A novel prognostic scoring system combining the revised Tokuhashi score and the New England spinal metastasis score for preoperative evaluation of spinal metastases.

Purpose: Numerous scoring systems have been developed in order to determine the prognosis of spinal metastases. Predicting as accurately as possible the life expectancy of patients with spinal metastatic disease is very important, as it's the decisive factor in selecting the optimal treatment for the patient. The Revised Tokuhashi score (RTS) and the New England Spinal Metastasis score (NESMS) are popular scoring systems used to determine the optimal treatment modality. However, they sometimes provide conflicting results. We propose a novel prognostic scoring system, which combines the RTS and NESMS scores in order to predict with greater accuracy the prognosis. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the data of 64 patients with spinal metastasis enrolled between 2012 and 2021 in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery-Spine, Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont, Montréal, Que. The new score per patient was calculated as a combination of the RTS of each patient and the patient's corresponding NESMS. The new score was then compared to the actual patient survival period and divided into 3 categories: Low, Moderate and Good prognosis. We then compared the accuracy of our new score to RTS. Results: In the Low Prognosis group, the reliability of predicting the prognosis was 51.9% in 27 patients. In the Moderate Prognosis group, the reliability of predicting the prognosis was 95.8% in 24 patients. In the Good Prognosis group, the reliability of predicting the prognosis was 100% in 13 patients. Our new score was found more accurate than RTS as the R2 parameter corresponding to the new score was significantly increased compared to the same parameter corresponding to the RTS score indicating a higher percentage of survival predictability for the new score as compared to the RTS score. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that a new prognostic scoring system, which would combine the RTS and the NESMS, is promising in providing an improved accuracy for predicting the actual patient survival, especially for the moderate and good prognosis patients. An appropriate prospective investigation with a larger sample size should be conducted in order to further investigate the validity of this novel scoring system and its overall predictive value.

A comparison of the modified Tokuhashi and Tomita scores in determining prognosis for patients afflicted with spinal metastasis.

BACKGROUND: The prognosis of patients with spinal metastasis is not very promising and hard to predict. It is for this reason that scoring systems, such as the modified Tokuhashi and Tomita scores, have been created. We sought to determine the effectiveness of these scores in predicting patient survival. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the data of all patients treated for spinal metastasis between March 2003 and March 2012 in our centre. We computed the Tokuhashi and Tomita scores and compared them with documented patient survival. The 2 scores were also compared with one another. RESULTS: We identified 128 patients with spinal metastasis. The average survival of patients with predicted poor, average and good prognosis was 5, 17 and 25 months, respectively for the modified Tokuhashi score and 3, 16 and 19 months, respectively, for the Tomita score. Poor, average and good prognosis predictions differed significantly from one another for all 3 categories for the Tokuhashi score (all p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the moderate and good prognoses for the Tomita score (p = 0.15). When comparing both scores, we obtained a weighted κ of 0.4489 (standard deviation 0.0568, 95% confidence interval 0.3376-0.5602), demonstrating moderate agreement between scores. CONCLUSION: Both scores have merit for use in a clinical setting and can be used as tools to help determine treatment choice. The modified Tokuhashi score had better accuracy in determining actual survival.

CONTEXTE: Le pronostic des patients qui ont des métastases vertébrales est plutôt défavorable et difficile à prédire. C'est pour cette raison que des systèmes de classification tels que le score modifié de Tokuhashi et le score de Tomita ont été créés. Nous avons voulu déterminer l'efficacité de ces scores à prédire la survie chez les patients. MÉTHODES: Nous avons passé en revue de manière rétrospective les données concernant tous les patients traités pour métastases vertébrales entre mars 2003 et mars 2012 dans notre centre. Nous avons calculé les scores de Tokuhashi et de Tomita et nous les avons comparés à la survie documentée des patients. Les 2 scores ont aussi été comparés l'un à l'autre. RÉSULTATS: Nous avons recensé 128 patients atteints de métastases vertébrales. La survie moyenne des patients dont le pronostic prévu était défavorable, moyen ou favorable était de 5, 17 et 25 mois, respectivement, selon le score modifié de Tokuhashi et de 3, 16 et 19 mois, respectivement, selon le score de Tomita. Les prédictions pronostiques défavorables, moyennes et favorables ont différé significativement l'une de l'autre pour les 3 catégories du score de Tokuhashi (toutes p < 0,05). On n'a noté aucune différence significative pour ce qui est des pronostics moyens et favorables associés aux scores de Tomita (p = 0,15). Lorsque les 2 scores ont été comparés l'un à l'autre, nous avons obtenu une valeur κ de 0,4489 (écart-type 0,0568; intervalle de confiance de 95 %, 0,3376­0,5602), associée à une concordance modérée des scores. CONCLUSION: Les 2 scores sont utiles dans un contexte clinique et peuvent servir d'outils pour aider à faire le choix du traitement. Le score modifié de Tokuhashi a permis de déterminer la survie réelle avec plus de précision.

Total knee arthroplasty with a novel navigation system within the surgical field.

Total knee arthroplasty is a common procedure, and current navigation systems are gradually gaining acceptance for improving surgical accuracy and clinical outcomes. A new navigation system used within the surgical field, iAssist, has demonstrated reproducible accuracy in component alignment. All orientation information is captured by small electronic pods and transmitted via a local wireless network, which directs the surgical workflow automatically to the femoral and tibial resection instruments. This simple and accurate navigation system used completely in the surgical field, without optical trackers or preoperative imaging, seems to be the latest generation of smart instrumentation for total knee arthroplasty.

Surgical treatment of a patient with lung cancer metastasized to the spine with EGFR mutation: A case report.

INTRODUCTION: The prognosis of patients with lung cancer metastasis to the spine is not very promising and a palliative approach is often suggested by scales such as the Tomita score. The choice of surgery for these patients is questionable based on the aggressiveness of the disease. However, certain patient characteristics can be sought out to determine if surgery is indicated. PRESENTATION OF CASE: Here, we present a case of a 59 year old male which consulted for back pain, numbness of the upper left thigh, and weakness corresponding to an L2 lesion. It was later discovered that he was suffering from non small cell lung cancer (adenocarcinoma) with a single metastasis to the spine at the level of L2. The patient also presented an EGFR mutation. Thus, the patient presented two good prognosis characteristics: adenocarcinoma and an EGFR mutation. DISCUSSION: An aggressive treatment was chosen. This included an EGFR inhibitor, surgical treatment, and radiotherapy thereafter. The patient had no complications due to surgery and to date, the patient has survived over 12 months and is free of any symptoms. This case demonstrates that surgical intervention can be considered for certain patients with lung cancer metastasized to the spine. CONCLUSION: This case demonstrates that surgical intervention can be considered for certain patients with lung cancer metastasized to the spine. We hope spine surgeons in general will start verifying the EGFR mutation status of adenocarcinoma lung cancer patients to determine if surgery is indicated.

The rationale for tilt-adjusted acetabular cup navigation.

BACKGROUND: When performing total hip arthroplasty without computer navigation, surgeons align the acetabular component with landmarks such as the plane of the operating table and the presumed position of the pelvis. In contrast, first-generation computer navigation systems rely on the pelvic anterior plane, defined by the anterior superior iliac spines and the pubic tubercle. We sought to study the effect of patient positioning on the tilt of the pelvis as measured in the pelvic anterior plane and its effect on cup alignment angle values. METHODS: In forty patients, the supine pelvic anterior plane tilt angle was measured with use of computed tomographic scans made before and after total hip arthroplasty (Group A). In thirty other patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty, preoperative supine pelvic anterior plane tilt angle was measured with a computed tomographic scan and the preoperative standing pelvic anterior plane tilt angle was measured on a lateral radiograph (Group B). From these data, we used hip navigation planning software to develop a nomogram providing tilt-adjusted cup angles that would align the cup in a target range of 40 degrees +/- 10 degrees of abduction and 15 degrees +/- 10 degrees of anteversion. A third group of ninety-eight patients (Group C) then underwent total hip arthroplasty with computer navigation with use of our nomogram to provide tilt-adjusted values for cup alignment. Postoperative computed tomography scans were made to evaluate cup alignment, and the patients were followed for at least one year. RESULTS: In Group A, the mean preoperative supine pelvic tilt angle (and standard deviation) was -8.9 degrees +/- 6.8 degrees (forward rotation of the pelvis) and the mean postoperative angle was -10.9 degrees +/- 7.6 degrees (p < 0.05). In Group B, the mean preoperative supine pelvic tilt angle was -10.4 degrees +/- 7.4 degrees and the mean preoperative standing pelvic tilt angle was -5.0 degrees +/- 9.4 degrees (p < 0.001). In the group of ninety-eight patients who underwent navigated total hip arthroplasty (Group C), there were no dislocations at one year of follow-up. Seventy-two patients underwent postoperative computed tomography scans; 99% of cup anteversion values and 97% of cup abduction values were in the target range. CONCLUSIONS: For navigation systems that rely on the pelvic anterior plane, cup alignment values can be converted to familiar target values with our nomogram with good accuracy and reproducibility. The next generation of navigation systems should be able to measure the pelvic tilt for each individual patient and automatically adjust alignment values.

Computed tomography-based navigation for hip, knee, and spine surgery.

A review of CT-based orthopaedic navigation is presented with a specific emphasis on arthroplasty for the hip and the knee. Fundamental issues about the laboratory and clinical validation of the applications are addressed. The ability to compute the position and orientation of an acetabular implant using a postoperative CT scan was investigated. Angle deviations relative to known positions were computed with an error of less than 1 degree. Then, the system accuracy for three-dimensional reconstruction and registration of two cadaveric pelvis specimens was measured with more than 350 registrations. We observed a maximal inclination error of 5 degrees in 99% of cases and a maximal anteversion error of 5 degrees in 97% of cases. The accuracy of the three-dimensional reconstruction and registration for knee arthroplasty also was measured and computed with an angular accuracy of 0.5 degrees in the AP plane and accuracy of 3 degrees in the lateral plane. A clinical study then was done in 109 cases where 96% of implants were installed with a hip-knee-ankle angle of 180 +/- 3 degrees . Computed tomography-based navigation for orthopaedic surgery provides greater accuracy and reproducibility than conventional surgery. As noted by learning curves, software improvements are needed to bring it into daily clinical routine.