Tendencias de actuación de los cirujanos de columna respecto a la osteoporosis / Trends and attitudes of spine surgeons regarding osteoporosis

Antecedentes y objetivos: Con cada vez mayor frecuencia neurocirujanos y otros especialistas nos vemos afrontados al tratamiento de pacientes con osteoporosis que requieren una cirugía de fusión de columna. Pese a existir tratamientos farmacológicos efectivos e innovaciones en las técnicas quirúrgicas que pueden beneficiar a estos pacientes, se han reportado tasas bajas de diagnóstico y tratamiento preoperatorio de osteoporosis, además de una escasa participación de los cirujanos de columna en este ámbito. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar las tendencias en el diagnóstico y tratamiento respecto a la osteoporosis en los cirujanos de raquis de la comunidad neuroquirúrgica. Material y métodos: Se realizó una encuesta electrónica con 10 preguntas de opción múltiple a los miembros de la Sociedad Española de Neurocirugía (SENEC). Se valoraron: 1) papel del cirujano de columna frente a la osteoporosis en la artrodesis de raquis, 2) la influencia de osteoporosis en la seudoartrosis y 3) tendencias de tratamiento respecto a las fracturas vertebrales osteoporóticas. Resultados: Obtuvimos un total de 77 cuestionarios respondidos. En los pacientes con sospecha de osteoporosis, un 32,5% de los encuestados no se plantea ninguna medida para diagnosticarla antes de una artrodesis vertebral. En osteoporóticos sin tratamiento, un 37,7% procedería con la cirugía sin tratamiento o lo haría después de la cirugía. El 48% de los respondedores optaría por modificar su estrategia quirúrgica en los pacientes con osteoporosis. La técnica quirúrgica preferida fue la colocación de tornillos cementados (70%). En la seudoartrosis, el 46,1% no considera necesario el diagnóstico de osteoporosis para una reintervención. En las fracturas vertebrales osteoporóticas, el 80,5% de los cirujanos se plantea alguna medida que facilitara el tratamiento de la osteoporosis. Conclusiones: Una mayor participación del cirujano de columna mejoraría el diagnóstico y tratamiento preoperatorio de la osteoporosis en las cirugías de artrodesis vertebral y seudoartrosis. En las fracturas vertebrales existe una mejor concienciación para optimizar el tratamiento y el seguimiento de la osteoporosis

Background and objectives: Neurosurgeons and other specialists are increasingly having to treat patients with osteoporosis who require spinal fusion surgery. Although there are effective pharmacological treatments and innovations in surgical techniques that can benefit these patients, low rates of diagnosis and preoperative treatment of osteoporosis have been reported, in addition to the limited participation of spine surgeons in this area. The objective of this study was to evaluate trends in diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis with regard to spine surgeons of the neurosurgical community. Material and methods: An electronic survey with 10 multiple-choice questions was issued to Spanish Neurosurgery Society (SENEC) members. The following were evaluated: 1) the surgeon's role regarding osteoporosis in spinal arthrodesis, 2) the influence of osteoporosis in pseudarthrosis, and 3) treatment trends in relation to osteoporotic vertebral fractures. Results: A total of 77 completed questionnaires were obtained. In patients with suspected osteoporosis, 32.5% of respondents did not consider any measure to diagnose it before spinal arthrodesis. In osteoporosis without treatment, 37.7% would proceed with surgery without treatment or would do so after surgery. A total of 48% of respondents would choose to modify their surgical strategy in patients with osteoporosis. The preferred surgical technique was the placement of augmentation screws (70%). In pseudarthrosis, 46.1% did not consider an osteoporosis diagnosis to be necessary for a reoperation. In osteoporotic vertebral fractures, 80.5% of surgeons considered some measure that would facilitate the treatment of osteoporosis. Conclusions: Greater participation of the spine surgeon could improve the diagnosis and preoperative treatment of osteoporosis in spinal arthrodesis surgery and pseudarthrosis. In vertebral fractures, there is greater awareness of the optimisation of treatment and monitoring of osteoporosis

Trends and attitudes of spine surgeons regarding osteoporosis. / Tendencias de actuación de los cirujanos de columna respecto a la osteoporosis.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Neurosurgeons and other specialists are increasingly having to treat patients with osteoporosis who require spinal fusion surgery. Although there are effective pharmacological treatments and innovations in surgical techniques that can benefit these patients, low rates of diagnosis and preoperative treatment of osteoporosis have been reported, in addition to the limited participation of spine surgeons in this area. The objective of this study was to evaluate trends in diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis with regard to spine surgeons of the neurosurgical community. MATERIAL AND METHODS: An electronic survey with 10 multiple-choice questions was issued to Spanish Neurosurgery Society (SENEC) members. The following were evaluated: 1) the surgeon's role regarding osteoporosis in spinal arthrodesis, 2) the influence of osteoporosis in pseudarthrosis, and 3) treatment trends in relation to osteoporotic vertebral fractures. RESULTS: A total of 77 completed questionnaires were obtained. In patients with suspected osteoporosis, 32.5% of respondents did not consider any measure to diagnose it before spinal arthrodesis. In osteoporosis without treatment, 37.7% would proceed with surgery without treatment or would do so after surgery. A total of 48% of respondents would choose to modify their surgical strategy in patients with osteoporosis. The preferred surgical technique was the placement of augmentation screws (70%). In pseudarthrosis, 46.1% did not consider an osteoporosis diagnosis to be necessary for a reoperation. In osteoporotic vertebral fractures, 80.5% of surgeons considered some measure that would facilitate the treatment of osteoporosis. CONCLUSIONS: Greater participation of the spine surgeon could improve the diagnosis and preoperative treatment of osteoporosis in spinal arthrodesis surgery and pseudarthrosis. In vertebral fractures, there is greater awareness of the optimisation of treatment and monitoring of osteoporosis.

A Rare Case of Negative-Pressure Hydrocephalus: A Plausible Explanation and the Role of Transmantle Theory.

BACKGROUND: Negative-pressure hydrocephalus is a rare condition with the development of symptomatic hydrocephalus despite subnormal intracranial pressure (ICP). The etiology remains unclear. Some authors proposed that the differential pressure between the ventricular space and the subarachnoid space over cerebral convexity leads to the development of ventriculomegaly, namely as the transmantle pressure theory. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 49-year-old patient with a left Sylvian fissure arachnoid cyst underwent several surgeries including cystoperitoneal shunts and fenestrations of the cyst. The patient developed a cerebrospinal fluid fistula from the cranial wound was complicated by bacterial meningitis. Consequently, the shunt was removed, and external cyst drainage was placed. After 9 days, the patient developed acute hydrocephalus requiring external ventricular drainage (EVD). Two days later, after overdrainage of the external cyst drain, the patient suffered neurologic deterioration. The ICP measured by the EVD was -4 cm H2O, and a computed tomography scan demonstrated progression of the hydrocephalus. The external cyst drainage was shut off and the EVD level was adjusted to produce between 5 and 10 mL/hour of cerebrospinal fluid under a subatmospheric pressure set at -5 cm H2O, and gradually raised in increments of 1 cm every 3 days until a positive ICP occurred. Once clinical and radiographic stability was accomplished, a programmable ventriculoperitoneal shunt was inserted set to 30 mm H2O. A marked clinical and radiologic improvement was observed in the follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: This negative-pressure hydrocephalus case report supports the main role of the transmantle pressure theory. The subatmospheric EVD method and a low-pressure valve resulted in excellent clinical and radiographic outcomes.

[Cerebellopontine angle epidermoid cysts. Experience of 43 cases with long-term follow-up].

BACKGROUND: Epidermoid tumors represent the third most common lesion of the cerebellopontine angle (CPA). Their evolution and clinical features are distinctively characteristic. We present a comprehensive review of the clinical, imaging and surgical aspects of epidermoid cysts of the CPA. METHODS: We conducted a case series of patients diagnosed with epidermoid cyst of the CPA who were operated on between 1998 and 2005. Lesions were classified according to their anatomic extent: grade I(-) within the boundaries of the CPA, grade II(-) extension to the suprasellar and perimesencephalic cisterns, and grade III(-) parasellar and temporomesial region involvement. RESULTS: This study was comprised of 43 patients with a mean follow-up of 85 months. Mean age was 34 years, and 67% of the patients were female. The initial symptom was headache in 58.1% of the cases and trigeminal neuralgia in 41.8%. According to our classification, temporomesial involvement (25.6%) was significantly (p = 0.001) associated with a higher incidence of seizures, and trigeminal neuralgia was present in patients with lesions limited to the CPA (p = 0.006). The lesions were reached essentially through a retrosigmoidal approach (39.5%) and surgical excision was deemed to be complete in 65% of the cases. CONCLUSIONS: Our grading classification according to the anatomic extension correlates well with clinical presentation, type of surgical approach and extent of surgical removal. It is desirable to reach a consensus on the classification of tumor extension.

Quistes epidermoides del ángulo pontocerebeloso: experiencia en 43 casos con seguimiento a largo plazo / Cerebellopontine angle epidermoid cysts: experience of 43 cases with long-term follow-up

Introducción: El quiste epidermoide ocupa el tercer lugar de los tumores en la región del ángulo pontocerebeloso. El presente informe describe los principales aspectos clínicos, radiológicos y el manejo quirúrgico de este tipo de quistes en esa ubicación. Material y métodos: Serie de pacientes operados de quiste epidermoide del ángulo pontocerebeloso entre 1998 y 2005. Se clasificó la extensión de la lesión según las cisternas involucradas: extensión I, limitada al ángulo pontocerebeloso; extensión II, cisternas ángulo pontocerebeloso + supraselar + perimesencefálicas; extensión III, ángulo pontocerebeloso con extensión paraselar y temporomesial. Resultados: 43 pacientes con seguimiento promedio de 85 meses, la edad media fue de 34 años; 67 % fue del sexo femenino. Los principales síntomas fueron cefalea (58.1 %) y afección trigeminal (41.8 %). De acuerdo con nuestra clasificación, los pacientes con extensión temporomesial (25.6 %) presentaron mayor incidencia de epilepsia secundaria (p = 0.001), y aquellos con neuralgia del trigémino tuvieron lesiones más limitadas al ángulo pontocerebeloso (p = 0.006). El abordaje más empleado fue el retrosigmoideo (39.5 %); la resección tumoral fue completa en 65 % de los pacientes. Conclusiones: Existen diferencias en la presentación clínica, grado de resección quirúrgica y recurrencia tumoral entre las diferentes extensiones del quiste epidermoide del ángulo pontocerebeloso, por lo que se requiere abordaje terapéutico específico. Para que las comparaciones entre series sea válida, es deseable el consenso y la elaboración de una clasificación consensuada acerca las extensiones del quiste epidermoide en esa ubicación.

BACKGROUND: Epidermoid tumors represent the third most common lesion of the cerebellopontine angle (CPA). Their evolution and clinical features are distinctively characteristic. We present a comprehensive review of the clinical, imaging and surgical aspects of epidermoid cysts of the CPA. METHODS: We conducted a case series of patients diagnosed with epidermoid cyst of the CPA who were operated on between 1998 and 2005. Lesions were classified according to their anatomic extent: grade I(-) within the boundaries of the CPA, grade II(-) extension to the suprasellar and perimesencephalic cisterns, and grade III(-) parasellar and temporomesial region involvement. RESULTS: This study was comprised of 43 patients with a mean follow-up of 85 months. Mean age was 34 years, and 67% of the patients were female. The initial symptom was headache in 58.1% of the cases and trigeminal neuralgia in 41.8%. According to our classification, temporomesial involvement (25.6%) was significantly (p = 0.001) associated with a higher incidence of seizures, and trigeminal neuralgia was present in patients with lesions limited to the CPA (p = 0.006). The lesions were reached essentially through a retrosigmoidal approach (39.5%) and surgical excision was deemed to be complete in 65% of the cases. CONCLUSIONS: Our grading classification according to the anatomic extension correlates well with clinical presentation, type of surgical approach and extent of surgical removal. It is desirable to reach a consensus on the classification of tumor extension.