What factors are associated with a better restoration of pelvic version after adult spinal deformity surgery?

INTRODUCTION: Poor restoration of pelvic version after adult spinal deformity (ASD) surgery is associated with an increased risk of mechanical complications and worse quality of life. We studied the factors linked to the improvement of postoperative pelvic version. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective analysis of a prospective multicenter ASD database. Selection criteria were: operated patients having preoperative severe pelvic retroversion as per GAP score (Relative Pelvic Version-RPV < - 15°); panlumbar fusions to the pelvis; 2-year follow-up. Group A comprised patients with any postoperative improvement of RPV score, and group B had no improvement. Groups were compared regarding baseline characteristics, surgical factors, and postoperative sagittal parameters. Parametric and non-parametric analyses were employed. RESULTS: 177 patients were studied, median age 67 years (61; 72.5), 83.6% female. Groups were homogeneous in baseline demographics, comorbidities, and preoperative sagittal parameters (p > 0.05). The difference in RPV improvement was 11.56º. Group A (137 patients) underwent a higher percentage of ALIF procedures (OR = 6.66; p = 0.049), and posterior osteotomies (OR = 4.96; p < 0.001) especially tricolumnar (OR = 2.31; p = 0.041). It also showed a lower percentage of TLIF procedures (OR = 0.45; p = 0.028), and posterior decompression (OR = 0.44; p = 0.024). Group A displayed better postoperative L4-S1 angle and relative lumbar lordosis (RLL), leading to improved sacral slope (and RPV), and global alignment (RSA). Group A patients had longer instrumentations (11.45 vs 10; p = 0.047) and hospitalization time (13 vs 11; p = 0.045). All postoperative sagittal parameters remained significantly better in group A through follow-up. However, differences between the groups narrowed over time. CONCLUSIONS: ALIF procedures and posterior column osteotomies improved pelvic version postoperatively, and associated better L4-S1 and lumbar lordosis restoration, indirectly improving all other sagittal parameters. However, these improvements seemed to fade during the 2-year follow-up.

Cardiac Cement Embolism After Thoracic Kyphoplasty: Successful Conservative Treatment With 4-Year Follow-Up.

BACKGROUND: The present case report describes a complication after a percutaneous spine surgery technique that is highly uncommon in clinical practice: a bone cement cardiac embolism. This rare complication emphasizes the importance of this case, which is also interesting considering the midterm follow-up. Documented cardiac embolisms published in the literature (which are scarce) describe the acute phase of these cases but lack follow-up. There are no systematic reviews on this topic, only case-by-case presentations, and surgeons are not aware of its real implications. CASE: We report a case of an 84-year-old man who developed sudden thoracic and spinal pain associated with 82% saturation and dyspnea a few hours after 4-level thoracic spine vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty. Imaging revealed multiple bone cement embolisms in his lung and heart. Because the patient was hemodynamically stable, cardiologists recommended conservative treatment with low molecular weight heparin, without embolus removal. At 4-year follow-up, the patient remained asymptomatic. CONCLUSION: Cardiac cement embolization following percutaneous techniques represents a life-threatening situation that should be ruled out if the patient presents symptoms during the early postoperative period. Treatment may vary from conservative to emergency open-heart surgery.

How to Select the Lower Instrumented Vertebra in Traditional Growing Rods Index Surgery.

BACKGROUND: There are still no consensus criteria on how to select the lower instrumented vertebra (LIV) for traditional growing rods (TGRs) at index surgery. The aim was to evaluate whether the criteria used for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis fusion adapts to early onset scoliosis (EOS). METHODS: Retrospective analysis of prospectively longitudinal collected data in a consecutive cohort of patients with EOS treated with TGR, expanding from index surgery to 2 years after graduation. The LIV was analyzed regarding its relation to the stable vertebra (SV), substantially touched vertebra (STV), and not STV (NSTV). Failure of LIV selection was considered when revision surgery with distal extension was needed during follow up, due to adding on (ΔLIV tilt > 10°). RESULTS: A total of 25 patients met inclusion criteria. Mean age was 8.6 ± 3 (at index surgery), 15.1 ± 1.8 (at graduation), and 17.8 ± 1.6 (at final follow up). The most frequent LIV at index surgery was L3 (13/25); in 13 cases, STV was selected as LIV; in 7, it was NSTV; and in 5, SV on the standard postero-anterior radiographs. During follow up, a significant increase in the mean LIV tilt (P = .049) and distal junctional angle (P = .017) was found. Nine of the 25 patients (36%) developed adding on: 20% (1/5) of those with LIV at SV, 38.5% (5/13) at STV, and 42.8% (3/7) at NSTV. Of those 9 cases of adding on, only four needed distal extension (mean LIV tilt = 17.6°): 2 STV patients (15.4%), and 2 NSTV patients (28.6%). None of the patients with the LIV chosen at SV needed distal extension due to adding on. CONCLUSIONS: The more cranial the selection of the LIV above the SV, the higher the risk of adding on and of revision surgery with distal extension during follow up. Saving motion segments could be justified by choosing STV as LIV because the need for distal extension is not high, and it can be scheduled during lengthening procedures or at graduation surgery. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Choosing the correct LIV in TGR index surgery is crucial to have a secure distal foundation, control and correct the deformity during growth, and save distal segments to allow growth and mobility.

Adult Congenital Spine Deformity: Clinical Features and Motivations for Surgical Treatment.

BACKGROUND: There is scarce information available about adult congenital spine deformity (ACSD) in the literature, especially its impact after the pediatric age. The aim was to define ACSD characteristics and to establish the drivers for surgical intervention. METHODS: Cross-sectional study of data collected in an adult deformity multicenter database. Only ACSD patients were included. Demographic and radiographic data, as well as patient-reported outcome measures, were assessed. Conservatively (C) vs surgically (S) treated patients were compared using Student t test, χ², and Mann-Whitney U test. RESULTS: Fifty-two patients were included. They were young adults (x = 37.7 years), mostly female (71%). Among them, 60% had single hemivertebrae (HV), 35% had multiple HV, and 5% had segmentation defects. Also, 75% had mainly coronal deformity (Cobb 62.5° ± 29.6) and 25% had sagittal deformity.Mean Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) was 29.6% ± 17 and mean Scoliosis Research Society 22-item survey (SRS-22) total score was 3.2 ± 0.8. Of note, mean SRS-22 self-image score was 2.8 ± 0.9 and 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) physical function score was 40.9 ± 11.Thirty patients were treated conservatively (C), whereas 22 patients underwent surgery (S). No differences were found regarding age, type or location of the deformity, comorbidities, or radiographic parameters. Operated patients had worse Core Outcome Measurement Index (COMI) back scores (C: 3.8 ± 2.4 vs S: 6.7 ± 2.4; P = 0.004); worse SRS-22 self-image (C: 3 ± 0.9 vs S: 2.5 ± 0.9; P = 0.047), and SRS-22 total scores (C: 3.4 ± 0.8 vs S: 2.9 ± 0.7; P = 0.01); worse SF-36 physical component summary (C: 43.3 ± 10.8 vs S: 36.7 ± 10.4; P = 0.048); and worse SF-36 physical role, function, and social function. CONCLUSION: Adult congenital deformity patients were mainly female young adults, with formation defects (HV), worried about their image and presenting some degree of functional impairment and pain. These symptoms were the essential drivers for surgery, rather than the radiographic deformity itself. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: One of the few studies describing the characteristics and clinical concerns of patients with congenital spinal deformities. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3.

Median Sacral Artery Rupture as a Complication of Posterior-Only Approach of L4 Total En Bloc Spondilectomy: A Case Report.

CASE: A 6-year-old patient with Ewing sarcoma at L4 who was treated with total en bloc spondilectomy (TES) through a posterior-only approach. During the dissection of the anterior L4 body, there was uncontrollable bleeding from an unknown origin, which needed packing, massive transfusion, and urgent laparotomy. A median sacral artery (MSA) rupture was identified as the cause of this massive bleeding. Eventually, the patient was successfully stabilized. CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge, this is the first reported intraoperative bleeding of the MSA related to a lumbar TES through posterior-only approach. This life-threatening complication should be considered when planning for this type of surgery.

Ideal sagittal profile restoration and ideal lumbar apex positioning play an important role in postoperative mechanical complications after a lumbar PSO.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data. OBJECTIVE: To determine the influence of postoperative ideal lordosis distribution and ideal sagittal harmony on mechanical complications in patients undergoing one-level lumbar pedicle subtraction osteotomy (L-PSO). Many variables have been associated with mechanical complications after L-PSO. However, the impact of restoring the ideal inflexion point, lumbar apex, and sagittal shape is still underexplored. METHODS: Analyzed risk factors were: age and patient-related variables, PSO level, interbody cages, rod material/diameter, number of rods, upper instrumented vertebra, lower instrumented vertebra, PI-LL mismatch, global tilt (GT), postoperative level of lumbar apex (LApex), postoperative level of inflexion point (InfxP), and postoperative type of Roussouly sagittal profile (R-type). These last variables were compared to ideal (based on pelvic incidence). Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify risks for mechanical complications with a minimum 2-year follow-up. RESULTS: A total of 87 patients were included. Mean follow-up was 4.5 ± 1.7 years. 40.2% of the patients suffered postoperative mechanical complications (7 PJK, 4 PJF, 18 pseudoarthrosis/rod breakage, 6 screw pullout). Mean time for complications was 584 ± 416 days from surgery. Univariate analysis showed that age (63 vs 57 years; P = 0.04), BMI (28.1 vs 25.9; P = 0.024), preoperative-GT (50.7° vs 38.7°; P < 0.001), postoperative-GT (28.9° vs 23.4°; P = 0.018), postoperative LApex location mismatched from ideal (77.8% vs 22.2%; P = 0.036), and postoperative R-type mismatched from ideal (67.6% vs 22.6%; P < 0.001) were significantly related to mechanical complications. The independent factors selected by multivariate analysis were: postoperative R-type mismatched from ideal OR 11.3 (95% CI 3.9-32.6; P < 0.001), age OR 1.05 (95% CI 1-1.1; P = 0.03), and LApex matching OR 0.5 (95% CI 0.27-0.97; P = 0.04). The further the LApex was from its ideal position, the higher the risk of mechanical complications (P = 0.036). CONCLUSIONS: Over other multiple suspected risk factors, proper lumbar apex position and ideal sagittal shape restoration played an important role in postoperative mechanical complications after L-PSO. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.

Tranexamic Acid in a Multimodal Blood Loss Prevention Protocol to Decrease Blood Loss in Revision Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Cohort Study.

PURPOSE: To clarify if blood loss and transfusion requirements can be decreased in revision knee surgery through a multimodal blood loss approach with tranexamic acid (TXA). PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective study was designed in 87 knees (79 patients) that received a knee revision between 2007 and 2013. To avoid heterogeneity in the surgical technique, only revisions with one single implant system were included. A treatment series of 44 knees that received TXA and other techniques in a multimodal blood loss protocol was compared to a control series of 43 knees that received neither TXA nor the rest of the multimodal blood loss protocol. No differences in the complexity of surgeries or case severity were detected. RESULTS: A significant decrease was observed from 58% transfusion rate in the control group to 5% in the treated group. The postoperative haemoglobin drop was also significantly different. Although the use of a blood loss prevention approach including TXA was the most relevant factor in the transfusion risk (OR=15), longer surgical time also associated an increased risk of transfusion (OR=1.15). CONCLUSION: This study supports the use of a two-dose intravenous TXA under a multimodal blood loss prevention approach in revision knee replacement with significant reduction in the transfusion rate, postoperative blood loss and haemoglobin drop.