ABSTRACT
Background and Aims: Posterior lumbar spine fusion surgeries are associated with severe postoperative pain necessitating a multimodal analgesic regime. Wound infiltration with local anaesthetic is an accepted modality for postoperative analgesia in spine surgeries. Thoracolumbar interfascial plane (TLIP) block is a novel technique being evaluated for providing analgesia in lumbar spine surgeries. This study aimed to compare the analgesic efficacy of TLIP block compared to that of wound infiltration with local anaesthetic in terms of time to request the first dose of rescue analgesic. Methods: Seventy-one patients scheduled for posterior lumbar spine fusion under general anaesthesia were included in this double-blinded randomised controlled trial. Preoperatively, patients were randomly allocated to receive either a TLIP block (TLIP group) or wound infiltration (LI group). The primary endpoint was the time of the first request for rescue analgesia. Secondary endpoints were the total tramadol consumption and pain and comfort scores measured at various time points in the 48-h postoperative period. The trial was terminated after second interim analysis as the analgesic benefit of TLIP was evident both clinically and statistically. Results: The median (interquartile range) duration of the time of the first request for rescue analgesia was 1440 (1290, 2280) min in the TLIP group and 340 (180, 360) min in the infiltration group; P value <.001. The mean tramadol consumption was significantly higher in the infiltration group compared to the TLIP group, with a P value <.001. Conclusion: TLIP block provided better postoperative analgesia than that provided by wound infiltration with local anaesthetic.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Surgical management of high-grade spondylolisthesis in the young is not only challenging but also controversial, from in-situ fusion to complete reduction. It is fraught with dangers such as neurological injury, pseudoarthrosis, and progressive deformity with subsequent global sagittal imbalance. We describe our experience of progressive reduction technique and restoration of lumbosacral alignment. METHODS: This study is a retrospective review of patients who underwent surgery between 1998 and 2012. The surgical technique involved positioning the hips in extension with traction, pedicle screw fixation, correction of lumbosacral kyphosis with a specific distraction maneuver, wide decompression, and gradual reduction of the deformity and maintenance of reduction with interbody fusion. All patients were serially assessed at 1, 3, and 6 months and yearly thereafter with clinical, radiological, and Oswestry Disability Index and Visual Analogue Scale outcome measures. RESULTS: Twenty-seven patients with high-grade spondylolisthesis at L5-S1 (3 cases grade 3, 7 grade 4, 17 grade 5) with an average age of 13.9 years were reviewed. Mean follow-up was 120 months (range 24-192). All patients presented a solid fusion at the 6-month visit; mean slip percentage was reduced from 89% to 23%, with all cases reduced to grade 2 or less. The slip angle improved from 45° to 3° postoperatively, with improvement in sacral slope from 13° to 35°. Four spondyloptosis patients had concomitant scoliosis which corrected spontaneously after the surgery and did not need further intervention. All but one patient (96.2%) had good functional outcomes and returned to their full normal activities. One patient developed a deep infection necessitating implant removal, with eventual deformity progression leading to a poor outcome. Three patients (11.1%) suffered partial drop foot that resolved in full by 12 weeks. CONCLUSION: Our technique demonstrated a significant reduction of high grade spondylolisthesis, with restoration of global sagittal balance via correction of the lumbosacral kyphosis. Though surgically demanding, it is safe and reproducible. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV.
