A prospective randomised controlled trial evaluating prophylactic Floseal, a gelatin and thrombin-based haemostatic matrix, in postoperative drain output and blood transfusion in transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion surgery.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the prophylactic use of Floseal in reducing postoperative blood loss in patients undergoing Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion (TLIF). TLIF is a lumbar spine decompression and fusion procedure with potential for postoperative blood loss. Prophylactic application of Floseal, a gelatin and thrombin-based haemostatic matrix to the surgical wound before closure was shown to be effective in reducing postoperative drain output in anterior cervical discectomy and fusion. This study postulated that prophylactic use of Floseal before wound closure would reduce postoperative blood loss in patients who underwent TLIF. METHODS: Randomised controlled trial comparing prophylactic use of Floseal and control in patients undergoing single level or two-level TLIF. Primary outcomes included postoperative drain output within 24 h and postoperative transfusion rate. Secondary outcomes included days of drain placement, length of stay and haemoglobin level. RESULTS: A total of 50 patients was recruited. Twenty six patients were allocated to the Floseal group and 24 were allocated to the control group. There were no baseline characteristic differences between the groups. There were no statistically significant differences in primary outcomes which included postoperative drain output within 24 h and postoperative transfusion rate between patients who received prophylactic Floseal and control. There were no statistically significant differences in secondary outcomes which included haemoglobin level, days of drain placement and length of stay between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Prophylactic use of Floseal was not shown to reduce postoperative bleeding in single level or two-level TLIF.

Stand-Alone Cervical Cages in 2-Level Anterior Interbody Fusion in Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy: Results from a Minimum 2-Year Follow-up.

STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective review of patients who underwent 2-level anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) with standalone polyetheretherketone (PEEK) cages for cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM). PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of stand-alone PEEK cage in 2-level cervical interbody fusion for CSM. OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: ACDF is a standard surgical procedure to treat degenerative disc disease. However, the use of additional anterior plating for 2-level ACDF remains controversial. METHODS: We reviewed outcomes of patients who underwent 2-level ACDF with stand-alone PEEK cages for CSM over a 7-year period (2007-2015) in a regional hospital. Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score, fusion rate, subsidence rate, cage migration, and cervical alignment by the C2-7 angle as well as the local segmental angle (LSA) of the cervical spine were assessed. RESULTS: In total, 31 patients (mean age, 59 years; range, 36-87 years) underwent 2-level ACDF with a cage-only construct procedure between 2007 and 2015. The minimum follow-up was 24 months; mean follow-up was 51 months. C3-5 fusion was performed in 45%, C4-6 fusion in 32%, and C5-7 fusion in 23%. Mean JOA score improved from 10.1±2.2 to 13.9±2.1 (p<0.01) at the 24-month follow-up. Fusion was achieved in all patients. Subsidence occurred in 22.5% of the cages but was not associated with differences in JOA scores, age, sex, or levels fused. Lordosis of the C2-7 angle and LSA increased after surgery, which were maintained for up to 1 year but subsequently disappeared after 2 years, yet the difference was not statistically significant. No cage migration was noted; two patients developed adjacent segment disease requiring posterior laminoplasty 3 years after ACDF. CONCLUSIONS: The use of a stand-alone PEEK cage in a 2-level cervical interbody fusion achieves satisfactory improvements in both clinical outcomes and fusion.

Single-door cervical laminoplasty using titanium miniplates alone.

PURPOSE: To review outcome of 29 patients who underwent single-door cervical laminoplasty for myelopathy using titanium miniplates alone. METHODS: Records of 20 men and 9 women aged 35 to 79 (mean, 64.3) years who underwent single-door cervical laminoplasty for myelopathy using titanium miniplates alone were reviewed. A total of 125 laminae were opened; 97 of them were fixed with a titanium miniplate. In 19 patients, a 20-hole titanium miniplate bent to the contour of a lamina was used and fixed into 3 laminae at alternate levels. In the remaining 10 patients, the pre-contoured ARCH Laminoplasty System was used and fixed into all laminae. In most patients, screw fixation was unicortical, and no spacer or bone graft was used. RESULTS: The mean follow-up duration was 4 (range, 2-9) years. At one-year follow-up, the mean Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score improved from 9.2 to 13.2 (p<0.001). The mean JOA recovery rate was 64%. No patient had neurological deterioration. The mean anteroposterior diameter increased from 14.3 mm to 19.7 mm; the mean increase was 6.1 mm in the plated laminae and 5.3 mm in the unplated laminae (p=0.11). Out of the 125 laminae, there were 2 hinge non-unions in the unplated laminae, and 2 screw pullouts (not associated with plate loosening). No patient had penetration into the vertebral foramen or neuroforamen. Spring-back closure occurred in 5 (18%) of the 28 unplated laminae, with a mean of <3 mm loss of the initial expansion. Two patients developed transient C5 palsy presenting as shoulder abduction weakness. One patient had a delayed dural tear due to a sharp spike at the edge of the opened C6 lamina. CONCLUSION: Single-door cervical laminoplasty using miniplates alone is a safe technique and achieves a high hinge union rate, good canal expansion, and neurological recovery.

Nightmare of lumbar diskectomy: aorta laceration.

STUDY DESIGN: Case report. OBJECTIVE: To present a rare case of a patient who during posterior lumbar spinal decompression and diskectomy underwent a laceration of the aorta. The patient survived with prompt treatment. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Intraoperative injuries of the prevertebral and pelvic vessels are infrequent but serious complications of posterior lumbar disc surgery. Injury may cause laceration of the vessel with acute life-threatening retroperitoneal hemorrhage, which is usually massive. The aortic bifurcation is closely approximated to the anterior surface of the L4-L5 disc. METHODS: A 70-year-old gentleman with prolapsed intervertebral disc between fourth and fifth lumbar vertebrae and left-sided radiculopathy of L5 root was operated with L4-L5 laminectomy and L4-L5 diskectomy. During diskectomy, it was noticed by the surgeon that there was one episode of giving way of the pituitary rongeur anteriorly. However, no major bleeding was encountered from the disc space immediately after the event; vital signs were stable hemodynamically and we completed the diskectomy. Five minutes later, we noted the dural sac to have a collapsing pulsation. Prevertebral vessel injury was suspected. Patient became pulseless. RESULTS: We turned the patient supine for cardiopulmonary resuscitation without extubation. Vascular surgeons proceeded with laparotomy. Huge retroperitoneal hematoma and a 1.5 × 1.5 cm laceration at the bifurcation of aorta were noted anterior to the L4-L5 intervertebral disc. The vascular surgeon repaired the aorta by primary repair. The patient was extubated on day 5 and was allowed to ambulate. He was discharged subsequently with a normal neurological and vascular examination. No pseudoaneurysm or arteriovenous fistula formation was detected on magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance angiography at 2 years follow-up. CONCLUSION: Iatrogenic vascular injury during posterior lumbar disc surgery, although rare, should be suspected if signs of circulatory instability or abnormal pulsation of the dural sac are noted, especially if any lapse in the ordinary technique has been observed. In preoperative imaging, note the position of the aorta and prevertebral veins and the depth and integrity of the anterior wall of the disc.

Anterior spinal fusion versus laminoplasty for cervical spondylotic myelopathy: a retrospective review.

PURPOSE: To compare outcomes of anterior spinal fusion (ASF) versus laminoplasty for cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM). METHODS: Records of 26 women and 37 men aged 34 to 83 (mean, 67) years who underwent ASF or laminoplasty for CSM were reviewed. Patient demographics, duration of symptoms, pre- and post-operative Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) scores, Hirabayashi recovery rate, and radiographic features (including anteroposterior canal diameter, Pavlov ratio, and number of levels compressed) were compared. RESULTS: The mean duration of symptoms was 9 months. The mean follow-up period was 40 months. Patients who underwent laminoplasty were older (p=0.015) and had more levels compressed (p<0.001) than those who underwent ASF. Patients with C3/4 compression were older than those without it (p=0.044). Younger patients had higher Hirabayashi recovery rate (p=0.043). CONCLUSION: The surgical decision for ASF or laminoplasty mainly depends on the number of levels compressed and patient age. Laminoplasty is usually reserved for older patients with multiple level involvement. Age is the main predictive factor for surgical outcome.