Validation of the scale on Satisfaction of Adolescents with Postoperative pain management - idiopathic Scoliosis (SAP-S).

BACKGROUND: Spinal fusion is a common orthopedic surgery in children and adolescents and is associated with high pain levels postoperatively. If the pain is not well managed, negative outcomes may ensue. To our knowledge, there is no measure in English that assesses patient's satisfaction with postoperative pain management following idiopathic scoliosis surgery. The aim of the present study was to assess the psychometric properties of the satisfaction subscale of the English version of the Satisfaction of Adolescents with Postoperative pain management - idiopathic Scoliosis (SAP-S) scale. METHODS: Eighty-two participants aged 10-18 years, who had undergone spinal fusion surgery, fully completed the SAP-S scale at 10-14 days postdischarge. Construct validity was assessed through a principal component analysis using varimax rotation. RESULTS: Principal component analysis indicated a three-factor structure of the 13-item satisfaction subscale of the SAP-S scale. Factors referred to satisfaction regarding current medication received (Factor 1), actions taken by nurses and doctors to manage pain (Factor 2) and information received after surgery (Factor 3). Cronbach's alpha was 0.91, showing very good internal consistency. Data on satisfaction and clinical outcomes were also reported. CONCLUSION: The SAP-S is a valid and reliable measure of satisfaction with postoperative pain management that can be used in both research and clinical settings to improve pain management practices. Although it was developed and validated with adolescents who had undergone spinal fusion surgery, it can be used, with further validation, to assess adolescents' satisfaction with pain management in other postoperative contexts.

Développement et validation de la version canadienne-française de l'échelle de Satisfaction des Adolescents de la gestion de la Douleur postopératoire - Scoliose idiopathique (SAD-S).

Background: Spinal fusion for scoliosis generates moderate to severe pain intensity. There are currently no instruments available to measure adolescents' satisfaction regarding post-spinal fusion pain management. Aims: To develop and validate a scale on satisfaction of adolescents regarding pain management following spinal fusion for scoliosis. Methods: A methodological design was used to develop and validate the French-Canadian scale "Satisfaction des Adolescents de la gestion de la Douleur postopératoire - Scoliose idiopathique (SAD-S)". A modified Delphi method, with seven healthcare professionals and 10 adolescents, was used to establish content validity of the SAD-S. A pre-test of the scale was conducted with 10 adolescents post-spinal fusion. The final version of the scale was validated through a pilot study with 98 adolescents following their surgery. Results: The SAD-S scale includes a total of 13 items. Principal component analysis yielded a two-factor structure (2 subscales): 1) Pain management education and 2) Education regarding medication. These two factors explained 47,8% of the total variance for satisfaction. A Cronbach's alpha of 0,84 was obtained for internal consistency. Conclusion: Validation of the SAD-S scale showed that it has good psychometric properties with this population. Further validation is required with a larger sample to pursue its validation.

Introduction: La chirurgie correctrice de la scoliose génère de la douleur postopératoire d'intensité modérée à sévère. Il n'existe pas d'instruments sur la satisfaction d'adolescents ayant eu recours à ce type de chirurgie quant à la gestion de leur douleur.Objectifs: Développement et validation d'une échelle pour mesurer la satisfaction d'adolescents ayant subi une chirurgie correctrice de la scoliose quant à la gestion de leur douleur postopératoire.Méthodes: Un devis méthodologique a été utilisé pour développer l'Échelle de Satisfaction des Adolescents de la gestion de la Douleur postopératoire ­ Scoliose idiopathique (SAD-S). La validité de contenu du SAD-S a été évaluée selon la méthode Delphi modifiée avec sept professionnels de la santé et 10 adolescents. Un pré-test de l'instrument a été effectué auprès de 10 autres adolescents ayant subi cette chirurgie. Une étude de validation a ensuite été menée auprès de 98 adolescents en phase postopératoire.Résultats: Le SAD-S comprend 13 énoncés. L'analyse en composantes principales a permis de déterminer une structure à deux facteurs (sous-échelles): 1) enseignement sur la gestion de la douleur et 2) enseignement sur la médication. Ces facteurs permettent d'expliquer 47,8 % de la variance totale pour la satisfaction. Un alpha de Cronbach de 0,84 a été obtenu pour la consistance interne de l'échelle.Conclusion: Le SAD-S possède de bonnes propriétés psychométriques pour la mesure de la satisfaction auprès de cette clientèle. La validation de cet instrument devra être poursuivie à l'aide d'un échantillon plus grand.

Guided Imagery for Adolescent Post-spinal Fusion Pain Management: A Pilot Study.

Orthopedic surgery for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis entails anxiety and severe postoperative pain. The aim of this pilot study was to investigate an intervention for adolescent post-spinal fusion pain management in patients from a tertiary care hospital in Montreal, Canada. Participants were adolescents and young adults ages 11 to 20 years undergoing spinal fusion. Participants were randomized to standard care or standard care with adjunct intervention. The intervention consisted of a DVD with information and guided imagery/relaxation exercises to practice at least three times a week at home. A nurse screened the DVD with the patient preoperatively and at discharge (T1) and telephoned 2 weeks post-discharge (T2) to reinforce the technique. Both groups completed questionnaires at T1, T2, and T3 (1-month postoperative follow-up). Outcome measures included pain intensity, anxiety, coping mechanisms, and daily activities. From March 2010 to June 2011, we enrolled 40 of 45 eligible participants (n = 20 per group), average age 15 ± 2.1 years, 7 participants were male. Compared with the control group, the experimental group experienced significantly less overall pain at all time points, with moderate to large effect sizes at T2, T3 (p ≤ .007). Worst pain in 24 hours was moderately decreased at T2 (p = .01). State-trait anxiety remained high. On a 10-point scale, a median 2.5-point benefit was seen in eating and sleeping (Mann-Whitney test, p = .002), and 2 points in walking (Mann-Whitney test, p = .003). Coping strategies showed no significant differences. Addition of a guided imagery and relaxation exercise DVD for home use was more effective than standard care alone for postoperative pain. Our nonpharmacologic adjunct looks promising. Larger sample size and longer (6-9 months) follow-up will permit refinement.

The spinal cord dura mater reaction to nitinol and titanium alloy particles: a 1-year study in rabbits.

This investigation was undertaken to simulate in an animal model the particles released from a porous nitinol interbody fusion device and to evaluate its consequences on the dura mater, spinal cord and nerve roots, lymph nodes (abdominal para-aortic), and organs (kidneys, spleen, pancreas, liver, and lungs). Our objective was to evaluate the compatibility of the nitinol particles with the dura mater in comparison with titanium alloy. In spite of the great use of metallic devices in spine surgery, the proximity of the spinal cord to the devices raised concerns about the effect of the metal debris that might be released onto the neural tissue. Forty-five New Zealand white female rabbits were divided into three groups: nitinol (treated: N = 4 per implantation period), titanium (treated: N = 4 per implantation period), and sham rabbits (control: N = 1 per observation period). The nitinol and titanium alloy particles were implanted in the spinal canal on the dura mater at the lumbar level L2-L3. The rabbits were sacrificed at 1, 4, 12, 26, and 52 weeks. Histologic sections from the regional lymph nodes, organs, from remote and implantation sites, were analyzed for any abnormalities and inflammation. Regardless of the implantation time, both nitinol and titanium particles remained at the implantation site and clung to the spinal cord lining soft tissue of the dura mater. The inflammation was limited to the epidural space around the particles and then reduced from acute to mild chronic during the follow-up. The dura mater, sub-dural space, nerve roots, and the spinal cord were free of reaction. No particles or abnormalities were found either in the lymph nodes or in the organs. In contact with the dura, the nitinol elicits an inflammatory response similar to that of titanium. The tolerance of nitinol by a sensitive tissue such as the dura mater during the span of 1 year of implantation demonstrated the safety of nitinol and its potential use as an intervertebral fusion device.

Porous titanium-nickel for intervertebral fusion in a sheep model: part 1. Histomorphometric and radiological analysis.

Porous titanium-nickel (PTN) implants represent an alternative to traditional intervertebral fusion cages. Indeed, PTN materials possess interconnecting pores with cell capillarity properties that may promote bone ingrowth and intervertebral fusion without the need for bone grafting. In this study, a PTN intervertebral fusion device was compared to a conventional TiAlV cage packed with autologous bone in a sheep model. The two devices were implanted at two noncontiguous intervertebral lumbar sites for 3, 6, and 12 months. PTN osseointegration showed a time-dependent trend increasing from 21.4% to 37.6% (3-12 months), whereas TiAlV cages remained at the same level of bone ingrowth (22.7%-25.4%; 3-12 months). Furthermore, PTN bone apposition (10.9%-24.2%; 3-12 months) was significantly higher than that of TiAlV implants (1.1%-5.1%; 3-12 months; p < 0.001, ANOVA). Radiological fusion scores increased with postsurgery time regardless of material type, but were consistently superior for PTN (12.5-18.5; 3-12 months) than for TiAlV cages (2.0-15.0; 3-12 months; p < 0.001, ANOVA). Implant materials were not significantly different according to the radiological interbody index based on preoperative disc height: Interbody index began at 132.6% (PTN) and 123.5% (TiAlV) immediately after surgery, then declined to 80.8% (PTN) and 91.0% (TiAlV) after 12 months. Nevertheless, ungrafted PTN constituted an excellent substrate for osteogenic cell integration and represents a new osteoconductive biomaterial with improved fusion characteristics in comparison to conventional TiAlV cages.