Hidden blood loss in minimally invasive surgery for osteoporotic vertebral fractures. / [Artículo traducido] Sangrado oculto intraoperatorio en cirugía mínimamente invasiva de fracturas vertebrales osteoporóticas.

INTRODUCTION AND AIM: Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) of the spine prevents the collapse of osteoporotic vertebral fractures (OVF) with lower complication and bleeding rates than open surgery. However, the possibility of hidden blood loss (HBL) has been recently described, referring to the loss of blood diffused into tissues and lost through hemolysis. This study aimed to estimate the postoperative impact of HBL in patients undergoing MIS for OVF. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective study of a series of patients who had MIS for OVF. A descriptive analysis of recorded variables was performed, and total blood volume, total bleeding, HBL, and hemoglobine drop were calculated. This was followed by a comparative analysis between HBL (<500ml vs. ≥500ml) and the variables of hospital stay and postoperative evolution. Binary logistic regression models were performed to rule out confounding factors. RESULTS: A total of 40 patients were included, 8 men and 32 women, with a mean age of 76.6 years. The mean HBL was 682.5ml. An HBL greater than 500ml is found to be an independent risk factor for torpid postoperative evolution (P=0.035), while it does not predict a longer hospital stay (P=0.116). In addition, a higher HBL was observed in surgeries of greater technical complexity and longer surgical time. CONCLUSIONS: Although MIS techniques have shown less intraoperative bleeding than open surgery, HBL should be diagnosed because it is associated with a torpid evolution. The use of a diagnostic and therapeutic algorithm may help minimize its impact.

Hidden blood loss in minimally invasive surgery for osteoporotic vertebral fractures.

INTRODUCTION AND AIM: Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) of the spine prevents the collapse of osteoporotic vertebral fractures (OVF) with lower complication and bleeding rates than open surgery. However, the possibility of hidden blood loss (HBL) has been recently described, referring to the loss of blood diffused into tissues and lost through hemolysis. This study aimed to estimate the postoperative impact of HBL in patients undergoing MIS for OVF. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective study of a series of patients who had MIS for OVF. A descriptive analysis of recorded variables was performed, and total blood volume (TBV), total bleeding (TB), HBL, and Hb drop were calculated. This was followed by a comparative analysis between HBL (<500mL vs. ≥500mL) and the variables of hospital stay and postoperative evolution. Binary logistic regression models were performed to rule out confounding factors. RESULTS: A total of 40 patients were included, 8 men and 32 women, with a mean age of 76.6 years. The mean HBL was 682.5mL. An HBL greater than 500mL is found to be an independent risk factor for torpid postoperative evolution (p=0.035), while it does not predict a longer hospital stay (p=0.116). In addition, a higher HBL was observed in surgeries of greater technical complexity and longer surgical time. CONCLUSIONS: Although MIS techniques have shown less intraoperative bleeding than open surgery, HBL should be diagnosed because it is associated with a torpid evolution. The use of a diagnostic and therapeutic algorithm may help minimize its impact.

Minimally invasive surgical treatment options for osteoporotic vertebral fractures OF4. / Opciones de tratamiento quirúrgico mínimamente invasivo en las fracturas vertebrales osteoporóticas OF4.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: The incidence of osteoporotic vertebral fractures (OVF) is increasing. The importance of their diagnosis and treatment lies in their frequency and the morbidity they cause in patients. The classification proposed for OVFs by the German Society of Orthopaedics and Traumatology (DGOU) recommends surgical treatment for vertebral fractures classified as OF4. Most of these fractures will require anterior bracing as an adjunct to posterior fixation because of the significant loss of vertebral body structure. In elderly patients, minimally invasive surgery (MIS) allows their treatment given the lesser tissue aggression and systemic repercussions. We present the results of the treatment of OF4 vertebral fractures using minimally invasive techniques in the Spine Unit of our hospital. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective study of 21 patients with OF4 osteoporotic fractures in the thoracolumbar transition treated in our centre. Six patients who underwent open posterolateral fusion or isolated vertebroplasty were excluded. The series consists of 15 cases (13 females and 2 males), with a mean age of 72.2, studied by computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. Clinical and analytical data were collected to decide the most appropriate surgical technique. In six cases a retropleural/retroperitoneal MIS approach was performed for partial corpectomy with expandable vertebral substitute plus long posterior percutaneous fixation (technique 1). In the remaining nine cases long posterior percutaneous fixation + vertebroplasty of the fractured vertebra (technique 2). Radiological measurements were taken pre-surgically, post-surgically, at 6 weeks and 3 months, determining the fracture angle, kyphotic deformity, compression and wedging percentage and deformation angle. To assess functional outcome, patients completed the Oswentry Disability Index before surgery and at 3 months. RESULTS: There were no intraoperative complications of note. In the corpectomy group the mean hospital stay was 9.4 days, with a mean operative time of 250 min, a postoperative haemoglobin loss of 3.3 g/dL and two patients were transfused. In the percutaneous fixation and vertebroplasty group the mean was 5.55 days, surgery time 71 min and loss of 1.6 g/dL haemoglobin. There was one post-surgical haematoma requiring transfusion. None of the patients had to be reoperated during follow-up. Radiological measurements showed adequate correction with both techniques which was maintained over time with minimal loss. In functional outcomes assessed with the Oswentry, patients following technique 1 suffered greater worsening (15%) than those treated with technique 2 (10%). CONCLUSIONS: In OWF classified as OF4, percutaneous fixation associated with vertebroplasty could be an alternative to corpectomy in older patients with comorbidities, in whom functional recovery is more important than radiological correction. The use of MIS surgery together with improvements in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis may improve clinical outcomes in the treatment of this type of fracture.

Opciones de tratamiento quirúrgico mínimamente invasivo en las fracturas vertebrales osteoporóticas OF4 / Minimally invasive surgical treatment options for osteoporotic vertebral fractures OF4

Introducción y objetivo: La incidencia de las fracturas vertebrales osteoporóticas (FVO) está en aumento. La importancia de su diagnóstico y tratamiento radica en su frecuencia y morbilidad que producen en los pacientes. En la clasificación propuesta para las FVO por la Sociedad Alemana de Ortopedia y Traumatología (DGOU) recomienda el tratamiento quirúrgico en las fracturas vertebrales clasificadas como OF4. La mayoría de estas fracturas van a requerir un soporte anterior como complemento a la fijación posterior, por la importante pérdida de estructura del cuerpo vertebral. En pacientes de edad avanzada, la cirugía mínimamente invasiva (MIS) permite su tratamiento gracias a la menor agresión tisular y repercusión sistémica. Se presentan los resultados del tratamiento de fracturas vertebrales OF4 mediante técnicas mínimamente invasivas en la Unidad de Raquis de nuestro hospital.Material y métodos: Estudio retrospectivo de 21 pacientes con fractura osteoporótica OF4 en el tránsito toracolumbar tratados en nuestro centro. Han sido excluidos seis pacientes a los que se les realizó fusión posterolateral abierta o vertebroplastia aislada. La serie se compone de 15 casos (13 mujeres y dos varones), con edad media de 72,2 estudiados mediante tomografía computerizada y resonancia magnética. Se recogen datos clínicos y analíticos para decidir la técnica quirúrgica más adecuada. En seis casos se realizó abordaje retropleural/retroperitoneal MIS para corpectomía parcial con sustituto vertebral expansible más fijación percutánea posterior larga (técnica 1). En los nueve casos restantes fijación percutánea posterior larga + vertebroplastia de la vértebra fracturada (técnica 2). Se han realizado mediciones radiológicas prequirúrgicas, postquirúrgicas, a las seis semanas y tres meses, determinando el ángulo fracturario, deformidad cifótica, porcentaje de compresión y de acuñamiento y ángulo de deformación.(AU)

Introduction and objective: The incidence of osteoporotic vertebral fractures (OVF) is increasing. The importance of their diagnosis and treatment lies in their frequency and the morbidity they cause in patients. The classification proposed for OVFs by the German Society of Orthopaedics and Traumatology (DGOU) recommends surgical treatment for vertebral fractures classified as OF4. Most of these fractures will require anterior bracing as an adjunct to posterior fixation because of the significant loss of vertebral body structure. In elderly patients, minimally invasive surgery (MIS) allows their treatment given the lesser tissue aggression and systemic repercussions. We present the results of the treatment of OF4 vertebral fractures using minimally invasive techniques in the Spine Unit of our hospital. Material and methods: Retrospective study of 21 patients with OF4 osteoporotic fractures in the thoracolumbar transition treated in our centre. Six patients who underwent open posterolateral fusion or isolated vertebroplasty were excluded. The series consists of 15 cases (13 females and 2 males), with a mean age of 72.2, studied by computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. Clinical and analytical data were collected to decide the most appropriate surgical technique. In six cases a retropleural/retroperitoneal MIS approach was performed for partial corpectomy with expandable vertebral substitute plus long posterior percutaneous fixation (technique 1). In the remaining nine cases long posterior percutaneous fixation + vertebroplasty of the fractured vertebra (technique 2). Radiological measurements were taken pre-surgically, post-surgically, at 6 weeks and 3 months, determining the fracture angle, kyphotic deformity, compression and wedging percentage and deformation angle. To assess functional outcome, patients completed the Oswentry Disability Index before surgery and at 3 months.(AU)

Minimally invasive surgical treatment options for osteoporotic vertebral fractures OF4 / Opciones de tratamiento quirúrgico mínimamente invasivo en las fracturas vertebrales osteoporóticas OF4

Introduction and objective: The incidence of osteoporotic vertebral fractures (OVF) is increasing. The importance of their diagnosis and treatment lies in their frequency and the morbidity they cause in patients. The classification proposed for OVFs by the German Society of Orthopaedics and Traumatology (DGOU) recommends surgical treatment for vertebral fractures classified as OF4. Most of these fractures will require anterior bracing as an adjunct to posterior fixation because of the significant loss of vertebral body structure. In elderly patients, minimally invasive surgery (MIS) allows their treatment given the lesser tissue aggression and systemic repercussions. We present the results of the treatment of OF4 vertebral fractures using minimally invasive techniques in the Spine Unit of our hospital. Material and methods: Retrospective study of 21 patients with OF4 osteoporotic fractures in the thoracolumbar transition treated in our centre. Six patients who underwent open posterolateral fusion or isolated vertebroplasty were excluded. The series consists of 15 cases (13 females and 2 males), with a mean age of 72.2, studied by computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. Clinical and analytical data were collected to decide the most appropriate surgical technique. In six cases a retropleural/retroperitoneal MIS approach was performed for partial corpectomy with expandable vertebral substitute plus long posterior percutaneous fixation (technique 1). In the remaining nine cases long posterior percutaneous fixation + vertebroplasty of the fractured vertebra (technique 2). Radiological measurements were taken pre-surgically, post-surgically, at 6 weeks and 3 months, determining the fracture angle, kyphotic deformity, compression and wedging percentage and deformation angle. To assess functional outcome, patients completed the Oswentry Disability Index before surgery and at 3 months.(AU)

Introducción y objetivo: La incidencia de las fracturas vertebrales osteoporóticas (FVO) está en aumento. La importancia de su diagnóstico y tratamiento radica en su frecuencia y morbilidad que producen en los pacientes. En la clasificación propuesta para las FVO por la Sociedad Alemana de Ortopedia y Traumatología (DGOU) recomienda el tratamiento quirúrgico en las fracturas vertebrales clasificadas como OF4. La mayoría de estas fracturas van a requerir un soporte anterior como complemento a la fijación posterior, por la importante pérdida de estructura del cuerpo vertebral. En pacientes de edad avanzada, la cirugía mínimamente invasiva (MIS) permite su tratamiento gracias a la menor agresión tisular y repercusión sistémica. Se presentan los resultados del tratamiento de fracturas vertebrales OF4 mediante técnicas mínimamente invasivas en la Unidad de Raquis de nuestro hospital.Material y métodos: Estudio retrospectivo de 21 pacientes con fractura osteoporótica OF4 en el tránsito toracolumbar tratados en nuestro centro. Han sido excluidos seis pacientes a los que se les realizó fusión posterolateral abierta o vertebroplastia aislada. La serie se compone de 15 casos (13 mujeres y dos varones), con edad media de 72,2 estudiados mediante tomografía computerizada y resonancia magnética. Se recogen datos clínicos y analíticos para decidir la técnica quirúrgica más adecuada. En seis casos se realizó abordaje retropleural/retroperitoneal MIS para corpectomía parcial con sustituto vertebral expansible más fijación percutánea posterior larga (técnica 1). En los nueve casos restantes fijación percutánea posterior larga + vertebroplastia de la vértebra fracturada (técnica 2). Se han realizado mediciones radiológicas prequirúrgicas, postquirúrgicas, a las seis semanas y tres meses, determinando el ángulo fracturario, deformidad cifótica, porcentaje de compresión y de acuñamiento y ángulo de deformación.(AU)

Tratamiento de la hernia discal torácica mediante toracoscopia navegada. Nuestra experiencia / Experience in the treatment of thoracic herniated disc using image-guided thorascopy

La discectomía toracoscópica es una técnica quirúrgica que combina las ventajas del abordaje anterior a la columna torácica con los beneficios de una técnica mínimamente invasiva. La adición del sistema de navegación aporta múltiples ventajas a la técnica habitual como marcaje exacto del nivel lesional, mejoría del abordaje quirúrgico, control de la resección herniaria y de la osteotomía vertebral. El sistema de navegación también acorta la curva de aprendizaje de la toracoscopia. Se presenta nuestra experiencia en el tratamiento de hernias discales torácicas mediante toracoscopia navegada (AU)

Thoracoscopic micro-discectomy is a treatment option for thoracic disc disease that combines the advantages of the anterior approach and the benefits of a minimally invasive technique. Adding a navigation system provides many advantages to the usual technique, as it allows accurate marking of the lesion level, improvement in the surgical approach, and precise control of herniated disc resection and vertebral osteotomy. The navigation system also reduces the learning curve for thoracoscopic technique. We report our experience in the treatment of thoracic disc herniation with image-guided thoracoscopy (AU)

Experience in the treatment of thoracic herniated disc using image-guided thorascopy. / Tratamiento de la hernia discal torácica mediante toracoscopia navegada. Nuestra experiencia.

Thoracoscopic micro-discectomy is a treatment option for thoracic disc disease that combines the advantages of the anterior approach and the benefits of a minimally invasive technique. Adding a navigation system provides many advantages to the usual technique, as it allows accurate marking of the lesion level, improvement in the surgical approach, and precise control of herniated disc resection and vertebral osteotomy. The navigation system also reduces the learning curve for thoracoscopic technique. We report our experience in the treatment of thoracic disc herniation with image-guided thoracoscopy.

Gunshot wound in lumbar spine with intradural location of a bullet.

The presence of a migratory bullet in the spinal canal after a gunshot injury is a rare finding, specially without causing permanent neurologic damage. We present the case of a patient who suffered a gunshot wound with an entry point in the posterior arc of L2-L3 and a migratory bullet detected at the level of L5-S1 in the CT scan. The patient complained about intense headache, dizziness, and variable sensitive impairment in lower legs apparently depending on the patient's position in bed. We decided to remove the bullet in order to prevent the delayed neurological damage and lead toxicity. We discuss technical details of this surgery.