Testing a new method of osteosynthesis of forearm fractures in children; a prospective randomized controlled longitudinal study.

Purpose: Displaced children's forearms fractures are commonly treated surgically with Kirschner Wires or Elastic Stable Intramedullary Nails. The osteosynthesis system "Minimally Invasive Reduction and Osteosynthesis System" might be beneficial in the treatment of these fractures due to being minimally invasive while achieving fracture stability. In this exploratory prospective randomized controlled longitudinal study, we compared Minimally Invasive Reduction and Osteosynthesis System to Kirschner Wires and Elastic Stable Intramedullary Nails osteosynthesis. Methods: Twenty children were included consecutively to treatment with either conventional surgery (5 Kirschner Wires/5 Elastic Stable Intramedullary Nails) or Minimally Invasive Reduction and Osteosynthesis System (10). Evaluation of radiographic alignment and clinically of range of motion, pain status, grip strength, level of physical activity and scar size were compared after 3 months and after 5 years. Results: Surgical parameters of the duration of insertion- and removal-surgery, the need for postoperative casting and scar size were significantly better for Minimally Invasive Reduction and Osteosynthesis System. All osteosynthesis systems maintained radiographically fracture alignment at three months and 5 years follow-up. Clinical status regarding pain, grip strength difference, and return to recreational activities were not significantly different. The complication rates were nonsignificant, but MIROS had moderate severe complications of refractures, while mild complications occurred when operated on with Kirschner Wires/Elastic Stable Intramedullary Nails. Our study was sufficiently powered at 3 months, but the comparisons are suggestive at 5 years. Conclusion: In conclusion, Minimally Invasive Reduction and Osteosynthesis System is not significantly different to other surgical methods in radiological outcomes for forearm fractures in children. Minimally Invasive Reduction and Osteosynthesis System has the clinical benefit of omitting casting after surgery, obtaining reduced scar size, and shorter insertion and removal time without general anesthesia. However, moderately severe complications occurred. Level of evidence: Level II-a prospective comparative study.

Minimal Access vs. Open Spine Surgery in Patients With Metastatic Spinal Cord Compression - A One-Center Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND/AIM: We conducted a randomized controlled trial to investigate whether minimally access spine surgery (MASS) is less morbid than open surgery (OS) in patients with metastatic spinal cord compression (MSCC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 49 MSCC patients were included in the trial. The outcome measures were bleeding (L), operation time (min), re-operations and prolonged wound healing. RESULTS: The median age was 67 years (range=42-85 years) and 40% were men. The peri-operative blood loss in the MASS-group was significantly lower than that in the OS-group; 0.175L vs. 0.500L, (p=0.002). The median operation time for MASS was 142 min (range=72-203 min) vs. 103 (range=59-435 min) for OS (p=0.001). There was no significant difference between the two groups concerning revision surgery or delayed wound healing. CONCLUSION: The MASS technique in MSCC patients is associated with less blood loss, but a longer operation time when compared to the OS technique.

Spinopelvic Parameters Depending on the Angulation of the Sacral End Plate Are Less Reproducible Than Other Spinopelvic Parameters in Adult Spinal Deformity Patients.

STUDY DESIGN: Reproducibility study. OBJECTIVES: To report the agreement and reliability for commonly used sagittal plane measurements. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Spinopelvic parameters and sagittal vertical axis (SVA) are commonly used parameters for preoperative planning and postoperative evaluation of patients with adult spinal deformity (ASD). Previous reproducibility studies have focused on describing the reliability using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs), thus quantifying the methods' ability to distinguish between individuals. To our knowledge, no previous study in patients with ASD has reported the measurement error in terms of limits of agreement. The current study aimed to report the agreement and reliability for measurements of pelvic incidence (PI), pelvic tilt (PT), sacral slope (SS), and SVA in ASD patients. METHODS: In a consecutive, one-center cohort of 64 patients referred for ASD evaluation, a blinded test-retest study was performed. Reliability was assessed using ICCs, whereas 95% limits of agreement (LOAs) were used to quantify agreement. RESULTS: We found "excellent" (ICC > 0.9) results in all analyses of reliability except for interrater PI, which was classified as "good" (ICC = 0.89). However, considerable interrater measurement error was observed for parameters depending on the angulation of the sacral end plate (95% LOA of ±11° and ±14° for SS and PI, respectively) compared with ±5° for PT and ±7 mm for SVA, which depends on the location of the sacral end plate. Intrarater agreement was only slightly better. CONCLUSION: These are to our knowledge the first estimates of measurement error for sagittal spinopelvic parameters in ASD patients. Despite near excellent ICCs, we found considerable measurement error for parameters depending on the angulation rather than the location of the sacral end plate. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level II.

Moderate Interrater and Substantial Intrarater Reproducibility of the Roussouly Classification System in Patients With Adult Spinal Deformity.

STUDY DESIGN: Reproducibility study of a classification system. OBJECTIVES: To provide the inter- and intrarater reproducibility of the Roussouly Classification System in a single-center prospective cohort of patients referred for Adult Spinal Deformity. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: The Roussouly Classification System was developed to describe the variation in sagittal spine shape in normal individuals. A recent study suggests that patients' spine types could influence the outcome following spinal surgery. The utility of a classification system depends largely on its reproducibility. METHODS: Sixty-four consecutive patients were included in a blinded test-retest setting using digital radiographs. All ratings were performed by four spine surgeons with different levels of experience. There was a 14-day interval between the two reading sessions. Inter- and intrarater reproducibility was calculated using Fleiss Kappa and crude agreement percentages. RESULTS: We found moderate interrater (κ = 0.60) and substantial intrarater (κ = 0.68) reproducibility. All 4 raters agreed on the Roussouly type in 47% of the cases. The most experienced rater had significantly higher intrarater reliability compared to the least experienced rater (κ = 0.57 vs 0.78). The two most experienced raters also had the highest crude agreement percentage (75%); however, they also had a significant difference in distribution of spine types. CONCLUSION: The current study presents moderate interrater and substantial intrarater reliability of the Roussouly Classification System. These findings are acceptable and comparable to previous results of reproducibility for a classification system in patients with Adult Spinal Deformity. Additional studies are requested to validate these findings as well as to further investigate the impact of the classification system on outcome following surgery.

National Clinical Guidelines for non-surgical treatment of patients with recent onset low back pain or lumbar radiculopathy.

PURPOSE: To summarise recommendations about 20 non-surgical interventions for recent onset (<12 weeks) non-specific low back pain (LBP) and lumbar radiculopathy (LR) based on two guidelines from the Danish Health Authority. METHODS: Two multidisciplinary working groups formulated recommendations based on the GRADE approach. RESULTS: Sixteen recommendations were based on evidence, and four on consensus. Management of LBP and LR should include information about prognosis, warning signs, and advise to remain active. If treatment is needed, the guidelines suggest using patient education, different types of supervised exercise, and manual therapy. The guidelines recommend against acupuncture, routine use of imaging, targeted treatment, extraforaminal glucocorticoid injection, paracetamol, NSAIDs, and opioids. CONCLUSION: Recommendations are based on low to moderate quality evidence or on consensus, but are well aligned with recommendations from international guidelines. The guideline working groups recommend that research efforts in relation to all aspects of management of LBP and LR be intensified.

Radiographic and Functional Outcome in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis Operated With Hook/Hybrid Versus All-Pedicle Screw Instrumentation-A Retrospective Study in 149 Patients.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. OBJECTIVE: To compare radiographic outcome and health-related quality of life in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) treated with hook/hybrid (H/H) or all-pedicle screw (PS) instrumentation. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: PS instrumentation has largely replaced H/H in the surgical treatment of AIS but whether a normalized sagittal profile can be obtained with the PS construct is still debated. Additionally, comparative studies assessing HRQL and surgical complications are needed. METHODS: Two consecutive series of surgically treated AIS patients were included. Surgical treatment consisted of H/H or low-profile all-PS instrumentation. Radiographic and clinical follow-up, including SRS-22r questionnaires, was performed a minimum of two years postoperatively. RESULTS: There were 85 and 64 patients in the H/H and PS group, respectively. The groups did not differ on baseline parameters apart from a lower flexibility in the H/H group (34% ± 14% vs. 39% ± 14% in the PS group, p = .026). Mean curve correction at final follow-up was 31% ± 13% versus 49% ± 12% in the H/H and PS group, respectively (p < .001), and mean loss of correction was 7° versus 4° (p < .001). The Cincinnati correction index was significantly higher in the PS group at final follow-up (p < .001). Postoperative thoracic kyphosis was significantly higher in the H/H group (27° ± 11° vs. 22° ± 11° in the PS group) with a mean change in kyphosis of 3° ± 9° versus -3° ± 12° in the H/H and PS group, respectively. SRS-22 scores did not differ between the two groups (p > .090), and the reoperation rate at final follow-up was 9% in the H/H group and 6% in the PS group (p = .556). CONCLUSIONS: In a large consecutive cohort of AIS patients followed for a minimum of two years, we found a significantly better curve correction and less loss of correction with PS instrumentation compared to H/H. There was no significant difference in SRS-22r scores at final follow-up. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III.