Pharyngo-Esophageal Perforation Following Anterior Cervical Spine Surgery: A Single Center Experience and a Systematic Review of the Literature.

STUDY DESIGN: Case series and systematic review of the Literature. OBJECTIVES: Pharyngo-esophageal perforation (PEP) is a rare, life-threatening complication of anterior cervical spine surgery (ACSS). Best management of these patients remains poorly defined. The aim of this study is to present our experience with this entity and to perform a systematic Literature review to better clarify the appropriate treatment of these patients. METHODS: Patients referred to our center for PEP following ACSS (January 2002-December 2018) were identified from our database. Moreover, an extensive review of the English Literature was conducted according to the 2009 PRISMA guidelines. RESULTS: Twelve patients were referred to our Institution for PEP following ACSS. Indications for ACSS were trauma (n = 10), vertebral metastases (n = 1) and disc herniation (n = 1). All patients underwent hardware placement at the time of ACSS. There were 6 early and 6 delayed PEP. Surgical treatment was performed in 11 patients with total or partial removal of spine fixation devices, autologous bone graft insertion or plate/cage replacement, anatomical suture of the fistula and suture line reinforcement with myoplasty. Complete resolution of PEP was observed in 6 patients. Five patients experienced PEP persistence, requiring further surgical management in 2 cases. At a median follow-up of 18.8 months, all patients exhibited permanent resolution of the perforation. CONCLUSIONS: PEP following ACSS is a rare but dreadful complication. Partial or total removal of the fixation devices, direct suture of the esophageal defect and coverage with tissue flaps seems to be an effective surgical approach in these patients.

Treatment of kyphotic deformities in adults: our experience.

PURPOSE: Many degenerative phenomena frequently result into kyphotic lumbar and thoracic deformities or cause their progression combined with deformities on the frontal plane of the spine. In these patients, the progression of the sagittal imbalance may lead to a series of disabling functional and painful consequences. The analysis of the spinopelvic parameters biases the choice of the correction surgical strategy aimed at restoring a good tri-dimensional and sagittal balance of the spine. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sample included 62 patients treated in our Operation Unit that were enrolled for evaluation; they were affected with prevailing sagittal deformities. RESULTS: Clinical results were evaluated through the administration of SF-36, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), Roland Morris (RM), and visual analogical scale (VAS). CONCLUSIONS: In our experience, patients with sagittal imbalance and short fusion areas show a higher risk of correction loss; the arthrodesis area must include the thoracolumbar junction, and it is often necessary to include the whole thoracic spine in the arthrodesis area. This is to avoid any loss of correction, implants mobilization, and proximal hyperkyphosis.

Comparison of single-level L4-L5 versus L5-S1 lumbar disc replacement: results and prognostic factors.

The aim of our prospective non-randomized clinical study was to analyze operative data, short-term results, safety, efficacy, complications, and prognostic factors for single-level total lumbar disc replacement (TLDR), and to compare results between different levels (L4-L5 vs. L5-S1). Thirty-six patients with single-level L4-L5 or L5-S1 TLDR, with 1-year minimum follow-up (FU), had complete clinical [SF36, visual analog scale (VAS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI)] and radiological data, and were included in our study. Mean FU was 38.67 +/- 17.34 months. Replaced level was L4-L5 in 12 (33.3%) cases, and L5-S1 in 24 cases (66.7%). Mean age at diagnosis was 41.17 +/- 7.14 years. 24 (66.7%) were females and 12 (33.3%) were males. Statistical analyses were assessed using t tests or Mann-Whitney test for continuous variables and Chi-square test or Fisher's exact test analyses for categorical variables. Univariate linear regression and binary logistic regression analyses were utilized to evaluate the relationship between surgical outcomes and covariates (gender, age, etiology, treated level, pre-operative SF36, ODI, and VAS). Mean operative time was 147.03 +/- 30.03 min. Mean hospital stay was 9.69 +/- 5.39 days, and mean return to ambulation was 4.31 +/- 1.17 days. At 1-year FU, patients revealed a statistical significant improvement in VAS pain (P = 0.000), ODI lumbar function (P = 0.000), and SF36 general health status (P = 0.000). Single-level TLDR is a good alternative to fusion for chronic discogenic low back pain refractory to conservative measures. Our study confirmed satisfactory clinical results for monosegmental L4-L5 and L5-S1 disc prosthesis, with no difference between the two different levels for SF36 (P = 0.217), ODI (P = 0.527), and VAS (P = 0.269). However, replacement of the L4-L5 disc is affected by an increased risk of complication (P = 0.000). There were no prognostic factors for intraoperative blood loss or return to ambulation. Age (P = 0.034) was the only prognostic factor for operative time. Hospital stay was affected by level (P = 0.036) and pre-op VAS (P = 0.006), while complications were affected by the level (P = 0.000) and pre-op ODI (P = 0.049). Complete pre-operative assessment (in particular VAS and ODI questionnaires) is important because more debilitating patients will have more hospital stay and higher complications or complaints. Patients had to be informed that complications, possibly severe, are particularly frequent (80.6%).

The surgical treatment of adult lumbar scoliosis.

Between January 1990 and December 1999 a total of adults (49 females and 16 males) aged from 37 to 72 years (mean age 54 +/- 3) underwent surgery and were followed up minimum of 2 year after treatment for symptomatic adult lumbar scoliosis. As for features of the clinical symptoms, the cases were divided into four groups, characterized by symptoms that gradually increased in importance and in frequency, the type of deformity and degree of deviation (scoliosis and lumbar kyphosis are reported). Adult and elderly lumbar spine deformities are often symptomatic, because the degenerative changes of deformed spine and the progression of the deformity. Patients with such a clinical picture need surgical correction of the deformity in order to improve their symptoms. Sometimes these patients undergo disc herniation surgical procedures, because of wrong interpretations of CT scans or MR images. Segmental instrumentation correction devices led to a fair correction of deformities, and improvement of back and radiated pain. Despite the great improvements (both in instrumentation devices and anesthesiological techniques) this surgery remain a major surgery, both of (or) the patient and the surgeon.