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Journal of Craniovertebral Junction and Spine
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ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Year : 2018  |  Volume : 9  |  Issue : 2  |  Page : 83-86  

Interlaminar lumbar device implantation in treatment of Baastrup disease (kissing spine)


1 Department of Neurosurgery, Centre Clinical, Chirurgie De Rachis, Soyaux, France
2 Department of Neurosurgery, Neurosurgical Clinic of Dr. Gharaei, Tehran, Iran
3 Department of Neurosurgery, Werner Forssmann Hospital, Academic Hospital of Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany

Date of Web Publication19-Jun-2018

Correspondence Address:
Dr. Keyvan Mostofi
Department of Neurosurgery, Centre Clinical, Chirurgie De Rachis, Soyaux
France
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Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None


DOI: 10.4103/jcvjs.JCVJS_139_17

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   Abstract 

Background: Baastrup disease (BD) is characterized by the degenerative changes of spinous processes and interspinous soft tissues. It is more common among aged persons. This disorder is a relatively common cause of low back pain. Its incidence is underestimated. A few studies have investigated BD epidemiology and proposed treatment efficacy. The aim of this paper is to establish impact and outcome evaluations of managing the patients with Baastrup disease who have been treated by implementing of floating interlaminar device (FID).
Materials and Methods: Between January 2015 and September 2017, 47 patients have been operated by implementing of FID for BD in our Department of Neurosurgery.
Results: Of the 47 patients, 20 were female and 27 were male with an average age of 51.78. On average, we followed the cases up to 11 months. The most frequent level of disorder was L4–L5 followed by L3–L4 level. The condition of 45 patients improved after surgery according to Oswestry low back pain score and 39 patients could return to their work.
Conclusion: The results from our study corroborate that implementing of FID is a good alternative treatment for patient chronic low back pain due to BD This technique contributes to improving a better living situation for the patients given the correct indications.

Keywords: Baastrup disease, degenerative lumbar spine disease, low back pain


How to cite this article:
Mostofi K, Moghadam BG, Peyravi M. Interlaminar lumbar device implantation in treatment of Baastrup disease (kissing spine). J Craniovert Jun Spine 2018;9:83-6

How to cite this URL:
Mostofi K, Moghadam BG, Peyravi M. Interlaminar lumbar device implantation in treatment of Baastrup disease (kissing spine). J Craniovert Jun Spine [serial online] 2018 [cited 2023 Jun 6];9:83-6. Available from: https://www.jcvjs.com/text.asp?2018/9/2/83/234733


   Introduction Top


Baastrup disease (BD) is characterized clinically by low back pain that worsens during extension and improves during flexion, excessive lordosis, painful rotation and lateral flexion, and painful palpation at the level of pathologic interspinous ligaments. It is branded radiologically by abnormal closeness and contact between adjacent spinous processes (=kissing spine), flattening and enlargement of the articular surfaces, bursitis, sclerosis, and epidural cystic lesions [Figure 1] and [Figure 2]. A few studies have investigated BD epidemiology. One of the rare studies containing a considerable number of the patients demonstrated a prevalence of 41% in 1008 patients.[1] Maes et al. found a prevalence of 8.2% in 539 patients.[2] The effect of sex, age, and ethnic and hereditary distribution is unknown. Despite the lack of sufficient epidemiological data, most authors agreed that BD is a relatively common disorder of the spine. The BD is usually underdiagnosed running to little effective treatment or mistreatment.
Figure 1: Magnetic resonance imaging, sagittal, illustrating close approximation lumbar adjacent spinous processes at the levels of L3–L4 and L4–L5 and edema at the interspinous ligament

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Figure 2: Magnetic resonance imaging, sagittal, illustrating an advanced case of Baastrup disease with sclerosis at the three last level of the lumbar spine

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A few reports have been found in literature about management of BD and its effectiveness. Medical management consists of localized injections of analgesics or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Proposed surgical treatments consist of excision of the bursa, removal of the spinous process, or osteotomy. Positive results have been reported by injection of steroid and local anesthesia into the interspinous ligaments.[3] Some surgeons proposed interlaminar stabilization devices. Recently, some surgeons, including the authors, use floating interlaminar device (FID) for management of BD.[4],[5],[6] But as far as we know, no studies have been conducted in medical literature to determine the effectiveness of this technic. This paper attempts to evaluate the efficiency of implantation of FID and reports author's experience for the treatment of BD.


   Materials and Methods Top


The study was performed at the Department of Neurosurgery in “Centre Clinical de Soyaux” in France. Between January 2015 and September 2017, 47 patients (27 males and 20 females) have been operated by implementing of FID for the treatment of BD. The patient who had other disorders such as disk herniation or lumbar spine stenosis were not included in the study. BD is diagnosed if computed tomography (CT) scan or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the patient shows close approximation or touching lumbar adjacent spinous processes. The latter was considered as necessary and sufficient condition for the diagnosis of BD. Flattening of the articulating surfaces and reactive sclerosis of apposing interspinous surfaces are considered as further signs. Patients had an average age of 51.78 year (40–79). The average length of pain was 13.9 months (5–32). In all patients, MRI and CT scan were performed. Patients were evaluated at least twice during the preoperative period. They were examined clinically at 4 and 12 weeks postoperatively and evaluated with a visual analog scale (VAS) ranging from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst pain imaginable) and with the Oswestry disability index (ODI), which ranges from 0 to 100. All patients underwent X-ray imaging of the lumbar spine on week 6 postoperatively.


   Results Top


All patients responded to the VAS and the ODI before, during the immediate preoperative period, and 4 and 12 weeks after surgery. [Table 1] summarizes the results of this evaluation.
Table 1: Pre- and post-operative visual analog scale and Oswestry Disability Index

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45 patients improved on the VAS after 4 weeks. One patient did not improve and one patient after a period of quiet for 3 weeks. All patients improved on the ODI at 4 and 12 weeks. Patients were followed up for a mean of 11 months clinically and radiologically every 3 months. For most patients, more than one level is involved. L4–L5 was the most affected [Table 2] and [Table 3].
Table 2: Distribution of patient as number of sick levels

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Table 3: Distribution of patients as affected levels

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Surgical procedure

A posterior midline approach is performed in all the patients. The patients are placed in the prone position with slight hip flexion to increase the lordosis. After skin incision, the muscular fascia is identified and opened by a unilateral approach. After dissection, the spinous processes and interspinous ligament (if any) are identified. The interspinous ligament is and if necessary a portion of laminae and spinous process as anterior as possible are removed. A distractor, intended for this purpose, is placed in interspinous space to distract space. The interlaminar device will be placed. Different sizes of prosthesis will be tested to accommodate the prosthesis in place. We prefer that the device is placed under slight tension, to ensure a sufficient distance between adjacent spinous processes [Figure 3] and [Figure 4].
Figure 3: Postoperative lumbar spine computed tomography scan, sagittal view: floating intraspinous device at the level of L4–L5

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Figure 4: Postoperative lumbar spine magnetic resonance imaging, sagittal view: floating intraspinous device at the level of L4–L5

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   Discussion Top


Although little known, BD is often a source of low back pain.[7],[8],[9],[10] This underestimation can derive from the fact that it is often accompanied with other degenerative lumbar spine disease. Modern imaging techniques have enabled us to know the peculiarities of this disorder. MRI and the CT scan are very useful. Recently, Nishimatsu et al. indicated the interest value of PET scan to support the diagnosis of BD.[11],[12] One of the main reasons that BD causes lumbar back pain is the spinous processes are subjected to important forces during movements. These forces the formation of hypertrophic spinous processes. The latter would lead to the formation of nociceptors at the level of interspinous contact.[1],[9],[10],[11],[12],[13],[14] Regarding surgical management of BD, we found only two papers in the medical literature. The first one contained only ten patients. The author proposed excision of the spinous process with good outcome.[15] The second contained 64 patients with BD who underwent partial or total excision of the lumbar spinous processes. The results were disappointing.[16] The surgical management, suggested by the author, is focused on three key elements. First, it attempts to relieve patient's pain by eliminating nociceptors and increase the distance between adjacent spinous processes. This result is achieved by removing the interspinous ligament and some part of hypertrophic spinous processes. Second, this method tries to restore lumbar spine segmental mobility and finally, we pursue to avoid exacerbation of disease, particularly toward sclerosis [Figure 4]. As [Table 1] shows, there was a dramatic improvement on the VAS and ODI, 4 weeks after surgery. Thirty-nine patients were on working age. Among them, 31 were on sick-leave before surgery. Twenty-four patients (77.42%) returned to work 1 month after surgery, and among the remaining seven patients, 6 returned to work 2 months after surgery. All in all, 2 months after surgery, 30 patients (96.77%) were able to work in their profession again. Average pain intensity was 6.13 in the preoperative period. It was reduced to 1.96 postoperatively.


   Conclusion Top


Our study with an average follow-up of 11 months demonstrated satisfactory clinical results. FID can be simple and effective surgical treatment for BD.

Financial support and sponsorship

Nil.

Conflicts of interest

There are no conflicts of interest.

 
   References Top

1.
Kwong Y, Rao N, Latief K. MDCT findings in baastrup disease: Disease or normal feature of the aging spine? AJR Am J Roentgenol 2011;196:1156-9.  Back to cited text no. 1
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2.
Maes R, Morrison WB, Parker L, Schweitzer ME, Carrino JA. Lumbar interspinous bursitis (baastrup disease) in a symptomatic population: Prevalence on magnetic resonance imaging. Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 2008;33:E211-5.  Back to cited text no. 2
    
3.
Brailsford JF. Deformities of the lumbosacral region of the spine. Br J Surg 1929;16:562-627.  Back to cited text no. 3
    
4.
Lin E. Baastrup's disease (kissing spine) demonstrated by FDG PET/CT. Skeletal Radiol 2008;37:173-5.  Back to cited text no. 4
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5.
Mitra R, Ghazi U, Kirpalani D, Cheng I. Interspinous ligament steroid injections for the management of baastrup's disease: A case report. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2007;88:1353-6.  Back to cited text no. 5
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6.
Lamer TJ, Tiede JM, Fenton DS. Fluoroscopically-guided injections to treat “kissing spine” disease. Pain Physician 2008;11:549-54.  Back to cited text no. 6
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7.
Philipp LR, Baum GR, Grossberg JA, Ahmad FU. Baastrup's disease: An often missed etiology for back pain. Cureus 2016;8:e465.  Back to cited text no. 7
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8.
Hatgis J, Granville M, Jacobson RE. Baastrup's disease, interspinal bursitis, and dorsal epidural cysts: Radiologic evaluation and impact on treatment options. Cureus 2017;9:e1449.  Back to cited text no. 8
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9.
Kacki S, Villotte S, Knüsel CJ. Baastrup's sign (kissing spines): A neglected condition in paleopathology. Int J Paleopathol 2011;1:104-10.  Back to cited text no. 9
    
10.
Singla A, Shankar V, Mittal S, Agarwal A, Garg B. Baastrup's disease: The kissing spine. World J Clin Cases 2014;2:45-7.  Back to cited text no. 10
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11.
Yang A, Emig M, Akuthota V. Kissing spine and the retrodural space of Okada: More than just a kiss? PM R 2014;6:287-9.  Back to cited text no. 11
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12.
Nishimatsu K, Nakamoto Y, Ishimori T, Togashi K. FDG uptake observed around the lumbar spinous process: Relevance to baastrup disease. Ann Nucl Med 2015;29:766-71.  Back to cited text no. 12
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13.
Jang EC, Song KS, Lee HJ, Kim JY, Yang JJ. Posterior epidural fibrotic mass associated with baastrup's disease. Eur Spine J 2010;19 Suppl 2:S165-8.  Back to cited text no. 13
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14.
Filippiadis DK, Mazioti A, Argentos S, Anselmetti G, Papakonstantinou O, Kelekis N, et al. Baastrup's disease (kissing spines syndrome): A pictorial review. Insights Imaging 2015;6:123-8.  Back to cited text no. 14
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15.
Franck S. Surgical treatment of intraspinal osteoarthrosis (kissing spine). Acta Orthop Scand 1944;14:127-52.  Back to cited text no. 15
    
16.
Beks JW. Kissing spines: Fact or fancy? Acta Neurochir (Wien) 1989;100:134-5.  Back to cited text no. 16
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    Figures

  [Figure 1], [Figure 2], [Figure 3], [Figure 4]
 
 
    Tables

  [Table 1], [Table 2], [Table 3]


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