A systematic review of risk factors and adverse outcomes associated with anterior cervical discectomy and fusion surgery over the past decade.

Background: Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) is one of the most frequently performed cervical surgeries in the world, yet there have been several reported complications. Objective: To determine the actual incidence of complications related to ACDF as well as any risk variables that may have been identified in earlier research. Methods: To evaluate the origin, presentation, natural history, and management of the risks and the complications, we conducted a thorough assessment of the pertinent literature. An evaluation of clinical trials and case studies of patients who experienced one or more complications following ACDF surgery was done using a PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar search. Studies involving adult human subjects that were written in the English language and published between 2012 and 2022 were included in the search. The search yielded 79 studies meeting our criteria. Results: The overall rates of complications were as follows: Dysphagia 7.9%, psudarthrosis 5.8%, adjacent segment disease (ASD) 8.8%, esophageal perforations (EPs) 0.5%, graft or hardware failure 2.2%, infection 0.3%, recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy 1.7%, cerebrospinal fluid leak 0.8%, Horner syndrome 0.5%, hematoma 0.8%, and C5 palsy 1.9%. Conclusion: Results showed that dysphagia was a common postoperative sequelae with bone morphogenetic protein use and a higher number of surgical levels being the major risk factors. Pseudarthrosis rates varied depending on the factors such as asymptomatic radiographic graft sinking, neck pain, or radiculopathy necessitating revision surgery. The incidence of ASD indicated no data to support anterior cervical plating as more effective than standalone ACDF. EP was rare but frequently fatal, with no correlation found between patient age, sex, body mass index, operation time, or number of levels.

Percutaneous endoscopic interlaminar discectomy for high-grade migrated lumbar disc herniation: clinical efficacy and safety assessment.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to assess the clinical effectiveness and safety of percutaneous endoscopic interlaminar discectomy (PEID) in the management of high-grade migrated Lumbar disc herniation (LDH). METHODS: A total of 328 patients who underwent PEID for high-grade migrated LDH between May 2020 and January 2023 in our hospital were selected. Patients were categorized into high-grade migrated group and low-grade migrated group according to preoperative MRI findings. The preoperative and postoperative evaluations of clinical outcomes, such as Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for lower backs and legs, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and modified MacNab criteria for surgical success, were compared between groups. RESULTS: No statistically significant differences were found in hospitalization time, surgery time, intraoperative hemorrhage, number of intraoperative fluoroscopies, or incision length between the two groups. The lower back and leg VAS scores and ODI exhibited a statistically significant decrease in both groups across all postoperative time intervals. However, the difference between the two groups was not statistically significant. Postoperative nerve root stimulation symptoms were reported in two and three cases in the high-grade migrated group and low-grade migrated group, respectively. One patient in the high-grade migrated group underwent reoperation due to re-herniation at the same segment. There was no significant difference in the rate of excellent-good cases between the two groups, with an overall rate of 94.7%. CONCLUSION: In treating high-grade migrated disc herniation, PEID offers advantages such as reduced trauma, small incision, quicker recovery and satisfactory clinical safety and efficacy.

Comparison of different concentrations of ropivacaine in epidural anesthesia for percutaneous transforaminal endoscopic discectomy: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: This study investigated the optimal concentration of ropivacaine epidural anesthesia for clinical use in percutaneous transforaminal endoscopic discectomy (PTED) by comparing the effects of different concentrations. METHODS: Seventy patients scheduled for their first PTED procedure were enrolled in this randomized controlled trial. Patients were randomized to receive ropivacaine at varying concentrations (0.3% or 0.4%). Primary outcome measures included the numeric rating scale (NRS) and hip extension level (HEL). Secondary outcome measures included intraoperative fentanyl dosage and postoperative complications. RESULTS: One patient withdrew due to severe postoperative complications. The remaining 69 patients were allocated to the 0.3% (n = 34) and 0.4% (n = 35) groups, respectively. Baseline characteristics showed no significant differences between the two groups (P > 0.05). The NRS score was significantly lower in the 0.4% group than in the 0.3% group (P < 0.01), whereas the HEL score was significantly higher (P < 0.001). The average fentanyl dose in the 0.4% group was significantly lower than that in the 0.3% group (P < 0.01). Postoperative complications occurred in five and two patients in the 0.3% and 0.4% groups, respectively. CONCLUSION: Although 0.4% ropivacaine (20 mL) impacts muscle strength, it does not impede PTED surgery. Given its effective analgesic properties and few postoperative complications, 0.4% ropivacaine can be considered a preferred dose for PTED. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study was registered with the Chinese Clinical Trials Registry (Registration number: ChiCTR2200060364; Registration Date: 29/5/2022) and on chictr.org.cn ( https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.html?proj=171002 ).

Risk factors for poor neurological recovery after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion: imaging characteristics.

BACKGROUND: Poor neurological recovery in patients after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion has been frequently reported; however, no study has analyzed the preoperative imaging characteristics of patients to investigate the factors affecting surgical prognosis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors that affect the preoperative imaging characteristics of patients and their influence on poor neurologic recovery after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 89 patients who met the criteria for anterior cervical discectomy and fusion for the treatment of single-level cervical spondylotic myelopathy and evaluated the patients' neurological recovery based on the recovery rate of the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) scores at the time of the final follow-up visit. Patients were categorized into the "good" and "poor" groups based on the JOA recovery rates of ≥ 50% and < 50%, respectively. Clinical information (age, gender, body mass index, duration of symptoms, preoperative JOA score, and JOA score at the final follow-up) and imaging characteristics (cervical kyphosis, cervical instability, ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL), calcification of herniated intervertebral discs, increased signal intensity (ISI) of the spinal cord on T2-weighted imaging (T2WI), and degree of degeneration of the discs adjacent to the fused levels (cranial and caudal) were collected from the patients. Univariate and binary logistic regression analyses were performed to identify risk factors for poor neurologic recovery. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 52.56 ± 11.18 years, and the mean follow-up was 26.89 ± 11.14 months. Twenty patients (22.5%) had poor neurological recovery. Univariate analysis showed that significant predictors of poor neurological recovery were age (p = 0.019), concomitant OPLL (p = 0.019), concomitant calcification of herniated intervertebral discs (p = 0.019), ISI of the spinal cord on T2WI (p <0.05), a high grade of degeneration of the discs of the cranial neighboring levels (p <0.05), and a high grade of discs of the caudal neighboring levels (p <0.05). Binary logistic regression analysis showed that ISI of the spinal cord on T2WI (p = 0.001 OR = 24.947) and high degree of degeneration of adjacent discs on the cranial side (p = 0.040 OR = 6.260) were independent risk factors for poor neurological prognosis. CONCLUSION: ISI of the spinal cord on T2WI and high degree of cranial adjacent disc degeneration are independent risk factors for poor neurological recovery after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion. A comprehensive analysis of the patients' preoperative imaging characteristics can help in the development of surgical protocols and the management of patients' surgical expectations.

Percutaneous Transforaminal Endoscopic Discectomy for Adjacent Segment Disease versus Lumbar Disc Herniation in Elderly Patients.

Purpose: Percutaneous transforaminal endoscopic discectomy (PTED) was used as a minimally invasive treatment option for lumbar disc herniation (LDH). However, studies focusing on the clinical outcomes of PTED for elderly patients with adjacent segment disease (ASD) were limited. This study aims to compare the clinical outcomes of PTED between ASD and LDH in elderly patients. Patients and Methods: This retrospective study enrolled 39 patients with ASD and 39 patients with LDH. Both groups had undergone PTED in Beijing Chaoyang Hospital from July 4, 2016 to July 30, 2021. Visual analog scale for back pain (VAS-BP) and leg pain (VAS-LP) and Oswestry disability index (ODI) were used to value the clinical outcomes of patients preoperatively, immediately postoperatively, 12, and 24 months postoperatively, and at final follow-up. Patients' satisfaction was evaluated based on the MacNab criteria. Results: All operations were completed. The excellent or good clinical outcomes at final follow-up was demonstrated by 87.15% (34/39) and 89.74% (35/39) in ASD and non-ASD patients, respectively. Clinical improvement was observed immediately postoperatively in both groups and sustained stability during the postoperative follow-up. The ASD group demonstrated significantly longer hospital stays (p = 0.02) and operative time (p < 0.01) than the non-ASD group. Conclusion: PTED is an effective and minimally invasive treatment option for revision surgery of ASD, especially for elderly patients. However, the long-term prognosis of PTED treating ASD still needs further exploration.

[Comparative analysis of the results of microdiscectomy and minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion in the treatment of adjacent-level intervertebral disc herniations with lumbosacral transitional vertebra in elderly patients.]

The purpose of the study was a comparative analysis the effectiveness of microsurgical discectomy and minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion in the treatment of disk herniation adjacent to the anomaly of the lumbosacral junction segment in elderly patients. The study included 80 elderly patients (over 60 years old), divided into two groups: the 1st-(n=39) who underwent microsurgical discectomy; the 2nd- patients (n=41) operated on using minimally invasive transforaminal interbody fusion and percutaneous transpedicular stabilization (MI-TLIF). For the comparative analysis, we used gender characteristics (gender, age), constitutional characteristics (BMI), degree of physical status according to ASA, intraoperative parameters of interventions and the specificity of postoperative patient management, clinical data, and the presence of complications. Long-term outcomes were assessed at a minimum follow-up of 3 years. As a result, it was found that the use of MI-TLIF allows achieving better long-term clinical outcomes, fewer major complications in comparison with the microsurgical discectomy technique in the treatment of disc herniation adjacent to the anomaly of the lumbosacral junction segment in elderly patients.

Assessing accuracy of measurement methods for bony fusion assessment after anterior cervical discectomy.

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Currently, there is no universally accepted method for assessing radiological fusion shortly after anterior cervical discectomy. Five-year follow-up radiological X-rays demonstrating solid fusion or absence of fusion provided a gold standard for comparison with various assessment methods. PURPOSE: Establishing the most accurate diagnostic test for earlier bony fusion assessment by comparing different cut-off values for the difference in interspinous distance and the change in Cobb angle on dynamic radiological images against the established gold standard. DESIGN: Post-hoc analysis from the NEtherlands Cervical Kinematics (NECK) trial (NTR1289). PATIENT SAMPLE: A total of 40 patients with 1 level herniated disc that underwent anterior discectomy between 2010 and 2014 returned for a 5-year follow-up X-ray. OUTCOME MEASURES: Radiological outcome was assessed quantitatively and qualitatively by fusion on radiographic images 5 years after surgery. METHODS: Radiological dynamic X-rays were reviewed for fusion at 5-year follow-up by a senior spine surgeon. At this timepoint, bony continuity was indisputable and served as gold standard. Cobb angles and interspinous distances on flexion-extension images were measured independently by 2 investigators. Optimum agreement between the gold standard and the 2 methods was assessed, evaluating varying cut-off values, considering sensitivity, specificity, and area under the curve (AUC). RESULTS: Dynamic radiographic assessments revealed fusion in 29 out of 40 patients (mean age: 49 years ± 8; 23 women). For Cobb angle (optimal cut-off: ≤3.0°), the AUC was 0.86 with 100% sensitivity and 72.7% specificity. For interspinous distance (optimal cut-off: ≤1.5 mm), the AUC was 0.89 with 96.6% sensitivity and 81.8% specificity. The highest AUC (0.91) was observed for combined cut-off values (Cobb angle ≤3.0° and interspinous distance ≤2.0 mm), yielding 100% sensitivity and 81.8% specificity. CONCLUSION: The combination of cut-off values ≤3.0° difference for Cobb angle and ≤2.0 mm difference for interspinous distance on lateral flexion-extension X-rays was assessed to be an accurate diagnostic criterion for fusion evaluation. This tool provides a practical and easy applicable method for assessing fusion during follow-up after anterior discectomy.

Insulin dependence negatively impacts outcomes in anterior cervical discectomy with fusions: a ten-year retrospective analysis.

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Although anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) procedures for cervical spine disease have been increasing amid a growing diabetic patient population, there is a paucity of literature focusing on insulin-dependence as a risk-factor for post-operative ACDF complications. PURPOSE: To evaluate the differential impact of insulin dependence on perioperative outcomes including total length of stay, surgical, and medical complications within thirty days following ACDF. STUDY DESIGN/SETTING: A retrospective cohort, large multicenter database study. PATIENT SAMPLE: The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database was queried to retrospectively identify patients who had undergone ACDF between 2011 and 2021 using the Current Procedural Terminology code 22551. OUTCOME MEASURES: Perioperative surgical and medical complications. METHODS: The study population was divided into 3 groups 1) insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM), 2) non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), and 3) no diabetes mellitus (non-DM). One-way analysis of variance for continuous variables and chi-square tests for categorical variables were used to identify differences in perioperative variables between the 3 groups. Multivariable logistic regression analysis assessed the effect of diabetes mellitus status on post-operative medical and surgical outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 85,758 ACDF procedures were identified between 2011 and 2021, of which 5,178 were IDDM, 9,652 were NIDDM, and 70,982 were non-DM. The rates of surgical and medical complication varied between the 3 groups. IDDM patients had the highest rates of at least one medical complication (6.1%). Only IDDM increased the risk for medical complications (OR: 1.320, 95% CI [1.144-1.518]) and extended hospital length of stay (LOS) (OR: 1.244, 95% CI [1.071-1.441]) following a multivariate logistic regression analysis. CONCLUSION: Patients with IDDM were at an increased risk for postoperative medical complications and extended hospital LOS. Personalized postoperative management, guided by risk assessment is indicated for this population. These findings can be used to improve risk stratification and informed consent for DM patients who are insulin dependent.

Clinical Outcomes and Complication Rates for Noncontiguous Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion, Cervical Disc Arthroplasty, and Hybrid Cervical Surgery: A Systematic Review.

OBJECTIVE: This study examined clinical outcomes associated with 3 types of noncontiguous cervical surgeries - anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF), cervical disc arthroplasty (CDA), and hybrid cervical surgery (HCS) - to improve surgeon decision-making. METHODS: A systematic review was performed using PubMed, CINAHL, MEDLINE, and Web of Science from database inception until June 6th, 2023. Inclusion criteria were studies that reported any type of clinical outcome, examined noncontiguous ACDF, noncontiguous CDA, and/or noncontiguous HCS. RESULTS: Ten articles out of 523 articles initially retrieved were included. Patients (n = 388) had a mean age of 52 ± 5.1 years and a mean follow-up time of 33 ± 6.0 months. Overall, 119 patients underwent noncontiguous HCS, 65 underwent noncontiguous CDA, and 204 underwent noncontiguous ACDF. There appears to be no clinically meaningful difference in Neck Disability Index score, Japanese Orthopedic Association score, and improvement in pain based on surgery type. There were a total of 83 complications (21% of cases) with noncontiguous ACDF having a higher absolute rate of dysphagia (20%) as compared to noncontiguous HCS (6.7%) or noncontiguous CDA (6.2%). Noncontiguous ACDF had a higher absolute rate of adjacent segment degeneration anterior cervical discectomy and fusion as a reported complication (6.4%) as compared to noncontiguous HCS (1.7%) and noncontiguous CDA (0.0%). CONCLUSIONS: There may be no clinically meaningful difference in many clinical outcomes for different noncontiguous surgical interventions for noncontiguous (cervical degenerative disc disease). However, complication rates, such as dysphagia and anterior cervical discectomy and fusion, appear higher for noncontiguous ACDF as compared to noncontiguous CDA or HCS.

Effects of liposomal bupivacaine on opioid use and healthcare resource utilization after outpatient spine surgery: a real-world assessment.

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Perioperative pain management affects cost and outcomes in elective spine surgery. PURPOSE: This study investigated the association between liposomal bupivacaine (LB) and outpatient spine surgery outcomes, including perioperative, postoperative, and postdischarge opioid use and healthcare resource utilization. STUDY DESIGN: This was a retrospective comparative study. PATIENT SAMPLE: Eligibility criteria included adults with ≥6 months of continuous data before and after outpatient spine procedures including discectomy, laminectomy, or lumbar fusion. Patients receiving LB were matched 1:3 to patients receiving non-LB analgesia by propensity scores. OUTCOME MEASURES: Outcomes included (1) opioid use in morphine milligram equivalents (MMEs) during the perioperative and postdischarge periods and (2) postdischarge readmission and emergency department (ED) visits up to 3 months after surgery. Generalized linear mixed-effects modeling with appropriate distributions was used for analysis. METHODS: Deidentified data from the IQVIA linkage claims databases (2016-2019) were used for the analysis. This study was funded by Pacira BioSciences, Inc. RESULTS: In total, 381 patients received LB and 1143 patients received non-LB analgesia. Baseline characteristics were well balanced after propensity score matching. The LB cohort used fewer MMEs versus the non-LB cohort before discharge (80 vs 132 MMEs [mean difference, -52 MMEs; p=.0041]). Following discharge, there was a nonsignificant reduction in opioid use in the LB cohort versus the non-LB cohort within 90 days (429 vs 480 MMEs [mean difference, -50 MMEs; p=.289]) and from >90 days to 180 days (349 vs 381 MMEs [mean difference, -31 MMEs; p=.507]). The LB cohort had significantly lower rates of ED visits at 2 months after discharge versus the non-LB cohort (3.9% vs 7.6% [odds ratio, 0.50; p=.015]). Postdischarge readmission rates did not differ between cohorts. CONCLUSIONS: Use of LB for outpatient spine surgery was associated with reduced opioid use at the hospital and nonsignificant reduction in opioid use at all postoperative timepoints examined through 90 days after surgery versus non-LB analgesia. ED visit rates were significantly lower at 60 days after discharge. These findings support reduced cost and improved quality metrics in patients treated with LB versus non-LB analgesia for outpatient spine surgery.

The Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index Is an Independent Predictor for Adverse Outcomes After Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion.

BACKGROUND: Malnutrition frequently is associated with increased complications and worse outcomes after surgery. The purpose of this study was to determine whether malnutrition status determined using the Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI) can serve as an independent risk factor for complications in patients undergoing anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF). METHODS: The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database was queried from 2011 to 2016 for patients age ≥65 years who underwent ACDF. Patients were categorized into 3 groups based on the GNRI: >98, normal nutritional status; 92-98, moderately malnourished; and <92, severely malnourished. Multivariate logistic regression models adjusted for covariates of demographics, comorbidities, and operative metrics were used to evaluate GNRI as an independent risk factor for postoperative outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 3148 patients who underwent ACDF were analyzed, of whom 78.9% had normal nutrition, 16.1% were moderately malnourished, and 5.0% patients were severely malnourished. On multivariate analysis, moderate and severe malnutrition were found to be independent risk factors for any complication, pulmonary complications, pneumonia, unplanned intubation, and hospital length of stay >6 days (P < 0.05 for all). In addition, moderate malnutrition was a risk factor for failure to wean from ventilation for >48 hours and 30-day readmission. Severe malnutrition was an independent risk factor for septic shock and nonhome discharge. CONCLUSIONS: In elderly patients after ACDF, malnutrition determined using GNRI is an independent risk factor for 30-day complications, readmissions, prolonged hospital length of stay, and nonhome discharge.

(Cost-)effectiveness of personalised multimodal physiotherapy compared to surgery in patients with cervical radiculopathy: A systematic review.

RATIONALE: Cervical radiculopathy is initially typically managed conservatively. Surgery is indicated when conservative management fails or with severe/progressive neurological signs. Personalised multimodal physiotherapy could be a promising conservative strategy. However, aggregated evidence on the (cost-)effectiveness of personalised multimodal physiotherapy compared to surgery with/without post-operative physiotherapy is lacking. AIM/OBJECTIVES: To systematically summarise the literature on the (cost-)effectiveness of personalised multimodal physiotherapy compared to surgery with or without post-operative physiotherapy in patients with cervical radiculopathy. METHODS: PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO and Web of Science were searched from inception to 1st of March 2023. Primary outcomes were effectiveness regarding costs, arm pain intensity and disability. Neck pain intensity, perceived recovery, quality of life, neurological symptoms, range-of-motion, return-to-work, medication use, (re)surgeries and adverse events were considered secondary outcomes. Randomised clinical trials comparing personalised multimodal physiotherapy versus surgical approaches with/without post-operative physiotherapy were included. Two independent reviewers performed study selection, data-extraction, and risk of bias assessment using the Cochrane RoB 2 and Consolidated Health Economic Evaluation Reporting Standards statement. Certainty of the evidence was determined using Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations. RESULTS: From 2109 records, eight papers from two original trials, with 117 participants in total were included. Low certainty evidence showed there were no significant differences on arm pain intensity and disability, except for the subscale 'heavy work' related disability (12 months) and disability at 5-8 years. Cost-effectiveness was not assessed. There was low certainty evidence that physiotherapy improved significantly less on neck pain intensity, sensory loss and perceived recovery compared to surgery with/without physiotherapy. Low certainty evidence showed there were no significant differences on numbness, range of motion, medication use, and quality of life. No adverse events were reported. CONCLUSION: Considering the clinical importance of accurate management recommendations and the current low level of certainty, high-quality cost-effectiveness studies are needed.

Effect of Device Constraint: A Comparative Network Meta-Analysis of ACDF and Cervical Disc Arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Clinical trials have demonstrated that cervical disc arthroplasty (CDA) is an effective and safe alternative treatment to anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) for cervical degenerative disc disease in the appropriately indicated patient population. Various devices for CDA exist, differing in the level of device constraint. PURPOSE: To investigate outcomes following Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (ACDF) versus CDA stratified based on the level of device constraint: Constrained, Semi-constrained, and Unconstrained. STUDY DESIGN: Systematic review and network meta-analysis. PATIENT SAMPLE: 2,932 CDA patients (979 Constrained, 1214 Semi-Constrained, 739 Unconstrained) and 2,601 ACDF patients from 41 studies that compared outcomes of patients undergoing CDA or ACDF at a single level at a minimum of 2 years follow-up. OUTCOME MEASURES: Outcomes of interest included the development of adjacent segment degeneration (ASD), index and adjacent segment reoperation rates, range of motion (ROM), high-grade heterotopic ossification (HO, McAfee Grades 3/4), and patient-reported outcomes (NDI/VAS). METHODS: CDA devices were grouped based on the degrees of freedom (DoF) allowed by the device, as either Constrained (3 DoF), Semi-constrained (4 or 5 DoF), or Unconstrained (6 DoF). A random effects network meta-analysis was conducted using standardized mean differences (SMD) and log relative risk (RR) were used to analyze continuous and categorical data, respectively. RESULTS: Semi-constrained (p=0.03) and Unconstrained CDA (p=0.01) demonstrated a significantly lower risk for ASD than ACDF. All levels of CDA constraint demonstrated a significantly lower risk for subsequent adjacent segment surgery than ACDF (p<0.001). Semi-constrained CDA also demonstrated a significantly lower risk for index level reoperation than both ACDF and Constrained CDA (p<0.001). Unconstrained devices retained significantly greater ROM than both Constrained and Semi-Constrained CDA (p<0.001). As expected, all levels of device constraint retained significantly greater ROM than ACDF (p<0.001). Constrained and Unconstrained devices both demonstrated significantly lower levels of disability on NDI than ACDF (p=0.02). All levels of device constraint demonstrated significantly less neck pain than ACDF (p<0.05), while Unconstrained CDA had significantly less arm pain than ACDF (p=0.02) at final follow-up greater than 2 years. CONCLUSION: Cervical Disc Arthroplasty, particularly the unconstrained and semi-constrained designs, appears to be more effective than ACDF in reducing the risk of adjacent segment degeneration and the need for further surgeries, while also allowing for greater range of motion and better patient-reported outcomes. Less constrained CDA conferred a lower risk for index level reoperation, while also retaining more range of motion than more constrained devices.

Cost-effectiveness of posterior versus anterior surgery for cervical radiculopathy: results from a multicentre randomised non-inferiority trial (FACET).

PURPOSE: For cervical nerve root compression, anterior cervical discectomy with fusion (anterior surgery) or posterior foraminotomy (posterior surgery) are safe and effective options. Posterior surgery might have a more beneficial economic profile compared to anterior surgery. The purpose of this study was to analyse if posterior surgery is cost-effective compared to anterior surgery. METHODS: An economic evaluation was performed as part of a multicentre, noninferiority randomised clinical trial (Foraminotomy ACDF Cost-effectiveness Trial) with a follow-up of 2 years. Primary outcomes were cost-effectiveness based on arm pain (Visual Analogue Scale (VAS; 0-100)) and cost-utility (quality adjusted life years (QALYs)). Missing values were estimated with multiple imputations and bootstrap simulations were used to obtain confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: In total, 265 patients were randomised and 243 included in the analyses. The pooled mean decrease in VAS arm at 2-year follow-up was 44.2 in the posterior and 40.0 in the anterior group (mean difference, 4.2; 95% CI, - 4.7 to 12.9). Pooled mean QALYs were 1.58 (posterior) and 1.56 (anterior) (mean difference, 0.02; 95% CI, - 0.05 to 0.08). Societal costs were €28,046 for posterior and €30,086 for the anterior group, with lower health care costs for posterior (€12,248) versus anterior (€16,055). Bootstrapped results demonstrated similar effectiveness between groups with in general lower costs associated with posterior surgery. CONCLUSION: In patients with cervical radiculopathy, arm pain and QALYs were similar between posterior and anterior surgery. Posterior surgery was associated with lower costs and is therefore likely to be cost-effective compared with anterior surgery.

Comparison of the efficacy of ROI-C cage with Zero-P device in anterior cervical discectomy and fusion of cervical degenerative disc disease: a two-year follow-up study.

Background: This study aimed to compare the clinical outcomes of Zero-P and ROI-C devices applied to anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) surgery of cervical degenerative disc disease (CDDD). Methods: From January 2020 and December 2020, 56 patients with CDDD who underwent ACDF using Zero-P or ROI-C were included in this retrospective study. The outcomes included visual analogue scale (VAS) score, Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) score, neck disability index (NDI) score, Cobb angle, dysphagia, and bone fusion rate. Dysphagia was assessed using the Bazaz grading system. The comparison of outcomes between the two groups was based on the 2-year follow-up time point, which was defined as the last follow-up visit. Results: The Zero-P group included 16 males and 14 females, with a mean age of 56.2 (range, 35-65) years. The ROI-C group included 11 males and 15 females, with a mean age of 57.4 (range, 36-67) years. There was no significant difference in gender and mean age between the two groups. There were no significant differences in VAS score, JOA score, NDI score, Cobb angle, dysphagia, and bone fusion rate between two groups at the last follow up visit. In the Zero-P group, the duration of surgeries involving C3-4 or C6-7 segments was significantly longer than those including C4-5 or C5-6 segments (135.0 ± 19.0 vs. 105.6 ± 17.5 min, P < 0.05). In surgeries involving C3-4 or C6-7 segments, the operation time of ROI-C was significantly shorter than that of Zero-P (106.5 ± 19.5 vs.112.2 ± 20.5 min, P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in the dysphagia or cage subsidence rates between the Zero-P and ROI-C groups (P > 0.05). The Cobb angle in the last follow-up visit in the Zero-P group (24.4 ± 4.5°) was significantly higher than that in the ROI-C group (18.1 ± 2.3°) (P < 0.05). Conclusions: ACDF using ROI-C device showed an efficacy similar to the Zero-P device, as well as a shorter operation time for surgeries involving C3-4 or C6-7 segments. However, ROI-C could cause more loss of Cobb angle over time, which could lead to uncomfortable symptoms.

Percutaneous transforaminal endoscopic discectomy for Upper Lumbar Disc Herniation versus lower lumbar disc herniation: clinical outcomes and technical consideration.

BACKGROUND: Upper lumbar disc herniation (ULDH) accounts for 1-10% of all lumbar disc herniations (LDH). This study aimed to evaluate the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with ULDH who underwent percutaneous transforaminal endoscopic discectomy (PTED) compared with those with lower LDH. METHODS: 60 patients with ULDH or L4-L5 LDH treated with PTED between May 2016 and October 2021. MacNab criteria, visual analog scale (VAS) of back pain and leg pain, and Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) were evaluated before and after surgery. RESULTS: In the L1-L3 group, 59.1% of the patients had a positive femoral nerve tension test, and 81.8% of the patients had a sensory deficit. Both groups showed significant improvements in VAS scores for low back and leg pain, and JOA scores postoperatively. No significant differences in the degree of improvement were observed between the two groups. The excellent/good rate was 81.8% in the L1-L3 group and 84.2% in the L4-L5 group, showing no significant difference. CONCLUSION: PTED has comparable efficacy in treating ULDH as it does in treating lower LDH, it is a safe and effective treatment method for ULDH.

Cervical Disc Arthroplasty (CDA) versus Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (ACDF) for Two-Level Cervical Disc Degenerative Disease: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) and cervical disc arthroplasty (CDA) are both considered to be efficacious surgical procedures for treating cervical spondylosis in patients with or without compression myelopathy. This updated systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to compare the outcomes of these procedures for the treatment of cervical degenerative disc disease (DDD) at two contiguous levels. Methods: The PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane CENTRAL databases were searched up to 1 May 2023. Studies comparing the outcomes between CDA and ACDF in patients with two-level cervical DDD were eligible for inclusion. Primary outcomes were surgical success rates and secondary surgery rates. Secondary outcomes were scores on the Neck Disability Index (NDI) and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for neck and arm pain, as well as the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score for the severity of cervical compression myelopathy and complication rates. Results: In total, eight studies (two RCTs, four retrospective studies, and two prospective studies) with a total of 1155 patients (CDA: 598; ACDF: 557) were included. Pooled results revealed that CDA was associated with a significantly higher overall success rate (OR, 2.710, 95% CI: 1.949-3.770) and lower secondary surgery rate (OR, 0.254, 95% CI: 0.169-0.382) compared to ACDF. In addition, complication rates were significantly lower in the CDA group than in the ACDF group (OR, 0.548, 95% CI: 0.326 to 0.919). CDA was also associated with significantly greater improvements in neck pain VAS than ACDF. No significant differences were found in improvements in the arm VAS, NDI, and JOA scores between the two procedures. Conclusions: CDA may provide better postoperative outcomes for surgical success, secondary surgery, pain reduction, and postoperative complications than ACDF for treating patients with two-level cervical DDD.

Nomogram Development and Validation for Predicting Postoperative Recurrent Lumbar Disc Herniation Based on Paraspinal Muscle Parameters.

Purpose: Previous studies highlight paraspinal muscles' significance in spinal stability. This study aims to assess paraspinal muscle predictiveness for postoperative recurrent lumbar disc herniation (PRLDH) after lumbar disc herniation patients undergo percutaneous endoscopic transforaminal discectomy (PETD). Patients and Methods: Retrospectively collected data from 232 patients undergoing PETD treatment at our institution between January 2020 and January 2023, randomly allocated into training (60%) and validation (40%) groups. Utilizing Lasso regression and multivariable logistic regression, independent risk factors were identified in the training set to construct a Nomogram model. Internal validation employed Enhanced Bootstrap, with Area Under the ROC Curve (AUC) assessing accuracy. Calibration was evaluated through calibration curves and the Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test. Decision curve analysis (DCA) and clinical impact curve (CIC) were employed for clinical utility analysis. Results: Diabetes, Modic changes, and ipsilesional multifidus muscle skeletal muscle index (SMI) were independent predictive factors for PRLDH following PETD (P<0.05). Developed Nomogram model based on selected predictors, uploaded to a web page. AUC for training: 0.921 (95% CI 0.872-0.970), validation: 0.900 (95% CI 0.828-0.972), respectively. The Hosmer-Lemeshow test yielded χ 2=5.638/6.259, P=0.688/0.618, and calibration curves exhibited good fit between observed and predicted values. DCA and CIC demonstrate clinical net benefit for both models at risk thresholds of 0.02-1.00 and 0.02-0.80. Conclusion: The Nomogram predictive model developed based on paraspinal muscle parameters in this study demonstrates excellent predictive capability and aids in personalized risk assessment for PRLDH following PETD.

Ex-vivo biomechanical evaluation of the application of a novel annulus closure device to closure of annulus fibrosus.

Objective: To investigate the technical feasibility of applying a simple suture guide device to close the annulus fibrosus (AF) of the intervertebral discs (IVD). Methods: 30 sheep functional discal units (FDUs) were obtained and subjected to mock discectomy. Mock sutures were performed using 3-0 non-absorbable sutures under a novel AF suture device following a suture procedure. The FDUs were compressed under axial loading at 1.8 mm/min and evaluated for Failure load (N). Results: The failure loads of the hand stitching group (Group H) and suture device stitching group (Group S) were significantly higher than those of the control group (Group C) (p = 0.033; p < 0.001). Conclusion: This study provides reasonable reasons to believe that the simple suture guide device described here is technically feasible for AF defect closure. It thus constitutes an encouraging proof of concept for the proposed device; however, it does not constitute a complete demonstration of the device's feasibility in the clinical setting considering that the annulus closure operation is performed ex vivo on functional spinal units, as opposed to within an environment that mimics the clinical setting. To this end, confirmatory experiments will be conducted such as more multiaxial or dynamic mechanical testing, and notably performing the surgery on sheep models instead of on ex vivo functional spinal units.

Optimizing Disc and Cartilage Endplate Preparation in Full-Endoscopic Lumbar Interbody Fusion: An In-Depth Exploration of Surgical Instruments with a Technique Note and Narrative Review.

Full-endoscopic lumbar interbody fusion (FELIF) is a critical yet challenging procedure. However, extensive analyses of discectomy and cartilage endplate preparation techniques are limited. This can be attributed to the lack of universal protocols owing to diverse surgical practices and equipment preferences. Therefore, this narrative review presents a comprehensive overview of discectomy and cartilage endplate preparation techniques in FELIF. A literature search of the PubMed, Embase, and Google Scholar databases in December 2023 retrieved 490 studies, of which 53 met the pre-defined inclusion criteria, and 1373 patients were included in the analyses. Spinal endoscopic disc and cartilage endplate removal can be categorized into two main types: removal under direct endoscopic visualization and removal under radiographic guidance with the protection of a working sheath following the endoscope's removal. Removal under direct visualization ensures the safety and precision of the procedure. Radiographic guidance can enhance the efficiency of the removal process. Specially designed instruments can be utilized through the narrow working channels of spinal endoscopes for the scraping surgery. Moreover, many traditional spinal endoscopic instruments, through specific techniques and manipulations, can also aid in cartilage removal. The approaches and techniques vary significantly among physicians, but overall, these instruments and techniques aim to achieve a safe and efficient disc-scraping outcome. Thus, this review may offer a comprehensive guidance to surgeons in selecting the most efficient practices for FELIF. Uniform procedural protocols are needed to ensure broader adoption and standardized practice.