Major complications in extreme lateral interbody fusion access: multicentric study by Italian S.O.L.A.S. group.

PURPOSE: The eXtreme Lateral Interbody Fusion (XLIF) approach has gained increasing importance in the last decade. This multicentric retrospective cohort study aims to assess the incidence of major complications in XLIF procedures performed by experienced surgeons and any relationship between the years of experience in XLIF procedures and the surgeon's rate of severe complications. METHODS: Nine Italian members of the Society of Lateral Access Surgery (SOLAS) have taken part in this study. Each surgeon has declared how many major complications have been observed during his surgical experience and how they were managed. A major complication was defined as an injury that required reoperation, or as a complication, whose sequelae caused functional limitations to the patient after one year postoperatively. Each surgeon was finally asked about his years of experience in spine surgery and XLIF approach. Pearson correlation test was used to evaluate the association between the surgeon's years of experience in XLIF and the rate of major complications; a p-value of last than 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: We observed 14 major complications in 1813 XLIF procedures, performed in 1526 patients. The major complications rate was 0.7722%. Ten complications out of fourteen needed a second surgery. Neither cardiac nor respiratory nor renal complications were observed. No significant correlation was found between the surgeon's years of experience in the XLIF procedure and the number of major complications observed. CONCLUSION: XLIF revealed a safe and reliable surgical procedure, with a very low rate of major complications, when performed by an expert spine surgeon.

Failure rates and complications of interspinous process decompression devices: a European multicenter study.

OBJECT Spacers placed between the lumbar spinous processes represent a promising surgical treatment alternative for a variety of spinal pathologies. They provide an unloading distractive force to the stenotic motion segment, restoring foraminal height, and have the potential to relieve symptoms of degenerative disc disease. The authors performed a retrospective, multicenter nonrandomized study consisting of 1108 patients to evaluate implant survival and failure modes after the implantation of 8 different interspinous process devices (IPDs). METHODS The medical records of patients who had undergone placement of an IPD were retrospectively evaluated, and demographic information, diagnosis, and preoperative pain levels were recorded. Preoperative and postoperative clinical assessments in the patients were based on the visual analog scale. A minimum of 3 years after IPD placement, information on long-term outcomes was obtained from additional follow-up or from patient medical and radiological records. RESULTS One thousand one hundred eight patients affected by symptomatic 1- or 2-level segmental lumbar spine degenerative disease underwent placement of an IPD. The complication rate was 7.8%. There were 27 fractures of the spinous process and 23 dura mater tears with CSF leakage. The ultimate failure rate requiring additional surgery was 9.6%. The reasons for revision, which always involved removal of the original implant, were acute worsening of low-back pain or lack of improvement (45 cases), recurrence of symptoms after an initial good outcome (42 cases), and implant dislocation (20 cases). CONCLUSIONS The IPD is not a substitute for a more invasive 3-column fusion procedure in cases of major instability and spondylolisthesis. Overdistraction, poor bone density, and poor patient selection may all be factors in the development of complications. Preoperatively, careful attention should be paid to bone density, appropriate implant size, and optimal patient selection.

A Clinico-pathologic Study of Oxidized Cellulose as Topical Hemostatic Agent in Neurosurgery.

Hemostasis is extremely important in neurosurgical procedures to prevent major postoperative bleedings and their catastrophic consequences. Emoxicel TAF Retilight (Bioster, a.s., Czech Republic) is a sterile, resorbable, hemostatic reticulum, mainly used to stop capillary and venous bleeding. The textile form of the hemostatic material allows, in several cases, perfect adjustment to the varied shape of the surgical cavities and of the epidural space to which it adheres when wet. Hemostatic effect is rapid, and complete hemostasis can be achieved in several minutes after application. This topical hemostatic agent is biocompatible, biodegradable, and highly resorbable. It has a hemostatic and antimicrobic effect. The main aim of this study was to verify the efficacy, broadness of use, and safety of this topical hemostatic in neurosurgical procedures. A total of 43 cases were included, 18 cranial and 25 spinal, and in only one case a postoperative epidural bleeding was reported. A histopathologic study of the hemostatic was performed. No allergic reactions were reported. Emoxicel was useful not only in stopping minor bleeding, but also for bleeding prevention in the postoperative period.

Interspinous spacer decompression (X-STOP) for lumbar spinal stenosis and degenerative disk disease: a multicenter study with a minimum 3-year follow-up.

Interspinous distraction devices provide an effective treatment for patients suffering from lumbar spinal stenosis and/or degenerative disk disease. The aim of this multicenter study was the prospective evaluation of patients treated for symptomatic lumbar spinal stenosis with interspinous process decompression (IPD) implants compared with a population of patients managed with conservative treatment. 542 patients affected by symptomatic lumbar spine degenerative disease were enrolled in a controlled trial. 422 patients underwent surgical treatment consisting of X-STOP device implantation, whereas 120 control cases were managed conservatively. Both patient groups underwent follow-up evaluations at 6, 12, 24, and 36 months using the Zurich Claudication Questionnaire, the Visual Analog Scale score and spinal lumbar X-rays, CT scans and MR imaging. One-year follow-up evaluation revealed positive good results in the 83.5% of patients treated with IPD with respect to 50% of the nonoperative group cases. During the first three years, in 38 out of the 120 control cases, a posterior decompression and/or spinal fixation was performed because of unsatisfactory results of the conservative therapy. In 24 of 422 patients, the IPD device had to be removed, and a decompression and/or pedicle screw fixation was performed because of the worsening of neurological symptoms. Our results support the effectiveness of surgery in patients with stenosis. IPD may offer an effective and less invasive alternative to classical microsurgical posterior decompression in selected patients with spinal stenosis and lumbar degenerative disk diseases.

Safety of intraoperative electrophysiological monitoring (TES and EMG) for spinal and cranial lesions.

Intraoperative motor evoked potentials (MEP) and electromyography (EMG) monitoring in patients with spinal and cranial lesions is a valuable tool for prevention of postoperative motor deficits. The purpose of this study was to determine whether electrophysiological monitoring during skull base, spinal cord, and spinal surgery might be useful for predicting postoperative motor deterioration. From January 2012 to March 2013, thirty-three consecutive patients were studied using intraoperative monitoring (Nuvasive NV-M5 System) to check the integrity of brainstem, spinal cord, and nerve roots, recording transcranial motor evoked potentials (TcMEPs) and electromyography. Changes in MEPs and EMGs were related to postoperative deficits. Preoperative diagnosis included skull base and brainstem lesions (6 patients), spinal tumors (11 patients), spinal deformity (16 cases). Using TcMEPs and EMG is a practicable and safe method. MEPs are useful in any surgery in which the brainstem and spinal cord are at risk. EMG stimulation helps to identify an optimal trans-psoas entry point for an extreme lateral lumbar interbody fusion (XLIF) approach to protect against potential nerve injury. This neural navigation technique via a surgeon-interpreted interface assists the surgical team in safely removing lesions and accessing the intervertebral disc space for minimally invasive spinal procedures.

Simple intraoperative technique for minor dural gap repair using fibrin glue and oxidized cellulose.

INTRODUCTION: Several methods have been proposed to achieve a watertight dural closure, including the use of fibrin sealant to reinforce sutures. We propose a fast technique using oxidized cellulose and fibrin glue to achieve firm and watertight closure of minor dural defects in supratentorial cranial surgery. TECHNICAL NOTE: Oxidized cellulose is cut to the shape of the dural defect and applied as an onlay graft. Fibrin sealant is then applied over the cellulose and the dural margins defect. The web conformation of oxidized cellulose avoids adhesion of fibrin glue to the underlying cortical surface of the brain. This technique has been applied in 45 of 467 supratentorial craniotomies during two consecutive years. The procedure was performed in few seconds. Postoperatively, three patients developed subgaleal fluid collection, which resolved conservatively in two cases. There were no other complications or reoperations. CONCLUSION: We used a piece of oxidized cellulose, reinforced by fibrin glue, as a sutureless graft with more ease and less technical demand than other techniques. The reported technique is a fast and valid alternative to small dural defect closure methods.

Anterior expandable cylindrical cage reconstruction after cervical spinal metastasis resection.

Surgical therapy of cervical spine metastases had evolved a in the last years from posterior decompressive approaches to a direct anterior reconstructive approaches. Indication for surgery included intractable neck pain, spinal cord compression and stabilization of impending pathological fractures. We report our experience with expandable cylindrical cages in order to reconstruct and to stabilize cervical spine with metastasis. Between June 2004 and January 2006, a consecutive series of six patients underwent to resection of metastatic tumor in the cervical spine followed by expandable cylindrical cage reconstruction of the anterior vertebral column. All patients achieved immediate stability with neurological preservation. There were no significant complications related to the expandable cages in a mean follow up period of 10.5 months. Expandable cylindrical cages are effective resources for functional reconstruction after tumor resection in patients with cervical metastasis with advantages in the quality of life.

Hemostatic matrix sealant in neurosurgery: a clinical and imaging study.

OBJECT: The aim of this study was to investigate prospectively the efficacy and safety of Floseal hemostatic matrix. METHODS: A total of 214 patients (87 males, 127 females; mean age 56.2 years) undergoing cranial (71.4%), craniospinal (0.9%), and spinal (27.5%) procedures with the use of gelatin thrombin hemostatic matrix (Floseal) were included in this prospective study. The indications for its use, surgical techniques, time to bleeding control, and associated complications were recorded. RESULTS: Effective hemostasis, defined as cessation of bleeding, was achieved no later than 3 min after topical agent application in all patients except in 11 cases, in which the hemostatic application was repeated. Rebleeding was disclosed in four patients 1 day after initial surgery. In one case, an intracerebral abscess developed after a malignant glioma removal. No other patient developed allergic reactions or local or systemic complications associated with the hemostatic sealant. CONCLUSION: In this study, matrix hemostatic sealant helped to control operative bleeding in cranial and spinal surgery, reducing damage to the surrounding healthy nervous tissue while shortening surgical timing. Other than safe, the immediate hemostatic effect is an advantage in the settings of refractory bleeding.

Surgical treatment of intracranial Erdheim-Chester disease.

We review the clinical presentation, radiological and histological characteristics, and the natural history, of intracranial Erdheim-Chester disease (ECD). ECD is a rare form of non-Langerhans histiocytosis that affects multiple organs. It is clinically characterized by leg pain, exophthalmos and diabetes insipidus (DI). Central nervous system involvement is rare, with only 27 patients reported in the international literature. DI and cerebellar signs represent the most common neurological symptoms. Its treatment is controversial. Intracranial surgical procedures for ECD have been reported in 11 patients with a complete surgical resection performed in six, and an intracerebral biopsy performed in five patients. In seven patients the cranial procedures represented the initial diagnostic method. Surgical resection and radiation therapy have been used in the further management of these cerebral lesions.

Transparent equine collagen biomatrix as dural repair. A prospective clinical study.

AIM: Numerous materials have been used to replace defects in the dura mater as result of neurosurgical and spinal procedures. Tissudura is a biomatrix made of cross-linked equine collagen fibrils, mainly of the interstitial type I. The specially engineered dura-like layered structure provides a non porous primary water tight structure, is transparent and allows verification of the efficacy of cerebral hemostasis. METHODS: A consecutive series of patients between 18 years and 75 years of age were prospectively enrolled from three separate European institutions between May 2007 and February 2008. All patients underwent elective cranial or spinal surgery and required implantation of a dural substitute. We assessed the efficacy and safety of the collagen biomatrix as a dural substitute, intraoperatively and postoperatively, with a median follow-up 4.3 months. RESULTS: Fifty-six patients had cranial surgery, four patients underwent a spinal operation. Surgical cranial approaches included supratentorial procedures in 45 patients and posterior cranial fossa exploration in 11. At 7-days follow-up, a CSF leak was reported in one patient after excision of a vestibular schwannoma and in another with a thoracic vertebral body fracture and spinal cord transaction. Neither needed reoperation. A subgaleal fluid collection in two patients who had been treated for a supratentorial lesion resolved after tapping. The transparency of the implant was beneficial to inspect the underlying surgical area at the end of the procedure in one patient in whom a hematoma formed after secondary to oozing glioblastoma removal. Of the 56 patients who reached the 3-month follow-up, none had a CSF leak, meningitis, wound infection or fistulae. No duroplasty failure was observed. In one patient who underwent reoperation after 40 days, histopathological findings revealed the replacement of the implant by ingrowth from the original dura. CONCLUSION: Tissudura is simple, efficacious and safe to use. The use of fibrin glue reduces suturing and facilitates the implantation of the collagen biomatrix. Its transparency makes it unique and beneficial in inspection of the underlying area of operation. The lack of adverse reaction indicates that this graft may be used as an option in the repair of dural defects.

Minimal craniotomy and matrix hemostatic sealant for the treatment of spontaneous supratentorial intracerebral hemorrhage.

The authors describe a minimally invasive technical note for the surgical treatment of primary intracerebral hematoma. Thirty-one patients with supratentorial intracerebral hematomas and no underlying vascular anomalies or bleeding disorders underwent treatment with a single linear skin incision followed by a 3-cm craniotomy. After evacuation of the hematoma, a matrix hemostatic sealant (FloSeal) was injected into the surgical cavity, and immediate hemostasis was achieved in all cases. A second operation was necessary in only 1 case. In this preliminary experience, a small craniotomy combined with FloSeal helped to control operative bleeding, reducing brain exposure and damage to the surrounding tissue while reducing the length of the surgery.

Intradural cervical disc herniation in a Klippel-Feil patient.

STUDY DESIGN: Case report and clinical discussion. OBJECTIVE: To describe a rare case of intradural cervical disc herniation in a patient with Klippel-Feil syndrome (KFS). SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: KFS is a congenital spinal malformation characterized by the failure in segmentation of 2 or more cervical vertebrae. The development of a cervical disc herniation in a nonfused segment is uncommon. Intradural disc herniation is rare, with only 21 cases reported in the cervical region. METHODS: We present a case of a 52-year-old woman with KFS (C5-C6 fusion) who developed acute radiculopathy secondary to an intradural cervical disc herniation. Neurologic examination revealed a mild (Grade 3/5) decrease in motor function of the fingers and difficulty in performing fine motor tasks with right hand. RESULTS: The patient underwent microsurgical removal of the herniated disc via an anterior approach followed by interbody fixation and anterior plating; exploration of the surgical field revealed 2 intradural disc fragments. After surgery, she experienced a complete remission of the symptoms. CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, this is the first case of intradural cervical disc herniation in a KFS patient described in the literature.

Acute hemorrhagic cyst of the ligamentum flavum.

STUDY DESIGN: A case report and clinical discussion. OBJECTIVE: To describe a rare complication of a cyst of the ligamentum flavum, which bled spontaneously, provoking an acute lower limb monoparesis and lumbar sciatic pain. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUNDS DATA: Cysts of the ligamentum flavum have been rarely reported. Intraspinal degenerative cysts described in literature are usually juxta-articular (synovial and ganglion) cysts and have a similar radiologic appearance. They are preferentially located in the lumbar spine, while the cervical localization is unusual. Hemorrhage into the cyst is an uncommon complication and an extremely rare cause of nerve root compression. METHODS: A 59-year-old woman presented with sudden severe radicular lumbar deficit and pain secondary to acute hemorrhage into a ligamentum flavum cyst. Magnetic resonance imaging showed at L3-L4 level a lobulated slightly hyperintense mass with a ventral area of marked hyperintensity in T1 images, hypointense on T2 images. Signal within the lesion was suggestive of intralesional hemorrhage. RESULTS: Complete resection of the lesion was performed, resulting in immediate recovery. The cyst was quite rounded, brownish, and contained rest of both partially fresh and coagulated hematoma. Histologic examination revealed myxoid degeneration of the ligamentum flavum with an hemorrage in the cystic cavity without a synovial layer. CONCLUSIONS: This report identifies a rare case of radicular lumbar deficit and pain secondary to acute hemorrhage into a ligamentum flavum cyst. The pathogenesis and clinicopathologic characteristics of this lesion are described.

Knee pain in saphenous nerve schwannoma: case report.

The differential diagnosis of anteromedial knee pain is extensive and can be associated with meniscal tear, medial collateral ligament sprain, or pes anserinus bursitis. An association between knee pain and a peripheral nerve sheath tumor has rarely been reported. The authors describe the case of a 44-year-old man with a saphenous nerve schwannoma who presented with vague pain in the medial aspect of his knee mimicking the clinical presentation of a meniscal tear.

Fulminating septicemia secondary to oxygen-ozone therapy for lumbar disc herniation: case report.

STUDY DESIGN: A case report and clinical discussion. OBJECTIVE: To describe a rare but fatal complication secondary to oxygen-ozone therapy for the treatment of herniated lumbar disc. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Previously reported complications secondary to oxygen-ozone therapy are rarely reported. Septic discitis and epidural abscesses have been reported after myelography, lumbar puncture, paravertebral injections, epidural anesthesia, acupuncture, and intradiscal therapy with chymopapain. We report the first case of a local infection with systemic fatal dissemination secondary to this treatment. METHODS: A 57-year-old man previously treated with oxygen-ozone therapy presented low back and bilateral pain. The lumbar computed tomography revealed the presence of L4-L5 and L5-S1 herniated discs. RESULTS: Three days after admission in the hospital, the patient developed a fulminant septicemia. An abdominal-pelvic and chest computed tomography and blood culture led to the diagnosis of pyogenic lumbar muscle involvement, accompanied with septic pulmonary embolism secondary to Escherichia coli infection. CONCLUSIONS: This case report identifies a rare and fatal complication of oxygen-ozone therapy in the treatment of a herniated lumbar disc. Acute fatal septicemia should be considered among the major complications of the oxygen-ozone therapy in the treatment of a herniated lumbar disc.