Anaesthetic considerations in posterior instrumentation of scoliosis due to spinal muscular atrophy: Case series of 56 operated patients.

BACKGROUND: Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a rare illness that often leads to severe kyphoscoliosis. This case series adds to the heretofore sparse information as regards the anaesthetic management of SMA scoliosis patients. METHODS: This retrospective study reviewed the charts of 79 SMA patients (type II n = 34 and type III n = 45) presenting for possible scoliosis surgery during the time period 2007-2019. Special attention focused on preoperative assessment and clearance requirements, anaesthesia protocol and postoperative handling. RESULTS: Out of 79 patients, 17 did not receive clearance for the procedure mostly due to grave respiratory insufficiency. Out of 62 patients with clearance for both surgery and anaesthesia, 56 patients [44 females, 12 males; age mean ± SD (range) 22 ± 7.3 (10-40) years] underwent the procedure. Their forced vital capacity and forced expiratory volume in 1 s were mean ± SD (range) 1.41 ± 0.53 (0.61-2.65) L and 1.26 ± 0.47 (0.52-2.27) L, respectively. Intubation difficulties and their resolution, e.g. with the help of fibreoptic technique and video laryngoscopy, are described. All 56 patients were extubated in the operating room postoperativley. Patients stayed at the postanaesthesia care unit for one (n = 48) or two (n = 8) nights. A considerable amount of the patients (19/56) developed hypokalaemia postoperatively. CONCLUSION: This analysis is one of the bigger series of its kind and adds insight into the preoperative clearance process, the anaesthetic protocol and some of the postoperative complications, e.g. the tendency for developing postoperative hypokalaemia which has not been reported previously.

Obese people benefit from lumbar spinal stenosis surgery as much as people of normal weight.

BACKGROUND: Lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) is a common degenerative condition of the spine that causes back pain radiating to the lower extremity. Surgical treatment is indicated to treat progressive radical symptoms. Obesity has been associated with inferior results in the domains of quality of life (QoL) following an LSS operation, but the research findings have been limited. This paper aims to identify whether obesity affects QoL due to back pain among patients who underwent an operation for LSS. METHODS: This study is based on a series of patients operated on for LSS between 2012 and 2018. Operated patients who returned for follow-up forms within the first or second years were included. A total of 359 patients were selected, 163 males (45%) and 196 females (55%). The mean age was 68.9 years. The EuroQol five-dimension scale (EQ-5D) questionnaire was chosen to measure QoL and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) for functional disability. RESULTS: QoL, as measured by EQ-5D, was preoperatively lower in those patients with a BMI ≥ 30. One year after the operation, all groups had a similar trend of improved QoL. At the second year, the results in all groups levelled off even though there was no statistical difference in clinical outcomes (p = 0.92). The ODI was preoperatively statistically higher in patients with a BMI ≥ 30 (p < 0.001). Two years after the surgery, all groups had improved ODI scores, but there was no statistical difference in ODI between the BMI groups (p = 0.54). CONCLUSION: Surgical intervention for debilitating or longstanding symptoms of LSS should be considered as a treatment option for suitable patients in spite of an elevated BMI.

[Update on Current Care Guideline: Low back pain]. / Alaselkäkipu.

Classification to severe diseases, sciatic symptoms or non-specific back pain is recommended. Radiography in acute or subacute non-specific back pain is not recommended in the primary health care. In specialized care magnetic resonance imaging is the main imaging modality. Importance of patient information is emphasized. In acute non-specific pain avoidance of bed rest, advice and paracetamol are recommended. Indications for an emergency referral should be considered. In disabling pain for 6 weeks, multidisciplinary measures are needed. Pain over 3 months indicates intensive multidisciplinary rehabilitation, and also surgery may be considered.

[Spinal claudication]. / Spinaaliklaudikaatio.

Spinal claudication refers to symptoms caused by nerve compression in the spinal canal brought on during strain. The symptoms are felt as lower limb pain, numbness or fatigue, but back pain that becomes worse under stress is also common. The symptoms are usually associated with the erect position and relieved when sitting or laying down. The underlying condition is most commonly narrowing of the spinal canal. While the diagnosis is often clear, MRI imaging is worth conducting if the symptoms are atypical or cause a clear-cut disability or functional limitation. Most patients are treated conservatively.

Effectiveness of microdiscectomy for lumbar disc herniation: a randomized controlled trial with 2 years of follow-up.

STUDY DESIGN: Prospective randomized controlled trial. OBJECTIVE: To assess effectiveness of microdiscectomy in lumbar disc herniation patients with 6 to 12 weeks of symptoms but no absolute indication for surgery. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: There is limited evidence in favor of discectomy for prolonged symptoms of lumbar disc herniation. However, only one randomized trial has directly compared discectomy with conservative treatment. METHODS: Fifty-six patients (age range, 20-50 years) with a lumbar disc herniation, clinical findings of nerve root compression, and radicular pain lasting 6 to 12 weeks were randomized to microdiscectomy or conservative management. Fifty patients (89%) were available at the 2-year follow-up. Leg pain intensity was the primary outcome measure. RESULTS: There were no clinically significant differences between the groups in leg or back pain intensity, subjective disability, or health-related quality of life over the 2-year follow-up, although discectomy seemed to be associated with a more rapid initial recovery. In a subgroup analysis, discectomy was superior to conservative treatment when the herniation was at L4-L5. CONCLUSIONS: Lumbar microdiscectomy offered only modest short-term benefits in patients with sciatica due to disc extrusion or sequester. Spinal level of the herniation may be an important factor modifying effectiveness of surgery, but this hypothesis needs verification.

Risk of multiple reoperations after lumbar discectomy: a population-based study.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective follow-up study of patients undergoing multiple (two or more) reoperations after initial lumbar discectomy using an administrative database. OBJECTIVES: To identify the population-based risk of multiple reoperations after lumbar discectomy and to analyze factors associated with the risk. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Although multiple reoperations after initial lumbar discectomy are likely uncommon, research to better understand reasons for and outcomes of reoperations is needed because of the large number of discectomies performed. METHODS: Data on all lumbar spine operations during 1987-1998 were obtained from the Finnish Hospital Discharge Register. The patient's initial disc operation during the study period was linked to subsequent operations, and patients with two or more reoperations were analyzed further. The risk of multiple reoperations was determined using the methods of event history analysis. RESULTS: Among 35,309 patients undergoing an initial discectomy, 4943 (14.0%) had at least one reoperation and 803 (2.3%) had two or more reoperations. A total of 63% of the second reoperations were discectomies, 14% were fusions, and the remaining 23% were decompressions. Patients with one reoperation after lumbar discectomy had a 25.1% cumulative risk of further spinal surgery in a 10-year follow-up. Reduced risk was seen when the first reoperation took place more than 1 year after the initial discectomy (relative risk 0.83, 95% confidence interval 0.72-0.96), in patients for whom the first reoperation had been a fusion (relative risk 0.27, 95% confidence interval 0.12-0.61), and in patients 50-64 years of age (relative risk 0.62, 95% confidence interval 0.48-0.79). CONCLUSION: Patients with one reoperation after lumbar discectomy are at considerable risk of further spinal surgery.