Anterior approach with expandable cage implantation in management of unstable thoracolumbar fractures: Results of a series of 93 patients.

INTRODUCTION: Anterior approach indications in unstable thoracolumbar fractures (UTLF) are debated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the results of anterior fixation and expandable prosthetic vertebral body cage (EPVBC) implantation alone or combined with a posterior approach in the management of UTLF. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ninety-three patients underwent anterior fixation with implantation of an EPVBC for UTLF from T7 to L5. Long-term kyphosis and vertebral height loss reduction, functional outcomes including visual analogical scale and Oswestry disability index were evaluated. RESULTS: Anterior fixation led to a significant increase of vertebral body height with a gain of 13% after a previous posterior approach, 38% after a single anterior approach and 65% after combined posterior and anterior approaches (P=0.0001). However, anterior fixation did not significantly enhance the vertebral regional kyphosis angle (P=0.08), except in cases of single anterior approach for thoracic fractures (P=0.03). No significant difference was found between early, 3 months and 1 year postoperative vertebral regional kyphosis angle and vertebral body height (P=0.6). Complete fusion was routinely observed at 1 year postoperatively. rhBMP2 implantation in selected cases appears to be a safe and reliable strategy. No infections or surgical revisions were observed after the anterior approach. CONCLUSION: Anterior approach and EPVBC implantation, in UTLF, is a safe and effective procedure, providing long-term vertebral body height and kyphosis correction. Adverse effects of anterior approach remain acceptable. Single anterior fixation is a reliable surgical alternative in thoracic fractures without posterior spine segment injury or spinal cord compression. These results prompted us to extend anterior approach indications in oncology and infectious diseases.

[Management of spinal metastasis by minimal invasive surgery technique: Surgical principles, indications: A literature review]. / Prise en charge des métastases rachidiennes par technique chirurgicale mini-invasive : principes chirurgicaux, indications : revue de la littérature.

INTRODUCTION: Spinal metastasis are getting more frequent. This raises the question of pain and neurological complications, which worsen the functional and survival prognosis of this oncological population patients. The surgical treatment must be the most complete as possible: to decompress and stabilize without delaying the management of the oncological disease. Minimal invasive surgery techniques are by definition, less harmful on musculocutaneous plan than opened ones, with a comparable efficiency demonstrated in degenerative and traumatic surgery. So they seem to be applicable and appropriate to this patient population. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We detailed different minimal invasive techniques proposed in the management of spinal metastasis. For this, we used our experience developed in degenerative and traumatic pathologies, and we also referred to many authors, establishing a literature review thanks to Pubmed, Embase. RESULTS: Thirty eight articles were selected and allowed us to describe different techniques: percutaneous methods such as vertebro-/kyphoplasty and osteosynthesis, as well as mini-opened surgery, through a posterior or anterior way. DISCUSSION: We propose a surgical approach using these minimal invasive techniques, first according to the predominant symptom (pain or neurologic failure), then characteristics of the lesions (number, topography, type…) and the deformity degree. Whatever the technique, the main goal is to stabilize and decompress, in order to maintain a good quality of life for these fragile patients, without delaying the medical management of the oncological disease.

[Use of pedicle percutaneous cemented screws in the management of patients with poor bone stock]. / Utilisation de vis cimentées percutanées dans la prise en charge rachidienne des patients à faible capacité osseuse.

INTRODUCTION: Management of patients with poor bone stock remains difficult due to the risks of mechanical complications such as screws pullouts. At the same time, development of minimal invasive spinal techniques using a percutaneous approach is greatly adapted to these fragile patients with a reduction in operative time and complications. The aim of this study was to report our experience with cemented percutaneous screws in the management of patients with a poor bone stock. METHODS: Thirty-five patients were included in this retrospective study. In each case, a percutaneous osteosynthesis using cemented screws was performed. Indications were osteoporotic fractures, metastasis or fractures on ankylosing spine. Depending on radiologic findings, short or long constructs (2 levels above and below) were performed and an anterior column support (kyphoplasty or anterior approach) was added. Evaluation of patients was based on pre and postoperative CT-scans associated with clinical follow-up with a minimum of 6 months. RESULTS: Eleven men and 24 women with a mean age of 73 years [60-87] were included in the study. Surgical indication was related to an osteoporotic fracture in 20 cases, a metastasis in 13 cases and a fracture on ankylosing spine in the last 2 cases. Most of the fractures were located between T10 and L2 and a long construct was performed in 22 cases. Percutaneous kyphoplasty was added in 24 cases and a complementary anterior approach in 3 cases. Average operative time was 86minutes [61-110] and blood loss was estimated as minor in all the cases. In the entire series, average volume of cement injected was 1.8 cc/screw. One patient underwent a major complication with a vascular leakage responsible for a cement pulmonary embolism. With a 9 months average follow-up [6-20], no cases of infection or mechanical complication was reported. CONCLUSION: Minimal invasive spinal techniques are greatly adapted to the management of fragile patients. The use of percutaneous cemented screws is, in our experience, a valuable alternative for spinal fixation in patients with poor bone stock. This technique allows a good bony fixation with a low rate of complications. However, rigorous preoperative planning is necessary in order to avoid complications.

Minimally invasive transmuscular approach for the treatment of benign intradural extramedullary spinal cord tumours: Technical note and results.

BACKGROUND: Minimally invasive surgery has expanded over the past two decades and was initially used for the treatment of lumbar disc herniation. Later, this approach was used to treat other spine pathologies, as well as to perform spinal fusion and extended spinal decompression. In this study, we report our experience regarding the use of a minimal surgical approach in the treatment of intradural extramedullary spinal cord tumours. METHODS: Between January 2008 and July 2013, 18 patients with an intradural extramedullary tumour were included in the study (13 thoracic, 4 lumbar and one cervical tumours). The mean age was 59 years. We operated on 11 meningiomas, 6 neurinomas and one ependymoma. All patients underwent minimally invasive surgery using a tubular retractor system to perform a hemilaminectomy in order to access the spinal canal. Fifteen patients had a neurological deficit and 7 suffered from radicular pain prior to surgery. RESULTS: Gross completed resection was performed in all patients. Mean time of surgery was 95 min. Blood loss was less than 200 cc. Fifteen patients out of 18 were able to get up the day after surgery. Mean hospital stay was 6 days. There were no complications. CONCLUSION: A minimal surgical approach using a tubular retractor permits an effective resection of intradural extramedullary tumours. This procedure may be a useful tool to decrease the risk of secondary spine instability and postoperative kyphosis, and could also be used for spinal junctions and in fragile patients.

[Minimal invasive circumferential fusion in the management of kyphotic thoracolumbar lesions: Technical note]. / Arthrodèse circonférentielle par voie mini-invasive dans la prise en charge des lésions rachidiennes thoracolombaires cyphosantes: note technique.

INTRODUCTION: Management of spinal kyphotic deformities remains challenging in order to achieve a complete correction of the deformity, stabilize the spine and restore a satisfactory sagittal alignment. The aim of this study was to report the results of a technique combining, during the same operative session: a percutaneous osteosynthesis (with or without decompression) and a minimal invasive corpectomy using an anterior approach. METHODS: Twelve patients (mean age 54 years old) were included in this single center retrospective study. Kyphotic deformity was related to a trauma in 9 cases, to a tumor in 2 cases and was infectious in the last case. The level involved was L1 in 7 cases, T12 in 3 cases, T10 and L4 in 1 case each. First step of the surgical strategy was a routine posterior percutaneous osteosynthesis. In 5 cases, a complementary minimal invasive decompression was performed using tubular retractors. During the second step, an anterior corpectomy was performed and the vertebral reconstruction was done using telescopic vertebral body prosthesis. Once the last correction was achieved, final locking of the posterior instrumentation was performed. RESULTS: In the entire series, a short construct was done in 2 cases and a long construct was decided for the 10 other cases depending on the lesion. Mean surgical time was 246 min [173-375] and postoperative blood transfusion was not necessary. Patients were discharged from the hospital on average at day 8 [4-25] according to associated lesions. Based on radiographic analyses, a significant restoration of the vertebral kyphosis (average 17°, P<0.001) and vertebral body height (27% on average, P<0.001) were obtained. CONCLUSION: Combination of these two minimal invasive techniques allows a circumferential spinal fixation with a low rate of complications and a satisfactory restoration of local sagittal deformity. This strategy is, in our experience, a valuable alternative to conventional techniques. Further studies with a longer follow-up will therefore needed in order to confirm these results.

Long-term survivors after surgical management of metastatic spinal cord compression.

PURPOSE: Metastatic spinal cord compression (MSCC) incidences are increasing. Our objective was to identify predictive factors involved in long-term survival after use of a surgical approach. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed all patients referred to our institution for MSCC who underwent surgery (N = 138). We identified patients with an overall survival (OS) rate greater than 2 years, compared their characteristics to the remaining patients, and performed recursive partitioning analysis (RPA). RESULTS: Median OS was 7.8 months (95 % confidence interval 4.4-11.2). Thirty-nine patients presented with OS ≥2 years. A comparative analysis found significant differences concerning the delay (first symptom-surgery, p < 0.001), number of systemic (p = 0.001) or bone metastases (p = 0.013), Karnofsky performance status (KPS) (p = 0.006), Frankel (p = 0.025), ASA scores (p < 0.001), weight loss (p = 0.003), hyperalgia (p = 0.002), chemotherapy use (p = 0.034), and primary tumor (p < 0.001). RPA classification identified six prognostic classes based on the ASA score, primary type, KPS, and systemic metastases. CONCLUSION: Long-term metastatic cancer survivor patients are an increasing population with specific characteristics.

Early percutaneous fixation of spinal thoracolumbar fractures in polytrauma patients.

INTRODUCTION: Care of polytrauma patients is complex and requires that a particular treatment sequence be followed during what is typically a short period of time. Early, temporary stabilization of injuries (damage control orthopedics [DCO]) is a validated strategy for the care of polytrauma patients. Application of this concept to spinal fractures has also led to good outcomes for patients. The recent development of percutaneous thoracolumbar fixation could improve the initial care of these vulnerable patients even more. The purpose of this study was to evaluate preliminary results in a series of polytrauma patients presenting with thoracolumbar fractures without neurological deficits who were treated according to DCO principles using early percutaneous fixation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All severe polytrauma patients admitted with a thoracic and/or lumbar spine fracture without neurological deficit were included in this prospective study. The care was standardized according to the degree of urgency of the initial injuries, with percutaneous spinal fixation being performed as early as feasible. The outcomes were evaluated using clinical parameters (duration of stay in intensive care unit, surgical data, blood loss) and radiographic parameters measured during a systematic postoperative CT scan (traumatic deformity, placement of pedicle screws, fusion rate). If needed, an anterior intervertebral graft was performed during a secondary procedure. RESULTS: In all, 10 patients (average age of 40 years) were included, corresponding to 18 vertebral fractures. During the initial assessment, at least one peripheral bone fracture was found in 90% of cases and at least one organ was injured in all patients (thoracic in 80% of cases, cerebral in 50%, facial area in 40% and abdominal-pelvis in 30%). The average time elapsed between admission and spine surgery was 4 days (80% of cases before day 7). There were no cases of deep infection in any of the patients. An additional anterior procedure was needed in three patients within 1 month of the initial surgery. DISCUSSION: The strategy for treating thoracolumbar fractures in polytrauma patients is still not widely accepted. The presence of associated lesions could make it difficult to perform conventional spine surgery early on. Development of percutaneous techniques that reduce perioperative morbidity seems to be an alternative approach well-suited to DCO, as long as there are no neurological deficits. However, a secondary evaluation of the anterior spine is essential to determining if an anterior graft remains needed. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV.

Endovascular aortic injury repair after thoracic pedicle screw placement.

Our objective was to describe the management and prevention of thoracic aortic injuries caused by a malposition of pedicle screws in corrective surgery of major spine deformities. Positioning pedicle screws in thoracic vertebras by posterior approach exposes to the risk of injury of the elements placed ahead of the thoracic spine, as the descending thoracic aorta. This complication can result in a cataclysmic bleeding, needing urgent vascular care, but it can also be totally asymptomatic, resulting in the long run in a pseudoaneurysm, justifying the systematic removal of the hardware. We report the case of a 76-year-old woman who underwent spinal correction surgery for thoraco-lumbar degenerative kypho-scoliosis. Immediately after the surgery, a thoracic aortic injury caused by the left T7 pedicle screw was diagnosed. The patient underwent a two-step surgery. The first step was realized by vascular surgeons and aimed to secure the aortic wall by short endovascular aortic grafting. During the second step, spine surgeons removed the responsible screw by posterior approach. The patient was discharged in a rehabilitation center 7 days after the second surgery. When such a complication occurs, a co-management by vascular and spine surgeons is necessary to avoid major complications. Endovascular management of this kind of vascular injuries permits to avoid an open surgery that have a great rate of morbi-mortality in frail patients. Nowadays, technologies exist to prevent this kind of event and may improve the security when positioning pedicle screws.

Surgical management of cervical radiculomedullary arterial aneurysm with subarachnoid haemorrhage: a case report.

The aim of this paper was to report an unusual case of a 30-year-old woman admitted to the emergency department for a subarachnoid spinal haemorrhage. Clinical presentation was typical and the initial CT-scan did not show any intracranial lesions. Diagnosis was then confirmed by a full-spinal MRI that revealed a cervical radiculomedullary artery aneurysm. The diagnosis was also confirmed by an arteriography that showed a left C6 radiculomedullary artery aneurysm. Surgical management was performed and included a direct approach of the vascular lesion using an anterolateral cervicotomy and occlusion of the parent vessel. Histological examination confirmed the typical aspect of the aneurysm. The postoperative course was uneventful and the patient was discharged from hospital at day 15. This type of vascular lesion is very uncommon and requires a prompt diagnosis. Initial MRI can confirm the presence of a subarachnoid haemorrhage related to the aneurysm, which can be also visualized by an arteriography. Management of these vascular disorders requires a multidisciplinary specialized spine-team and is commonly performed using a direct surgical approach.

Limited endoscopic transsphenoidal approach for cavernous sinus biopsy: illustration of 3 cases and discussion.

Advances in transsphenoidal surgery and endoscopic techniques have opened new perspectives for cavernous sinus (CS) approaches. The aim of this study was to assess the advantages and disadvantages of limited endoscopic transsphenoidal approach, as performed in pituitary adenoma surgery, for CS tumor biopsy illustrated with three clinical cases. The first case was a 46-year-old woman with a prior medical history of parotid adenocarcinoma successfully treated 10 years previously. The cavernous sinus tumor was revealed by right third and sixth nerve palsy and increased over the past three years. A tumor biopsy using a limited endoscopic transsphenoidal approach revealed an adenocarcinoma metastasis. Complementary radiosurgery was performed. The second case was a 36-year-old woman who consulted for diplopia with right sixth nerve palsy and amenorrhea with hyperprolactinemia. Dopamine agonist treatment was used to restore the patient's menstrual cycle. Cerebral magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a right sided CS tumor. CS biopsy, via a limited endoscopic transsphenoidal approach, confirmed a meningothelial grade 1 meningioma. Complementary radiosurgery was performed. The third case was a 63-year-old woman with progressive installation of left third nerve palsy and visual acuity loss, revealing a left cavernous sinus tumor invading the optic canal. Surgical biopsy was performed using an enlarged endoscopic transsphenoidal approach to the decompress optic nerve. Biopsy results revealed a meningothelial grade 1 meningioma. Complementary radiotherapy was performed. In these three cases, no complications were observed. Mean hospitalization duration was 4 days. Reported anatomical studies and clinical series have shown the feasibility of reaching the cavernous sinus using an endoscopic endonasal approach. Trans-foramen ovale CS percutaneous biopsy is an interesting procedure but only provides cell analysis results, and not tissue analysis. However, radiotherapy and radiosurgery have proven effective for SC meningiomas. When histological diagnosis is required, limited endoscopic transsphenoidal approach appears as a safe, fast, and useful alternative to the classical endocranial approach. Also, a tailored enlargement of the approach could be performed if optic nerve decompression is required. The feasibility of CS endoscopic transsphenoidal biopsy has prompted us to consider CS biopsy when the diagnosis of CS meningioma is uncertain.

Metastatic odontoid fracture management by anterior screw fixation and kyphoplasty.

We report the case of a patient diagnosed with a pathological fracture of the odontoid dens related to a renal carcinoma metastasis and treated by an original technique. In order to achieve correct stabilization of the fracture and to preserve rotational neck mobility, an anterior approach combining an odontoid screw fixation and a balloon kyphoplasty was performed. This minimal invasive strategy provided satisfactory clinical and radiological results for this unstable lesion. To our knowledge, this technique has not been previously reported and could be a valuable alternative approach in the management of craniocervical metastatic lesions for these fragile patients.

Adult symptomatic and growing arachnoid cyst successfully treated by ventriculocystostomy: a new insight on adult arachnoid cyst history.

BACKGROUND: Adult arachnoid cysts are known to be stable and asymptomatic but their history remains undefined. CASE DESCRIPTION: The authors report the case of an 81-year-old woman with progressive hemiplegia and aphasia. CT scan revealed a voluminous left frontotemporal arachnoid cyst with a major mass effect on the midline and contralateral blocked hydrocephalus. Endoscopic ventriculocystostomy was performed with a spectacular neurological improvement. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Symptomatic adult arachnoid cysts are extremely rare. To our knowledge, no similar clinical case of a growing arachnoid cyst in elderly patients has yet been reported in the literature. The mechanisms of cyst enlargement and decompensation still remain undefined and debated. The possibility of adult arachnoid cyst growth has to be considered in clinical practice. Endoscopic ventriculocystostomy is as effective as in paediatric cases.

L1 burst fracture with associated vertebral angioma.

Vertebral angioma is a common bone tumor. We report a case of L1 vertebral angioma revealed by type A3.2 traumatic pathological fracture of the same vertebra. Management comprised emergency percutaneous osteosynthesis and, after stabilization of the multiple trauma, arterial embolization and percutaneous kyphoplasty.

[Double traumatic cervical spine lesion (odontoid fracture and spinal cord injury) and Klippel-Feil syndrome]. / Double lésion traumatique du rachis cervical (fracture de l'odontoïde et contusion médullaire C5-C6) et syndrome de Klippel-Feil.

Klippel-Feil syndrome (KFS) is defined as a congenital fusion of at least two cervical vertebrae. Patients with KFS are known to be at high risk for spinal cord injury in case of cervical trauma even with weak kinetic. We report the case of a patient with C4-C5 and C6-C7 congenital fusion, harbouring C5-C6 post-traumatic spinal cord injury, associated with an odontoid fracture type 2 of Anderson and D'Alonzo classification following a motorbike accident.

Modified posterior atlantoaxial screw-rod fixation in a case of persistent first intersegmental artery. Case report and literature review.

OBJECTIVE: This case reports atlantoaxial stabilization in case of V3 segment anomaly. PATIENT: We report the case of a patient who was victim of a complex C2 fracture requiring atlantoaxial stabilization whereas the initial cervical 3D CT angiography showed a persistent first intersegmental artery consisting in a V3 segment of the vertebral artery penetrating dura-mater in the spinal canal below the C1 posterior arch without passing through the C1 foramen transversarium. RESULTS: This rare vascular anomaly described in 2 to 5% of the patients led us to modify the screw entrance over the C1 posterior arch in order to obtain a satisfactory stabilization and to limit the risk of vertebral artery injury.

Anterolateral kyphoplasty in the management of cervical spinal metastasis.

Management of spinal metastasis is still controversial and must take into account various parameters. The aim of this study is to report the technical feasibility of a less invasive anterior cervical balloon kyphoplasty for vertebral body reinforcement. Six consecutive patients with an osteolytic cervical metastasis, without neurologic compromise, and for whom a curative treatment was not indicated, were retrospectively reviewed. All patients underwent balloon kyphoplasty through a small anterolateral cervicotomy. Evaluation of the technique outcomes was clinical and radiologic with a systematic CT-scan. During the follow-up period (6 months average), neurologic examination was normal in all cases with reduced cervical pain and without reported loss of motion of the cervical spine. A cement leakage was noticed in two cases without clinical consequences. This less invasive procedure was feasible and provided satisfactory preliminary results. It can therefore be a valuable alternative in selected cases where a curative treatment is not indicated.

Minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion through a unilateral approach and percutaneous osteosynthesis.

OBJECTIVES: To assess a surgical technique and the postoperative outcomes of a consecutive series of 22 patients treated for degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis (DLS) through a minimally invasive unilateral approach associating interbody fusion and percutaneous osteosynthesis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-two patients were included in this study, with a mean age of 60 years (range, 35-77 years). All had low-grade single-level DLS. In all cases, the technique included a posterior unilateral paramedial approach through a tubular retractor that decompressed the vertebral canal and transforaminal intervertebral cage arthrodesis. Osteosynthesis was then systematically put in place. The evaluation criteria were clinical (pain, spinal symptoms, duration of hospital stay) and radiological. The entire series was followed up for a mean of 24 months. RESULTS: In this series, the procedure was performed with no technical problems. The mean hospital stay lasted 4.5 days. Postoperative pain assessment showed a mean VAS of 2/10 at discharge and 75% of the patients were asymptomatic at 6 months. The radiological exams showed no extrapedicular screws and the fusion rate was 95% at the last follow-up (with one patient needing surgical revision for malunion). CONCLUSION: Transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion through a unilateral approach associated with percutaneous osteosynthesis is a reliable and effective technique in DLS surgery. The clinical and radiological results are encouraging, with low morbidity and a fusion rate comparable to conventional techniques. However, a longer follow-up will be necessary so as to assess the long-term results of this surgical strategy.

Percutaneous management of thoracolumbar burst fractures: Evolution of techniques and strategy.

INTRODUCTION: A number of techniques have been described in the management of thoracolumbar spinal fractures, testimony to the absence of consensus on their treatment. For the past few years, minimally invasive techniques have been developed to limit surgery-related iatrogenic injury. The objective of this study was to report the results of percutaneous management of these lesions and the technical progress made based on our experience. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-nine patients presenting an A3 fracture, with a mean age of 51 years, were included in this study. All had a balloon kyphoplasty and percutaneous osteosynthesis. Of the first 22 cases, kyphoplasty was the initial procedure performed associated with reduction maneuvers using distraction. Assessment was clinical (neurological status and pain intensity) and radiological (implant positioning, cement leakage, restoration of local kyphosis and any loss of correction). RESULTS: In the overall series, the mean local kyphosis correction was 11° with a 2° angle loss at the last follow-up. Pain assessment showed significant improvement, decreasing from 6/10 to 1/10 on discharge. The mean hospital stay lasted 4 days. On the follow-up radiological exams, no cases of extrapedicular screw migration were noted; in two cases, lateral cement leakage was found. The results were equivalent in terms of correction no matter which procedure was performed first, although for the second part of the series the technology was available to bend the spinal fixation rod to the desired curve. DISCUSSION: The results of this study support the growing interest in minimally invasive techniques in the management of spinal injuries with no neurological deficit. In addition, the evolving material makes it possible to come close to conventional techniques, including reduction maneuvers, while limiting muscle injury by using a purely percutaneous approach. Rigorous patient selection is necessary and the time to learn the procedure must be taken into account. Studies with a longer follow-up are required to confirm the stability of the correction over time. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV. Retrospective observational study.

Severe thoracolumbar osteoporotic burst fractures: treatment combining open kyphoplasty and short-segment fixation.

INTRODUCTION: The majority of osteoporotic, spinal cord compressive, vertebral fractures occurs at the thoracolumbar junction level. When responsible for neurological impairment, these rare lesions require a decompression procedure. We present the results of a new option to treat these lesions: an open balloon kyphoplasty associated with a short-segment posterior internal fixation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twelve patients, aged a mean 72.3 years, were included in this prospective series; all of them presented osteoporotic burst fractures located between T11 and L2 associated with neurological impairment. The surgical procedure first consisted of a laminectomy, for decompression, followed by an open balloon kyphoplasty. A short-segment posterior internal fixation was subsequently put into place when the local kyphosis was considered severe. A CAT scan study evaluated local vertebral body's height restoration using two pre- and postoperative radiological indices. RESULTS: All of the patients in the series were followed up for a mean 14 months. Local kyphosis improved a mean 10.8 (p<0.001). Vertebral body height was also substantially restored, with a mean gain of 26% according to the anterior height/adjacent height ratio and 28% according to the Beck Index (p<0.001). Two cases of cement leakage were recorded, with no adverse clinical side effect. Complete neurological recovery was observed in 10 patients; two retained a minimal neurological deficit but kept a walking capacity. DISCUSSION: The results presented in this study confirm the data reported in the literature in terms of local kyphosis correction and vertebral body height restoration. The combination of this technique with laminectomy plus osteosynthesis allowed us to effectively treat burst fractures of the thoracolumbar junction and led to stable results 1 year after surgery. This can be advantageous in a population often carrying multiple co-morbidities. With a single operation, we can achieve neurological decompression and spinal column stability in a minimally invasive way; this avoids more substantial surgery in these fragile patients. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV. Therapeutic prospective study.

Percutaneous internal fixation in the management of lumbar spondylitis: report of two cases.

Surgically managed bacterial spondylitis is rare, and a variety of operative techniques are currently available, without any real consensus. The present study reports an original, less invasive surgical treatment for spondylitis, in two patients. An initial percutaneous posterior instrumentation fixation was followed by an anterior interbody graft performed through a retroperitoneal route. Postoperative bacterial typing was done; pain resolution was obtained in both patients. Control CT scan showed good restitution of the disk space height and a satisfactory reduction of the local kyphosis. Fusion was achieved at 6 months in both cases, with stable results at long-term follow-up. In patients presenting comorbid conditions, this technique gave interesting preliminary results, was less traumatic and shorter to perform, and finally entailed a limited operative risk.