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with gadolinium enhancement showed diffuse thickening of the anterior and posterior dura through the C2 to C5 levels, causing central canal stenosis and compressive myelopathy. Immediate decompressive laminoplasty was performed. A biopsy specimen of the thickened dura mater was obtained during surgery, and IHSP was diagnosed on the basis of the results of the pathological examination. High-dose steroid therapy was administered after decompressive surgery, and follow-up MRI showed radiological improvement in the lesion area.