Back pain and disability after Harrington rod fusion to the lumbar spine for scoliosis.

Back pain questionnaires were completed by a study group of 103 idiopathic scoliosis patients fused with Harrington rods from L3 or lower and a control group of 29 patients fused to L2 or above. Minimum time to follow-up examination was 2 years. The study group had a higher rate of secondary surgeries for complications or late disc disease below the fusion, a higher back pain score, more difficulties with normal daily activities, needed more regular pain medications, and had more episodes of back pain. Patients older than 30 years at surgery had more of these problems if fused to L3 or more caudally. The amount of remaining lumbar lordosis correlated significantly with the difficulty of normal daily activities.

Using tissue expanders in spinal surgery for deficient soft tissue or postirradiation cases.

Prior irradiation and scarring can complicate wound closure following spinal surgery. Implanted tissue expanders were used six times in four patients to aid skin closure. Three patients had prior irradiation for cancer, and one had myelomeningocele. The average interval between placement and removal of the expanders was 46 days. Two late failures occurred because of prominent hardware. These expanders may provide adequate myocutaneous covers following spinal surgery in difficult cases.

Cotrel-Dubousset instrumentation for reduction of fracture dislocations of the spine.

The utilization of the Cotrel-Dubousset (CD) instrumentation for reduction of fracture dislocations of the spine requires special techniques unique to this new rod/hook configuration. A rotational manipulation of the CD rod with special application of a "fulcrum" hook is essential to reduce and maintain reduction in fracture dislocations of the spine.

Radicular pain after Harrington instrumentation.

Three patients developed lumbar radicular pain after Harrington instrumentation and posterior spinal fusion for idiopathic scoliosis. They required a second surgical procedure for nerve root decompression. The presenting complaint after the initial procedure was persistent radicular and buttock pain. Subsequent evaluation revealed direct compression by the inferior hook. At surgery the inferior hook was noted to be encased in bone and had imploded into the canal after a stress fracture of the lamina. Removal of the entire Harrington instrumentation resulted in effective relief of nerve root compression and resolution of radicular pain. To avoid this occurrence the addition of a leg extension to a postoperative brace has been instituted for procedures involving instrumentation to L5 and occasionally to L4.

Evaluation of spinous process wire fixation with Harrington instrumentation for idiopathic scoliosis.

A modification of the technique of Harrington instrumentation for idiopathic scoliosis utilizes segmental spinous process wiring. The purpose of this study is to contrast and compare two populations of surgically treated patients with idiopathic scoliosis: one group with a single Harrington distraction rod and the other group with the addition of spinous process wiring. Of 252 consecutive patients between 1971 and 1987, 215 were retrievable, with an average clinical follow-up of 2.2 years. Curves were analyzed by location and patient age. Patients treated with spinous process wires were braced, those without were casted. No significant difference in terms of percent correction with time was evident between the two treatment groups. The complication rate (11.0%) and pseudarthrosis rate (4.0%) were the same in both wired and standard groups. The more rigid adult curves resulted in less correction and greater complications than adolescent curves. Spinous process wiring seemed to protect against upper hook cut-out. There were no deaths or paraplegias. Patients surgically treated with the wire modification enjoyed greater comfort with the removable brace, and curve correction was equal to that obtained in patients treated with the standard technique and post-op casting.

Disseminated intravascular coagulation during surgery for scoliosis.

Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) was recently observed intraoperatively in two patients who required correction and stabilization of scoliosis with Harrington instrumentation and spinal fusion. Despite negative bleeding history and normal preoperative coagulation parameters, each patient developed sudden massive bleeding soon after decortication of spinous processes and facet joints. Coagulation profile revealed decreased platelets, plasma coagulation factors, and fibrinogen in association with elevated fibrin split products. Cessation of all bleeding occurred within a few hours. There was rapid correction of the coagulation parameters with blood component replacement therapy, indicating that the defibrination was short-lived and had ceased by the end of surgery. A review of the literature revealed six similar cases of DIC occurring during elective orthopedic surgery, four of which involved spinal arthrodesis and/or bone grafts. We suggest that injury secondary to decortication or chipping at bone can serve as a trigger for defibrination. This type of DIC is self-limited, and ends with completion of the operation. The treatment is blood component replacement. Heparin should be avoided.

Somatosensory evoked potentials during decompression and stabilization of the spine. Methods and findings.

As part of a study to determine if decompressive surgery benefits patients who have incomplete lesions of the spinal cord, the somatosensory evoked potential (SEP) has been employed as an intraoperative spinal cord monitor. This procedure was used to see if decompression results in any rapid changes in spinal cord conductivity and to correlate these findings with the patient's subsequent clinical course. In addition to trauma, however, other factors also affect the SEP, and these must be recognized if intraoperative monitoring is to be successful. Frequency of stimulation, wakefulness, and anesthetic agents alter the wave-form and amplitude of the SEP. Using nitrous oxide, oxygen, meperidine (or morphine), and a muscle relaxant for anesthesia, and stimulating at frequencies of 1 or 2 per second, 11 patients with cervical or upper thoracic lesions have been monitored. There was no loss or diminution of an SEP and no patient was neurologically poorer afterwards. In 4 patients, the SEP "improved" soon after decompression. Clinical outcome, however, was not related to whether the SEP changed or remained the same. In total, 8 patients subsequently improved functionally and 3 did not.

Somatosensory evoked potentials during Harrington instrumentation for scoliosis.

The somatosensory evoked potential can be obtained in the anesthetized patient during corrective surgery on the spine. The techniques of anesthesia and somatosensory evoked potential recordings described herein were utilized in fifty-five patients during surgical correction of scoliosis with Harrington instrumentation and spine fusion. No detectable complications were encountered and no neurological morbidity ensued in our series. This method may prove to be of significant value when potential injury to the spinal cord may be encountered during correction of spinal deformities.

Common plantar hyperkeratoses.

In general, metatarsal bars have provided a simple method of relieving pain and disability caused by plantar hyperkeratoses over metatarsal heads. By spanning the longitudinal arch, the bars effectively relieve pressure from the middle three metatarsal heads and elevate the distal portion of the metatarsal bones. This often results in favorable repositioning of displaced proximal phalanges and eliminates direct pressure exerted by metatarsal heads. Also, by giving more uniform support to the foot, metatarsal bars rearrange the weight-bearing surface in a more even way, which favors resolution of hyperkeratoses by removal of pressure points. The prescription for metatarsal bars must be written for both shoes. Dual bars provide balanced walking surfaces and do not induce asymmetric motion of the lower spine as a single bar would. They can be applied to moderately high-heeled shoes for women and regular oxfords for men. The leading edge of the bar must be properly skived and tapered to provide an even surface with the forward part of the soles of the shoes. If this is not done properly, the bars may strike against uneven surfaces as the foot slides forward in walking or running. The patient should return to the prescribing physician in two or three weeks after the bars have been worn constantly. By analyzing the scuffed surfaces of the metatarsal bars, the physician can determine whether or not the bars are firm and thick enough and in the proper position to relieve and divert pressure from the metatarsal heads. Perhaps two pair of shoes should be thus altered to provide a change of foot gear for ordinary purposes. Unaltered dress shoes may be worn for short periods of time as party or formal occasions demand. Eventually, when the painful processes have subsided, the patient may resume wearing ordinary shoes and use the modified shoes if symptoms recur from time to time.