Surgery for metastatic spine tumors in the elderly. Advanced age is not a contraindication to surgery!

BACKGROUND: With recent advances in oncologic treatments, there has been an increase in patient survival rates and concurrently an increase in the number of incidence of symptomatic spinal metastases. Because elderly patients are a substantial part of the oncology population, their types of treatment as well as the possible impact their treatment will have on healthcare resources need to be further examined. PURPOSE: We studied whether age has a significant influence on quality of life and survival in surgical interventions for spinal metastases. STUDY DESIGN: We used data from a multicenter prospective study by the Global Spine Tumor Study Group (GSTSG). This GSTSG study involved 1,266 patients who were admitted for surgical treatments of symptomatic spinal metastases at 22 spinal centers from different countries and followed up for 2 years after surgery. PATIENT SAMPLE: There were 1,266 patients recruited between March 2001 and October 2014. OUTCOME MEASURES: Patient demographics were collected along with outcome measures, including European Quality of Life-5 Dimensions (EQ-5D), neurologic functions, complications, and survival rates. METHODS: We realized a multicenter prospective study of 1,266 patients admitted for surgical treatment of symptomatic spinal metastases. They were divided and studied into three different age groups: <70, 70-80, and >80 years. RESULTS: Despite a lack of statistical difference in American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score, Frankel neurologic score, or Karnofsky functional score at presentation, patients >80 years were more likely to undergo emergency surgery and palliative procedures compared with younger patients. Postoperative complications were more common in the oldest age group (33.3% in the >80, 23.9% in the 70-80, and 17.9% for patients <70 years, p=.004). EQ-5D improved in all groups, but survival expectancy was significantly longer in patients <70 years old (p=.02). Furthermore, neurologic recovery after surgery was lower in patients >80 years old. CONCLUSIONS: Surgeons should not be biased against operating elderly patients. Although survival rates and neurologic improvements in the elderly patients are lower than for younger patients, operating the elderly is compounded by the fact that they undergo more emergency and palliative procedures, despite good ASA scores and functional status. Age in itself should not be a determinant of whether to operate or not, and operations should not be avoided in the elderly when indicated.

Extrinsic thoracic spinal cord compression related to supine position: from diagnosis to the creation of a spinal protection shield.

BACKGROUND: Rapidly progressing extrinsic spinal cord compression syndromes are rare, especially when the compression is associated with the supine position. PURPOSE: This work presents a case of extrinsic thoracic spinal cord compression related to the supine position and describes our approach from diagnosis to the technical therapeutic creation of a spinal protection shield. STUDY DESIGN: One case of a patient suffering from extrinsic spinal cord compression syndrome is reported. PATIENT SAMPLE: We report the case of a Coptic priest patient who, as a result of Pott disease sequelae, underwent several decompressive and stabilizing surgeries for major kyphoscoliosis. Consequently, he developed extrinsic thoracic spinal cord compression caused by the supine position. OUTCOME MEASURES: After each instrumentation device removal, we noticed progressive severe paraparesis when the patient was supine. Imaging assessment confirmed spinal dynamic and intermittent compressions triggered by the supine position, which was facilitated by the exposure and vulnerability of the thoracic spine cord. METHODS: We implanted a tailored titanium mesh spinal protection shield and a trapezius flap for spine coverage. This work presents the diagnostic aspects as well as several surgical technique options. RESULTS: At the 6-year follow-up, the patient's neurologic conditions were significantly improved. We report neurologic improvements, no sphincter disorder, persistent spasticity, and lower limbs weakness not affecting full ambulation. CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge, no other case of spinal protection shield in compressions caused by the supine position have been studied. The surgical and technical management therefore remains innovative.

Lumbar spine surgery in patients 80 years of age or older: morbidity and mortality.

INTRODUCTION: The life expectancy increased significantly during last four decades and is associated with an increasing quality of life. The purpose of this study was to determine morbidity and mortality of degenerative lumbar spine surgery in patients 80 years of age or older. METHODS: A consecutive retrospective review evaluated 121 consecutive patients, who had undergone posterior decompression associated or not with lumbar instrumentation. The average age at the time of surgery was 83.2 ± 2.4 years. The study analyzed the comorbidities, the operative procedure and postoperative morbidity and mortality. RESULTS: Blood loss increased significantly with instrumentation (538 vs. 280 mL, p < 0.0001). The average operative time was 103 ± 38 min and increased significantly with instrumentation (131.2 vs. 84 min, p = 0.003), blood loss (p < 0.0001) and dural tears (p = 0.05). Dural tears occurred in 19 patients (15.7%) and were associated significantly with previous lumbar surgery (33.3 vs. 12.4%, p = 0.017) and major complications (30 vs. 9.9%, p = 0.01). Major complications occurred in 16 patients (13%). Minor complications occurred in 36 patients (29.7%). The delirium was associated with instrumentation (22 vs. 7%, p = 0.017) and blood loss (520 vs. 348 mL, p = 0.034). The average hospital stay was 11.3 ± 8.1 days. No patients died after a postoperative period of 1 year. The average follow-up was 24.3 ± 16.5 months. CONCLUSIONS: The morbidity of degenerative lumbar spine surgery in patients 80 years of age or older was high. Blood loss, operative time, instrumentation, previous surgery and dural tears increased significantly the morbidity. This surgery must be decided very carefully and requires to inform the patient and his family of the high rate of complications.

Long-term quality of life after en-bloc vertebrectomy: 25 patients followed up for 9 years.

OBJECTIVE: Assess quality-of-life results in patients who have undergone extensive curative surgery for spinal tumor and compare them to the general population in France. INTRODUCTION: Life expectancy is not the only criterion to assess the outcomes after massive tumor resections. Residual quality of life is also crucial. An indication for major surgery for spinal tumor should take the patient's long-term functional status into account, but the literature is limited on this question. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-five living patients from a group of 120 operated were assessed, all of whom were operated on by the same surgeon between 1984 and 2007. The mean follow-up was 9 years (range, 3-25 years). The mean age at surgery was 49 years. The patients completed different functional and quality-of-life questionnaires: the Oswestry Disability Index version 2 (ODI), the PROLO, the Karnofsky Index of performance status (KI), the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (ECOG), the Short Form-36 Health Survey (SF-36), and the EuroQol-5 Dimensions (EQ5D). In addition, each patient was clinically and radiographically evaluated. Subgroups were identified considering the number of levels resected and histology. Their results on the SF-36 were compared with the results from the general population in France. RESULTS: The mean PCS (physical component summary of the SF-36) was 52.4, the MCS (mental component summary, the psychological component of the SF-36) was 47.7, the ODI was 18.2, the PROLO was 7, the ECOG was 1, and the KI was 80%. The resections at three levels were associated with worse results in terms of quality of life, but overall, the results were similar to the French general population data for all categories of the SF-36. CONCLUSION: Appropriate indications for massive spinal resection give good oncological and functional results. Although the expected life expectancy justifies this aggressive surgery, postoperative quality of life shows that it can also be successful on a functional level. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV; retrospective clinical study.

Painful patellofemoral instability secondary to peroperative patellar fracture during bone-patellar tendon-bone autograft harvesting for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

Reconstructive surgery of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) of the knee in young active patients is a routine procedure, but with certain risks that need to be taken into account. Peroperative patellar fracture after bone-patellar tendon-bone autograft harvesting is a rare complication, which can significantly impair the functional outcome of ACL single-bundle reconstruction. We report the case of a patient presenting with disabling patellofemoral syndrome 3 years after arthroscopic ACL reconstruction by bone-tendon-bone autograft, revealing unnoticed mal-union of a iatrogenic sagittal patellar fracture. Patellar osteotomy corrected this painful iatrogenic patellar instability.

Repair of distal biceps tendon ruptures using a suture anchor and an anterior approach.

In a prospective study, eight consecutive patients with nine ruptures of the distal biceps tendon underwent repair through a single incision. All patients were satisfied with their clinical results and had full ranges of elbow and forearm motion. There were no radial nerve injuries and no radio-ulnar synostoses. Isokinetic testing, after correction for dominance, demonstrated a 6% strength deficit, but 7% higher endurance in the repaired extremity for the flexion-concentric test, and no strength deficit and 13% higher endurance for supination. The improved endurance is probably explained by initial reduced effort due to apprehension which minimized subsequent fatigue.