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| EDITORIAL |
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| Year : 2022 | Volume
: 13
| Issue : 4 | Page : 365-367 |
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Is evidence of bone “formation” and “fusion” in the spinal segment an evidence of segmental spinal instability?
Atul Goel
Department of Neurosurgery, Lilavati Hospital and Research Center; Department of Neurosurgery, RN Cooper Hospital and Medical College; Department of Neurosurgery, Bombay Hospital Institute of Medical Sciences, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
| Date of Submission | 13-Nov-2022 |
| Date of Acceptance | 18-Nov-2022 |
| Date of Web Publication | 7-Dec-2022 |
Correspondence Address:
Atul Goel
Department of Neurosurgery, Lilavati Hospital and Research Center, Bandra, Mumbai - 400 050, Maharashtra
India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/jcvjs.jcvjs_139_22
How to cite this article:
Goel A. Is evidence of bone “formation” and “fusion” in the spinal segment an evidence of segmental spinal instability?. J Craniovert Jun Spine 2022;13:365-7 |
How to cite this URL:
Goel A. Is evidence of bone “formation” and “fusion” in the spinal segment an evidence of segmental spinal instability?. J Craniovert Jun Spine [serial online] 2022 [cited 2023 Jun 1];13:365-7. Available from: https://www.jcvjs.com/text.asp?2022/13/4/365/362882 |
Chronic or longstanding spinal instability induces a range of naturally “protective” maneuvers; all focused to stall, delay or avoid neurological manifestations or deficits and in the long run are helpful for human function and life. Chronic or longstanding facetal instability related to weakness of the muscles that partake in standing human posture is the point of genesis of a number of clinical issues in the craniovertebral junction and in the subaxial spine. The major bulk of the muscles has fulcrum of their activity at the facetal articulation. The muscle weakness is expressed at the facetal articulation in the form of manifest or potential listhesis.[1] Chronic instability is usually subtle and may not be identified on dynamic radiological imaging. Chronic instability is usually of “central” or “axial” variety in the atlantoaxial joint and is of “vertical” variety in the subaxial spine.[1],[2],[3],[4] In the subaxial spine, spinal degeneration or spinal spondylosis is a manifestation of chronic vertical spinal instability.[1] Such spinal degeneration can be at a single level or multiple levels and in the cervical spine is frequently associated with atlantoaxial instability.[5] The clinical manifestations of chronic instability are generally relentlessly progressive and ultimately disabling. Understanding the fact that acute or chronic instability is the cause of radiculopathy and/or myelopathy can have significant clinical implications.
Our earlier articles identify a variety of neural, spinal structural, and musculoskeletal alterations initiated and propelled by chronic or longstanding atlantoaxial instability. Basilar invagination, Chiari formation, Klippel-Feil alterations, assimilation of atlas, C2-3 fusion, platybasia, retro-odontoid pseudotumor, retro-odontoid pannus, and several other generally considered pathological clinical entities are in fact secondary natural response to atlantoaxial instability, are protective in their function and are potentially reversible following atlantoaxial stabilization.[6],[7],[8],[9] In the presence of chronic atlantoaxial instability, the alterations can apparently be self-destructive like syringomyelia, usually are in close vicinity of site of instability such as assimilation of atlas, C2-3 fusion, os-odontoideum, and bifid arches of atlas and axis and can even have remote structural manifestations such as dorsal kyphoscoliosis.[9],[10],[11],[12],[13] All these listed entities are radiologically evident, appear to be pathologically neural compressive and are generally treated as primary disorder by surgery, i.e., “decompressive” in nature. Our concept is that atlantoaxial instability may not be evident on radiological imaging but can be identified by its secondary manifestations. The treatment is essentially directed at the primary or the nodal point of pathogenesis. Atlantoaxial fixation rather than any form of decompressive surgery is necessary and optimal form of surgical treatment (give that image of craniovertebral junction osteophytes/bone formation at spinal ligament).
Disc space reduction, disc bulge into the spinal canal, osteophyte formation, buckling of the interspinal ligaments that include posterior longitudinal ligament and ligamentum flavum all leading to reduction in the spinal canal and neural foraminal dimensions or in spinal canal “stenosis” are secondary to vertical instability, are protective in their function and are potentially reversible following stabilization of the affected spinal segments. All these listed manifestations present an image of neural compression and “decompression” of the compressing elements has been identified to be the surgical treatment. In contrast, on the basis of the concept that instability is the nodal point of pathogenesis, we have recommended only stabilization or fixation as a mode of surgical treatment.[14],[15],[16],[17],[18],[19] “Decompression” by resection of bone and soft tissue elements in an unstable spinal situation can have negative clinical implications.
Evidence of bone fusion in a spinal segment include osteophyte formation in the inter-vertebral bones more commonly posterior and anterior to the vertebral bodies. Other evidence of bone fusion are along the facetal articulation and in the region of the disc space. In our opinion, ossification of posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) is also secondary to spinal instability, has a naturally protective function and is indicative of spinal instability.
The presence of “abnormal” bone fragments (osteophytes, bone fusions, and OPLL), excessive fluid content (syringomyelia or external syringomyelia), or “abnormal” fat content as in Hirayama disease are indicators of unstable spinal segment/s and indicate the need for spinal stabilization.[20],[21],[22],[23]
On magnetic resonance imaging, the “abnormal” bone formation in general and osteophytes, in particular, appear as neural compressive and direct resection and decompression of the neural structures is the universally accepted treatment. Our several related articles suggest that “abnormal” bone formation and “abnormal” fusion are secondary to chronic or longstanding spinal instability, have a neural “protective” function and are reversible following surgery that involves spinal stabilization.[21] Bone fusion along the facets is often flimsy and weak. The formed bone is usually of soft, fragile, and gritty nature and can be relatively easily broken. Once the bone bridge is removed the abnormal mobility of the facetal articulation can be appreciated. Identification of the levels of spinal instability and stabilization is the treatment. Any kind of direct resection of the osteophytes or indirect decompression by laminectomy or laminoplasty can have negative connotations.
Longstanding instability ultimately leads to vertebral segmental fusion. It is crucial to identify if bone fusion is “complete” or final or is “incomplete” and in formative stages. While complete fusion “might” be ignored, incomplete fusion is an evidence of local spinal instability and when the patient has corroborative neurological symptoms he/she will need stabilization. The identification of unstable spinal segments is the key issue. Apart from clinical parameters and radiological guides, direct visual inspection and manual manipulation of the bones of adjoining facetal articulation will determine the spinal levels that need stabilization.
 References | |  |
| 1. | Goel A. Vertical facetal instability: Is it the point of genesis of spinal spondylotic disease? J Craniovertebr Junction Spine 2015;6:47-8.  |
| 2. | Goel A. Goel's classification of atlantoaxial “facetal” dislocation. J Craniovertebr Junction Spine 2014;5:3-8. |
| 3. | Goel A. Central or axial atlantoaxial instability: Expanding understanding of craniovertebral junction. J Craniovertebr Junction Spine 2016;7:1-3. |
| 4. | Goel A. A review of a new clinical entity of 'central atlantoaxial instability': Expanding horizons of craniovertebral junction surgery. Neurospine 2019;16:186-94. |
| 5. | Goel A. Role of subaxial spinal and atlantoaxial instability in multisegmental cervical spondylotic myelopathy. Acta Neurochir Suppl 2019;125:71-8. |
| 6. | Goel A, Shah A. Reversal of longstanding musculoskeletal changes in basilar invagination after surgical decompression and stabilization. J Neurosurg Spine 2009;10:220-7. |
| 7. | Goel A, Sathe P, Shah A. Atlantoaxial fixation for basilar invagination without obvious atlantoaxial instability (Group B basilar invagination): Outcome analysis of 63 surgically treated cases. World Neurosurg 2017;99:164-70. |
| 8. | Goel A, Darji H, Shah A, Prasad A, Hawaldar A. Retro-odontoid and retro-C2 body pseudotumor, pannus, and/or cyst. A study based on analysis of 63 cases. World Neurosurg 2021;151:e170-7. |
| 9. | Goel A, Jadhav D, Shah A, Rai S, Dandpat S, Vutha R, et al. Chiari 1 formation redefined-clinical and radiographic observations in 388 surgically treated patients. World Neurosurg 2020;141:e921-34. |
| 10. | Goel A, Patil A, Shah A, Dandpat S, Rai S, Ranjan S. Os odontoideum: Analysis of 190 surgically treated cases. World Neurosurg 2020;134:e512-23. |
| 11. | Goel A, Nadkarni T, Shah A, Ramdasi R, Patni N. Bifid anterior and posterior arches of atlas: Surgical implication and analysis of 70 cases. Neurosurgery 2015;77:296-305. |
| 12. | Goel A, Vutha R, Shah A, Dharurkar P, Jadhav N, Jadhav D. Spinal kyphoscoliosis associated with Chiari formation and syringomyelia 'recovery' following atlantoaxial fixation: A Preliminary Report and Early Results Based on Experience with 11 Surgically Treated Cases. World Neurosurg 2019;125:e937-46. |
| 13. | Shah A, Sathe P, Patil M, Goel A. Treatment of “idiopathic” syrinx by atlantoaxial fixation: Report of an experience with nine cases. J Craniovertebr Junction Spine 2017;8:15-21. |
| 14. | Goel A. Facet distraction spacers for treatment of degenerative disease of the spine: Rationale and an alternative hypothesis of spinal degeneration. J Craniovertebr Junction Spine 2010;1:65-6. |
| 15. | Goel A. Facet distraction-arthrodesis technique: Can it revolutionize spinal stabilization methods? J Craniovertebr Junction Spine 2011;2:1-2. |
| 16. | Goel A, Shah A. Facetal distraction as treatment for single and multilevel cervical spondylotic radiculopathy and myelopathy: A preliminary report. J Neurosurg Spine 2011;14:689-96. |
| 17. | Goel A, Shah A, Jadhav M, Nama S. Distraction of facets with intraarticular spacers as treatment for lumbar canal stenosis: Report on a preliminary experience with 21 cases. J Neurosurg Spine 2013;19:672-7. |
| 18. | Goel A. 'Only fixation' as rationale treatment for spinal canal stenosis. J Craniovertebr Junction Spine 2011;2:55-6. |
| 19. | Goel A, Dandpat S, Shah A, Rai S, Vutha R. Muscle weakness-related spinal instability is the cause of cervical spinal degeneration and spinal stabilization is the treatment: An experience with 215 cases surgically treated over 7 years. World Neurosurg 2020;140:614-21. |
| 20. | Goel A, Vaja T, Shah A, Rai S, Dandpat S, Vutha R, et al. Outcome of osteophytes after only-fixation as treatment for multilevel cervical spondylosis – A minimum of 12 months follow-up. World Neurosurg 2021;146:e876-87. |
| 21. | Goel A, Grasso G, Shah A, Rai S, Dandpat S, Vaja T, et al. “Only spinal fixation” as surgical treatment of cervical myelopathy related to ossified posterior longitudinal ligament: Review of 52 cases. World Neurosurg 2020;140:556-63. |
| 22. | Goel A. External syringomyelia – Is it an evidence of focal spinal instability? J Craniovertebr Junction Spine 2022;13:221-3. |
| 23. | Goel A, Dhar A, Shah A. Multilevel spinal stabilization as a treatment for Hirayama disease: Report of an experience with five cases. World Neurosurg 2017;99:186-91. |
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