Application of bioabsorbable screw fixation for anterior cervical decompression and bone grafting

OBJECTIVES: To examine the application of bioabsorbable screws for anterior cervical decompression and bone grafting fixation and to study their clinical effects in the treatment of cervical spondylosis. METHODS: From March 2007 to September 2012, 56 patients, 36 males and 20 females (38-79 years old, average 58.3±9.47 years), underwent a novel operation. Grafts were fixed by bioabsorbable screws (PLLA, 2.7 mm in diameter) after anterior decompression. The bioabsorbable screws were inserted from the midline of the graft bone to the bone surface of the upper and lower vertebrae at 45 degree angles. Patients were evaluated post-operatively to observe the improvement of symptoms and evaluate the fusion of the bone. The Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score was used to evaluate the recovery of neurological functions. RESULTS: All screws were successfully inserted, with no broken screws. The rate of symptom improvement was 87.5%. All of the grafts fused well with no extrusion. The average time for graft fusion was 3.8±0.55 months (range 3-5 months). Three-dimensional reconstruction of CT scans demonstrated that the grafts fused with adjacent vertebrae well and that the screws were absorbed as predicted. The MRI findings showed that the cerebrospinal fluid was unobstructed. No obvious complications appeared in any of the follow-up evaluations. CONCLUSIONS: Cervical spondylosis with one- or two-level involvement can be effectively treated by anterior decompression and bone grafting with bioabsorbable screw fixation. This operative method is safe and can avoid the complications induced by metal implants.

A Unique Use of a Double-Pigtail Plastic Stent: Correction of Kinking of the Common Bile Duct Due to a Metal Stent

A 72-year-old man with jaundice by ampullary adenocarcinoma was treated at our hospital. For biliary decompression, a transpapillary, fully covered, self-expandable metal stent (FCSEMS) was deployed. Four days later, the patient developed acute cholangitis. Endoscopic carbon dioxide cholangiography revealed kinking of the common bile duct above the proximal end of the FCSEMS. A 7-F double-pigtail plastic stent was therefore placed through the FCSEMS to correct the kink, straightening the common bile duct (CBD) and improving cholangitis. This is the first report of a unique use of a double-pigtail plastic stent to correct CBD kinking. The placement of a double-pigtail plastic stent can correct CBD kinking, without requiring replacement or addition of a FCSEMS, and can lead to cost savings.

Tumor odontogênico queratocístico: atualidades / Keratocyst odontogenic tumor: an update

O tumor odontogênico queratocístico (TOQ) é uma neoplasia benigna dos ossos gnáticos, que apresenta agressividade local e alta taxa de recorrência. O TOQ é uma lesão intra-óssea, invasiva e destrutiva dos maxilares que apresenta crescimento lento e infiltrativo sendo, geralmente, uma lesão assintomática. A radiografia e a tomografia computadorizada auxiliam no diagnóstico, sendo necessária a biópsia e análise histopatológica para diagnóstico definitivo. Entre as técnicas de tratamento estão a ressecção, a enucleação, a curetagem, a descompressão e a marsupialização. É de suma importância que o cirurgião conheça a neoplasia e a recente classificação da Organização Mundial da Saúde para que, após o diagnóstico, os tratamentos sejam adequadamente escolhidos. Este estudo visou abordar atualidades acerca do TOQ por meio da revisão da literatura.

The keratocystic odontogenic tumor (KOT) is a benign neoplastic lesion of the jaws, disclosing a high local aggressiveness and a high recurrence rate. The KOT is an asymptomatic slow growing tumor of the jaws with an infiltrative, invasive and destructive intraosseous behavior. Radiography and computed tomography images aid the diagnosis but biopsy and histopathology must be carried out to point a definitive diagnosis. The treatment is a surgical procedure. The techniques are resection, enucleation, curettage, decompression and marsupialization. It is paramount that the surgeon knows the lesion features after the recent World Health Organization remarks to perform the best treatment after diagnosis. This study aimed to address updates about KOT through a literature review.

Fluoroscopically Guided Three-Tube Insertion for the Treatment of Postoperative Gastroesophageal Anastomotic Leakage

OBJECTIVE: To retrospectively evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of three-tube insertion for the treatment of postoperative gastroesophageal anastomotic leakage (GEAL). MATERIALS AND METHODS: From January 2007 to January 2011, 28 cases of postoperative GEAL after an esophagectomy with intrathoracic esophagogastric anastomotic procedures for esophageal and cardiac carcinoma were treated by the insertion of three tubes under fluoroscopic guidance. The three tubes consisted of a drainage tube through the leak, a nasogastric decompression tube, and a nasojejunum feeding tube. The study population consisted of 28 patients (18 males, 10 females) ranging in their ages from 36 to 72 years (mean: 59 years). We evaluated the feasibility of three-tube insertion to facilitate leakage site closure, and the patients' nutritional benefit by checking their serum albumin levels between pre- and post-enteral feeding via the feeding tube. RESULTS: The three tubes were successfully placed under fluoroscopic guidance in all twenty-eight patients (100%). The procedure times for the three tube insertion ranged from 30 to 70 minutes (mean time: 45 minutes). In 27 of 28 patients (96%), leakage site closure after three-tube insertion was achieved, while it was not attained in one patient who received stent implantation as a substitute. All patients showed good tolerance of the three-tube insertion in the nasal cavity. The mean time needed for leakage treatment was 21 +/- 3.5 days. The serum albumin level change was significant, increasing from pre-enteral feeding (2.5 +/- 0.40 g/dL) to post-enteral feeding (3.7 +/- 0.51 g/dL) via the feeding tube (p < 0.001). The duration of follow-up ranged from 7 to 60 months (mean: 28 months). CONCLUSION: Based on the results of this study, the insertion of three tubes under fluoroscopic guidance is safe, and also provides effective relief from postesophagectomy GEAL. Moreover, our findings suggest that three-tube insertion may be used as the primary procedure to treat postoperative GEAL.

Descompresión y fusión mínimamente invasiva de la columna lumbar / Minimally invasive decompression and fusion of the lumbar spine

La descompresión y fusión de la columna lumbar puede realizarse con técnicas mínimamente invasivas. Estas implican el uso de pequeñas portales de acceso a través de la piel y el músculo que hacen posible la visión directa de la anatomía, permitiendo descomprimir estructuras nerviosas, corregir alineamiento y fusionar segmentos de la columna lumbar. Con el desarrollo de técnicas mínimamente invasivas se espera obtener una mejor evolución postoperatoria inmediata y a largo plazo, mediante un menor trauma sobre la musculatura paravertebral.

The surgical decompression and fusion of the lumbar spine can be achieved by minimally invasive techniques. These techniques use reduced approaches through the skin and muscles to allow surgeons, an excellent view of anatomy to decompress neural elements, correct alignment and fuse the lumbar spine. The goal of minimally invasive spine surgery is to permit a better short and long outcomes by reduce the trauma on lumbar musculature.

Quiste óseo aneurismático de la columna vertebral: reporte de un caso / Aneurysmal bone cyst of the spine: case report

El quiste óseo aneurismático es un tumor de naturaleza neoplásica indefinida, de comportamiento benigno, crecimiento rápido y ocasionalmente de comportamiento agresivo, cuyo tratamiento de elección es la resección completa, aunque existe el riesgo de sangrado transquirúrgico excesivo. Se presenta el caso de una paciente con deformidad en columna torácica, con parestesias y debilidad muscular progresivas en extremidades inferiores, que evolucionó hasta la parálisis de dichas extremidades e incontinencia de ambos esfínteres. Mediante estudios de gabinete se localizaron lesiones líticas en cuerpos vetebrales T7 a T9 e invasión a conducto raquídeo. Los estudios electrofisiológicos identificaron bloqueo completo de la vía somatosensorial. Previa biopsia incisional, se realizó resección de la lesión y estabilización de la columna toracolumbar. La paciente evolucionó sin mejoría de la función medular. Los hallazgos morfológicos correspondieron a quiste óseo aneurismático en T8. Esta lesión se localiza principalmente en huesos largos y con mucho menor frecuencia en la columna vertebral, donde puede provocar inestabilidad y compresión de la médula espinal. Es posible confundirla con otras neoplasias, por lo que el diagnóstico definitivo mediante biopsia es imprescindible a fin de establecer el plan terapéutico adecuado, que elimine el riesgo de recurrencia o secuelas neurológicas asociadas, y lograr la estabilidad adecuada de los segmentos vertebrales afectados.

The aneurysmal bone cyst (ABC) is a fast-growing tumor of undefined neoplastic nature. It is occasionally an aggressive benign lesion whose treatment of choice is a complete resection, even though the risk of profuse transoperative bleeding exists. We present a female patient with thoracic spine deformity, with progressive paresthesias and muscle weakness of lower extremities that evolved to paralysis of both lower extremities and sphincter incontinence. Based on radiographic films, lytic lesions were identified at T7 to T9 vertebrae as well as medullary space invasion. In electrophysiologic tests, a complete somatosensorial pathway block was reported. Prior to resection of the neoplastic lesion and thoracolumbar stabilization, an incisional biopsy was performed. There was no postoperative medullary functional improvement. Morphological findings corresponded to an aneurysmal bone cyst at T8. This lesion is mainly located in the long bones and less frequently of the spine, where instability and medullary compression may occur. It is possible to confuse this neoplasia with other lesions. Hence, definite diagnosis with biopsy is necessary for determining an adequate therapeutic plan to eradicate recurrence risk or associated neurologic sequelae, as well as to gain proper stability at the involved vertebral segments.

Síndrome de Ogilvie: ¿qué hay de nuevo? / Ogilvieïs syndrome: what's new?

El Síndrome de Ogilvie es la dilatación aguda del colon derecho en ausencia de causas obstructivas mecánicas y que puede llegar a la perforación. Está asociado a diferentes enfermedades y especialmente a cirugía de causa obstétrica o ginecológica. Presentamos nuestra experiencia clínica en el manejo de 4 pacientes con este cuadro: 1 mujer y 3 hombres, con edades entre 36 y 78 años. Las causas asociadas fueron postcesárea, cardiopatía coronaria, pancreatitis aguda y diabetes mellitus descompensada. El diagnóstico se realizó con el cuadro clínico más la radiografía de abdomen simple, que mostró una dilatación en el colon derecho, con diámetros cecales entre 8 y 12 cm. El tratamiento fue endoscópico en 2 casos y en los 2 restantes quirúrgico, con descompresión cecal a través de una sonda. En un caso debió repetirse la descompresión endoscópica por recidiva precoz. Se usó una sonda descompresiva en todos los casos, que en 2 se avanzó hasta el ángulo esplénico con buenos resultados. Para el tratamiento médico se han usado diversos proquinéticos, pero sólo la neostigmina ha sido probada como útil en un estudio doble ciego y al azar. Suscribimos el manejo endoscópico de este cuadro, ya que realiza el tratamiento a la par que descarta una causa obstructiva mecánica