Sacroiliac arthrodesis using a posterior midline fascial splitting approach and pedicle screw instrumentation: a new technique.

Many techniques for sacroiliac arthrodesis have been described. No single technique is universally accepted as the standard. The current report describes a new technique using a midline fascial-splitting approach and pedicle screw instrumentation. Four consecutive patients with nontraumatic disorders of the sacroiliac joint who have undergone successful arthrodesis by the described technique are presented. One patient had a spontaneous sacroiliac disruption secondary to rheumatoid arthritis, and was returned to her previous ambulatory status after fusion of the disrupted joint. Her fusion remained stable for 9 years postoperatively. The others had degeneration of the sacroiliac joint that was symptomatically improved by arthrodesis. The described method of sacroiliac arthrodesis may be an attractive option for surgeons who are familiar with pedicle screw instrumentation techniques.

Lateral intertransverse process single-level fusion for salvage of the unstable failed posterior lumbar interbody fusion.

Our study was an attempt to salvage severely unstable posterior lumbar interbody fusions (PLIFs) by using the lateral bilateral intertransverse single-level (floating) fusion. A retrospective review of six patients with failed L4-L5 PLIFs was carried out. These patients underwent reoperation between 2 weeks and 2 years after the initial surgery. All patients had persistent symptoms, including low back pain and sciatica, interfering with activities of daily living. Computed tomography (CT) scans revealed extrusion of the bone plug into the spinal canal in five patients. All six had a nonunion of the PLIF, and three patients had grade 3 or 4 iatrogenic spondylolisthesis caused by the PLIF. The operation involved decompression followed by lateral intertransverse process fusion with autogenous bone graft. All patients were placed in external immobilization after the procedure for 3 months. Follow-up averaged 38.5 months (range, 21-55), at which time five had substantial pain improvement. Five were radiographically fused. One had a second nonunion, which subsequently healed after reoperation with repeat lateral fusion and Luque plate hardware. Our fusion rate was 83% without the use of instrumentation. In conclusion, we recommend the simplistic procedure of lateral bilateral intertransverse process single-level fusion along with liberal external immobilization for the difficult problem of salvage of failed PLIFs.

Complications associated with harvesting autogenous iliac bone graft.

The harvesting of an autogenous iliac bone graft is a frequently performed orthopedic procedure. Although often regarded as the simple or routine part of bone graft requiring surgery, complications are not necessarily uncommon. Documented donor-site complications include nerve, arterial, or urethral injury; chronic donor-site pain; cosmetic deformity; herniation of abdominal contents; sacroiliac joint instability; pelvic fractures; gait disturbances; hematoma; infection; peritoneal perforation; and hip subluxation. Most of these complications are avoidable when the surgeon is aware of their possibility and is familiar with the involved anatomy and preferred surgical approaches.

Midline fascial splitting approach to the iliac crest for bone graft. A new approach.

The midline fascial splitting approach is a modified midline approach to the iliac crest for bone graft that takes advantage of the anatomic planes between layers of the dorsal lumbar fascia. Two hundred consecutive grafts were taken by this technique with one superficial infection, two cases of serous hematoma, and three patients with significant postoperative pain at the harvest site, for an overall complication rate of 3%. In comparison, bone grafts were harvested from 200 consecutive patients by the midline subcutaneous approach to the iliac crest with 2 deep infections, 1 cluneal nerve injury, 15 patients with severe and disabling pain at the harvest site, and 12 patients with a serous hematoma, for an overall complication rate of 15%. The midline fascial splitting approach significantly reduced the incidence of postoperative serous hematoma (P < 0.007) as well as the incidence of significant and disabling pain (P < 0.001). In addition, the approach is simple, straightforward, anatomic, and decreases trauma to soft tissues.

Fracture-dislocation of the thoracic and lumbar spine: advantages of halo-bifemoral traction.

Thoracic and lumbar fracture-dislocations with 100% spinal column displacement are uncommon injuries that usually have associated neurologic injury. Severe spinal malalignment and instability can result in blood loss, tenting of skin and, severe pain. Four patients with thoracic or lumbar fracture-dislocations were initially treated and reduced with halo-bifemoral traction. Fracture reduction with halo-bifemoral traction decreased pain, controlled instability, relieved skin pressure, and prevented the need for acute surgical intervention. In addition, use of halo-bifemoral traction allowed for the resolution of spinal shock, allowed time for complete presurgical planning, and simplified the reduction portion of the operative procedure, thereby reducing operative time and blood loss.

Use of the pantaloon cast for the selection of fusion candidates in the treatment of chronic low back pain.

Forty-five patients with low back pain (LBP) of longer than six months' duration and for whom all conservative therapies failed were placed in a pantaloon cast for a two- to four-week trial period. Significant pain relief occurred in 31 (69%) of these patients. Of these 31, 23 patients were treated with spinal arthrodesis using lateral, intertransverse process fusions with iliac bone grafts. Before fusion, the painful lumbar segments were determined by facet analgesic blocks or the normal saline acceptance test. After an average follow-up period of 14 months, 17 (74%) had significant pain relief. The pantaloon cast may be an effective tool for identifying those chronic LBP patients who might benefit from spinal stabilization procedure.

Neurologic injury and recovery patterns in burst fractures at the T12 or L1 motion segment.

Fourteen consecutive patients with burst fractures at T12 or L1, partial paralysis, and more than 30% canal compromise were prospectively evaluated pretreatment and posttreatment with roentgenograms to determine the initial fracture pattern, CT scans to determine the percent canal compromise and subsequent improvement, and a quantitative motor trauma index scale and bladder sphincter evaluation to determine neurologic recovery. The follow-up period averaged 32 months (range, 12-50 months). Treatment was as follows: nonoperative (three patients), Harrington rods and fusion (seven patients), and Harrington rods and fusion followed by anterior decompression and fusion (four patients). The initial severity of paralysis did not correlate with the initial fracture roentgenographic pattern or the amount of initial CT canal compromise. Neurologic recovery did not correlate with the treatment method or amount of canal decompression. Subsequent recovery did correlate with the initial fracture pattern. If the patient had a Type I or Type II fracture (both greater than 15 degrees kyphosis), greater than 90% neurologic recovery occurred, regardless of treatment. If the patient had a Type III fracture (less than 15 degrees kyphosis and the maximal canal compromise where bone encircles the canal) less than 50% neurologic recovery occurred. If the patient had a Type IV fracture (less than or equal to 15 degrees kyphosis and the maximal canal compromise at the level of the ligamentum flavum), the neurologic recovery was variable. Prognosis for neurologic recovery can be made based on initial roentgenograms. If greater than 15 degrees kyphosis is present, there is a good prognosis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Postoperative discitis. Diagnosis and management.

Postoperative discitis (POD) continues to be a diagnostic challenge and its management remains variable. This article raises the following questions and presents new observations. What is the current role of the CT scan in POD? Is a uniform pathogen involved and is there a basis for the duration of intravenous antibiotics? What is the expected long-term functional result? In a retrospective analysis of 12 consecutive patients with POD followed for an average of 29 months (17-42 months), the CT scan was extremely sensitive in showing a pathogen was present. The CT scan was misread in over one-third of the cases. Gram-positive cocci were the only organisms cultured (10 of 13 cultures, 8 of 12 patients). The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) invariably fell predictably to normal within 90 days when patients were treated with IV antibiotics for more than 40 days. Most patients were clinically improved and subjectively better at follow-up examination. No correlation existed between the patient's subjective result and preexisting medical conditions, the type of antibiotic, or the length of treatment, the ESR, or the follow-up roentgenograms.

Degenerative spondylolisthesis. Its surgical management.

Little attention has been given to the amount of further slip and the success rate after decompression for degenerative spondylolisthesis. In this retrospective study, the answers to the following were sought: (1) Did decompression relieve symptoms; (2) Which decompressive technique was best; (3) Did further slip occur; (4) Did further slip make patients worse? Seventeen patients were available for an average 20-month follow-up. Six patients had a decompression laminectomy with facetectomies, and 11 had a decompression laminectomy with foraminotomies. None was fused. Patients rated their results as better or worse at follow-up. Nine were better, eight were worse. Five of six who had laminectomies with facetectomies were better. Only four of 11 who had laminectomies with foraminotomies were better. The average further slip was 3 mm. Further slip did not correlate with type of decompression, symptoms, and patients' subjective results. We recommended that a decompression laminectomy for degenerative spondylolisthesis include a facetectomy. Further study is necessary to evaluate the efficacy of a fusion in controlling chronic back pain in the postdecompressed patient with degenerative spondylolisthesis.