Implant-Associated Infection of Long-Segment Spinal Instrumentation: A Retrospective Analysis of 46 Consecutive Patients.

STUDY DESIGN: This single-center retrospective study analyzed patients with an implant-associated infection of spinal instrumentation (four or more segments) treated between 2010 and 2018. PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the treatment of implant-associated infections of long-segment spinal instrumentation and to define risk factors for implant removal. OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: Implant-associated infection occurs in 0.7%-20% of spinal instrumentation. Significant blood loss, delayed reoperation, and use of effective antibiotics are reported risk factors for implant removal. METHODS: Patients with superficial infections not involving the implant were excluded. All patients received surgical and antibiotic treatments according to our interdisciplinary osteomyelitis board protocol. An infection was considered healed if a patient showed no signs of infection 1 year after termination of treatment. The patients were divided into an implant retention group and implant removal group, and their clinical and microbiological data were compared. RESULTS: Forty-six patients (27 women, 19 men) with an implant-associated infection of long-segment spinal instrumentation and mean age of 65.3±14.3 years (range, 22-89 years) were included. The mean length of the infected instrumentation was 6.5±2.4 segments (range, 4-13 segments). Implant retention was possible in 21 patients (45.7%); in the other 25 patients (54.3%), a part of or the entire implant required removal. Late infections were associated with implant removal, which correlated with longer hospitalization. Both groups showed high postoperative complication rates (50%) and high mortality rates (8.7%). In 39 patients (84.8%), infection was eradicated at a mean follow-up of 18.9±11.1 months (range, 12-60 months). Three patients (6.5%) were lost to follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Implant-associated infections of long-segment spinal instrumentations are associated with high complication and mortality rates. Late infections are associated with implant removal. Treatment should be interdisciplinary including orthopedic surgeons and clinical infectiologists.

A Comparative Study of Lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusion and Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion in Degenerative Lumbar Spondylolisthesis.

STUDY DESIGN: Level 4 retrospective review. PURPOSE: To compare the radiographic and clinical outcomes between posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) and lateral lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF) with posterior segmental spinal instrumentation (SSI) for degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis. OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: Both PLIF and LLIF have been performed for degenerative spondylolisthesis with good results, but no study has directly compared these two techniques so far. METHODS: The electronic medical and radiographic records of 78 matched patients were analyzed. In one group, 39 patients underwent PLIF with SSI at 41 levels (L3-4/L4-5), while in the other group, 39 patients underwent the LLIF procedure at 48 levels (L3-4/L4-5). Radiological outcomes such as restoration of disc height and neuroforaminal height, segmental lumbar lordosis, total lumbar lordosis, incidence of endplate fracture, and subsidence were measured. Perioperative parameters were also recorded in each group. Clinical outcome in both groups was assessed by the short form-12, Oswestry disability index and visual analogue scale scores. The average follow-up period was 16.1 months in the LLIF group and 21 months in the PLIF group. RESULTS: The restoration of disc height, foraminal height, and segmental lumbar lordosis was significantly better in the LLIF group (p<0.001). The duration of the operation was similar in both groups, but the average blood loss was significantly lower in the LLIF group (p<0.001). However, clinical outcome scores were similar in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Safe, effective interbody fusion can be achieved at multiple levels with neuromonitoring by the lateral approach. LLIF is a viable treatment option in patients with new onset symptoms due to degenerative spondylolisthesis who have had previous lumbar spine surgery, and it results in improved sagittal alignment and indirect foraminal decompression.

Intrathecal morphine attenuates acute opioid tolerance secondary to remifentanil infusions during spinal surgery in adolescents.

INTRODUCTION: The unique pharmacokinetic properties of remifentanil with a context-sensitive half-life unaffected by length of infusion contribute to its frequent use during anesthetic management during posterior spinal fusion in children and adolescents. However, its intraoperative administration can lead to increased postoperative analgesic requirements, which is postulated to be the result of acute opioid tolerance with enhancement of spinal N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor function. Although strategies to prevent or reduce tolerance have included the coadministration of longer acting opioids or ketamine, the majority of these studies have demonstrated little to no benefit. The current study retrospectively evaluates the efficacy of intrathecal morphine (ITM) in preventing hyperalgesia following a remifentanil infusion. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 54 patients undergoing posterior spinal fusion with segmental spinal instrumentation, to evaluate the effects of ITM on hyperalgesia from remifentanil. Patients were divided into two groups based on whether they did or did not receive remifentanil during the surgery: no remifentanil (control group) (n=27) and remifentanil (study group) (n=27). Data included demographics, remifentanil dose and duration, Wong-Baker visual analog scale postoperative pain scores, and postoperative intravenous morphine consumption in the first 48 postoperative hours. RESULTS: The demographics of the two study groups were similar. There were no differences in the Wong-Baker visual analog scale pain scores in the postanesthesia care unit and on postoperative days 1 and 3. Pain scores were higher in the remifentanil group on postoperative day 2 (2.9 vs 3.8). Postoperative morphine requirements were similar between the two groups (0.029 vs 0.017 mg/kg/48 h for the control group and the study group, respectively). CONCLUSION: In patients receiving preincisional ITM during spinal surgery, intraoperative remifentanil does not increase postoperative analgesic requirements.

A Comparative Study of Lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusion and Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion in Degenerative Lumbar Spondylolisthesis

STUDY DESIGN: Level 4 retrospective review. PURPOSE: To compare the radiographic and clinical outcomes between posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) and lateral lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF) with posterior segmental spinal instrumentation (SSI) for degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis. OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: Both PLIF and LLIF have been performed for degenerative spondylolisthesis with good results, but no study has directly compared these two techniques so far. METHODS: The electronic medical and radiographic records of 78 matched patients were analyzed. In one group, 39 patients underwent PLIF with SSI at 41 levels (L3-4/L4-5), while in the other group, 39 patients underwent the LLIF procedure at 48 levels (L3-4/L4-5). Radiological outcomes such as restoration of disc height and neuroforaminal height, segmental lumbar lordosis, total lumbar lordosis, incidence of endplate fracture, and subsidence were measured. Perioperative parameters were also recorded in each group. Clinical outcome in both groups was assessed by the short form-12, Oswestry disability index and visual analogue scale scores. The average follow-up period was 16.1 months in the LLIF group and 21 months in the PLIF group. RESULTS: The restoration of disc height, foraminal height, and segmental lumbar lordosis was significantly better in the LLIF group (p<0.001). The duration of the operation was similar in both groups, but the average blood loss was significantly lower in the LLIF group (p<0.001). However, clinical outcome scores were similar in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Safe, effective interbody fusion can be achieved at multiple levels with neuromonitoring by the lateral approach. LLIF is a viable treatment option in patients with new onset symptoms due to degenerative spondylolisthesis who have had previous lumbar spine surgery, and it results in improved sagittal alignment and indirect foraminal decompression.

Thoracic Fracture-Dislocations Without Spinal Cord Injury: Two Cases Reports / 대한척추외과학회지

Thoracic fracture-dislocations reportedly lead to an 80% incidence of complete paraplegia. Thus, thoracic fracture-dislocations without cord injury are uncommon. There are a few cases of thoracic fracture-dislocations in which the neural sparing status was associated with separation of the posterior spinal structures, such as the pedicles and laminae. The authors experienced two cases of thoracic fracture-dislocations without spinal cord injury: one was a 50-year-old man who fell from the fourth floor of a building and sustained a T6-7 fracture-dislocation; and the other was a 43-year-old man who was involved in motorcycle accident and sustained a T12 fracture-dislocation. Segmental spinal instrumentation and fusion without open reduction was performed in each of the two cases and there has not been any abnormality detected on neurological examination at a minimum follow-up period of 2 years.

Clinical Results of Segmental spinal instrumentation in Unstable Fracture and Fracture / 대한정형외과학회잡지

Segmental Spinal Instrumentation (S.S.I.) is considered to the effective operative procedure in unstable fracture and fracture-dislocation of the thoracolumbar spine, providing improved correction effect, high rate of fusion and immediate rigid fixation which obviates the need for postoperative immobilization. Retrospective study was carried out of 24 cases of fracture or fracture-dislication of the thoracolumbar spine, There were treated with Harrington rod instrumentation and sublaminar wiring (8 cases) and Luque rod instrumentatiom and sublaminar wiring (16 cases) in Soonchnhyang University, from January 1986 to June 1988. We have analyzed the results of treatment, which were as follows ; 1. Thoracolumbar junction (T12 Ll) was most commomly involved segment (63%) and falling from a height was most common cause of injuries. 2. The most common type by Denis classification was burst fracture (38%). 3. About improvement of neurologic status by injury site and type of instrumentation, thoracolumbar junction (38.5%) and lumbar spine (35%) were better prognosis than thoracic spine (8.75%). 4. In commparison with kyphotic deformity and displacement, Harrington rod (66.4%) was better than Luque rod (58.9%) in postoperative correction. Also in total correction, Harrington rod was better than Luque rod in spite of more or less large amount of loss of correction. words : Thoracolumbar spine, Unstable fracture-dislocation, Segmental spinal instrumentation (S.S.I.)

Segmental Spinal Instrumentation in the Treatment of Scoliosis / 대한정형외과학회잡지

Since Luque introduced new posterior instrumentation by segmental sublaminar wiring for neuromuscular scoliosis in 1976, preliminary reports have been published regarding its use with Harrington rod or Luque rod for other types of scoliosis, traumatic lesions of the spine, and spondylolisthesis as well as for degenerative disorders and tumors. Its advantage includes rigid internal fixation which often obviates the requirement for postoperative immobilization and the significant correction of deformity. Disadvantages are longer operation time, increased blood loss and the risk of neurologic damage. Segmental spinal instrumentation was carried out using either Harrington rod or Luque rod in 30 cases of scoliosis; 16 in idiopathic scoliosis, 12 in paralytic scoliosis and 1 each in congenital scoliosis and neurofibromatosis, at the Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Seoul National University Hospital, for 3 years from January 1984 to December 1986, Twenty six cases had been followed for more than 1 year and following results were obtained. 1. In idiopathic scoliosis, average preoperative curve was 65.0 degrees and immediate postoperative curve was 27.9 degrees with 57.4% correction. There was 1.2 degrees loss of correction with an average follow-up of 19.5 months (14–28 months). 2. In papalytic scoliosis, average preoperative curve was 108.5 degrees and immediate postoperative curve was 55.5 degrees with 49.5% correction. There was little loss of correction with anaverage follow-up 24.5 months (13–38 months). 3. No neurological complication occurred as a result of sublaminar wiring. 4. Segmental spinal instrumentation is an effective method with an advantage of better correction, greater contouring of the spine to avoid flat back, and less external immobilization in the treatment of idiopathic or paralytic scoliosis without increased complication.

Clinical Results of Segmental Spinal Instrumentation in Unstable Fracture and Fracture-Dislocation of the Thoracolumbar Spine / 대한정형외과학회잡지

Segmental Spinal Instrumentation is effective operative procedure in unstable fracture and fracture-dislocation of the thoracolumbar spine, providing rigid spinal stability and reduces needs of external support and complications. Fifty nine patients with unstable fracture and fracture-dislocation of thoracolumbar spine were treated with Harrington rod instrumentation and sublaminar wiring(31 patients) and Luque rod instrumentation with sublaminar wiring(28 patients) in Hyun Dai Hae Seong Hospital, Ulsan, Paik Hospital, Pusan from Dec. 1983 to April 1986. We have analyzed the results of treatment about two type of S.S.I. and obtained following conclusions; l. In 59 patients, T12 level injury was 17 cases, Ll level was 25 cases and so T12 and Ll involvement were 71%. 2. By Francis Denis classification, 28 cases were burst type fracture, 20 cases were fracture-dislocation type, 6 cases were seat belt type and 5 cases were wedge compression type. 3. In Harrington rod with S.S.I., initial kyphotic angle was 22.4° and postoperative angle was 7.4° and correction rate was 66.9%; in Luque rod with S.S.I., preoperative kyphotic angle was 21.7° and postoperative angle was 6.5° and correction rate 69.6%. So there was no difference of correction rate in two type of S.S.I. 4. In Harrington rod with S.S.I., the loss of reduction was 1.2° and the loss was 7%; in Luque rod with S.S.I., the loss of reduction was 7.2° and the loss rate was 48%. So the loss of reduction of Luque rod with S.S.I. was greater than that of Harrington rod with S.S.I. 5. After removal of implants, Luque rod with S.S.I. patients have better range of motion than Harrington rod with S.S.I. patients clinically, but it needs more follow-up because of a few cases(18 cases).

Segmental Spinal Instrumentation in the Management of Fracture and Fracture-Dislocation of the Thoraco-Lumbar Spine / 대한정형외과학회잡지

Segmental Spinal Instrumentation(S.S.I.) is more effective means of managing unstable thoraco-lumbar spine fractures than traditional Harrington Rod Instrumentation as an operative procedure which afforded rigid internal fixation with stability and needed minimal external immobilization. Early return to normal activity and successful rehabilitation are facilitated by efficient stabilization with S.S.I. Fifty-nine patients with fractures and fracture-dislocations of thoraco-lumbar spine were treated by Harrington Rod Instrumentation (29 patients) and S.S.I. (30 patients) at this hospital from June 1979 to July 1984. We have analysed the results of these treatment and obtained following conclusions: 1. S.S.I. is more rigid internal fixation than Harrington Rod Instrumentation. a) no or minimal external immobilization b) early ambulation and rehabilitation c) lowered complications 2. There was no significant difference in correction rate, loss of correction, and neurologic recovery between Harrington Rod Instrumentation and S.S.I.