Prevalence of Thoracic Scoliosis in Koreans Using Simple Chest Radiography

OBJECTIVES@#To provide reference data for the study and treatment of thoracic scoliosis.SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: There have been no reports on the prevalence of thoracic scoliosis in Korea.@*MATERIALS AND METHODS@#From August 2011 to October 2012, radiographs of patients under 80 years of age who underwent routine chest radiographs were retrospectively reviewed. Based on their age when the chest radiographs were obtained, the patients were divided into 8 groups. The prevalence and angle of the curve of thoracic scoliosis were investigated in each age group, and the prevalence of thoracic scoliosis according to sex, the direction of the curve, number of vertebrae in the major curve, the location and rotation of the apical vertebrae, and osteophyte location were examined.@*RESULTS@#The prevalence of thoracic scoliosis was 2.4% (621 patients), and female patients (3.0%, 375 of 12471) showed a higher prevalence than male patients (1.8%, 246 of 13654) (p<0.001). Right curvature was present in 445 patients and left curvature in 176 patients. In each age group, the prevalence and degree of thoracic scoliosis were 1.1% (14.2°±3.2°), 2.3% (17.4°±7.7°), 2.5% (17.0°±8.9°), 1.9% (15.8°±5.9°), 1.3% (15.5°±6.6°), 2.1% (18.0°±13.6°), 2.9% (14.3°±3.6°), and 6.1% (16.2°±4.8°), respectively. The mean curvature in all scoliosis patients was 16.0°±7.0°. The angle of the curve was significantly different by sex (15.4°±7.1° for males, 16.8°±7.6° for females). The average curve angle of patients with thoracic scoliosis was 16.0°±7.0°, among whom it was 10°–20° in 533 patients, 20°–30° in 64, 30°–40° in 11, and over 40° in 13.@*CONCLUSIONS@#This study could be used as a reference point for the study and treatment of thoracic scoliosis.

Prevalence of Thoracic Scoliosis in Koreans Using Simple Chest Radiography / 대한척추외과학회지

STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. OBJECTIVES: To provide reference data for the study and treatment of thoracic scoliosis. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: There have been no reports on the prevalence of thoracic scoliosis in Korea. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From August 2011 to October 2012, radiographs of patients under 80 years of age who underwent routine chest radiographs were retrospectively reviewed. Based on their age when the chest radiographs were obtained, the patients were divided into 8 groups. The prevalence and angle of the curve of thoracic scoliosis were investigated in each age group, and the prevalence of thoracic scoliosis according to sex, the direction of the curve, number of vertebrae in the major curve, the location and rotation of the apical vertebrae, and osteophyte location were examined. RESULTS: The prevalence of thoracic scoliosis was 2.4% (621 patients), and female patients (3.0%, 375 of 12471) showed a higher prevalence than male patients (1.8%, 246 of 13654) (p<0.001). Right curvature was present in 445 patients and left curvature in 176 patients. In each age group, the prevalence and degree of thoracic scoliosis were 1.1% (14.2°±3.2°), 2.3% (17.4°±7.7°), 2.5% (17.0°±8.9°), 1.9% (15.8°±5.9°), 1.3% (15.5°±6.6°), 2.1% (18.0°±13.6°), 2.9% (14.3°±3.6°), and 6.1% (16.2°±4.8°), respectively. The mean curvature in all scoliosis patients was 16.0°±7.0°. The angle of the curve was significantly different by sex (15.4°±7.1° for males, 16.8°±7.6° for females). The average curve angle of patients with thoracic scoliosis was 16.0°±7.0°, among whom it was 10°–20° in 533 patients, 20°–30° in 64, 30°–40° in 11, and over 40° in 13. CONCLUSIONS: This study could be used as a reference point for the study and treatment of thoracic scoliosis.

Analgesic Efficacy and Safety of Prolonged-Release Oxycodone/Naloxone in Korean Patients with Chronic Pain from Spinal Disorders

BACKGROUND: A prolonged-release formulation of oxycodone/naloxone has been shown to be effective in European populations for the management of chronic moderate to severe pain. However, no clinical data exist for its use in Korean patients. The objective of this study was to assess efficacy and safety of prolonged-release oxycodone/naloxone in Korean patients for management of chronic moderate-to-severe pain. METHODS: In this multicenter, single-arm, open-label, phase IV study, Korean adults with moderate-to-severe spinal disorder-related pain that was not satisfactorily controlled with weak opioids and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs received prolonged-release oral oxycodone/naloxone at a starting dose of 10/5 mg/day (maximum 80/40 mg/day) for 8 weeks. Changes in pain intensity and quality of life (QoL) were measured using a numeric rating scale (NRS, 0–10) and the Korean-language EuroQol-five dimensions questionnaire, respectively. RESULTS: Among 209 patients assessed for efficacy, the mean NRS pain score was reduced by 25.9% between baseline and week 8 of treatment (p < 0.0001). There was also a significant improvement in QoL from baseline to week 8 (p < 0.0001). The incidence of adverse drug reactions was 27.7%, the most common being nausea, constipation, and dizziness; 77.9% of these adverse drug reactions had resolved or were resolving at the end of the study. CONCLUSIONS: Prolonged-release oxycodone/naloxone provided significant and clinically relevant reductions in pain intensity and improved QoL in Korean patients with chronic spinal disorders. (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01811238)

The Effect of Distal Hooks in Thoracolumbar Fusion Using a Pedicle Screw in Elderly Patients / 대한정형외과학회잡지

PURPOSE: To investigate the clinical outcomes of distal hook augmentation using a pedicle screw in thoracolumbar fusion in elderly patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective multicenter study recruited 20 patients aged 65 years or older, who underwent anterior support and long level posterior fusion in the thoracolumbar junction with a follow-up of one year. To assess the effect of distal hook augmentation, the patients were divided into two groups; the pedicle screw with hook group (PH group, n=10) and the pedicle screw alone group (PA group, n=10). RESULTS: The average age was 72.4 years (65–83 years). The average fusion segment was 4.6 segments (3–6 segments). There were no significant differences in age, sex, causative diseases, bone mineral density of lumbar and proximal femur, number of patients with osteoporosis, and number of fused segments between the two groups (p≥0.05). At 1 year follow-up after surgery, parameters related with distal screw pullout were significantly worse in the PA group. No patients in the PH group had distal screw pullout. However, six patients (60%, 6/10) in the PA group had distal screw pullout. There were no significant differences in the progression of distal junctional kyphosis between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Distal hook augmentation is an effective procedure in protecting distal pedicle screws against the pullout when long level thoracolumbar fusion was performed in elderly patients aged 65 years or older.

Quality of Life in Patients with Osteoporotic Vertebral Compression Fractures

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to evaluate quality of life (QOL) using the EuroQOL-5 dimensions (EQ-5D) index and to examine factors affecting QOL in patients with an osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF). METHODS: This ambispective study used a questionnaire interview. Patients over 50 years old with an OVCF at least 6 months previously were enrolled. Individual results were used to calculate the EQ-5D index. Statistical analysis was performed, and factors related to QOL were examined. RESULTS: Of 196 patients in the study, 84.2% were female, with an average age of 72.7 years. There were 66 (33.7%) patients with multilevel fractures. Conservative management was used in 75.0% of patients, and 56.1% received anti-osteoporosis treatment. The mean EQ-5D index was 0.737±0.221 and was significantly correlated with the Oswestry disability index score (correlation coefficient −0.807, P<0.001). The EQ-5D index was significantly correlated with age (Spearman's rho=−2.0, P=0.005), treatment method (P=0.005), and history of fracture (P=0.044) on univariate analysis and with conservative treatment (P<0.001) and osteoporotic treatment (P=0.017) on multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: OVCF markedly lowers QOL in several dimensions for up to 12 months, even in patients who have healed. Treatment of osteoporosis and conservative treatment methods affect QOL and should be considered in OVCF management.

Prevalence of Neuropathic Pain and Patient-Reported Outcomes in Korean Adults with Chronic Low Back Pain Resulting from Neuropathic Low Back Pain

STUDY DESIGN: A noninterventional, multicenter, cross-sectional study. PURPOSE: We investigated the prevalence of neuropathic pain (NP) and patient-reported outcomes (PROs) of the quality of life (QoL) and functional disability in Korean adults with chronic low back pain (CLBP). OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: Among patients with CLBP, 20%–55% had NP. METHODS: Patients older than 20 years with CLBP lasting for longer than three months, with a visual analog scale (VAS) pain score higher than four, and with pain medications being used for at least four weeks before enrollment were recruited from 27 general hospitals between December 2014 and May 2015. Medical chart reviews were performed to collect demographic/clinical features and diagnosis of NP (douleur neuropathique 4, DN4). The QoL (EuroQoL 5-dimension, EQ-5D; EQ-VAS) and functional disability (Quebec Back Pain Disability Scale, QBPDS) were determined through patient surveys. Multiple linear regression analyses were performed to compare PROs between the NP (DN4≥4) and non-NP (DN4 < 4) groups. RESULTS: A total of 1,200 patients (females: 65.7%; mean age: 63.4±13.0 years) were enrolled. The mean scores of EQ-5D, EQ-VAS, and QBPDS were 0.5±0.3, 55.7±19.4, and 40.4±21.1, respectively. Among all patients, 492 (41.0%; 95% confidence interval, 38.2%–43.8%) suffered from NP. The prevalence of NP was higher in male patients (46.8%; p < 0.01), in patients who had pain based on radiological and neurological findings (59.0%; p < 0.01), and in patients who had severe pain (49.0%; p < 0.01). There were significant mean differences in EQ-5D (NP group vs. non-NP group: 0.4±0.3 vs. 0.5±0.3; p < 0.01) and QBPDS (NP group vs. non-NP group: 45.8±21.2 vs. 36.3±20.2; p < 0.01) scores. In the multiple linear regression, patients with NP showed lower EQ-5D (β=−0.1; p < 0.01) and higher QBPDS (β=7.0; p < 0.01) scores than those without NP. CONCLUSIONS: NP was highly prevalent in Korean patients with CLBP. Patients with CLBP having NP had a lower QoL and more severe dysfunction than those without NP. To enhance the QoL and functional status of patients with CLBP, this study highlights the importance of appropriately diagnosing and treating NP.

Risk Factors for Subsequent Vertebral Compression Fracture Following Osteoporotic Compression Fracture / 대한정형외과학회잡지

PURPOSE: To evaluate the risk factors for subsequent vertebral fracture following acute osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a multicenter retrospective study. We recruited 135 patients treated for acute osteoporotic compression fracture with available spine image taken at the 1-year follow-up mark in 3 different hospitals. The patients were divided into 2 groups in accordance with the occurrence of subsequent vertebral fracture. Variables including age, sex, bone mineral density, medical comorbidity, acute fracture level, presence of prior vertebral fracture, osteoporosis medication, and treatment method were analyzed and compared between the 2 groups. RESULTS: The new subsequent vertebral fractures were detected in 25 patients (18.5%). There were no significant differences between the 2 groups with respect to age, sex, medical comorbidity, presence of prior vertebral fracture, and acute fracture level, as shown by univariate analysis. However, in the group with subsequent vertebral fracture, more patients were treated by vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty and had a femur neck T-score of ≤-2.5, as well as poor compliance of osteoporosis medication with significant difference (p<0.05). According to the multivariate analysis, subsequent vertebral fractures were significantly influenced by vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty (p=0.003, odds ratio=4.71) and femur neck T-score of ≤-2.5 (p=0.013, odds ratio=3.47). CONCLUSION: Subsequent vertebral fractures were found in 19% at the 1-year mark after the treatment of acute osteoporotic compression fracture. The two risk factors for subsequent vertebral fractures were vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty and femur neck T-score of ≤-2.5.

A Nationwide Retrospective Study of Opioid Management Patterns in 2,468 Patients with Spinal Pain in Korea

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective patient data collection and investigator survey. PURPOSE: To investigate patterns of opioid treatment for pain caused by spinal disorders in Korea. OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: Opioid analgesic prescription and adequacy of consumption measures in Korea have markedly increased in the past decade, suggesting changing patterns in pain management practice; however, there is lack of integrated data specific to Korean population. METHODS: Patient data were collected from medical records at 34 university hospitals in Korea. Outpatients receiving opioids for pain caused by spinal disorders were included in the study. Treatment patterns, including opioid types, doses, treatment duration, outcomes, and adverse drug reactions (ADRs), were evaluated. Investigators were interviewed on their perceptions of opioid use for spinal disorders. RESULTS: Among 2,468 analyzed cases, spinal stenosis (42.8%) was the most common presentation, followed by disc herniation (24.2%) and vertebral fracture (17.5%). In addition, a greater proportion of patients experienced severe pain (73.9%) rather than moderate (19.9%) or mild (0.7%) pain. Oxycodone (51.9%) and fentanyl (50.8%) were the most frequently prescribed opioids; most patients were prescribed relatively low doses. The median duration of opioid treatment was 84 days. Pain relief was superior in patients with longer treatment duration (≥2 months) or with nociceptive pain than in those with shorter treatment duration or with neuropathic or mixed-type pain. ADRs were observed in 8.6% of cases. According to the investigators' survey, "excellent analgesic effect" was a perceived advantage of opioids, while safety concerns were a disadvantage. CONCLUSIONS: Opioid usage patterns in patients with spinal disorders are in alignment with international guidelines for spinal pain management. Future prospective studies may address the suitability of opioids for spinal pain treatment by using appropriate objective measurement tools.

Prognostic Factors for Postsurgical Recovery of Deltoid Palsy due to Cervical Disc Herniations

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective multicenter study. PURPOSE: We aimed to investigate prognostic factors affecting postsurgical recovery of deltoid palsy due to cervical disc herniation (CDH). OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: Little information is available about prognostic factors affecting postsurgical recovery of deltoid palsy due to CDH. METHODS: Sixty-one patients with CDH causing deltoid palsy (less than grade 3) were included in this study: 35 soft discs and 26 hard discs. Average duration of preoperative deltoid palsy was 11.9 weeks. Thirty-two patients underwent single-level surgery, 22 two-level, four three-level, and three four-level. Patients with accompanying myelopathy, shoulder diseases, or peripheral neuropathy were excluded from the study. RESULTS: Deltoid palsy (2.4 grades vs. 4.5 grades, p<0.001) and radiculopathy (6.4 points vs. 2.1 points, p<0.001) significantly improved after surgery. Thirty-six of 61 patients (59%) achieved full recovery (grade 5) of deltoid palsy, with an average time of 8.4 weeks. Longer duration of preoperative deltoid palsy and more severe radiculopathy negatively affected the degree of improvement in deltoid palsy. Age, gender, number of surgery level, and disc type did not affect the degree of improvement of deltoid palsy. Contrary to our expectations, severity of preoperative deltoid palsy did not affect the degree of improvement. Due to the shorter duration of preoperative deltoid palsy, in the context of rapid referral, early surgical decompression resulted in significant recovery of more severe grades (grade 0 or 1) of deltoid palsy compared to grade 2 or 3 deltoid palsy. CONCLUSIONS: Early surgical decompression significantly improved deltoid palsy caused by CDH, irrespective of age, gender, number of surgery level, and disc type. However, longer duration of deltoid palsy and more severe intensity of preoperative radiating pain were associated with less improvement of deltoid palsy postoperatively.

An Analysis on the Effect of Patient-controlled Analgesia Performed by Orthopaedic Department or Postoperative Pain Control after Shoulder and Elbow Surgery

BACKGROUND: We investigated the effectiveness of pain management and the adverse events of intravenous (IV) patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) after orthopedic surgery. METHODS: From September 2014 and August 2015, we performed a retrospective analysis of 77 patients who underwent orthopedic surgery of the shoulder or the elbow in our hospital. The composition of the intravenous PCA administered to the patients was as follows: 250 mg of dexketoprofen trametamol, 70 mg of oxycodone, and 0.6 mg of ramosetron, which were made up to 79 ml of normal saline. We evaluated and statistically analyzed the difference in the visual analogue scale (VAS) scores for pain at immediate postoperation, at 24 hours of PCA, at 72 hours of PCA, and after discontinuation of PCA and in the incidence of adverse events. RESULTS: We found that VAS score decreased for 3 postoperative days and that with discontinuation of IV PCA a meaningful change in VAS score was no longer seen. Of the 77 patients, 22 presented with adverse events (28.6%). We terminated IV PCA temporarily in the 21 patients who presented with adverse events; we terminated analgesia permanently in one patient (1.2%). Consequently, 76 of 77 patients carried out IV PCA till the designated period. CONCLUSIONS: Intravenous PCA after orthopedic surgery of the shoulder or the elbow may be accompanied with adverse events. Careful assessment of the patient and treatment of the adverse outcomes are key to a successful maintenance of PCA and to a successful management of postoperative pain.

Medication Persistence for Osteoporosis and Its Related Factor in Patients with Osteoporotic Compression Vertebral Fracture / 대한골다공증학회지

INTRODUCTION: Osteoporotic vertebral fractures, which account for the largest part of the disease has become important and common diseases. We studied persistence for osteoporosis medication and its related factor in patients with osteoporotic compression vertebral fracture. METHODS: A total of 458 patients that visited our outpatient clinic with osteoporotic vertebral fractures and were prescribed with osteoporosis medication at the Seoul Spine Center from January 2010 to February 2014 and were analyzed retrospectively. The male to female ratio was 403: 55 and the mean age was 75 years. Survival analysis was used with the Kaplan-Meier method. Related factor analysis was performed with the log rank test and Cox regression test. RESULTS: The survival rate at 6 months was 52%, 12 months was 40%, 24 months was 28%, and at 3 years it was 25%. There was no difference between the persistent rate according to age. Women demonstrated higher persistent rate than men in significantly. It showed a significant difference between some of the groups in accordance with the dose rate and duration of the drug dose interval. Especially, medication change group had significant higher persistence rate than not changing group. CONCLUSIONS: Persistence rate of osteoporosis drugs, decreased rapidly with the passage of time. The patients with changing medication during follow-up had significantly higher persistence ratio than those without it. The persistence rate of osteoporosis medication could be increased through actively solving the problems of the patients, which are associated with taking medication.

Analysis of Treatment Methods for Subsequent Vertebral Fractures Following Osteoporotic Compression Fractures

STUDY DESIGN: A multicenter retrospective study. OBJECTIVES: To compare the incidence and pattern of subsequent vertebral fractures following conservative treatment versus vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty for acute osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: Previous studies suggest that new vertebral fractures may increase following vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty because bony cement inserted into the vertebral body of a fractured bone can elevate its strength and stiffness, which in turn, may increase the probability of the compression fractures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From three hospitals, we recruited 135 patients who had been treated for acute osteoporotic compression fractures and had available spine images taken at their 1-year follow-up. The patients were divided into two groups according to treatment methods. Group C had been managed conservatively, and Group VK had undergone vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty. The two groups were compared for subsequent vertebral fractures. RESULTS: Group C consisted of 76 patients, and Group VK had 59. There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of age, sex, medical comorbidity, body mass index (BMI), bone mineral density, presence of prior vertebral fracture or acute fracture level (p>0.05). New vertebral fractures were detected in 25 patients (19% of total subjects): 6 (8%) from Group C, and 19 (32%) from Group VK, demonstrating a significantly higher incidence in the VK group (p=0.0007). In the subgroup analysis, there was no significant difference between vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty (p>0.05). While four of the six patients (67%) in Group C had subsequent fractures in nonadjacent vertebrae, 14 of the 19 patients (74%) in Group VK had subsequent fractures in adjacent vertebrae. CONCLUSIONS: Subsequent vertebral fractures were found in 19% of subjects at one year after treatment for acute osteoporotic compression fractures. Compared with conservative treatment, vertbroplasty or kyphoplasty significantly increased the occurrence of subsequent vertebral fractures, which appeared more often in adjacent vertebrae.

An Analysis on the Effect of Patient-controlled Analgesia Performed by Orthopaedic Department or Postoperative Pain Control after Shoulder and Elbow Surgery

BACKGROUND: We investigated the effectiveness of pain management and the adverse events of intravenous (IV) patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) after orthopedic surgery. METHODS: From September 2014 and August 2015, we performed a retrospective analysis of 77 patients who underwent orthopedic surgery of the shoulder or the elbow in our hospital. The composition of the intravenous PCA administered to the patients was as follows: 250 mg of dexketoprofen trametamol, 70 mg of oxycodone, and 0.6 mg of ramosetron, which were made up to 79 ml of normal saline. We evaluated and statistically analyzed the difference in the visual analogue scale (VAS) scores for pain at immediate postoperation, at 24 hours of PCA, at 72 hours of PCA, and after discontinuation of PCA and in the incidence of adverse events. RESULTS: We found that VAS score decreased for 3 postoperative days and that with discontinuation of IV PCA a meaningful change in VAS score was no longer seen. Of the 77 patients, 22 presented with adverse events (28.6%). We terminated IV PCA temporarily in the 21 patients who presented with adverse events; we terminated analgesia permanently in one patient (1.2%). Consequently, 76 of 77 patients carried out IV PCA till the designated period. CONCLUSIONS: Intravenous PCA after orthopedic surgery of the shoulder or the elbow may be accompanied with adverse events. Careful assessment of the patient and treatment of the adverse outcomes are key to a successful maintenance of PCA and to a successful management of postoperative pain.

Determination of the Distal Fusion Level in the Management of Thoracolumbar and Lumbar Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis Using Pedicle Screw Instrumentation

STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective study. PURPOSE: To determine the exact distal fusion level in the management of thoracolumbar/lumbar adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (TL/L AIS) using pedicle screw instrumentation (PSI). OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: The selection of distal fusion level remains controversial in TL/L AIS. METHODS: Radiographic parameters of 66 TL/L AIS patients were analyzed. The patients were grouped according to the distal fusion level; L3 group (fusion to L3, n=58) and L4 group (fusion to L4, n=8). The L3 group was subdivided into L3A (L3 crosses the mid-sacral line with rotation of less than grade II, n=33) and L3B (L3 does not cross the mid-sacral line or rotation is grade II or more, n=25) based on both bending radiographs. All of the patients in the L4 group had the same location and rotation of L3 in bending films as that of patients in the L3B group. An unsatisfactory result was defined as a lowest instrumented vertebral tilt (LIVT) of more than 10degrees or coronal balance of more than 15 mm. RESULTS: Among the 3 groups, there was a significantly lesser correction in the TL/L curve and LIVT in the L3B group. Unsatisfactory results were obtained in 3 patients (9.1%) of the L3A group, in 15 patients (68.2%) of the L3B group, and in 1 patient (12.5%) of the L4 group with a significant difference. CONCLUSIONS: In TL/L AIS treatment with PSI, the curve can be fused to L3 with favorable radiographic outcomes when L3 crosses the mid-sacral line with rotation of less than grade II in bending films. Otherwise, fusion has to be extended to L4.

Complications of Posterior Vertebral Resection for Spinal Deformity

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study. PURPOSE: To evaluate the incidence and risk factors of complications following posterior vertebral resection (PVR) for spinal deformity. METHODS: A review of 233 patients treated with PVR at one institution over a nine-year period (1997 to 2005) was performed. The average age was 33.5 years. Complications were assessed in terms of surgical techniques (posterior vertebral column resection [PVCR] and decancellation osteotomy) and etiologies of deformity. RESULTS: Local kyphosis was corrected from 51.4degrees to 2.7degrees, thoracic scoliosis 63.9degrees to 24.5degrees (62.6% correction), and thoracolumbar or lumbar scoliosis 50.1degrees to 17.1degrees (67.6%). The overall incidence of complications was 40.3%. There was no significant difference between PVCR and decancellation osteotomy in the incidence of complications. There were more complications in the older patients (>35 years) than the younger (p 0.05). There was 1 mortality case by heart failure. Revision surgery was performed in 15 patients for metal failure or progressing curve. CONCLUSIONS: The overall incidence of complications of PVR was 40.3%. Older age, abundant blood loss, preoperative kyphosis, and long fusion were risk factors for complications.

Analysis of Intraoperative Neurological Complications in High-Risk Spinal Surgery with the Use of Motor Evoked Potential Monitoring

STUDY DESIGN: This is retrospective study. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the risk of operative techniques using Motor Evoked Potential (MEP) in high-risk spinal surgery. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: There are few studies regarding the evaluation of operative techniques by MEP. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied 33 cases that had MEP during surgery from July 2007 to March 2009. Diagnoses included post-traumatic kyphosis (PTK) in eight cases, congenital deformity in eight cases, degenerative lumbar deformity in eight cases, ankylosing spondylitis (AS) in three cases, spinal tumor in three cases, adjacent segmental disease in two cases, and post-surgical kyphosis in one case. Posterior vertebral column resection (PVCR) and pedicle subtraction osteotomy (PSO) were performed in 27 cases (81.8%) and, in the others, posterior decompression with discectomy was performed. We analyzed the risk of operative techniques and evaluated the MEP. RESULTS: MEP showed abnormal signal change in five cases (PVCR: one case, compression and distraction: four cases). The AS case did not demonstrate neurological change after surgery. Though the PTK on T12 operated by PVCR case did not show an abnormal MEP result, neurological change was observed postoperatively. The sensitivity, specificity, percent of false negatives, and percent of false positives of MEP were 80.0%, 96.4%, 20.0%, and 3.6%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: MEP monitoring is a useful method to detect neurological injury during high-risk spinal surgery with satisfactory specificity. For low sensitivity and a high false negative rate, increased monitoring of cases and continuous follow-up is needed. In conclusion, compression and distraction and PVCR are high-risk techniques in kyphotic deformity correction.

The Revision Operation Rate for Adjacent Segmental Degeneration by Survival Analysis in Mono-segment Lumbar Fusion / 대한정형외과학회잡지

PURPOSE: To analyze survival rates of patients after mono-segmental lumbar or lumbosacral fusion and to evaluate factors affecting the revision operation due to adjacent segmental degeneration. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study enrolled 1,206 patients who had mono-segmental lumbar or lumbosacral fusion between March 1997 and December 2006 at the Seoul Spine Institute. The survival rates for the revision operation due to adjacent segmental degeneration were analyzed retrospectively. The age at index operation, sex, etiologic diagnosis, fusion method, fusion level, substance of bone graft, operator, body mass index (BMI), and smoking were considered as risk factors for the revision operation. RESULTS: There were 27 patients with a revision operation for adjacent segmental degeneration (2.24%). The average follow-up period was 39.0 months (6 months to 12 years 6 months) and the average age at operation was 47.0 years (13 to 85 years). The survival rate at 5 years was 97.3%, and at 10 years it was 89.4%. Patients less than 50 years old had a significantly lower revision operation rate than those aged 50 or more (p=0.002). When fusion between the 4th lumbar and the 5th lumbar spinal vertebrae was done, the revision operation rate was significantly higher than for other levels (p=0.003). Obese patients with BMI> or =25 had a significantly higher revision rate than did patients with BMI0.05). In multivariate analysis, age alone was a significant risk factor (p=0.048, Hazard ratio=2.50). CONCLUSION: The most important factor for survival without revision surgery for adjacent segmental degeneration following instrumented mono-segment lumbar or lumbosacral fusion is the age at index operation. Patients 50 year-old or older should be informed of the possibility of adjacent segmental disease after instrumented mono-segment lumbar or lumbosacral fusion.

A Comparison of Clinical Stability of Distal Instrument Fused Down to S1 with and without Sub-S1 Alar Screw in the Long Fusion using Segmental Pedicle Screw for Lumbar Degenerative Deformity

STUDY DESIGN: This is a retrospective study. OBJECTIVES: We wanted to assess the stability of distal instrumentation using the bilateral S1 and sacral alar screws for the treatment of degenerative lumbar deformity. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: Various instrumentation methods have been introduced for increasing the strength of lumbosacral fusion. However, there are not many clinical studies that have evaluated the effectiveness of a sub-S1 alar screw for treating degenerative lumbar deformity surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 39 patients with degenerative lumbar deformity were treated by long fusion and we retrospectively analyzed these patients after a minimum follow-up of 1 year. All the patients underwent an operation with distal instrumentation using either bilateral S1 screws alone (the S1 group) or additional bilateral sub-S1 sacral alar screws (the SA group). There were 19 patients in the S1 group and 20 patients in the SA group. The stability of the distal instrumentation was assessed by breakage or backout of a rod and/or screws based on simple radiography. RESULTS: Instability of the distal instrumentation was detected in 6 cases (32%) in the S1 group and in 1 case (5%) in the SA group. The SA group had a more stability of the distal instrumentation than that of the S1 group with a significant difference (P0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Bilateral sacral alar screws coupled with bilateral S1 screws can provide good distal fixation for stability of the distal instrumentation when performing long fusion for treating degenerative lumbar deformity.

Cervical and Thoracic Sagittal Curves in Thoracic Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis / 대한척추외과학회지

STUDY DESIGN: Prospective study OBJECTIVES: To analyze and compare the cervical and thoracic sagittal curves between normal adolescents and patients with thoracic adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). SUMMARY OF THE LITERATURE REVIEW: There are no reports on cervical sagittal curves and its correlation with thoracic sagittal curves in AIS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The sagittal curves were analyzed in normal adolescents (N-adol group, n=23) and patients with thoracic AIS (AIS group, n=26) who had thoracic curves > or = 45degrees. Lateral standing radiographs of the cervical spine with a elbow straight and the whole spine with the hands on the clavicles were taken. The sagittal curves and balance were measured in the following segments; C2-C7, T2-T5, T5-12, T2-12, T12-S1. Cervical lordosis (C2-C7) was measured in both cervical spine radiographs and whole spine radiographs. RESULTS: In the N-adol group, the cervical lordosis was 9.2+/-14.6degrees in the cervical spine radiographs and -0.6+/-12.9degrees ('-' means kyphosis) in whole spine radiographs. In the AIS group, cervical lordosis was -5.0+/-12.9degrees in the cervical radiographs and -8.1+/-12.7degrees in the whole radiographs. The AIS group had significantly less cervical lordosis than the N-adol group. Thoracic kyphosis of T5-12 and T2-12 was 24.1+/-10.6degrees and 38.9+/-13.1degrees in the N-adol group, respectively, and 17.8+/-9.4degrees and 30.1+/-11.8degrees in the AIS group, respectively. There was a significant difference between the two groups (Ps0.05). In the AIS group, the cervical lordosis measured in the cervical spine radiograph showed a positive correlation with thoracic kyphosis of T2-5 (r=0.50, P=0.009) and T2-12 (r=0.57, P=0.003). CONCLUSIONS: AIS patients had significantly less cervical lordosis and thoracic kyphosis than normal adolescents. Decreased cervical lordosis in AIS had a significant correlation with their relative thoracic hypokyphosis.

Korean Guideline Development for the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment of the Spine: Proposal by the Korean Academy of Medical Sciences Committee

The criteria for the evaluation of spinal impairment are diverse, complex, and have no standardized form. This makes it difficult and somewhat troublesome to accurately evaluate spinal impairment patients. A standardized guideline was studied for the evaluation of spinal impairment, based on the American Medical Association (AMA) Guides and the McBride method. This guideline proposal was developed by specialty medical societies under the Korean Academy of Medical Sciences. In this study, the grades of impairment were assessed by dividing patients into three different categories: spinal cord impairment, spinal injury impairment and spinal disorder impairment. The affected regions of the spine are divided into three: the cervical region, the thoracic region, and the lumbosacral region. The grade of impairment was differentially evaluated according to the affected region. The restricted range of motion was excluded in the evaluation spinal impairment because of low objectivity. Even though the new Korean guideline for the evaluation of spinal impairment has been proposed, it should be continuously supplemented and revised.