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PURPOSE: Primary osseous neoplasms of the spine, including Ewing's sarcoma, osteosarcoma, chondrosarcoma, and chordoma, are rare tumors with significant morbidity and mortality. The present study aims to identify the prevalence and impact of racial disparities on management and outcomes of patients with these malignancies. METHODS: The 2000 to 2020 Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Registry, a cancer registry, was retrospectively reviewed to identify patients with Ewing's sarcoma, osteosarcoma, chondrosarcoma, or chordoma of the vertebral column or sacrum/pelvis. Study patients were divided into race-based cohorts: White, Black, Hispanic, and Other. Demographics, tumor characteristics, treatment variables, and mortality were assessed. RESULTS: 2,415 patients were identified, of which 69.8% were White, 5.8% Black, 16.1% Hispanic, and 8.4% classified as "Other". Tumor type varied significantly between cohorts, with osteosarcoma affecting a greater proportion of Black patients compared to the others (p < 0.001). A lower proportion of Black and Other race patients received surgery compared to White and Hispanic patients (p < 0.001). Utilization of chemotherapy was highest in the Hispanic cohort (p < 0.001), though use of radiotherapy was similar across cohorts (p = 0.123). Five-year survival (p < 0.001) and median survival were greatest in White patients (p < 0.001). Compared to non-Hispanic Whites, Hispanic (p < 0.001) and "Other" patients (p < 0.001) were associated with reduced survival. CONCLUSION: Race may be associated with tumor characteristics at diagnosis (including subtype, size, and site), treatment utilization, and mortality, with non-White patients having lower survival compared to White patients. Further studies are necessary to identify underlying causes of these disparities and solutions for eliminating them.
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Neoplasias Ósseas , Condrossarcoma , Cordoma , Osteossarcoma , Sarcoma de Ewing , Humanos , Sarcoma de Ewing/patologia , Sarcoma de Ewing/cirurgia , Cordoma/patologia , Estudos Retrospectivos , Programa de SEER , Osteossarcoma/terapia , Condrossarcoma/patologia , Coluna Vertebral/patologia , Neoplasias Ósseas/terapiaRESUMO
OBJECTIVE: Few large studies have investigated the factors and outcomes related to concomitant injuries occurring alongside mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) after motor vehicle collisions (MVCs). Thus, the objective of this study was to assess whether MVC characteristics predict which patients with mTBI will have concomitant whiplash injury, and whether concomitant whiplash injury affects care utilization for these patients. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included 22,213 patients with mTBI after MVC identified from the American College of Surgeons Trauma Quality Programs dataset. A hierarchical logistic regression model was constructed to investigate patient and MVC factors associated with concomitant whiplash injury. Propensity score matching on whiplash status, in conjunction with a multivariable logistic regression model, assessed if concomitant whiplash affected odds of hospitalization. In the subgroup of patients who were hospitalized, associations with hospital length of stay (LOS) and discharge disposition were investigated. RESULTS: The median (IQR) age was 34 (24-51) years, with a median Glasgow Coma Scale score at presentation of 15 (15-15). Patients with concomitant whiplash were older (median 36 years vs 34 years, p = 0.03) and had higher rates of hospitalization (75% vs 64%, p < 0.001). In the hierarchical model for associations with concomitant whiplash injury, patients with blood alcohol content (BAC) greater than the federal driving limit had lower odds of concomitant whiplash (OR 0.63, 95% CI 0.49-0.81) along with those who had airbag deployment (OR 0.80, 95% CI 0.68-0.95), but seatbelt use was associated with greater odds (OR 1.41, 95% CI 1.16-1.71). After matching, concomitant whiplash was independently associated with increased odds of hospitalization (OR 1.67, 95% CI 1.40-1.99) while seatbelt use was associated with decreased odds (OR 0.88, 95% CI 0.81-0.95). Among hospitalized patients, concomitant whiplash was not associated with hospital LOS or discharge disposition. CONCLUSIONS: MVC characteristics such as alcohol consumption and airbag deployment were protective toward development of concomitant whiplash for mTBI patients, while seatbelt use was associated with higher risk. Concomitant whiplash increases the odds of hospitalization for mTBI patients but does not affect hospital LOS or discharge disposition, while seatbelt use is associated with lower rates of hospitalization and a more favorable hospital course. These findings provide context to injury patterns and care provision after a common mechanism of injury.
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Acidentes de Trânsito , Hospitalização , Traumatismos em Chicotada , Humanos , Acidentes de Trânsito/estatística & dados numéricos , Masculino , Feminino , Adulto , Traumatismos em Chicotada/epidemiologia , Traumatismos em Chicotada/complicações , Hospitalização/estatística & dados numéricos , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Estudos Retrospectivos , Adulto Jovem , Concussão Encefálica/epidemiologia , Concussão Encefálica/complicações , Estudos de Coortes , Tempo de Internação/estatística & dados numéricos , Escala de Coma de GlasgowRESUMO
OBJECTIVES: Acute COVID-19 infection may be associated with electrocardiogram (EKG) abnormalities in pediatric patients. We have anecdotally observed EKG abnormalities in patients without MIS-C or significant cardiac disease requiring intervention or further follow-up. Our aim was to determine the incidence of abnormal EKG findings and correlate with evidence of significant cardiac pathology in pediatric patients who present to the emergency department during an acute COVID-19 infection. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective chart review of 209 pediatric patients diagnosed in the emergency department with acute COVID-19 infection and had an EKG during the same encounter; patients with MIS-C were excluded. Primary objectives included determination of the incidence of EKG abnormalities in patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with acute COVID-19 infection who did not require hospitalization. Secondary objectives included correlation of these findings with other concomitant testing of possible cardiac pathology (echocardiograms, biomarkers), and clinical outcomes. RESULTS: EKG abnormalities were identified in 84 (40%) patients. Echo was performed in 28 (13.4%) patients; only 1 was abnormal, and considered an incidental finding. The most common EKG abnormality involved nonspecific ST-T wave patterns, suggestive of but not diagnostic for underlying pericardial or myocardial disease. Serum troponin and BNP values were normal in all patients tested, either with a normal or abnormal EKG. A normal EKG had a 100% sensitivity and negative predictive value in predicting a normal echocardiogram. No patients were hospitalized and there was normalization of EKG abnormalities during short-term follow up. CONCLUSIONS: Despite a high incidence of abnormal EKG repolarization patterns in pediatric patients presenting with acute (non-MIS-C) COVID-19 infections, these patients generally do not have abnormal cardiac biomarkers or echocardiograms, and the risk for adverse cardiac events is low.
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COVID-19 , Humanos , Criança , Estudos Retrospectivos , COVID-19/diagnóstico , COVID-19/epidemiologia , COVID-19/complicações , Serviço Hospitalar de Emergência , Arritmias Cardíacas/etiologia , Eletrocardiografia , BiomarcadoresRESUMO
PURPOSE: The Hospital Frailty Risk Score (HFRS) is a frailty-identifying metric developed using ICD-10-CM codes. While other studies have examined frailty in adult spinal deformity (ASD), the HFRS has not been assessed in this population. The aim of this study was to utilize the HFRS to investigate the impact of frailty on outcomes in ASD patients undergoing posterior spinal fusion (PSF). METHODS: A retrospective study was performed using the 2016-2019 National Inpatient Sample database. Adults with ASD undergoing elective PSF were identified using ICD-10-CM codes. Patients were categorized into HFRS-based frailty cohorts: Low (HFRS < 5) and Intermediate-High (HFRS ≥ 5). Patient demographics, comorbidities, intraoperative variables, and outcomes were assessed. Multivariate regression analyses were used to determine whether HFRS independently predicted extended length of stay (LOS), non-routine discharge, and increased cost. RESULTS: Of the 7500 patients identified, 4000 (53.3%) were in the Low HFRS cohort and 3500 (46.7%) were in the Intermediate-High HFRS cohort. On average, age increased progressively with increasing HFRS scores (p < 0.001). The frail cohort experienced more postoperative adverse events (p < 0.001), greater LOS (p < 0.001), accrued greater admission costs (p < 0.001), and had a higher rate of non-routine discharge (p < 0.001). On multivariate analysis, Intermediate-High HFRS was independently associated with extended LOS (OR: 2.58, p < 0.001) and non-routine discharge (OR: 1.63, p < 0.001), though not increased admission cost (OR: 1.01, p = 0.929). CONCLUSION: Our study identified HFRS to be significantly associated with prolonged hospitalizations and non-routine discharge. Other factors that were found to be associated with increased healthcare resource utilization include age, Hispanic race, West hospital region, large hospital size, and increasing number of AEs.
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BACKGROUND: Incidental intradural tumors of the spine in the pediatric population are rare lesions whose management remains unclear. Surgeons must balance the risks of iatrogenic deficits and complications after surgical resection against the risks from progressive growth of the tumor. Moreover, the natural history of an incidental finding can be difficult to predict. Here, we review the literature on incidental intradural tumors of the spine and present considerations for their management. SUMMARY: Growth of the tumor or changes in radiographic features are usually indications for resection. Asymptomatic lesions can be found in patients with genetic syndromes that predispose to tumor formation, such as neurofibromatosis type 1 and 2, schwannomatosis, and Von-Hippel-Lindau syndrome, and careful workup of a genetic cause is warranted in any patient presenting with multiple tumors and/or cutaneous features. Close follow-up is generally favored given the heavy tumor burden; however, some recommend pre-emptive resection to prevent permanent neurological deficits. Incidental intradural tumors can also occur in association with hydrocephalus, significant syringomyelia, and cord compression, and surgical treatment is usually warranted. Tumors may also be discovered as part of the workup for scoliosis, where they are not truly incidental to the scoliosis but rather are contributing to curve deformation. KEY MESSAGES: Thorough workup of patients for associated genetic syndromes or comorbidities should be undertaken in pediatric patients with incidental intradural tumors. Further research is needed into the natural history of these incidental lesions. Incidental tumors can often be managed conservatively with close follow-up, with surgical intervention warranted for expanding tumors or new-onset symptoms.
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Neurilemoma , Neurofibromatoses , Escoliose , Neoplasias da Medula Espinal , Humanos , Criança , Neoplasias da Medula Espinal/diagnóstico por imagem , Neoplasias da Medula Espinal/cirurgia , Neoplasias da Medula Espinal/complicações , Escoliose/complicações , Coluna Vertebral/patologia , Neurilemoma/complicações , Neurofibromatoses/complicaçõesRESUMO
PURPOSE: Surgical resection is considered standard of care for primary intramedullary astrocytomas, but the infiltrative nature of these lesions often precludes complete resection without causing new post-operative neurologic deficits. Radiotherapy and chemotherapy serve as potential adjuvants, but high-quality data evaluating their efficacy are limited. Here we analyze the experience at a single comprehensive cancer center to identify independent predictors of postoperative overall and progression-free survival. METHODS: Data was collected on patient demographics, tumor characteristics, pre-operative presentation, resection extent, long-term survival, and tumor progression/recurrence. Kaplan-Meier curves modeled overall and progression-free survival. Univariable and multivariable accelerated failure time regressions were used to compute time ratios (TR) to determine predictors of survival. RESULTS: 94 patients were included, of which 58 (62%) were alive at last follow-up. On multivariable analysis, older age (TR = 0.98; p = 0.03), higher tumor grade (TR = 0.12; p < 0.01), preoperative back pain (TR = 0.45; p < 0.01), biopsy [vs GTR] (TR = 0.18; p = 0.02), and chemotherapy (TR = 0.34; p = 0.02) were significantly associated with poorer survival. Higher tumor grade (TR = 0.34; p = 0.02) and preoperative bowel dysfunction (TR = 0.31; p = 0.02) were significant predictors of shorter time to detection of tumor growth. CONCLUSION: Tumor grade and chemotherapy were associated with poorer survival and progression-free survival. Chemotherapy regimens were highly heterogeneous, and randomized trials are needed to determine if any optimal regimens exist. Additionally, GTR was associated with improved survival, and patients should be counseled about the benefits and risks of resection extent.
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Astrocitoma , Neoplasias da Medula Espinal , Astrocitoma/patologia , Humanos , Procedimentos Neurocirúrgicos , Intervalo Livre de Progressão , Estudos Retrospectivos , Neoplasias da Medula Espinal/patologia , Resultado do TratamentoRESUMO
Significant advancements in the treatment of spinal cord injury (SCI) were developed in the setting of military conflicts, partly due to the large numbers of injuries sustained by service members. No effective SCI treatment options existed into the early 20th century, and soldiers who sustained these injuries were usually considered untreatable. Extensive progress was made in SCI treatment during and after World War II, as physical therapy was increasingly encouraged for patients with SCI, multidisciplinary teams oversaw care, pathophysiology was better understood, and strategies were devised to prevent wound infection and pressure sores. Recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan have caused a substantial rise in the proportion of SCIs among causes of casualties and wounds, largely due to new forms of war and weapons, such as improvised explosive devices. Modern military SCIs resulting from blast mechanisms are substantively different from traumatic SCIs sustained by civilians. The treatment paradigms developed over the past 100 years have increased survival rates and outcomes of soldiers with SCI. In this paper, the authors review the role of military conflicts in the development of therapeutic interventions for SCI and discuss how these interventions have improved outcomes for soldiers and civilians alike.
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Medicina Militar , Militares , Traumatismos da Medula Espinal , Traumatismos da Coluna Vertebral , Afeganistão , Humanos , Traumatismos da Medula Espinal/etiologia , Traumatismos da Medula Espinal/terapia , Taxa de SobrevidaRESUMO
OBJECTIVE: Damage to the thoracolumbar spine can confer significant morbidity and mortality. The Thoracolumbar Injury Classification and Severity Score (TLICS) is used to categorize injuries and determine patients at risk of spinal instability for whom surgical intervention is warranted. However, calculating this score can constitute a bottleneck in triaging and treating patients, as it relies on multiple imaging studies and a neurological examination. Therefore, the authors sought to develop and validate a deep learning model that can automatically categorize vertebral morphology and determine posterior ligamentous complex (PLC) integrity, two critical features of TLICS, using only CT scans. METHODS: All patients who underwent neurosurgical consultation for traumatic spine injury or degenerative pathology resulting in spine injury at a single tertiary center from January 2018 to December 2019 were retrospectively evaluated for inclusion. The morphology of injury and integrity of the PLC were categorized on CT scans. A state-of-the-art object detection region-based convolutional neural network (R-CNN), Faster R-CNN, was leveraged to predict both vertebral locations and the corresponding TLICS. The network was trained with patient CT scans, manually labeled vertebral bounding boxes, TLICS morphology, and PLC annotations, thus allowing the model to output the location of vertebrae, categorize their morphology, and determine the status of PLC integrity. RESULTS: A total of 111 patients were included (mean ± SD age 62 ± 20 years) with a total of 129 separate injury classifications. Vertebral localization and PLC integrity classification achieved Dice scores of 0.92 and 0.88, respectively. Binary classification between noninjured and injured morphological scores demonstrated 95.1% accuracy. TLICS morphology accuracy, the true positive rate, and positive injury mismatch classification rate were 86.3%, 76.2%, and 22.7%, respectively. Classification accuracy between no injury and suspected PLC injury was 86.8%, while true positive, false negative, and false positive rates were 90.0%, 10.0%, and 21.8%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, the authors demonstrate a novel deep learning method to automatically predict injury morphology and PLC disruption with high accuracy. This model may streamline and improve diagnostic decision support for patients with thoracolumbar spinal trauma.
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Aprendizado Profundo , Adulto , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Algoritmos , Humanos , Vértebras Lombares/diagnóstico por imagem , Vértebras Lombares/lesões , Vértebras Lombares/cirurgia , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Estudos Retrospectivos , Vértebras Torácicas/diagnóstico por imagem , Vértebras Torácicas/lesões , Vértebras Torácicas/cirurgia , Tomografia Computadorizada por Raios XRESUMO
The blood-brain barrier (BBB) constitutes a microvascular network responsible for excluding most drugs from the brain. Treatment of brain tumors is limited by the impermeability of the BBB and, consequently, survival outcomes for malignant brain tumors remain poor. Nanoparticles (NPs) represent a potential solution to improve drug transport to brain tumors, given their small size and capacity to target tumor cells. Here, we review the unique physical and chemical properties of NPs that aid in BBB transport and discuss mechanisms of NP transport across the BBB, including paracellular transport, carrier-mediated transport, and adsorptive- and receptor-mediated transcytosis. The major types of NPs investigated for treatment of brain tumors are detailed, including polymeric NPs, liposomes, solid lipid NPs, dendrimers, metals, quantum dots, and nanogels. In addition to their role in drug delivery, NPs can be used as imaging contrast agents and can be conjugated with imaging probes to assist in visualizing tumors, demarcating lesion boundaries and margins, and monitoring drug delivery and treatment response. Multifunctional NPs can be designed that are capable of targeting tumors for both imaging and therapeutic purposes. Finally, limitations of NPs for brain tumor treatment are discussed.
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Neoplasias Encefálicas , Nanopartículas , Barreira Hematoencefálica , Encéfalo , Neoplasias Encefálicas/tratamento farmacológico , Sistemas de Liberação de Medicamentos , Humanos , Nanopartículas/química , TecnologiaRESUMO
Despite extensive research, nonunion continues to affect a nontrivial proportion of patients undergoing spinal fusion. Recently, preclinical studies have suggested that low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) may increase rates of spinal fusion. In this study, we summarized the available in vivo literature evaluating the effect of LIPUS on spinal fusion and performed a meta-analysis of the available data to estimate the degree to which LIPUS may mediate higher fusion rates. Across 13 preclinical studies, LIPUS was associated with a 9-fold increase in the odds of successful spinal fusion. Future studies are necessary to establish the benefit of LIPUS on spinal fusion in clinical populations.
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Fusão Vertebral , Terapia por Ultrassom , Terapia Combinada , Humanos , Ondas UltrassônicasRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Noninferiority trials are becoming more common. Their design often requires investigators to "trade" a secondary benefit for efficacy. Use of mortality as an outcome of interest leads to important ethical conflicts whereby researchers must establish a minimal clinically important difference for mortality, a process which has the potential to result in problematic conclusions. OBJECTIVE: We sought to investigate the frequency of the use of mortality as an outcome in noninferiority trials, as well as to determine the average pre-specified noninferiority ("delta") values. DESIGN: We searched MEDLINE for reports of parallel-group randomized controlled noninferiority trials published in five high-impact general medical journals. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Data abstracted from articles including trial design parameters, results, and interpretation of results based on CONSORT recommendations. RESULTS: One hundred seventy-three manuscripts reporting 196 noninferiority comparisons were included in our analysis. Of these, over a third (67 trials) used mortality either as their sole endpoint (11 trials) or as part of a composite endpoint (56 trials). Nine trials were consort A, 21 trials consort B, 19 trials consort C, 12 were consort F, 4 consort G, and 2 were consort H. Four analyses showed statistically significant more deaths in the new treatment arm, while meeting consort criteria as "inconclusive" (consort G), (Behringer et al. in Lancet. 385(9976):1418-1427, 2015; Kaul et al. in N Engl J Med. 373(18):1709-1719, 2015; Bwakura-Dangarembizi et al. in N Engl J Med. 370(1):41-53, 2014) and thirteen trials utilizing mortality as an endpoint and had an absolute increase of > 3%, and six had an absolute increase of > 5%. CONCLUSIONS: The use of mortality as an outcome in noninferiority trials is not rare and scenarios where the new treatment is statistically worse, but a conclusion of noninferiority or inconclusive do occur. We highlight these issues and propose simple steps to reduce the risk of ethically dubious conclusions.
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Determinação de Ponto Final/mortalidade , Estudos de Equivalência como Asunto , Ética em Pesquisa , HumanosRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Noninferiority trials are increasingly common, though they have less standardized designs and their interpretation is less familiar to clinicians than superiority trials. OBJECTIVE: To empirically evaluate a cohort of noninferiority trials to determine 1) their interpretation as recommended by CONSORT, 2) choice of alpha threshold and its sidedness, and 3) differences between methods of analysis such as intention-to-treat and per-protocol. DESIGN: We searched MEDLINE for parallel-group randomized controlled noninferiority trials published in the five highest-impact general medical journals between 2011 and 2016. MAIN MEASURES: Data abstracted included trial design parameters, results, and interpretation of results based on CONSORT recommendations. KEY RESULTS: One hundred sixty-three trials and 182 noninferiority comparisons were included in our analysis. Based on CONSORT-recommended interpretation, 79% of experimental therapies met criteria for noninferiority, 13% met criteria for superiority, 20% were declared inconclusive, and 2% met criteria for inferiority. However, for 12% of trials, the experimental therapy was statistically significantly worse than the active control, but CONSORT recommended an interpretation of inconclusive or noninferior. A two-sided alpha equivalent of greater than 0.05 was used in 34% of the trials, and in five of these trials, the use of a standard two-sided alpha of 0.05 led to changes in the interpretation of results that disfavored the experimental therapy. In four of the five comparisons where different methods of analysis (e.g., intention-to-treat and per-protocol) yielded different results, the intention-to-treat analysis was the more conservative. In 11% of trials, a secondary advantage of the new therapy was neither reported nor could it be inferred by reviewers. CONCLUSIONS: In this cohort, the design and interpretation of noninferiority trials led to significant and systematic bias in favor of the experimental therapy. Clinicians should exercise caution when interpreting these trials. Future trials may be more reliable if design parameters are standardized.
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Pesquisa Empírica , Estudos de Equivalência como Asunto , Ensaios Clínicos Controlados Aleatórios como Assunto/métodos , Projetos de Pesquisa , Humanos , Ensaios Clínicos Controlados Aleatórios como Assunto/normas , Projetos de Pesquisa/normasRESUMO
The mainstay of treatment for spinal cord injury includes decompressive laminectomy and elevation of mean arterial pressure. However, outcomes often remain poor. Extensive research and ongoing clinical trials seek to design new treatment options for spinal cord injury, including stem cell therapy, scaffolds, brain-spine interfaces, exoskeletons, epidural electrical stimulation, ultrasound, and cerebrospinal fluid drainage. Some of these treatments are targeted at the initial acute window of injury, during which secondary damage occurs; others are designed to help patients living with chronic injuries.
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Traumatismos da Medula Espinal , Humanos , Traumatismos da Medula Espinal/terapia , Coluna Vertebral , Descompressão Cirúrgica , Medula Espinal/cirurgiaRESUMO
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Cervical/lumbar total disk replacements (TDRs) are often performed for degenerative conditions but rarely in athletes. Therefore, we sought to conduct a systematic review of athletes undergoing TDRs of both the scientific literature and lay press, with an emphasis on contact sport athletes. METHODS: In accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines, PubMed/Embase/Cochrane/Scopus/Web of Science databases were queried for all primary literature reporting TDRs in athletes, including both cervical/lumbar disk replacements (CDRs/LDRs). Sports were dichotomized into contact vs limited/noncontact. Because of the public nature of injuries in elite athletes, the lay press was also queried. RESULTS: A total of 488 scientific studies were screened, of which 10 met inclusion criteria. Cervical: seven studies reported CDRs in 53 athletes, of which 7 were professional, 22 semiprofessional, and 24 recreational. Of the seven professional athletes, there was one contact sport athlete (kickboxer). All 7/7 professional and 21/22 semiprofessional athletes successfully returned-to-play at 8-52 weeks without complication. Lumbar: Three studies discussed LDRs in 51 athletes, of which 17 were professional, 6 semiprofessional, and 28 recreational. Of the 17 professional athletes, eight played contact sports (2 boxing, 2 alpine skiing, 2 soccer, judo, rugby). All 17 professional and 6 semiprofessional athletes successfully returned to play at 9-21 weeks. Lay Press: five professional contact sport athletes underwent CDRs, and all returned to play: 3 hockey, 1 mixed-martial arts, and 1 Australian-rules football. CONCLUSION: The scientific literature and lay press revealed 14 professional contact sport athletes who underwent TDR-6 CDRs and 8 LDRs-all with successful return to play. From the little data that exist, it seems that TDR may be safe in elite athletes; however, the small number of patients highlights the major paucity of data on the safety of TDR in elite contact sport athletes.
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Volta ao Esporte , Futebol , Humanos , Austrália , AtletasRESUMO
OBJECTIVE: The differential diagnosis for postoperative back pain is broad, and conventional imaging modalities are not always conclusive. Therefore, we performed a systematic review of the literature and present case studies describing the use of single-photon emission CT (SPECT)/CT or positron emission tomography (PET)/CT in the diagnosis of back pain following spine surgery. METHODS: A systematic review was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines across 5 databases. Relevant keywords included PET/CT, bone SPECT/CT, and pseudarthrosis. The studies were assessed for diagnostic accuracy of the imaging technologies. RESULTS: A total of 2,444 studies were screened, 91 were selected for full-text review, and 21 were ultimately included. Six retrospective studies investigated the use of SPECT/CT with a total sample size of 309 patients. Two of these studies used SPECT/CT to predict screw loosening in over 50% of patients. Eight studies examined the use of 18-fluoride sodium fluoride (18F-NaF) PET/CT. Among these studies, measures of diagnostic accuracy varied but overall demonstrated the ability of 18F-NaF PET/CT to detect screw loosening and pseudarthrosis. Seven studies examined 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET/CT and supported its utility in the diagnosis of postoperative infections in the spine. CONCLUSIONS: PET/CT and SPECT/CT are useful in the evaluation of postoperative pain of the spine, especially in patients for whom conventional imaging modalities yield inconclusive results. More diagnostic accuracy studies with strong reference standards are needed to compare hybrid imaging to conventional imaging.
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Tomografia por Emissão de Pósitrons combinada à Tomografia Computadorizada , Pseudoartrose , Humanos , Tomografia por Emissão de Pósitrons combinada à Tomografia Computadorizada/métodos , Estudos Retrospectivos , Tomografia por Emissão de Pósitrons/métodos , Dor Pós-Operatória/diagnóstico por imagem , Tomografia Computadorizada de Emissão de Fóton Único/métodos , Dor nas Costas , Fluordesoxiglucose F18 , Sensibilidade e EspecificidadeRESUMO
OBJECTIVE: Intramedullary spinal cord lipomas without spinal dysraphism are rare. Although they are benign tumors, they can cause significant neurological deficits. Their tight adherence to the spinal cord presents a challenge for resection. Therefore, we review our institutional experience treating adult patients with intramedullary lipomas in the absence of dysraphism and report long-term outcomes after resection. METHODS: All adult patients undergoing resection of intramedullary spinal cord lipomas at a comprehensive cancer center between June 2011 and June 2023 were retrospectively identified. Patients with spinal dysraphism or extramedullary lipomas were excluded. Patients were included if they had microscopic surgical debulking with tissue sampling confirming the diagnosis. RESULTS: Six patients were identified with a mean age of 35.0±11.5 years and 67% were female. Four cases localized to the thoracic spine. Symptoms included pain, numbness, and lower extremity motor weakness; only one patient reported bowel and bladder dysfunction. All patients experienced transient neurological decline in the immediate post-operative period. Five recovered to independent ambulation at long-term follow-up, including one recovering to full strength. One patient required a repeat resection after four years due to tumor progression and functional decline. Tumor progression was not recorded in the other patients. CONCLUSIONS: Subtotal resection is a safe and effective treatment. Detethering of the spinal cord, resection of exophytic components, and tumor debulking can improve symptoms and prevent further deterioration in most cases. The resection can be assisted using a laser to vaporize the fatty tissue of the lipoma without physical manipulation of the spinal cord.
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OBJECTIVE: Pedicle screw placement guidance is critical in spinal fusions, and spinal surgery robots aim to improve accuracy and reduce complications. Current literature has yet to compare the relative merits of available robotic systems. In this review, the authors aimed to 1) assess the current state of spinal robotics literature; 2) conduct a meta-analysis of robotic performance based on accuracy, speed, and safety; and 3) offer recommendations for robotic system selection. METHODS: Following PRISMA guidelines, the authors conducted a systematic literature review across PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Scopus as of April 28, 2022, for studies on approved robots for placing lumbar pedicle screws. Three reviewers screened and extracted data relating to the study characteristics, accuracy rate, intraoperative revisions, and reoperations. Secondary performance metrics included operative time, blood loss, and radiation exposure. The authors statistically compared the performance of the robots using a random-effects model to account for variation within and between the studies. Each robot was also compared with performance benchmarks of traditional techniques including freehand, fluoroscopic, and CT-navigated insertion. Finally, we performed a Duval and Tweedie trim-and-fill test to assess for the presence of publication bias. RESULTS: The authors identified 46 studies, describing 4670 patients and 25,054 screws, that evaluated 4 different robotic systems: Mazor X, ROSA, ExcelsiusGPS, and Cirq. The weighted accuracy rates of Gertzbein-Robbins classification grade A or B screws were as follows: ExcelsiusGPS, 98.0%; ROSA, 98.0%; Mazor, 98.2%; and Cirq, 94.2%. No robot was significantly more accurate than the others. However, the accuracy of the ExcelsiusGPS was significantly higher than that of traditional methods, and the accuracies of the Mazor and ROSA were significantly higher than that of fluoroscopy. The intraoperative revision rates were Cirq, 0.55%; ROSA, 0.91%; Mazor, 0.98%; and ExcelsiusGPS, 1.08%. The reoperation rates were Cirq, 0.28%; ExcelsiusGPS, 0.32%; and Mazor, 0.76% (no reoperations were reported for ROSA). Operative times were similar for all robots. Both the ExcelsiusGPS and Mazor were associated with significantly less blood loss than the ROSA. The Cirq had the lowest radiation exposure. Robots tended to be more accurate and generally their use was associated with fewer reoperations and less blood loss than freehand, fluoroscopic, or CT-navigated techniques. CONCLUSIONS: Robotic platforms perform comparably based on key metrics, with high accuracy rates and low intraoperative revision and reoperation rates. The spinal robotics publication rate will continue to accelerate, and choosing a robot will depend on the context of the practice.
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OBJECTIVE: Spinal metastases can significantly affect quality of life in patients with cancer and present complex neurosurgical challenges for surgeons. Surgery with instrumentation is often indicated to alleviate pain, preserve neurological function, and ensure mechanical stability. However, distortions in the bony anatomy due to oncological disease can decrease the accuracy of pedicle screw placement. Robotic-assisted surgery may offer an opportunity to increase screw accuracy and improve navigation of spinal lesions compared to conventional techniques. Therefore, we presented our institutional experience evaluating robotic-assisted surgical fixation for spinal metastases. METHODS: Patients undergoing robotic-assisted surgery at a large tertiary care center between January 2019 - January 2023 for the treatment of spinal metastases were identified. Patient characteristics, including demographics, tumor pathology, surgical complications, and post-operative outcomes were extracted. The Gertzbein Robbins classification system (GRS) was used to assess pedicle screw placement accuracy in patients with post-operative computed tomography. RESULTS: Twenty patients were identified, including 7 females (35â¯%), with an overall median age of 66 years (range: 39-80 years) and median BMI of 25â¯kg/m2 (range: 17-34â¯kg/m2). An average of four spinal levels were instrumented, with metastases located primarily in the thoracic (n=17, 85â¯%) spine. Common primary tumor types included prostate (n=4), lung (n=2), and plasma cell (n=2) cancers. Most pedicle screws (92â¯%) were classified as GRS A in patients with postoperative imaging. Post-operative complications were unrelated to the use of the robot, and included pulmonary embolism (n=1), deep vein thrombosis (n=2), and gastric symptoms (n=3). Three patients were readmitted at 30 days, with one reoperation due to tumor recurrence. Four patients were deceased within 6 months of surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the inherent high-risk nature of these surgeries, this study underscores the safety and efficacy of robotic-assisted surgery in the management of spinal metastases. Robots can be helpful in ensuring accuracy of pedicle screw placement in patients with metastatic disease.
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Procedimentos Cirúrgicos Robóticos , Neoplasias da Coluna Vertebral , Humanos , Masculino , Neoplasias da Coluna Vertebral/cirurgia , Neoplasias da Coluna Vertebral/secundário , Neoplasias da Coluna Vertebral/diagnóstico por imagem , Feminino , Procedimentos Cirúrgicos Robóticos/métodos , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Idoso , Adulto , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Parafusos Pediculares , Resultado do Tratamento , Complicações Pós-Operatórias , Fusão Vertebral/métodosRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Exoscopes were recently developed as an alternative to the operative microscope (OM) and endoscope for intraoperative visualization during neurosurgery. Prior reviews studying mixed cranial and spinal surgical cohorts reported advantages with exoscope use, including improved ergonomics and teaching. In recent years, there has been an increase in exoscope research, with no updated systematic review focused exclusively on the benefits and limitations of exoscope use in spine surgery. Thus, we sought to systematically synthesize the literature related to exoscope-assisted spine surgery. METHODS: A literature search was conducted using the PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Cochrane, and Web of Science databases to identify relevant studies reported between 2010 and September 2023. Data, such as the exoscope model used, procedure types performed, and user observations, were then collected. RESULTS: A total of 31 studies met our inclusion criteria, including 481 patients with spine pathologies who underwent a surgical procedure using 1 of 9 exoscope models. The lumbar region was the most frequently operated area (n = 234; 48.6%), and discectomies comprised the most overall procedures (n = 273; 56.8%). All patients benefited clinically. The reported advantages of exoscopes compared with OMs or endoscopes were improved focal distance, surgeon posture, trainee education, compactness, and assistant participation. Other aspects such as stereopsis, illumination, and cost had various observations. CONCLUSIONS: Exoscopes have advantages compared with OMs or endoscopes during spine surgery. The user learning curve is minimal, and no negative patient outcomes have been reported. However, some aspects of exoscope use necessitate longer term prospective research before exoscopes can be considered a standard tool in the armamentarium of intraoperative visualization strategies.
Assuntos
Procedimentos Neurocirúrgicos , Humanos , Procedimentos Neurocirúrgicos/métodos , Doenças da Coluna Vertebral/cirurgia , Coluna Vertebral/cirurgiaRESUMO
Ultrasound technology can provide high-resolution imaging of blood flow following spinal cord injury (SCI). Blood flow imaging may improve critical care management of SCI, yet its duration is limited clinically by the amount of contrast agent injection required for high-resolution, continuous monitoring. In this study, we aim to establish non-contrast ultrasound as a clinically translatable imaging technique for spinal cord blood flow via comparison to contrast-based methods and by measuring the spatial distribution of blood flow after SCI. A rodent model of contusion SCI at the T12 spinal level was carried out using three different impact forces. We compared images of spinal cord blood flow taken using both non-contrast and contrast-enhanced ultrasound. Subsequently, we processed the images as a function of distance from injury, yielding the distribution of blood flow through space after SCI, and found the following. (1) Both non-contrast and contrast-enhanced imaging methods resulted in similar blood flow distributions (Spearman's ρ = 0.55, p < 0.0001). (2) We found an area of decreased flow at the injury epicenter, or umbra (p < 0.0001). Unexpectedly, we found increased flow at the periphery, or penumbra (rostral, p < 0.05; caudal, p < 0.01), following SCI. However, distal flow remained unchanged, in what is presumably unaffected tissue. (3) Finally, tracking blood flow in the injury zones over time revealed interesting dynamic changes. After an initial decrease, blood flow in the penumbra increased during the first 10 min after injury, while blood flow in the umbra and distal tissue remained constant over time. These results demonstrate the viability of non-contrast ultrasound as a clinical monitoring tool. Furthermore, our surprising observations of increased flow in the injury periphery pose interesting new questions about how the spinal cord vasculature reacts to SCI, with potentially increased significance of the penumbra.