A lightweight intelligent laryngeal cancer detection system for rural areas.

OBJECTIVE: Early diagnosis of laryngeal cancer (LC) is crucial, particularly in rural areas. Despite existing studies on deep learning models for LC identification, challenges remain in selecting suitable models for rural areas with shortages of laryngologists and limited computer resources. We present the intelligent laryngeal cancer detection system (ILCDS), a deep learning-based solution tailored for effective LC screening in resource-constrained rural areas. METHODS: We compiled a dataset comprised of 2023 laryngoscopic images and applied data augmentation techniques for dataset expansion. Subsequently, we utilized eight deep learning models-AlexNet, VGG, ResNet, DenseNet, MobileNet, ShuffleNet, Vision Transformer, and Swin Transformer-for LC identification. A comprehensive evaluation of their performances and efficiencies was conducted, and the most suitable model was selected to assemble the ILCDS. RESULTS: Regarding performance, all models attained an average accuracy exceeding 90 % on the test set. Particularly noteworthy are VGG, DenseNet, and MobileNet, which exceeded an accuracy of 95 %, with scores of 95.32 %, 95.75 %, and 95.99 %, respectively. Regarding efficiency, MobileNet excels owing to its compact size and fast inference speed, making it an ideal model for integration into ILCDS. CONCLUSION: The ILCDS demonstrated promising accuracy in LC detection while maintaining modest computational resource requirements, indicating its potential to enhance LC screening accuracy and alleviate the workload on otolaryngologists in rural areas.

Impact of postoperative spinal malalignment on postoperative health-related quality of life after long-level fixation for degenerative lumbar scoliosis: does residual coronal angularity matter?

PURPOSE: This study evaluates the influence of spinal malalignment on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in a long-level fusion spine. METHODS: This was a retrospective analysis of 121 consecutive patients with DLS after long-segment fusion. HRQOL and radiographic parameters were collected at final follow-up. For postoperative residual Cobb angle (CA), patients were divided as follows: group (0) (CA < 10°), group (+) (CA 10°âˆ¼20 °), and group (++) (CA > 20°). For postoperative coronal vertical axis (CVA), patients were separated as follows: group (0) (CVA < 2 cm), group (+) (CVA 2 ∼ 3 cm), and group (++) (CVA > 3 cm). Patients were also grouped by the sagittal modifiers as group (0), group (+), and group (++) according to the Scoliosis Research Society (SRS)-Schwab classification, respectively. RESULTS: Visual analog scale (VAS) for back was significantly lower in CA 10°âˆ¼20° group compared to other groups. Patients with remnant CA > 20° showed worse Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), SRS-22 and the 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) - physical component scores (PCS). Sagittal vertical axis (SVA) showed significant correlation with HRQOLs after surgery, and the statistical significance of ODI, SRS-22 and SF-36 scores was observed among subgroups. CONCLUSIONS: In long-level fused spine, residual CA > 20° resulted in worse clinical outcomes and was recommended to avoid during surgery. And 10° to 20° residual CA was acceptable in DLS patients and even better than Cobb angle < 10° in several HRQOLs, therefore strictly pursing upright alignment seems unnecessary. SVA also showed effectiveness in assessing HRQOL in the fixed spine.

Impact of preoperative clinical state on 2-year clinical outcomes following degenerative lumbar scoliosis surgery.

To assess the preoperative clinical state's impact on clinical outcomes after surgery for degenerative lumbar scoliosis (DLS) based on the minimal clinically important difference (MCID). Preoperative and follow-up (FU) scores in each Scoliosis Research Society-22 (SRS-22) domain were compared with age- and sex-matched normative references. At baseline, patients were classified by differences from normative values in four groups: Worst, Severe, Poor, and Moderate. At 2 years postoperative FU, patients were divided into four groups (Worst Severe Poor Asymptomatic) based on the difference in MCID between postoperative and normal values. The changes in MCID were considered as the criterion for surgical efficacy. In addition, we calculated the classification of preoperative and FU clinical symptom severity in each domain in same patient. The distinction among curve types was also performed based on the SRS-Schwab classification. A total of 123 patients were included. During FU, patients with more severe preoperative clinical symptoms were more likely to achieve clinical changes (>1 MCID, p < 0.05), but the rate of reaching "asymptomatic" was lower (p < 0.05). Kendall's tau-b correlation analysis found that preoperative clinical severity was correlated with clinical changes category in Activity (Tau-b = 0.252; p = 0.002), Pain (Tau-b = 0.230; p = 0.005), Appearance (Tau-b = 0.307; p < 0.001), and Mental (Tau-b = 0.199; p = 0.016), and it also was correlated with FU clinical severity in Activity (Tau-b = 0.173; p = 0.023), Pain (Tau-b = 0.280; p < 0.001), and Mental (Tau-b = 0.349; p < 0.001). There was a correlation between preoperative clinical severity and FU SRS-22 score outcomes. Patients with severe preoperative clinical symptoms can experience better treatment outcomes during FU, but it is also more difficult to recover to the normal reference.

Risk Factors for Distal Junctional Problems Following Long Instrumented Fusion for Degenerative Lumbar Scoliosis: Are they Related to the Paraspinal Muscles.

PURPOSE: Although the incidence of distal junctional problems (DJPs) following long construct-based treatment for degenerative lumbar scoliosis (DLS) is lower, affected patients are more likely to require revision surgery when they occur. So the aim of this study is to identify risk factors associated with DJPs to avoid its occurrence by at least 1-year follow-up. METHODS: A total of 182 DLS patients undergoing long instrumented fusion surgery (≥4 levels) between February 2011 and March 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were placed into the DJP group if a DJP occurred at the final follow-up; patients without mechanical complications were matched 1:2 according to age, sex and BMI as the control group. Patient characteristics, surgical variables, radiographic parameters, lumbar muscularity and fatty degeneration were analyzed statistically. The statistical differences in the results between the two groups (p values <0.05) and other variables selected by experts were entered into a multivariate logistic regression model, and the forwards likelihood ratio method was used to analyze the independent risk factors for DJPs. RESULTS: Twenty-four (13.2%) patients suffered a DJP in the postoperative period and the reoperation rate was 8.8%. On univariate analysis, the lowest instrumented vertebra (LIV) CT value (p = 0.042); instrumented levels (p = 0.030); preoperative coronal vertical axis (CVA) (p = 0.046), thoracolumbar kyphosis (TLK) (p = 0.006), L4-S1 lordosis (p = 0.013), sacral slop (SS) (p = 0.030), pelvic tilt (PT) classification (p = 0.004), and sagittal vertical axis (SVA) (p = 0.021); TLK correction (p = 0.049); post-operative CVA (p = 0.029); Overall, There was no significant difference in the paraspinal muscle parameters between the two groups. On multivariate analysis, instrumented levels (OR = 1.595; p = 0.035), preoperative SVA (OR = 1.016; p = 0.022) and preoperative PT (OR = 0.873; p = 0.001) were identified as significant independent risk factors for DJP. CONCLUSION: Longer instrumented levels, a greater preoperative SVA and a smaller PT were found to be strongly associated with the presence of DJPs in patients treated for DLS. The degeneration of the paraspinal muscles may not be related to the occurrence of DJPs. For DLS patients, the occurrence of DJP can be reduced by selecting reasonable fusion segments and evaluating the patient's sagittal balance and spino-pelvic parameters before operation.

Open Surgical Treatments of Osteoporotic Vertebral Compression Fractures.

With an aging population, the osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF) has become a constant concern for its physical and neurological complications, such as spinal kyphosis and refractory pains. Compared with traditional conservative treatments, the open surgery is more superior in some ways because of its direct decompression and correction. Various operation methods applying to different indications have been developed to deal with different fracture situations, including anterior, posterior, and combined surgery. In this review, we have concluded the latest developments of the surgery treating OVCF and the internal fixation as references for spinal surgeons of the choice of suitable treatments.

Cost-Benefit Analysis of Using A Single Dose of Tranexamic Acid in Degenerative Lumbar Scoliosis Patients Undergoing Long-Segment Spinal Fusion Surgery: A Retrospective Study.

BACKGROUND Degenerative lumbar scoliosis (DLS) patients undergoing posterior long-segment spinal fusion surgery often require perioperative blood transfusions, and previous studies have reported that increased complications and additional costs accompany these transfusions. One method for decreasing transfusions is the administration of tranexamic acid (TXA). We sought to evaluate the costs and benefits of preoperative administration of 1 g of intravenous TXA, without maintenance, in DLS patients undergoing long-segment spinal fusion surgery. MATERIAL AND METHODS Patients who received TXA (TXA group) were compared with patients who did not receive TXA (NTXA group) with regard to blood loss, units of packed red blood cells (PRBC) transfused, hemostasis costs, and perioperative complications. The benefits and costs were estimated through analysis of the spending on NTXA and TXA patients, and were compared. The difference between the cost per patient in the 2 groups was designated as the net cost-benefit. Then, both groups were substratified into non-osteotomy and osteotomy subgroups for further analysis. RESULTS Of the 173 patients who met the inclusion criteria, 54 TXA patients had significantly reduced perioperative blood loss and total hemostasis costs compared with NTXA patients (n=119). In the group without osteotomy (n=72), TXA (n=13) reduced perioperative blood loss but did not significantly decrease PRBC units and hemostasis costs. However, in patients undergoing osteotomy (n=101), a remarkable net cost savings of ¥648.77 per patient was shown in the TXA group (n=41) (P<0.001). This was because patients undergoing osteotomy in the TXA group received fewer PRBC units (3.7 vs 5.7, P=0.001). CONCLUSIONS A single dose of TXA significantly decreased perioperative blood loss and total hemostasis costs for DLS patients undergoing osteotomy. Furthermore, TXA led to no additional net costs in patients without osteotomy.

Evaluation of lumbar stiffness after long-level fusion for degenerative lumbar scoliosis via a Chinese version of the lumbar stiffness disability index.

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Long-level spinal fusion for degenerative lumbar scoliosis (DLS)seeks to eliminate spinal motion in an attempt to alleviate pain, improve deformity, and reduce disability. However, this surgery considerably impairs the performance of activities of daily living (ADL) due to the resulting stiffness. The lumbar stiffness disability index (LSDI) is a validated measure of the effect of lumbar stiffness on functional activity, but this index might not be fully applicable to the elderly Chinese population given several specific lifestyle characteristics. PURPOSE: To evaluate lumbar stiffness in patients with DLS after long-level fusion by Chinese-LSDI (C-LSDI). STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective study. PATIENT SAMPLE: A total of 129 DLS patients who underwent long-level (≧4 levels) fusion surgery with at least one-year follow-up from June 2009 to September 2017 were retrospectively included. OUTCOME MEASURES: The C-LSDI was designed by modifying LSDI and Korean-LSDI (K-LSDI) based on elderly Chinese lifestyles and the internal consistency and retest repeatability of the patient-reported outcome questionnaire in the measurement of the impact of lumbar stiffness on functional abilities was assessed. METHODS: The radiographic parameters including Cobb angle, apical vertebral translation (AVT), coronal vertical axis (CVA), sagittal vertical axis (SVA), thoracic kyphosis (TK), thoracolumbar kyphosis (TLK), pelvic tilt (PT), pelvic incidence (PI), sacral slope (SS), lumbar lordosis (LL), and PI-LL, and clinical symptoms including visual analogue scale (VAS) for back and low extremity pain; Oswestry disability index (ODI), Japanese Orthopedic Association-29 (JOA-29), Scoliosis Research Society⁃22 (SRS-22), 36⁃Item short form survey (SF-36), physical component scores (PCS) and mental component scores (MCS) were measured preoperatively and at the last follow-up. RESULTS: Compared with LSDI and K-LSDI, the C-LSDI demonstrated higher internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha=0.902) and retest reliability (Internal consistency coefficients, ICC=0.904) in the elderly Chinese population. All patients showed increased lumbar stiffness and significant improvement in pain and deformity postoperatively. Regarding items, such as performing personal hygiene after toileting and getting out of a car, people reported more inconvenience with increasingly fixed levels. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that the C-LSDI questionnaire was a reliable and valid instrument for assessing functional limitations due to lumbar stiffness among elderly Chinese patients with DLS after long-level fusion. Although the effects of stiffness did trend toward greater impacts among patients who underwent longer fusions, most patients were satisfied with trade-offs of function and pain relief in exchange for perceived increases in lumbar stiffness.