White Blood Cell Count and C-Reactive Protein Variations After Posterior Surgery With Intraoperative Radiotherapy for Spinal Metastasis.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case series. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the feasibility of blood test parameters [white blood cell (WBC) count and C-reactive protein (CRP)] for predicting and diagnosing postoperative infection after posterior surgery with intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) for spinal metastasis. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Posterior surgery with IORT is effective for treating spinal metastasis, as we previously reported. However, the procedure requires that the patient be transferred from the operating room to the irradiation room. In addition, the patient's general status is often poor, and the risk of postoperative infection is high. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 279 patients who underwent IORT for the treatment of spinal metastasis between August 2004 and June 2013 were included in this study. The WBC count (/10 µL) and CRP level (mg/dL) were recorded in all patients preoperatively and on alternative days for up to 7 days after surgery. We assessed the development of surgical-site infection (SSI) for up to 1 month after surgery. RESULTS: SSI occurred in 41 patients (14.7%). The preoperative WBC count and CRP level did not differ between the infected and noninfected patients. The WBC counts on postoperative day (POD) 1 and POD 7 and the CRP levels on POD 7 were significantly higher in the infected patients (8.8 vs. 10.0, P=0.04; 6.1 vs. 8.8, P=0.002; 3.89 vs. 9.50, P<0.001). A receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis of the WBC count and CRP level for detecting SSI showed cutoff values of 9.6 (WBC count, POD 1), 6.5 (WBC count, POD 7), and 5.0 (CRP level, POD 7). CONCLUSIONS: A high WBC count and CRP level on POD 7 may be used to predict or detect SSI. In particular, a CRP level of 5.0 mg/dL on POD 7 strongly suggests the future development of SSI (sensitivity: 78%, specificity: 74%).

Risk factors for surgical site infection after posterior fixation surgery and intraoperative radiotherapy for spinal metastases.

PURPOSE: Posterior surgery with intraoperative radiotherapy for spinal metastases offers effective therapy, as we have reported previously. However, the procedure involves transfer from the operating room to the radiotherapy room, and as these patients are somewhat immunocompromised, the risk of postoperative surgical site infection (SSI) may be increased. The aim of our study was to identify risk factors and patient characteristics associated with postoperative SSI following posterior fixation surgery and intraoperative radiotherapy for spinal metastases. METHODS: Participants comprised 279 patients who underwent IORT for the treatment of spinal metastases between August 2004 and June 2013. Patients who suffered SSI within 1 month after surgery were categorized as infected, and all others were categorized as non-infected. We compared factors of age, sex, use of pre-operative corticosteroid, medical history of diabetes, prognosis scores (Tomita, Tokuhashi, and Katagiri), pre- and postoperative Frankel scale scores, site of tumor origin, administration of pre-operative radiotherapy, operation time, intraoperative blood loss, intraoperative irradiation dose, and pre- and postoperative performance status between groups. RESULTS: SSI occurred in 41 patients (14.7%). Katagiri's and Tokuhashi's prognostic scores (P < 0.05 each), postoperative Frankel scale score (P < 0.01), administration of pre-operative radiotherapy (P < 0.05), and postoperative performance status (P < 0.05) all correlated significantly with occurrence of SSI. Multivariate analysis using those factors revealed administration of pre-operative radiotherapy as a factor independently associated with SSI (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Patient prognosis, postoperative ambulatory function, and pre-operative radiotherapy were risk factors for SSI in patients with spinal metastases. Duration of surgery and intraoperative blood loss were not associated with occurrence of SSI.

META: an MRI-based scoring system differentiating metastatic from osteoporotic vertebral fractures.

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is useful for the differential diagnosis of osteoporotic vertebral fractures (OVFs) and metastatic vertebral fractures (MVFs), but no single finding is absolutely conclusive. PURPOSE: The purpose of the present study was to create a scoring system to facilitate the correct diagnosis of MVFs by integrating several MRI findings. STUDY DESIGN: This is a retrospective and single-center observational study that attempts to create a diagnostic scoring system by discriminant analysis. PATIENTS SAMPLE: We included 100 OVFs and 100 MVFs in thoracolumbar vertebrae of which MR images were obtained within 60 days from the suspected time of fractures. OUTCOME MEASURES: The sensitivity and specificity of known important MRI findings were assessed, and the classification accuracy of the scoring system was investigated. METHODS: Seven MRI findings of these fractures were analyzed to evaluate their sensitivity and specificity. Using these findings as variables, discriminant analysis was performed in 140 fractures as a training set, and the classification accuracy was calculated in the remaining 60 fractures as a test set. Additionally, the images of these 60 fractures were reviewed by another blinded reviewer to investigate the interobserver reliability of each finding. RESULTS: All findings had high specificity with low-to-moderate sensitivity. Eight variables were selected in the final discriminant function. A simpler scoring system (MRI Evaluation Totalizing Assessment [META]) was created by approximating the coefficients and the constant term by integral numbers. The classification accuracy was calculated to be 96.6% in the test set. The interobserver reliability of the key findings varied, but the final discrimination conducted by META had the high agreement between the two reviewers (κ=0.93). CONCLUSIONS: This novel scoring system, META, could prove to be a useful tool for the differential diagnosis of OVFs and MVFs. It is simple and physician friendly, yet highly accurate.

Double figure-of-eight reconstruction technique for chronic anterior sternoclavicular joint dislocation.

Sternoclavicular joint dislocations account for <5 % of all dislocations of the shoulder girdle. Whereas most cases of anterior dislocation do not experience symptoms, some patients with anterior instability remain symptomatic and require reconstructive surgery to stabilize the sternoclavicular joint. We present the case of a 57-year-old male diagnosed with sternoclavicular joint anterior dislocation and unusual swallowing difficulty while bending the neck forward. The patient was treated using a new and effective surgical technique of sternoclavicular joint reconstruction named "double figure-of-eight" using the ipsilateral gracilis tendon. Surgical outcome was successful, based on the Rockwood SC joint rating scale, and the patient maintained excellent stability even after 2 years. This new surgical technique offers superior stability, without harvest site morbidity, to patients with rare, severe, and chronic sternoclavicular joint dislocation. Level of evidence IV.

Antibiotic-impregnated cement embedding technique for spinal instrumentation infections.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: When surgical site infection occurs in patients with an instrumented spine, the management of infection is challenging because a biofilm is formed around the metallic surface of the implant. Although a wide variety of methods to salvage implants has been developed, previously reported methods reduce the patients' quality of life and are frequently time consuming and costly. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We performed a cement embedding technique in 13 consecutive patients with infection after spinal instrumentation. After meticulous open débridement, the metallic implants were embedded using polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) mixed with antibiotics. Antibiotics were selected in each case according to the pathogens and their sensitivity. The wound was primarily closed. We did not restrict the patients' activity postoperatively. The implants were not removed unless it was necessary for further procedures. RESULTS: Nine patients, including those infected by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), were cured by débridement and PMMA embedding followed by systemic antibiotic treatment. No complications were reported. CONCLUSIONS: The antibiotic-impregnated PMMA embedding technique is an effective method for the treatment of spinal instrumentation infections. It is easy to perform and is also effective for MRSA infection.

Optimal schedule of preoperative embolization for spinal metastasis surgery.

STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective study. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between intraoperative blood loss during spinal metastasis surgery and the surgical delay after preoperative embolization. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Delaying surgery after embolization is thought to diminish its effectiveness because of revascularization, but there has been no scientific study that supports this hypothesis. METHODS: We reviewed data from 66 consecutive posterior palliative decompression surgical procedures for spinal metastasis from thyroid and renal cell carcinoma (39 thyroid and 27 renal) in 58 patients between 2004 and 2012. All patients underwent preoperative angiography. The timing of preoperative embolization was determined on the basis of the operating room and interventional radiologist schedules. Excluding one case who did not receive embolization due to lack of hypervascularity, we analyzed 65 cases to compare intraoperative blood loss according to the completeness of embolization and the time lapse between embolization and surgery. RESULTS: Surgical procedures were performed on the same day of embolization in 21 cases (same day-group), and on the next day after embolization in 39 cases (next-day group). Five surgical procedures were performed 2 days later. The intraoperative blood loss was significantly lesser with complete embolization than with partial embolization (mean ± standard deviation: 809 ± 835 vs. 1210 ± 904 mL, P = 0.03). Among those with complete embolization, the intraoperative blood loss as well as the perioperative transfusion requirement was significantly lesser in the same-day group than in the next-day group (mean ± standard deviation: blood loss: 433 ± 376 vs. 1012 ± 974 mL, P = 0.01; transfusion requirement: 1.5 ± 1.7 vs. 4.2 ± 4.1 units, P = 0.04). CONCLUSION: Preoperative embolization showed greater effectiveness in reducing intraoperative blood loss when surgery for spinal metastasis was performed on the same day than when surgery was delayed. Surgery should be performed on the same day of embolization if possible. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4.

Hormonal therapy with external radiation therapy for metastatic spinal cord compression from newly diagnosed prostate cancer.

BACKGROUND: Although hormonal therapy is effective for treatment of prostate cancer, its effect in the treatment of metastatic spinal cord compression (MSCC) has not been established. The objective of this study was to clarify the efficacy of conservative treatment of MSCC-induced paralysis resulting from prostate cancer for patients without a previous treatment history. METHODS: We reviewed data from 38 patients with MSCC-induced paralysis from newly diagnosed prostate cancer who presented to our service between 1984 and 2010. Conservative treatment consisted of hormonal therapy with external radiation therapy (ERT). Patient demographic data, treatment details, involved spine MRI images, complications, and the course of neurologic recovery were investigated. RESULTS: Twenty-five patients were treated conservatively. Mean follow-up period was 36.8 months. Sixteen patients (two with Frankel B, 14 with Frankel C) were unable to walk at initial presentation. After initiating conservative treatment, 75% (12 of 16) of these patients regained the ability to walk within 1 month, 88% (14 in 16) did so within 3 months, and all non-ambulatory patients did so within 6 months. No one had morbid complications. Four patients who did not regain the ability to walk at 1 month were found to have progressed to paraplegia rapidly, and tended to have severe compression as visualized on MRI, with a delay in the start of treatment in comparison with those who did so within 1 month (21.0 vs. 7.8 days). CONCLUSIONS: Hormonal therapy associated with ERT is an important option for treatment of MSCC resulting from newly diagnosed prostate cancer.

Neurological recovery after posterior decompression surgery for anterior dural compression in paralytic spinal metastasis.

PURPOSE: Paralysis in spinal metastasis is often caused by anterior dural compression, and anterior approach has been frequently chosen for decompression despite its dreadful complications. On the other hand, the effectiveness of posterior indirect decompression has not specifically established. The objective of the present study was to investigate the anatomical patterns of dural compression, and to clarify the effectiveness of posterior surgery for anterior lesions. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the anatomical patterns of spinal metastasis on MRI images and the neurological recovery in the paralytic patients who underwent posterior decompression and fusion surgery with intraoperative radiation therapy. The recovery rate was compared between those with an anterior or circumferential dural compression (A+), who were indirectly decompressed, and those with a posterior and/or lateral dural compression (A-), who were directly decompressed. RESULTS: A total of 135 cases were included in the study, and 81.5% had anterior dural compression (A+). In the A+ group, 88.2% of preoperatively non-ambulatory cases regained the gait. Full recovery was achieved in 50% of preoperatively ambulatory cases. These rates were not significantly different from those in the A- group. The rate of gait regain was diminished in the surgeries of the middle thoracic spine (T5-8). CONCLUSIONS: Most spinal metastases cause paralysis by anterior compression; however, the result of posterior indirect decompression was similar to that of posterior direct decompression, although kyphosis negatively affected the result. Anterior decompression might not always be necessary for soft tumor compression as long as the adjuvant therapy is effective for the local control.

[Indication of chemotherapy according to histological type of musculoskeletal sarcomas].

In high-grade musculoskeletal sarcomas, adjuvant chemotherapy is often performed to prevent distant metastases. As the efficacy of chemotherapy varies according to the histological type of sarcoma, its indication is determined according to the histological type and the stage. Prognoses are poor in patients with osteosarcoma, Ewing's sarcoma, or rhabdomyosarcoma, when surgery alone is performed. However, because these sarcomas are chemosensitive, their prognoses are improved with adjuvant chemotherapy, so it is absolutely necessary. Drugs commonly used for osteosarcoma include adriamycin, cisplatin, methotrexate, vincristine, and ifosfamide. For Ewing's sarcoma and rhabdomyosarcoma, vincristine, actinomycin-D, cyclophosphamide, etoposide, and ifosfamide are commonly used. On the other hand, the efficacy of chemotherapy is unclear in most of the non-round cell sarcomas, e. g., malignant fibrous histiocytoma, pleomorphic liposarcoma, and leiomyosarcoma, so adjuvant chemotherapy is relatively indicated and often performed preoperatively. The efficacy is evaluated by reduction of the tumor volume as a surrogate marker. Postoperative chemotherapy is performed when the preoperative chemotherapy is effective. Nowadays, several kinds of antitumor agents are usually used for non-round cell sarcomas, and many authors have reported various kinds of regimens and their clinical results. Among them, the key drugs are adriamycin and ifosfamide. Recently, taxanes and gemcitabine are sometimes used. For chemoresistant sarcomas, e. g., chondrosarcoma, chordoma, alveolar soft part sarcoma, chemotherapy is rarely indicated, even if the tumor is histologically high grade and large. Low-grade musculoskeletal sarcomas, e. g., low-grade chondrosarcoma, central low-grade osteosarcoma, parosteal osteosarcoma, well-differentiated liposarcoma, and dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans, are well cured only by surgical excision, and adjuvant chemotherapy is therefore not indicated. Superficially-located, small-size non-round cell sarcomas, even though histologically high grade, are well healed only by surgical excision, and adjuvant chemotherapy is rarely indicated.

Intraoperative radiotherapy combined with posterior decompression and stabilization for non-ambulant paralytic patients due to spinal metastasis.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective examination of 96 nonambulant paralytic patients with spinal cord compression caused by metastatic cancer treated with intraoperative radiotherapy combined with conventional posterior surgery. OBJECTIVE: To improve local control of spinal metastasis by conducting posterior surgery combined with intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) in patients with severe neurologic deficits. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Few studies of conventional posterior surgery demonstrated satisfactory neurologic recovery for nonambulant paralytic patients with advanced spinal metastases. METHODS: Ninety-six patients underwent IORT (107 procedures) for the treatment of severe spinal cord compression because of spinal metastases. All patients were nonambulatory before surgery. Eighty-three cases (86%) were in an advanced stage of multiple spinal metastases (types 6 or 7 of the surgical classification of vertebral tumors). After posterior decompression, a single large dose of electron beam irradiation was delivered to the exposed metastatic lesion while the spinal cord was protected using a lead shield. Posterior instrumentation was also performed for most patients. RESULTS: Ninety-five of 107 cases (89%) obtained at least one level of neurologic improvement according to Frankel's classification and 86 cases (80%) became ambulatory after surgery. The main factors related to a nonambulatory status after surgery were preoperative neurologic status, performance status, and the presence of internal organ metastases. Of 86 postoperative ambulatory cases, only 3 became nonambulatory because of local recurrence during the follow-up period. CONCLUSION: The IORT procedure is a useful technique for the treatment of spinal cord compression because of spinal metastasis, offering significant neurologic recovery and a low rate of local recurrence.

[Preoperative adjuvant therapy for primary malignant bone tumors].

In primary bone sarcomas, the efficacy of chemotherapy varies according to the histological types. Prognoses are poor in patients with osteosarcoma or Ewing's sarcoma, when surgery alone is performed. However, because these sarcomas are chemosensitive, their prognoses have been improved with adjuvant chemotherapy. Nowadays, in highgrade bone sarcomas, especially in osteosarcoma, Ewing.s sarcoma and malignant fibrous histiocytoma of bone, adjuvant chemotherapy including neoadjuvant or preoperative chemotherapy is usually performed. The purpose of the neoadjuvant chemotherapy is (I) to prevent distant metastases, (II) to reduce the size of the primary tumor and (III) to evaluate the efficacy of the chemotherapeutic agents. Reducing the tumor size facilitates easier excision with less risk of local recurrence. In addition, not only limb-saving but also function-preserving surgery is made possible. Evaluating the efficacy of the chemotherapeutic agents in preoperative chemotherapy facilitates rational selection of postoperative chemotherapeutic agents. Several kinds of anticancer agents are used, and many authors have reported various kinds of protocols and their clinical results. Commonly used drugs include adriamycin, ifosfamide, cisplatin, methotrexate and vincristine in osteosarcoma, and vincristine, adriamycin, cyclophosphamide, ifosfamide, actinomycin-D and etoposide in Ewing's sarcoma. In contrast, chondrosarcomas are chemoresistant, and chemotherapy is rarely performed. Low-grade bone sarcomas, e. g., parosteal osteosarcoma, central low-grade osteosarcoma, are well cured only by surgical excision, and adjuvant chemotherapy is not performed for these low-grade sarcomas. To enhance the efficacy of preoperative chemotherapy, various modalities have been used e. g., intraarterial infusion, caffeine-assisted chemotherapy, and local perfusion with hyperthermia. Good clinical results have been reported.

Results of posterior surgery with intraoperative radiotherapy for spinal metastases.

OBJECT: Spinal cord compression from spinal metastasis represents a substantial clinical problem. Complete resection of spinal metastases is difficult in many cases, and conventional surgical decompression of the spinal cord with or without instrumentation often results in unsatisfactory neurological recovery and local recurrence, even if combined with external radiotherapy. To increase rates of local control and improve neurological recovery in such cases, we introduced decompressive surgery combined with intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) for the treatment of spinal metastasis in 1992. We report the results of neurological recovery and local control in cases that received surgery with IORT. METHODS: Between November 1992 and December 2001, 133 cases (117 patients) were treated using IORT at Tokyo Metropolitan Komagome Hospital. The 79 cases (74 patients) that received posterior spine surgery only for spinal paresis due to spinal metastasis were reviewed. RESULTS: Improvement of at least one level according to Frankel's classification was attained in 68 cases (86%). Of the 58 patients unable to walk preoperatively, 45 patients (78%) regained walking ability postoperatively. Rate of local recurrence was 2.5%. CONCLUSIONS: IORT, combined with posterior surgery and FERT, might be one of the effective methods for local control of spinal metastasis and neurological improvement, especially in cases with progressive and multi-level lesions.

[Soft tissue sarcoma: postoperative chemotherapy].

In high-grade musculoskeletal sarcomas, adjuvant chemotherapy is often performed to prevent distant metastases. The efficacy of chemotherapy varies according to the histological type of sarcoma. Prognoses are poor in patients with osteosarcoma, Ewing's sarcoma, or rhabdomyosarcoma, when surgery alone is performed. However, because these sarcomas are chemosensitive, their prognoses are improved with adjuvant chemotherapy. On the other hand, the efficacy of chemotherapy is not statistically demonstrated in non-round cell sarcomas, e. g., malignant fibrous histiocytoma. Nowadays, several kinds of antitumor agents are usually used for adjuvant chemotherapy, and many authors have reported various kinds of regimens and their clinical results. Commonly used drugs include adriamycin, ifosfamide, cisplatin, methotrexate, cyclophosphamide, dacarbazine, vincristine, and actinomycin-D. Recently, high-dose chemotherapy combined with autologous peripheral blood or bone marrow stem cell transplantation has been begun in patients who do not respond to standard chemotherapy, and a better prognosis is expected.

[Ewing's sarcoma].

Ewing's sarcomas account for 6.8% of all primary malignant bone tumors and are probably a neurogenic, undifferentiated, high-grade malignancy, which usually affects the bones of children 5-15 years of age. Pain and swelling are the most common symptoms. Increase of CRP and erythrocyte sedimentation rate, leucocytosis, and anemia are frequently seen. Radiologically, they show permeative bone destruction on plain radiographs. When arising in the diaphysis of long bones, laminated, "onion-skin" periosteal reaction is seen. The tumor shows muscle density on CT, iso-signal intensity on T1-weighted MR images, and high signal intensity on T2-weighted MR images. Intramedullary invasion and skip lesions can be detected on MR images. Histologically, the tumor is uniformly composed of sheets of small round cells closely packed and without any matrix product. Glycogen granules are demonstrated in the cytoplasm by periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) and diastase reactions. Immunohistochemically, Ewing's sarcomas are positive for vimentin and MIC-2 gene product (CD99). Reciprocal translocation, i.e., t(11;22) (q24;q12), is seen in the tumor cells. EWS/FLI-1 fusion gene can be demonstrated, which can be a complementary method in diagnosing this tumor. Because Ewing's sarcomas are chemosensitive and radiosensitive, they are treated by a combination of chemotherapy, surgery, and radiotherapy. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy consists of preoperative chemotherapy and postoperative chemotherapy. Preoperative chemotherapy aims at eradicating distant micrometastasis, reducing the primary tumor volume, and evaluating the efficacy of the chemotherapeutic agents. Surgery is performed as a local treatment by excising the tumor using the wide procedure. If surgery is impractical, curative radiotherapy is performed instead of excision. When surgery is performed without complete wide procedure, adjuvant radiotherapy is carried out to eradicate the residual tumor cells. Postoperative chemotherapy aims to eradicate the distant micrometastasis. Recently, myeloablative, high-dose chemotherapy followed by autologous bone marrow transplantation is being attempted for poor-prognosis patients and good results have been reported.