Age - Does it really count? A study of the Perioperative Morbidity and Long-Term Outcome in Patients Above 70 Years of Age Undergoing Spine surgery for Lumbar Degenerative Disorders / Idade - Deve ser levada em conta? Estudo da morbidade perioperatória e a evolução no longo prazo dos pacientes acima de 70 anos submetidos à cirurgia da coluna vertebral, devido a doenças degenerativas lombares

Abstract Objective To assess the long-term outcome and perioperative morbidity in spine surgeries for lumbar degenerative disorders and, thereby, to evaluate the safety of surgery in the aging population. Methods Retrospective study of patients aged > 70 years, operated for degenerative lumbar disorders between 2011 and 2015. We evaluated patient demographic, clinical and surgical data; comorbidities, perioperative complications, pre & postoperative pain scores and Oswestry disability index (ODI) scores, patient satisfaction and overall mortality. Results A total of 103 patients (Males: Females55:48) with mean age 74.6 years (70-85yrs) were studied. 60 patients (58.2%) had decompression alone, while 43 (41.8%) had decompression & fusion. Mean hospital stay was 5.7days. Mean follow-up was 47.6months (24-73mnths). Patients reported significant improvement in backpain (Numerical pain score 7.7 vs 1.6; p < 0.001), leg pain (Numerical pain score 7.4 vs 1.7; p < 0.001), disability (ODI 82.3 vs 19.1; p < 0.001) and walking distance (p < 0.001). 76% patients were satisfied with the results at the time of final follow-up. 26 patients (25.24%) had perioperative complications which were all minor, without mortality. Most common intraoperative & postoperative complications were dural tear (6.79%) & urinary tract infection (6.79%) respectively. Conclusions With meticulous perioperative care lumbar spine surgery is safe and effective in elderly population. Patients had longer mean hospital stay in view of the gradual and comprehensive rehabilitation program. Presence of comorbidities or minor perioperative complications did not increase the overall morbidity or affect the clinical outcomes of surgery in our study.

Resumo Objetivos Avaliar o resultado no longo prazo e a morbidade perioperatória em cirurgias da coluna vertebral, devido a doenças lombares degenerativas e, assim, avaliar a segurança da cirurgia na população idosa. Métodos Estudo retrospectivo de pacientes com idade superior a 70 anos, submetidos à cirurgia em virtude de distúrbios lombares degenerativos, entre 2011 e 2015. Foram avaliados os dados demográficos, clínicos e cirúrgicos dos pacientes; comorbidades; complicações perioperatórias; escores de dor no pré e no pós-operatório; índice de incapacidade de Oswestry (ODI, na sigla em inglês); satisfação do paciente e a mortalidade geral. Resultados Foram estudados 103 pacientes (homens:mulheres, 55:48) com idade média de 74,6 anos (70 a 85 anos). 60 pacientes (58,2%) apresentaram somente descompressão, enquanto 43 (41,8%) apresentaram descompressão e fusão. O tempo médio de internação foi de 5,7 dias. O tempo médio de acompanhamento foi de 47,6 meses (24-73 meses). Os pacientes relataram melhora significativa da dor nas costas (pontuação numérica da dor 7,7 versus 1,6; p < 0,001), dor nas pernas (pontuação numérica da dor 7,4 versus 1,7; p < 0,001), incapacidade (ODI 82,3 versus 19,1; p < 0,001) e distância percorrida a pé (p < 0,001). Um total de 76% dos pacientes estavam satisfeitos com os resultados no momento do acompanhamento final. 26 pacientes (25,24%) apresentaram complicações perioperatórias, todas sem relevância e sem mortalidade. As complicações intra e pós-operatórias mais comuns foram ruptura dural (6,79%) e infecção do trato urinário (6,79%), respectivamente. Conclusões Com meticulosos cuidados perioperatórios, a cirurgia da coluna lombar é segura e eficaz na população idosa. Os pacientes tiveram um maior tempo médio de internação hospitalar, em virtude do programa de reabilitação gradual e abrangente. A presença de comorbidades ou complicações perioperatórias sem relevância, não aumentou a morbidade geral, nem afetou os resultados clínicos da cirurgia em nosso estudo.

Multilevel Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion Combined with Posterior Stabilization in Lumbar Disc Disease- Prospective Analysis of Clinical and Functional Outcomes / Artrodese lombar intersomática anterior multinível combinada com estabilização posterior em discopatia-Análise clínico-funcional prospectiva

Abstract Objective This was a prospective controlled study with lumbar degenerative disc disease patients submitted to instrumented anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) combined with posterior stabilization. Methods A sample with 64 consecutive patients was operated by the same surgeons over 4 years. Half of the ALIFs occurred at 2 levels, 43.8% at 3 levels, and 6.25% at 1 level. Interbody cages with integrated screws, filled with bone matrix and bone morphogenetic protein 2, were used. Results Half of the patients had undergone previous lumbar spine surgeries, 75% presented with associated degenerative listhesis, and 62.5% had posterior lumbar compression disease. Approximately 56% of the sample had at least 1 risk factor for nonunion. The Oswestry index changed from 71.81 ± 7.22 at the preoperative assessment to 24.75 ± 7.82 at the final follow-up evaluation, while the visual analogue pain scale changed from 7.88 ± 0.70 to 2.44 ± 0.87 (p < 0.001). Clinical and functional improvements increased with the number of operated levels, proving the efficacy of multilevel ALIF, performed in 93.75% of the sample. The global complication rate was of 7.82%, with no major complications. No cases of nonunion were observed. Conclusion Instrumented ALIF combined with posterior stabilization is a successful option for uni- and multilevel degenerative disc disease of the L3 to S1 segments, even in the significant presence of risk factors for nonunion and of previous lumbar surgeries, assuring very satisfactory clinical-functional and radiographic outcomes with a low medium-term complication rate.

Resumo Objetivo Estudo prospectivo controlado em pacientes com discopatia degenerativa submetidos a artrodese intersomática lombar anterior instrumentada combinada com estabilização posterior. Métodos Amostra com64 pacientes consecutivos operados pelos mesmos cirurgiões ao longo de quatro anos. Metade das artrodeses intersomática lombar anterior foi efetuada emdois níveis, 43,8% emtrês níveis e 6,25% emumnível. Foramusadas caixas intersomáticas com parafusos integrados preenchidas com matriz óssea e proteína morfogenética óssea 2. Resultados Metade da amostra apresentava cirurgias prévias à coluna lombar, 75% listeses degenerativas associadas e 62,5% patologia compressiva posterior da coluna lombar. Aproximadamente 56% da amostra apresentavam pelo menos um fator de risco de não união da artrodese. O índice Oswestry passou de 71,81 ± 7,22 no pré-operatório para 24,75 ± 7,82 na avaliação no fimdo tempo de seguimento, enquanto a escala visual analógica da dor passou de 7,88 ± 0,70 para 2,44 ± 0,87 (p < 0,001). Amelhoria clínicofuncional foi crescente de acordo com a intervenção num número superior de níveis, o que comprova a eficácia da artrodese intersomática lombar anterior multinível, aplicada em 93,75% da amostra. Ataxa global de complicações foi de 7,82% e de complicaçõesmajor de 0%. Não se identificou qualquer caso de não união. Conclusão A artrodese intersomática lombar anterior instrumentada combinada com estabilização posterior é uma opção de sucesso na discopatia degenerativa uni ou multinível dos segmentos de L3 a S1, mesmo empresença significativa de fatores de

Posterior L5-S1 transdiscal screws for high grade spondylolisthesis - a systematic review

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: The surgical management of high-grade lumbar spondylolisthesis (HGLS) is complex and aims to achieve both a solid fusion that is able to support the high shear forces of the lumbosacral junction, as well as neural decompression. We performed a systematic literature review of the safety and efficacy of posterior transdiscal (PTD) screw fixation from L5S1 for HGLS and its variations. METHODS: A systematic literature review following the PRISMA guidelines was performed in the PubMed database of the studies describing the use of PTD screw fixation for HGLS. Clinical and radiological data were extracted and discussed. Study quality was assessed with the Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine Levels of Evidence. RESULTS: Seven studies were included and reviewed; all of them were level IV of evidence. Two of them had large case series comparing different surgical techniques: one concluded that PTD was associated with better clinical outcomes when compared with standard screw fixation techniques and the other suggesting that the clinical and radiological outcomes of PTD were similar to those when an interbody fusion (TLIF) technique was performed, but PTD was technically less challenging. The remaining five studies included small case series and case reports. All of them reported the successful useful of PTD with or without technical variations. CONCLUSIONS: Our review concludes, with limited level of evidence that PTD fixation is a safe and efficient technique for treating HGLS patients. It is technically less demanding than a circumferential fusion, even though proper screw insertion is more demanding than conventional pedicle screw fixation.

RESUMO OBJETIVOS: O tratamento cirúrgico das listeses de alto grau da coluna lombar (LAGCL) é complexo, objetivando alcançar uma fusão sólida capaz de suportar o estresse biomecânico da junção lombo-sacra, bem como descompressão do tecido neural. Realizamos revisão sistemática da literatura para avaliar a segurança e a eficácia da fixação transdiscal (FTD) L5S1 em LAGCL e suas variações. MÉTODOS: Realizamos revisão sistemática conforme metodologia Prisma na base de dados PubMed dos estudos que utilizaram FTD no tratamento das LAGCL e suas variações. Dados clínicos e radiológicos foram extraídos dos trabalhos e discutidos. A qualidade dos estudos foi avaliada segundo o Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine Levels of Evidence. RESULTADOS: Sete estudos foram incluídos e analisados, todos com nível IV de evidência. Dois estudos tinham séries de casos maiores, comparando diferentes técnicas cirúrgicas: um concluiu que a FTD foi associada a melhor prognóstico clínico quando comparada à fixação pedicular tradicional, e o outro sugeriu que os resultados clínicos e radiológicos com a FTD foram semelhantes à fusão intersomática, porém com menor demanda técnica na FTD. Os demais cinco estudos eram pequenas séries ou relatos de casos. Todos reportaram o uso da FTD com sucesso, com e sem variações da técnica. CONCLUSÃO: Concluímos que, embora com evidências limitadas, a FTD é segura e efetiva no tratamento das LAGCL. É tecnicamente mais simples do que a fusão circunferencial (intersomática), porém com maior complexidade que a fixação pedicular convencional.

Remote Cerebellar Hemorrhage after Surgery for Degenerative Lumbar Spine Disease: A Case Report / 대한신경손상학회지

Spine surgery has been increased as the population ages, but the occurrence of unusual complication such as remote cerebellar hemorrhage (RCH) is not well understood. We recently experienced a case of RCH in a 60-year-old woman showed neurologic dysfunction after degenerative lumbar spine surgery. There was no definite dural tearing and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) loss during operation. Brain magnetic resonance imaging showed cerebellar hemorrhage. The patient received conservative management and rehabilitation program. Most other reports have been suggested that RCH after spinal surgery might be related with excessive CSF drainage perioperatively. Minimizing of CSF loss during operation would be helpful to reduce the risk of RCH. If large volume of CSF has been lost accompanied by neurologic deterioration, brain imaging is necessary simultaneously.

Evaluation of Different Surgical Procedures for the Treatment of Lumbar Spondylolisthesis: A Clinical Analysis of 202 Cases / 中华骨科杂志

Purpose: Through the analysis of 202 cases of spondylolisthesis treated with surgery, the different types of surgical procedures were reevaluated. Material and Method: Patients with spondylolisthesis were divided into 3 groups based upon their pathology and different surgical procedures were used accordingly. The results were evaluated after follow-up of more than one year. Group Ⅰ consisted of 38 patients with degenerative spondylolisthesis with back pain and isthmic spondylolisthesis of less than 33%; they were treated with anterior intervertebral body fusion. Group Ⅱ consisted of 99 cases of mild isthmic spondylolisthesis with unilateral sciatica, and were treated with semi-laminectomy and decompression of symptomatic side; interlaminar and interspinous process fusion of the opposite side was performed for 99 cases of mild isthmic spondylolisthesis with unilateral sciatica. Group Ⅲ consisted of 65 cases of spondylolisthesis more than 33% with sciatica and they were treated with decompression, reduction of sliding vertebra and posterior intervertebral body fusion. Result: In group Ⅰ, solid fusion was in 20 cases giving a fusion rate of 91%. In group Ⅱ, the satisfactory rate was as high as 91.5%. In group Ⅲ, the satisfactory rate and fusion rate reached 91.8% and 95.9% respectively. Conclusion: Reduction of spondylolisthesis could increase the fusion contact area, restore normal mechanics and saggital curve of the lumbar spine, relieve neural compression and improve the extemal appearance and function. For the surgical treatment of spondylolisthesis, the major goal should toward a solid fusion between the sliding vertebra and its adjacent vertebrae and laminectomy alone is not a procedure of choice.