OBJECTIVE:Underfunding of the surgical treatment of complex spinal deformities has been an important reason for the steadily growing waiting lists in publicly funded healthcare systems. The aim of this study is to characterize the management of the treatment of spinal deformities in the public healthcare system.METHODS:A cross-sectional study of 60 patients with complex pediatric spinal deformities waiting for treatment in December 2013 was performed. The evaluated parameters were place of origin, waiting time until first assessment at a specialized spine care center, waiting time for the surgical treatment, and need for implants not reimbursed by the healthcare system.RESULTS:Ninety-one percent of the patients lived in São Paulo State (33% from Ribeirão Preto - DRS XIII). Patients waited for 0.5 to 48.0 months for referral, and the waiting times for surgery ranged from 2 to 117 months. Forty-five percent of the patients required implants for the surgical procedure that were not available.CONCLUSION:The current management of patients with spinal deformities in the public healthcare system does not provide adequate treatment for these patients in our region. They experience long waiting periods for referral and prolonged waiting times to receive surgical treatment; additionally, many of the necessary procedures are not reimbursed by the public healthcare system.

Resumo Objetivo Medir e documentar o impacto clínico do tempo de espera para tratamento cirúrgico de pacientes com deformidades na coluna vertebral em um centro quaternário no Brasil. Métodos No total, 59 pacientes com deformidade espinhal à espera de cirurgia na lista do nosso hospital foram avaliados para observar o impacto dos tempos de espera na progressão da deformidade. A avaliação do paciente foi realizada utilizando o questionário SRS-22r para qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde (QLRS), e imagens radiográficas para avaliar a deformidade da coluna vertebral quando os pacientes foram incluídos na lista de espera e na consulta mais recente. Os parâmetros radiográficos selecionados para comparação foram: ângulo de Cobb de curvas primárias e secundárias, alinhamento coronal, translação de vértebra apical, obliquidade pélvica, eixo vertebral sagital, cifose (T5-T12), e lordose (L1-S1). Resultados Baixos escores de QLRS segundo o questionário SRS-22r foram observados em pacientes que aguardavam cirurgia. Os parâmetros radiográficos mostraram progressão da deformidade na avaliação inicial em comparação com a avaliação de seguimento mais recente. Conclusão Os pacientes que aguardavam tratamento cirúrgico de deformidade espinhal em nosso centro apresentaram os escores de QLRS relativamente baixos e progressão radiográfica da deformidade.

Defino, pelos ensinamentos pessoais e profissionais proporcionados, sendo sempre um exemplo a ser seguido. Ao Prof. Dr. Carlos Fernando P. S. Herrero, pela amizade, pelo apoio e pelos ensinamentos na área da cirurgia da coluna e da vida acadêmica. Ao Prof. Dr. Altacílio A. Nunes, pelos seus esclarecimentos que proporcionaram grande aprendizagem e despertaram interesse na área da medicina social. À pesquisadora Lilian Maria Pacola pela contribuição com seu conhecimento na área de pesquisa de qualidade de vida. À Prof. Dr. Cláudia Souza Passador e ao pesquisador José Marcelo de Castro pelo auxílio no planejamento e ensinamentos na área de economia. À Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo, pelo apoio financeiro que tornou possível a realização desta pesquisa. Aos amigos Anderson Luís do Nascimento e Herton R. T. da Costa pelo companheirismo e apoio durante toda esta jornada.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical and radiological outcome of minimally invasive surgical treatment of vertebral metastases using the technique of kyphoplasty. METHODS: This was a prospective observational study of patients with the diagnosis of spinal metastasis who underwent minimally invasive surgical treatment by filling the vertebral body with balloon kyphoplasty technique. Clinical evaluation included patient age at surgery, diagnosis of the tumor, biopsy results, data of the surgical procedure performed, visual pain scale (VAS) and complications related to surgery. Radiological evaluation involved the study of radiographic procedures in the anteroposterior and lateral incidences, with the analysis of vertebral body kyphosis and the occurrence of extravasation of cement. RESULTS: 22 patients with spinal metastases who were treated by balloon kyphoplasty, 8 (36%) males and 14 (64%) females were studied. The average age was 56.05 years and the mean follow-up was 8.5 months. The mean preoperative VAS was 8.73, 1.73 in the initial postoperative period, and 1.92 in the late postoperative period. CONCLUSION: Kyphoplasty proved to be a safe and effective technique for symptomatic treatment of vertebral metastases.

Objective: To evaluate the preliminary results of the surgical treatment through minimally invasive fixation technique in patients with thoracolumbar spinal fractures. Methods: Retrospective study of 17 patients with fractures of thoracolumbar vertebrae who underwent surgery with percutaneous fixation in the period of 2009 to 2011. The clinical evaluation of the results was performed using the SF-36 and Oswestry questionnaires. The radiographic parameters evaluated were: fracture classification according to Magerl's criteria, wedge angle of the fractured vertebrae and bisegmental Cobb angle. These measurements were made in the preoperative, immediate postoperative and 1 year after surgery. Other data such as associated injuries, neurological deficit, post-surgical infection, loosening and breakage of implants were also considered. Results: The data revealed average scores above 80% in all domains of the SF-36 questionnaire while in Oswestry Questionnaire, 79% of patients had minimal or absent physical limitations with a mean score of 12.4±11.89%.