Ten-Year Clinical Outcomes of Endoscope-Assisted Minimally Invasive Surgical Decompression for Lumbar Spinal Stenosis with Degenerative Spondylolisthesis and Comparison with Conservative Treatment.

Introduction: This study aimed to evaluate the 10-year clinical outcomes of endoscope-assisted, minimally invasive surgical (MIS) decompression for lumbar spinal canal stenosis (LSS) with lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis (DS) and to compare the radiographic changes in patients who underwent this procedure with those who underwent conservative therapy at 10-year follow-up. Methods: Between April 2007 and April 2010, 347 consecutive patients with DS and evidence of LSS underwent conservative treatment first from 2 to 4 weeks. The 114 patients who failed conservative treatment were then treated surgically by endoscope-assisted MIS decompression. Of them, 91 patients were followed for more than 10 years (group S), and 146 of the 233 patients treated conservatively were followed for more than 10 years (group C). Clinical outcomes of endoscope-assisted MIS decompression were assessed using the Short Form Health Survey-36 score (SF-36), the Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire (RDQ), and the neurological leg symptoms of the Japanese Orthopaedic Association Score (JOA score). Radiographic changes of the two groups were assessed by %slip, dynamic %slip, range of motion (ROM), and the height of the disc (DH) on plain radiographs. Results: Significant improvements in clinical outcomes on the SF-36, RDQ, and neurological leg symptoms of the JOA were observed. Radiographic assessment did not show significant differences in the assessed items between the two groups at baseline and after last treatment. Both groups had significantly decreased ROM and DH. Conclusions: The 10-year clinical outcomes of endoscope-assisted MIS decompression for DS were generally good. Furthermore, on radiographic comparison, the progress of spondylolisthesis after this procedure was virtually the same as in the natural course of the disease at 10-year follow-up.

Effect of Postoperative Non-Weight-Bearing in Trochanteric Fracture of the Femur: A Retrospective Cohort Study Using Propensity Score Matching.

Introduction: The effects of postoperative early weight-bearing (WB) on walking ability, muscle mass, and sarcopenia have been investigated. Postoperative WB restriction is also reportedly associated with pneumonia and prolonged hospitalization; however, its effect on surgical failures has not been studied. This study aimed to assess whether WB restriction after surgery for trochanteric fracture of the femur (TFF) is useful in preventing surgical failure, considering the unstable fracture type, quality of intraoperative reduction, and tip-apex distance. Patients and Methods: This retrospective analysis included 301 patients admitted to a single institution between January 2010 and December 2021, diagnosed with TFF, and who underwent femoral nail surgery. Eight patients were excluded, and finally 293 patients were included in the study. Propensity score (PS) matching yielded 123 cases; 41 patients in the non-WB (NWB) group and 82 patients in the WB group were included in the final analysis. The primary outcome was surgical failure (cutout, nonunion, osteonecrosis, and implant failure). The secondary outcomes were medical complications (pneumonia, urinary tract infection, stroke, and heart failure), change in walking ability, period of hospitalization, and sliding distance of the lag screw. Results: Five surgical complications occurred in the NWB group and two in the WB group, with significantly more surgical complications in the NWB group (P = .041). Cutout occurred in two cases, each in the NWB and WB groups. Two cases of nonunion and one case of implant failure occurred in the NWB group, but not in the WB group. Osteonecrosis did not occur in both groups. The secondary outcomes were not significantly different between the two groups. Conclusions: The results of this retrospective cohort study using a PS matching approach showed that WB restriction after TFF surgery could not decrease the incidence of surgical failures.

Spinal metastasectomy of renal cell carcinoma: A 16-year single center experience with a minimum 3-year follow-up.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Metastasectomy of spinal lesions from renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a promising strategy. However, its clinical outcome after spinal metastasectomy is unknown owing to the difficulty of curative surgical resection. This is the first study to examine the survival rates of patients who underwent metastasectomy of solitary spinal metastases from RCC. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study of 36 consecutive patients with RCC who underwent nephrectomy and complete removal of solitary spinal lesions between 1995 and 2010 at our institution. Cancer-specific survival (CSS) time from the spinal metastasectomy to death or last follow-up was the main endpoint. Potential factors associated with survival were evaluated with Kaplan-Meier analysis and the long-rank test. RESULTS: For all patients, the estimated median CSS time was 130 months. The 3, 5, and 10-year CSS rates were 77.8%, 69.1%, and 58.0%, respectively, for all patients, and 72.7%, 54.5%, and 27.3%, respectively, for patients with lung metastases at the time of surgery. Only the presence of liver metastases was significantly associated with short-term survival after spinal metastasectomy. CONCLUSIONS: Liver metastases were associated with short-term survival, although lung metastases were not. For selected patients, curative resection of solitary spinal metastases can potentially prolong survival. J. Surg. Oncol. 2016;113:587-592. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Surgical site infection in spinal metastasis: risk factors and countermeasures.

STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective review (phase 1) and prospective clinical study (phase 2). OBJECTIVES: To identify independent risk factors for surgical site infection (SSI) and to evaluate the positive effect of prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) to decrease the risk of SSI in patients with spinal metastasis. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Surgery for spinal metastasis is associated with an increased risk of SSI. Although previous reports have evaluated risk factors of SSI for spinal metastasis, most of the studies lack multivariate analysis. A recent study demonstrated the utility of PGE1 in decreasing wound complications in patients with prior irradiation. The role of PGE1 in surgery for spinal metastasis has not been previously evaluated. METHODS: One hundred ten patients with spinal metastasis were retrospectively reviewed (phase 1). Risk factors for SSI were analyzed using logistic regression. Phase 2 was a prospective clinical trial investigating the utility of PGE1 at reducing the rate of SSI. Ninety-four patients with spinal metastasis were treated at our institute. The infection rate and risk factors identified in phase 1 and 2 were compared. RESULTS: The rate of SSI during phase 1 was 7.1%. Independent risk factors identified by multivariate logistic regression were diabetes, and preoperative irradiation. The rate of SSI for patients who had irradiation before surgery was 32%, whereas the rate for patients without irradiation was 1.1%. This difference was statistically significant. The rate of SSI in phase 2 was 3.1%. In phase 2 patients who received preoperative irradiation, the rate of SSI was 4.5%. The difference between phase 1 and phase 2 was statistically significant. CONCLUSION: This study identified diabetes and preoperative irradiation to be independent risk factors for SSI in patients with spinal metastasis. PGE1 administration was found to significantly decrease the incidence of SSI in patients with spinal metastasis who underwent preoperative irradiation.

Influence on spinal cord blood flow and function by interruption of bilateral segmental arteries at up to three levels: experimental study in dogs.

STUDY DESIGN: Segmental arteries were interrupted bilaterally at up to three levels to study the influence on spinal cord blood flow (SCBF) and function in dogs. OBJECTIVES: Considering the need to limit blood loss during surgery for spinal tumors, such as total en bloc spondylectomy, we studied the SCBF and function after experimental interruption of segmental arteries at up to three levels. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Interruption of bilateral segmental arteries at three consecutive levels (T11, T12, and T13) has reduced blood flow to the vertebral body of T12 by one fourth of the control flow, but effects on the spinal cord have not been determined. METHODS: SCBF was measured in spinal cord gray matter at T12 using a hydrogen clearance method after ligation of bilateral segmental arteries at 1 to three levels (T11, T12, and T13) in 6 dogs. Spinal cord function was evaluated by spinal cord evoked potentials, motor-evoked potentials, and neurologic assessment in 6 dogs. RESULTS: SCBF at T12 decreased to 92.4%, 87.8%, and 84.6% of control flow after ligation of bilateral segmental arteries at T12, T11 plus T12, and T11-T13, respectively. Spinal cord evoked potentials and motor-evoked potentials showed no significant changes in any dog after ligation at three levels. No neurologic degradation was observed in any dog. CONCLUSIONS: Interruption of bilateral segmental arteries at three levels did not damage spinal cord function in dogs, suggesting that in patients, preoperative embolization at three levels to reduce blood loss during surgery for spinal tumors would not compromise spinal cord function.

Interruption of the bilateral segmental arteries at several levels: influence on vertebral blood flow.

STUDY DESIGN: The effect of ligation of the bilateral segmental arteries at the levels of T11, T12, and T13 on blood flow of the T12 vertebra was studied in a dog model. OBJECTIVES: To determine the reduction of the vertebral blood flow resulting from interruption of bilateral segmental arteries at one to three vertebral levels. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Intraoperative hemorrhage can be sometimes massive in patients with hypervascular spinal tumors, especially in radical resection such as total en bloc spondylectomy. The recent development of new embolization techniques ensures more aggressive, more extensive, and safer preoperative embolization for spinal tumors. METHODS: The blood flow of the T12 vertebra of 12 female dogs was measured after ligation of the bilateral segmental arteries at one to three levels, including the T12. Spinal cord evoked potentials were recorded in this procedure. Spinal angiography using a silicon compound was performed on another 10 dogs after clipping and section of the bilateral segmental arteries. RESULTS: The blood flow of the T12 vertebra decreased to 70.13 +/- 6.37% of the control value after ligation of the bilateral segmental arteries of T12, to 46.48 +/- 8.97% after ligation of the bilateral segmental arteries of T12 and either T11 or T13, to 24.11 +/- 8.31% after ligation of T11, T12, and T13, respectively. The angiogram after ligation and section of T12 and the two levels including T12 showed thick and clear contrast medium in the cut distal ends of the T12 segmental arteries. After interruption at three levels (T11, T12, and T13), however, the cut distal ends of the T12 segmental arteries were seen thin and faint on the angiogram. No significant changes occurred in spinal cord evoked potentials after ligation of the segmental arteries at three levels in all six dogs. CONCLUSION: Interruption of the bilateral segmental arteries at three levels, one target vertebra and the two adjacent vertebrae, reduced the blood flow of the target vertebra to one fourth of the control value in the lower thoracic spine in dogs. This result suggests that preoperative embolization at three levels, the levels of the tumor vertebra and the adjacent vertebrae above and below it, may reduce intraoperative hemorrhage effectively during total en bloc spondylectomy for hypervascular spinal tumors.

Vertebral body osteonecrosis without vertebral collapse.

STUDY DESIGN: A case of idiopathic focal vertebral body osteonecrosis without vertebral collapse is reported. OBJECTIVES: To report a rare case of focal vertebral osteonecrosis and to clarify the features of imaging studies. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: There are no previous reports describing focal vertebral body necrosis without collapse in the literature. METHODS: A case report and literature review are presented. RESULTS: Imaging studies demonstrated: 1) sclerotic change on computed tomography scan; 2) low intensity on T1, high intensity on T2 with clear margin, and no gadolinium enhancement on magnetic resonance imaging; and 3) no uptake on bone scan. Histologic examination revealed empty lacunas, fatty necrosis with vacuolar degeneration, and cell debris compatible with bone marrow necrosis. CONCLUSION: Vertebral body osteonecrosis must be considered a possible diagnosis of patients presenting with low intensity on T1, high intensity on T2 with clear margin, and no gadolinium enhancement on magnetic resonance imaging.

Thyroid cancer spinal metastases: report on 25 operations in 14 patients.

This study reviewed 14 patients with thyroid cancer spinal metastases treated between December 1984 and July 2000. In total the 14 patients had undergone 25 operations (average 1.8 operations/patient). The operations were at the thoracic (15), cervical (7) and lumbar (3) levels and operations included piecemeal excision (14), total en bloc spondylectomy (7), posterior decompression and stabilization (2), posterior decompression (laminectomy) (1) and posterior stabilization (1). Re-operations were due to local recurrence (8) or metastases to another level (2) or both (1). One patient died in the third postoperative day due to disseminated intravascular coagulopathy (DIC), 5 died due to the original illness after a mean of 67.8 months, while 8 patients are still living after a mean of 53.1 months. As long survival should be anticipated, in cases of thyroid cancer spinal metastases, a radical therapeutic attitude must be considered in decision-making. This should avoid the morbidity associated with local recurrence and revision surgery.