Perioperative management of antithrombotic therapy in elderly patients undergoing lumbar discectomy: a retrospective study on 163 patients.

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: The prevalence of lumbar disc herniation (LDH) has risen alongside the aging population, often necessitating neurosurgical intervention. However, managing antithrombotic medications in elderly patients with a history of major cardiovascular events (MACE) presents challenges, as treatment may require modification or cessation. This study aims to compare surgical outcomes among elderly patients receiving antithrombotic drugs and assess their impact and potential complications. The findings aim to inform the management of elderly patients with cardiovascular and spinal conditions undergoing neurosurgery. METHODS: This retrospective, observational study was conducted at a single center. A total of 163 patients aged 60 or above who underwent lumbar discectomy for LDH were included. Patients were categorized into three groups based on their antithrombotic drug management: Group A (46 patients) replaced antiplatelet agents with low-dose aspirin for secondary prevention, Group B (54 patients) discontinued antiplatelet agents for primary prevention one week preoperatively and replaced them with LMWH, and Group C (63 patients) did not receive antithrombotic medication. Intraoperative blood loss, surgical time, and postoperative hospitalization were analyzed across all three groups. Continuous variables were compared between groups using the two-tailed Mann-Whitney test, with significance set at p < 0.05. RESULTS: No significant differences were found in intraoperative blood loss or surgical time among groups A, B, and C. Similarly, no significant differences were observed between groups B and C across all analyzed variables. No early or delayed hemorrhagic complications occurred perioperatively or during the 3-month postoperative follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS: The study suggests that elective discectomy surgery in patients receiving anticoagulant and antiplatelet therapies may proceed without early complications and can be safely continued perioperatively. These findings have implications for the management of elderly patients requiring neurosurgical intervention in the context of cardiovascular comorbidities.

Single-Level Unilateral Biportal Endoscopic versus Tubular Microdiscectomy: Comparing Surgical Outcomes and Opioid Consumption.

BACKGROUND: Unilateral biportal endoscopic (UBE) microdiscectomy is an emerging minimally invasive surgery technique for treating symptomatic lumbar disc herniation. There is limited literature regarding outcomes. Here, we assess surgical outcomes and pain medication consumption for UBE vs. tubular lumbar microdiscectomy. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study of adult patients undergoing primary, single-level UBE or tubular lumbar microdiscectomy surgery at a high-volume institution between 2018 and 2023. Variables of interest included operative time, complications and reoperations, as well as postoperative opioid and nonopioid pain medication consumption from discharge to 6 months. Opioid consumption was converted to morphine milligram equivalents. Standard statistical analyses were performed for comparative analyses. RESULTS: One hundred two patients-48 UBE and 54 tubular-were included. Average operative time (minutes) was higher for UBE patients (133.1 UBE vs. 86.6 tubular, P < 0.001), which trended downward over time but did not reach statistical significance (P = 0.07). There were no differences in complication or reoperation rates. Average daily MME was lower from discharge to 2-week follow-up in the UBE group (11.1 v. 14.1, P = 0.02), but were comparative thereafter. Nonopioid medication prescription was lower in the UBE cohort from discharge to 2 weeks (70.8% vs. 92.6%, P = 0.01) and 2 to 6 weeks (52.1% vs. 85.2%, P < 0.001), with no significant differences thereafter. CONCLUSIONS: UBE microdiscectomy is associated with longer operating times. Both opioid and nonopioid pain medication consumption were lower for UBE patients during the initial postoperative period, perhaps owing to the less-invasive nature of the surgery.

Efficacy and safety of tranexamic acid use in elderly patients undergoing anterior cervical discectomy and fusion: a retrospective study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of intravenous tranexamic acid (TXA) administration in anterior cervical discectomy fusion (ACDF) for the treatment of cervical spondylosis in the elderly. METHODS: Data from elderly patients who underwent ACDF between January 2020 and January 2023 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients who received 1 g intravenous TXA administration before skin incision (TXA group) were compared with patients who did not receive TXA (controls). Total and hidden blood loss were calculated, and the following outcomes were recorded: haemoglobin and haematocrit drop, operation time, drainage duration, drain volume, length of hospitalization, coagulation changes, and incidence of complications. RESULTS: A total of 114 patients were included (TXA group, n = 53 and controls, n = 61). Total blood loss, hidden blood loss, and postoperative drainage volume, haemoglobin and haematocrit drop were significantly lower in the TXA group than the control group. There were no significant differences in operation time, intraoperative blood loss, drainage duration, length of hospitalization, or coagulation function between the two groups. The incidence of complications did not differ significantly between the two groups during 3 months of follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Intravenous TXA is effective in reducing perioperative blood loss in elderly patients undergoing ACDF without changing the coagulation function or increasing the risk of complications.

Impact of congenital spinal stenosis on the outcome of three-level anterior cervical discectomy and fusion in patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy: a retrospective study.

PURPOSE: To investigate whether congenital cervical spinal stenosis (CCSS) affects the outcome of three-level anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) in patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM). METHODS: One hundred seventeen patients with CSM who underwent three-level ACDF between January 2019 and January 2023 were retrospectively examined. Patients were grouped according to presence of CCSS, which was defined as Pavlov ratio ≤ 0.75. The CCSS and no CCSS groups comprised 68 (58.1%) and 49 (41.9%) patients, respectively. RESULTS: The Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score did not significantly differ between the two groups at any postoperative time point (p > 0.05). The JOA improvement rate was lower in the CCSS group 1 month after surgery (41.7% vs. 45.5%, p < 0.05), but showed no difference at any follow-up time point after one month. Multivariate logistic regression identified preoperative age (OR = 10.639), JOA score (OR = 0.370), increased signal intensity (ISI) in the spinal cord on T2-weighted MRI (T2-WI) (Grade 1: OR = 6.135; Grade 2: OR = 29.892), and degree of spinal cord compression (30-60%: OR = 17.919; ≥60%: OR = 46.624) as independent predictors of a poor one year outcome (JOA recovery rate < 50%). CONCLUSION: Although early JOA improvement is slower in the CCSS group, it does not affect the final neurological improvement at 1 year. Therefore, CCSS should not be considered a contraindication for three-level ACDF in patients with CSM. The main factors influencing one year outcome were preoperative age, JOA score, ISI grade, and degree of spinal cord compression.

[Rehabilitation of patients after spinal surgery: effectiveness of nonthermal techniques of peloidotherapy]. / Reabilitatsiya patsientov posle operatsii na pozvonochnike: effektivnost' neteplovykh metodik peloidoterapii.

The problem of patients' rehabilitation after spinal surgery remains relevant. The use of therapeutic physical factors, both preformed and natural, including pelotherapy, is very important. The application of the latter requires to develop new techniques in this pathology, one of which is low temperature exposure. OBJECTIVE: To study the possibility and to assess the effectiveness of resource-saving nonthermal pelotherapy techniques in patients' rehabilitation, who underwent surgeries for intervertebral discs' herniation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The number of patients equal 88, including 39 males and 49 females, after lumbar microdiscectomy, was examined in this study. The patients were divided into 3 groups. Control group (28 patients) received a basic rehabilitation complex (therapeutic gymnastics, massage, low-frequency magnetotherapy); the 1st study group (30 patients) - basic complex and procedures of thin layer applications with peat muds preparation (Tomed-applikat) at 20-24 °C; the 2nd study group (30 patients) - basic complex and procedures of fluctuoresis of 2% solution of peat mud Tomed-aqua preparation. RESULTS: There was a significant reduction of pain syndrome, recovery of sensitivity and motor activity, decrease of Oswestry index, characterizing the degree of vital activity disturbance, in patients of the study group compared to the control group after treatment. CONCLUSION: The inclusion of nonthermal resource-saving techniques of pelotherapy in rehabilitation complex of patients who underwent spinal surgery is effective and pathogenetically justified.

The Clinical Efficacy of Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion Under Three-Dimensional Microscopy.

A plethora of studies has substantiated the remarkable clinical efficacy of anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) in the treatment of cervical spondylotic myelopathy.1,2 This procedure effectively removes the posterior osteophytes and protruding nucleus pulposus, achieving direct decompression of the spinal cord and effectively alleviating compression symptoms. Concurrently, by distracting the intervertebral space, ACDF contributes to the restoration of the physiological curvature of the cervical spine. However, several pressing issues remain to be addressed during the surgical process. The depth of the surgical field and the lighting conditions often limit the clear identification of the spinal cord and surrounding delicate structures, compounded by the limited operating space and potential interference between the primary surgeon and assistants, all of which may increase surgical risks.3,4 To surmount these challenges, the application of three-dimensional (3D) microscopy in anterior cervical surgery has been proven to be an effective solution. In Video 1, we demonstrate the complete 2-stage ACDF operation under 3D microscopy, where both the primary surgeon and the assistant observe the surgical area through monitors and external screens, ensuring a comfortable posture and good coordination. In our retrospective review, we analyzed 16 ACDF cases aided by 3D microscopy(including both cervical spondylotic myelopathy with disc herniation and cases with spinal instability). Based on the results of the normality test, we use mean (SD) to describe the data. The mean (SD) decompression time was 37.06 (13.30) minutes, with overall surgical duration of 114.56 (18.11) minutes and blood loss of 68.13 (21.36) mL, with no surgically related complications. At the 6-month follow-up, there was a significant improvement in the Japanese Orthopaedic Association score, neck disability index score, visual analog scale score, and C2-7 Cobb angle compared with preoperative values (Japanese Orthopaedic Association from 11.06 [1.00] to 15.38 [1.09], neck disability index from 30.75 [3.49] to 14.81 [2.93], visual analog scale from 5.19 [1.60] to 1.88 [0.96], and C2-7 Cobb angle from 11.97 [4.63] to 15.49 [4.06], respectively; P < 0.05). 3D microscopy-assisted ACDF demonstrated clear advantages in terms of decompression operation time, intraoperative blood loss, exposure and resection of the posterior longitudinal ligament, and complication rate, achieving satisfactory short-term therapeutic outcomes in the treatment of cervical spondylotic myelopathy. Assisted by 3D microscopy, ACDF surgery offers a high-definition visual field that enhances precision, thereby reducing procedural risks and improving clinical outcomes. This technology alleviates the physical strain on surgeons, fosters collaborative teamwork, and facilitates educational exchanges. With a relatively short learning curve, 3D microscopy significantly enhances the safety and efficiency of ACDF procedures.

Functional outcomes in unstable complete subaxial cervical spinal injuries with respiratory paralysis and/or hemodynamic instability.

INTRODUCTION: Subaxial cervical spine injuries (SCSI) can lead to disastrous consequences such as quadriplegia, with/without respiratory paralysis (RP) and hemodynamic instability (HDI). Till date, there is no literature available for reporting outcomes of SCSI patients specifically pertaining to those presenting with RP/HDI and ours is the first study to document the same. METHODS: Retrospective 6-year study from a tertiary trauma centre database including patients >/= 18 years of operated SCSI. Only patients with ASIA A grade with admission RP/HDI and unstable injuries (fractures, subluxations) were included. Patients with ASIA grade B and above, patients with non-osseous injuries (such as disc herniation, central cord syndrome etc.) were excluded. RESULTS: 24 cases were analysed. C5 and C6 levels were the commonest. Vertebral listhesis/subluxation was the predominant radiological finding. The mean age was 47.4 years (22-79 years) and all, except one were males. Fall from height and road traffic accident (RTA) were the most common mechanisms of injury. The most common surgery was anterior discectomy and fusion followed by corpectomy. The overall mortality rate was 22/24 (92)%. Cord edema and hemorrhage had significant association with survival. None of the grade A survivors with HDI/RP showed improvement. The mean FU duration was 18.5 months (range, 16.5-20.5 months). CONCLUSIONS: Subaxial ASIA A cervical spine injuries with pre-operative RP/HDI is an indicator for non-improvement. This is the first study documenting outcome in such patients. The mortality rate in these patients is very high and is an extremely poor prognostic factor for recovery. Hence, surgery in such patients need to be decided judiciously, especially in developing countries that has a significant financial impact on the family members.

Biportal Endoscopic Spine Surgery for Lumbar Laminectomy and Diskectomy: Postoperative Outcomes and Surgical Learning Curve, a Single US Surgeon's Experience.

INTRODUCTION: Biportal endoscopic spine surgery (BESS) has gained traction for lumbar laminectomy and diskectomy. To justify the transition to BESS, outcomes and the surgical learning curve should be known. This study evaluates rates of complications with BESS and how these rates change with increased surgeon experience. METHODS: A single surgeon's consecutive patients who underwent BESS were evaluated. Patients older than 18 years who underwent BESS for lumbar laminectomy and diskectomy were included. Patients with previous spine surgery, multiple levels, or BESS for fusion were excluded. Demographics, length of surgery, intraoperative complications, postoperative complications, and revision surgery were recorded. The learning phase group and mastery phase group were based on a cumulative summation analysis based on surgical time. RESULTS: A total of 63 patients, with 31 and 32 patients in the learning and mastery group, respectively, were included. Surgical time decreased from 87 to 52 minutes in the mastery phase. Conversion to open decreased from 3 to 0 cases (P = 0.1803), intraoperative complications decreased from 3 to 0 (P = 0.1803), postoperative complications decreased from 7 to 2 (P = 0.017), and rates of revision surgery decreased from 4 to 1 (P = 0.4233). CONCLUSION: This study suggests a learning curve of 31 cases for adequate performance of BESS for lumbar laminectomy and diskectomy.

[Surgical treatment of recurrent herniated discs of the lumbar spine depending on risk factors]. / Vybor taktiki khirurgicheskogo lecheniya retsidivov gryzh diskov poyasnichnogo otdela pozvonochnika na osnovanii analiza faktorov riska ikh razvitiya.

According to the literature, recurrent disc herniation of the lumbar spine occurs in 5-10% of cases. Objective. To develop an algorithm for surgical treatment of recurrent lumbar spine disc herniation based on analysis of risk factors of relapse and assessment of intra- and postoperative period. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 61 patients with recurrent intervertebral disc herniation. Thirty patients underwent repeated microdiscectomy without transpedicular fixation, 31 patients - resection of recurrent disc herniation with transpedicular fixation (PLIF technique). The control group included 63 patients without recurrent disc herniation. Mean follow-up period was 3.5 years. RESULTS: Discectomy with transpedicular fixation is characterized by larger extent, prolonged surgery time and rehabilitation period. However, there is lower risk of recurrent disc herniation and CSF leakage. Repeated microdisectomy without transpedicular fixation is characterized by smaller extent and shorter surgery time, as well as faster recovery period. Nevertheless, we have higher risk of recurrent disc herniation and CSF leakage. We developed a method for assessing the probability of recurrent intervertebral disc herniation. This algorithm allows us to predict the probability of recurrent disc herniation in a particular patient with 86.7% accuracy. CONCLUSION: We proposed an algorithm for choosing surgical treatment of recurrent disc herniation. Microdiscectomy without fixation is advisable for the risk of recurrent disc herniation <30%, discectomy with transpedicular fixation - for risk of disc herniation >30%.

Effects of Surgical Timing on the Prognosis of Far Lateral Disk Herniation.

AIM: To evaluate the effects of surgical timing on the prognosis in far lateral disk herniations. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated 171 patients diagnosed with far lateral disk herniation who underwent surgery between 2015 and 2021. Patients were divided into three groups: Those operated within the first 3 weeks, within 3-6 weeks, and after 6 weeks. Patients with progressive neurologic deficits and severe pain refractory to the analgesic treatment underwent surgery. RESULTS: The mean age was 57±3 (28-85) years. The patients consisted of 96 females and 75 males. Sixty-eight patients underwent surgery at the L4-L5, 45 at the L3-L4, 37 at the L5-S1, and 21 at L2-3 levels. All patients had low back and radicular leg pain. Lasegue test was positive in 67% of patients. Femoral nerve stretch test was positive in 68%. Motor deficits, patellar reflex loss, and sensory deficits were present in 76%, 80%, and 91% respectively. When the postoperative recovery rates of patients who underwent surgery in all three time periods were compared according to visual analog scale, Oswestry disability index, and MacNab criteria, notably, statistically significant improvements in recovery were observed among patients who underwent surgery in the preoperative short time period when compared to those in the other time periods. CONCLUSION: We believe that early surgery is important to prevent the progression of pain from acute to chronic neuropathic pain to promptly eliminate factors that activate the process and to provide faster and clearer symptom treatment.

Comparison of fusion, arthroplasty and hybrid surgery outcomes in patients with two-level cervical disc disease.

OBJECTIVES: The study aims to explore the management of two-level cervical disc disease and to compare outcomes of anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF), cervical disc arthroplasty (CDA), and hybrid surgery (HS). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between December 2011 and December 2021, a total of 120 patients (76 males, 44 females; mean age: 44.8±8.1 years; range, 18 to 68 years) who were diagnosed as two-level cervical disc disease and underwent anterior cervical surgery were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were randomly divided into three groups as ACDF, CDA, and HS each consisting of 40 patients. The Neck Disability Index (NDI), Visual Analog Scale (VAS), clinical and radiological findings, and range of motion (ROM) data were evaluated. RESULTS: All of the groups showed a significant improvement according to clinical and radiological outcomes (p=0.01). The mean follow-up was 27.5±6.1 months for ACDF, 20.0±4.7 months for CDA, and 21.1±5.0 months for HS, showing consistency in monitoring post-surgery outcomes. The mean postoperative NDI scores were 13.4±5.6, 14.8±5.2 and 15.0±5.5 in the ACDF, CDA and HS groups, respectively (p=0.056). The mean postoperative ROM values were 20.82±5.66, 32.45±11.21 and 27.18±10.89, respectively (p=0.045). CONCLUSION: All three surgical techniques, ACDF, CDA, and HS, are safe and successful in the treatment of two-level cervical disc disease. However, HS and CDA may be more preferable over ACDF attributed to their motion-preserving benefits and effectively combining fusion and motion preservation techniques, with comparable clinical and radiological outcomes.

Clinical outcomes of fenestration discectomy and iLESSYS-Delta interlaminar endoscopic system for treatment of LDH: a single-center retrospective cohort study.

To compare the clinical efficacy of interlaminar endoscopic surgical system delta (iLESSYS-Delta) discectomy with that of classical fenestration discectomy for treating lumbar disc herniation. Patients who underwent iLESSYS-Delta or fenestration discectomy were enrolled in this study. Baseline information and clinical indicators were collected. The baseline data were matched using propensity score matching. Fifty-two patients were in each group. In the iLESSYS-Delta cohort, the volume of intraoperative bleeding was 18.17 ± 4.20 ml, the length of postoperative hospital stay was 4.16 ± 2.29 days, and the length of postoperative off-bed activity was 1.58 ± 0.88 days. In contrast, in the fenestration group, the volume of intraoperative bleeding was 32.50 ± 17.13 ml, the length of postoperative hospital stay was 6.66 ± 2.44 days, and the length of postoperative off-bed activity was 3.18 ± 1.28 days. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The operation time was 88.90 ± 19.14 min in the iLESSYS-Delta group and 67.63 ± 19.32 min in the fenestration group, and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Regarding the pain visual analogue scale scores at 24, 48, and 72 h after surgery, patients in the iLESSYS-Delta group had less pain than did those in the fenestration group (P < 0.05). The Oswestry disability indices of postoperative patients in both groups significantly improved at 3 months after surgery and at the last follow-up (P < 0.05); however, there was no statistically significant difference in the postoperative ODI scores between the two surgery groups (P > 0.05). The two groups showed no significant differences in clinical effects, postoperative recurrence rates, or perioperative complications. iLESSYS-Delta can cause less intraoperative bleeding and faster recovery than fenestration discectomy.

Postoperative Opioid Medication Consumption Following Single-Level Lumbar Microdiscectomy Before and After Implementation of a Multimodal Opioid-Sparing Pathway.

In response to the national opioid crisis, there have been increasing efforts to decrease opioid usage in favor of nonopioid alternatives. We compared post-discharge opioid and nonopioid pain medication prescriptions in lumbar microdiscectomy (MLD) patients before and after implementation of an opioid-sparing pathway for outpatient spine surgery. Patients were grouped into pre-implementation (pre) and post-implementation (post) cohorts based on date of surgery relative to pathway implementation on September 1, 2018. Primary outcomes were the average daily morphine milligram equivalent (MME) of opioids and percentages of nonopioids prescribed at 2-week, 6-week, and 3-month follow-up. Two hundred consecutive MLD patients (100 pre, 100 post) were evaluated. Pre-implementation, average daily MME significantly decreased from 19.59 at 2 weeks, to 1.73 at 6 weeks, to 0.11 at 3 months postoperatively (p < 0.001); post-implementation, average daily MME was 14.12, 1.31, and 0.27, respectively (p < 0.001). Average daily MME at 2-week follow-up decreased by 5.48 (p < 0.001) following implementation, while the rate of nonopioid prescriptions increased from 59% to 79% (p = 0.002) overall, specifically for acetaminophen (8% vs. 47%, p < 0.001) and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (36% vs. 61%, p < 0.001). There were no significant differences at 6-week and 3-month follow-up. Opioid usage decreased while nonopioid pain medication usage increased from discharge to 2 weeks postoperatively. Beyond 2 weeks, opioid usage decreased significantly but were comparable between pre-implementation and post-implementation.

Rapid qualitative analysis of recruitment obstacles in the FORVAD (Posterior Cervical Foraminotomy surgery versus Anterior Cervical Discectomy surgery in the treatment of cervical brachialgia) randomised, controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: The number of surgical trials is increasing but such trials can be complex to deliver and pose specific challenges. A multi-centre, Phase III, RCT comparing Posterior Cervical Foraminotomy versus Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion in the Treatment of Cervical Brachialgia (FORVAD Trial) was unable to recruit to target. A rapid qualitative study was conducted during trial closedown to understand the experiences of healthcare professionals who participated in the FORVAD Trial, with the aim of informing future research in this area. METHODS: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 18 healthcare professionals who had participated in the FORVAD Trial. Interviews explored participants' experiences of the FORVAD trial. A rapid qualitative analysis was conducted, informed by Normalisation Process Theory. RESULTS: Four main themes were generated in the data analysis: (1) individual vs. community equipoise; (2) trial set-up and delivery; (3) identifying and approaching patients; and (4) timing of randomisation. The objectives of the FORVAD trial made sense to participants and they supported the idea that there was clinical or collective equipoise regarding the two FORVAD interventions; however, many surgeons had treatment preferences and lacked individual equipoise. The site which had most recruitment success had adopted a more structured process for identification and recruitment of patients, whereas other sites that adopted more "ad hoc" screening strategies struggled to identify patients. Randomisation on the day of surgery caused both medico-legal and practical concerns at some sites. CONCLUSIONS: Organisation and implementation of a surgical trial in neurosurgery is complex and presents many challenges. Sites often reported low recruitment and discussed the logistical issues of conducting a complex surgical RCT. Future trials in neurosurgery may need to offer more flexibility and time during set-up to maximise opportunities for larger recruitment numbers. Rapid qualitative analysis informed by Normalisation Process Theory was able to quickly identify key issues with trial implementation so rapid qualitative analysis may be a useful approach for teams conducting qualitative research in trials. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN, ISRCTN reference: 10,133,661. Registered 23rd November 2018.

[Curative effect analysis of anterior cervical discectomy and fusion in patients with cervical spondylosis of vertebral artery type].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical effect of anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) in the treatment of cervical spondylosis of vertebral artery type(CSA). METHODS: The clinical data of 42 patients with CSA from January 2020 to January 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 25 males and 17 females, aged from 30 to 74 years old with an average of (53.9±11.0) years old. There were 18 cases with single-segment lesions, 17 cases with two-segment lesions, and 7 cases with three-segment lesions. The American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery's Hearing and Balance Committee score (CHE), the Neck Disability Index (NDI) and the cervical curvature Cobb angle were recorded before surgery and after surgery at 6 months. RESULTS: All 42 ACDF patients were followed up for 6 to 30 months with an average of (14.0±5.2) months. The operative time ranged from 95 to 220 min with an average of (160.38±36.77) min, the intraoperative blood loss ranged from 30 to 85 ml with an average of (53.60±18.98) ml. Tow patients had mild postoperative dysphagia, which improved with symptomatic treatment such as nebulized inhalation. CHE score decreased from (4.05±0.96) preoperatively to (2.40±0.70) at 6 months postoperatively (t=12.97, P<0.05). The number of improved vertigo at 6 months postoperatively was 38, with an improvement rate of 90.5%. NDI score was reduced from (34.43±8.04) preoperatively to (20.76±3.91) at 6 months postoperatively (t=11.83, P<0.05). The cervical curvature Cobb angle improved from (8.04±6.70)° preoperatively to (12.42±5.23)° at 6 months postoperatively (t=-15.96, P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The ACDF procedure has outstanding clinical efficacy in treating CSA. The operation can rapidly relieve patients' episodic vertigo symptoms by relieving bony compression and reconstructing cervical curvature. However, it is necessary to strictly grasp the indications for surgery and clarify the causes of vertigo in patients, and ACDF surgery is recommended for CSA patients for whom conservative treatment is ineffective.

Outcomes of non-contiguous two-level anterior cervical discectomy and fusion in patients with degenerative cervical myelopathy: a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Non-contiguous two-level Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (ACDF) may be a viable option for patients with degenerative cervical myelopathy and imaging-evident spine and radicular compression at two non-contiguous cervical levels. The risk of hastening degeneration and triggering Adjacent Segment Disease at the spine levels located between the fused levels is a putative adverse event, which was assessed in a few studies. The aim of this study is to investigate the clinical outcomes of patients undergoing non-contiguous two levels ACDF and to assess biomechanical modifications at non-fused segments. METHOD: We retrospectively reviewed all patients with noncontiguous two-level spine and radicular compression, who underwent simultaneous noncontiguous two-level ACDF at our center. We analyzed clinical and radiological outcomes and investigated the rate of adjacent segment disease. Radiographic parameters were calculated on pre- and postoperative images. RESULTS: Thirty-two patients underwent simultaneous noncontiguous two-level ACDF for cervical myelo-radiculopathy between 2015 and 2021 and were followed up for a mean period of 43.3 months. For all patients, the mJOA score significantly improved from 14.57 ± 2.3 to 16.5 ± 2.1 (p<0.01) and the NDI score significantly decreased from 21.45 ± 4.3 to 12.8 ± 2.3 (p<0.01) postoperatively. Cervical lordosis increased after surgery (from 9.65° ±9.47 to 15.12° ± 6.09); intermediate disc height decreased (5.68 mm ± 0.57 to 5.27 mm ±0.98); the ROMs of intermediate (from 12.45 ± 2.33 to 14.77 ± 1.98), cranial (from 14.63 ± 1.59 to 15.71 ± 1.02), and caudal (from 11.58 ± 2.32 to 13.33 ± 2.67) segments slightly increased. During follow-up assessment, in one patient the myelopathy worsened due to spine compression at the intermediate level. CONCLUSIONS: Simultaneous and non-contiguous two-level ACDF is a safe and effective procedure. The occurrence of postoperative adjacent and intermediate segment disease is rare.

Bupivacaine pleural effusion mimicking a hemothorax after a thoracoscopic microdiscectomy with epidural anesthesia.

PURPOSE: Post-operative pain after video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery is often treated using thoracic epidural analgesics or thoracic paravertebral analgesics. This article describes a case where a thoracic disc herniation is treated with a thoracoscopic microdiscectomy with post-operative thoracic epidural analgesics. The patient developed a bupivacaine pleural effusion which mimicked a hemothorax on computed tomography (CT). METHODS: The presence of bupivacaine in the pleural effusion was confirmed using a high performance liquid chromatography method. RESULTS: The patient underwent a re-exploration to relieve the pleural effusion. The patient showed a long-term recovery similar to what can be expected from an uncomplicated thoracoscopic microdiscectomy. CONCLUSION: A pleural effusion may occur when thoracic epidural analgesics are used in patents with a corridor between the pleural cavity and epidural space.

Best of Both Worlds: Use of Robotic Principles for Placing Navigated Cervical and Difficult Upper Thoracic Pedicle Screws, a Technical Nuance.

Navigated pedicle screw placement can be particularly challenging for cervical and upper thoracic levels in obese patients. This technical challenge can be compounded by smaller-diameter tools, which can be flexible and therefore confound navigation. It is imperative to avoid excessive manipulation of surrounding tissues to maintain navigation accuracy in the mobile cervical spine.1 Robotic-assisted spinal approaches use firm guides to aid drilling and screw placement but are hindered by high costs with equipment acquisition.2,3 Here, we propose a technical nuance that combines robotic surgical principles with tools that are more readily available in many surgical departments (Video 1). We present the case of a 64-year-old woman with a chief complaint of neck pain, irradiating to the left worse than right arm and prior history of C5-7 anterior cervical diskectomy and fusion. Imaging showed multilevel degenerative disease and a solid prior C5-7 anterior cervical diskectomy and fusion with grade I anterolisthesis at C7-T1 due to severe facet degeneration with severe left-sided foraminal stenosis. Given failure of conservative management, the patient was brought to the operating room for left C7-T1 foraminotomy and C7-T1 posterior instrumented fusion. Here, we show the use of a tubular retractor fixed to the surgical bed for solid and reproducible trajectory for all tools to minimize the risk of surrounding tissue manipulation and its effect on navigation accuracy.

Comparison of Percutaneous Endoscopic Transforaminal Discectomy, Chemonucleolysis, Microdiscectomy, and Microendoscopic Discectomy for Symptomatic Lumbar Disc Herniation: One-year Follow-up Clinical Results and Disc Degeneration.

This study compared the 1-year clinical outcomes and disc degeneration rates after transforaminal full-endoscopic lumbar discectomy (TF-FED), condoliase injection, open discectomy (OD), and microendoscopic discectomy (MED) for lumbar disc herniation (LDH). In total, 279 patients with LDH were divided into four treatment groups: TF-FED, OD, MED, and condoliase injection. Outcomes were evaluated on the basis of the complication rate, Japanese Orthopaedic Association Back Pain Evaluation Questionnaire (JOABPEQ), visual analog scale (VAS) scores, and the modified MacNab criteria. Surgical and hospital costs were assessed. Disc degeneration and endplate bone marrow edema were evaluated using magnetic resonance images. The mean postoperative JOABPEQ, VAS, or modified MacNab scores among the four groups had no significant differences. Additionally, the nerve injury or reoperation rate among the TF-FED, OD, and MED groups had no significant difference. However, the reoperation rate with condoliase injection was high because of residual disc herniation. Surgical and hospital costs were lower with condoliase injection and higher with OD and MED than those with TF-FED. With TF-FED and condoliase injection, the Pfirrmann grade progressed, and the disc height was significantly smaller than that with OD and MED. Endplate bone marrow edema was more common with condoliase injection and TF-FED. All groups had good outcomes. TF-FED and condoliase injection may reduce the burden of surgery because they can be performed under local anesthesia with little blood loss and low medical costs but tend to be associated with disc degeneration and endplate bone marrow edema. A randomized controlled study with a larger sample is needed.

Is it necessary to use a cervical brace after single- or double-level ACDF?

Although anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) is one of the most frequently performed spinal surgeries, there is no consensus regarding the necessity of prescribing a cervical brace after surgery. This study aimed to investigate any difference in radiological and clinical outcomes when wearing or not wearing cervical braces after single- or double-level ACDF. We examined 2 cohorts of patients who underwent single- or double-level ACDF surgery with and without a cervical brace: patients who underwent ACDF between March 2018 and December 2019 received a cervical brace, while patients who underwent ACDF between January 2020 and May 2021 did not. Each patient was evaluated radiologically and functionally using plain X-ray, modified Japanese Orthopedic Association score, and visual analog scale for neck and arm until 12 months after surgery. Fusion rate, subsidence, and postoperative complications were also evaluated. Eighty-three patients were included in the analysis: 38 were braced and 45 were not. The demographic characteristics and baseline outcome measures of both groups were similar. There was no statistically significant difference in any of the clinical measures at baseline. The modified Japanese Orthopedic Association score and visual analog scale for neck and arm were similar in both groups at all time intervals and showed statistically significant improvement when compared with preoperative scores. In addition, fusion rate, subsidence, and postoperative complications were similar in both groups. Our results suggest that the use of cervical braces does not improve the clinical outcomes of individuals undergoing single- or double-level ACDF.