Study design: This prospective study evaluates the effectiveness of transpedicular biopsy carried out under local anesthesia in obtaining diagnostic tissue from vertebral body lesions. Objective: To describe the technique of percutaneous transpedicular biopsy carried out under local anesthesia under C-arm fluoroscopy and to report the author 0 s experience. Setting: Spine hospital, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India. Methods: Seventy-one patients who underwent transpedicular biopsy from T6 to S1 vertebral body lesions were evaluated. Biopsy specimens were obtained by passing a self-designed 5-mm diameter biopsy instrument through the pedicle into the site of the disease using C-arm fluoroscopy. Specimens were sent for histological and bacteriologic analyses. Results: Biopsy was carried out for vertebral lesions of 51 men and 20 women. Sixteen of these lesions were seen in thoracic spine, 53 in lumbar and two in sacrum. The pathologic examinations revealed infections in 25, osteoporotic wedging in 21, metastasis in eight, plasmacytoma in three, multiple myeloma in four, non-Hodgkin 0 s lymphoma in one and round cell tumor in one patient. Diagnosis was established in 63 of 71 patients (88.7%). Remaining eight patients were reported as chronic nonspecific inflammation, and were followed up for more than 6 months. Conclusion: Percutaneous transpedicular vertebral biopsy under local anesthesia is an important tool in the evaluation of vertebral body lesions, especially in older population and can be performed with minimal morbidity and high diagnostic yield as an outpatient procedure.
PurposeSurgical treatment in the case of thoracolumbar burst fractures is very controversial. Posterior instrumentation is most frequently used, however, but the number of levels to be instrumented still remains a matter of debate.Materials and MethodsA total of 94 patients who had a single burst fracture between T11 and L2 were selected and were managed using posterior instrumentation with anterior fusion when necessary. They were divided into three groups as follows; Group I (n = 28) included patients who were operated by intermediate segment fixation, Group II (n = 32) included patients operated by long segment fixation, and Group III (n = 34) included those operated by intermediate segment fixation with a pair of additional screws in the fractured vertebra. The mean follow-up period was twenty one months. The outcomes were analyzed in terms of kyphosis angle (KA), regional kyphosis angle (RA), sagittal index (SI), anterior height compression rate, Frankel classification, and Oswestry Disability Index questionnaire.ResultsIn Groups II and III, the correction values of KA, RA, and SI were much better than in Group I. At the final follow up, the correction values of KA (6.3 and 12.1, respectively) and SI (6.2 and 12.0, respectively) were in Groups II and III found to be better in the latter.ConclusionThe intermediate segment fixation with an additional pair of screws at the fracture level vertebra gives results that are comparable or even better than long segment fixation and gives an advantage of preserving an extra mobile segment.
Sacropelvic is a complex junctional area owing to the complex regional anatomy and higher biomechanical stress. However extension of construct is indicated in cases with complex deformities, high grade spondylolisthesis, and complex fractures. The challenges remain which includes pseudoarthrosis and fixation failures. The fixation techniques have constantly evolved over time with better results with iliac screws and S2-alar-iliac screws. This article gives background on evolution, biomechanics, and recent update of use of robotics for sacropelvic fixation.
Study design: Phase-I/II, prospective, randomized, single-blind, controlled pilot study. Primary Objective: To determine the safety and feasibility of autologous bone marrow transplantation in patients with acute spinal cord injury (SCI) via two routes of transplantation as compared with controls. Setting: Indian Spinal Injuries Center, New Delhi. Methods: Twenty-one subjects with acute, American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale (AIS) A (complete), traumatic SCI with neurological level T1-T12, were recruited and randomized into three groups of seven subjects each. Two groups underwent cell transplantation through the intrathecal or intralesional route, whereas the third served as control. Participants were assessed at baseline and followed up at 6 months and 12-months post enrollment. Safety and tolerability were evaluated by monitoring for any adverse events. Efficacy was assessed through neurological, functional and psychological evaluation, as well as through electrophysiological studies and urodynamics. Results: Surgery was tolerated well by all participants. There were no significant adverse events attributable to the procedure. There was no significant improvement in the neurological, electrophysiological or urodynamic efficacy variables. A statistically significant improvement in functional scores as evaluated by the Spinal Cord Independence Measure and International Spinal Cord Injury Scale was observed in all groups. Conclusions: The procedure is safe and feasible in AIS A participants with thoracic-level injuries at 12-months follow-up. No efficacy could be demonstrated that could be attributed to the procedure.
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