Treatment of unilateral cervical facet fractures without evidence of dislocation or subluxation: a narrative review and proposed treatment algorithm.

Isolated cervical spine facet fractures are often overlooked. The primary imaging modality for diagnosing these injuries is a computed tomography scan. Treatment of unilateral cervical facet fractures without evidence of dislocation or subluxation remains controversial. The available evidence regarding treatment options for these fractures is of low quality. Risk factors associated with the failure of nonoperative treatment are: comminution of the articular mass or facet joint, acute radiculopathy, high body mass index, listhesis exceeding 2 mm, fragmental diastasis, acute disc injury, and bilateral fractures or fractures that adversely affect 40% of the intact lateral mass height or have an absolute height of 1 cm.

Predicting early complications in patients with spinal gunshot wounds: A multicenter study.

Introduction: There is a wide variation in the clinical presentation of spinal gunshot wounds ranging from isolated minor stable fractures to extremely severe injuries with catastrophic neurological damage. Research question: we aim to analyze the risk factors for early complications and impact of surgical treatment in patients with spinal gunshot wounds. Material and methods: This is a multicentre retrospective case-control study to compare patients with spinal gunshot wounds who had early complications with those who did not. The following matching criteria were used: sex (1:1), injury level (1:1) and age (±5 years). Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed using logistic regression. Results: Results: Among 387 patients, 36.9 % registered early complications, being persistent pain (n = 32; 15 %), sepsis/septic shock (n = 28; 13 %), pneumonia (n = 27; 13 %) and neurogenic bladder (n = 27; 12 %) the most frequently reported. After case-control matched analysis, we obtained 133 patients who suffered early complications (cases) and 133 patients who did not as control group, not differing significantly in sex (p = 1000), age (p = 0,535) and injury level (p = 1000), while the 35 % of complications group required surgical treatment versus 15 % of the non-complication group (p < 0.001). On multivariable analysis, significant predictors of complications were surgical treatment for spinal injury (OR = 3.50, 95 % CI = 1.68-7.30), dirty wound (3.32, 1.50-7.34), GCS ≤8 (3.56, 1.17-10.79), hemodynamic instability (2.29, 1.07-4.88), and multiple bullets (1.97, 1.05-3.67). Discussion and conclusion: Spinal gunshot wounds are associated with a high risk of early complications, especially when spinal surgery is required, and among patients with dirty wound, low level of consciousness, hemodynamic instability, and multiple bullets.

The Use of Osteobiologics in Single versus Multi-Level Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion: A Systematic Review.

STUDY DESIGN: Systematic literature review. OBJECTIVES: In this study we assessed evidence for the use of osteobiologics in single vs multi-level anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) in patients with cervical spine degeneration. The primary objective was to compare fusion rates after single and multi-level surgery with different osteobiologics. Secondary objectives were to compare differences in patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) and complications. METHODS: After a global team of reviewers was selected, a systematic review using different repositories was performed, confirming to PRISMA and GRADE guidelines. In total 1206 articles were identified and after applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, 11 articles were eligible for analysis. Extracted data included fusion rates, definition of fusion, patient reported outcome measures, types of osteobiologics used, complications, adverse events and revisions. RESULTS: Fusion rates ranged from 87.7% to 100% for bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2) and 88.6% to 94.7% for demineralized bone matrix, while fusion rates reported for other osteobiologics were lower. All included studies showed PROMs improved significantly for each osteobiologic. However, no differences were reported when comparing osteobiologics, or when comparing single vs multi-level surgery specifically. CONCLUSION: The highest fusion rates after 2-level ACDF for cervical spine degeneration were reported when BMP-2 was used. However, PROMs did not differ between the different osteobiologics. Further blinded randomized trials should be performed to compare the use of BMP-2 in single vs multi-level ACDF specifically.

Minimally Invasive Surgery for Traumatic Thoracolumbar Fractures: A Cross-Sectional Study of Spine Surgeons.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the perceived feasibility of minimally invasive surgical treatment of thoracolumbar fractures among spine surgeons in Latin American centers. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study on minimally invasive surgical treatment for unstable thoracolumbar fractures. We conducted an online survey of spine surgeons working in Latin American centers, administered between December 16, 2022 and January 15, 2023. A nonprobabilistic sample was selected (snowball sampling). A questionnaire was sent by email and other messaging applications. RESULTS: Data were extracted from 134 surgeons. The majority of the respondents were from Brazil (n = 30, 22.4%), Mexico (n = 24, 17.9%), Argentina (n = 22, 16.4%), and Chile (n = 15, 11.2%). Their mean age was 46.53 years (standard deviation, 9.7; range 31-67) and almost all were males (n = 128, 95.5%). Most respondents were orthopedists (n = 85, 63.4%) or neurosurgeons (n = 49, 36.9%). Most of the respondents (n = 110, 82.1%) reported at least some difficulty using minimally invasive techniques for thoracolumbar fractures. It should be noted that there were significant regional differences between the surgeons' responses (P = 0.017). Chilean surgeons reported better results than others. CONCLUSION: Spinal surgeons from Latin American centers have identified challenges and obstacles to performing minimally invasive surgery for thoracolumbar trauma. The survey found that a majority of respondents experienced some level of difficulty, with regional variations. The most frequently reported difficulties were the high cost of the procedure, patient insurance restrictions, and long insurance approval times.

Propuesta para formular una estrategia de contingencia en Ortopedia y Traumatología frente a la pandemia de COVID-19 / Contingency plan development proposal for a Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology in the setting of the COVID-19 pandemic

Objetivo: Describir el proceso para la formulación e implementación de una estrategia de contingencia de un servicio público de Ortopedia y Traumatología frente a la pandemia de COVID-19. Materiales y Métodos: Estudio descriptivo del proceso para la formulación e implementación de una estrategia de contingencia de la pandemia de COVID-19 en un Servicio de Ortopedia y Traumatología del sistema público de salud de la Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, entre el 12 de marzo y el 20 de abril de 2020, período en el cual fue declarada la emergencia sanitaria y el alerta amarilla en nuestro medio frente a la posibilidad inminente de un potencial aumento exponencial de casos de COVID-19. A cargo de un Comité de Pandemia de Ortopedia y Traumatología, el proceso fue dividido en tres instancias: planificación, implementación y control. Resultados: Basados en la normativa nacional, 17 artículos internacionales, 13 guías de sociedades científicas y 17 artículos de recomendaciones de la Organización Mundial de la Salud y los Centros para el Control y la Prevención de Enfermedades de los Estados Unidos. Definimos 7 áreas de trabajo: 1) Sala de internación, 2) Quirófano, 3) Consultorios externos, 4) Servicio de Urgencias, 5) Insumos, 6) Cuidado del personal de salud, 7) Docencia e investigación. Conclusión: Nuestro trabajo aporta una propuesta para el proceso de desarrollo de una estrategia de contingencia frente a la pandemia de COVID-19. Organizarse, capacitarse y protegerse como equipo son sus pilares fundamentales. Nivel de Evidencia: IV

Objective: To describe the writing and implementing process of a contingency plan for a public healthcare Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology in the setting of the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and Methods: Descriptive study of the writing and implementing process of a COVID-19 contingency plan at a Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology of the Buenos Aires City Public Healthcare System, during the period between March 12 and April 20, 2020, when the public health emergency and yellow alert was declared in our environment amid the imminent possibility of a potentially exponential increase of COVID-19 cases. Under the Pandemic Committee of Orthopedics and Traumatology supervision, the process was divided into 3 instances: planning, implementation, and control. Results: Data source: federal regulations, 17 international articles, 13 scientific association guidelines, and 17 articles of recommendations from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United States Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Seven sectors were defined: 1) Hospitalization room; 2) Operating room; 3) Outpatient clinic; 4) Emergency Department; 5) Supplies; 6) Healthcare personnel control; 7) Education and research. Conclusion: We provide a writing and implementing process for the development of a contingency plan in the setting of the COVID-19 pandemic. Organizing, training and protecting yourselves as a team constitutes the plan fundamental pillars. Level of Evidence: IV

Fractura del gaucho: Mecanismo inusual de fracturas lumbares bajas de tipo estallido / "Gaucho´s fracture". An unusual mechanism of lumbar burst fractures in horse riders

Comunicamos dos casos de fracturas lumbares bajas de tipo estallido con compromiso de la cuarta vértebra lumbar (L4), en pacientes que desarrollan la actividad conocida como "jineteada gaucha", quienes sufrieron una caída de tipo "voleo", en la cual el caballo cae hacia atrás sobre su dorso aprisionando al jinete contra el suelo. Nivel de Evidencia: IV

We discuss two cases of lumbar burst fractures at the fourth lumbar spine vertebra (L4), in patients engaging in a type of horseriding activity known as jineteada gaucha, in which the horse falls on its back, holding the rider against the ground. Level of Evidence: IV

Lesión dural asociada a fracturas de charnela toracolumbar y lumbares con compromiso del muro posterior: Relación con las variables del sistema de clasificación AOSpine / Thecal sac injury secondary to burst fractures of the thoracolumbar and lumbar spine, and its association with the AOSpine Classification System variables

Introducción: Las lesiones del saco dural con atrapamiento de la cauda equina entre los fragmentos óseos pueden estar asociadas con fracturas toracolumbares. Objetivo: Realizar un análisis retrospectivo de las variables clínico-radiográficas y el sistema de clasificación AOSpine y la posibilidad de lesión dural asociada en una serie de fracturas toracolumbares por estallido, tratadas en nuestro Centro. Materiales y Métodos: Estudio retrospectivo, observacional de una serie de pacientes con fracturas toracolumbares con compromiso del muro posterior operados en nuestra institución, entre enero de 2012 y diciembre de 2017. Resultados: Se incluyeron 46 pacientes, 16 casos con lesión del saco dural asociada. Las variables porcentaje de ocupación del canal, distancia interpedicular, ángulo del fragmento retropulsado y déficit neurológico asociado mostraron diferencias estadísticamente significativas según la comparación en función de la presencia o ausencia de lesión dural (p = 0,046, p = 0,007, p = 0,046 y p = 0,004, respectivamente). Conclusiones: Según nuestros resultados, la lesión dural traumática podría ser contemplada en la planificación del tratamiento de fracturas toracolumbares ante fragmentos voluminosos del muro posterior con ángulo agudo, compromiso severo del canal raquídeo, distancia interpedicular elevada y daño neurológico asociado, tal como se propone en la bibliografía. Nivel de Evidencia: IV

Introduction: Fractures of the thoracolumbar spine can trigger thecal sac injuries due to the impingement of the cauda equina between bone fragments. Objective: To carry out a retrospective analysis of clinical and radiological variables, the AOSpine Classification System and the possibility of secondary thecal sac injury in a series of thoracolumbar burst fractures treated at our center. Materials and Methods: A retrospective, observational study of a series of patients with thoracolumbar fractures with compromise of the posterior vertebral body wall, who underwent surgery at our center between January 2012 and December 2017. Results: Forty-six patients were included, 16 of which had secondary thecal sac injury. The differences in the variables-percentage of spinal canal involvement, interpedicular distance, angle of the retropulsed fragment, neurological deficit and type C fractures-were statistically significant according to the comparison made with the presence or absence of thecal sac injury (p=0.046, p=0.007, p=0.046, p=0.004, p=0,001 respectively). Conclusions: This study suggests that traumatic thecal sac injury could be suspected when managing burst fractures with prominent fragments in the posterior vertebral body wall, acute angle of the retropulsed fragment, severe compression of the spinal canal, wide interpedicular distance, neurological deficit and fracture displacement (fracture type C according to the AOSpine Classification System). Level of Evidence: IV