Lumbar Tubular Decompression: Barriers and Limitations Hampering the Technique's Dissemination Across Latin America.

OBJECTIVES: We sought to explore the barriers and limitations preventing the widespread use of tubular lumbar spine decompressions in Latin America. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed using a survey designed specifically by the authors. This survey was mailed to all spine surgeons who are members of AO Spine Latin America. Eighty-seven surgeons spanning 15 Latin American countries answered the survey. RESULTS: Thirty-one percent of participating surgeons claimed they needed to adapt their technique to perform minimally invasive tubular surgeries. Meanwhile, though 70.5% answered they do not consider tubular surgery expensive, 32.8% lacked access to standard equipment like a complete set of retractors or curved high-speed drill. CONCLUSIONS: Several barriers limit the development of tubular spine surgery in Latin America. The most important discrepancies between surgeons' preferred equipment and their availability for such operations are high-speed drills, bayoneted instruments, and hemostatic agents.

Is quality of life after surgery for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis affected by the presence of a concomitant low-grade isthmic spondylolisthesis non-surgically treated? A retrospective cohort study.

PURPOSE: The HRQoL after surgery for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is not affected by the presence of concomitant isthmic spondylolisthesis non-surgically treated. Improvement in QoL after surgery was similar for AIS patients with and without concomitant spondylolisthesis. The purpose is to compare preoperative and postoperative Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) scores in operated AIS patients with and without concomitant isthmic spondylolisthesis. METHODS: A retrospective study of a prospective cohort of 464 individuals undergoing AIS surgery between 2008 and 2018 was performed. All patients undergoing surgery for AIS with a minimum 2-year follow-up were included. We excluded patients with prior or concomitant surgery for spondylolisthesis. HRQoL scores were measured using the SRS-22 questionnaire. Comparisons were performed between AIS patients with versus without concomitant spondylolisthesis treated non-surgically. RESULTS: AIS surgery was performed for 36 patients (15.2 ± 2.5 y.o) with concomitant isthmic spondylolisthesis, and 428 patients (15.5 ± 2.4 y.o) without concomitant spondylolisthesis. The two groups were similar in terms of age, sex, preoperative and postoperative Cobb angles. Preoperative and postoperative HRQoL scores were similar between the two groups. HRQoL improved significantly for all domains in both groups, except for pain in patients with spondylolisthesis. There was no need for surgical treatment of the spondylolisthesis and no slip progression during the follow-up duration after AIS surgery. CONCLUSION: Patients undergoing surgical treatment of AIS with non-surgical management of a concomitant isthmic grade I spondylolisthesis can expect improvement in HRQoL scores, similar to that observed in patients without concomitant spondylolisthesis.

Development of a New Therapy-Oriented Classification of Intervertebral Vacuum Phenomenon With Evaluation of Intra- and Interobserver Reliabilities.

STUDY DESIGN: Diagnostic study, level of evidence III. OBJECTIVES: Low back pain is a common cause of disability among elderly patients. Percutaneous discoplasty has been developed as a tool to treat degenerative disease when conservative management is not successful. Indications for this procedure include low back pain and the presence of vacuum phenomenon. The objective of this study was to describe a new classification of vacuum phenomenon based on computed tomography scan in order to improve the indications for percutaneous discoplasty. METHODS: We developed a classification of vacuum phenomenon based on computed tomography scan images. We describe 3 types of vacuum based on the relationship between vacuum and the superior/inferior endplates and 2 subtypes based on the presence of significant subchondral sclerosis. A validation study was conducted selecting 10 orthopedic residents with spine surgery training to analyze 25 vacuum scenarios. Inter- and intraobserver reliabilities were assessed through the Fleiss's and Cohen's kappa statistics, respectively. RESULTS: The overall Fleiss's κ value for interobserver reliability was 0.85 (95% CI 0.82-0.86) in the first reading and 0.93 (95% CI 0.92-0.95) in the second reading. Cohen's κ for intraobserver reliability was 0.88 (95% CI 0.77-0.99). CONCLUSION: The new classification has shown almost perfect inter- and intraobserver reliabilities for grading the vacuum phenomenon and could be an important tool to improve the indications for percutaneous cement discoplasty.

Neurosurgery versus orthopedic surgery: Who has better access to minimally invasive spinal technology?

BACKGROUND: Our aim was to evaluate differences in neurosurgeons versus orthopedists access to technologies needed to perform minimally invasive spine surgeries (MISS) in Latin America. METHODS: We sent a survey to members of AO Spine Latin America (January 2020), and assessed the following variables; nationality, level of hospital (primary, secondary, and tertiary), number of spinal operations performed per year, spinal pathologies addressed, the number of minimally invasive spine operations performed/year, and differences in access to MISS spinal technology between neurosurgeons and orthopedists. RESULTS: Responses were returned from 306 (25.6) members of AO Spine Latin America representing 20 different countries; 57.8% of respondents were orthopedic surgeons and 42.4% had over 10 years of experience. Although both specialties reported a lack of access to most of the technologies, the main difference between the two was greater utilization/access of neurosurgeons to operating microscope (e.g., 84% of the neurosurgeons vs. 39% of orthopedic spine surgeons). CONCLUSION: Although both specialties have limited access to MISS spinal technologies, orthopedic spine surgeons reported significantly lower access to operating microscopes versus neurosurgeons (P < 0.01).

Volar Plate Fixation in Patients Older Than 70 Years with AO Type C Distal Radial Fractures: Clinical and Radiologic Outcomes.

Introduction Treatment of unstable distal radial fractures (DRFs) in elderly patients is controversial, and considering the increasing life expectancy, their appropriate treatment is of growing importance. Our aim was to analyze the clinical and radiologic outcomes in the elderly patients with AO type C DRF treated with volar locking plate (VLP). Materials and Methods Between 2007 and 2011, 572 DRFs were operated on in our hospital with open reduction and internal fixation with VLP. Of these, only 64 patients (66 DRFs) met the selection criteria (AO type C DRF, age > 70 years, minimum 12-month follow-up). Mean follow-up was 28 months. Outcome assessment included range of motion, grip strength, VAS pain, Mayo Clinic Score, and DASH score. Analysis of pre- and postoperative radiographs was performed. Complications were recorded. Statistical analysis was performed comparing the results with the contralateral side. Results Mean postoperative range of motion of the injured wrist compared with the control contralateral side was 86% for flexion ( p < 0.001), 92% for extension ( p < 0.001). The average DASH was 12. Mayo Clinic Wrist Score showed 43 excellent results, 15 good, 4 satisfactory, and 4 poor. Articular step-offs were reduced in 34 of 38 wrists. Five (7%) patients required plate removal. Conclusion The treatment of articular DRF (AO type C) with VLP in the elderly patients achieved greater than 90% of the wrist range of motion and grip strength with no residual pain in greater than 90% of the patients. Level of Evidence Therapeutic IV, case series.