Minimally Invasive Surgery in Patients With Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis: Is it Better than the Standard Approach? A 2-Year Follow-up Study.

STUDY DESIGN: This is a retrospective controlled study. OBJECTIVE: To compare the safety and efficacy of minimally invasive surgery (MIS) for the surgical management of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) to the standard open posterior approach (PSF). SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: MIS approaches offer the potential to reduce soft-tissue trauma, intraoperative blood loss, and surgical-site infection. Thus far, MIS has been successfully utilized for the surgical correction of multilevel spine pathology in adults. It is not yet known if these results can be replicated in the surgical management of AIS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seven MIS patients were compared with 15 PSF patients using minimum 2-year follow-up data. Parameters studied included preoperative patient and deformity characteristics, perioperative details, extent of deformity correction, and complications. Data were compared using Mann-Whitney tests for continuous variables and Fisher exact tests for categorical variables. RESULTS: The MIS and PSF groups were similar for all preoperative characteristics collected (P>0.05). MIS patients had fewer fixation points (P=0.015), but a longer median operative time (P=0.011). There was no significant difference in estimated blood loss (EBL) (P=0.051), EBL/fixation point (P=0.204), or amount of fluids administered (P=0.888). Postoperative recovery did not differ between the 2 groups in number of intensive care unit days (P=0.362), length of hospital stay (P=0.472), time to mobilization (P=1.00), Visual Analogue Scale pain scores (P=0.698), or patient-controlled analgesia (P=1.00). The MIS technique had similar deformity correction, screw placement accuracy, and fusion status when compared with the PSF group. MIS patients had lower blood transfusion rate (P=0.02), shorter fusion (P=0.046) and fewer pedicle screws (P=0.015). CONCLUSIONS: The short-term advantages seen in MIS for adult scoliosis were not as obvious in our series. We found similar deformity correction and adequate fusion, however shortcomings related to learning curve, and instrumentation persist. MIS surgery is an innovative treatment for AIS that is technically feasible with significantly lower transfusion rate, shorter fusion lenghts and lesser pedicle screw fixation. Despite these advanatges, its role in AIS is currently difficut to define.

CT-Based Anatomical Evaluation of Pre-Vertebral Structures With Respect to Vertebral Body Using a Clock-Face Analogy.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective Chart and CT Scan Review. OBJECTIVE: To define the relationship of the pre-vertebral structures for each level to assist in easier intraoperative visualization. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Vascular and visceral injuries from pedicle screws are well-known. This study will define the relationship of the pre-vertebral structures for each level to assist in avoiding potential complications. METHODS: Pre- and post-operative CT scans were reviewed to define the pre-vertebral structures in relation to a clock-face. On reformatted axial slices, a clock-face was superimposed so that the left transverse process (TP) represented 8 o'clock and the right TP represented 4 o'clock. The positions of the TP on the clock-face did not change with rotation of the vertebra. RESULTS: 108 patients had pre-operative CT scans. 78 had post-operative CT scans. Median age was 15 years, median Cobb angle was 50°, fused were 12, with 21 fixation points. 6324 axial CT slices were reformatted and analyzed. The trachea was located at 12 o'clock at T1, 1 o'clock at T2-T4, and between 12 and 1 o'clock at T5. The esophagus starts as a midline structure at 12 o'clock from T1-T2, moves to 11 o'clock from T3-T6, and further to 10 o'clock from T7-T9. The aorta starts at 10 o'clock at T5-T6, moves left at T7-T8 to 9 o'clock, and returns to 10 o'clock from T9-T11. It appears at 11'clock at T12, and at 12 o'clock from L1-L4. In about a third of cases, it is at 1 o'clock from L1 to L4, where it bifurcates. CONCLUSIONS: This CT-based anatomical study provides a simple reference frame to help surgeons visualize the vital structures at each level. This three-dimensional visualization is facilitated by fixing the position of TP on the clock-face. Knowledge of this anatomical relationship can help avoid direct injury, and is easier to recall intra-operatively. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3.

Pedicle screws adjacent to the great vessels or viscera: a study of 2132 pedicle screws in pediatric spine deformity.

STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective study. OBJECTIVE: To determine the incidence of pedicle screws close to vital structures and to identify patient or curve characteristics that increase the risk of screw misplacement. SUMMARY AND BACKGROUND: Most pedicle screw misplacements are asymptomatic, thus they are frequently undetected. This study identifies the rate of screw placement in proximity to vital structures using postoperative computed tomography scans. METHODS: A total of 2132 screws in 101 patients, who underwent posterior spinal fusion for spinal deformity, were reviewed. Screws adjacent to great vessels and viscera were identified and evaluated. Patients with screws at risk (group B) were compared with patients without screws at risk (group A). Patient and curve characteristics were analyzed to determine whether a correlation with screw misplacement exists. RESULTS: A total of 40 at risk screws (∼2%) were identified in 25 patients (∼25%). These 40 screws were in proximity to the aorta (31), left subclavian artery (1), esophagus (3), trachea (3), pleura (1), and diaphragm (1). Of the 31 screws close to the aorta, 10 screws in 6 patients were impinging or distorting the aortic wall. One hundred percent of misplaced screws were in the thoracic spine, 50% were misplaced laterally, 50% were 35 mm long, 57.5% were in pedicles with normal morphology, and 75% were in curves between 40 and 70 degrees. Median screw misplacement rate was 10% in group A and 13% in group B. Adjusted for age and preoperative Cobb angle, patients with a higher misplacement rate were more likely to have screws adjacent to vital organs [adjusted odds ratio: 1.06 (95% confidence interval, 1.01-1.13), P=0.033]. CONCLUSIONS: Although only a small number of screws were at risk, they occurred in a large percentage of patients (25%). A single at-risk screw causes a significant complication for the patient. Postoperative imaging beyond routine x-rays may be needed to detect at-risk screws in asymptomatic patients.

Eventration of the diaphragm and associations.

Eventration of the diaphragm, most often an isolated entity and detected incidentally, has been known to be associated with several genetic syndromes. Authors report their experience of seeing diaphragmatic eventration in association with Poland syndrome and wandering spleen syndrome and briefly discuss the literature.

A syndrome of immunodeficiency, autoimmunity, and spondylometaphyseal dysplasia.

We treated a 5-year-old boy, in our hospital in south India, who had a history of recurrent respiratory infections, tuberculosis, and severe varicella infection. He was short in build and a radiological examination revealed evidence of spondylometaphyseal dysplasia. Investigation of the immune system was suggestive of compromised cellular immunity. Immunofluorescence and immunoblot assay for antibodies detected underlying multiple disorders such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), autoimmune thrombocytopenia, and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA). Roifman et al. described a similar syndrome in 2000 and 2003, which was characterized by spondylometaphyseal dyplasia, combined immunodeficiency, and autoimmunity and called it Roifman-Costa syndrome (OMIM 607944). Hence a diagnosis of Roifman-Costa syndrome was made. Ours shall be the first report of such a condition from the Indian subcontinent and hence the communication.

Yunis Varon syndrome.

In this communication is reported a neonate with Yunis Varon syndrome, a rare autosomal recessive disorder, born to a consanguineously married couple who had microcephaly, wide cranial sutures, prominent eyes, hypertelorism, dysplastic ears, sparse hairs, cupid bow like upper lip with median pseudocleft and labio-gingival retraction. Bilateral hypoplasia of thumbs, absent great toes, short phalanges were other features. Additional features in this case included median pseudocleft unreported earlier and C.T. findings of underdeveloped gyri, ischemic changes in temperoparietal region and bilateral lacunar infarcts in middle cerebral artery territory.

Branchio-oculo-facial syndrome.

Branchio-oculo-facial syndrome (BOFS) is a very rare autosomal dominant disorder with incomplete penetrance and variable expression; with phenotypic variation ranging from mild to severe forms, involving eye, ear, oral and craniofacial structure. We report three members of one family, showing great variability in its phenotypic expression and review the recent literature.

Langer-giedion syndrome with renal cyst.

Here it is reported a 4-year-old boy with Langer-Giedion syndrome (Trichorhino phalangeal syndrome-II), who had characteristic features of TRP II, associated with multiple renal cysts hitherto unreported. This could be a new association in this syndrome that may serve to support the concept of contiguous gene syndrome in patients with TRP II.

Larsen syndrome--lethal variety.

Larsen syndrome is a condition characterized by generalized defect in collagen formation. Autosomal dominant, autosomal recessive and even sporadic fresh mutations have been reported. Very few cases of lethal variety of Larsen syndrome have been reported in the world. The authors emphasize the importance of recognition of this condition which is often misdiagnosed.

Kabuki make-up syndrome.

Kabuki make-up syndrome is a rare disorder characterized by mental retardation, postnatal dwarfism and peculiar facies. This condition is believed to be common in Japan, but has been reported from other parts of the world. The authors report a case of this syndrome in an eight-year-old girl, with the characteristic findings from India.

Sirenomelia with radial dysplasia.

Sirenomelia is a rare anomaly usually associated with other multiple malformations. In this communication the authors report a case of sirenomelia associated with multiple malformations, which include radial hypoplasia also. Though several theories have been proposed regarding the etiology of multiple malformation syndromes in the past, the recent theory of primary developmental defect during blastogenesis holds good in this case.