Study Design: A prospective cohort. Objective: The objective of this study was to develop a scoring system for lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis (LDS) that would guide decision-making. Background: The management protocol for LDS has been under debate, with no guidelines. Most studies oversimplify LDS as a homogenous entity. Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis of 131 patients who underwent surgery for LDS between July 2007 and October 2011 with a minimum follow-up of 3 years was carried out on the basis of clinical, radiologic, and technical factors. A scoring system was conceptualized. Clinical: back pain score—2, age younger than 70 years—1, high-demand activity—1. Radiologic: segmental kyphosis—1.5, segmental dynamic translation—1, disk height >50% of adjacent level—1, facet effusion—1, sagittal facet-orientation—1. Technical: feasibility to decompress without causing instability—1.5. Its reliability was ascertained by a univariate analysis. The benchmark was set at 5.5 according to the Youden Index. This was followed by a prospective study for reliability analysis between November 2011 and January 2017 of 52 patients who underwent stand-alone decompression in LDS with a minimum follow-up of 24 months. Outcomes were evaluated using the Oswestry Disability Index and the Visual Analog Scale. Interobserver variability was determined. None of the patients in the retrospective or prospective group had undergone any lumbar surgery previously. Results: The mean Oswestry Disability Index and Visual Analog Scale of both the groups in the retrospective and the stand-alone decompression groups in prospective studies showed significant improvement. The interobserver reliability was high, with a κ value of 0.847. Conclusions: The proposed scoring system helps view LDS as a heterogenous condition and assists in tailoring treatment for individual patients. For a select subgroup of patients with LDS, minimally invasive decompression (unilateral laminotomy and bilateral decompression using a minimally invasive surgery tubular retractor system) without fusion is adequate. Level of Evidence: Level III.
Background Micro-tubular decompression in extreme lumbar spinal stenosis is challenging because it is technically difficult to achieve adequate decompression. Whether the results of micro-tubular decompression related to pain, function, and complications in lumbar spinal stenosis of the extreme and non-extreme varieties are different has not yet been conclusively established. Questions/purposes Are there differences between patients with extreme stenosis and non-extreme stenosis in terms of (1) VAS back or leg pain, (2) Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), or (3) complications when they were treated with spinal decompression using a tubular retractor system? Methods Between January 2007 and January 2017, one surgeon performed 325 single-level lumbar micro-tubular decompressions without fusion. Of those, 43% (140 of 325) had extreme stenosis (defined as the absence of cerebrospinal fluid signal and a grey homogeneous dural sac with unrecognizable rootlets and posterior epidural fat in T2 weighted axial MRI image) and the rest had non-extreme stenosis. During this time, we used tubular retractors for these procedures in patients with simple lumbar spinal stenosis who had persistent symptoms despite conservative treatment for neurogenic claudication. No alternate form of decompression was performed in the study period. Patients with complex lumbar spinal stenosis associated with a deformity or instability who were treated with instrumented fusion were excluded. A total of 14% (20 of 140) patients in the extreme stenosis group and 15% (28 of 185) patients in the non-extreme stenosis group were lost to follow-up before 2 years; the remaining 120 patients with extreme stenosis and 157 patients with non-extreme stenosis were analyzed at a mean follow-up of 33 ± 5 months in this retrospective, comparative study. The groups were not different at baseline in terms of preoperative VAS score for back pain, age, gender, BMI or the percentage who had diabetes or who smoked. However, patients with extreme stenosis had higher preoperative ODI scores and higher preoperative VAS score for leg pain compared with the non-extreme group. There was a higher proportion of men in the non-extreme stenosis group (56% [104 of 185] versus 50% [71 of 140]; p = 0.324). Study endpoints were VAS score for leg and back pain, ODI, and complications, all of which were ascertained by chart review. With the numbers available, we could detect with 80% power at p < 0.05 a difference of 0.93 cm of 10 cm on a 10-cm VAS scale for VAS leg pain; a difference of 1.00 cm of 10 cm on a 10-cm VAS scale for VAS back pain and a difference of 2.12 cm of 100 cm on a 100-cm ODI scale. Results In terms of pain, both groups improved after surgery, but there was no between-group difference in terms of the VAS scores at the most recent follow-up. VAS back pain improved from a mean of 3 ± 1 to 2 ± 1 in the extreme stenosis group and from 3 ± 1 to 1 ± 1 in the non-extreme stenosis group (p = 0.904); VAS leg pain improved from 7 ± 1 to 1 ± 1 versus 6 ± 1 to 1 ± 1, respectively (p = 0.537). ODI scores likewise improved in both groups, with no between-group difference in the ODI scores at latest follow-up (66 ± 7 to 19 ± 2 in the extreme stenosis group versus 59 ± 5 to 19 ± 2 in the non-extreme stenosis group (p = 0.237). Complications in the group with extreme stenosis occurred in six patients (incidental dural tears in two patients, urinary retention in three patients, and Syndrome of Inappropriate Anti Diuretic Hormone secretion (SIADH) in one patient); complications in the non-extreme stenosis occurred in two patients (incidental dural tears in two patients). Conclusions The results in terms of improvement in VAS for leg and back pain and ODI scores were not different between patients with extreme and non-extreme stenosis. Micro-tubular decompression can be thus considered an alternative for patients with extreme stenosis. Future studies, ideally multicentre, comparative trials, are needed to confirm our preliminary results. Level of Evidence Level III, therapeutic study.
Objective: Day-care surgery maximizes utilization of healthcare and aids in early return to work. Minimally invasive spine surgery (MISS) under local epidural anesthesia is a step in this direction. The combination of minimal surgical trauma and nominal sedation results in quick recovery and early discharge. To present our experience of performing lumbar tubular micro-discectomy under local epidural anaesthesia. Methods: A case report of 10patients operated for lumbar herniated discs under local epidural anaesthesia. The patients had radicular pain since a few months with MRI evidence of herniated nucleus pulposus and failure of 6 weeks of conservative trial before surgery. The outcomes were assessed with ODI, VAS and Mac-Nab criteria. Premedication with Dexmedetomidine, local infiltration of lignocaine and bupivacaine with bolus dose of fentanyl during root manipulation facilitated the execution of the procedure. Results: All patients obtained dramatic pain relief postoperatively. The procedure was well tolerated except for the slight discomfort during varying degrees of nerve-root retraction. Patients were made to walk and oral diet allowed after an hour and discharge was within 24 hours of the procedure. The VAS improved from 8.4 to 2.3 and ODI from 58.2 to 22.8. Follow-up was at 1, 6, 12 and 24 weeks. No complications such as dural tear, nerve root injury etc. were seen. Conclusion: Microtubular discectomy under local epidural anaesthesia is a feasible option in experienced hands. Apart from reducing the effects of general anaesthesia, it reduces the hospital stay and cost. It is an evolution of microtubular discectomy towards day care surgery.
The authors discuss the recent advances in the understanding and management of spondylolisthesis. The two most common kinds of spondylolisthesis -Degenerative and Spondylolytic types have been elaborated in this paper, with the understanding that similar management principles can be applied to the other lesser common varieties. The impetus has been on application of minimally invasive techniques in the treatment as well as renewed interest in stand-alone decompression in degenerative spondylolisthesis.
Objective: While the utility of 16 mm and 18 mm diameter tubular-retractors in the management of prolapsed intervertebral-disc is well-established, there is no published literature on the use of 14 mm tube. The aim of this study is to retrospectively analyze the feasibility and outcomes of discectomy performed through a 14 mm diameter tube in comparison with 16 mm and 18 mm diameter tubes. Methods: Groups A, B and C consisting of the first 40 operated patients with symptomatic lumbar disc herniation using 18 mm, 16 mm and 14 mm tubes respectively between July-2007 and April-2018 were evaluated for VAS (leg pain) and ODI and followed up at 1 week, 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months and 1-year intervals. Results: The mean age in Groups A, B and C was 45.3 years (16-78), 47.15 years (20-78) and 42.15 years (17-65) respectively. The mean VAS in Group A, B and C improved from 7.89, 8.15 and 8.2 to 2.53, 2.4 and 2.34 respectively. The ODI in Groups A, B and C improved from 58.5, 56.4, 54.4 to 28.5, 25.6 and 22.4 respectively. The operative time and blood loss in Groups A, B and C were 106.9± 44.9, 74±19.45 and 53.37±12.26 min and 54.75±21.11 mL, 47.5±11.03 mL and 43.75±6.86 mL respectively (p<0.0001). There were 8 complications in Group A, 4 in Group B and 2 in Group C. Conclusion: In experienced hands there was a favourable trend with regards to operative feasibility, surgical time, surgical outcomes and complication rates with decreasing diameters of the tubular-retractor.
To describe an innovative technique of direct anterior screw fixation in type II odontoid fracture with a congenitally fused C2-C3 vertebrae. Direct anterior screw fixation for type II odontoid fractures restores C1-C2 rotatory movement and allows early rehabilitation. Conventionally this technique involves entry of the screw through the C2-C3 intervertebral space. The challenge in the described case was the absence of a working C2-C3 interspace. This is one of the first few reports of the use of the direct anterior screw approach in congenitally fused C2-C3 situation. An 18-year-old male suffered a post-traumatic Type II displaced odontoid fracture without any neurological deficits. This patient also had a congenitally fused C2-C3 vertebra. Direct anterior screw fixation was performed using the C3-C4 interspace with a 55 ×3.5 mm partially-threaded-cannulated screw. The unusual long curvilinear trajectory owing to the fused C2-C3 vertebrae proved to be technically demanding. The patient tolerated the procedure well. Direct anterior screw fixation is a feasible option in type II odontoid fractures with congenitally fused C2-C3 vertebrae. The subtle modifications required for this procedure are use of a longer screw and entry point at the C3-C4 interspace.
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