The long-term results of surgical treatment of lumbar spinal stenosis were moderate with an improved outcome in 49.5% of cases in our study. The only independent factor to a favorable outcome was the low comorbidity.
Wiltse has described in 1968 an intermuscular lumbar approach with two vertical incisions made at 30 mm each on both sides of the midline. Since 1988, Wiltse recommends to practice a single median incision because of aesthetic arguments and because it avoids potential difficulties in case of iterative surgery. In this paper, the goal of authors was to determine the advantages of two lateral incisions, particularly in term of cutaneous vascularization. This cadaveric study concerned ten specimens. Colored latex was injected into the lumbar segmentary arteries before taking a cutaneous flap. We calculated the mean of the number of vessels injected and cut on the midline, then all the 10 mm on both sides. The goal was to establish a cutaneous cartography, and to determine a zone of less vascular sacrifice. The lumbar skin was vascularized by an arteriolar network which spreads out from the midline. At 30 mm from the midline, the number of cut vessels is statistically less than in the others areas (P < 0.05). At this distance, the small arteries are superficial, fine, and the subcutaneous tissue appears poorly vascularized. The two lateral incisions have the advantage compared to a single median incision of being short, and of allowing a direct access to the muscular plan of cleavage without subcutaneous detachment, with a less pressure retraction. We think that an incision at 30 mm from spinous processes is less noxious for the skin because it is located at the border of two vascular territories, which depend of a median network for one, and a lateral network for the other. These incisions generate technical difficulties, however, when the approach is prolonged with the top of L2/L3, when a lateral and/or central canalar decompression is considered, and finally, in the event of iterative surgery.
Pyogenic sacroiliitis is exceptional in very young children. Diagnosis is difficult because clinical examination is misleading. FABER test is rarely helpful in very young children. Inflammatory syndrome is frequent. Bone scintigraphy and MRI are very sensitive for the diagnosis. Joint fluid aspiration and blood cultures are useful to identify the pathogen. Appropriate antibiotic therapy provides rapid regression of symptoms and healing. We report the case of pyogenic sacroiliitis in a 13-month-old child.Clinical, biological, and imaging data of this case were reviewed and reported retrospectively.A 13-month-old girl consulted for decreased weight bearing without fever or trauma. Clinical examination was not helpful. There was an inflammatory syndrome. Bone scintigraphy found a sacroiliitis, confirmed on MRI. Aspiration of the sacroiliac joint was performed. Empiric intravenous biantibiotic therapy was started. Patient rapidly recovered full weight bearing. On the 5th day, clinical examination and biological analysis returned to normal. Intravenous antibiotic therapy was switched for oral. One month later, clinical examination and biological analysis were normal and antibiotic therapy was stopped.Hematogenous osteoarticular infections are common in children but pyogenic sacroiliitis is rare and mainly affects older children. Diagnosis can be difficult because clinical examination is poor. Moreover, limping and decreased weight bearing are very common reasons for consultation. This may delay the diagnosis or refer misdiagnosis. Bone scintigraphy is useful to locate a bone or joint disease responsible for limping. In this observation, bone scintigraphy located the infection at the sacroiliac joint. Given the young age, MRI was performed to confirm the diagnosis. Despite the very young age of the patient, symptoms rapidly disappeared with appropriate antibiotic therapy.We report the case of pyogenic sacroiliitis in a 13-month-old child. It reminds the risk of misdiagnosing pyogenic sacroiliitis in children because it is exceptional and clinical examination is rarely helpful. It also highlights the usefulness of bone scintigraphy and MRI in osteoarticular infections in children.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.