History of Spinal Deformity Surgery Part I: The Pre-modern Era

Spinal deformity is one of the oldest known diseases that date back thousands of years in human history. It appears in fairy tales and mythologies in association with evil as its dramatic appearance in patients suffering from the disease easily lent itself to be thought of as a form of divine retribution. The history of spinal deformity dates back to prehistoric times. The early attempts to treat patients suffering from this disease started from Hippocrates age. Side traction or axial traction and cast immobilization were the only possible option prior to the discovery of anesthesia. The first surgical attempts to correct scoliosis occurred in the mid 19th century with percutaneous myotomies of the vertebral musculature followed by postoperative bracing, which outcomes were very quite horrifying. Hibbs' fusion operation had become a realistic treatment option to halt the progression of deformity in the early 20th century. Harrington's introduction of the internal fixation device to treat paralytic scoliosis in 1960's started revolution on deformity correction surgery. Luque developed a segmental spinal using sublaminar wiring technique in 1976 and Cotrel developed Cotrel-Dubousset (CD) instrumentation, which was a posterior segmental instrumentation system that used pedicle and laminar hooks on either thoracic or lumbar spine and pedicle screws on the lumbar spine.

Operative Treatment Of Burst Fracture On The Thoracolmbar Junction / 대한정형외과학회잡지

We analyzed 41 cases of burst fractures on the thoracolumbar junction which were operated with Kaneda and Cotrel-Dubousset implant at Chosun University Hospital between 1989 and 1993. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the radiologic sign, the amount of reduction, complications, and functional results. The results were as follows: 1. According to McGrorys Criteria to evaluate the posterior superior vertebral body angle of burst fractures, 33 out of 41 cases(80.5%) were positive and the average angle degree was 107.6°. 2. The average postoperative kyphotic correction was 15.4° in the Kaneda group and 13.8° in the C-D group. The average loss of correction at follow-up examination was 5° in the Kaneda group and 4.8° in the C-D group. 3. Indirect reduction was achieved in 10 cases(50%) and we obtained a good indirect reduction even though canal compromise was over 50%. 4. The pain at operative site was much more severe in the Kaneda group(6 cases) than in the C-D group(2 cases) and both groups experienced 2 cases each of implant failure. 5. According to Denis' pain and work scale, 28 cases(63.8%) had good and excellent, 8 cases had fair and 5 cases had poor results. In summary we recommend doing 1) a posterior instrumentation first for stability and indirect reduction, if it is not a severe neurologic symptom and 2) anterior decompression if it is a severe or progressive neurologic symptom.

Treatment of Fracture of the Thoraco / 대한정형외과학회잡지

The main goals of surgical teatment of thoracolumbar vertebral fractures are to achieve reduction, stability and early, painless mobilization. A further aim is to avoid late malposition and to preserve mobility and lordosis. The main disadvantage of Harrington instrumentation and similar methods are that this device fixate five to seven vertebrae. The Cotrel-Dubousset(C-D) instrumentation provides a stable construct for fixation of spine fracture. The advantages of C-D pedicle screw for thoracolumbar spinal fractures are that compression or distraction force can be applied in the same rod and used to achieve anatomical reduction of spinal fractures and rigid fixation can be obtained with short instrumentation. The C-D instumentation was done for 15 unstable thoracolumbar spinal fractures at Seoul Red Cross Hospital from January, 1988 to January, 1990. The results were as follows. 1. The most common cause of the spine fracture was fall down, and majority are within 20-40 old age. 2. The most common involved site was T12 and Ll vertebrae (66.7%). 3. The most common type of injury was burst fracture by according to Denis classification(60%). 4. The complication was developed mostly in neurological deficient patient. 5. The advantage of the C-D instrumentation: (1) rigid and short osteosynthesis of spine fracture, (2) compression or distraction force can be applied in the same rod, (3) early mobilization with a brace is possible. 6. The rigid fixation can be obtained.

Clinical Observation of Cotreal / 대한정형외과학회잡지

Various kinds of spinal instrumentation have been developed for treatment of spinal disorders which are associated with instability. Recently, newly designed devices using pedicle screw were developed with advantages of short segment fixation and firm internal fixation. This is a retrospective clinical and roentgenographic study to evaluate the effectiveness of Cotrel 1. Of the 27 cases, spinal stenosis were 11, spondylolisthesis were 8, spondylolysis were 4, burst fracture were 2, metastatic bone tumor was 1, and failed back syndrome was 1 case. 2. Result of clinical evaluation by Hanley's criteria at last follow up were excellent in 7(27%), Good in 15(58% ), fair in 4(15%). (1 case of metastatic bone tumor was excluded). 3. In the cases of spondylolisthesis, we tried to reduce the displacement in 2 cases of Meyerding Grade II, and 1 case was reduced and 1 case was not reduced. In the cases of of Meyerding Grade I, no further displacement was developed. 4. The complications were observed in 10(37%)cases. A) Generalized complications were 2 cases of hematoma, 3 cases of superficial infection of wound, and 1 case of nerve root irritation. B) Failure in instrmentation were 1 case of screw breakage, 1 case of complete loss of fixation between screw and rod, and 2 cases of partial loss of fixation. 5. To prevent above mentioned complications in fixation of the instrument, the following factors are recommended: 1) Selection of the adequate length of rod. 2) Fixation of the additional implant such as security bolt when instability between screw and rod is predictable. 3) Selection of the closed head screw in the fixation of proximally sided screw if possible. 6. Cotrel-Dubousset instrument has many advantages such as rigid internal fixation, anatomical reduction, and good maintenance and also effective in reduction and maintenance of spondylolisthesis and in wide posterior decompression of spinal stenosis, but for prevention of some complications, precise use of instrument and good application of surgical technique will be needed.

Treatment of the Unstable Thoracolumbar Fractures Using Cotrel / 대한정형외과학회잡지

Surgical stabilization using instrumentation for thoracolumbar injuries offers several advantages such as nearly anatomic reduction of fractures, protection of neurologic structures and most importantly early ambulation of the patient. The treatment of fracture-dislocation of the thoracolumbar spine has been progressively improved over the past decades and recently a lot of new device have been introduced to improve fixability of the involved vertebrae three dimensionally and short segmental fixation as possible. The authors have treated 17 cases of unstable thoracolumbar fracture using Cotrel-Dubousset instrumentation in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Kangdong Sacred Heart Hospital from Jan. 1988 to Jan. 1989 with the following results: 1. Bursting fractures are the most common type(52.9%) of mechanism of injury. 2. Excellent anatomic reductions were obtained and compression, wedging and local kyphotic deformities were nicely corrected. 3. Short segmental fixation can preserve the maximal spinal mobility. 4. No significant loss of reduction or loosening of implant was found. 5. Remarkable neurologic recoveries were observed in cases of incomplete cord lesion. 6. Significant neurologic recovery was found in patients treated with laminectomy and Cotrel-Dubousset instrumentation.

Cotrel-Dubousset Instrumentation in Lumbar Spine Disorders Associated with Instability / 대한정형외과학회잡지

In the surgical trestment of unstable Iumbar spinal disorders, various methods of instrumentstion have been used for stabilization of spine, correction of deformity and reduction of fracture, despite of their technical demands. This paper reports the results of 30 patients of Cotrel-Dubousset instrumentation and posterolateral fusion for the lumbar spinal disorders associated with instability. The results obtained were as follows:l. Of the 30 cases, males were 15 cases(50%), females were 15 cases(50%) and average age of the patients was 42 yesrs ranging from 16 to 65 years. 2. Types of the disorders were spondylolisthesis in 16, failed back syndrome in 6, spondylolysis in 2, spinal canal stenosis in 2, scoliosis associated with degenerative spondylitis in 2, and burst fracture in 2 cases. 3. Among the 28 cases, 11 cases were excellent and 14 cases were good in Steffee's criteria (2 cases of burst fractures were excluded). 4. In spondylolisthesis, the average percentage of slippage was changed from 20% preoperatively to 5% postoperatively and 5.2% at the final follow-up. The initial correction rate was 75% and the loss of correction was not significant in follow-up study. 5. The patients with neurological claudication were permitted ambulation from postoperative 3rd day. In the final follow-up, the 8 patients(80%) could walk for more than 1 hour without pain. 6. The complications were relatively few(3 cases of hematoma, 2 cases of marginal sloughing of skin with superficial infection and one case of transient dysuria). In this study, this method seemed to be superior to others for the treatment of lumbar spinal disorders associated with instability especially degenerative spinal disorders in the respect of stability. Simultaneously, it provides immediate postoperative rehabilitation without rigid external support.

The Dosage of Sodium Nitroprusside and its Effects on the Cardiovascular System for Deliberate Hypotension in Halothane Anesthesia / 대한마취과학회지

The effects of deliberate hypotension by sodium nitroprusside (SNP) on the cardiovascular system and dosage of SNP were studied in 10 patients undergone Cotrel-Dubousset instrumentation for the operative treatment of scoliosis, spinal stenosis or herniated intervertebral disc. Mean arterial pressure decreased significantly (p0.05), r= -0.2 (p>0.05), and r= - 0.25 (p>0.05) respectively. The amount of whole blood transfused during the operation was 5. 3+/-1 .7 units. Hemoglobin and hematocrit decreased significantly (p<0.05) from 11.3+/-1.3g/dl and 33.7+/-4.1% to 10.1+/-1.5g/dl and 30+/-4.1% during operation.

The Dose and Effects of Sodium Nitroprusside ( SNP ) on the Cardiovascular System During SNP - induced Hypotension under General Anesthesia with Enflurane / 대한마취과학회지

Sodium nitroprusside given by intravenous drip has been used to control hypertensive crises since 1929. Its evanescent action makes it suitable for controlled hypotension during general anesthesia with enflurane. The patients (n=10) were all undergoing Cotrel-Dubousset instrumentation for the operative treatment of scoliosis or spinal stenosis. Hemodynamic variables were obtained during administration of sodium nitroprusside. Mean arterial pressure was decreased to 50-60mmHg, while cardiac output, central venous pressure, systemic vascular resistance showed only minor changes. The average dosage of sodium nitroprusside (ug/kg/ min), plotted against age, showed a significant correlation (p<0.05, r= -0.63). The amonut of whole blood transfused during operation was 5.7+/-2.2 units (mean+/-SD) and postoperative hemoglobin and hematocrit (11.19+/-1.21g/dl, 33.49+/-3.79%, respectively, mean+/-SD) were singificantly lowered than preoperative hemoglobin and hematocrit (12.94+/-1.78g/dl, 37.22+/-4.88%, respectively, mean+/-SD) (hemoglobin: p<0.004, hematoorit: p<0.006).

A Case of Bilateral Pneumothorax In a Scoliosis with Marfan's Syndrome / 대한정형외과학회잡지

Scoliosis has been reported in 40 to 60 percent of patients with Marfsn's syndrome. The tensile strength of tissues in which the collagen is a major component has been to be reduced in this disease. An abnormality of cross-linking in the α2(I) peptide chain of collagen is the simplest explanation for this observation. We experienced a case of scolisis with Marfan's syndrome in whom Cotrel-Dubousset instrumentation was csrried out successfully and bilateral pneumothorax was observed in 10 days postoperatively. The occurrence of this complication, which has not been previously reported in the literature, suggests that excessive distractional and rotational force during procedure may be harzsrdous in the patient with intrinsic collagen weakness.