Faculty Profiles - NAKASHIMA Hiroaki

Is routine implant removal necessary after open reduction internal fixation of Lisfranc injuries? Comparing functional outcomes of routine and on-demand removal: A multicenter study Reviewed

Muto, S; Takegami, Y; Nakashima, H; Mishima, K; Kumagai, H; Imagama, S

INJURY-INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF THE CARE OF THE INJURED Vol. 56 ( 4 ) page： 112240 2025.4

Language：English Publisher：Injury

Introduction: Lisfranc joint injuries are a severe cause of disruption of foot stability and function, often requiring surgical intervention such as open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF). The necessity of routine implant removal after healing remains controversial. This study aimed to compare functional recovery and postoperative complications among patients undergoing routine, on-demand, or no implant removal following ORIF for Lisfranc fracture-dislocations. Materials and Methods: This multicenter retrospective study analyzed 188 patients treated with ORIF for Lisfranc fracture-dislocations. Patients were divided into three groups: routine removal (RR), on-demand removal (ODR), and no removal (NR). Functional outcomes were evaluated using the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) midfoot score at the final follow-up. Complications were categorized as implant-related or post-removal. AOFAS midfoot scores and complication rates were compared between the three groups. Results: The median AOFAS midfoot scores at the final follow-up were 92 (IQR 83.00–95.00) in the RR group, 95 (IQR 85.00–95.00) in the ODR group, and 95 (IQR 82.00–95.00) in the NR group, with no significant differences among the three groups (p > 0.05). Implant-related complications were comparable across the groups, although irritation was significantly more frequent in the ODR group (42.9 %) than in the RR (24.4 %) and NR (11.9 %) groups (p = 0.013). Post-removal complications occurred in two cases in the RR group, including one case of loss of correction requiring reoperation. Conclusion: Routine implant removal did not show superior outcomes in functional recovery or complication rates compared to selective removal or retention. Implant retention or selective removal based on individual needs minimizes complications and optimizes patient outcomes.

DOI： 10.1016/j.injury.2025.112240

Predicting Postoperative Neurological Outcomes in Metastatic Spinal Tumor Surgery Using Machine Learning. Reviewed

Development of a YOLOv3-Based Model for Automated Detection of Thoracic Ossification of the Posterior Longitudinal Ligament and the Ligamentum Flavum on Plain Radiographs Reviewed Open Access

Ito, S; Nakashima, H; Segi, N; Ouchida, J; Yamauchi, I; Hirai, T; Oda, M; Mori, K; Yamazaki, M; Yoshii, T; Imagama, S

JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE Vol. 14 ( 7 ) 2025.3

Language：English Publisher：Journal of Clinical Medicine

Background/Objectives: This study aims to develop and validate a YOLOv3-based deep learning model for detecting ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) and ossification of the ligamentum flavum (OLF) on lateral thoracic radiographs, improving early diagnosis and screening accessibility. Methods: A retrospective dataset of 356 lateral thoracic radiographs, including 176 with OPLL or OLF and 180 controls, was annotated by spine surgeons. The YOLOv3 model was trained using data augmentation and evaluated via five-fold cross-validation, with accuracy, precision, recall, and F1-score compared to two spine surgeons. Results: The model achieved 80.6% accuracy, 70.3% precision, 92.6% recall, and 79.9% F1-score, surpassing spine surgeons in accuracy and recall, especially for combined OPLL and OLF cases. Detection accuracy was 81.1% for OPLL, 53.3% for OLF, and 86.3% for combined cases. Conclusions: The YOLOv3-based model provides high accuracy and robust detection of OPLL and OLF on plain radiographs, offering an efficient and accessible screening tool.

DOI： 10.3390/jcm14072389

特集人工知能(AI)革命-脊椎脊髄診療の将来像は? AIによる後縦靭帯骨化症の画像診断と手術合併症リスク予測 Reviewed

伊藤定之, 中島宏彰, 世木直喜, 大内田隼, 今釜史郎

脊椎脊髄ジャーナル Vol. 38 ( 4 ) page： 229 - 233 2025.3

Clinical Outcomes Associated with Screw Loosening in S2 Alar-Iliac Fixation in Adult Spinal Deformity Reviewed Open Access

Nagatani, Y; Nakashima, H; Kanemura, T; Tsushima, M; Tomita, H; Morishita, K; Oyama, H; Ito, S; Segi, N; Ouchida, J; Yamauchi, I; Ode, Y; Okada, Y; Imagama, S

JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE Vol. 14 ( 6 ) 2025.3

Language：English Publisher：Journal of Clinical Medicine

Purpose: To explore the clinical outcomes associated with screw loosening after S2 alar-iliac (SAI) screw fixation for adult spinal deformity (ASD). Overview of the literature: SAI fixation is widely used in ASD corrective surgery; despite the biomechanical advantages of this screw, complications such as screw loosening remain a significant concern. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 27 patients undergoing corrective surgery for ASD using SAI as the distal fixation point at a single institution between February 2013 and February 2018. Patients were divided into non-loosening (N) and loosening (L) groups based on radiological evidence of screw loosening (radiolucent area of 1 mm around the screw) and compared for demographic characteristics, bone mineral density (T-score), spinal alignment parameters, and patient-reported outcome using the Japanese Orthopaedic Association Back Pain Evaluation Questionnaire (JOABPEQ) scores. Results: Screw loosening was observed in 78% of patients (n = 21/27); however, there were no statistically significant differences between the N and L groups in terms of the preoperative and 5-year postoperative JOABPEQ scores (p > 0.05 across all domains) and spinal sagittal alignment (p > 0.05). The improvements achieved through corrective surgery were largely maintained regardless of the presence of screw loosening. Conclusions: SAI screw loosening is a common sequela in ASD surgery; however, its loosening might not affect long-term clinical outcomes. Therefore, the choice of fixation should be individualized based on patient factors such as age and bone quality.

DOI： 10.3390/jcm14061881

Pelvic ring ratio: a novel indicator of comprehensive pelvic alignment assessment Open Access

Nakashima, H; Kawakami, N; Ito, S; Segi, N; Ouchida, J; Yamauchi, I; Kanemura, T; Imagama, S

ASIAN SPINE JOURNAL 2025.3

Maki S, Shiratani Y, Orita S, Suzuki A, Tamai K, Shimizu T, Kakutani K, Kanda Y, Tominaga H, Kawamura I, Ishihara M, Paku M, Takahashi Y, Funayama T, Miura K, Shirasawa E, Inoue H, Kimura A, Iimura T, Moridaira H, Nakajima H, Watanabe S, Akeda K, Takegami N, Nakanishi K, Sawada H, Matsumoto K, Funaba M, Suzuki H, Funao H, Oshigiri T, Hirai T, Otsuki B, Kobayakawa K, Uotani K, Manabe H, Tanishima S, Hashimoto K, Iwai C, Yamabe D, Hiyama A, Seki S, Kato K, Miyazaki M, Watanabe K, Nakamae T, Kaito T, Nakashima H, Nagoshi N, Inoue G, Imagama S, Watanabe K, Kato S, Ohtori S, Furuya T, JASA Study Group

Spine 2025.3

Language：English Publisher：Spine

Study Design. Retrospective analysis of data collected across multiple centers. Objective. To develop machine learning models for predicting neurological outcomes one month postoperatively in patients with metastatic spinal tumors undergoing surgery, and to identify key factors influencing neurological recovery. Summary of Background Data. The increasing prevalence of spinal metastases has led to a growing need for surgical intervention to address mechanical instability and neurological deficits. Predicting postoperative neurological status, as assessed by the Frankel classification, can provide valuable insights for surgical planning and patient counseling. Traditional prognostic models have shown limitations in capturing the complexity of neurological recovery patterns. Methods. We analyzed data from 244 patients who underwent spinal surgery for metastatic disease across 38 institutions. The primary outcome was functional ambulation, defined as Frankel grades D or E at one month postoperatively. Four machine learning algorithms (Random Forest, XGBoost, LightGBM, and CatBoost) were used to build predictive models. Feature selection employed the Boruta algorithm and Variance Inflation Factor analysis to reduce multicollinearity. Results. Among the 244 patients, the proportion of ambulatory patients (Frankel grades D or E) increased from 36.8% preoperatively to 63.1% at one month postoperatively. The Random Forest model achieved the highest area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC-ROC) of 0.8516, followed by XGBoost (0.8351), CatBoost (0.8331), and LightGBM (0.8098). SHapley Additive exPlanations analysis identified preoperative Frankel classification, transfer ability, inflammatory markers (C-reactive protein, white blood cell-lymphocyte), and surgical timing as the most important predictors of postoperative outcomes. Conclusions. Machine learning models showed strong predictive performance in assessing postoperative neurological status for patients with metastatic spinal tumors. Key factors including preoperative neurological function, functional ability, and inflammation markers significantly influenced outcomes. These findings could inform surgical decision-making and help set realistic postoperative expectations while potentially improving patient care through more accurate outcome prediction.

DOI： 10.1097/BRS.0000000000005322

Fracture of the patella involving inferior pole is associated with postoperative patella baja - A retrospective multicenter study Reviewed

Early Versus Delayed Surgery for Elderly Traumatic Cervical Spinal Injury: A Nationwide Multicenter Study in Japan Reviewed Open Access

Segi, N; Nakashima, H; Ito, S; Yokogawa, N; Sasagawa, T; Watanabe, K; Nori, S; Funayama, T; Eto, F; Nakajima, H; Terashima, Y; Hirota, R; Hashimoto, K; Onoda, Y; Furuya, T; Yunde, A; Ikegami, S; Uehara, M; Suzuki, H; Imajo, Y; Uei, H; Sawada, H; Kawaguchi, K; Nakanishi, K; Suzuki, N; Oshima, Y; Hasegawa, T; Iizuka, Y; Tonomura, H; Terai, H; Akeda, K; Seki, S; Ishihara, M; Inoue, G; Funao, H; Yoshii, T; Kaito, T; Kiyasu, K; Tominaga, H; Kakutani, K; Sakai, D; Ohba, T; Otsuki, B; Miyazaki, M; Murotani, K; Okada, S; Imagama, S; Kato, S

GLOBAL SPINE JOURNAL Vol. 15 ( 2 ) page： 1143 - 1154 2025.3

Language：English Publisher：Global Spine Journal

Study Design: Retrospective multicenter study. Objectives: The effectiveness of early surgery for cervical spinal injury (CSI) has been demonstrated. However, whether early surgery improves outcomes in the elderly remains unclear. This study investigated whether early surgery for CSI in elderly affects complication rates and neurological outcomes. Methods: This retrospective multicenter study included 462 patients. We included patients with traumatic acute cervical spinal cord injury aged ≥65 years who were treated surgically, whereas patients with American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) Impairment Scale E, those with unknown operative procedures, and those waiting for surgery for >1 month were excluded. The minimum follow-up period was 6 months. Sixty-five patients (early group, 14.1%) underwent surgical treatment within 24 hours, whereas the remaining 397 patients (85.9%) underwent surgery on a standby basis (delayed group). The propensity score-matched cohorts of 63 cases were compared. Results: Patients in the early group were significantly younger, had significantly more subaxial dislocations (and fractures), tetraplegia, significantly lower ASIA motor scores, and ambulatory abilities 6 months after injury. However, no significant differences in the rate of complications, ambulatory abilities, or ASIA Impairment Scale scores 6 months after injury were observed between the matched cohorts. At 6 months after injury, 61% of the patients in the early group (25% unsupported and 36% supported) and 53% of the patients in the delayed group (34% unsupported and 19% supported) were ambulatory. Conclusions: Early surgery is possible for CSI in elderly patients as the matched cohort reveals no significant difference in complication rates and neurological or ambulatory recovery between the early and delayed surgery groups.

DOI： 10.1177/21925682241227430

Murase, F; Takegami, Y; Tokutake, K; Oyama, H; Arakawa, O; Takatsu, T; Nakashima, H; Mishima, K; Imagama, S

JOURNAL OF ORTHOPAEDIC SCIENCE Vol. 30 ( 2 ) page： 379 - 384 2025.3

Language：English Publisher：Journal of Orthopaedic Science

Background: The patella fracture involving of inferior pole fractures (IPF) may be associated with patella baja, However, the clinical impact of this condition remains unclear. This study aims to clarify 1) the incidence of patella baja following patellar fracture surgery, 2) the associated clinical outcomes with and without the presence of patella baja, and 3) the potential correlation between the detection of IPF on CT and the occurrence of patella baja. Methods: We conducted a retrospective multicenter study involving 251 patients who underwent surgical treatment for patellar fractures. Patients were divided into the patella baja (PB; n = 49) group and patella norma (PN; n = 202) group. Data collected included demographics, radiographic findings, surgical details, and postoperative complications. We compared these items between PB group and PN group. Logistic regression analyses were used to identify risk factors for patella baja. Results: Immediately following surgery, 36 (14.3%) patients presented with patella baja which increased to 49 cases (19.5%) at six months postoperatively. There is no statistically significant difference in the demographics, surgical details, clinical outcomes and complication between PB group and PN group. While, in the radiographical assessment, the prevalence of IPF on CT scan in the patella baja group was significantly higher than that in the patella norma group. By logistic regression analysis, IPFP on CT was identified as an independent risk factor for patella baja. (odds ratio 2.11, 95% confidence interval: 1.03–4.33, p = 0.042). Conclusion: In patients with patellar fractures, the incidence of patella baja increased from 14.3% immediately post-surgery to 19.5% at the six-month check-up. No significant differences were observed in clinical outcomes between the patella baja group and the norma group. The patella fracture involving IPF on CT emerged as a predictive factor for patella baja.

DOI： 10.1016/j.jos.2024.03.008

Impact of Preoperative Motor Status for the Positive Predictive Value of Transcranial Motor-Evoked Potentials Alerts in Thoracic Spine Surgery: A Prospective Multicenter Study by the Monitoring Committee of the Japanese Society for Spine Surgery and Related Research Reviewed Open Access

Funaba, M; Kanchiku, T; Yoshida, G; Machino, M; Ushirozako, H; Kawabata, S; Ando, M; Yamada, K; Iwasaki, H; Shigematsu, H; Fujiwara, Y; Tadokoro, N; Takahashi, M; Taniguchi, S; Wada, K; Yamamoto, N; Yasuda, A; Morito, S; Hashimoto, J; Takatani, T; Kobayashi, K; Ando, K; Kurosu, K; Segi, N; Nakashima, H; Nakanishi, K; Takeshita, K; Matsuyama, Y; Imagama, S

GLOBAL SPINE JOURNAL Vol. 15 ( 2 ) page： 506 - 517 2025.3

Language：English Publisher：Global Spine Journal

Study Design: Prospective multicenter study. Objective: To investigate the validity of transcranial motor-evoked potentials (Tc-MEP) in thoracic spine surgery and evaluate the impact of specific factors associated with positive predictive value (PPV). Methods: One thousand hundred and fifty-six cases of thoracic spine surgeries were examined by comparing patient backgrounds, disease type, preoperative motor status, and Tc-MEP alert timing. Tc-MEP alerts were defined as an amplitude decrease of more than 70% from the baseline waveform. Factors were compared according to preoperative motor status and the result of Tc-MEP alerts. Factors that showed significant differences were identified by univariate and multivariate analysis. Results: Overall sensitivity was 91.9% and specificity was 88.4%. The PPV was significantly higher in the preoperative motor deficits group than in the preoperative no-motor deficits group for both high-risk (60.3% vs 38.3%) and non-high-risk surgery groups (35.1% vs 12.8%). In multivariate logistic analysis, the significant factors associated with true positive were surgical maneuvers related to ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (odds ratio = 11.88; 95% CI: 3.17–44.55), resection of intradural intramedullary spinal cord tumor (odds ratio = 8.83; 95% CI: 2.89–27), preoperative motor deficit (odds ratio = 3.46; 95% CI: 1.64–7.3) and resection of intradural extramedullary spinal cord tumor (odds ratio = 3.0; 95% CI: 1.16–7.8). The significant factor associated with false positive was non-attributable alerts (odds ratio =.28; 95% CI:.09–.85). Conclusion: Surgeons are strongly encouraged to use Tc-MEP in patients with preoperative motor deficits, regardless of whether they are undergoing high-risk spine surgery or not. Knowledge of PPV characteristics will greatly assist in effective Tc-MEP enforcement and minimize neurological complications with appropriate interventions.

DOI： 10.1177/21925682231196454

Prognosis of Cervical Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis-Related Spine Injuries in Elderly Patients: Analyses of Both Fracture and Spinal Cord Injury Without Fracture Reviewed Open Access

Segi, N; Nakashima, H; Machino, M; Ito, S; Yokogawa, N; Sasagawa, T; Funayama, T; Eto, F; Yamaji, A; Watanabe, K; Nori, S; Takeda, K; Furuya, T; Yunde, A; Nakajima, H; Yamada, T; Hasegawa, T; Terashima, Y; Hirota, R; Suzuki, H; Imajo, Y; Ikegami, S; Uehara, M; Tonomura, H; Sakata, M; Hashimoto, K; Onoda, Y; Kawaguchi, K; Haruta, Y; Suzuki, N; Kato, K; Uei, H; Sawada, H; Nakanishi, K; Misaki, K; Terai, H; Tamai, K; Shirasawa, E; Inoue, G; Kakutani, K; Kakiuchi, Y; Iizuka, Y; Takasawa, E; Akeda, K; Takegami, N; Kiyasu, K; Tominaga, H; Tokumoto, H; Funao, H; Oshima, Y; Yoshii, T; Kaito, T; Sakai, D; Ohba, T; Seki, S; Otsuki, B; Ishihara, M; Miyazaki, M; Okada, S; Imagama, S; Kato, S

GLOBAL SPINE JOURNAL Vol. 15 ( 2 ) page： 321 - 331 2025.3

Language：English Publisher：Global Spine Journal

Study Design: Retrospective multicenter study. Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare the prognosis of elderly patients with injuries related to cervical diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (cDISH) to matched control for each group, with and without fractures. Methods: The current multicenter study was a retrospective analysis of 140 patients aged 65 years or older with cDISH-related cervical spine injuries; 106 fractures and 34 spinal cord injuries without fracture were identified. Propensity score–matched cohorts from 1363 patients without cDISH were generated and compared. Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the risk of early mortality for patients with cDISH-related injury. Results: Patients with cDISH-related injuries with fracture did not differ significantly in the incidence of each complication and ambulation or severity of paralysis compared to matched controls. In patients with cDISH-related injury without fracture, those who were nonambulatory at discharge comprised 55% vs 34% of controls, indicating significantly poorer ambulation in those with cDISH-related injuries (P =.023). There was no significant difference in the incidence of complications and ambulation or paralysis severity at 6 months as compared with controls. Fourteen patients died within 3 months. Logistic regression analysis identified complete paralysis (odds ratio [OR] 36.99) and age (OR 1.24) as significant risk factors for mortality. Conclusions: The current study showed no significant differences in the incidence of complications, ambulation outcomes between patients with cDISH-related injury with fracture and matched controls, and that the ambulation at discharge for patients with cDISH-related injury without fractures were significantly inferior to those of matched controls.

DOI： 10.1177/21925682231186757

Hangman's Fracture in Geriatric Population: A Nationwide Multicenter Study in Japan Reviewed Open Access

Yunde, A; Furuya, T; Orita, S; Ohtori, S; Yokogawa, N; Nakashima, H; Segi, N; Funayama, T; Ikegami, S; Nakajima, H; Watanabe, K; Hasegawa, T; Tonomura, H; Terashima, Y; Hashimoto, K; Suzuki, N; Uei, H; Kiyasu, K; Tominaga, H; Sakai, D; Kaito, T; Inoue, G; Okada, S; Imagama, S; Kato, S

GLOBAL SPINE JOURNAL Vol. 15 ( 2 ) page： 921 - 929 2025.3

Publisher：Global Spine Journal

Study Design: Retrospective multicenter study. Objectives: To investigate the treatments of the geriatric population with hangman’s fractures using a multicenter database under the Japan Association of Spine Surgeons with Ambition (JASA). Methods: The multicenter database included data from 1512 patients. We employed the Levine and Edwards classification for categorizing hangman’s fractures. The study incorporated epidemiological data, including the prevalence of hangman’s fractures, patient age, and follow-up duration. Bony fusion rates and length of hospitalization were recorded for Type I and Type II fractures, and the degree of neurological impairment was assessed. Results: Hangman’s fractures represented 62 cases, accounting for 7.4% of all cervical spine injuries. The patients had an average age of 76.6 ± 6.5 years, and the mean duration of follow-up was 21.5 ± 23.6 months. The study found that the bony fusion rate for hangman’s fractures in the geriatric population was 88.9%. Surgical treatment was associated with a shorter hospitalization period for Type II fractures compared to conservative treatment. Thirteen cases of hangman’s fractures in the geriatric population, accounting for 21%, were complicated by spinal cord injury. Conclusions: This is the largest study to date on hangman’s fractures in geriatric population ≥65 years. Type I and Type II fractures, according to the Levine and Edwards classification, had a bony fusion rate of up to 90%. In patients with Type II fractures, surgical treatment led to a shorter initial hospital stay. Geriatric patients are at risk of spinal cord injury due to hangman’s fractures.

DOI： 10.1177/21925682231216925

Impact of Fixation Length for Single-Level Spinal Metastasis Surgery in the Elderly: A Multicenter Study. Reviewed Open Access

Ito H, Takegami Y, Nakashima H, Mishima K, Yamauchi K, Imagama S

Cureus Vol. 17 ( 3 ) page： e80886 2025.3

Impact of Paraspinal Muscle Degeneration on Surgical Outcomes and Radiographical Sagittal Alignment in Adult Spinal Deformity: A Multicenter Study Reviewed Open Access

Ouchida, J; Morita, Y; Ito, S; Segi, N; Yamauchi, I; Kanemura, T; Ohara, T; Tsuji, T; Shinjyo, R; Imagama, S; Nakashima, H

NEUROSPINE Vol. 22 ( 1 ) page： 30 - 37 2025.3

Language：English Publisher：Neurospine

Objective: This multicenter study aimed to evaluate the impact of paravertebral muscles (PVMs) degeneration, particularly fat infiltration, on preoperative sagittal imbalance, and postoperative complications and sagittal alignment change in patients with adult spinal deformity (ASD). Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 454 patients who underwent ASD surgery across 5 institutions. Patients were classified into 2 groups based on paraspinal muscle fat infiltration on MRI: those with significant infiltration (FI-PVM(+)) and those with minimal or no infiltration (FI-PVM(-)). Propensity score matching was performed to adjust for demographic factors and preoperative radiographical parameters. Spinopelvic parameters were assessed preoperatively, postoperatively, and at a 2-year follow-up. Mechanical complications were compared between the groups. Results: The FI-PVM(+) group showed greater sagittal vertical axis (86.4 ± 57.5 vs. 51.8 ± 59.2, p < 0.001) preoperatively and required more extensive surgical correction with a significantly greater number of fused vertebral levels (7.3 ± 3.7 vs. 6.7 ± 3.7, p < 0.039). After propensity score matching, both groups showed significant improvement in spinopelvic alignment postoperatively, maintained throughout the 2-year follow-up. However, the FI-PVM(+) group demonstrated a trend toward a higher incidence of distal junctional kyphosis (6.3% vs. 0.9%, p = 0.070) and exhibited significantly greater decrease in pelvic tilt postoperatively (4.3° ± 7.6° vs. 1.3° ± 8.2°, p = 0.006). Conclusion: Fat infiltration in PVM is associated with increased surgical complexity and a higher risk of mechanical complications. Preoperative assessment of muscle quality, along with targeted rehabilitation and closer postoperative monitoring, may be crucial for improving long-term outcomes in ASD surgery.

DOI： 10.14245/ns.2550248.124

特集これだけは避けたい! 脊椎脊髄手術の重篤な合併症とその対策胸椎OPLLに伴う脊髄障害 Reviewed

伊藤定之, 中島宏彰, 世木直喜, 大内田隼, 今釜史郎

脊椎脊髄ジャーナル Vol. 38 ( 3 ) page： 147 - 154 2025.2

Risk factors for residual neuropathic pain using specific screening tools in postoperative patients with ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament of the cervical spine Reviewed

Ikeda, S; Miyagi, M; Inoue, G; Yoshii, T; Egawa, S; Sakai, K; Takahata, M; Endo, T; Tsutsui, S; Koda, M; Takahashi, H; Kato, S; Mori, K; Nakajima, H; Furuya, T; Maki, S; Kawaguchi, Y; Nishida, N; Kusano, K; Nakashima, H; Yokozeki, Y; Takaso, M; Yamazaki, M

EUROPEAN SPINE JOURNAL 2025.2

Language：English Publisher：European Spine Journal

Purpose: Ageing, long illness duration, and poor preoperative Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score were reported to be risk factors for residual pain after cervical ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (cOPLL). In this study, we focused on residual neuropathic pain (NeP) and aimed to elucidate risk factors for residual NeP after cOPLL. Methods: Total of 234 patients who underwent cOPLL surgery were included. NeP was evaluated using painDETECT (PDQ) and Spine painDETECT (SPDQ) questionnaires. Score of ≥ 13 / ≥ 0 was defined as NeP for PDQ/SPDQ. Patient backgrounds factors, preoperative radiographic factors and surgical factors were reviewed, and comparisons between the NeP(+) and NeP(−) groups were made. Independent risk factors for residual NeP were evaluated using multiple logistic regression analysis. Results: Prevalence of residual NeP after cOPLL was 22.6% on PDQ and 55.1% on SPDQ. Preoperative JOA score was significantly lower in the NeP(+) group for PDQ compared with that in the NeP(−) group. Additionally, cervical lordosis angle was significantly lower in the NeP(+) group for SPDQ compared with that in the NeP(−) group. Following multiple logistic regression analysis, poor preoperative JOA score was identified as a risk factor for NeP on the PDQ. Poor preoperative JOA score and low cervical lordosis angle were identified as risk factors using the SPDQ. Conclusions: We found high prevalence of residual NeP after cOPLL. Patients with a poor preoperative JOA score and low cervical lordosis angle might be at risk for residual NeP after surgery evaluated by PDQ or SPDQ and should be monitored with greater care after surgery.

DOI： 10.1007/s00586-025-08722-2

A deep learning-based prediction model for prognosis of cervical spine injury: a Japanese multicenter survey Reviewed

Ito, S; Nakashima, H; Segi, N; Yokogawa, N; Sasagawa, T; Funayama, T; Eto, F; Yamaji, A; Watanabe, K; Nori, S; Takeda, K; Furuya, T; Yunde, A; Nakajima, H; Yamada, T; Hasegawa, T; Terashima, Y; Hirota, R; Suzuki, H; Imajo, Y; Ikegami, S; Uehara, M; Tonomura, H; Sakata, M; Hashimoto, K; Onoda, Y; Kawaguchi, K; Haruta, Y; Suzuki, N; Kato, K; Uei, H; Sawada, H; Nakanishi, K; Misaki, K; Terai, H; Tamai, K; Kuroda, A; Inoue, G; Kakutani, K; Kakiuchi, Y; Kiyasu, K; Tominaga, H; Tokumoto, H; Iizuka, Y; Takasawa, E; Akeda, K; Takegami, N; Funao, H; Oshima, Y; Kaito, T; Sakai, D; Yoshii, T; Ohba, T; Otsuki, B; Seki, S; Miyazaki, M; Ishihara, M; Oda, M; Okada, S; Imagama, S; Kato, S

EUROPEAN SPINE JOURNAL 2025.2

Language：English Publisher：European Spine Journal

Purpose: Cervical spine injuries in the elderly (defined as individuals aged 65 years and older) are increasing, often resulting from falls and minor trauma. Prognosis varies widely, influenced by multiple factors. This study aimed to develop a deep-learning–based predictive model for post-injury outcomes. Methods: This study analyzed a nationwide dataset from the Japan Association of Spine Surgeons with Ambition, comprising 1512 elderly patients (aged 65 years and older) with cervical spine injuries from 2010 to 2020. Deep learning predictive models were constructed for residence, mobility, and the American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale (AIS). The model’s performance was compared with that of a traditional statistical analysis. Results: The deep-learning model predicted the residence and AIS outcomes with varying accuracies. The highest accuracy was observed in predicting residence one year post-injury. The model also identified that the AIS score at discharge was significantly predicted by upper extremity trauma, mobility, and elbow extension strength. The deep learning model highlighted factors, such as upper extremity trauma, that were not considered significant in the traditional statistical analysis. Conclusion: Our deep learning-based model offers a novel method for predicting outcomes following cervical spine injuries in the elderly population. The model is highly accurate and provides additional insights into potential prognostic factors. Such models can improve patient care and individualize future interventions.

DOI： 10.1007/s00586-025-08708-0