Minimally invasive surgical treatment options for osteoporotic vertebral fractures OF4. / Opciones de tratamiento quirúrgico mínimamente invasivo en las fracturas vertebrales osteoporóticas OF4.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: The incidence of osteoporotic vertebral fractures (OVF) is increasing. The importance of their diagnosis and treatment lies in their frequency and the morbidity they cause in patients. The classification proposed for OVFs by the German Society of Orthopaedics and Traumatology (DGOU) recommends surgical treatment for vertebral fractures classified as OF4. Most of these fractures will require anterior bracing as an adjunct to posterior fixation because of the significant loss of vertebral body structure. In elderly patients, minimally invasive surgery (MIS) allows their treatment given the lesser tissue aggression and systemic repercussions. We present the results of the treatment of OF4 vertebral fractures using minimally invasive techniques in the Spine Unit of our hospital. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective study of 21 patients with OF4 osteoporotic fractures in the thoracolumbar transition treated in our centre. Six patients who underwent open posterolateral fusion or isolated vertebroplasty were excluded. The series consists of 15 cases (13 females and 2 males), with a mean age of 72.2, studied by computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. Clinical and analytical data were collected to decide the most appropriate surgical technique. In six cases a retropleural/retroperitoneal MIS approach was performed for partial corpectomy with expandable vertebral substitute plus long posterior percutaneous fixation (technique 1). In the remaining nine cases long posterior percutaneous fixation + vertebroplasty of the fractured vertebra (technique 2). Radiological measurements were taken pre-surgically, post-surgically, at 6 weeks and 3 months, determining the fracture angle, kyphotic deformity, compression and wedging percentage and deformation angle. To assess functional outcome, patients completed the Oswentry Disability Index before surgery and at 3 months. RESULTS: There were no intraoperative complications of note. In the corpectomy group the mean hospital stay was 9.4 days, with a mean operative time of 250 min, a postoperative haemoglobin loss of 3.3 g/dL and two patients were transfused. In the percutaneous fixation and vertebroplasty group the mean was 5.55 days, surgery time 71 min and loss of 1.6 g/dL haemoglobin. There was one post-surgical haematoma requiring transfusion. None of the patients had to be reoperated during follow-up. Radiological measurements showed adequate correction with both techniques which was maintained over time with minimal loss. In functional outcomes assessed with the Oswentry, patients following technique 1 suffered greater worsening (15%) than those treated with technique 2 (10%). CONCLUSIONS: In OWF classified as OF4, percutaneous fixation associated with vertebroplasty could be an alternative to corpectomy in older patients with comorbidities, in whom functional recovery is more important than radiological correction. The use of MIS surgery together with improvements in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis may improve clinical outcomes in the treatment of this type of fracture.

Opciones de tratamiento quirúrgico mínimamente invasivo en las fracturas vertebrales osteoporóticas OF4 / Minimally invasive surgical treatment options for osteoporotic vertebral fractures OF4

Introducción y objetivo: La incidencia de las fracturas vertebrales osteoporóticas (FVO) está en aumento. La importancia de su diagnóstico y tratamiento radica en su frecuencia y morbilidad que producen en los pacientes. En la clasificación propuesta para las FVO por la Sociedad Alemana de Ortopedia y Traumatología (DGOU) recomienda el tratamiento quirúrgico en las fracturas vertebrales clasificadas como OF4. La mayoría de estas fracturas van a requerir un soporte anterior como complemento a la fijación posterior, por la importante pérdida de estructura del cuerpo vertebral. En pacientes de edad avanzada, la cirugía mínimamente invasiva (MIS) permite su tratamiento gracias a la menor agresión tisular y repercusión sistémica. Se presentan los resultados del tratamiento de fracturas vertebrales OF4 mediante técnicas mínimamente invasivas en la Unidad de Raquis de nuestro hospital.Material y métodos: Estudio retrospectivo de 21 pacientes con fractura osteoporótica OF4 en el tránsito toracolumbar tratados en nuestro centro. Han sido excluidos seis pacientes a los que se les realizó fusión posterolateral abierta o vertebroplastia aislada. La serie se compone de 15 casos (13 mujeres y dos varones), con edad media de 72,2 estudiados mediante tomografía computerizada y resonancia magnética. Se recogen datos clínicos y analíticos para decidir la técnica quirúrgica más adecuada. En seis casos se realizó abordaje retropleural/retroperitoneal MIS para corpectomía parcial con sustituto vertebral expansible más fijación percutánea posterior larga (técnica 1). En los nueve casos restantes fijación percutánea posterior larga + vertebroplastia de la vértebra fracturada (técnica 2). Se han realizado mediciones radiológicas prequirúrgicas, postquirúrgicas, a las seis semanas y tres meses, determinando el ángulo fracturario, deformidad cifótica, porcentaje de compresión y de acuñamiento y ángulo de deformación.(AU)

Introduction and objective: The incidence of osteoporotic vertebral fractures (OVF) is increasing. The importance of their diagnosis and treatment lies in their frequency and the morbidity they cause in patients. The classification proposed for OVFs by the German Society of Orthopaedics and Traumatology (DGOU) recommends surgical treatment for vertebral fractures classified as OF4. Most of these fractures will require anterior bracing as an adjunct to posterior fixation because of the significant loss of vertebral body structure. In elderly patients, minimally invasive surgery (MIS) allows their treatment given the lesser tissue aggression and systemic repercussions. We present the results of the treatment of OF4 vertebral fractures using minimally invasive techniques in the Spine Unit of our hospital. Material and methods: Retrospective study of 21 patients with OF4 osteoporotic fractures in the thoracolumbar transition treated in our centre. Six patients who underwent open posterolateral fusion or isolated vertebroplasty were excluded. The series consists of 15 cases (13 females and 2 males), with a mean age of 72.2, studied by computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. Clinical and analytical data were collected to decide the most appropriate surgical technique. In six cases a retropleural/retroperitoneal MIS approach was performed for partial corpectomy with expandable vertebral substitute plus long posterior percutaneous fixation (technique 1). In the remaining nine cases long posterior percutaneous fixation + vertebroplasty of the fractured vertebra (technique 2). Radiological measurements were taken pre-surgically, post-surgically, at 6 weeks and 3 months, determining the fracture angle, kyphotic deformity, compression and wedging percentage and deformation angle. To assess functional outcome, patients completed the Oswentry Disability Index before surgery and at 3 months.(AU)

Minimally invasive surgical treatment options for osteoporotic vertebral fractures OF4 / Opciones de tratamiento quirúrgico mínimamente invasivo en las fracturas vertebrales osteoporóticas OF4

Introduction and objective: The incidence of osteoporotic vertebral fractures (OVF) is increasing. The importance of their diagnosis and treatment lies in their frequency and the morbidity they cause in patients. The classification proposed for OVFs by the German Society of Orthopaedics and Traumatology (DGOU) recommends surgical treatment for vertebral fractures classified as OF4. Most of these fractures will require anterior bracing as an adjunct to posterior fixation because of the significant loss of vertebral body structure. In elderly patients, minimally invasive surgery (MIS) allows their treatment given the lesser tissue aggression and systemic repercussions. We present the results of the treatment of OF4 vertebral fractures using minimally invasive techniques in the Spine Unit of our hospital. Material and methods: Retrospective study of 21 patients with OF4 osteoporotic fractures in the thoracolumbar transition treated in our centre. Six patients who underwent open posterolateral fusion or isolated vertebroplasty were excluded. The series consists of 15 cases (13 females and 2 males), with a mean age of 72.2, studied by computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. Clinical and analytical data were collected to decide the most appropriate surgical technique. In six cases a retropleural/retroperitoneal MIS approach was performed for partial corpectomy with expandable vertebral substitute plus long posterior percutaneous fixation (technique 1). In the remaining nine cases long posterior percutaneous fixation + vertebroplasty of the fractured vertebra (technique 2). Radiological measurements were taken pre-surgically, post-surgically, at 6 weeks and 3 months, determining the fracture angle, kyphotic deformity, compression and wedging percentage and deformation angle. To assess functional outcome, patients completed the Oswentry Disability Index before surgery and at 3 months.(AU)

Introducción y objetivo: La incidencia de las fracturas vertebrales osteoporóticas (FVO) está en aumento. La importancia de su diagnóstico y tratamiento radica en su frecuencia y morbilidad que producen en los pacientes. En la clasificación propuesta para las FVO por la Sociedad Alemana de Ortopedia y Traumatología (DGOU) recomienda el tratamiento quirúrgico en las fracturas vertebrales clasificadas como OF4. La mayoría de estas fracturas van a requerir un soporte anterior como complemento a la fijación posterior, por la importante pérdida de estructura del cuerpo vertebral. En pacientes de edad avanzada, la cirugía mínimamente invasiva (MIS) permite su tratamiento gracias a la menor agresión tisular y repercusión sistémica. Se presentan los resultados del tratamiento de fracturas vertebrales OF4 mediante técnicas mínimamente invasivas en la Unidad de Raquis de nuestro hospital.Material y métodos: Estudio retrospectivo de 21 pacientes con fractura osteoporótica OF4 en el tránsito toracolumbar tratados en nuestro centro. Han sido excluidos seis pacientes a los que se les realizó fusión posterolateral abierta o vertebroplastia aislada. La serie se compone de 15 casos (13 mujeres y dos varones), con edad media de 72,2 estudiados mediante tomografía computerizada y resonancia magnética. Se recogen datos clínicos y analíticos para decidir la técnica quirúrgica más adecuada. En seis casos se realizó abordaje retropleural/retroperitoneal MIS para corpectomía parcial con sustituto vertebral expansible más fijación percutánea posterior larga (técnica 1). En los nueve casos restantes fijación percutánea posterior larga + vertebroplastia de la vértebra fracturada (técnica 2). Se han realizado mediciones radiológicas prequirúrgicas, postquirúrgicas, a las seis semanas y tres meses, determinando el ángulo fracturario, deformidad cifótica, porcentaje de compresión y de acuñamiento y ángulo de deformación.(AU)

Pelvic and lumbar metastasis detected by bone scintigraphy in malignant pleural mesothelioma.

A case of a 43-year-old man suffering from pleural mesothelioma with distant bone metastasis is reported. The results of bone scintigraphy and NMR findings allowed the diagnosis. The current case describes a hematogenous metastasis to the pelvis and vertebral column from a malignant pleural mesothelioma that was detected initially by bone scintigraphy.

Kuntscher nailing of femoral shaft fractures in children and adolescents.

We have reviewed 29 cases of very unstable diaphyseal fractures of the femur in children and adolescents treated by Kuntscher nailing. Follow up was for at least 5 years, and in most cases until after the end of growth. There were no postoperative complications, and the mean overgrowth of the femur was 7.06 mm. There was growth disturbance of the proximal femur in one case, but this did not interfere with function. We believe that Kuntscher nailing is indicated in children and adolescents with unstable high velocity fractures of the femoral shaft.