Predicting 30-day mortality after surgery for metastatic disease of the spine: the H2-FAILS score.

PURPOSE: Scoring systems for metastatic spine disease focus on predicting long- to medium-term mortality or a combination of perioperative morbidity and mortality. However, accurate prediction of perioperative mortality alone may be the most important factor when considering surgical intervention. We aimed to develop and evaluate a new tool, the H2-FAILS score, to predict 30-day mortality after surgery for metastatic spine disease. METHODS: Using the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database, we identified 1195 adults who underwent surgery for metastatic spine disease from 2010 to 2018. Incidence of 30-day mortality was 8.7% (n = 104). Independent predictors of 30-day mortality were used to derive the H2-FAILS score. H2-FAILS is an acronym for: Heart failure (2 points), Functional dependence, Albumin deficiency, International normalized ratio elevation, Leukocytosis, and Smoking (1 point each). Discrimination was assessed using area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). The H2-FAILS score was compared with the American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status Classification (ASA Class), the 5-item modified Frailty Index (mFI-5), and the New England Spinal Metastasis Score (NESMS). Internal validation was performed using bootstrapping. Alpha = 0.05. RESULTS: Predicted 30-day mortality was 1.8% for an H2-FAILS score of 0 and 78% for a score of 6. AUC of the H2-FAILS was 0.77 (95% confidence interval: 0.72-0.81), which was higher than the mFI-5 (AUC 0.58, p < 0.001), ASA Class (AUC 0.63, p < 0.001), and NESMS (AUC 0.70, p = 0.004). Internal validation showed an optimism-corrected AUC of 0.76. CONCLUSIONS: The H2-FAILS score accurately predicts 30-day mortality after surgery for spinal metastasis. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic level III.

Do Disparities in Wait Times to Operative Fixation for Pathologic Fractures of the Long Bones and 30-day Complications Exist Between Black and White Patients? A Study Using the NSQIP Database.

BACKGROUND: Racial disparities in outcomes after orthopaedic surgery have been well-documented in the fields of arthroplasty, trauma, and spine surgery; however, little research has assessed differences in outcomes after surgery for oncologic musculoskeletal disease. If racial disparities exist in the treatment of patients with pathologic long bone fractures, then they should be identified and addressed to promote equity in patient care. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES: (1) How do wait times between hospital admission and operative fixation for pathologic fractures of long bones differ between Black and non-Hispanic white patients, after controlling for confounding variables using propensity score matching? (2) How does the proportion of patients with 30-day postoperative complication differ between these groups after controlling for confounding variables using propensity score matching? METHODS: Using the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database, we analyzed 828 patients who underwent fixation for pathologic fractures from 2012 to 2018. This database not only provides a large enough sample of pathologic long bone fracture patients to conduct the present study, but also it contains variables such as time from hospitalization to surgery that other national databases do not. After excluding patients with incomplete data (4% of the initial cohort), 775 patients were grouped by self-reported race as Black (12% [94]) or white (88% [681]). Propensity score matching using a 1:1 nearest-neighbor match was then used to match 94 Black patients with 94 white patients according to age, gender, BMI, American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status classification, anemia, endstage renal disease, independence in performing activities of daily living, congestive heart failure, and pulmonary disease. The primary outcome of interest was the number of days between hospital admission and operative fixation, which we assessed using a Poisson regression and report as an incidence risk ratio. The secondary outcomes were the occurrences of major 30-day postoperative adverse events (failure to wean off mechanical ventilation, cerebrovascular events, renal failure, cardiovascular events, reoperation, death), minor 30-day adverse events (reintubation, wound complications, pneumonia, and thromboembolic events), and any 30-day adverse events (defined as the pooling of all adverse events, including readmissions). These outcomes were analyzed using a bivariate analysis and logistic regression with robust estimates of variance and are reported as odds ratios. Because any results on disparities rely on rigorous control of other baseline demographics, we performed this multivariable approach to ensure we were controlling for confounding variables as much as possible. RESULTS: After controlling for potentially confounding variables such as age and gender, we found that Black patients had a longer mean wait time (incidence risk ratio 1.5 [95% CI 1.1 to 2.1]; p = 0.01) than white patients. After controlling for confounding variables, Black patients also had greater odds of having any postoperative adverse event (OR 2.1 [95% CI 1.1 to 3.8]; p = 0.02), including readmission (OR 3.3 [95% CI 1.5 to 7.6]; p = 0.004). CONCLUSION: The racial disparities in pathologic long bone fracture care found in our study may be attributed to fundamental racial biases, as well as systemic socioeconomic disparities in the US healthcare system. Identifying and eliminating the racial, socioeconomic, and sociocultural biases that drive these disparities would improve care for patients with orthopaedic oncologic conditions. One possible way to reduce these disparities would be to implement standardized surgical care pathways for pathological long bone fractures across different institutions to minimize variation in important aspects of care, such as time to surgical fixation. Further insight is needed on the types of standardized care pathways and the implementation mechanisms that are most effective. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, therapeutic study.

Can images crowdsourced from the internet be used to train generalizable joint dislocation deep learning algorithms?

OBJECTIVE: Deep learning has the potential to automatically triage orthopedic emergencies, such as joint dislocations. However, due to the rarity of these injuries, collecting large numbers of images to train algorithms may be infeasible for many centers. We evaluated if the Internet could be used as a source of images to train convolutional neural networks (CNNs) for joint dislocations that would generalize well to real-world clinical cases. METHODS: We collected datasets from online radiology repositories of 100 radiographs each (50 dislocated, 50 located) for four joints: native shoulder, elbow, hip, and total hip arthroplasty (THA). We trained a variety of CNN binary classifiers using both on-the-fly and static data augmentation to identify the various joint dislocations. The best-performing classifier for each joint was evaluated on an external test set of 100 corresponding radiographs (50 dislocations) from three hospitals. CNN performance was evaluated using area under the ROC curve (AUROC). To determine areas emphasized by the CNN for decision-making, class activation map (CAM) heatmaps were generated for test images. RESULTS: The best-performing CNNs for elbow, hip, shoulder, and THA dislocation achieved high AUROCs on both internal and external test sets (internal/external AUC): elbow (1.0/0.998), hip (0.993/0.880), shoulder (1.0/0.993), THA (1.0/0.950). Heatmaps demonstrated appropriate emphasis of joints for both located and dislocated joints. CONCLUSION: With modest numbers of images, radiographs from the Internet can be used to train clinically-generalizable CNNs for joint dislocations. Given the rarity of joint dislocations at many centers, online repositories may be a viable source for CNN-training data.

Detecting total hip arthroplasty dislocations using deep learning: clinical and Internet validation.

OBJECTIVE: Periprosthetic dislocations of total hip arthroplasty (THA) are time-sensitive injuries, as the longer diagnosis and treatment are delayed, the more difficult they are to reduce. Automated triage of radiographs with dislocations could help reduce these delays. We trained convolutional neural networks (CNNs) for the detection of THA dislocations, and evaluated their generalizability by evaluating them on external datasets. METHODS: We used 357 THA radiographs from a single hospital (185 with dislocation [51.8%]) to develop and internally test a variety of CNNs to identify THA dislocation. We performed external testing of these CNNs on two datasets to evaluate generalizability. CNN performance was evaluated using area under the receiving operating characteristic curve (AUROC). Class activation mapping (CAM) was used to create heatmaps of test images for visualization of regions emphasized by the CNNs. RESULTS: Multiple CNNs achieved AUCs of 1 for both internal and external test sets, indicating good generalizability. Heatmaps showed that CNNs consistently emphasized the THA for both dislocated and located THAs. CONCLUSION: CNNs can be trained to recognize THA dislocation with high diagnostic performance, which supports their potential use for triage in the emergency department. Importantly, our CNNs generalized well to external data from two sources, further supporting their potential clinical utility.

Treatment of Neck Pain with Opioids in the Primary Care Setting: Trends and Geographic Variation.

OBJECTIVE: Neck pain is a leading cause of years lived with disability and is often managed with opioid medications in primary care settings, though this is contraindicated by national guidelines. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of opioid prescription for neck pain at a primary care visit and to analyze the geographic variation and trends in opioid prescriptions between 2011 and 2017. METHODS: Using a prescription drug claims database, we identified 591,961 adult patients who presented for neck pain in primary care settings between 2011 and 2017. Patients who had outpatient specialty visits within 1 year before presentation, a concomitant diagnosis of a non-musculoskeletal cause of neck pain, or preexisting chronic opioid use were excluded. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 45 ± 12 years, and 64% were female. Fifteen percent of patients were prescribed opioids within 30 days of their encounter. Eleven percent of patients were prescribed moderate- to high-dose opioids (>20 morphine milligram equivalents). From 2011-2017, the proportion of both overall opioid prescriptions and moderate- to high-dose prescriptions given to first time presenters to an outpatient clinic for neck pain was highest in Mississippi (20%) and lowest in New Mexico (6%) (P < 0.001). In 2017, the proportion of both overall opioid prescriptions and moderate- to high-dose prescriptions was highest in the Midwest (10.4%) and lowest in the Northeast (4.9%). The proportion of patients with filled opioid prescriptions declined between 2011 (19%) and 2017 (13%) (P < 0.001), and the proportion of patients with moderate- to high-dose prescriptions declined from 2011 (13%) to 2017 (8%) (P < 0.001). first-time presenters of neck pain to an outpatient clinic. CONCLUSIONS: Opioid medication use for neck pain in the primary care setting is significant. Although opioid prescriptions are declining, there remains a need for further standardization in prescription practices.

A Fall Within 3 Months Before Total Joint Arthroplasty is Associated With Adverse Outcomes in Elderly Patients.

BACKGROUND: Falls are associated with morbidity and death in the elderly. The consequences of falls after total joint arthroplasty (TJA) are known, but the consequences of preoperative falls are unclear. We assessed associations between preoperative fall history and hospital readmission rates and discharge disposition after primary TJA. METHODS: We queried the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Geriatric Pilot Project for cases of primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) (n = 3671) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA) (n = 6194) performed between 2014 and 2018 for patients aged ≥65 years. Patient characteristics, comorbidities, functional status indicators, and 30-day outcomes were compared among patients with falls occurring within 3 months, from >3 to 6 months, and from >6 to 12 months before surgery, and patients with no falls in the year before surgery. The timing of falls was assessed for independent associations with hospital readmission and discharge to a skilled care facility (SCF). Alpha = 0.05. RESULTS: Patients who fell within 3 months before surgery had greater odds of SCF discharge (for THA, odds ratio [OR] 2.5, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.8-3.4; for TKA, OR 1.8, 95% CI 1.4-2.3) and hospital readmission (for THA, OR 1.8, 95% CI 1.1-3.0; for TKA, OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.6-3.5) compared with the no-fall cohort. No such associations were observed for the other two fall cohorts. CONCLUSION: Falls within 3 months before primary TJA are associated with SCF discharge and readmission for patients aged ≥65 years. Fall history screening should be included in preoperative evaluation. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.

Geographic Variation in Physician Payments from Private Insurers for Commonly Performed Inpatient Orthopaedic Surgeries in the United States.

We investigated geographic variation in percentage of private insurance payments to United States physicians for commonly performed orthopaedic procedures. We queried a private administrative claims database for patients who underwent inpatient total knee arthroplasty (TKA), total hip arthroplasty (THA), single-level anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF), and posterior lumbar fusion (PLF) from 2010 to 2017. Percentage of total payments to physician (PPP) was calculated by dividing physician payments by total payments. Analysis of variance was used to determine geographic differences in PPP. A total of 542,530 patients were included, mean age was 55 ± 8. PPP significantly varied between states for all four procedures (p < 0.001); Colorado and Alabama had the lowest and highest PPP, respectively. There was a significant annual decrease in PPP across all regions in all procedures. There was significant variation in percentage of total payments to physicians across geographic regions in the United States for TKA, THA, ACDF and PLF. (Journal of Surgical Orthopaedic Advances 30(1):014-019, 2021).

Use of Imaging During Emergency Department Visits for Low Back Pain.

OBJECTIVE. Back pain is one of the most common reasons for adult patients 18-65 years old to seek emergency care. Use of imaging for patients without so-called red flags (trauma, malignancy, or infection) may result in potentially unnecessary costs and radiation exposure. The aim of this study was to investigate the use of imaging for patients with emergency visits for low back pain. MATERIALS AND METHODS. Emergency department visits for patients with low back pain billed to insurance were identified by querying a national commercial claims and encounters database for patients 18-64 years old. Patients with concomitant encounter diagnoses suggestive of trauma or those with prior visits for back pain were excluded. Imaging modalities (radiography, CT, and MRI) were identified by Current Procedural Terminology codes. RESULTS. A total of 134,624 encounters met inclusion criteria. Imaging was obtained in 44,405 (33.7%) visits and decreased from 34.4% to 31.9% between 2011 and 2016 (odds ratio per year, 0.98 [95% CI, 0.98-0.99]; p < 0.001). During the study period, 30.9% of patients underwent radiography, 2.7% of patients underwent CT, and 0.8% of patients underwent MRI for evaluation of low back pain. The use of imaging varied significantly by geographic region (p < 0.001), with patients in the southern United States undergoing 10% more imaging than patients in the western United States. CONCLUSION. The use of imaging for the initial evaluation of patients with low back pain in the emergency department continues to occur at a high rate, in approximately one in three new emergency visits for low back pain in the United States.

Revision Joint Arthroplasty and Renal Transplant: A Matched Control Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: There is little literature concerning clinical outcomes following revision joint arthroplasty in solid organ transplant recipients. The aims of this study are to (1) analyze postoperative outcomes and mortality following revision hip and knee arthroplasty in renal transplant recipients (RTRs) compared to non-RTRs and (2) characterize common indications and types of revision procedures among RTRs. METHODS: A retrospective Medicare database review identified 1020 RTRs who underwent revision joint arthroplasty (359 revision total knee arthroplasty [TKA] and 661 revision total hip arthroplasty [THA]) from 2005 to 2014. RTRs were compared to their respective matched control groups of nontransplant revision arthroplasty patients for hospital length of stay, readmission, major medical complications, infections, septicemia, and mortality following revision. RESULTS: Renal transplantation was significantly associated with increased length of stay (6.12 ± 7.86 vs 4.33 ± 4.29, P < .001), septicemia (odds ratio [OR], 2.52; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.83-3.46; P < .001), and 1-year mortality (OR, 2.71; 95% CI, 1.51-4.53; P < .001) following revision TKA. Among revision THA patients, RTR status was associated with increased hospital readmission (OR, 1.23; 95% CI, 1.03-1.47; P = .023), septicemia (OR, 1.82; 95% CI, 1.41-2.34; P < .001), and 1-year mortality (OR, 2.65; 95% CI, 1.88-3.66; P < .001). The most frequent primary diagnoses associated with revision TKA and THA among RTRs were mechanical complications of prosthetic implant. CONCLUSION: Prior renal transplantation among revision joint arthroplasty patients is associated with increased morbidity and mortality when compared to nontransplant recipients.

Emergency Department Visits After Posterior Spinal Fusion for Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of emergency department (ED) visits after posterior spinal fusion (PSF) in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) patients is not well known. We hypothesize that the majority of ED visits are related to constipation and pain issues, and are not for serious complications. METHODS: Using a private insurance claims database, we identified AIS patients aged 10 to 21 years who underwent PSF from 2010 to 2015. Patients were excluded for diagnoses of neuromuscular or syndromic scoliosis. ED visits that occurred within the 6-month postoperative period were identified. The diagnoses present at these visits were pooled and analyzed, in addition to insurance payments associated with these visits. Significance was set at P=0.05. RESULTS: A total of 5934 patients met inclusion criteria. Mean age was 14.4±2.2 years, and 75% of the patients were girls. A total of 577 (9.7%) patients had at least 1 ED visit in the 6-month postoperative period, whereas 92 (1.6%) had 2 ED visits and 19 (0.3%) had 3 or more ED visits. The median time to ED visits was 33 days after surgery. Independent risk factors for ED visits were: older age, and greater levels fused (P<0.05). The top 5 most common reasons for ED visits were: pain/back or musculoskeletal, constipation/GI issues, asthma/ respiratory issues, upper respiratory infection, and dehydration. Rates of ED visits were similar among the US geographic regions. Patients who had an ED visit had significantly higher total 6-month health care payments than those who did not (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Approximately 10% of the patients had ≥1 ED visit in the 6-month period after PSF for AIS. A majority of the diagnoses at these ED visits were outpatient medical issues. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III.

Does Polycythemia Vera Increase Risk of Postoperative Complications Following Primary Total Joint Arthroplasty? A Retrospective Matched Control Cohort Study of 6932 Polycythemia Vera Patients.

BACKGROUND: There is sparsity of data on outcomes following joint arthroplasty among polycythemia vera (PV) patients. The aim of this study is to evaluate postoperative outcomes following primary total knee (TKA) and hip (THA) arthroplasty among PV patients. METHODS: A retrospective Medicare database review identified 6932 PV patients who underwent a primary total joint arthroplasty (4643 TKAs and 2289 THAs) from 2006 to 2013. A comparison of hospital length of stay, mortality, and the diagnosis of surgical site infections (SSIs), stroke, myocardial infarction, acute pulmonary embolism (PE), deep vein thrombosis (DVT), and other postoperative complications was made between PV patients undergoing TKA and THA and their respective matched control groups. RESULTS: PV was significantly associated with increased rates of acute PE (2.3% vs 1.6%; odds ratio [OR] 1.44, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.17-1.75), DVT (4.2% vs 3.6%; OR 1.40, 95% CI 1.20-1.61, P < .001), postoperative hematoma (0.6% vs 0.4%; OR 1.57, 95% CI 1.03-2.28), and SSI (4.5% vs 3.6%; OR 1.25, 95% CI 1.08-1.44, P = .002) following TKA. Among PV patients who underwent a primary THA, PV was significantly associated with increased rate of acute PE (1.9% vs 1.4%; OR 1.40, 95% CI 1.01-1.88, P = .035), DVT (3.5% vs 2.6%; OR 1.32, 95% CI 1.04-1.66, P = .035), postoperative hematoma (1.1% vs 0.6%; OR 1.86, 95% CI 1.22-2.80), and 1-year mortality (2.2% vs 1.6%; OR 1.43, 95% CI 1.06-1.89, P = .016). CONCLUSION: PV was significantly associated with increased risk for DVT, PE, postoperative hematoma, SSI (TKA only), and 1-year mortality (THA only) following primary total joint arthroplasty.

A Retrospective Database Review of the Indications, Complications, and Incidence of Subsequent Spine Surgery in 12,297 Spinal Cord Stimulator Patients.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective review. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the indications, incidence of minor and major complications, and rate of subsequent spinal surgery or revision after spinal cord stimulator (SCS) placement for degenerative spine disease. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Despite the application of SCS in various chronic pain conditions, there remains a growing debate on the efficacy and necessity of SCS in degenerative spine disease. METHODS: A nationally representative sample of Medicare patients who had an open (via laminectomy) SCS placement for degenerative spine disease between 2005 and 2014 were studied. Indications, complications, and the rate of subsequent spinal surgery within 90 days, one year, two years, and three years postoperatively were studied using Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) and International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes. RESULTS: We included 12,297 SCS patients in our study cohort. The most common indications for SCS placement were postlaminectomy syndrome (25.2%) and chronic pain syndrome (20.2%). There was a 4.2 and 17.2% incidence of postoperative back or spine emergency department (ED) visits, and a 0.3 and 3.4% incidence of SCS electrode removal or reimplantation within 90 days and 1 year, respectively. Other reported surgical complications were wound infection (4.3%), hematoma (0.5%), and seroma (0.4%) at one year postoperatively. Within 90 days after SCS implantation, the rate of subsequent spine surgery or revision was 0.9%. This incidence was 7.1, 11.7, and 15.5% at one, two, and three years, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In our retrospective analysis of Medicare patients, the most common indication for SCS implantation was postlaminectomy syndrome. Common postoperative complications included wound infection, and removal of SCS electrodes at one year postoperatively. About 17% patients had an ED visit for spine-related symptoms within one year of device implantation, and 15.5% underwent subsequent spinal decompression and/or fusion within 3 years after primary SCS placement.

Healing of Pathologic Humeral Fractures in Patients with Metastatic Disease: Consideration for Operative Fixation in Patients.

We compared short-term outcomes after operative versus nonoperative treatment of pathologic humeral fractures. We hypothesized that patients who underwent operative fixation would heal faster and have better pain control. A retrospective review was conducted of 25 patients who underwent operative fixation and 6 who received nonoperative treatment from 2005-2017. Operative patients healed significantly earlier than nonoperative patients (p = 0.02). At 16-week follow-up, radiographs showed evidence of healing in 24 of 25 operatively treated patients and 2 of 6 nonoperatively treated patients (p < 0.01). Pain improved during the inpatient stay in 24 of 25 operatively treated patients and none of the nonoperatively treated patients (p < 0.01). All operatively treated patients returned to self-reported baseline motor function by final follow-up, whereas none of the nonoperatively treated patients returned to baseline (p = 0.01). Operative treatment was associated with earlier healing, pain control and return to function compared with nonoperative treatment of pathologic humeral fractures. Level of Evidence: 3. (Journal of Surgical Orthopaedic Advances 29(3):177-181, 2020).

Extremity gossypiboma mimicking sarcoma: case report and review.

A 70-year-old man with a history of bladder and colon cancer presented with an enlarging mass in his right lower extremity. Forty years before presentation, he had injured his right lower extremity in a motor vehicle accident. Imaging findings indicated suspected sarcoma, which led to biopsy. Biopsy and further surgical exploration revealed the presence of a surgical sponge and surrounding local inflammatory reaction. No neoplasm was found, and the sponge and involved tissues were removed. Gossypiboma is exceedingly rare in the extremities. Imaging of retained foreign material can appear suggestive of sarcoma because of strong inflammatory responses and local tissue mass-like derangement resulting in heterogeneous signal changes. Ultimately, biopsy must be performed to ensure that no oncological pathological condition is present.

Complications of Transradial Catheterization and Cannulation.

Transradial catheterization and cannulation are typically well-tolerated procedures, but they are associated with various vascular, infectious, and orthopedic complications. Potential complications include radial artery occlusion, hematoma formation, radial artery laceration, pseudoaneurysm, abscess formation, and compartment syndrome. Hand surgeons are commonly consulted to treat such complications. We review recent evidence available to guide decisions about nonsurgical and surgical interventions to treat and prevent the complications associated with transradial access procedures.

Outcomes following surgical management of femoral neck fractures in elderly dialysis-dependent patients.

INTRODUCTION: Proximal femur fractures are one of the most common fractures observed in dialysis-dependent patients. Given the large comorbidity burden present in this patient population, more information is needed regarding post-operative outcomes. The goal of this study was to assess morbidity and mortality following operative fixation of femoral neck fractures in the dialysis-dependent elderly. METHODS: The full set of medicare data from 2005 to 2014 was retrospectively analyzed. Elderly patients with femoral neck fractures were selected. Patients were stratified based on dialysis dependence. Post-operative morbidity and mortality outcomes were compared between the two populations. Adjusted odds were calculated to determine the effect of dialysis dependence on outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 320,629 patients met the inclusion criteria. Of dialysis-dependent patients, 1504 patients underwent internal fixation and 2662 underwent arthroplasty. For both surgical cohorts, dialysis dependence was found to be associated with at least 1.9 times greater odds of mortality within 1 and 2 years post-operatively. Blood transfusions within 90 days and infections within 2 years were significantly increased in the dialysis-dependent study cohort. Dialysis dependence alone did not contribute to increased mechanical failure or major medical complications. CONCLUSION: Regardless of the surgery performed, dialysis dependence is a significant risk factor for major post-surgical morbidity and mortality after operative treatment of femoral neck fractures in this population. Increased mechanical failure in the internal fixation group was not observed. The increased risk associated with caring for this population should be understood when considering surgical intervention and counseling patients.

Serial Mehta Cast Utilization in Infantile Idiopathic Scoliosis: Evaluation of Radiographic Predictors.

BACKGROUND: Mehta cast utilization has gained a considerable momentum as a nonoperative treatment modality for the initial management of infantile idiopathic scoliosis (IIS). Despite its acceptance, there is paucity of data that characterize the radiographic parameters associated with Mehta casting and the factors correlated with a sustained curve correction. METHODS: A retrospective review of IIS patients who underwent Mehta casting was performed with a mean 2-year follow-up. X-rays were evaluated at each visit for the Cobb angle, focal deformity, rib-vertebral angle difference, and height of concavity and convexity of the apical 3 vertebrae. Concave-to-convex height ratios were calculated and tracked for each patient. Radiographic parameters were compared from precasting to after final casting, and from final casting to most recent follow-up. RESULTS: A total of 45 patients were identified, of whom 18 (40%) were male and 27 (60%) were female, with a mean age of 18.8±9.5 months at first casting and a mean follow-up of 37.7±19.7 months. Following final casting, the mean Cobb angle (25.6 vs. 52.7 degrees), focal deformity (17.4 vs. 30.5 degrees), rib-vertebral angle difference (18 vs. 32.3 degrees), and the concave-to-convex height ratios improved relative to precast parameters, respectively (P<0.001). At final follow-up, mean Cobb angle (16.2 vs. 25.6 degrees) and concave-to-convex height ratios progressively improved when compared with final cast measurements, respectively (P<0.001). Five (11%) patients did not demonstrate sustained curve correction at final follow-up, whereas 4 (9%) required growing-rod placement. Lastly, the regression analysis demonstrated improvements in the focal deformity (17.4 vs. 30.5) and the concave-to-convex height ratios of the +1 and -1 apical vertebrae from the precast to last cast periods (P<0.001). These findings were correlated with sustained Cobb angle correction from cast removal to the most recent follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Radiographic parameters associated with control of progressive deformity for IIS include improvements in focal deformity and concave-to-convex height ratios for +1 and -1 apical vertebrae after final casting. Mehta casting is an effective treatment for symptomatic IIS and continues to provide IIS patients with significant curve correction. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV.

Analgesic therapy for major spine surgery.

Pain following spine surgery is often difficult to control and can persist. Reduction of this pain requires a multidisciplinary approach that depends on contributions of both surgeons and anesthesiologists. The spine surgeon's role involves limiting manipulation of structures contributing to pain sensation in the spine, which requires an in-depth understanding of the specific anatomic etiologies of pain originating along the spinal axis. Anesthesiologists, on the other hand, must focus on preemptive, multimodal analgesic treatment regimens. In this review, we first discuss anatomic sources of pain within the spine, before delving into a specific literature-supported pain management protocol intended for use with spinal surgery.

Intercostal aneurysm causing spinal cord compression in an NF1 patient.

PURPOSE: The authors illustrate a case where an intercostal aneurysm was observed in a patient with type 1 neurofibromatosis. METHODS: A 32-year-old man with NF1 presented with thoracic back pain. The patient's symptoms progressed to include myelopathic symptoms, including difficulty urinating, numbness in the lower extremities, and increased weakness. Imaging revealed what appeared to be a neurofibroma at the T4-T5 level and a plan to resect the mass was formulated. Upon initial limited hemilaminotomy, significant arterial blood was encountered. The patient was then taken to the interventional suite and angiography was performed, revealing a left T4 intercostal aneurysm. The aneurysm was coil-embolized with no residual filling. RESULTS: By 6 months post-surgery, the patient had regained full strength and sensation in his lower extremities and no longer had difficulty urinating. There has been no recurrence of symptoms 3 years postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: Intercostal artery lesions must be considered as a possible diagnosis in NF1.

Aneurysmal bone cysts of the spine: treatment options and considerations.

Aneurysmal bone cysts (ABCs) are benign bone lesions with annual incidences ranging from 1.4 to 3.2 cases per million people. Approximately, 10-30% of ABCs are found in the spine. Such lesions are traditionally treated with curettage or other intralesional techniques. Because ABCs can be locally aggressive, intralesional resection can be incomplete and result in recurrence. This has led to increased use of novel techniques, including selective arterial embolization (SAE). This study aims to: (1) compare outcomes based on extent of surgical resection, and (2) compare the efficacy of SAE versus surgical resection. Clinical data pertaining to 71 cases of spinal ABCs were ambispectively collected from nine institutions in Europe, North America, and Australia. Twenty-two spinal ABCs were treated with surgery, 32 received preoperative embolization and surgery, and 17 were treated with SAE. Most tumors were classified as Enneking stage 2 (n = 29, 41%) and stage 3 (n = 29, 41%). Local recurrence and survival were investigated and a significant difference was not observed between treatment groups. However, all three local recurrences occurred following surgical resection. Surgical resection was further categorized based on Enneking appropriateness. Recurrences only occurred following intralesional Enneking inappropriate (EI) resections (P = 0.10), a classification that characterized 47% of all surgical resections. Furthermore, 56% of intralesional resections were EI, compared to only 10% of en bloc resections (P = 0.01). Although SAE treatment did not result in any local recurrences, 35% involved more than five embolization procedures. Spinal ABCs can be effectively treated with intralesional resection, en bloc resection, or SAE. Preoperative embolization should be considered before intralesional resection to limit intraoperative bleeding. Treatment plans must be guided by lesion characteristics and clinical presentation.