Range of surgical strategies for individual adolescent idiopathic scoliosis cases: evaluation of a multi-centre survey.

PURPOSE: Surgical treatment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is very complex, involves many critical decisions and modern instrumentation techniques, and offers multiple possibilities. It is known that the surgical strategy may vary strongly between surgeons for AIS cases. The goal of this study was to document, summarize, and analyse the current biomechanical relevant variabilities in the surgical treatments of individual AIS patient cases. METHODS: Eight experienced scoliosis surgeons from different hospitals were asked to plan surgeries on 12 representative patients with AIS. The surgeons were provided with radiographs during upright standing in the coronal and sagittal plane, as well as lateral bending images to the left and right. The surgeons were asked to specify the Lenke type, their surgical approach, the resection steps, the planned fusion length, and the type of implants. The data were analysed with respect to the inter-rater variability, which was quantified using the Fleiss Kappa method. RESULTS: In the selection of the surgical approach, the surgeons concurred most with Lenke curve types 2 (κ = 0.88) and 4 (κ = 0.75). The largest differences were shown at Lenke 1 (κ = 0.39) and 5 (κ = 0.32). Anterior approaches were selected in the majority of cases at Lenke types 5, with an average of 50%. The strongest deviation in fusion length was documented at Lenke curve type 6. CONCLUSION: The survey highlighted differences in the surgical strategy depending on the Lenke curve type, the direction of the surgical approach, and the surgeon. The main discrepancies between the surgeons were found for Lenke 1, 5, and 6 curves, and consistencies for Lenke 2, 3, and 4. The documented discrepancies indicate the remaining open questions in the surgical treatment and understanding of scoliosis biomechanics.

Temporary treatment with magnetically controlled growing rod for surgical correction of severe adolescent idiopathic thoracic scoliosis greater than 100°.

INTRODUCTION: Correction of severe idiopathic scoliosis poses surgical challenges. Treatment options entail anterior and/or posterior release, Halo-gravity traction (HGT) and three-column osteotomies (3CO). The authors report results with a novel technique of temporary short-term magnetically controlled growing rod (MCGR) as part of a posterior-only strategy to treat severe idiopathic major thoracic curves (MTC). METHODS: Seven patients with MTC > 100° treated with temporary MCGR were included. Mean age was 15 years. Preoperative MTC was av. 118° and TC-flexibility av. 19.8%. Patients underwent posterior instrumentation, periapical release using advanced Ponte osteotomies, segmental insertion of pedicle screws and a single MCGR. After av. 14 days, the second surgery was performed with removal of MCGR and final correction and fusion. The spinal height from lowest instrumented vertebra (LIV) to T1 was measured. MTC-correction and scoliosis correction index (SCI) were calculated. RESULTS: No patient suffered a major complication or neurologic deficit. Instrumentation was from T2 to L3 or L4. This kind of staged surgery achieved a correction of postop MTC to av. 39°, MTC-correction 67% and SCI of av. 4.3. Spinal height T1-LIV increased from preoperative av. 288 mm to postoperative av. 395 mm indicating an increase of > 10 cm. CONCLUSION: This is the first series of AIS patients that had temporary MCGR to treat severe thoracic scoliosis. A staged protocol including internal temporary distraction with MCGR after posterior release and definitive correction resulted in large MTC-correction and restoration of trunk height. Results indicate that technique has the potential to reduce the necessity for HGT and high-risk 3CO for the correction of severe scoliosis.

[Biomechanical compensatory mechanisms of hips and spine : The essentials for spine and hip surgeons]. / Biomechanische Kompensationsmechanismen der Hüftgelenke und der Wirbelsäule : Das Wesentliche für Wirbelsäulen- und Hüftchirurgen.

Spinal alignment changes with age and degeneration. Different compensatory mechanisms of the spine are necessary to preserve spinal balance. The capacity of compensation of the spine decreases with age. Thus, the pelvis and the lower limbs become involved in the compensatory mechanism. Concomitant osteoarthritis of the hip could impair this capacity. The biomechanical principles of compensation are described with respect to planning reconstructive hip and spine surgery.

Sagittal alignment of the cervical spine in the setting of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.

OBJECTIVEThe goal of this study was to investigate the impact of thoracic and lumbar alignment on cervical alignment in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS).METHODSEighty-one patients with AIS who had a Cobb angle > 40° and full-length spine radiographs were included. Radiographs were analyzed using dedicated software to measure pelvic parameters (sacral slope [SS], pelvic incidence [PI], pelvic tilt [PT]); regional parameters (C1 slope, C0-C2 angle, chin-brow vertical angle [CBVA], slope of line of sight [SLS], McRae slope, McGregor slope [MGS], C2-7 [cervical lordosis; CL], C2-7 sagittal vertical axis [SVA], C2-T3, C2-T3 SVA, C2-T1 Harrison measurement [C2-T1 Ha], T1 slope, thoracic kyphosis [TK], lumbar lordosis [LL], and PI-LL mismatch); and global parameters (SVA). Patients were stratified by their lumbar alignment into hyperlordotic (LL > 59.7°) and normolordotic (LL 39.3° to 59.7°) groups and also, based on their thoracic alignment, into hypokyphotic (TK < -33.1°) and normokyphotic (TK -33.1° to -54.9°) groups. Finally, they were grouped based on their global alignment into either an anterior-aligned group or a posterior-aligned group.RESULTSThe lumbar hyperlordotic group, in comparison to the normolordotic group, had a significantly larger LL, SS, PI (all p < 0.001), and TK (p = 0.014) and a significantly smaller PI-LL mismatch (p = 0.001). Lumbar lordosis had no influence on local cervical parameters.The thoracic hypokyphotic group had a significantly larger PI-LL mismatch (p < 0.002) and smaller T1 slope (p < 0.001), and was significantly more posteriorly aligned than the normokyphotic group (-15.02 ± 8.04 vs 13.54 ± 6.17 [mean ± SEM], p = 0.006). The patients with hypokyphotic AIS had a kyphotic cervical spine (cervical kyphosis [CK]) (p < 0.001). Furthermore, a posterior-aligned cervical spine in terms of C2-7 SVA (p < 0.006) and C2-T3 SVA (p < 0.001) was observed in the thoracic hypokyphotic group.Comparing patients in terms of global alignment, the posterior-aligned group had a significantly smaller T1 slope (p < 0.001), without any difference in terms of pelvic, lumbar, and thoracic parameters when compared to the anterior-aligned group. The posterior-aligned group also had a CK (-9.20 ± 1.91 vs 5.21 ± 2.95 [mean ± SEM], p < 0.001) and a more posterior-aligned cervical spine, as measured by C2-7 SVA (p = 0.003) and C2-T3 SVA (p < 0.001).CONCLUSIONSAlignment of the cervical spine is closely related to thoracic curvature and global alignment. In patients with AIS, a hypokyphotic thoracic alignment or posterior global alignment was associated with a global cervical kyphosis. Interestingly, upper cervical and cranial parameters were not statistically different in all investigated groups, meaning that the upper cervical spine was not recruited for compensation in order to maintain a horizontal gaze.

Is Total Disk Replacement a Cost-effective Treatment for Cervical Degenerative Disk Disease?

STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective study. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to assess the cost-effectiveness and clinical outcome of motion-preserving versus fusion procedures in cervical spine surgery. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: During the last decade there has been a huge growth in spine surgery with a concurrent increase in the economic burden. Currently, there appear to be no differences in clinical outcome between cervical total disk replacement (TDR) and spinal fusion (SF). For this reason it seems useful to know within the decision-making process whether there is a difference in actual cost between motion-preserving and fusion surgery. So far data that describe expenses involved in these procedures have not been available. This study offers a comparison of economic factors that should be considered in TDR and SF. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The German statutory general healthcare insurance (GHI) provides anonymized patient-related data of their customers. A retrospective query using the codes of surgery of all TDR and SF surgery was performed from January 2003 to June 2008. A total of 467 cases with monosegmental or bisegmental surgery for degenerative disk pathologies were included. RESULTS: Both groups showed significant differences in independent variables such as age and sex (P<0.0001), but not in revision rates. Cost weight of diagnosis-related groups and length of hospitalization had a significant effect on total costs. Both groups obtained less pain medication postoperatively than preoperatively without a significant difference between each group. Postoperative absenteeism from work was significantly higher in the TDR group;however, patients with TDR underwent less rehabilitation covered by the GHI. Both groups had the same amount of preoperative and postoperative physiotherapy covered by the GHI. CONCLUSIONS: According to the collected data, there are no differences between the medical outcomes of cervical TDR in comparison with cervical SF. At the same time, while generating clinical results comparable with spinal fusion, TDR incurred significantly lower costs. Therefore, both from the medical and from the financial point of view, TDR is a viable choice in the treatment of degenerative disk pathology.

Osteointegration and Resorption of Intravertebral and Extravertebral Calcium Phosphate Cement.

STUDY DESIGN: Eleven patients with painful osteoporotic vertebral fractures who underwent kyphoplasty using calcium phosphate (CaP) cement were followed up for 1 week, 1, 2, and 3 years in a monocentric, nonrandomized, noncontrolled retrospective trial. OBJECTIVE: This study investigates long-term radiomorphologic features of intraosseous CaP cement implants and of extraosseous CaP cement leakages for up to 3 years after implantation by kyphoplasty. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Kyphoplasty is frequently used for the treatment of painful osteoporotic fractures. Of the materials available, CaP is frequently used as a filling material. Resorption of this material is frequently observed, although clinical outcome is comparable with other cements. METHODS: Kyphoplasty utilizing CaP cement was performed in 11 patients with painful osteoporotic vertebral fractures. All patients received a pharmacological antiosteoporosis treatment consisting of calcium, vitamin D, and a standard dose of oral bisphosphonates. Radiomorphologic measurements, pain, and mobility were assessed. RESULTS: Intraosseous and extraosseous CaP cement volumes decreased significantly over 3 years. However, vertebral stability as determined by a constant vertebral body height and the sagittal index was not impaired. Pain improved significantly 2 years after implantation and the mobility scores 1 year after kyphoplasty at least until the third year. CONCLUSIONS: Intravertebral CaP cement implants are resorbed slowly over time without jeopardizing stability and clinical outcomes most likely because of a slowly progressing osseous replacement. Extraosseous CaP cement material because of leakages during the kyphoplasty procedure is almost completely resorbed as early as 2 years after the leakage occurred. Therefore, CaP cement is an important alternative to PMMA-based cement materials utilized for kyphoplasty of osteoporotic vertebral fractures.

Management of Pharyngeal Fistulas After Anterior Cervical Spine Surgery: A Treatment Algorithm for Severe Complications.

STUDY DESIGN: This study is a retrospective database query to identify all anterior spinal approaches. OBJECTIVES: The objectives were to assess all patients with pharyngocutaneous fistulas (PCFs) after anterior cervical spine surgery. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Patients with the diagnosis of PCFs were treated at the University of Heidelberg Spine Medical Center, Spinal Cord Injury Unit and Department of Otolaryngology (Germany), between 2005 and 2011. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study on 5 patients with PCF after anterior cervical spine surgery between 2005 and 2011 and analyzed their therapy management and outcome on the basis of the radiologic data and patient charts. RESULTS: Upon presentation, 4 patients were paraplegic. Two patients had PCF arising from 1 piriform sinus, 2 patients had PCF arising from the posterior pharyngeal wall and piriform sinus combined, and 1 patient had PCF arising only from the posterior pharyngeal wall. Two patients previously underwent unsuccessful surgical repair elsewhere and 1 patient underwent a prior radiation therapy. In 3 patients, speech and swallowing could be completely restored. Two patients died, both of whom were paraplegic. The patients were needed to undergo an average of 2 or 3 procedures for complete functional recovery of primary closure with various vascularized regional flaps and refining laser procedures supplemented with the negative pressure wound therapy wherever needed. CONCLUSIONS: On the basis of our experience, we are able to provide a treatment algorithm that indicates that chronic, as opposed to acute, fistulas require a primary surgical closure combined with a vascularized flap that should be accompanied by the immediate application of a negative pressure wound therapy. We also conclude that particularly in paraplegic patients suffering from this complication the risk for a fatal outcome is substantial.

Clinical long-term outcome, technical success, and cost analysis of radiofrequency ablation for the treatment of osteoblastomas and spinal osteoid osteomas in comparison to open surgical resection.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the clinical success and costs of computed tomography (CT)-guided radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of osteoblastoma (OB) and spinal osteoid osteoma (OO). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Nineteen patients with OB and eight patients with spinal OO were treated with CT-guided RFA. The OBs were localized in the extremities (n = 10), the vertebral column (n = 2), and (juxta-)articular (n = 7). Dedicated procedural techniques included three-dimensional CT-guided access planning in all cases, overlapping RFA needle positions (median, two positions; range, 1-6 RF-electrode positions) within the OB nidus (multiple ablation technique, n = 15), and thermal protection in case of adjacent neural structure in four spinal OO. The data of eight operated OB and ten operated spinal OO patients were used for comparison. Long-term success was assessed by clinical examination and using a questionnaire sent to all operated and RFA-treated patients including visual analogue scales (VAS) regarding the effect of RFA on severity of pain and limitations of daily activities (0-10, with 0 = no pain/limitation up to 10 = maximum or most imaginable pain/limitation). RESULTS: All patients had a clear and persistent pain reduction until the end of follow-up. The mean VAS score for all spinal OO patients and all OB patients treated either with RFA or with surgical excision significantly decreased for severity of pain at night, severity of pain during the day, and both for limitations of daily and of sports activities. CONCLUSIONS: RFA is an efficient method for treating OB and spinal OO and should be regarded as the first-line therapy after interdisciplinary individual case discussion.

Do overhead sports increase risk for rotator cuff tears in wheelchair users?

OBJECTIVE: To analyze whether frequent overhead-sports activity increases the risk for rotator cuff disease in patients with spinal cord injuries (SCIs) who are wheelchair dependent. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study, risk analysis. SETTING: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Trauma Surgery and Spinal Cord Injury. PARTICIPANTS: Patients (N=296) with SCI requiring the full-time use of a manual wheelchair were recruited for this study. The total population was divided into 2 groups (sports vs no sports), among them 103 patients playing overhead sports on a regular basis (at least 1-2 times/wk) and 193 patients involved in overhead sports less than once a week or in no sports activity at all. The mean age of the sports group was 49.1 years. The mean duration of wheelchair dependence was 26.5 years. The mean age of the no-sports group was 48 years. The mean duration of wheelchair dependence was 25.2 years. Each individual completed a questionnaire designed to identify overhead-sports activity on a regular basis and was asked about shoulder problems. Magnetic resonance imaging scans of both shoulders were performed in each patient and analyzed in a standardized fashion. INTERVENTIONS: None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Possible differences in continuous data between patients with and without rotator cuff tear were evaluated. The relative risk of suffering from a rotator cuff tear between patients playing overhead sports and those not playing overhead sports was calculated. RESULTS: One hundred three patients played overhead sports regularly and 193 did not. There was no difference between groups regarding age, sex, level of SCI, and duration of wheelchair dependence. The body mass index was significantly lower in the sports group than in the no-sports group (P<.0001). A rotator cuff tear was present in 75.7% of the patients in the sports group and in 36.3% of the patients in the no-sports group (P<.0001). Rotator cuff tears were symptomatic in 92.6% of the patients. The estimated risk increase for the sports group to develop rotator cuff tears was twice as high as for the no-sports group (95% confidence interval, 1.7-2.6; P<.001). Similar results were found for the neurological level of lesion (T2-7/

Kyphoplasty in patients with multiple myeloma a retrospective comparative pilot study.

BACKGROUND: This retrospective study of 73 myeloma patients with painful vertebral lesions compares clinical and radiomorphological outcomes up to 2 years after additional kyphoplasty, radiation therapy or systemic treatment only. METHODS: We assessed pain, disability and radiomorphological parameters by visual analogue scale (VAS 0-100), Oswestry Disability Index and by re-evaluating available follow-up X-rays, respectively, in patients that were treated according to a clinical pathway. RESULTS: After 2 years the VAS score was reduced in all groups by 66 ± 8.2 (kyphoplasty), 35 ± 10.5 (radiation therapy) and 38 ± 20.5 (systemic therapy only). Only after kyphoplasty we observed a significantly reduced Oswestry Disability Index after 1 year (P < 0.001). Vertebral height remained stable after kyphoplasty (P = 0.283), in contrast to a progressive height loss in the other groups (P = 0.013 and P = 0.015 for radiation and systemic therapy only, respectively). Two years after kyphoplasty and radiotherapy the overall vertebral fracture incidence was significantly decreased as compared to the group after systemic therapy only (9.7% of all thoracic and lumbar vertebrae had new vertebral fractures after systemic therapy only, 2% after kyphoplasty (P < 0.001), 4.8% after radiation (P = 0.032)). CONCLUSION: Additional kyphoplasty was more effective than additional radiation or systemic therapy in terms of pain relief, reduction of pain associated disability and reduction of fracture incidence of the entire lumbar and thoracic spine.

Neurological and functional recovery in multiple injured patients with paraplegia: outcome after 1 year.

BACKGROUND: Injuries of thoracic vertebrae in multiple trauma patients are often accompanied by severe thoracic injuries and sensorimotor deficits. However, until now, it is not clear whether and how the severity of trauma influences the neurologic and functional outcome in paraplegic patients during the first year after the trauma. The aim of the study was to compare two cohorts of multiple injured paraplegic patients with and without conversion in the American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale (AIS) with regard to the severity of spinal trauma, the severity of thorax trauma, the type of fracture, and the functional outcome 1 year after the date of injury. METHODS: Twenty-one traumatic paraplegic patients (neurologic level T1-T12) were included in the study based on a retrospective analysis of the Heidelberg European Multicenter Study about Spinal Cord Injury database (www.emsci.org) from 2002 to 2007. In all patients, the Polytraumaschluessel (PTS), the AO classification, the AIS, and the Spinal Cord Independence Measure were collected. Patients with no change in the AIS (group 1, n=14) were compared with patients with AIS changes (group 2, n=7), and t test and χ test were performed (p<0.05). RESULTS: Differences in both groups concerning fracture classification were confirmed (p=0.046). A relation between neurologic improvement in the AIS and the severity of trauma (p=0.058) after 1 year was not found. The subitem PTST in the thoracic area showed statistical significance comparing the two groups (p=0.005). Both groups significantly improved functionally (Spinal Cord Independence Measure, p=0.035) during the first year but with no significant difference between the groups after 1 year. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that functional improvement is achieved independently from neurologic recovery. The combined assessment of the PTS, the AO classification, and the AIS in multiple-injured paraplegic patients can contribute to provide a better prognostication of the neurologic changes during rehabilitation and the outcome after 1 year than the AIS alone.

The role of kyphoplasty in the management of osteogenesis imperfecta: risk or benefit?

Kyphoplasty is a recognized treatment option in the management of symptomatic osteoporotic compression fractures, osteolytic vertebral metastases or haemangioma. To our knowledge, kyphoplasty with polymethylmethacrylate in a patient with type I osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) and a vertebral compression fracture has not been reported so far. We report on a 58-year-old patient with type I OI and a vertebral compression fracture at L2 with undislocated posterior vertebral wall and an additional older L1 fracture. Because of severe back pain resistant to conservative therapy over 5 months the indication for percutaneous kyphoplasty was made. Preoperative adjacent endplates of L2 were nearly parallel. Radiologically a minimal loss of height of the L2 vertebra was seen without adjacent fractures at 9 months follow-up. A slight increase of the preoperative kyphotic angle of overlying vertebrae L1 (8.7 degrees/10.3 degrees) and T12 (10.4 degrees/11.0 degrees) was apparent. The visual analogue scale showed decrease of low back pain from 10 to 2 allowing mobilization with a walking frame. Kyphoplasty constitutes a minimal invasive therapeutic alternative in the treatment of vertebral fractures in type I OI and pain, resistant to conservative treatment. Similar to the results of osteoporotic fractures the immediate reduction of pain and stabilization of the fracture in undislocated fragments can be achieved. No adjacent fractures occurred 9 months postoperatively after kyphoplasty in type I OI. Preoperative parallelism of the endplates seems to protect from adjacent fractures.

Spinal Fusion of an Unstable Atlantoaxial Fracture in a Completely Tetraplegic Patient Using Silicate-Substituted Calcium Phosphate.

Bone graft harvesting from the iliac crest constitutes the gold standard in spinal surgery due to its osteogenic, osteoconductive and osteoinductive properties. Large amounts of autograft can provoke complications like donor site morbidity, pain and the need for a second operation. Therefore, research into bone graft substitutes is of great interest. Silicate-substituted calcium phosphate (Actifuse(TM) Synthetic Bone Graft, ApaTech Ltd, London) was used in combination with morselized corticocancellous graft in a transarticular stabilization (modified Magerl) of a completely tetraplegic patient with an unstable atlantoaxial fracture. Computed tomography showed bone bridging between the segment C1/C2, the surface of the implant and the remodeled bone at follow-up at 8 months. The use of silicate-substituted calcium phosphate as a bone graft extender in spinal surgery could be an alternative to autografting from the iliac crest. Vegetative symptoms are often underestimated but can be triggered by donor site morbidity or pain in patients after spinal cord injury.

Long-term results of hip arthroplasty in ambulatory patients with cerebral palsy.

Osteoarthritis (OA) secondary to dislocation and dysplasia is a common problem in patients with cerebral palsy. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the results of total hip replacement (THR) in ambulatory patients with cerebral palsy. Eighteen total hip arthroplasties were performed in 16 ambulatory patients with cerebral palsy. The patient's mean age at surgery was 42 +/- 8 years (range 32-58 years), and the mean follow-up was 10 +/- 6 years (range 2-18 years). Data were obtained by a standardised telephone interview. There was a significant postoperative reduction in pain on the NAS (narrative analogue scale) from 8.4 preoperatively to 1.1 postoperatively (p = 0.002). At follow-up no stem had been revised. Three cups were revised for aseptic loosening at two and six years, and one cup was revised for recurrent dislocation of the hip. One hip was revised for infection 12 years after the index surgery. One hip dislocated (three months postoperatively) and was treated by closed reduction. In ambulatory patients with cerebral palsy and secondary osteoarthritis of the hip THR can provide long-term pain relief and improved function. The rate of long term complications was moderate in this series; however, the dislocation rate was higher than in standard OA cases.

Tokuhashi prognosis score: an important tool in prediction of the neurological outcome in metastatic spinal cord compression: a retrospective clinical study.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective clinical study. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine whether the Tokuhashi score correlates with the neurologic outcome in early surgical treatment in metastatic spinal cord compression (MSCC). A retrospective analysis of 35 consecutive incomplete tetraplegic and paraplegic patients with vertebral metastases (VM) and spinal cord compression (SCC) was performed. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: MSCC is a challenging problem in VM and constitutes an oncologic emergency. The Tokuhashi score has been modified recently and seems to constitute the best method of prediction for real survival in patients with VM. Until now the influence of the neurologic status as a prognostic factor has been discussed controversially. METHODS: Data of 35 patients with VM and incomplete tetraplegia or paraplegia, who underwent surgical treatment, were reviewed retrospectively from 2005 to 2006 at our hospital. All patients were classified among the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) Impairment Scale (AIS) before and after surgery and at the follow-up. Data were analyzed with SPSS 15.0 and correlation coefficients (Spearman rho) were computed. RESULTS: Analysis showed that 19 patients (54.3%) with an average Tokuhashi score of 9 showed an improvement in the AIS, whereas 12 (34.3%) patients with an average score of 8 had no change and 4 (11.4%) patients with a score of 7 had deterioration. AIS changes showed a positive correlation with Tokuhashi score (r = 0.33; P = 0.048). CONCLUSION: Our clinical observation suggests that patients with spinal metastases and a high Tokuhashi score benefit from surgical treatment with moderate improvement in sensomotoric function even in a heterogenic collective.